« Previous Article | Search Engine Optimization |
SEO & Marketing
Search engine optimization:
— Why it's critical to you
The first critical insight: Everyone, and we mean everyone, "goes to" Google, MSN or Yahoo! to find the products and services they need. A recent Georgia Tech/GVU Users Survey report tell us that more than 80% of all Internet users find new web sites through search engines. According to this report, about 650 million people use search engines to find web sites. Think about it. When you, or anyone you know, is looking for a solution, do fingers start walking through the Yellow Pages, or, do they start tapping a keyboard?
A great awakening is taking place among businesses and professional groups across the Midwest. Some managers are very alert to the challenge; others are coming to the realization more slowly: Websites are quickly becoming THE primary information and marketing resource for every organization, whether its business is wholesale distribution, dispensing legal advice or providing resources for the surrounding community.
The second, more sober assessment: If your business website is a dead end brochure with little or no client appeal then it's likely it will not be found no matter what search terms are used. And, if your web site can't be found it obviously cannot be expected to generate new sales or client inquiries. On the other hand, if you relying solely on traditional marketing and sales to produce new revenue, then you're likely seeing innovative competitors and new tech savvy upstarts really eating into the bottom line.
Your web site matters
What's going on? Everyone has moved to the Web. No one is waiting for, or expecting, a sales call anymore. When they need something, when they want a presentation or proposal, they go right to Google.
The goal of your business is to make money selling a product or service. People use the Internet to find the products and services you sell. So, the switched on manager should lobby for a website that will produce results for the business.
Business people are waking up the fact that IT programmers should not be making the big decisions about the company web site. It's time to move away from the idea that web pages are mysterious - and untouchable - streams of code that require the network guy hours of expensive time to update. Instead, marketing should take ownership for the health and well-being of the organization website.
It's time to optimize
Websites created by Jordan Creek Web Design always have page code optimized for search engines. Normally, page title tags, Meta tags and content coding have been created to facilitate visits by search engine indexing programs known as "spiders." Newer sites have recently required SEO files published under the root directory, such as "robots.txt" and a sitemap "XML" file. Your website needs proper coding as a foundation. You should also add the new SEO-friendly files.
One of the most important elements for implementing search engine optimization (SEO) is the determination of keywords and keyword phrases. Too often this critical task becomes a pencil and paper exercise by persons with little or no SEO background to guess a list of search terms. We recommend that you utilize an in depth written analysis of likely keywords including a comprehensive comparison of competitor web sites. Don't use guesstimates. Jordan Creek Web Design can provide a written analysis containing actionable data for you within just a few days.
Google and other search engines also consider the number and quality of links FROM other websites TO your site as a critical measure of the importance of your web pages. SEO-smart managers need to actively encourage inbound links. One strategy to boost inbound links being implemented by organizations of all sizes is the integrated business blog. Ask Jordan Creek how to get started using this easy-to-use technology.
Learn more
We encourage you to read our Optimization Basics article posted on the Jordan Creek website. Let's sit down and talk about how to improve your site's optimization and results ranking. Call Jordan Creek today.
Tags» 