One of the most powerful search engine optimization tools available for online businesses is UGC – User-generated content. This type of tool is created by everyday users. Local and national companies are prospering off of this innovative tool.
A wide variety of shopping web sites, such as Amazon, Yahoo Shopping, and BizRate, have invested in user-generated content over the past few years. These types of sites are filled with user reviews of pet groomers, web design companies, bakeries, and diamond buyers. They make it their duty to encourage customers to rate the products they sell and to post comments as well.
What is the purpose of user-generated content (UGC)? UGC was created to make it a lot easier for the owners of guide, shopping, travel, and other products and services-related sites to frequently add new content. The good thing about it is that most customers trust it. Studies have shown that online buyers trust the opinions of other buyers more than they put faith in merchants and manufacturers.
UGC does not only exist in the world of review and merchant sites. User-constructed knowledge resources, such as Wikipedia, Mahalo, and Knol are very similar. Flickr, Picasa, and Photobucket allow anyone to post photos. YouTube does the same with its users and video postings. Most of these web sites have the chance of containing your company’s information regarding your brand, products, or services.
UGC tends to create dependence and loyalty. A disadvantage of UGC is that it can attract spam which creates a need for stricter control. It is best to simply ask you own customers to help you. This can be done by asking for feedback on your services and products.
About CODANK Charlotte Web Design
CODANK is a top Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company located in Charlotte, NC. The company is dedicated to providing a broad range of web design services. CODANK specializes in Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Graphic Design, Online Marketing, and Web Design and Development.
For more information, visit CODANK Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company at www.codank.com
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
What to Expect From Your SEO Specialist
Hiring a search engine optimization professional is a great start to actually executing your SEO plan. You now have someone to head up all necessary duties for your web site. Getting started immediately will help you in the long run.
As a company, you should expect a certain amount of work and effort needed to complete the job. Ask yourself, what are the search engine optimization duties? What should be done day-to-day, week-to-week, and month-to-month?
Below is a guideline provided by The Truth About Search Engine Optimization by Rebecca Lieb. It discusses what a business should expect from their search engine optimization specialist.
Review web site content and structure
A complete site review should be the first task. A SEO professional should be able to conduct a review of the entire web site and its structure, as well as a hierarchical listing of each page on the site.
A review of the site’s hosting, page redirects, URL structure, and use of JavaScript is also necessary.
Page layout and HTML analysis
At this step, the SEO takes a look at the web site from a search engine spider’s standpoint. HTML code is checked for accuracy and grammar errors. By this step, recommendations should be made regarding page text elements and source code (filenames, page titles, descriptions, meta tags, URL).
Keyword research and analysis
Third step should consist of conducting a thorough keyword analysis so that you will know which keywords drive the most traffic, and which words are the most competitive.
After these steps have been concluded, the SEO should also perform a ranking report, content and link analysis. Each process should be ongoing.
About CODANK Charlotte Web Design
Codank is a top Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company located in Charlotte, NC. The company is dedicated to providing a broad range of web design services. CODANK specializes in Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Graphic Design, Online Marketing, and Web Design and Development.
For more information, visit CODANK Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company at www.codank.com
As a company, you should expect a certain amount of work and effort needed to complete the job. Ask yourself, what are the search engine optimization duties? What should be done day-to-day, week-to-week, and month-to-month?
Below is a guideline provided by The Truth About Search Engine Optimization by Rebecca Lieb. It discusses what a business should expect from their search engine optimization specialist.
Review web site content and structure
A complete site review should be the first task. A SEO professional should be able to conduct a review of the entire web site and its structure, as well as a hierarchical listing of each page on the site.
A review of the site’s hosting, page redirects, URL structure, and use of JavaScript is also necessary.
Page layout and HTML analysis
At this step, the SEO takes a look at the web site from a search engine spider’s standpoint. HTML code is checked for accuracy and grammar errors. By this step, recommendations should be made regarding page text elements and source code (filenames, page titles, descriptions, meta tags, URL).
Keyword research and analysis
Third step should consist of conducting a thorough keyword analysis so that you will know which keywords drive the most traffic, and which words are the most competitive.
After these steps have been concluded, the SEO should also perform a ranking report, content and link analysis. Each process should be ongoing.
About CODANK Charlotte Web Design
Codank is a top Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company located in Charlotte, NC. The company is dedicated to providing a broad range of web design services. CODANK specializes in Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Graphic Design, Online Marketing, and Web Design and Development.
For more information, visit CODANK Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company at www.codank.com
Monday, June 28, 2010
Protect Your Privacy
The World Wide Web is a gateway to tons of information and entertainment. People of all types use the Internet to explore the millions of sites made available by different companies, entrepreneurs, and sometimes “average Joes.” From CNN.com to blogs of interest, we all seem to take pleasure in its service. Browsing websites may not be as harmless as some may believe.
More and more businesses are starting to offer their services online. They are allowing their customers to pay bills, sign up for email notifications, and other paperless benefits. Many times you are asked to provide a phone number, address, or date-of-birth. If you aren’t careful enough, you may give out too much personal information.
How do you know if you are giving these companies too much information about you or your family? Where do you draw the line at providing more than what is really needed?
As a user, it is your responsibility to read the fine print! Do not be naive by thinking that every company is going to protect your privacy. Do your research and ask questions before you decide to give out personal information. If you ever read, ‘We pledge never to sell, distribute, or disclose the information you provide to us to any third party’, than you know your information is safe.
CODANK Web Design of Charlotte’s top two tips for protecting your personal information:
•Be cautious of sites that offer some type of prize or reward in exchange for contact information or other personal details.
•Make sure that you always have your cookie notices turned on in web browser.
About CODANK Charlotte Web Design
Codank is a top Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company located in Charlotte, NC. The company is dedicated to providing a broad range of web design services. CODANK specializes in Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Graphic Design, Online Marketing, and Web Design and Development.
For more information, visit CODANK Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company at www.codank.com
More and more businesses are starting to offer their services online. They are allowing their customers to pay bills, sign up for email notifications, and other paperless benefits. Many times you are asked to provide a phone number, address, or date-of-birth. If you aren’t careful enough, you may give out too much personal information.
How do you know if you are giving these companies too much information about you or your family? Where do you draw the line at providing more than what is really needed?
As a user, it is your responsibility to read the fine print! Do not be naive by thinking that every company is going to protect your privacy. Do your research and ask questions before you decide to give out personal information. If you ever read, ‘We pledge never to sell, distribute, or disclose the information you provide to us to any third party’, than you know your information is safe.
CODANK Web Design of Charlotte’s top two tips for protecting your personal information:
•Be cautious of sites that offer some type of prize or reward in exchange for contact information or other personal details.
•Make sure that you always have your cookie notices turned on in web browser.
About CODANK Charlotte Web Design
Codank is a top Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company located in Charlotte, NC. The company is dedicated to providing a broad range of web design services. CODANK specializes in Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Graphic Design, Online Marketing, and Web Design and Development.
For more information, visit CODANK Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company at www.codank.com
Friday, June 25, 2010
Page Titles Help with Search Engine Optimization
Are you aware of how important page titles have become in the world of search engine optimization? These titles are so vital that they are the first aspects of a web site that search engine crawlers investigate. Web sites rankings are measured off of titles that are placed on the pages. For that reason, web designers and copywriters should invest enough time into creating effective page titles.
Below are a few key issues to consider when choosing your page titles:
•Do not repeat phrases and keywords in your title tags. Repetition may come across as SEO spam when a search engine crawler is examining a site, so avoid repeating certain words if possible. Never duplicate keywords in order to obtain a crawler’s attention. Doing so could result in your site being excluded from search engine listing.
•Try not to use your company name in the page title. A better alternative is to use a descriptive keyword or phrase. Using keywords will help to explain exactly what is on the page. It also helps guarantee that your search engine rankings are precise.
•It is best to consider using special characters in the beginning and end of your title to increase notice ability. Characters such as, parentheses (( )), arrows (<< >>), and asterisks (****) often help to catch a viewer’s attention to your title page.
•Make an effort to keep titles to 50 characters or less, including spaces. Certain search engines will only index up to 50 characters while others might index up to 150. Yet, sustaining shorter page titles will keep you in search engine results.
If you are not comfortable enough creating your own page titles, it is in your best interest to consult with a search engine optimization professional. All titles should be short, descriptive, and tagged into a web page coding. By utilizing proper title tags, you are giving your web site a good chance of ranking high in search engine results.
About CODANK Charlotte Web Design
Codank is a top Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company located in Charlotte, NC. The company is dedicated to providing a broad range of web design services. CODANK specializes in Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Graphic Design, Online Marketing, and Web Design and Development.
For more information, visit CODANK Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company at www.codank.com
Below are a few key issues to consider when choosing your page titles:
•Do not repeat phrases and keywords in your title tags. Repetition may come across as SEO spam when a search engine crawler is examining a site, so avoid repeating certain words if possible. Never duplicate keywords in order to obtain a crawler’s attention. Doing so could result in your site being excluded from search engine listing.
•Try not to use your company name in the page title. A better alternative is to use a descriptive keyword or phrase. Using keywords will help to explain exactly what is on the page. It also helps guarantee that your search engine rankings are precise.
•It is best to consider using special characters in the beginning and end of your title to increase notice ability. Characters such as, parentheses (( )), arrows (<< >>), and asterisks (****) often help to catch a viewer’s attention to your title page.
•Make an effort to keep titles to 50 characters or less, including spaces. Certain search engines will only index up to 50 characters while others might index up to 150. Yet, sustaining shorter page titles will keep you in search engine results.
If you are not comfortable enough creating your own page titles, it is in your best interest to consult with a search engine optimization professional. All titles should be short, descriptive, and tagged into a web page coding. By utilizing proper title tags, you are giving your web site a good chance of ranking high in search engine results.
About CODANK Charlotte Web Design
Codank is a top Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company located in Charlotte, NC. The company is dedicated to providing a broad range of web design services. CODANK specializes in Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Graphic Design, Online Marketing, and Web Design and Development.
For more information, visit CODANK Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company at www.codank.com
Thursday, June 24, 2010
New Domain 101
Moving your company’s web site to a new domain can be stressful – similar to moving into a new home. But sometimes, it is much needed to help your business. Often, circumstances beyond your control force a domain move. You may have renamed your business or have recently merged with another company. What ever the case may be, you need to be prepared before the change takes place.
According to Wikipedia.org, a domain name is defined as a common network name under which a collection of network devices are organized (e.g. example.com). Changing from one domain to a whole new domain is an intensive process. No company wants to hinder their organic search rankings, but there is a chance that it will be affected. It will take time for new domain pages to soar up Google’s rankings to approximately the same results you formerly dominated.
If you have decided to move your domain, what should you do? Riona MacNamara of Google recommends the following:
•First, test the process. Move the contents of only one directory or subdomain. Be sure to use a permanent 301 redirect page to send those pages on the old web site to the new site. This informs all the search engines that your site has permanently moved.
•Confirm that all new pages appear in organic search results. Once you have done this, proceed to moving the rest of the site. Recommendation: do not use a blanket redirect because it’s a bad user experience.
•If you have decided to change your domain because of site rebranding or redesign, make the process smooth for users. You can do this by first moving the site then launching the redesign.
•Make sure both external and internal links to pages on your site work properly. Once content is in place on the new server, it is best to use some sort of link-checking software to spot any broken links.
About CODANK Charlotte Web Design
Codank is a top Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company located in Charlotte, NC. The company is dedicated to providing a broad range of web design services. CODANK specializes in Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Graphic Design, Online Marketing, and Web Design and Development.
For more information, visit CODANK Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company at www.codank.com
According to Wikipedia.org, a domain name is defined as a common network name under which a collection of network devices are organized (e.g. example.com). Changing from one domain to a whole new domain is an intensive process. No company wants to hinder their organic search rankings, but there is a chance that it will be affected. It will take time for new domain pages to soar up Google’s rankings to approximately the same results you formerly dominated.
If you have decided to move your domain, what should you do? Riona MacNamara of Google recommends the following:
•First, test the process. Move the contents of only one directory or subdomain. Be sure to use a permanent 301 redirect page to send those pages on the old web site to the new site. This informs all the search engines that your site has permanently moved.
•Confirm that all new pages appear in organic search results. Once you have done this, proceed to moving the rest of the site. Recommendation: do not use a blanket redirect because it’s a bad user experience.
•If you have decided to change your domain because of site rebranding or redesign, make the process smooth for users. You can do this by first moving the site then launching the redesign.
•Make sure both external and internal links to pages on your site work properly. Once content is in place on the new server, it is best to use some sort of link-checking software to spot any broken links.
About CODANK Charlotte Web Design
Codank is a top Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company located in Charlotte, NC. The company is dedicated to providing a broad range of web design services. CODANK specializes in Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Graphic Design, Online Marketing, and Web Design and Development.
For more information, visit CODANK Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company at www.codank.com
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Design Do's and Don'ts
A user-friendly web site should be equivalent to a search-engine friendly website. When you are designing a site, there are several rules that need to be abided. If you choose to “break” one rule, it is best to compensate in another area. Below is a list of design do’s and don’ts provided by The Truth About Search Engine Optimization by Rebecca Lieb.
The list consists of:
Avoid splash pages – A splash page briefly appears as an introductory web site home page. It tends to be graphic-heavy and text-light. These types of pages are not good because they only link to one other page within the web site.
Do not use frames and inline frames (iframes) – Avoid using frames and inline frames because they make it hard for search engines to crawl web sites. They break each page into three or more files (rather than just one).
Use clean, valid coding – It is best to use code that is lighter, cleaner, simpler, more semantically defined, and in agreement with World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) standards.
Avoid duplicate content – Do not place the same text content on multiple domains or within more than one page on your web site.
Avoid Flash websites – Majority of flash sites only consists of one single web page. You will not rank for dozens of separate keywords with only one page.
Utilize individual title tags – Every page on your web site should have its own distinctive title tag. No two pages should be identical.
Place graphics lower on a web page – Because search engines pay more attention to words that appear higher on a page, it is best to use graphics only near the bottom. Search engine crawlers only index words.
About CODANK Charlotte Web Design
CODANK is a top Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company located in Charlotte, NC. The company is dedicated to providing a broad range of web design services. CODANK specializes in Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Graphic Design, Online Marketing, and Web Design and Development.
For more information, visit CODANK Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company at www.codank.com
The list consists of:
Avoid splash pages – A splash page briefly appears as an introductory web site home page. It tends to be graphic-heavy and text-light. These types of pages are not good because they only link to one other page within the web site.
Do not use frames and inline frames (iframes) – Avoid using frames and inline frames because they make it hard for search engines to crawl web sites. They break each page into three or more files (rather than just one).
Use clean, valid coding – It is best to use code that is lighter, cleaner, simpler, more semantically defined, and in agreement with World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) standards.
Avoid duplicate content – Do not place the same text content on multiple domains or within more than one page on your web site.
Avoid Flash websites – Majority of flash sites only consists of one single web page. You will not rank for dozens of separate keywords with only one page.
Utilize individual title tags – Every page on your web site should have its own distinctive title tag. No two pages should be identical.
Place graphics lower on a web page – Because search engines pay more attention to words that appear higher on a page, it is best to use graphics only near the bottom. Search engine crawlers only index words.
About CODANK Charlotte Web Design
CODANK is a top Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company located in Charlotte, NC. The company is dedicated to providing a broad range of web design services. CODANK specializes in Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Graphic Design, Online Marketing, and Web Design and Development.
For more information, visit CODANK Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company at www.codank.com
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Website Content Do's and Don'ts
When preparing written content for you business’s web site, be sure to use the following guidelines (provided by The Truth About Search Engine Optimization by Rebecca Lieb) to help you create well-organized copy that is intended for both your audience as well as search engines (Google, Yahoo, MSN/Bing, etc.):
Use proper keywords and phrases – Prior to writing any content, make sure you have thoroughly researched the keywords and phrases that are appropriate for your web site and viewers. The words should match what your target audience is typing in search query boxes when they are searching for information, products, or services.
Place keywords and phrases high on the page – Not all search engine crawlers spider their way to the bottom of a page, so use your keywords and phrases towards the beginning of a web page.
Be descriptive – Try not to refer to yourself as “our team”. Instead, say CODANK Charlotte Web Design. Use the term wherever possible.
Use phrases instead of single keywords – Not all searchers type single-word queries, so you should use phrases whenever appropriate. “Minority Business Loans” is more relevant to a searcher than “loans.”
Don’t use text as a graphic – Search engines can not read images. They only read text. When placing graphics on a page, be sure to use proper naming and tagging of the file.
Provide a physical location – Viewers and search engines need more information than “our office.” Try to incorporate a complete physical address, postal code, and phone number with area code.
Check your spelling – Do not rely on your viewers to correct your mistakes. Take the time to go through all of your pages in order to detect any errors. You do not want the “did you mean..?” message to appear at the top of search results pages!
About CODANK Charlotte Web Design
CODANK is a top Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company located in Charlotte, NC. The company is dedicated to providing a broad range of web design services. CODANK specializes in Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Graphic Design, Online Marketing, and Web Design and Development.
For more information, visit CODANK Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company at www.codank.com
Use proper keywords and phrases – Prior to writing any content, make sure you have thoroughly researched the keywords and phrases that are appropriate for your web site and viewers. The words should match what your target audience is typing in search query boxes when they are searching for information, products, or services.
Place keywords and phrases high on the page – Not all search engine crawlers spider their way to the bottom of a page, so use your keywords and phrases towards the beginning of a web page.
Be descriptive – Try not to refer to yourself as “our team”. Instead, say CODANK Charlotte Web Design. Use the term wherever possible.
Use phrases instead of single keywords – Not all searchers type single-word queries, so you should use phrases whenever appropriate. “Minority Business Loans” is more relevant to a searcher than “loans.”
Don’t use text as a graphic – Search engines can not read images. They only read text. When placing graphics on a page, be sure to use proper naming and tagging of the file.
Provide a physical location – Viewers and search engines need more information than “our office.” Try to incorporate a complete physical address, postal code, and phone number with area code.
Check your spelling – Do not rely on your viewers to correct your mistakes. Take the time to go through all of your pages in order to detect any errors. You do not want the “did you mean..?” message to appear at the top of search results pages!
About CODANK Charlotte Web Design
CODANK is a top Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company located in Charlotte, NC. The company is dedicated to providing a broad range of web design services. CODANK specializes in Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Graphic Design, Online Marketing, and Web Design and Development.
For more information, visit CODANK Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company at www.codank.com
Monday, June 21, 2010
ShareWithBP.com - A Helping Hand in the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Relief
After the April 20th “Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill”, thousands of people from across the globe have pounded BP with their opinions, concerns, and proposals on how to stop (or at least control) the flow of oil.
The oil eruption (also known as “The BP Oil Spill”) has impacted or is expected to impact miles of coast line along the states of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. Capturing the massive flow of oil before it completely wipes out public beaches, boating and fishing zones, as well as the overall quality of air is top priority for BP, U.S. Government Officials, and other Deepwater Horizon Unified affiliates.
With the overwhelming amount of responses from concerned individuals –ShareWithBP.com was designed to give people the chance to effectively share comments and possibilities with BP. Associates of the site ask that all comments, ideas, and concerns remain respectful for the sake of other viewers.
The process is simple – visit sharewithbp.com and click the ‘Eureka’ button to make suggestions on spill cleanup and innovative technology or click ‘Comment’ to share your opinion.
Sharewithbp.com is not affiliated with BP.
If you have any questions, please contact Codank by email at connect@codank.com
The oil eruption (also known as “The BP Oil Spill”) has impacted or is expected to impact miles of coast line along the states of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. Capturing the massive flow of oil before it completely wipes out public beaches, boating and fishing zones, as well as the overall quality of air is top priority for BP, U.S. Government Officials, and other Deepwater Horizon Unified affiliates.
With the overwhelming amount of responses from concerned individuals –ShareWithBP.com was designed to give people the chance to effectively share comments and possibilities with BP. Associates of the site ask that all comments, ideas, and concerns remain respectful for the sake of other viewers.
The process is simple – visit sharewithbp.com and click the ‘Eureka’ button to make suggestions on spill cleanup and innovative technology or click ‘Comment’ to share your opinion.
Sharewithbp.com is not affiliated with BP.
If you have any questions, please contact Codank by email at connect@codank.com
Think Outside the Box: Guerrilla Marketing
Guerrilla marketing is a relatively fresh idea when it comes to using it on the Internet. It is referred to as an unconventional means of getting a company’s name out in the public. Many businesses choose to use guerilla marketing because it is very cost effective – if not free. The tactics that you choose to use are very creative and are, for the most part, fun to come up with. Here are a few examples and possibly some good ideas companies to try:
Force them to visit your website – Be very cautious when doing this! Every time you use a public computer, set your URL to the homepage. This could easily work in a library or lab room full of computers.
Leave your mark on money – Get an ink stamp with your company information or URL and stamp every dollar you use. This way, people see your URL, and visit! This works especially well if your company is centered on cash.
Give away prizes or run some contests – Advertise a contest on your website for free promotional space or endorse a contest in your city for free products or services. Also, you can use radio, TV, or outdoor ads.
Out-of-the-norm advertising – This term is used to describe all sorts of free places to advertise. You can purchase t-shirts that promote your product or service and wear them everywhere. Put bumper stickers on every car, motorcycle, scooter, bike, and tricycle you own.
Look for niche places to advertise - It helps you far more to advertise to the fewer amounts of people that are for sure interested in your product or service than to the masses that may or may not care what you have to say. The movie theater is relatively inexpensive and can be very profitable if you choose your movies right.
About CODANK Charlotte Web Design
CODANK is a top Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company located in Charlotte, NC. The company is dedicated to providing a broad range of web design services. CODANK specializes in Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Graphic Design, Online Marketing, and Web Design and Development.
For more information, visit CODANK Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company at www.codank.com
Force them to visit your website – Be very cautious when doing this! Every time you use a public computer, set your URL to the homepage. This could easily work in a library or lab room full of computers.
Leave your mark on money – Get an ink stamp with your company information or URL and stamp every dollar you use. This way, people see your URL, and visit! This works especially well if your company is centered on cash.
Give away prizes or run some contests – Advertise a contest on your website for free promotional space or endorse a contest in your city for free products or services. Also, you can use radio, TV, or outdoor ads.
Out-of-the-norm advertising – This term is used to describe all sorts of free places to advertise. You can purchase t-shirts that promote your product or service and wear them everywhere. Put bumper stickers on every car, motorcycle, scooter, bike, and tricycle you own.
Look for niche places to advertise - It helps you far more to advertise to the fewer amounts of people that are for sure interested in your product or service than to the masses that may or may not care what you have to say. The movie theater is relatively inexpensive and can be very profitable if you choose your movies right.
About CODANK Charlotte Web Design
CODANK is a top Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company located in Charlotte, NC. The company is dedicated to providing a broad range of web design services. CODANK specializes in Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Graphic Design, Online Marketing, and Web Design and Development.
For more information, visit CODANK Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company at www.codank.com
Friday, June 18, 2010
Researching Potential Customers
Putting your market research tools to use is a great way to get your actual business started. Your first step should be identifying a target audience. This group of individuals is the people who you want to market your products and services. Second, determine if your products or services match what your potential customers may want or need.
By correctly defining a client base, a company is giving itself a chance to succeed in fully positioning their products or services in the right marketplace.
Whether you want to sell to 30 year old wine drinkers or major suppliers, there are two groups of customers whom you will end up targeting: end users and channel users.
The end users are typically the ultimate users of a company’s product or service. In order to identify your end users, you will need to consider both lifestyle and demographic characteristics. Demographic data is defined as tangible and measurable information that separates one group of individuals from another. Examples are:
•City Size
•Gender
•Education
•Income
•Age
•Marital Status
•Geographic Location
•Occupation
Intangible information falls within lifestyle information. These include:
•Music favorites
•Literature favorites
•Values
•Morals
•Religious beliefs
•Cultural beliefs
•Political beliefs
•Entertainment and recreation activities
Channel users serve as intermediaries between end users and business owners. A product can start with a large distributor and then be sold to a local distributor who then resells it to a wholesale buyer. Ultimately, the manager of owner of a store places the products on the store shelves for purchase by end users.
About CODANK Charlotte Web Design
CODANK is a top Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company located in Charlotte, NC. The company is dedicated to providing a broad range of web design services. CODANK specializes in Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Graphic Design, Online Marketing, and Web Design and Development.
For more information, visit CODANK Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company at www.codank.com
By correctly defining a client base, a company is giving itself a chance to succeed in fully positioning their products or services in the right marketplace.
Whether you want to sell to 30 year old wine drinkers or major suppliers, there are two groups of customers whom you will end up targeting: end users and channel users.
The end users are typically the ultimate users of a company’s product or service. In order to identify your end users, you will need to consider both lifestyle and demographic characteristics. Demographic data is defined as tangible and measurable information that separates one group of individuals from another. Examples are:
•City Size
•Gender
•Education
•Income
•Age
•Marital Status
•Geographic Location
•Occupation
Intangible information falls within lifestyle information. These include:
•Music favorites
•Literature favorites
•Values
•Morals
•Religious beliefs
•Cultural beliefs
•Political beliefs
•Entertainment and recreation activities
Channel users serve as intermediaries between end users and business owners. A product can start with a large distributor and then be sold to a local distributor who then resells it to a wholesale buyer. Ultimately, the manager of owner of a store places the products on the store shelves for purchase by end users.
About CODANK Charlotte Web Design
CODANK is a top Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company located in Charlotte, NC. The company is dedicated to providing a broad range of web design services. CODANK specializes in Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Graphic Design, Online Marketing, and Web Design and Development.
For more information, visit CODANK Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company at www.codank.com
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Choosing a Name for Your Company
Some business owners find it easy to name their own company while others may think it’s much harder than anything else. Several small business owners simply use their name (normally their last name) when branding their company; for example, John L. Hairston Ltd., Thomas Publishing Company, or Williams Products. Others choose to be a bit more creative when deciding on a business name.
According to Black Enterprise: Starting Your Own Business, there are two types of business names you will need to consider in your search are:
Fictitious – A name other than your own. For example, if Stacey Harris owns a pet sitting service, she may choose to call it Charlotte Pet Sitting rather than Stacey Harris Pet Sitting. Fictitious names normally apply to partnerships and sole proprietorships.
Nonfictitious – Your very own name. For example, as stated above, John L. Hairston Ltd. (of which the owner is John L. Hairston) would be deemed a nonfictitious business name. Nonfictitious names are common in corporations.
Deciding on a business name can be fun no matter which type you choose to use. Be sure not to spend too much time brainstorming on this start-up task. Below are a few tips for finalizing a name:
•Use your creativity
•Choose a name that is easy for people to remember
•Keep it short as possible
•Do not use misleading names
•Select a name that reflects the type of business you own
After you have chosen a business name, be sure to select the legal form of your business. You will need to choose the business entity that is right for you.
About CODANK Charlotte Web Design
CODANK is a top Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company located in Charlotte, NC. The company is dedicated to providing a broad range of web design services. CODANK specializes in Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Graphic Design, Online Marketing, and Web Design and Development.
For more information, visit CODANK Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company at www.codank.com
According to Black Enterprise: Starting Your Own Business, there are two types of business names you will need to consider in your search are:
Fictitious – A name other than your own. For example, if Stacey Harris owns a pet sitting service, she may choose to call it Charlotte Pet Sitting rather than Stacey Harris Pet Sitting. Fictitious names normally apply to partnerships and sole proprietorships.
Nonfictitious – Your very own name. For example, as stated above, John L. Hairston Ltd. (of which the owner is John L. Hairston) would be deemed a nonfictitious business name. Nonfictitious names are common in corporations.
Deciding on a business name can be fun no matter which type you choose to use. Be sure not to spend too much time brainstorming on this start-up task. Below are a few tips for finalizing a name:
•Use your creativity
•Choose a name that is easy for people to remember
•Keep it short as possible
•Do not use misleading names
•Select a name that reflects the type of business you own
After you have chosen a business name, be sure to select the legal form of your business. You will need to choose the business entity that is right for you.
About CODANK Charlotte Web Design
CODANK is a top Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company located in Charlotte, NC. The company is dedicated to providing a broad range of web design services. CODANK specializes in Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Graphic Design, Online Marketing, and Web Design and Development.
For more information, visit CODANK Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company at www.codank.com
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Equipping Your Business
Equipping your company with office furniture, filing cabinets, telephones, a fax machine, and computers can be costly. Even though you need most of these items to fully operate as a business, how much will they cost? Will you be able to cover all of the expenses?
The type of business you choose to conduct will determine what types of equipment you will need to purchase. If you want to open a pizza parlor, some of the items you will have to obtain include heavy-duty ovens, cash registers, tables, chairs, booths, and various other supplies. A great way to get an estimate of your costs is to both research different suppliers and vendors in the area. Compare quotes before making a final decision. Talk to other pizza parlor owners to see how much their equipment cost for a better understanding.
Once you have figured out how much all of your equipment will cost, it is now time to determine how you will finance your purchase. Most start-up companies look to buy all new equipment, but aren’t able to afford it. Several types of equipment leases are available to assist businesses. They include the following:
Operating Lease – This type of lease is ideal for owners who do not plan to buy the equipment at the end of the lease term, or if they will only use it for a short period of time. The terms of an operating lease are shorter than the life of the equipment. You can gain expensive equipment for much less than its overall cost.
Finance Lease – Requires a longer term and costs less than an operating lease. The owner is responsible for insurance, taxes, and maintenance of the equipment, but can identify as a liability on their balance sheet.
Master Lease – An owner is allowed to obtain certain materials at the beginning of their lease agreement, and is capable of receiving additional materials without having to negotiate a new agreement.
(Black Enterprise: Guide to Starting Your Own Business by Wendy Beech)
About CODANK Charlotte Web Design
CODANK is a top Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company located in Charlotte, NC. The company is dedicated to providing a broad range of web design services. CODANK specializes in Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Graphic Design, Online Marketing, and Web Design and Development.
For more information, visit CODANK Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company at www.codank.com
The type of business you choose to conduct will determine what types of equipment you will need to purchase. If you want to open a pizza parlor, some of the items you will have to obtain include heavy-duty ovens, cash registers, tables, chairs, booths, and various other supplies. A great way to get an estimate of your costs is to both research different suppliers and vendors in the area. Compare quotes before making a final decision. Talk to other pizza parlor owners to see how much their equipment cost for a better understanding.
Once you have figured out how much all of your equipment will cost, it is now time to determine how you will finance your purchase. Most start-up companies look to buy all new equipment, but aren’t able to afford it. Several types of equipment leases are available to assist businesses. They include the following:
Operating Lease – This type of lease is ideal for owners who do not plan to buy the equipment at the end of the lease term, or if they will only use it for a short period of time. The terms of an operating lease are shorter than the life of the equipment. You can gain expensive equipment for much less than its overall cost.
Finance Lease – Requires a longer term and costs less than an operating lease. The owner is responsible for insurance, taxes, and maintenance of the equipment, but can identify as a liability on their balance sheet.
Master Lease – An owner is allowed to obtain certain materials at the beginning of their lease agreement, and is capable of receiving additional materials without having to negotiate a new agreement.
(Black Enterprise: Guide to Starting Your Own Business by Wendy Beech)
About CODANK Charlotte Web Design
CODANK is a top Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company located in Charlotte, NC. The company is dedicated to providing a broad range of web design services. CODANK specializes in Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Graphic Design, Online Marketing, and Web Design and Development.
For more information, visit CODANK Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company at www.codank.com
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Check to See Who's Visiting
A visitor count is very important when analyzing your web sites progress. Collecting this type of data helps to determine what you need to improve on the most.
The main questions you should ask include:
•What was the total number of visitors for this time period?
•What was the length of the average visit?
•What was the average duration of a page view?
•What was the average number of page views per visitor?
•What was the average number of hits per visitor?
•What domain classes and geographic areas are represented?
After you have recorded your answers to the questions listed above, it is now time for you to answer the all-important questions – why and who is visiting your website. Check below to view a list of important information that can assist you in making sense of the stats discussed so far. This list is meant to get you started thinking about how you can use these stats to better promote your web site.
•Average number of views per visitor: The more pages people view, the more interested they are in your site.
•Domain classes and geographic areas: Indicates where your visitors live and work – which is good information to have if you want to attract advertisers.
•Average number of hits per visitor: Eventually, you can use this information to estimate the number of visitors.
•Visitor count: How many people are visiting? Used to gauge true popularity of a site.
•Length of the average visit: Indicator of if people are actually reading pages on a site or simply browsing.
•Average duration of page view: Another indicator of is people are browsing or in fact reading the content. Ask yourself, “are my pages highly textual, highly graphical, or both?”
•Busiest hours of the day: The time of the day when most people visit a site. This can help you plan daily updates, promotion campaigns, and advertising.
About CODANK Charlotte Web Design
CODANK is a top Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company located in Charlotte, NC. The company is dedicated to providing a broad range of web design services. CODANK specializes in Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Graphic Design, Online Marketing, and Web Design and Development.
For more information, visit CODANK Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company at www.codank.com
The main questions you should ask include:
•What was the total number of visitors for this time period?
•What was the length of the average visit?
•What was the average duration of a page view?
•What was the average number of page views per visitor?
•What was the average number of hits per visitor?
•What domain classes and geographic areas are represented?
After you have recorded your answers to the questions listed above, it is now time for you to answer the all-important questions – why and who is visiting your website. Check below to view a list of important information that can assist you in making sense of the stats discussed so far. This list is meant to get you started thinking about how you can use these stats to better promote your web site.
•Average number of views per visitor: The more pages people view, the more interested they are in your site.
•Domain classes and geographic areas: Indicates where your visitors live and work – which is good information to have if you want to attract advertisers.
•Average number of hits per visitor: Eventually, you can use this information to estimate the number of visitors.
•Visitor count: How many people are visiting? Used to gauge true popularity of a site.
•Length of the average visit: Indicator of if people are actually reading pages on a site or simply browsing.
•Average duration of page view: Another indicator of is people are browsing or in fact reading the content. Ask yourself, “are my pages highly textual, highly graphical, or both?”
•Busiest hours of the day: The time of the day when most people visit a site. This can help you plan daily updates, promotion campaigns, and advertising.
About CODANK Charlotte Web Design
CODANK is a top Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company located in Charlotte, NC. The company is dedicated to providing a broad range of web design services. CODANK specializes in Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Graphic Design, Online Marketing, and Web Design and Development.
For more information, visit CODANK Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company at www.codank.com
Friday, June 11, 2010
Global Search Engine Optimization
The World Wide Web is not stuck within international borders. Definitions and descriptions between languages, countries, and sometimes search engines you have never heard of, can jeopardize the most dependable search engine optimization plan.
There are a number of reasons to consider a global SEO strategy. A company may have decided to do business across the world and language borders, in which case global SEO should become a part of your overall marketing game plan from the beginning.
For example, in certain countries, there may be a legal requirement to have two different language versions of the same website. It does not work to simply translate your existing web site and think that it’ll magically work for you. There is a lot more to global SEO.
Domain Name
One of the main concerns of global SEO is establishing a top-level domain name. Multinational companies, such as Microsoft and Apple, tend to use subfolders that section out from their top-level domain. Each brand includes a generalized version of the U.S. based .com web site. Other companies, including Google, choose to utilize country domain extensions, for example, .de or .uk. You can choose to use a combination of the two.
Language
Be sure to pay attention to not only actual content translation but also to relevant cultural context. You may have to re-optimize images, video, and other digital material to your international website – as well as meta data, names, and other on-page elements.
All global search engine optimization requires its own requirements. This concept almost always involves hiring local expertise. Invest your money and time in doing it the correct way.
About CODANK Charlotte Web Design
CODANK is a top Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company located in Charlotte, NC. The company is dedicated to providing a broad range of web design services. CODANK specializes in Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Graphic Design, Online Marketing, and Web Design and Development.
For more information, visit CODANK Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company at www.codank.com
There are a number of reasons to consider a global SEO strategy. A company may have decided to do business across the world and language borders, in which case global SEO should become a part of your overall marketing game plan from the beginning.
For example, in certain countries, there may be a legal requirement to have two different language versions of the same website. It does not work to simply translate your existing web site and think that it’ll magically work for you. There is a lot more to global SEO.
Domain Name
One of the main concerns of global SEO is establishing a top-level domain name. Multinational companies, such as Microsoft and Apple, tend to use subfolders that section out from their top-level domain. Each brand includes a generalized version of the U.S. based .com web site. Other companies, including Google, choose to utilize country domain extensions, for example, .de or .uk. You can choose to use a combination of the two.
Language
Be sure to pay attention to not only actual content translation but also to relevant cultural context. You may have to re-optimize images, video, and other digital material to your international website – as well as meta data, names, and other on-page elements.
All global search engine optimization requires its own requirements. This concept almost always involves hiring local expertise. Invest your money and time in doing it the correct way.
About CODANK Charlotte Web Design
CODANK is a top Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company located in Charlotte, NC. The company is dedicated to providing a broad range of web design services. CODANK specializes in Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Graphic Design, Online Marketing, and Web Design and Development.
For more information, visit CODANK Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company at www.codank.com
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Fine Diamond and Gold Jewelry Buyer Conveniently Located in Charlotte
At Charlotte Diamond and Gold Buyers, their goal is to provide clients with superior estate jewelry buying services. One of the most trusted names in the diamond industry, the company has developed a reputation for quality and honest service with the highest cash values possible.
Fair market value for your diamonds and gold is guaranteed at Charlotte Diamond and Gold Buyers. Their expert staff is available for consultations and evaluations of gold, diamond, and watch pieces.
All transactions are completely confidential and are handled in a timely and professional fashion. Consultations are free with no obligation on your part. If you wish to sell to Charlotte Diamond and Gold Buyers, they are open Monday - Friday 10 am. to 6 pm. Eastern Time.
To learn more about Charlotte Diamond and Gold Buyers, visit www.charlottediamondandgoldbuyers.com or call 1-800-245-6780.
About CODANK Charlotte Web Design
CODANK is a top Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company located in Charlotte, NC. The company is dedicated to providing a broad range of web design services. CODANK specializes in Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Graphic Design, Online Marketing, and Web Design and Development.
For more information, visit CODANK Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company at www.codank.com
Fair market value for your diamonds and gold is guaranteed at Charlotte Diamond and Gold Buyers. Their expert staff is available for consultations and evaluations of gold, diamond, and watch pieces.
All transactions are completely confidential and are handled in a timely and professional fashion. Consultations are free with no obligation on your part. If you wish to sell to Charlotte Diamond and Gold Buyers, they are open Monday - Friday 10 am. to 6 pm. Eastern Time.
To learn more about Charlotte Diamond and Gold Buyers, visit www.charlottediamondandgoldbuyers.com or call 1-800-245-6780.
About CODANK Charlotte Web Design
CODANK is a top Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company located in Charlotte, NC. The company is dedicated to providing a broad range of web design services. CODANK specializes in Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Graphic Design, Online Marketing, and Web Design and Development.
For more information, visit CODANK Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company at www.codank.com
A New Business? Ask Yourself These Questions
Businesses tend to fail within the first few years for a variety of reasons. Some may say that bad luck causes the downfall, but in actuality it is more because of fundamental flaws in the original idea, strategy, and the execution.
When structuring a company, no one can anticipate every opportunity and threat. Different situations happen just because. In an increasingly competitive market, many variables play a role in the outcome of a business.
Entrepreneurs should always ask themselves the key questions that can dictate the outcome of any business. Studies show that two-thirds of all start-ups survive the first two years, and less than half make it to the fourth.
The Top Most Important Questions for Start-up Businesses
•Why do customers need your product or service?
•How committed are you to seeing this plan through?
•Is your business plan complete?
•Will you need any investors to survive?
•What sets you apart from your competitors?
•How much start-up money do you need?
•What are your strengths?
•What are your threats as a new entrant?
•How much power do your suppliers have?
About CODANK Charlotte Web Design
CODANK is a top Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company located in Charlotte, NC. The company is dedicated to providing a broad range of web design services. CODANK specializes in Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Graphic Design, Online Marketing, and Web Design and Development.
For more information, visit CODANK Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company at www.codank.com
When structuring a company, no one can anticipate every opportunity and threat. Different situations happen just because. In an increasingly competitive market, many variables play a role in the outcome of a business.
Entrepreneurs should always ask themselves the key questions that can dictate the outcome of any business. Studies show that two-thirds of all start-ups survive the first two years, and less than half make it to the fourth.
The Top Most Important Questions for Start-up Businesses
•Why do customers need your product or service?
•How committed are you to seeing this plan through?
•Is your business plan complete?
•Will you need any investors to survive?
•What sets you apart from your competitors?
•How much start-up money do you need?
•What are your strengths?
•What are your threats as a new entrant?
•How much power do your suppliers have?
About CODANK Charlotte Web Design
CODANK is a top Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company located in Charlotte, NC. The company is dedicated to providing a broad range of web design services. CODANK specializes in Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Graphic Design, Online Marketing, and Web Design and Development.
For more information, visit CODANK Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company at www.codank.com
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Charlotte Web Design: Promotional Tools
As a new or established business, the amount of ways to promote your services or products is endless. Both online and offline marketing is popular, along with other creative methods used to create a buzz. What works for one company may not work for another company. It’s all about finding out what helps your business and molding it for your overall success.
Here are a few promotional tools to help a business and its products and services:
Social Media Marketing: gaining popularity within the last few years as a great way to advertise for free and to draw in traffic. The term “social media” often centers around Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube, as well as Digg and Del.icio.us.
Advantages: Free, easy to sign up and participate, has the capability of connecting you with a large amount of consumers.
Article Marketing: only requires your time and creativeness. Article Marketing is defined as writing articles in which you post and distribute online for the sole purpose of attracting attention to your website or product/service you’re promoting.
Advantages: Free, allows creativity, leads to “viral marketing”.
Search Engine Marketing: consist of two techniques: Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Pay-Per-Click (PPC). The ultimate goal of both techniques is to receive high rankings in search engines, such as Google and Bing/MSN, for particular keywords and phrases.
Pay-Per-Click (PPC) can be a challenging and costly tactic for businesses that choose to invest in ads.
Advantages: popular keywords and phrases can draw in a great amount of traffic quickly; ability to target groups of consumers.
About CODANK Charlotte Web Design
CODANK is a top Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company located in Charlotte, NC. The company is dedicated to providing a broad range of web design services. CODANK specializes in Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Graphic Design, Online Marketing, and Web Design and Development.
For more information, visit CODANK Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company at www.codank.com
Here are a few promotional tools to help a business and its products and services:
Social Media Marketing: gaining popularity within the last few years as a great way to advertise for free and to draw in traffic. The term “social media” often centers around Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube, as well as Digg and Del.icio.us.
Advantages: Free, easy to sign up and participate, has the capability of connecting you with a large amount of consumers.
Article Marketing: only requires your time and creativeness. Article Marketing is defined as writing articles in which you post and distribute online for the sole purpose of attracting attention to your website or product/service you’re promoting.
Advantages: Free, allows creativity, leads to “viral marketing”.
Search Engine Marketing: consist of two techniques: Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Pay-Per-Click (PPC). The ultimate goal of both techniques is to receive high rankings in search engines, such as Google and Bing/MSN, for particular keywords and phrases.
Pay-Per-Click (PPC) can be a challenging and costly tactic for businesses that choose to invest in ads.
Advantages: popular keywords and phrases can draw in a great amount of traffic quickly; ability to target groups of consumers.
About CODANK Charlotte Web Design
CODANK is a top Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company located in Charlotte, NC. The company is dedicated to providing a broad range of web design services. CODANK specializes in Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Graphic Design, Online Marketing, and Web Design and Development.
For more information, visit CODANK Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company at www.codank.com
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Network and Connect
No online business should limit their Internet presence to only search engine banners and their own web site when hoping to get recognized by search engines. Wonderful networking tools are becoming more and more popular almost every day. These types of networking web sites give businesses the chance to connect with a large group of potential viewers and customers.
Networking sites are available for all sorts of companies and industries that can range from Charlotte Web Design to Christian Marriage Counseling. Top sites allow you to post news, blogs, and comment on other postings. A majority of networking web sites require some sort of sign up process, as well as creating a member profile.
Advantageous of signing up on different networking web sites include the ability to connect with other professionals, supporters, and consumers who are most likely to gain interest in what your business offers.
Below is a list of a few networking web sites designed to help a business’s online presence. Be sure to visit each site to see exactly what you would gain from joining.
•Hotfrog.com
•Kudzu.com
•Merchantcircle.com
•Leapfish.com
•Citysquares.com
•Mojopages.com
•Cityslick.net
•LinkedIn
•Facebook
•HubSpot.com
•Care2
•YorZ
•Sphinn
•Xing
•Plaxo
•Focus
Networking is a good way to promote your services and products for free. Not only are you marketing and branding yourself but you are also attracting potential customers. Be sure to post honest and original content or information. Be truthful and keep it simple.
About CODANK Charlotte Web Design
CODANK is a top Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company located in Charlotte, NC. The company is dedicated to providing a broad range of web design services. CODANK specializes in Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Graphic Design, Online Marketing, and Web Design and Development.
For more information, visit CODANK Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company at www.codank.com
Networking sites are available for all sorts of companies and industries that can range from Charlotte Web Design to Christian Marriage Counseling. Top sites allow you to post news, blogs, and comment on other postings. A majority of networking web sites require some sort of sign up process, as well as creating a member profile.
Advantageous of signing up on different networking web sites include the ability to connect with other professionals, supporters, and consumers who are most likely to gain interest in what your business offers.
Below is a list of a few networking web sites designed to help a business’s online presence. Be sure to visit each site to see exactly what you would gain from joining.
•Hotfrog.com
•Kudzu.com
•Merchantcircle.com
•Leapfish.com
•Citysquares.com
•Mojopages.com
•Cityslick.net
•HubSpot.com
•Care2
•YorZ
•Sphinn
•Plaxo
•Focus
Networking is a good way to promote your services and products for free. Not only are you marketing and branding yourself but you are also attracting potential customers. Be sure to post honest and original content or information. Be truthful and keep it simple.
About CODANK Charlotte Web Design
CODANK is a top Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company located in Charlotte, NC. The company is dedicated to providing a broad range of web design services. CODANK specializes in Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Graphic Design, Online Marketing, and Web Design and Development.
For more information, visit CODANK Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company at www.codank.com
Monday, June 7, 2010
Don't Make These Common SEO Mistakes
Properly targeting your key audience and hoping to draw them in to your web site is one of the main purposes of search engine optimization (also known as SEO). The biggest challenges in search engine optimization centers around businesses not understanding the importance of this concept. SEO can be demanding at times if you are not familiar with its practices.
According to Wikipedia.org, search engine optimization (SEO) is defined as the process of improving the volume or quality of traffic to a web site or web page from search engines, such as Google and Yahoo. This can be done via natural or unpaid search results.
It is highly recommended to hire a professional search engine optimization professional if your company is not aware of the proper practices. Doing so will save you a lot of time and patience. The cost of an experienced SEO specialist varies, and it all depends on how successful you are aiming to become.
Below is a list of the top common mistakes made by companies during their search engine optimization. The items include:
•Wrong Keywords – Choose keywords and phrases that are related to your web site.
•Images instead of Headings – Search engines need to read actual content; try to avoid posting nothing but photos and images.
•Backlink Spamming – Quality backlinks are much better than just having numerous backlinks. Before backlinking to a web site, check to see how high or low their PageRank is.
•Ignoring Title Tags – A title tag is important because it shows in the search results as your page title. Add proper title tags when creating your web pages.
About CODANK Charlotte Web Design
CODANK is a top Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company located in Charlotte, NC. The company is dedicated to providing a broad range of web design services. CODANK specializes in Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Graphic Design, Online Marketing, and Web Design and Development.
For more information, visit CODANK Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company at www.codank.com
According to Wikipedia.org, search engine optimization (SEO) is defined as the process of improving the volume or quality of traffic to a web site or web page from search engines, such as Google and Yahoo. This can be done via natural or unpaid search results.
It is highly recommended to hire a professional search engine optimization professional if your company is not aware of the proper practices. Doing so will save you a lot of time and patience. The cost of an experienced SEO specialist varies, and it all depends on how successful you are aiming to become.
Below is a list of the top common mistakes made by companies during their search engine optimization. The items include:
•Wrong Keywords – Choose keywords and phrases that are related to your web site.
•Images instead of Headings – Search engines need to read actual content; try to avoid posting nothing but photos and images.
•Backlink Spamming – Quality backlinks are much better than just having numerous backlinks. Before backlinking to a web site, check to see how high or low their PageRank is.
•Ignoring Title Tags – A title tag is important because it shows in the search results as your page title. Add proper title tags when creating your web pages.
About CODANK Charlotte Web Design
CODANK is a top Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company located in Charlotte, NC. The company is dedicated to providing a broad range of web design services. CODANK specializes in Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Graphic Design, Online Marketing, and Web Design and Development.
For more information, visit CODANK Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company at www.codank.com
Friday, June 4, 2010
Media Files 101
It is very common to come across a web site that contains beautiful image and eye catching graphics. These types of sites tend to be created more for the end user or viewer. Web designers and search engine optimization professionals should be aware that search engines can’t read anything but plain old text.
A web page can provide viewers with tons of pictures and audio files to download, but as far as search engines are concerned, they really don’t add any value to the overall web site. An essential part of any search engine optimization plan is to work to make these types of files count with respect to search visibility.
Below are a few ways to make a web pages image, audio, videos, and other media help with successfully optimizing a web site. Each tip can assist in increasing PageRank as well as search engine listings.
Make Files Accessible
Be sure that all files or directories in which your media files are stored on your server are open and easy to get to by search engine crawlers. None of the files should be blocked by a robots.txt file.
Suggestion: Do not place a “click to enlarge image” link inside a JavaScript link. Search engines cannot retrieve the larger file.
Name All Media Files
Each file should have a clear, descriptive name or title. Do not use the default name, such as img28474.jpg. Each name should be as expressive as possible and should match what the file represents.
Suggestion: If you have an image of an water bottle, call it a “Purified Dasani Water Bottle” or “16.9 fl oz of Purified Water”, not just simply “water bottle.” Search engines can mistake the water bottle for something totally different from what you are referring to.
Add Meta Data
Once you have added names to each file, it is now time to include more descriptive text to the “alt” attribute in the file’s tag. Meta data should be short and straight to the point, similar to creating a file name.
About CODANK Charlotte Web Design
CODANK is a top Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company located in Charlotte, NC. The company is dedicated to providing a broad range of web design services. CODANK specializes in Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Graphic Design, Online Marketing, and Web Design and Development.
For more information, visit CODANK Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company at www.codank.com
A web page can provide viewers with tons of pictures and audio files to download, but as far as search engines are concerned, they really don’t add any value to the overall web site. An essential part of any search engine optimization plan is to work to make these types of files count with respect to search visibility.
Below are a few ways to make a web pages image, audio, videos, and other media help with successfully optimizing a web site. Each tip can assist in increasing PageRank as well as search engine listings.
Make Files Accessible
Be sure that all files or directories in which your media files are stored on your server are open and easy to get to by search engine crawlers. None of the files should be blocked by a robots.txt file.
Suggestion: Do not place a “click to enlarge image” link inside a JavaScript link. Search engines cannot retrieve the larger file.
Name All Media Files
Each file should have a clear, descriptive name or title. Do not use the default name, such as img28474.jpg. Each name should be as expressive as possible and should match what the file represents.
Suggestion: If you have an image of an water bottle, call it a “Purified Dasani Water Bottle” or “16.9 fl oz of Purified Water”, not just simply “water bottle.” Search engines can mistake the water bottle for something totally different from what you are referring to.
Add Meta Data
Once you have added names to each file, it is now time to include more descriptive text to the “alt” attribute in the file’s tag. Meta data should be short and straight to the point, similar to creating a file name.
About CODANK Charlotte Web Design
CODANK is a top Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company located in Charlotte, NC. The company is dedicated to providing a broad range of web design services. CODANK specializes in Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Graphic Design, Online Marketing, and Web Design and Development.
For more information, visit CODANK Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company at www.codank.com
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Online Directories
Similar to links, not all directories that you find on the World Wide Web are beneficial to a web site. An online business often spends much of their time submitting their information to several directories but tend to only be listed by a small amount.
Common criteria when judging an online directory
•Does it contain a significant amount of listings?
•Does the site contain a lot of spam or unrelated links and content?
•Is an editorial policy outlining how to be included available?
•How long has it been around?
A valid place to begin your submission process is the Open Directory Project (www.dmoz.org). This online directory is known as “the largest, most comprehensive human-edited directory of the Web”. Open Directory Project’s data powers the main directory services for many of the web’s major search engines, such as AOL, Google, Netscape Search, and Alexa.
Good and sometimes bad – the Open Directory Project (DMOZ) is the only major online directory that is offered to the public for no cost at all. The directory is maintained by a large group of volunteer editors, so search crawlers are not used. Inclusion on DMOZ ranges from a few days to even years.
Yes, DMOZ is free but many commercial sites find themselves paying to get listed. A $299 non-refundable fee makes certain that a web site will be reviewed for inclusion, but it does not guarantee that the site will be included in the directory. If it is included on DMOZ, the web site is given the option to edit, re-categorize, and remove their listing at any time.
Other common online directories you might want to consider include:
•Starting Point
•ExactSeek
•Best of the Web
About CODANK Charlotte Web Design
CODANK is a top Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company located in Charlotte, NC. The company is dedicated to providing a broad range of web design services. CODANK specializes in Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Graphic Design, Online Marketing, and Web Design and Development.
For more information, visit CODANK Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company at www.codank.com
Common criteria when judging an online directory
•Does it contain a significant amount of listings?
•Does the site contain a lot of spam or unrelated links and content?
•Is an editorial policy outlining how to be included available?
•How long has it been around?
A valid place to begin your submission process is the Open Directory Project (www.dmoz.org). This online directory is known as “the largest, most comprehensive human-edited directory of the Web”. Open Directory Project’s data powers the main directory services for many of the web’s major search engines, such as AOL, Google, Netscape Search, and Alexa.
Good and sometimes bad – the Open Directory Project (DMOZ) is the only major online directory that is offered to the public for no cost at all. The directory is maintained by a large group of volunteer editors, so search crawlers are not used. Inclusion on DMOZ ranges from a few days to even years.
Yes, DMOZ is free but many commercial sites find themselves paying to get listed. A $299 non-refundable fee makes certain that a web site will be reviewed for inclusion, but it does not guarantee that the site will be included in the directory. If it is included on DMOZ, the web site is given the option to edit, re-categorize, and remove their listing at any time.
Other common online directories you might want to consider include:
•Starting Point
•ExactSeek
•Best of the Web
About CODANK Charlotte Web Design
CODANK is a top Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company located in Charlotte, NC. The company is dedicated to providing a broad range of web design services. CODANK specializes in Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Graphic Design, Online Marketing, and Web Design and Development.
For more information, visit CODANK Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company at www.codank.com
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
SEO PR
The term SEO PR is slowly but surely gaining popularity in the search engine optimization world. Combining the power of online public relations and resulting media coverage is an outstanding strategy for gaining visibility and backlinks on the Internet.
News and media sites are by far the most reliable sites that are surfing the web. These are the types of web sites that businesses should be looking to for incoming links to their own sites. Mentions in news and media sites carry a lot of credibility.
Press releases that have been well-optimized with keywords and phrases that have been posted on the following web sites are also searchable by news sites:
•Business Wire
•PR Newswire
•MarketWire
The news sites include MSN Newsbot, Yahoo News, Google News, and Yahoo Finance, as well as many other web sites which collect news, as well as Topiz.net, Lycos News, and Excite News.
The two top online news gateways are Yahoo News and Google News. These two sites reach traffic levels that are equal to and sometimes more than that of CNN.com and washingtonpost.com.
All of the different features help with instant online visibility, links back to a web site, and keyword associations. Be advised that each press release has to include news of value to be picked up by editorial sites.
Tips on How to Optimize a Press Release
•Place keywords high on the page
•Be creative when writing a headline and summary
•Do not add too many keywords
•Write for readers not search engines
About CODANK Charlotte Web Design
CODANK is a top Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company located in Charlotte, NC. The company is dedicated to providing a broad range of web design services. CODANK specializes in Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Graphic Design, Online Marketing, and Web Design and Development.
For more information, visit CODANK Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company at www.codank.com
News and media sites are by far the most reliable sites that are surfing the web. These are the types of web sites that businesses should be looking to for incoming links to their own sites. Mentions in news and media sites carry a lot of credibility.
Press releases that have been well-optimized with keywords and phrases that have been posted on the following web sites are also searchable by news sites:
•Business Wire
•PR Newswire
•MarketWire
The news sites include MSN Newsbot, Yahoo News, Google News, and Yahoo Finance, as well as many other web sites which collect news, as well as Topiz.net, Lycos News, and Excite News.
The two top online news gateways are Yahoo News and Google News. These two sites reach traffic levels that are equal to and sometimes more than that of CNN.com and washingtonpost.com.
All of the different features help with instant online visibility, links back to a web site, and keyword associations. Be advised that each press release has to include news of value to be picked up by editorial sites.
Tips on How to Optimize a Press Release
•Place keywords high on the page
•Be creative when writing a headline and summary
•Do not add too many keywords
•Write for readers not search engines
About CODANK Charlotte Web Design
CODANK is a top Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company located in Charlotte, NC. The company is dedicated to providing a broad range of web design services. CODANK specializes in Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Graphic Design, Online Marketing, and Web Design and Development.
For more information, visit CODANK Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company at www.codank.com
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Optimize Your Website in a Different Language
The goal of every business owner is to be successful in their own country. Once they have achieved this, consideration of expanding to other countries often comes into mind. Majority of web sites on the Internet are in English, but there are billions of surfers around the globe that speak a different language. Before any online business can expand globally, the need to create a multi-language web site is very important.
When an online company decides to design a multilingual web site, it usually means that they will also have to double their search engine optimization strategy. Optimizing a foreign language web site is very similar to optimizing an English site; you just do it in a different lingo!
Not translating content correctly can not only hurt you as a business but it can also affect your search engine rankings. Be sure to hire someone who is fluent in the language you are focusing on just to be safe.
Below are some guidelines by CODANK Charlotte Web Design that an online business should consider when optimizing their multi-language web site:
Properly translate keywords and phrases – It is not always easy to translate some words, so you’ll probably need to choose new ones.
Apply the same Search Engine Optimization Rules – Even though the language has changed does not mean search engines or crawlers are any different.
Translate current web content – If you are not fluent in the language that you choose hire someone who is proficient. Do not rely on your own judgment.
Provide language options – Give your viewers options to choose from on your web site. Be sure to make language options clear so your foreign visitors will not miss it.
Include proper link – Links both to and from your English site to your foreign language site should be included.
About CODANK Charlotte Web Design
CODANK is a top Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company located in Charlotte, NC. The company is dedicated to providing a broad range of web design services. CODANK specializes in Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Graphic Design, Online Marketing, and Web Design and Development.
For more information, visit CODANK Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company at www.codank.com
When an online company decides to design a multilingual web site, it usually means that they will also have to double their search engine optimization strategy. Optimizing a foreign language web site is very similar to optimizing an English site; you just do it in a different lingo!
Not translating content correctly can not only hurt you as a business but it can also affect your search engine rankings. Be sure to hire someone who is fluent in the language you are focusing on just to be safe.
Below are some guidelines by CODANK Charlotte Web Design that an online business should consider when optimizing their multi-language web site:
Properly translate keywords and phrases – It is not always easy to translate some words, so you’ll probably need to choose new ones.
Apply the same Search Engine Optimization Rules – Even though the language has changed does not mean search engines or crawlers are any different.
Translate current web content – If you are not fluent in the language that you choose hire someone who is proficient. Do not rely on your own judgment.
Provide language options – Give your viewers options to choose from on your web site. Be sure to make language options clear so your foreign visitors will not miss it.
Include proper link – Links both to and from your English site to your foreign language site should be included.
About CODANK Charlotte Web Design
CODANK is a top Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company located in Charlotte, NC. The company is dedicated to providing a broad range of web design services. CODANK specializes in Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Graphic Design, Online Marketing, and Web Design and Development.
For more information, visit CODANK Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company at www.codank.com
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