Each site we design has built-in SEO – meaning it is optimized for the search engines. Your site will have relevant titles, meta descriptions and meta tags that are different on each page. The way you can tell what is working is to check your statistics. The results are right there in black and white. If there are new phrases that people are typing in to find your site, then consider adding those to your meta tags. Your statistics reveal so much about your website and traffic. (more…)
Posts Tagged ‘Business Strategy’
Every Website Needs SEO
Wednesday, December 1st, 2010The Experience
Wednesday, November 17th, 2010
When dining at a nice restaurant, it’s more than the food and presentation that makes for an experience. It’s the ambience, the wait staff, the manager and those little extras that will motivate us to tell others. There’s a charming restaurant in an old house in Littleton, CO that has amazing food and ambience. The main reason I like to go there is because of Lou – he is a poet/actor/waiter. He has so many poems in his head that he can recite one for just about any occasion. Yes, the food is great, yes the ambience is great – but it’s Lou that keeps me coming back. He adds immensely to the dining experience. It’s the same with a website. You want more than just a pretty picture sitting there. You want people to keep coming back and buying your products or using your services because of the experience.
How can you enhance the “experience” the visitor will have at your website?
What if a Website is Illegal, Unethical or Posts Bad Things About Me?
Wednesday, October 27th, 2010
What if a Website is Illegal, Unethical or Posts Bad Things About Me?
In the 11 years we’ve been in business, this question has come up only a handful of times. I hope it never happens to you or someone you know, but if it does, here are some guidelines. I recommend calling and speaking to someone directly to get the fastest response.
1. Contact Google – they are pretty quick to address your concerns:
Google Inc.
1600 Amphitheatre Parkway
Mountain View, CA 94043
Phone: +1 650-253-0000
Fax: +1 650-253-000
Conscientious – Can You Download That?
Wednesday, October 6th, 2010
The dictionary uses these words to describe “conscientious” – honest, responsible, reliable and straightforward. In a nutshell, that sums up our work ethic. We respond to all emails and phone calls within minutes or hours. Completing requested tasks in a prompt, efficient manner is standard operating procedure. While this sounds like Basic Business 101 – it apparently is uncommon.
We work well with a variety of professionals throughout any given day. Whether they are Domain Registrars, Hosting, SEO, Pay Per Click, Adwords, Marketing, Public Relations, Printers, Web Companies, Programmers, Virtual or Administrative Assistants and more. I was appalled when I phoned a web company to fix a scripting error on their client’s site for us. (We’re doing some updates on that client’s site). I was told they couldn’t take my request over the phone, I would need to email it to support@ – what the heck? I received an automated email response assigning a case # and saying if it took longer than 72 hours a rep would call me. Well, that didn’t happen, so I emailed again, a new case # was assigned and again no response. I then emailed the person I spoke with initially on the phone. To make a long story short – my request was totally ignored and to this date, the problem still exists on their site. How do they sleep at night?
Three Things Every Website Owner Must Know
Wednesday, September 22nd, 2010
1. Know where your domain is registered, your login, password and when your domain expires. Make sure that your domain is registered in YOUR company name (not your webmaster’s, employee or volunteer) and that you receive the renewal notices. If your web company has your domain in their name, ask them to transfer it to you. Your domain name is valuable so make sure you are in control of it.
2. Know where your website is hosted. This is sometimes different than where the domain is registered. It can be the same place if you’ve registered your domain at the same place you host the site. Find out if they have an 800 number to call 24/7 if your site is down or has been hacked.
3. Know the passwords for each email address associated with your website.
Contact your web company today if you do not have the above three things and make sure you keep this information in a safe place.
Collaboration and Connection
Wednesday, September 15th, 2010
In today’s world it is more important than ever to be collaborating and connecting with new people every day. Being a connector is one of my greatest strengths and I want to help you make some new connections today. Do you know at least six people that you would highly recommend their services? Of course you do! Every person reading this knows at least six people and that’s a lot of new people you could meet. First, you have to know the specific type of collaboration or connection you are looking for. Here are some examples:
Collaboration – This is something The Web Muse & Co. does every day. We are in communications with Printers, Public Relations Firms, Marketing Companies, Virtual Assistants, Graphic Designers, Search Engine Optimization, Pay-Per-Click, Social Media experts and many more. These are all people we “collaborate” with – meaning that we work on a project together. We refer business back and forth. Think about all the different people you interact with on a daily basis and make a list of those types of businesses.
If Your Life Were a Quote – What Would It Be?
Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009
This is such a fascinating question. There are so many good quotes. My favorite quote this year has been “It’s All Good!”
Now that doesn’t mean that nothing adverse has happened. We’ve certainly had a most unsettling year that has caused concern in all parts of the world. What the quote means to me is that I’ll make the best of what happens. I’ll learn from mistakes and get through the hard times. I also like the phrase, “Learn and Move On”. Having a positive attitude and outlook on life is the way I choose to live. It sure beats getting caught up in negativity, drama and worry.
You can make things happen! If you believe and focus all your intentions on what you want to happen – it will happen. It may not be in the time frame YOU want (like right now!) but it will happen. Whatever your thoughts and dreams and goals are – continue to believe. Doubtful thoughts and negativity will delay the process.
Online Goals & Expectations
Wednesday, November 25th, 2009
Pretend you are opening a store in a busy shopping mall. As a savvy business owner you will budget for the monthly rent, utilities, security, signage, advertising, marketing, fixtures and inventory. Will you expect to begin making money the minute your doors are open for business?
As a website owner, let’s use the retail store analogy – you invest money in the building of the website or the retail storefront. Next, you open your doors for business or your website goes “live”. The thinking is that once the website is built, the search engines should find you immediately and the cash register will start ringing. Is this realistic? Why are online expectations so drastically unrealistic from offline expectations?
Organizing with Google Calendar
Wednesday, August 5th, 2009There are so many different methods to organize our busy lives. Some people like to use old-fashioned paper calendars, others like iCal, Blackberry, iPhone or Outlook. I decided to spend two hours with Google Calendar and share my experience.
It’s pretty easy and user-friendly. Since I already use Gmail – I installed the Google app so a mini calendar shows up on the left sidebar below my labels. The Quick Add feature allows you to type in something like: 3pm 7/19 Meeting with Client Name, location, phone. It can be typed in any order that makes sense to you. Then Google Calendar automatically places it on that date with a default of 1 hour. If I type in the time frame like 3-5 pm then it blocks out that time on the calendar. I put everything on one calendar – both business and personal. There is the option of creating several calendars though and that may make sense for your activities.
Top Ten List for Hiring a Top Web Professional
Wednesday, June 24th, 20091. Big Red Flag. No website? If the person you are planning to hire doesn’t have a site of his or her own, this is a big red flag. How will they know what works or doesn’t work if they haven’t tested it on their own site? If they are a professional in business they will have a website. Their website is a true reflection of them – study it carefully looking for anything that may indicate “this company looks great!” to “I have some doubts in working with this company”.
2. Listen to me. Can you hear me now? Are they really listening to what you want/need? OR immediately writing out a prescription like a bad doctor based upon what they think you need. If it is the latter – run-Forest-run.
3. Experience. How many years of experience does this person have? How will this benefit you?
4. Resources. How many resources does this person utilize? If they work only with one program or have one resource and derive all information/facts from that one source – probably not in your best interest to hire someone with such limited resources.
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