Internet Marketing Web Design SEO Albany NY

Google Place Pages Increase Impact on Local Search

In an effort to continually improve local search results, Google has made a few changes to their local search algorithm making Google Place Pages more important than ever when it comes to local search.

Google rolled out Place Search results which combines natural search results with Place Pages. Those without Place Pages will most likely be left behind.

It's important that you not only create and claim your Google Places page, but that you also complete as much of the content as possible. User generated reviews will also play a vital role as Google is pulling and identifying reviews from different locations including Yelp, TripAdvisor and more.

With local search being the most performed search task on mobile devices, Google continues to lay the groundwork for the best possible local results. Is your Google Place page up to snuff?

Stories Behind the Code

My love for web design and internet marketing isn't about the code used to build a web site or the details that go into creating a Twitter account or the keywords people use to find a site in the search engines. 

It's the stories behind the code. My clients stories.

I got to thinking about this because when people ask me why I love my job so much I tell them it's because I love helping my client's use the Internet to solve or improve business-related challenges. I love a good challenge. I'm competitive, but not in the way of bigger house, nicer cars-kind of way. 

I love seeing the underdog win. The smaller company beating out the large company in their search engine rankings. The smaller company appearing to be larger by the design of their web site. The smaller company embracing Twitter without having to jump through hoops to get a corporate-level executive to give the go ahead. The smaller company whose budget is a fraction of the large one and who still gets the message out.

It's also about solving the business problems. 

In the past few months I've helped create Internet-based solutions for my client's faced with the following challenges:

• Utilized web site to help distribute information about the H1N1 (Swine Flu). Traffic spiked over 500%.

• Helped redesign a woman-owned business's web site, whose company is growing by leaps and bounds, and the new site has to improve customer experience, increase conversions (buyers), and improve marketing reach through social media, email marketing, and blogs. 

• Started managing and fixing problems to a medical practice's web site after an "impressive, expensive, and seemingly knowledgeable" - Boston-based web design firm redesigned their web site which ended in search engine results tanking and substantial business lost.

• Convinced an apartment complex owner that it's time for a redesign, especially, now that GlobalFoundries has broken ground in Malta. We're also setting up a blog for the office to communicate with the residents to reduce the cost of the paper-based newsletter.

• Providing affordable SEO and Google Adwords expertise to a small husband and wife team whose business has dropped by 50% in this economy. They don't know if their business will survive, but I'll do my part to help.

• Donated a web site to a non-profit who helps pay the bills for families of severely ill children whose web site was in desperate need of a makeover to help increase donations. I provided them with a reasonable quote, but their board turned it down because half of them thought the money should only be spent on helping the children. You have to spend money to make money, so I donated the web site because I believed in their cause.

• And the award goes to...Provided a $100 solution to a non-profit client whose web design firm quoted them $15,000 for similar work. The firm wasn't familiar with my solution and responded with, "good find."

It's these stories that drive me to do the very best for each and every client because I love using technology to help people.

How has technology improved your business challenges? Leave a comment and tell me your story. 

If there's a business challenge you think I can help you solve, give me a call at 518.439.5516.

Search Engine Optimization on a Shoestring Budget

Short on cash? Sometimes search engine optimization doesn't cost you a dime if you're willing to try a overtly easy technique. Here it is in two words: write articles.

Writing articles about your products or services and posting them on your web site will help improve your search engine results for your keywords. Not fond of writing? Don't let that stop you. Ask an employee if they're interested in taking on a special project. If that doesn't work, hire a freelance writer from town. Don't know any? Visit www.elance.com and post your project information. You're likely to receive bids from experienced freelance writers or companies that can whip an article up in a snap.

If you're stuck on what to write about, inquire with your sales staff, support staff or your receptionist. Have them keep a log for a week or two and see what questions come flying in. Pick one out and start writing.

Writing articles has 3 main benefits:

1. It showcases your knowledge on your given product or service.
2. It encourages visitors to link to your site because they like your content which increases web traffic.
3. The more quality links you get pointing to your site, the more "points" Google and other search engines give your site. In general, the "points" help you achieve higher search engine results for your given keywords.

Here's an example:

Let's say you're a chiropractor and after a week, your receptionist informs you that a common question pertains to exercises to do at your desk or while at work. So here's what to do. Title the article something appealing like 3 Strength Building Exercises without Leaving Your Desk.

Now, pay attention. Create a folder on your web site server called chiropractic tips and name the web page www.yoursite.com/chiropractic-tips/3-Strength-Building-Exercises-Without-Leaving-Your-Desk.html.

Make a point of writing a new article every week and within a short amount of time you will reap the results in the form of higher search engine rankings.

Next...Using Leverage to Make the Most of Each Article.