Is The Website Designed For SEM?

Search engine marketing involves designing a website to match the advertising campaign. One of the key components of SEM is search engine optimization. If the website promotes a certain product, advertising that product must be carried out in such a way that search engines can link the promotion with the wording on the company’s site. Irrelevant information is detrimental to the success of online advertising.

A company that sells bedding made from organic materials will not be able to attract the attention of the major search engines if the website focuses on different types of bedding. Customers looking for organic, environmentally-friendly sheets and blankets are not interested in box springs, plastic fasteners or different stains for wood. They are interested in what the company sells but if the information they seek is buried too deep, chances are the link to the website will not be visible to them.

No matter how well a company operates its day to day affairs, how honest it is with its customers or how it offers the lowest prices, no one is going to notice if the website is not designed to match the information contained in the advertising. Search engine optimization is the process where a professional web design expert reconstructs the site, including the text and images, to give relevance to the advertising campaign.

Many Lookers, No Buyers

This can happen for one of several reasons. A company may have received some favorable traffic to its website for a short time, but eventually the sales dropped off even though the number of clicks remained constant. Usually this means the wrong key words or phrases were being used. After a time the search engines notice when people are clicking links out of curiosity. The wrong customer base is now being attracted to the website. Those truly interested in buying are being shown a completely different set of search results.

Wasted clicks cost a great deal of money. The idea is to attract only those who are actually ready to buy a product or hire a service. This means redesigning of the website in a way that attracts the attention of only those who are seeking the exact product or service offered by the company.

Not long ago the rule of thumb was to receive a minimum 2-3 percent click-through rate. This would mean that about three individuals out of one hundred who saw an online advertisement would actually check out the destination URL. For quite a while this was considered acceptable by the industry at large. But today things are quite different. The goal is to target a specific audience, maintain a high Google ranking with that audience and receive an even higher percentage of click-throughs. Over a period of time the actual number of clicks decreases, but a much greater percentage of buying customers will actually visit the website. Those not really interested will never even see the ad, saving companies a huge advertising cost.

Navigation Problems

Perhaps the most overlooked problem with a company website is difficulty getting from the landing page to the relevant information. A well-designed landing page attracts attention immediately and also makes it easy for users to find the information they require. If the sales rates are low even though the number of visitors to the site is high, companies may be experiencing navigation troubles. Most customers expect to find the information they need on the first page they see, or at least be able to see a direct link. A professionally designed website makes it easy for consumers with low patience levels to get where they need to go without having to scan the entire page.

Professional web designers look at every aspect of a company. They examines the product or service offered, the desired target audience and the degree of competition in the marketplace. A web design is then created that allows the client to reach the highest number of potential customers without breaking its advertising budget.

One of the most common times where websites need SEO is when a website is either being launched as a brand-new venture, or is being rebuilt from the ground up. In either instance, the site is a new presence on the internet. It will be targeting a new audience or, in the case of rebuilt websites, an audience that is larger than the old one. This is a perfect time to optimize a site for search engines, since it can be built from the ground up with search engines in mind, resulting in optimal rankings. At this point, webmasters might choose to consult with or hire a SEO firm. A company with experience in optimization can provide more insight than a webmaster who isn’t experienced in SEO. Even though the do-it-yourself approach is cheaper, getting it right the first time can save webmasters time and frustration.

Growth that falls short of targets is another instance where a webmaster would want to go back and optimize his or her website. If a website has been launched but doesn’t have as much traffic as expected, then it’s time to re-examine why this is the case. A site that wasn’t built with optimization in mind should be retooled to a certain degree in order to be friendlier to search engines. If a site was built with SEO in mind and still isn’t hitting goals, then at that point it may be necessary for the developer of the site to reconsider whether he or she has all of the answers. More often than not, this is a scenario will developers will find that hiring a SEO firm will be a worthwhile investment.

Yet another instance where SEO should be considered is when an established site sees its traffic start to decline. This can come from a number of factors. If a site’s hits are decreasing because of declining quality or infrequent updates, then that’s something that SEO won’t be able to resolve. However, in many cases, a site that is already built for SEO might still see its hits from search engines decrease because other websites have encroached on their keywords. It’s an unfortunate truth that optimization isn’t something that just takes place once. Instead, websites need to be aggressive in maintaining their position in the search rankings.

One way to combat this effect is to anticipate. By constantly tailoring the site’s SEO properties and trying to have the page rank higher against certain keywords, any lost position in the search engines will be made up for by gains in other areas of the same search engines. Another method to fight this effect is for developers to be proactive in checking their site’s rankings. At the smallest dip in ranking, action must be taken in order to reverse the process, thus warding off any long-term decrease in traffic from search engines.

Of course, the problem is that both of these methods are time consuming. A developer who has to constantly monitor and update a site for SEO is a developer who won’t have time for other projects. In the case of a webmaster who is only managing one site, this may not be such a problem. In instances where constant SEO means missing more lucrative opportunities, though, a SEO firm should be considered. This lets developers take care of more important matters while leaving their site’s search engine ranking in the hands of trusted professionals.

The goal of any website is meant to be traffic and, in most cases, revenue. By optimizing a site for search engines, this goal can be achieved rather swiftly and without the great expenses normally associated with marketing campaigns. While a do-it-yourself approach can be effective in many cases, developers shouldn’t shy away from hiring a SEO firm if the situation calls for it.

Teleprompters boost your productivity by keeping your on-screen talent focused. They may think that they’ll have all the right words to say, but bloopers are inevitable. A missed word or line can turn into multiple takes that can likewise turn into hours of unproductivity. A teleprompter keeps the talent relaxed and on point. It reduces the number of missed lines and prevents the speaker from rambling. The screen is easy to read and the software contains color codes to remind the speaker to change inflection and tone to add life to the lines. Fewer takes equals less time on the set.

As they say, “Time is money.” A large portion of video production is spent on editing. Maximize your production time providing your video editor with good material. As I mentioned before, too many takes could drastically slow down your video production. This makes for more unusable footage and more time spent in the editing room. With the text scrolling in front of them, teleprompters allow the talent to virtually get their lines right the first time. This cuts down on editing, saving time and money.

That’s right. Using a teleprompter saves money. You may be looking at the cost of a teleprompter as a deterrent. A quality teleprompter pays for itself just after a few uses because you’re stepping in the direction of pre-production planning. Just think. Someone prepares and edits the lines before the shoot. The lines are running on the teleprompter and keep the on-screen talent relaxed and focused. If you do happen to run into a snag, the teleprompter’s software switches between prompt and edit modes easily. New text can be added or taken away in a moment’s notice. Someone can also take notes during each take to help the editors piece the final product together effectively. Fewer takes plus fewer hours in the editing room equals more money in your pocket.

Teleprompters aren’t an extra expense that weighs you down. They allow your video production team to work together effectively. It takes the pressure off your talent to be perfect, your editors spent less time in the edition room, and you save time and money. Teleprompters help you get off the set and sell your product.

A drug free workplace leads to a reduction in work related accidents. Numerous workplace studies measured accident rates before and after the implementation of drug testing policies. One particular study of the Southern Pacific Railroad gained attention. Prior to the year drug testing policies were introduced, the company reported 2,234 accidents resulting in injury. Accidents dropped to an astounding 332 in the fourth year of Southern Pacific’s new drug testing policies. The construction industry is also credited with a sharp reduction in work related accidents. Injury rates were reduced by 51% over a two year period when a drug testing program was introduced. A drug free workplace keeps employees focused and alert.

A drug free workplace leads to improved job performance. In addition to falling accident rates, companies experience a decrease in absenteeism, tardiness, and behavioral problems when a drug testing policy is in place. Productivity and morale rise with improved attendance and attention to work. Companies can focus on keeping dedicated employees and reduce the cost of hiring and training new employees due to the effects of drug abuse.

A drug free workplace comes with benefits. Many states have their own regulations about drug testing in the workplace. Employers who comply with these regulations receive discounts and additional workers compensation benefits. Drug testing policies can reduce the cost of providing employee benefits. Many health care insurance providers give group discounts to employers with a drug testing policy. Along with health care benefits, over 30 states have laws that prohibit compensation if employees violate drug free workplace policies.

A drug free workplace is a preventative method. Implementing a drug testing policy helps employers avoid hiring someone who may use illegal drugs and deter existing employees from abusing illegal substances. Employers with a drug free workplace policy are not only sending a message to their employees, they are sending a message to the public. Employers may publicize a drug testing policy to promote integrity and professionalism. This in turn, can gain trust and attract potential clients to their products and services.

So let’s recap. Implementing a drug free workplace policy can reduce work related accidents, improve employee job performance, provide employer incentives, and build a reputation of integrity and professionalism in your community. What was the downside again? A drug free workplace policy will only provide the safe and productive work environment that all employers strive for.

If you decide to transform your office décor with a custom wall mural, keep in mind that you can actually boost the profits to your business! Many people who buy them have found that it has drawn considerable attention to their office. You can actually grow your sales with it because of the interest it attracts.

Also, when you select your mural, you are creating a unique and personal design for your place of business. You can really change the atmosphere of your office by selecting an appropriate wall mural. How about one with a false window looking over the ocean? Or a false opened door that leads to a lovely garden, or a false skylight in the ceiling of your waiting room? With a wall mural, it is possible to create an atmosphere of your choosing for your business space.

Another possibility is to choose a window scene. Here a mural is placed over your actual windows! The light still comes through the glass, but you now benefit from both privacy and seeing the view of your dreams out the window! Further, if you have a patio at your business or home, you can choose a patio scene. The image of your choice is printed right onto the surface of a porous material that can be put in place of a regular screen. But there will still be air flow through the image, don’t worry.
And don’t be concerned about the portability of your artwork. Murals can be created on either adhesive or non-adhesive surfaces. Choose adhesive if you want your mural to be permanent, and select non-adhesive if you think you might need to move at some point.

Wall Mural Artwork

Another benefit if you choose to transform your office décor with a custom wall mural, is that most of the time you are purchasing a unique piece of art. The murals that you can buy at some businesses are hand painted, and there are no reproductions. Others are photographs that either you or the business can supply, and are then put onto an entire wall, or onto a canvas.

Some popular designs in many businesses today include trompe’ l’oeil and faux finishing. With faux finishing, imagine transforming a plain white wall into something that creates the illusion of granite, marble, tile or other rocky surfaces. Trompe’ l’oeil is the art of illusion in French, and is an interesting way to add an illusion to your office space. If you want a fireplace in your office, it can be painted in a mural, or a window or skylight, even.

Traditional drug testing involves migrating entire departments of employees to a testing center or laboratory on company time, wages, and liability. This creates an unnecessary amount of worrisome considerations for the overseeing management, who are responsible for dispensing worker’s compensation should any injuries occur. Given the sizeable chunk of the workday that traditional drug testing consumes, many employers find it difficult to administer random drug tests as their companies expand. This in turn opens up the avenue for cheating and dishonesty. While the integrity of the tests themselves is not the issue, the effectiveness of drug tests is greatly hampered without the element of surprise.

Mobile drug testing is the method of administering drug and alcohol screens and tests in which the test comes to the workplace, not the other way around. Since its advent, this proactive approach has set itself apart from conventional drug testing by offering a laundry list of benefits from liability reduction to employee satisfaction.

First, mobile drug testing affords employers and managerial staff invaluable peace of mind by dramatically reducing workers compensation risk. Saving a commute in this way is coupled with the additional convenience of time savings.

Next, implementing mobile drug testing into the workplace also supports increased productivity by keeping employees and staff members inside the work facility for the duration of the testing process. Not only does this save time, which equals money, but it doesn’t disrupt workflow nearly as much as conventional testing, which may cause employees to miss deadlines and lose momentum on critical projects.

With traditional drug testing, absenteeism abounds as employees may make unapproved stops on the way to or from the testing site. These unscheduled breaks constitute unlawful time wasting, and increase the risk of injury while the employee is eating, socializing, or whatever else on company time and money.

Prestigious mobile drug testing entities such as USA Mobile Drug Testing also offer another critical advantage over traditional drug testing. Test results are delivered forthwith in the same setting that the test was administered to further deter any unnecessary runaround. Every testing program that USAMDT offers strictly adheres to the Federal Drug Free Workplace Testing requirements, eliminating any doubt as to the validity of the tests.

As a testament to the effectiveness of mobile drug testing, companies that took advantage of mobile drug testing have reported a 51 percent decrease in injuries in the workplace within just two years of the program’s initiation.

Mobile drug testing authorities like USAMDT have offices dispersed throughout the entire country to facilitate mobile drug testing for every employer, regardless of their company’s size or location. Across every dynamic of the drug and alcohol testing experience for both employees and employers, mobile drug testing easily replaces conventional drug testing as a safe, efficient, convenient, and affordable drug testing solution.

Before you even get into any of the technical details, you need to know how much your time is worth so that you can determine whether your time spent on your own website is saving you money or simply taking you away from making money.

Armed with that knowledge, your next step is to evaluate your level of technical skill on a computer, specifically, as it relates to web design. Do the terms HTML, CSS, domain, e-commerce, FTP or SSL mean anything to you? If your answer was yes, then designing your own website may be an option. However, if your answer was no, you should either be prepared to invest several weeks just learning the basics or consider hiring a professional. A website checklist would be a wise investment.

If you’re still marching bravely forward, congratulations! Now ask yourself if you can afford:

1. To take time away from your company to learn the skills you need to design your own website?
2. Not to have an online presence while you’re learning how to design your own website?

From the basics to more advanced techniques, w3schools is loaded with tutorials, but keep in mind that HTML, CSS and Javascript are just the beginning. If you need advanced functionality such as e-commerce, a content management system or a forum or blog, you will need to understand programming languages like PHP or ASP as well. If you don’t have a technical background, the learning curve will be steep.

Another thing to consider is the software that you’ll need to design your website. First you’ll need an image editing program like Adobe Photoshop, but since you want to save money, its $700 price tag may be a bit steep for you. There are alternatives though, such as GIMP or Photoscape which are free but not as powerful. Next, you’ll need a program to edit your HTML and CSS files. Adobe Dreamweaver will give you the most functionality and is usually the easiest to learn since it works a lot like some of the software you’re already familiar with, but it will set you back about $400. If you’re trying to keep your costs to a minimum, there are a few bargain-minded programs available, like CoffeeCup that don’t have all the bells and whistles. Lastly, you will need an FTP program to upload your files to your web server. CuteFTP and SmartFTP are both very effective and inexpensive, and FileZilla is available for free, but is missing a few key features that the other two have.

Now that you know what goes into designing your own website, you can make a more informed decision whether it’s right for you or not.

Cost is clearly the first thing that anyone will consider. We’d all like to have $10,000 to spend on every computer in the office. With that kind of money you could buy the absolute best around. But rarely is that justified for even a single personal machine, much less every computer in the office.

The specific amount is less the idea here, though, than the principle: get what you pay for, but pay for what you need. We’re all tempted to cut corners. Saving money is critical in any business, especially when starting out. But trimming the computer budget too tightly will cost you productivity all day, every day for the useful life of the machine.

It is possible to spend too much on a machine even when you think you’re getting something for that money. ‘Too much’, doesn’t mean here not getting a good deal from a vendor. It means spending money for aspects that don’t give you any value.

One current Intel processor that runs at 3.16 GHz clock speed, for example, sells for several hundred dollars more than the 3.0 GHz model. The other aspects of the two processors are almost identical. The higher number does not, in fact, mean the machine will be 5% faster. Even if the price were only 1% higher you would still be spending money unwisely. You will rarely notice the difference. There are many aspects to computer performance and this small extra speed will go unnoticed.

So, lesson one is that if you learn a little bit about what makes for good computer performance then you can avoid spending money to get essentially nothing in return. No need to be an expert yourself though it never hurts. But be sure to ask some probing questions or get someone to advise you.

Post-sales support can be equally important. No major hardware manufacturer today gives stellar post-sales support. They simply have too many customers to make it feasible to answer all the questions that come up. Most will send replacements parts or a repair person in a reasonable amount of time for machines that actually break down within the warranty period. But you should not expect much more.

That means it can be worthwhile (depending on your personal comfort level with computers and other circumstances) to purchase indirectly. Many resellers offer a great value by providing increased phone and email support, rapid on-site repair services and other value-adds if you purchase from them instead. They can do this because they have a smaller customer base, often are closer to the customer and are usually much better trained than the customer service staffs at major corporations.

Lesson two, then, is to consider how important for you is it to have rapid, reliable, knowledgeable help when something goes wrong. Hardware (and even, to a large extent, software) is very solid these days. If, when you need help you need it now and need it badly, it can easily be worth the extra 10-15% you might pay for a system.

The old saying ‘penny wise and pound foolish’ is an enduring truth, never more so than when it comes to choosing a desktop computer. For most offices today, it forms the core of a person’s productivity. It’s worthwhile to put a little extra thought into choosing one.

Put simply, a landing page is a page visitors get to by clicking on a link. It’s a page that is created to sell a particular product or service you offer. By focusing on the market for this page, your conversion rate (the number of visitors to your site that end up buying your product or service) is likely to increase. It saves the potential customer from trawling through your site to find what they are looking for, and having to decide for themselves if this is what they are after.

If customers just end up at your home page, they have to find what they are looking for themselves. News flash: if visitors to your site can’t find within a few seconds they are hitting the back button and trying a link that belongs to your competitor to see if that will immediately jump out at them.

This is where the landing page comes in. Clearly display what the page is about, and make it obvious that this is what they’re looking for, why they are here, and what they want. Don’t let them doubt even for a second that this is not what they are after, and don’t give them a chance to be unclear about what the landing page is about.

If a potential customer can see that you are offering what they want, then they are yours. If your product or service is reasonable, if the price you are offering it at is also reasonable, then there should be very little reason as to why they don’t buy from your site. Don’t give them a reason not to. Make the purchasing process easy to follow, and they will purchase from your site.

It’s important not to distract them from the purpose of the page, or why they came there in the first place. Too many images, long blocks of text or a lot of links will be overwhelming, and they might even leave your site and not come back, even if they had every intention to do so.

A landing page is best used when you know where people are coming from, and when you know that the page can achieve a certain goal, such as a purchase or a registration. If you are doing other forms of online marketing, such as pay-per-click, then directing potential traffic to a landing page is an excellent way to gain potential clients.

Angela is proud to be an essential part of a SEO Company and also likes likes the potential that SEO can bring to businesses, and enjoys writing articles that answers questions and discusses possibilities.

1. What are the five most common questions people ask you about being a VA?
2. What are the top five things you wish all your new clients knew about working with a VA?
3. What are the five biggest lessons you’ve learned about working with your clients?
4. What are the top five tasks or jobs that you can help your clients with?
5. What are the five biggest benefits of working with a VA?
6. What are the five biggest challenges to working with a VA?
7. What are five things every new VA needs to know?
8. What five things will make it easier for a business owner to work with a VA?
9. What five tools does every VA need to have?
10. What five questions should every business owner ask when evaluating or interviewing a VA?
11. What five questions should every VA ask before taking on a new client?
12. What are the five biggest mistakes business owners make when hiring a VA?

At the end of 15 minutes, you should have a list of at least a dozen article ideas. But don’t stop there! Remember, articles for submission to article directories typically average around 300-500 words, so each one of the five answers in each question above can be turned into an article, digging a little deeper.

Another easy way to generate article ideas is to keep a notebook by your computer, and every time someone asks you a question, write it down. At the end of the week or month, look through your list for additional article topics.

By keeping your eyes open in your everyday life as you go through your own VA responsibilities and tasks, you’ll soon have an endless supply of fodder for your article marketing.