Why I’m leaving the web design business
There are essentially two reasons that I have for leaving the web design world. The first is because I can’t compete with the dishonest developers and SEO companies who will promise big dreams and low prices, but who refuse to guarantee anything. If you didn’t see my recent post on that topic, you can (and should) read it here. …
Limited Warranty
When you sign a contract with a web developer, it will almost certainly include something like the quote below. I’ve translated the legalese into English for you. Here’s the original text (from multiple web developers’ contracts): Limited Warranty: Company warrants that the services of Consultant will be provided utilizing reasonable care and skill in accordance with customary industry standards. Company …
How to know what you don’t know
Almost every day, someone approaches me about a website development or SEO project, and they sheepishly admit they don’t know anything about this stuff. Well, why would you? I assume if you’re calling my company about a website that you are probably not in the website business. And if that’s the case, there’s no reason to expect you to know …
Competing with the big dogs on Google
It’s not easy getting attention on Google when you compete against national brands for your keywords. For example, if you a small boutique that sells baby blankets, you want people to find you when they search for “baby blankets” on Google. But the first page of results is almost entirely filled up by the “Bog Box” brands like Amazon, Toys …
BONUS TIP: Seek Professional Advice
This post completes my series “10 Steps to a Better Website”, which was written to help business leaders improve the appearance and effectiveness of their websites. Whether you are a Do-It-Yourselfer or you have a designer who manages your website, the 10 Steps I’ve outlined can help to improve almost any website. But the bottom line is this: Your website …
Step 10: Use analytics to see what needs work.
Whether you are a Do-It-Yourselfer, or you’ve hired a professional to create your website, you absolutely must watch the traffic on your site and analyze it to see what’s working and what isn’t. Some DIY sites offer their own website analytics, but if yours doesn’t, I strongly recommend Google Analytics – a free tool that helps you track the visitors …
Step 9: Quality photos.
OMG! This is critically important! I say this all the time: “It’s better for you to have a really awesome photo of a potted plant on your website, than a mediocre photo of something related to your business.” The quality of the photos matters far more than the actual content. Why? Because the quality of the image is the first …
Step 8: Get your video on.
If you want a better website, add video. It’s engaging, it keeps visitors on your page longer, it’s great for Google Juice, and it’s more motivating than plain old text. Embedding a YouTube video isn’t hard, and don’t let your web designer tell you it is. The hard part is producing a video that people will want to watch. The …
Step 7: Integrate your platforms.
No, I’m not talking shoes. I’m talking Social Media! Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube are at the core of most successful online marketing strategies. But just having those platforms and posting to them isn’t enough any more. Today, it’s more important than ever that all your platforms be integrated. Your website should have links to all your Social Media platforms, …
Step 6: Testimonials
Testimonials work. I can tell you that I personally don’t put much stock in testimonials, because I know that companies don’t post anything but their most glowing reviews on their websites. But I can also tell you that research shows that Americans in general put a great deal of stock in testimonials. Not only do they read them, they are …
