Keep evolving:
About 10 years ago it was easy to get top ranking on Google, however, today this has all changed and it is alot more complicated than you think. The days of just choosing a domain, doing some keyword research, sorting out your meta tags, meta description and writing a couple of words on a page on your website are over. It is alot more complicated than that. Google is constantly changing its algorithms, forcing you to constantly change your content on your website.
Enter Search Engine Optimisation:
Now its all about buzz words, repeating buzz words, content on your website and most importantly, getting Google to like your website enough to put you on the 1st page of relevant keyword searches on the organic rankings. This all has suddenly become an extremely difficult process and months are spent trying to determine the right formula. So many times we are told what to do and how to do it, that the whole process becomes frustrating. The seo process takes months of hard word and dedication, yet nothing is guaranteed.
Create a user friendly responsive site:
Designing a website for a desktop is not enough today. Your website also needs to evolve with the times and you have to customise your website to work on all devices from a laptop to a tablet. Your job is never just done. There is always something new. Something better. You have to keep track of everthing going on around you.
When is your content over kill?
You also need to find that balance on your website, too much content can become very boring to the end user. Writing for the sake of writing is a DEFINATE NO GO. You need to take time to think about the content on your website, keep it interesting, give potential clients a reason to stay on your site and more importantly buy from you.
Get more social
No need to go out with friends to be social today. This type of social networking is done online via Facebook, Twitter, Google +, and so many more. More time needs to be spent on your computer than ever before. You need to post daily on all platforms to help with your seo. It is no longer just about your website. There are hundreds of factors that can influence your search engine optimisation. Once again you need to practice patience, lots of patience. Even trying to remember everything you have to do on a daily basis could make you throw in the towel. But the rewards are well worth the challenge.
These are but a few of the many ways to improve your ranking on Google.
Is their an easier way without practicing black hat techniques?
I have not found a way and generally tell my clients 6 months.
Is 6 months the norm?
Let me know
Charlene
Wednesday 28 August 2013
Tuesday 20 August 2013
Important questions to ask your website designer
What every business owner should ask their website designer
The most important questions to ask before you sign on the dotted line is:
1. Will my website have any on site search engine optimisation (SEO)?
This is the most critical of all and is placed as first because so many business owners make a the mistake and do not understand how huge this really is. Seach engine optimisation (SEO) is so important for any website. SEO makes your website user friendly to the search engines. In other words it allows the search engines to find you when someone types in a word, sentence or phrase. Without SEO on your site, your website will not get noticed by the search engines, which in turn means that your website will not be noticed by the millions of people searching the internet on a daily basis, resulting in loss of revenue.
2. Can you get to the top of Google within one month?
This is a good question to ask because if they say yes, you need to find someone else. It's obvious they either don't know what they are doing or they are misleading you. And you can't trust anybody providing the service you need who is misleading you. I would not want to do business with a dishonest person. However, if they tell you that the SEO process is a long one, that requires alot of effort, this is the honest reply.
3. Will my website be mobile friendly?
This is becoming the wave of the future. Most people today have cellular (mobile) phones and many have phones with internet access. You also need to consider that your phone is with you most of the time. So you definately need to ask your web designer to make the site mobile friendly.
4. Will I be able to edit my website?
You need to be able to edit your own website, constantly, as part of the SEO process. You also don't want your website to become outdated. Many web designers offer this service as part of a maintenance package. This needs to be managed well, and you need to consider that some web designers are extremely busy and might not be able to manage your website on a regular basis.
5. Will my website look the same on different web browsers?
Since there are so many browsers around and just as many people using them, it is important that your website looks the same on every browser. Ask your website designer about this.
6. Are you a web design company, a freelancer or a part-timer?
This can be a concern if you want a great deal of services and options, you may want to go with a web design company that will offer you different services and packages at different rates.
7. Is it worth getting a website or shall I just use Facebook?
Facebook and other social media websites are very important nowadays. Many people only use social media to communicate and advertise their business, however, you need to consider a website as this is also a great platform to get your business noticed.
8. Why are some websites more expensive than other?
You get what you pay for. Alot of web designers use templates, however, if you want to spend money and get a website custom made with all the bells and whistles, the web designer could charge you considerably more for the site, but this could be worth your while. Remember that a website is the window to your business and you have about 5 seconds to impress a potential client.
9. Who actually owns my website?
You are the owner of the site. The designer is just designing the site, they don't own it. Ask that all information and that the domain is registered in your name.
10. What happens when my site goes live?
When your site goes live it's time to do some effective online marketing to get your website noticed. The web designer may be able to add additional SEO promotions, write articles, or add some infographics to the site. Ask your designer about this.
I found that web designers, generally, do not want to be involved in the SEO of the website and refer you to a company that offers the service.
The most important questions to ask before you sign on the dotted line is:
1. Will my website have any on site search engine optimisation (SEO)?
This is the most critical of all and is placed as first because so many business owners make a the mistake and do not understand how huge this really is. Seach engine optimisation (SEO) is so important for any website. SEO makes your website user friendly to the search engines. In other words it allows the search engines to find you when someone types in a word, sentence or phrase. Without SEO on your site, your website will not get noticed by the search engines, which in turn means that your website will not be noticed by the millions of people searching the internet on a daily basis, resulting in loss of revenue.
2. Can you get to the top of Google within one month?
This is a good question to ask because if they say yes, you need to find someone else. It's obvious they either don't know what they are doing or they are misleading you. And you can't trust anybody providing the service you need who is misleading you. I would not want to do business with a dishonest person. However, if they tell you that the SEO process is a long one, that requires alot of effort, this is the honest reply.
3. Will my website be mobile friendly?
This is becoming the wave of the future. Most people today have cellular (mobile) phones and many have phones with internet access. You also need to consider that your phone is with you most of the time. So you definately need to ask your web designer to make the site mobile friendly.
4. Will I be able to edit my website?
You need to be able to edit your own website, constantly, as part of the SEO process. You also don't want your website to become outdated. Many web designers offer this service as part of a maintenance package. This needs to be managed well, and you need to consider that some web designers are extremely busy and might not be able to manage your website on a regular basis.
5. Will my website look the same on different web browsers?
Since there are so many browsers around and just as many people using them, it is important that your website looks the same on every browser. Ask your website designer about this.
6. Are you a web design company, a freelancer or a part-timer?
This can be a concern if you want a great deal of services and options, you may want to go with a web design company that will offer you different services and packages at different rates.
7. Is it worth getting a website or shall I just use Facebook?
Facebook and other social media websites are very important nowadays. Many people only use social media to communicate and advertise their business, however, you need to consider a website as this is also a great platform to get your business noticed.
8. Why are some websites more expensive than other?
You get what you pay for. Alot of web designers use templates, however, if you want to spend money and get a website custom made with all the bells and whistles, the web designer could charge you considerably more for the site, but this could be worth your while. Remember that a website is the window to your business and you have about 5 seconds to impress a potential client.
9. Who actually owns my website?
You are the owner of the site. The designer is just designing the site, they don't own it. Ask that all information and that the domain is registered in your name.
10. What happens when my site goes live?
When your site goes live it's time to do some effective online marketing to get your website noticed. The web designer may be able to add additional SEO promotions, write articles, or add some infographics to the site. Ask your designer about this.
I found that web designers, generally, do not want to be involved in the SEO of the website and refer you to a company that offers the service.
Wednesday 14 August 2013
The truth about SEO
There are so many factors to consider when doing Search Engine Optimisation on a website. The process is unfortunately a tedious one. You will need alot of patience and a hugh amount of effort. The SEO process requires constant maintenance to your website, and will always remain part of your ongoing marketing strategy.
If your website is less than 6 months old you probably don't rank on Google's search engine, and you might become desperate to find a way to rank faster. There are companies who try to sell you overnight success, remember that these companies are not interested in your companies success and the techniques used by these SEO companies will permanently harm your rankings on Google. So ask yourself is top ranking for 2 or 3 months worth it? Rather focus on healthy, recognised, SEO methods.
Here are a few basic SEO tactics to help you get better ranking:
1. Check for broken links.
2. Submit a sitemap using Google Webmaster Tools. - It is very quick and easy to do.
3. Monitor your sites load times. A fast site will increase user satisfaction and this will help
improve your ranking.
4. Rich content.
5. Create a website that clearly indicates to the end user what your core business is about.
6. Use words in your website your user will find when searching for you.
7. Make your site as user friendly as possible,
8. Organic link building.
These are just a few ways to improve your ranking.
Is there a way to, without using harmful techniques, speed up your site ranking on search engines?
The future looks great for digital marketing
Digital Marketing is the way forward
More and more people are active on the internet and this is presenting new great opportunities for marketers in the digital space relm. Digital trends are being monitored, the results are fascinating showing how consumers are discovering the web, online video posting and watching digital advertising. The usage of mobile phones has increased over the past 2 years and social media and e-commerce sites are defining the current landscape. We are seeing an extremely high sophistication in digital media consumption.
One thing consumers have in common is the time spent on the internet, with the average user spending 30 - 41 hours a month online. The online video industry continues to grow, with the British leading the market with the average user spending 25 hours a month watching videos.
The digital advertising market is growing year on year, with America, Canada and Europe leading the pack. In 2012 over 724 billion display ad impressions were displayed on the internet, which was a 17% increase. Social Media sites hold the largest share of impressions at 27% of the market, followed by the entertainment industry (17%), portals (14%), news and information (8%) and directories (5%). The good news for all businesses is that you don't need a hugh TV sized budget to gain great traction on the internet. Online advertising is cheap, direct and can be monitored.
The quick adoption of the market to Internet-Enabled cell phone devices is contributing hughly to the fragmented digital media landscape. The mobile market has grown since 2012 by 10%, adding approximately 2 million customers to the more than 22 million current users. Smartphones are the current leaders with 62% of the market, with a staggering increase of 17% increase since 2012. Google's Android phones have 40% of the Canadian and American smart phone market. Apple has 35% of the market, followed by Blackberry with 20% . Microsoft still has a long way to go with only 2% of the market share.
Social media agencies and digital marketing companies, like First Click, assist all companies, getting them the coverage they need to reach a wide range of potential customers.
More and more people are active on the internet and this is presenting new great opportunities for marketers in the digital space relm. Digital trends are being monitored, the results are fascinating showing how consumers are discovering the web, online video posting and watching digital advertising. The usage of mobile phones has increased over the past 2 years and social media and e-commerce sites are defining the current landscape. We are seeing an extremely high sophistication in digital media consumption.
One thing consumers have in common is the time spent on the internet, with the average user spending 30 - 41 hours a month online. The online video industry continues to grow, with the British leading the market with the average user spending 25 hours a month watching videos.
The digital advertising market is growing year on year, with America, Canada and Europe leading the pack. In 2012 over 724 billion display ad impressions were displayed on the internet, which was a 17% increase. Social Media sites hold the largest share of impressions at 27% of the market, followed by the entertainment industry (17%), portals (14%), news and information (8%) and directories (5%). The good news for all businesses is that you don't need a hugh TV sized budget to gain great traction on the internet. Online advertising is cheap, direct and can be monitored.
The quick adoption of the market to Internet-Enabled cell phone devices is contributing hughly to the fragmented digital media landscape. The mobile market has grown since 2012 by 10%, adding approximately 2 million customers to the more than 22 million current users. Smartphones are the current leaders with 62% of the market, with a staggering increase of 17% increase since 2012. Google's Android phones have 40% of the Canadian and American smart phone market. Apple has 35% of the market, followed by Blackberry with 20% . Microsoft still has a long way to go with only 2% of the market share.
Social media agencies and digital marketing companies, like First Click, assist all companies, getting them the coverage they need to reach a wide range of potential customers.
Friday 9 August 2013
Thursday 1 August 2013
Google launches "Views"
This photo sharing hub is unlike any other and allowes you to view a 360 degree panoramic view of photos from all over the world.
With this fantastic product you can explore world wide landmarks, visit museums, galleries, climb mount Everest. Ever wanted to dive to the bottom of the worlds greatest oceans? Now we all can.
At the click of a button you can transport yourself anywhere in the world. Views.
Happy travelling.
Thursday 4 July 2013
The 10 Worst SEO mistakes
The 10 Worst SEO mistakes !!!!!
If you want a top ranking website don't make these terrible mistakes.
1. Keyword stuffing
I am the best I am the best I am the best I am the best I am the best I am the best I am the best
I am the best I am the best I am the best I am the best I am the best I am the best I am the best
Website content that is repeated over and over again is a big no. Take the time to add good quality content into your website.
2. Use your own content
Write your own content and be original. Don't be a copy cat.
3. Broken links are very bad
There is nothing worse than going onto a website and clicking on a page and getting a 404 error. I immediately leave the website and I am sure other potential clients do the same. How are you going to be trusted if your website is broken? Take the time to fix these errors.
4. Never use duplicated content.
Once again take the time to make your content on your website original and unique. Duplicate copy is boring to the end user and nobody likes to read the same information over and over. Duplicate copy is boring to the end user and nobody likes to read the same information over and over. Duplicate copy is boring to the end user and nobody likes to read the same information over and over. Get it !!! The search engine crawler will not index pages with duplicate content.
5. Bad Links
People associate you with the company you keep. This is the same principle with website links. Rather have 1 good link than 10 bad links. Bad links can affect the ranking of your website.
6. Optimise the correct keywords
Use keywords relevant to your industry. It is pointless to rank on keywords that are not relevant to your business.
7. Meta Tag Description
The meta tag description explains the page to a browser. You need to write a good description or Google's algorithm might decide the content is so badly written and replace it with its own version of what is on the page.
8. Navigation
Make your website easy to navigate. Let the user get from point A to B easily. There is nothing worse than trying to find something and you end up going in circles.
9. Attractive website
Make your website interesting and attractive. You want to keep people on your website and if your website is boring or unattractive you will start to experience a high bounce rate. This is never good.
10. Cluttered pages
I hate going onto a page where there is so much going on, that your eye just never gets a chance to rest on a relevant topic. No one likes a busy shopping centre.
If you want a top ranking website don't make these terrible mistakes.
1. Keyword stuffing
I am the best I am the best I am the best I am the best I am the best I am the best I am the best
I am the best I am the best I am the best I am the best I am the best I am the best I am the best
Website content that is repeated over and over again is a big no. Take the time to add good quality content into your website.
2. Use your own content
Write your own content and be original. Don't be a copy cat.
3. Broken links are very bad
There is nothing worse than going onto a website and clicking on a page and getting a 404 error. I immediately leave the website and I am sure other potential clients do the same. How are you going to be trusted if your website is broken? Take the time to fix these errors.
4. Never use duplicated content.
Once again take the time to make your content on your website original and unique. Duplicate copy is boring to the end user and nobody likes to read the same information over and over. Duplicate copy is boring to the end user and nobody likes to read the same information over and over. Duplicate copy is boring to the end user and nobody likes to read the same information over and over. Get it !!! The search engine crawler will not index pages with duplicate content.
5. Bad Links
People associate you with the company you keep. This is the same principle with website links. Rather have 1 good link than 10 bad links. Bad links can affect the ranking of your website.
6. Optimise the correct keywords
Use keywords relevant to your industry. It is pointless to rank on keywords that are not relevant to your business.
7. Meta Tag Description
The meta tag description explains the page to a browser. You need to write a good description or Google's algorithm might decide the content is so badly written and replace it with its own version of what is on the page.
8. Navigation
Make your website easy to navigate. Let the user get from point A to B easily. There is nothing worse than trying to find something and you end up going in circles.
9. Attractive website
Make your website interesting and attractive. You want to keep people on your website and if your website is boring or unattractive you will start to experience a high bounce rate. This is never good.
10. Cluttered pages
I hate going onto a page where there is so much going on, that your eye just never gets a chance to rest on a relevant topic. No one likes a busy shopping centre.
Wednesday 26 June 2013
Bing It or Google It
Google lost 0.6 % search market share in April, dropping from March's 67.1 % to 66.5 %.
While, Microsoft's Bing saw the biggest increase with a total search market share of 17.3 %, This is a 0.4 % increase in April 2013, which is a significant increase from April 2012, where Microsoft had only 15.4 % share. Last year in September Bing launched their online campaign "Bing It On", which offers the same search results as Google. Bing revealed that since the launch of their campaign over 25 million people in the US have taken the Bing It On Challenge, and most people prefer Bing search results over Google. Will Bing break the "Google habit" ?
So I would have to ask who is better ?
I personally prefer the most popular search engine, Google Am I just part of the "Google habit"?
Research shows that Google still remains the most popular search engine in most countries in the world. But remember the story of David and Goliath. You just never know what the future holds.
Have an awesome day !!!!
Charlene
So I would have to ask who is better ?
I personally prefer the most popular search engine, Google Am I just part of the "Google habit"?
Research shows that Google still remains the most popular search engine in most countries in the world. But remember the story of David and Goliath. You just never know what the future holds.
Have an awesome day !!!!
Charlene
Tuesday 25 June 2013
Benefits of Internet Advertising
People are to a large extent greatly dependent on the internet. The modern world of today would not function without the internet. The internet is used for work, social and to do online shopping and is used by people of all ages, from children to the elderly. Our lives have changed so much since the launch of social media sites, finding and meeting people has become as easy as a click of the finger.
The internet has also become the most effective medium of advertising, and is fast replacing the more traditional forms of advertising such as magazines, newspapers and television.
With online advertising you cover a much wider geographical area. You can also specify the coverage, thus ensuring a better advertising campaign. You decide what your target market will be. When you compare the cost to other forms of advertising, online advertising is the cheaper form of advertising. It is also easier to track your response. There are so many analytical tools available. Your cost of advertising is also determined by the number of clicks, resulting in qualified leads. One of the best advantages of online advertising is the conversion rate. You know exactly what you are paying for. There are no grey areas. With all the information available to track your online campaign you will know exactly what you are paying for. Brilliant.
Online advertising spend is on the increase. More and more people are turning to search engines like Google to find what they want. It is crucial to make sure that you as a company are where people will be looking. If you are not there you could be loosing potential clients on a daily basis. For companies SEO could be the most important advertising decision they make. Optimising your website and securing 1st page ranking on Google is so important.
Enjoy your day
Charlene
People are to a large extent greatly dependent on the internet. The modern world of today would not function without the internet. The internet is used for work, social and to do online shopping and is used by people of all ages, from children to the elderly. Our lives have changed so much since the launch of social media sites, finding and meeting people has become as easy as a click of the finger.
The internet has also become the most effective medium of advertising, and is fast replacing the more traditional forms of advertising such as magazines, newspapers and television.
With online advertising you cover a much wider geographical area. You can also specify the coverage, thus ensuring a better advertising campaign. You decide what your target market will be. When you compare the cost to other forms of advertising, online advertising is the cheaper form of advertising. It is also easier to track your response. There are so many analytical tools available. Your cost of advertising is also determined by the number of clicks, resulting in qualified leads. One of the best advantages of online advertising is the conversion rate. You know exactly what you are paying for. There are no grey areas. With all the information available to track your online campaign you will know exactly what you are paying for. Brilliant.
Online advertising spend is on the increase. More and more people are turning to search engines like Google to find what they want. It is crucial to make sure that you as a company are where people will be looking. If you are not there you could be loosing potential clients on a daily basis. For companies SEO could be the most important advertising decision they make. Optimising your website and securing 1st page ranking on Google is so important.
Enjoy your day
Charlene
Monday 24 June 2013
Google VS Yellow Pages
For over a century the yellow pages have dominated the direct print advertising market. Everyone who was anyone advertised in the yellow pages. It was the most sort after form of print advertising and the ROI was great. Who would have thought that the product would be dying today. If I think back just 10 years, the yellow pages were still considered your most reliable form of print advertising. Almost overnight all that changed. The next big thing had taken over the market. How do you compete with Google? The yellow pages was once a household name, now dominated by Google. The phrase "just Google it" is uttered everywhere. I do not think that there is a person in any "first world" country that has never uttered those words. The great thing about Google is how user friendly the product is, even a small child could use Google to search for information.
I just have to ask what the next big thing will be?
Enjoy your day
Charlene
For over a century the yellow pages have dominated the direct print advertising market. Everyone who was anyone advertised in the yellow pages. It was the most sort after form of print advertising and the ROI was great. Who would have thought that the product would be dying today. If I think back just 10 years, the yellow pages were still considered your most reliable form of print advertising. Almost overnight all that changed. The next big thing had taken over the market. How do you compete with Google? The yellow pages was once a household name, now dominated by Google. The phrase "just Google it" is uttered everywhere. I do not think that there is a person in any "first world" country that has never uttered those words. The great thing about Google is how user friendly the product is, even a small child could use Google to search for information.
I just have to ask what the next big thing will be?
Enjoy your day
Charlene
Friday 21 June 2013
Link Building for New Websites
There are many different ways to build links, here are a few:
1. Get involved in the community contributing on forums and blogs.
2. Always give positive feedback. The secret is to keep people coming back to your site.
3. Make your content easy to understand and interesting.
4. Please don't make spelling or grammatical errors.
5. Trade articles with other webmasters.
6. Submit to some paid directories.
Have a great Friday
There are many different ways to build links, here are a few:
1. Get involved in the community contributing on forums and blogs.
2. Always give positive feedback. The secret is to keep people coming back to your site.
3. Make your content easy to understand and interesting.
4. Please don't make spelling or grammatical errors.
5. Trade articles with other webmasters.
6. Submit to some paid directories.
Have a great Friday
Interesting Facts about Google !!!!
Have you ever clicked on the "I'm feeling Lucky" button on the home page of Google? The button is there, yet it is almost never clicked on. I am using the Google Instant, so when I type in the search bar, the "I'm feeling Lucky" option disappears.
However, if I just click on the "I'm feeling Lucky" button it takes me directly to the Google Doodle page. I was hoping for something great and exciting to happen. A doorway opening to another universe. Light to start flashing and a voice calling me to step into the light !!!!! But nothing like that. What a disappointment. :-(
Have an awesome weekend.
Thursday 20 June 2013
Understanding website analysis
Web analytics has always been an important aspect
of digital marketing, but only recently has it been considered critical to
success. So what does Web Analytics actually mean? Web
analytics is a generic term meaning the study of the impact of a website
on its users. Therefore, Ecommerce companies often use Web
analytics to measure data by tracking details such as how
many people visited their site, how many of those visitors were unique
visitors, how they came to the site. This can maximize any marketing campaign
giving results of active participation in reposting, driving conversions and
results.
Web analytics is critical to measuring the success
of your website as you identify opportunities to improve your business and
marketing initiatives. Most marketers are confused with business implications
of analytics reports, so it ends up being simpler to track what you know. Thus it is important that you understand SEO.
Here are some handy tips:
- Firstly, look at your websites Home Page.
- Make sure your Home Page is attractive to the end user.
- Navigation through your website must be easy. Is it user friendly?
- Make sure your site organisation is easy to understand.
- All your headings need to be relevant to the search
- he font you use in your website must be easy readable.
- Is the content on your website relevant to your industry?
- Look at your competitors websites.
An Introduction to First Click
At First Click we believe that “Nothing is Impossible” and
with this statement we endeavour to do our
best for all our clients.
Our Mission” To meet your needs and exceed your
expectations” is proof that we at First
Click are a target driven company with our No 1 priority,
being your ranking on Google’s search engine.
We do not only focus on SEO, but also on Google Adwords
Campaigns, as we believe that both the organic and paid searches are important
to any company’s success. This whole
process is combined with our web design team to give your company the best of
all worlds, making the journey of our clients and their potential clients a
pleasant experience. We focus on the end
result generating more leads, more sales and the final result more revenue.
The Team at First Click are always available to assist with
any query.
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