Website Marketing - Surefire Design

This is not intended as a comprehensive guide to SEO (search engine optimisation).
This is a very specific list of things YOU can do on your website through the content management system.
These are things Google definitely looks at, don’t say we didn’t tell you!

* Domain name - For your existing site this is probably set and gaining history and trust with Google already. But if you are considering a new site it might be worth considering a generic keyword loaded domain name e.g. swimmingwithdolphinschristchurch.co.nz
* Filename - when you create a new page, you have the oppportunity of editing the filename. This filename is part of the URL address (location on the internet) when you browse to that live page. 3-5 nice keywords can help Google understand the page. E.g. ‘book-swim-with-dolphins-christchurch’. Watch our video on creating a new page and writing the filename.
* Headings, Sub headings, Bold - Google actually sees Headings and Sub-Headings are slightly more interesting. So make use of that format drop down list tool on the editor toolbar. Making important text bold can also help. Don’t overdo it and remember your readers. Watch our video on formatting text.
* Content - Content is King and always will be. You can’t beat good topic related content, both for Google and your readers. Over time Google is going to read your content and literally record what words and phrases are in it, and where they are located. This is where the search results come from.
* Links Out - links on your website to other pages, both in your website and off to other peoples websites, are of interest to Google. Remember in training we talked about making the text ‘Click here’ the link is a bit pointless? Use good keywords and phrases for the actual link people click on. e.g. ‘Click here for more information on swimming with the dolphins‘. Watch our video on creating links.
* Image Alt Text - You can tell Google what your images are. Helps with Google Images searches. Watch our video on writing image Alt tags.
* Meta Title - watch our video on Meta Titles. This is the most important thing (after content) you can do on your site.
* Meta Description - watch our video on how to create effective Meta Descriptions and their use.
* Activity - Google wants to see new and current information. This is because Google wants to provide the most up to date and relevant content to it’s clients making searches online. So add content regularly. It doesn’t have to be much. And check through your stats how often Google and the other search engines are coming back to crawl through your site.

There are many many options when it comes to creating facebook Like buttons. This is the simple version!

* Choose the page on your website that you want to put the ‘Like’ button on.

* Click on source view and very carefully paste the code into the page. Usually you would put the like button at the bottom of the page. Save and publish, and your Like button will appear on the site!

This question falls almost in the same category as ’should you have a blog?’.

The answer is partly dependant on what else you are doing.
If you are already operating at 110% doing your business accounts, inventory, human resourcing, and updating the content on your website on a regular basis, then the answer is probably no.

There is a distinct difference between having a facebook account and using a facebook account.
Like any marketing tool these things have to be used to be effective, and unfortunately for facebook it is an amazing way to spend enormous amounts of time.
Something most smaller business owners have in short supply.

It takes time to build a network of ‘friends’. Unlike a website that is open to the public, a facebook account relies on that group of people who have voluntarily joined you in order to be fed your information.
That’s the second part. You need to generate specific information of interest to this inner circle. This has to be done on a very regular basis to keep them involved and engaged.

Warnings aside, lets say you have the time and your target market is correct for facebook.
Here are some handy tips for creating that effective facebook company profile.

1 Go slow and steady, don’t overdo it. Any marketing takes time, don’t blow all your energy in the first week!
2 Contact your fiends/fans directly. Welcome people individually that add themselves to your friends list, think of each new person as a potential lead for your business.
3 Don’t spam. Apart from facebook eventually catching up with you, its not a nice experience for your friends.
4 Consider it an educational experience. You don’t need to sell to every friend/fan. Your friend list is everything, give them something worthwhile to come back for.
5 Limit your advertising budget. If you choose to use faceboooks advertising package, start off small. Just like Google Adwords, test the waters carefully.
6 Only create one facebook account for your organisation. Multiple accounts is against facebooks terms, and it simply doesn’t add any value.
7 Use coupons and incentives. If its appropriate to your business, provide special offers to the exclusive group of facebook friends. Growing that list is all important and there needs to be benefits to being in the inner circle.
8 Post entertaining status updates. Keeping facebook friends engaged is important, a simple clever status update can do the trick.

The Google Local Business Centre is now Google Places.

* If you don’t have a free Google account, sign up for one first! Or log in to your business Google Account, Gmail Account or Google+ Account.
* Browse to the Google Places sign up page http://www.google.com/local/add/analyticsSplashPage
* Click on ‘Add new business’
* Select New Zealand and put in your phone number. This way you can see if there is existing information on your business.
* If you have existing information, click on edit, otherwise click on Add a new listing.
* Add all your business information. Profile, hours, payment method, hours of opening, correct map location, upload images.
* On submit you will be given the choice of how you want to validate your listing.

Post real time updates and check out your dashboard for performance.

Mention Google and most people think of the Search Engine.
Some people may also think of Gmail, and others might even think of the Google operating system Android that is appearing on smart phones, tablets and other devices.

Dig a little deeper and you realise they do quite a lot more than that.
Google has a suite of online applications specifically designed to help businesses. You can take a look at them all here http://www.google.co.nz/services/

Here are three that caught my eye.

Google Places - Formally called Local Business Centre and recently revamped and updated. Not only mark your business on the map for Google Map searches, but provide business information, post offers and live updates and check out your performance dashboard.

Google Site Search - Put a Google search box on your website and enable visitors to search just your site. Powered off Google search results.

Google Friend Connect - Interestingly this looks like a social network literally on your website. I’m struggling to think exactly what kind of business website this is appropriate for! But there may be something interesting in the Social Gadgets they mention.

To get access to these applications, you need to sign up for a free Google Account here http://www.google.co.nz/support/accounts/bin/answer.py?answer=27439

If you have a Gmail or Google+ account, you already have access!