Twitter

I finally broke down and got on board with Twitter. Check out the Follow Me button on the left of this page.

Search Engine Optimization Results

One of the most challenging skill a webmaster is desperate to develop is Search Engine Optimization. This sub-field of website design is a very fluid area where the rules keep on changing. Google, especially, redesigns their search engine parameters often in order to offer individuals the most relevant search possible. Building and maintaining a website requires research and implementation of skills to get websites ranked high and to keep them there.

I have spent a lot of time trying to master this skill -- master, huh? I don't think anyone will ever master this skill for any length of time because the rules keep changing.

However, I am so very pleased to report that on a few occasions, I have surprised myself and have achieved great results.

A Few Examples:

www.Sinus-Pillow.info
main keywords: sinus, eye, pillow
Placement in Google Search for these key words: #5

www.mbgWebsiteDesign.com
main keywords: website, design, folkston, georgia
Placement in Google Search for these key words: #3

www.Whistlin-Dixie.com
main keywords: folkston, train, watching
Placement in Google Search for these key words: #4

If you will notice that two of these domain names have the keywords inside the domain name. This appears to be very relevant where Google is concerned.

Also, these website are listing at various levels with other combinations of keywords. Their ranking might not be the same tomorrow depending on how other websites meet Google's expectations in relation to how these perform.

I enjoy the challenge faced concerning search engine optimization and I hope to continue to learn ways to provide excellent content for Google searchers to review.

Mindy @ MBG Website Design
206-337-3199

9 Cool Things to Throw in Your Retail Packaging That Get People Talking About You

I just found this article and I am going to be implementing some of these
ideas - just wanted to share!

http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d83451b09469e20128756151e0970c

Happy Thanksgiving!

Awesome Contact Manager

When doing business, it is important to properly maintain your customer base information in order to perfect the follow-up system.  There are so many different types of contact managers on the market today that it could be very easy to become confused. 

You can chose between online and offline, paper copy and computer managers.  A Roladex and calendar combo can be effective – If you live in the 60’s.  Then, there is the Franklin Planner, which will bring you into the 80’s.  The 90’s brought Microsoft and Outlook. 

Today, the Internet has sprung many, many virtual offices to help facilitate customer service and follow up.  I have searched high and low looking for something that will make my job easier WITHOUT costing a fortune.  I think I have found it. 

I found www.BigContacts.com while doing an extensive Google search along with a couple of other similar contact managers.  I tried several and then I tried BigContacts.com.  I am very excited about the flexibility that I have with BigContacts.com.  I can even integrate it with Outlook and Skype.  It has made my job much easier when all I have to do is mouse-click my prospect’s phone number and it automatically starts calling using my Skype account.

So, if you are looking for an excellent contact manager to help you follow up with your prospects and customers, visit www.BigContacts.com today.  I don’t get paid to do this referral.  I just really like their system.

Get 3 for 1 Leads!

I get all of my leads from Oppseekers.  The leads are good and better yet, they are economical.

 

Right now, Oppseekers is offer a sale for 3 for the price of 1 leads.  You pay for 20 and they give you 60. You pay for 15,000 and they give you 45,000.

 

Check it out right now at http://oppseekingleads.biz/79320

 

Happy Hunting!

Twins!

I have been unavailable to post a blog entry for the last couple of months because I have been on medical leave due to birthing twins.

 

Seth & Sarah were born on July 27^th, 2009.  Both weighed over 6lbs and very healthy.

 

I would like to thank everyone’s patience and look forward to sharing ideas with you again.

 

Good hunting.

Free Advertising!

I just found a free directory for advertising…

 

www.YourZipCode.com

 

Simply replace the words “YourZipCode” with your actual zip code and complete the form they provide to ad your business. 

 

For example:  I live in the 31537 zip code area.  The website I go to is www.31537.com.

 

Your business must have a physical address.

But free advertising is free advertising.

 

Don’t forget to also set  up your free account at www.MerchantCircle.com.  Excellent advertising opportunity there as well.

Beat the Economy with Your Passions!

This economy is beating everyone up.  Some people have given up hope and have become despondent.

 

I would like to remind everyone out there that we have options today that no other people had in any other hard economical times:  THE INTERNET!

 

The Internet has leveled the playing field and opened up a world-wide market to everyone.

 

If you have a hobby or interest that you have a passion about, you can probably make money on the Interenet.  If you are good at gardening, you can help teach others about it on the WWW and make some money as well.  How about sewing or wood work or self help?  The list goes on and on.

 

Why wait for the Government to try to fix your problems (which they can’t do anyway)?

 

1. Figure out your passion
2. Write out a business plan or action plan
3. Get a website (click here)
4. Use this blog to help you learn how to market
5. Get busy making money using the Internet today.

 

You can take control of your life…

Search Engine Optimization

I have been utilizing a Search Engine Optimization or SEO program that has really boosted my placement on Google.com.

 

WebCeo has allowed me to find new keywords, optimize my websites and submit my websites to search engines all from the comfort of my desktop.

 

Right now you can get a free version of this program by clicking here.

 

The free version is very functional and helpful in getting your website designed with Search Engine Optimization in mind.

 

Give it a try!

Design Your Own Website

Many of you out there want to design your own website.  You may be working with a very limited amount of cash or you just want to learn how to do it on your own.  You have many options to choose from on how to do this.  I will only talk about a few and also what I like best.

 

Before you begin, you need to know why you want a website.  What are you expecting to get out of the experience?  Do you have just one item to sell or many items?  Do you just wanting your storefront to have a listing where your customers can learn basic information about your company? Do you want to include a blog so you can give frequently updated information to your customers?

 

If you just have products you want to sell, you can easily skip designing a custom website for your self and go pay www.Ebay.com, www.Yahoo.com, or www.Google.com for their website stores.  Each one is priced a little different and each one offers a little different service.  However, the down side to this is you don’t have full control over the look of your site and how many pictures you can add and so forth.  Also, over time they can become more cost consuming than doing it yourself or having a professional like me design for you.

 

For more control, you will want to use an HTML editor to create your website from scratch.  There are many to choose from: some cost money and some are free.  I personally like Netscape 7.02 free composer found at www.Netscape.com. This is where I start and then modify HTML code as needed.  I also like to use CoffeeCup HTML editor from www.CoffeeCup.com.  They have a free version.

 

Next, I need a domain name and hosting.  I absolutely love GoDaddy.  I can get domain names for as little as 99cents.  I can host more than one domain name with my hosting account. 

 

It is really easy to upload my files to my hosting for free by using www.Mozilla.com FireFTP addon.

 

I even can upload my free blog from www.blogger.com to my hosting account and have it match my website.  This does take a little knowledge about HTML code.  You blog can be hosted with www.blogger.com for free if you don’t know how to do anything else yet.

 

Have I confused you yet?  I hope not.  If I have then start with something simple like www.Ebay.com or visit my Website Design Page to learn how inexpensive my Website Design services really are.

 

Happy Designing!

Keep your site lawful

Building your own website, at least a “cookie cutter” version, is relatively easy nowadays.  With so many templates and options available to you, it is easy to forget to keep your site legal. 

 

I am not a lawyer and you’re probably not one either.  Do you know that you need a privacy statement on your site?  I didn’t know it until just recently.

 

What is the correct way to write a privacy statement?  Good question.

 

I found an answer.

 

Simply go to http://www.dmaresponsibility.org/ppg and click “The DMA’s Privacy Policy Generator”.

 

Answer a few questions and click generate.

 

Boom!  You have a privacy statement that you can copy and paste into one of your webpages.

 

This is a good beginning in keeping your website legal.

 

Good Hunting…

Track Your Traffic

I have just starting implementing a new way to keep track of my traffic. Before, I was just using the system that came with my hosting plan. However, I have found that http://www.Google.com/analytics provides better tracking service and it is FREE.

 

I simply placed a script into the HTML on each page of my site and Google does the rest.  I get a detailed report of my traffic.

 

For those of my Blog visitors that allow me to maintain their site, I will be incorporating this tracking with in the next couple of weeks.  And…all of my new customers will get this setup automatically with their purchase of a website.

 

Till next time…

 

 

Can you make money on EBAY?

Every where I turn, I hear people talking about getting into the Internet world by selling things on EBAY. 

 

It sounds easy, doesn’t it? 

 

However, there are certain skills and techniques needed to successfully market products on an auction site such as EBAY.

 

• You need to know how keywords play into the placement of your ad. 
• You have to figure out what the minimum you are willing to accept as payment without making the price too high so people will bid. 
• You have to correctly calculate postage in order to not use your profit up in shipping. 
• You need to understand that you will still have insertion fees regardless if your item sells or not.
• You need to read EBAY’s rules very closely so you can be in compliance. 
• You don’t want a bad mark from one of your buyers as that effects your future selling power.

 

There are many things to pay attention to.  More than can be discussed in this blog.  I suggest that if you are really interested in marketing your items on Internet using a forum such as EBAY, that you begin with just one item and go slowly to get the feel of the system.  Be patient with yourself and allow yourself time to learn how it all works.

 

Good Selling!

Collect Those Email Addresses!

One of the biggest suggestions I give to all of my website design clients is to collect email addresses from their visitors. By building a list of customers and potential customers, businesses can often get repeat sales without any new advertising methods.

A simple newsletter, blog entry, or promotion email sent each month to the email list will generate more income and customer loyalty. Customers want valuable information. They will become loyal to the businesses who provide that information.

A simple lead capture page or section on the website will help gather these emails. If the business has a brick and mortar location, then it is important for them to gather email addresses from their walk in customers. This can be done by running promotions. For example: a restaurant can offer the chance to win a free lunch every week for their customers that submit their email addresses/phone numbers to them.

If you just take the time, you can come with hundreds of ways to make it worthwhile for your potential customers to give you their email address and subscribe to your information or promotions.

Until Next Time....

How can you beat the economy?

Everywhere I turn, I hear reports of a failing economy. I hear about people losing their jobs, their houses, and their dignity. What is really a shame, is that it doesn't have to be this way.

We have been powered with a tool that those that suffered the Great Depression didn't have: the Internet!

By harnessing the power of the Internet, a normal, every day Joe can become a Millionaire. It is truly amazing.

However, many people do not know what they have available. They think is too advanced for them or too expensive.

The best way to overcome a lack of knowledge is by teaming up with someone who does know. So, if you have a great idea of a product or service, give me a call and let's see what we can do if we put our heads and talents together.

I am excited about our future and I don't feel that I have to let this "recession" control my finances. I chose to exceed financially in spite of the failing times. You can too.