News, Website FAQ's
As web designers and developers we work with hundreds of clients and companies. We develop based on the clients criteria and the variables are endless. With any web based project, the client owns the website. Therefore, it is the clients responsibility to keep a healthy website, this is just like your car. The maintenance is always the owners responsibility. Once and a while you need to take it to the mechanic. Since a website is an evolving representation of your business it is important to keep it healthy or you risk losing it.
WordPress came out with 2 security releases lately. Don’t rely on your web designer or development firm or even hosting company to let you know if your website needs updates. WordPress has warning lights, just like your car. Login to your website and check on the dashboard. It’s right there in red. A message will let you know how many updates are required. If you are unsure how to do them or how to take appropriate backups, prior to updating, check with your web designer. There may be a fee for time spent, just like a mechanic. The health of your website is your responsibility but be proactive, it’s so easy and usually completely automated process that should be painless. If taken care of properly, your website will last for many, many years and yield excellent marketing results.
I think that people get frustrated when they have a CMS system and assume they are now able manage the whole website. The idea of WordPress is to be a Content Management System, it means you get to add content (text, photos, blog posts, videos, pdf’s… etc) to help market your business. It does not mean you should assume you know everything about WordPress. Not, that some don’t because it is not rocket science. The majority of people should budget at least 2 maintenance updates with their web designer a year. Again like a car, I can drive one, but I can’t do the maintenance. This should be a firm budget line in any business. Go, login and check right now. Are their updates to be done?
Written by Liz Skorski,
President, Skorski Web Design Inc.
News, Search Engine Optimization, Website FAQ's
When you launch your website or apply new content, Google does not instantly index it, however it is not difficult.
Without indexing, Google will never show your content in its search results for keywords you that should get you found.
First of all check to see if Google has indexed your website. Open your browser and simply type in site:yourURL.com
and view what in the search engine database. If your site doesn’t show up, then that means it’s time to go to work getting Google’s attention.
Step 1: Have Your Website Ready With Content
To get Google to notice your site, you need to understand what it’s looking for.
In a lot of ways, Google is an online library that houses the most information in the world.
Like any library, it has to categorize the information it receives to keep everything in order and easy to find.
With that in mind, consider this:
What if a library receives a book with a great title and cover design only to open it and find that it was completely blank. What would they do?
Probably set it aside and keep it off the shelves because the book is utterly useless.
The same applies to Google.
If it comes to a website that has no content like pages or blog posts, then it’s not going to want to “put it on the shelves” so to speak. That’s why having content on your website should be your first step.
All of your pages and blog content should have unique, useful content available.
That way, when Google does crawl your site to index it, it will have a much better chance of sticking.
Step 2: Create and Submit a Sitemap
Once you have good content in your website, create an XML sitemap, sign up to Google Search Console and verify your site. Then submit the XML sitemap to the Google Search Console
Step 3: Start Sending Traffic to your Website
Even when it is not indexed yet, you can refer people to your blog and website through social media bookmarking, blog commenting, and recipricol linking.
Now that you’ve been sending traffic to your site, and you submitted your sitemap, go back to Google Search and try searching your URL again.
If your site is indexed by Google, then you’re good to go. If not, just keep at it and checking on it.
Original article as posted Sept 20/16 :How to Get Your WordPress Site Indexed By Google Quickly by Elegant Themes Blog
News, Website FAQ's
Take a look at your website and ask your self these questions….
- Does it appeal to your ideal demographic?
- Is it a user friendly experience (easy to search, easy to get to pages, easy to contact you)?
- Does it tell the viewer; What you do, who you do it for, where you do it, why they should deal with you? Remember you only have seconds to tell convey this!
- Does your website show your expertise in your industry?
- Is your brand consistent with all marketing material (logo, colours, fonts, tag line)?
- Is your website mobile responsive and does it have cross browser compatibility?
- Do you have a lead generation system in place? ie. newsletter sign up, contact form, free download…
- Have you incorporated social media follow and share links?
- Are you products/ services adequately explained?
- What do you want to be known for? Is it clear on your website?
These are some of the basic questions we discuss when we do a website consultation. We provide an SEO questionnaire to help us learn about your business.
News, Website FAQ's
One size does not fit all!
These are common questions and comments we hear regularly. In actual practice all website services are custom. The cost depends on what you need. We work with small business owners who need a small website designed (1-8 pages) or larger websites with custom development and integration. Simple and small means less time invested therefore less cost.
Many clients want just maintenance or a one off fix for an existing website. That is ok too. A reputable company can advise on what services may actually benefit you instead of up selling you.
Web designers have a set unique of skills. It is our job to advise and practice many topics including; graphic design, development, domains and dns, hosting, seo, security, email marketing, social media, web advertising, current trends and technologies, blogging and so much more. With years of experience in the field and practical knowledge we can quote on projects of any size. We advise on marketing strategies that work!
News, Website FAQ's
Proper on-page SEO isn’t about gaming or trying to trick the search engines. It’s about making sure that the content on the page or post can be easily interpreted. ex.
Using a URL that includes a keyword
Including your primary keyword in the title
Naturally using your keyword within the first few hundred words
Not overusing your keyword in the remaining text
Keeping your content relevant, on-topic and easy to read
Linking to relevant off-site content
Including relevant and optimized images & videos
Filling out a relevant and interesting meta description
Making sure your page is mobile friendly
and more….
News, Website FAQ's
The timeline can vary, we usually allow 1.5 months design/ development time depending on the complexity of functionality. If it is a smaller website with few functional elements, it can be done faster. A more functional website including custom programming can take 3-6 months once the scope of project has been laid out.
Tip: If the website text content is prepared in advance for each page, the project will go much quicker.
