search engine optimization | Creative Juices Graphic Design Studio

Archive for search engine optimization

The Importance of Keywords

Just how important are keywords in getting people to find your website? Very.

Keywords are the actual words and phrases people put into the search engine to find what they’re looking for. When you are optimizing a page you will use keywords in the title tags, as well as meta tags. Keywords will be in the copy you write for the page as well as in “alt” tags on photos (which are hidden). And those keywords will depict the very essence of your page. It is what people are looking for and it’s how you will get noticed.

You need to be as specific as possible. If you just use the most popular keywords related to your page you will be one among millions of results, and the chances of getting a high ranking are slim to none. Of course there are many things that go into a page’s ranking, including links to your website, social media (Facebook, Twitter, Linked-In) and continually adding new copy to your site that people will find helpful such as in blogs. But keywords play a very important part.

Analytics also plays a big part in finding out who is seeking your site and what keywords they use to find it. Sign up with Google and insert their analytics code into your site so you will be able to keep track of your visitors. The more information you know, the better equipped you’ll be in optimizing your site.

Check out Google‘s free Keyword Tool to help you find the best words that suit your site. And remember that each page should be optimized as a separate unit with it’s own specific keywords relevant to the copy on that page. The goal is to use keywords that are the most relevant and specific to what your web page is about and have the least competition. You do not just want to have people look at your site, you want people that will convert to clients or sales.

18 May

7 Helpful Tips on Choosing a Domain Name

Your website is probably going to be your most important marketing tool. It should be the hub of all information related to your business. That’s why it is very important to have a domain name (url) that is descriptive of your business, easy to memorize, hard to misspell and of course available. Here are some easy tips to help you decide on the best domain name for you.

Try to use your company name / brand in your domain name.
Keep your domain name simple, short and easy to remember.
Avoid using hyphens and underscores. They can cause confusion.
Use key words related to your business. It’s best when your url describes what it is you do and what people would be searching for.
Use dot com whenever possible. It’s the most recognized url extension.
Avoid using numbers. Again, it’s confusing not knowing whether to use the number or to spell it out.
Don’t add an “s” to an existing popular domain name. The “s” is easily forgotten and your potential client will end up at your competitor’s site.

For more helpful information on domain name selection and search engine optimization check out SEOmoz.org.

Business Practices Helpful Hints Marketing 101 Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

16 Apr

The Power of Social Media Marketing

You can find hundreds of books to talk about Social Media Marketing, formerly known as Web 2.0. And I’m going to give you crash course in just a few paragraphs.

Blogs

Your blog is an extremely powerful social media hub. If done correctly, it can boost the visibility of your business in ways never before possible. Think of it as an online magazine. You’re in charge of design and content. Your blog can help promote your company’s website or it can be a part of your website.

Setting up a blog is very easy. You can try using a free blogging system such as WordPress.com or Google’s Blogger. But if you want to appear really professional you need to go for a self-hosted blog. The most popular and easiest way to do this is through WordPress.org. You have lots of options for design themes and plugins. Of course a professionally designed unique theme that utilizes your company’s brand identity is best.

Maintaining it regularly can be a challenge. You have to constantly come up with copy that is interesting, relevant and remarkable. This could be once a week. Daily would be great. A few times a week is good too. The trick is to write posts that people want to read. Show your personality and have fun.

Facebook

Facebook is the most popular online social network today, with over 400 million active users of all ages creating a home page and making “friends”. Facebook is a place where “friends” gather. Let everyone know what you’re doing. It’s easy to set up and is free. Show photos, play games, network, add applications. What’s your status? Your Facebook profile can be made public or private. You control the settings of who gets to see your page.

If you have a business you need a “Fan” page. A fan page is part of your original Facebook account. It is visible to everyone, registered or not, including all your customers. While a Facebook Group is better for hosting discussions, for long-term relationships, a “fan” page is best. Personalize your fan page with your company brand or image.

In order to get people to become a “fan” of your company, you need to drive them to your Facebook fan page. Therefore it is important to link your social media together. Create a button on your blog and company website, inviting visitors to become a Facebook fan. You want your fan page to be a fun place to visit. Create content and invite discussion and participation. Make your fan page a resource of information about your company and related products.

Another way you can entice users to join your fan page is by creating contests or coupons specifically for your Facebook fans. This could include discounts on products, free shipping, or other special deals. The goal is to get people to join your fan page and come back often. You need to give them a reason to participate. Encourage comments and input.

Creating a successful fan page takes planning, time and dedication. It’s not something you can set and forget.

Twitter

Twitter can be a very powerful business tool with over 17 million users, a large number of which are older professionals with high incomes. It is called micro-blogging because your “posts” are limited to 140 characters. But you can create an unlimited number of posts.

With Twitter you have access to immediate feedback from people all over the world, 24/7. When you need help, just ask for it. You’ll be surprised at the number of people who will answer your questions and offer assistance. This is also a great way to do market research.

Use Twitter to let people know who you are. Your tweets can include links to photos and video. Send links to helpful or interesting websites. Promote contests, specials, sales, new products, whatever. Inform people when you make a blog post. Direct people to visit your website. And don’t forget to create a unique Twitter backdrop with your company brand and information.

Coming soon to Twitter will be “Promoted Tweets”, a way of advertising on Twitter. And you will be able to pay for a Commercial Twitter account which gives a business detailed analytics tools and the ability for several people to post to the same Twitter account.

LinkedIn is a business social network with over 65 million professional business users with an average income of over $100,000 a year. If you’re selling to other businesses you’ll want to have a LinkedIn presence. It’s a great way to drive targeted traffic to your website and further build your social network by exchanging “information, ideas and opportunities”.

Building Buzz and Getting Noticed

The best way to get noticed is to remain consistent. That means you must post to Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and write your blog posts on a regular basis. If you don’t, people will stop following you. That’s not good. Sign up with HootSuite and you can write one post and send it to any or all of your social media at one time.

The more followers, friends and fans you have, the more you’ll get. It’s kinda viral. People want to follow popular people. And when you give people what they want in terms of information, tips, discounts, promotions, contests, customer service, etc., they’ll keep coming back for more.

When you’re involved with social media marketing, you’re also a part of the exciting new world of mobile marketing. Facebook, Twitter and Blog news-feeds are a huge part of mobile phone apps. Even Apple has entered the arena with it’s new iAd concept coming to an iPhone or iPad near you. Imagine interactive mobile ads and videos that are graphic and enticing. Google already has a big presence in mobile text advertising. You don’t want to be left out of this new marketing frontier.

So that’s the essence of Social Media Marketing. It’s all part of Search Engine Optimization. The goal is to get people to your website or social media hub. This can also include being part of social bookmarking sites like StumbleUpon, Delicious, Reddit, Digg; photo sites like Flickr; rich media sites like YouTube and Spoink and don’t forget MySpace.

For more information on how you can become a part of this exciting and powerful world of social media marketing contact Chuck at Creative Juices.

Advertising Blogging to promote business. Business Practices Helpful Hints Marketing 101 Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Technology Website Design

12 Jan

10 Simple Ways to Increase Your Website’s Ranking

There are several ways to make your website more search engine friendly. Here are some of the simple ones:

Add a Title (Heading) Tag to each page, also known as a Page Title. This should relate to what is on each individual page.
Add a Meta Description to each page (no more than 150 characters).
Research and and add Keywords to all the pages. Again, should relate to the copy.
Register your site with the major search engines (Google, Yahoo!, Bing).
Set up a site map which should include all your pages.
Make sure you are listed on the major online local directories in your field.
Create a blog on your site, or link to it and write regular, remarkable copy (such as this). This let’s your customers interact with your company on a regular basis instead of just having a brochure online. We recommend using WordPress.org.
Create a Twitter account and contribute to it regularly. Give helpful information and links as well as tell about yourself.
Create a Facebook Fan page for your company and create content regularly.
Get as many links to your site from other high ranking sites. This can be the result of having great content on your site.

This is just the beginning. Search Engine Optimization is a great way to get your website known. Being listed high up on the search engine results pages can be quite a complex and ever changing challenge. Enjoy. Or hire the professional.

Business Practices Helpful Hints Marketing 101 Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

07 Jan

Creative Juices 29th Anniversary

Today marks the 29th anniversary of Creative Juices. We have seen many changes in the graphic arts industry. We have lived through the days of typesetting, paste up, hand inking, negs and veloxes. Then came the Mac and desktop publishing. Remember Pagemaker? Then came e-mail, the World Wide Web, Quark, Adobe and AOL. Now we have Twitter, Facebook, WordPress, Joomla, Drupal and of course the iPhone.

As technology changes Creative Juices changes too. We have many new services, including designing WordPress templates, Twitter backdrops, search engine optimization, marketing and blog copywriting. Of course we still do logo designs, brochures, websites, ads and printing. Don’t forget we can also host your blog or website and set up your domain name. I am in the process of converting my website and blog into a WordPress format. I will be adding new and exciting features which I will soon introduce. Look for more updates here.

As always, we are dedicated to giving our clients personalized, one on one service and free advice on how to improve your business image and online presence.

Feel free to call any time or stop by and visit (appointment required). Lucy the Chihuahua is always eager to greet you. Keep up on her latest musings at AllMyChihuahuas.com.

I thank all my past, present and future clients for their patronage and friendship and look forward to working with you all again in 2010 and beyond.

Creative Juices News

13 Jul

15 Ways to Website Success

A lot of thought needs to go into designing your website before you put it online. Your website is who you are (or want to be). It’s often the first thing people see and learn about you and your business. It’s the first impression you give and you only have a few seconds to hook a potential client.

So here are some things to think about when setting up your website.

Choose a Domain Name that is easy to remember and has meaning. It should relate to your business.
Use your logo on your website. If you don’t have one, get one. Just typing your name shows very little thought went into your business and people will pick up on that right away.
Put your logo on every page to maintain your brand. It’s also helpful to link your logo back to your home page.
Find a reputable host. Preferably one that offers 24/7 phone service and tech support. Don’t trust those you can’t reach. Creative Juices Domains is one of thousands of places to choose from. I prefer it because it’s part of the Creative Juices creative factory of services.
Make sure your website looks unique and professional. The navigation should be easy and the color scheme should match your image. Don’t just use a template. If you’re on a budget (and who isn’t these days) call Creative Juices to find ways to stand out on the web.
Test your site to see if it looks good on all browsers and platforms. The main ones are Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari and Chrome. There is also a difference between Windows and Mac.
Have something interesting to say on your website. It’s not enough to just have pretty pictures or fancy Flash effects. You want to include information that people will find helpful. If you are a plumber, include articles on how to fix things yourself or explain why it’s better to hire a plumber and not mess up your pipes.
Test all your links and make sure they work. People want to feel you’re on top of all this stuff.
Include title tags, keywords and meta tags. These are important for search engine optimization. Check out your competitors and see what they are doing. If you haven’t a clue about what these are, give us a call. We’re here to help.
Sign up with Google Analytics and see who’s searching for your site, what keywords they used to find you and where are they coming from.
Register with the main search engines such as Google, Yahoo, Bing and especially target local search engines. There’s less competition there.
Find directories in your field and sign up to be listed. It’s usually free and also provides links to your site which helps with your optimization.
Write a blog about what you know best, preferably related to your business, and link it back to your site.
Twitter about yourself, your business, helpful hints, specials and reach a whole tribe of followers who look to you for information.
Add new content on a regular basis. Search engines love this and it gives people a reason to come back to your site. That’s a good thing.

When in doubt, consult a web professional. I recommend the folks at the Creative Juices factory, primarily because that’s me. And advice is always free.

Advertising Business Practices Marketing 101 Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

11 Jan

Don't Panic… Market. Now.

Unemployment may be at 7%, but that just means a greater majority of people who want to work, are working.

Anyway, the point is that there are still employed people spending money. Sure a lot of people have cut back. But the best way for you to increase your sales is to let more people know what you do. What is your service? Where are you located? What do you do that’s better than anyone else? How can you help them?

If you don’t advertise or market your business in some way, no one will know you exist. Or worse, they’ll think you’ve gone out of business. And these days there’s a lot of that happening.

Update your website and let people know what is going on with you and how you can help them. Promote your brand. Keep your image at the top of people’s minds.

If you don’t already have a website, you’re missing out on one of the most cost effective ways to showcase your business or service.

If you do have a website and it’s out of date, you need to update. And fast. A tired, out of date website show’s you are not on top of your game. You may be perceived as irrelevant.

Remember, when you cut your marketing and advertising, you are essentially giving your competition a clear advantage. Is that really what you want to do?

Don’t forget to call Creative Juices if you need marketing and advertising advice. 310-791-5803. Did you know weekend appointments are now available?

Advertising Business Practices Marketing 101 Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

12 Dec

6 ways to expose your business…

Just because the economy is in the toilet doesn’t mean you can’t get more exposure for your business website and perhaps more business for you. Here are some relatively easy and inexpensive ways to get your website seen.

Search Engine Optimization. In addition to title tags, meta tags and keywords, you can add informative copy to your site. Search engines love keyword rich copy. If you have copy that is relevant and informative more people would likely come across your website if they are searching for that information.
Along those lines, you could start a blog and link it to your website (and vice versa).
You could register with local Google, MSN and Yahoo map directories for your area. Also there are online directories you can register your website with, include online Yellow Pages and the Chamber of Commerce.
You could also create PPC (Pay Per Click) ads on Google. They cost you when people click on them.
Merchant Circle is a good website for businesses to find each other as is LinkedIn.
And you can create a regular newsletter and send it out using Express Email Marketing. By creating a link on your site you can have people register for a monthly newsletter or specials or notices.

These are just some of the ways to help get your website and business noticed. Contact Creative Juices if you’d like any help with these.

Advertising Blogging to promote business. Business Practices Marketing 101 Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

07 Nov

Blogging for Business

If you’re reading this blog then you know that blogging is one of the most popular parts of Web 2.0. Using the format of blogging to help promote your business is a powerful way to reach new clients. The whole purpose of writing a blog is to constantly create new content. All search engines, such as Google, Yahoo and MSN, love blogs because they constantly look for new content. And if your content is optimized correctly, the search engines will find it. This is a great way for your blog to be listed high up in search results.

How does this relate to your business and it’s success? Just follow these simple steps:

Create content that people want to read. You want to be a useful resource, so make sure whatever you’re writing about is something people will learn from.
Include keywords, but make sure the copy is easy to read, short, to the point and useful.
Bulleted items and lists are very helpful and precise.
Make sure to include a link to your website. Don’t include too may links as search engines may interpret that as spam and reject your site.

If you do link to your website, it’s best to link to a specific “landing page” that covers the topic of your blog.

Blogging to promote business. Marketing 101 Search Engine Optimization (SEO)