2006 Continues the SEO Trend...

With the ringing of the bells, dropping of the ball, and shooting off of fire works, 2006 is fast approaching. What does the New Year mean for search engine optimization and your website? A better, more functional Internet and search engine experience seems to be the talk of the town.

The big search engines want to make it easier for searches to find what they are looking for and ensure that when they do find it the site works. Not only are the search engines going to become more strict about this, but the visitors themselves will not put up with a poorly laid out, and non-functional site.

The Internet and websites in general have been gradually improving their look and functionality, but this year should see a much larger push in this direction. The days of tricking the search engines, and site visitors are long gone. Both the spiders and human visitors are becoming much more sophisticated, which will help to make the Internet a better place for everyone.

The big engines will never make it impossible to become number one, but they will make sure that your site actually belongs there. Just because you think you are the best most informative site on the web, doesn't mean Google, MSN or Yahoo! think that. Continue to update your site and build upon it just as you would your brick and mortar business.

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Posted by Vision Marketing
Search Engine Optimization - Website Design - Print Advertising

The Twelve Days of Google Christmas...

The Twelve Days of Christmas, Google Style

On the first day of Christmas, Google gave to me
an AdWords API.

On the second day of Christmas, Google gave to me
Toolbar 3
and an AdWords API.

On the third day of Christmas, Google gave to me
Urchin Stats,
Toolbar 3
and an AdWords API.

On the fourth day of Christmas, Google gave to me
Desktop Search,
Urchin Stats,
Toolbar 3
and an AdWords API.

On the fifth day of Christmas, Google gave to me
AdSense for Feeds,
Desktop Search,
Urchin Stats,
Toolbar 3
and an AdWords API.

On the sixth day of Christmas, Google gave to me
Google Earth,
AdSense for Feeds,
Desktop Search,
Urchin Stats,
Toolbar 3
and an AdWords API.

On the seventh day of Christmas, Google gave to me
a Toolbar for Firefox,
Google Earth,
AdSense for Feeds,
Desktop Search,
Urchin Stats,
Toolbar 3
and an AdWords API.

On the eighth day of Christmas, Google gave to me
Gmail Talk,
a Toolbar for Firefox,
Google Earth,
AdSense for Feeds,
Desktop Search,
Urchin Stats,
Toolbar 3
and an AdWords API.

On the ninth day of Christmas, Google gave to me
Blogger for Word,
Gmail Talk,
a Toolbar for Firefox,
Google Earth,
AdSense for Feeds,
Desktop Search,
Urchin Stats,
Toolbar 3
and an AdWords API.

On the tenth day of Christmas, Google gave to me
Google Base,
Blogger for Word,
Gmail Talk,
a Toolbar for Firefox,
Google Earth,
AdSense for Feeds,
Desktop Search,
Urchin Stats,
Toolbar 3
and an AdWords API.

On the eleventh day of Christmas, Google gave to me
Content Bidding,
Google Base,
Blogger for Word,
Gmail Talk,
a Toolbar for Firefox,
Google Earth,
AdSense for Feeds,
Desktop Search,
Urchin Stats,
Toolbar 3
and an AdWords API.

On the twelfth day of Christmas, Google gave to me
Froogle Local,
Content Bidding,
Google Base,
Blogger for Word,
Gmail Talk,
a Toolbar for Firefox,
Google Earth,
AdSense for Feeds,
Desktop Search,
Urchin Stats,
Toolbar 3
and an AdWords API.


(written by Kelena)
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Posted by Vision Marketing
Search Engine Optimization - Website Design - Print Advertising

The Do's and Don'ts of SEO...

Have you ever wondered if your SEO firm is doing what they should be? Well there are some basic guidelines (not rules) that for the most part any good SEO firm will suggest, or agree to...

Do's:
- Create a site that is user friendly.
- Structure your site to funnel visitors to the contact form.
- Enhance the content.
- Make updates and additions on a regular basis.
- Create easily readable copy.

Don'ts:
- Pack your site full of keywords.
- Buy links for the purpose of ranking higher.
- Write copy just for the search engines
- Put hidden text, tables, etc in your site.

This isn't the end all be all of SEO, but it should at least give you an understanding of what your SEO firm should and shouldn't be doing for you. Don't let them sell you a bag of goods with nothing inside because it can really hurt your business in the end.

Understand, get involved, and be a part of your website and the optimization. In the end it is your website and your business that is on the line, and playing ignorant won't cut it or help you.

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Posted by Vision Marketing
Search Engine Optimization - Website Design - Print Advertising

A Complete Marketing Package...

A website is an amazing tool. It has gone from being a nice add on to your marketing kit to the most important thing in the kit. But does that mean you should get rid of everything in your marketing budget? ABSOLUTLY NOT!

A website has become an online business structure, but in order to get people to go to that business you need to inform the masses. Print brochures, business cards, sell sheets, flyers, and postcards to name a few are all great ways to reinforce the need for people to visit your website.

Many people think that print is going to die and everyone is going to be completely internet based. Well let’s think back to when the computers really started to hit the masses. I believe the buzz phrase that was going around was "the paperless office"! I don't know about your business, but I know paperless isn't what I would call this one. In fact it could be argued that more paper then ever is being used.

The point is a full marketing kit will always have some form of print media in it. Yes there are still people who read magazines, who pickup newspapers, and trade journals. Just walk into your local bookstore and you can see the stacks and stacks of trade journals and magazines.

Don't sell your company short by not having some form of print media to advertise your company and promote the website.

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Posted by Vision Marketing
Search Engine Optimization - Website Design - Print Advertising

Organizing Your Website...

You would be surprised how many companies come in and tell us that they don't know how to organize their products or services. They just sell them, and have never really thought about creating groupings of products. Then we create their website and it does wonders not only for their website visitors but for their in house production and marketing as well.

Organizing your product line gives everyone a clear understanding of how your business and products is structured. A website visitor is going to either know the exact product they want or they are going to know what general "category" it falls into. For example, if you are selling springs the person might not know the exact spring they need but might know it falls under the extension spring category.

It all comes back to planning your site before you start building it. Make sure you know what areas of the site are going to be dedicated to what products and/or services. Don't mix and match the areas either. Make as clear a line as you possibly can and stick by it. If it doesn't work out then perhaps organizing them in a different way then you thought is the solution.

Don't rush into your website design and creation just because you are eager to get something on the web. It is almost better to have nothing then to have something that is going to confuse and aggravate your potential customers. Work with your website design team or company and let them know your thoughts, but also be open minded enough to hear what they suggest so the best possible solution can be obtained.

After all it is your website, your image, and your company that is being presented. You should do everything you can to make it the best possible site it can be, given the budget you are working within.

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Posted by Vision Marketing
Search Engine Optimization - Website Design - Print Advertising