Reno Web Design Agency

Reno Web Design: A Comprehensive Guide for Local Businesses

When it comes to creating a website for your Reno-based business, the stakes are high. Your website is more than just a digital placeholder—it’s your 24/7 storefront, your brand ambassador, and often the first impression potential customers will have of your business. But fear not! Designing an impactful website doesn’t have to break the bank or your spirit. Let’s explore everything Reno businesses need to know about web design, from localization tactics to page speed optimization, branding, and emerging trends.

Why Your Website Matters

Before we dive into the nitty-gritty of web design, let’s establish one thing: your website is a critical business asset. It’s where customers learn about you, engage with your brand, and decide whether to trust you with their time and money. A well-designed website can: In Reno's competitive market, having a professional website tailored to local needs can set you apart from the crowd.

Localization Tactics for Reno Businesses

To truly connect with your local audience in Reno, your website should reflect an understanding of the community and its unique characteristics. Here’s how: Localization isn’t just about adding “Reno” to your homepage—it’s about creating a genuine connection with the community you serve.

Page Speed vs. Server Load: Why Speed Wins Every Time

Did you know that nearly 47% of users expect a website to load in under two seconds? And if it doesn’t? They’re likely to bounce faster than a rubber ball on Virginia Street.Page speed is critical for user experience, SEO rankings, and conversions. Here are some tips to keep your site lightning-fast: Remember, even the most beautifully designed site won’t matter if it takes forever to load.

Affordable Web Design: Quality Without Breaking the Bank

Contrary to popular belief, creating a stunning website doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Here’s how Reno businesses can keep costs down without sacrificing quality: Affordable doesn’t mean cheap—it means smart. Prioritize functionality and user experience over flashy features.

Branding & Messaging: The Heart of Your Website

Your website should tell a cohesive story about who you are as a business. This involves more than just slapping on a logo; it’s about creating an immersive brand experience.

Key Elements of Branding:

  1. Logo Design: Your logo should be simple yet memorable. Place it prominently on every page.
  2. Color Psychology: Colors evoke emotions—blue conveys trust, green represents growth, and red signifies urgency. Choose colors that align with your brand values.
  3. Typography: Fonts matter! Use readable typefaces that reflect your brand personality—whether playful or professional.
  4. Consistent Messaging: Your tone of voice should remain consistent across all pages. Whether you’re quirky or formal, stick to it.
A strong brand identity fosters trust and loyalty among customers.

SEO Web Design: Building Around Ranking Goals

Search engine optimization (SEO) isn’t an afterthought—it should be baked into your web design from the start. Here are some best practices: SEO-friendly design ensures that your website not only looks good but also ranks well on search engines.

Debunking Common Web Design Myths

Let’s clear up some misconceptions about web design:
  1. Myth: Content Should Be Minimal
    • Reality: While clean design is important, content is king! Provide enough information to answer users’ questions while keeping it organized.
  2. Myth: Stock Photos Are Fine
    • Reality: Stock photos scream inauthenticity. Even mediocre real photos perform better because they build trust. We offer low-cost business photography services to help you showcase your true self.
  3. Myth: Visuals Are More Important Than Functionality
    • Reality: A beautiful site means nothing if users can’t navigate it easily or find what they need.
By dispelling these myths, we hope you’ll approach web design with clarity and confidence.

The Power of Images in Web Design

Images aren’t just decorative—they’re essential for storytelling and engagement. Here’s why: Investing in original photography is one of the best decisions you can make for your website.

Typography & Color Psychology: Subtle Yet Impactful

Typography and color choices may seem minor but have significant effects on user perception:

Examples of Color Psychology:

Typography Tips:

Thoughtful typography and color choices enhance usability while reinforcing branding.

Emerging Trends in Web Design

The digital landscape is constantly evolving. Here are some trends shaping 2024:
  1. AI-Powered Personalization: Websites now adapt content based on user behavior.
  2. Kinetic Typography: Animated text grabs attention without overwhelming users.
  3. Rich Graphics & Textures: Say goodbye to minimalism; immersive designs are in!
  4. Mobile Optimization: With over 60% of traffic coming from mobile devices, responsive design is non-negotiable.
While trends are exciting, always prioritize timeless functionality over fleeting fads.

Final Thoughts: Let’s Build Something Amazing Together

Designing a website for your Reno business may seem daunting at first glance—but armed with these insights, you’re ready to create something truly impactful. From localization tactics to branding strategies and SEO optimization, every element plays a role in building a site that resonates with your audience.And remember: You don’t have to do it alone! Whether you need affordable photography services or expert guidance on web design trends, we’re here to help bring your vision to life—without blowing your budget.So let’s get started! After all, great web design isn’t just about looking good; it’s about making connections—and we’re here to help you do just that!

How High-Resolution Favicons Enhance SEO

In the world of digital marketing, even the smallest details can have a significant impact. One such detail is the favicon—a small icon that represents your website in browser tabs, bookmarks, and search results. Recently, Google updated its guidelines to recommend higher resolution favicons, emphasizing their role in enhancing brand recognition and user engagement.

Understanding Favicons: The Unsung Heroes of Branding

Favicons are the tiny icons displayed next to your website's name in a browser tab. They serve as a visual identifier for your brand, helping users easily recognize and navigate back to your site among multiple open tabs. Originally introduced to improve user experience, favicons have become an essential part of a website's branding strategy.

The Importance of High-Resolution Favicons for SEO Success

Comparison of Facicon Sizes - favicon.icoGoogle now recommends using favicons with a resolution of at least 48x48 pixels. This ensures that your brand is represented clearly across all devices, from desktops to smartphones. A high-resolution favicon enhances the professional appearance of your site and contributes to a consistent and recognizable brand presence.

Real-World Impact: Consider a local business that revamped its online presence by updating its favicon alongside other branding elements. This small change led to a noticeable increase in user engagement, as customers could easily identify and return to the site.

Boosting Click-Through Rates with Eye-Catching Favicons

A well-designed favicon can significantly improve click-through rates (CTR). When users search online, visually appealing results naturally attract more attention. A distinctive favicon makes your website stand out, encouraging users to click on your link over others.

Designing for Impact: Think of your favicon as the face of your brand in the digital space. A vibrant and reflective design not only captures attention but also conveys the essence of your brand, making it memorable to potential customers.

Technical Requirements: Ensuring Your Favicon Shines

To ensure proper display, favicons must maintain a 1:1 square aspect ratio and be crawlable by Googlebot-Image. These technical requirements are crucial for correct indexing and visibility in search results. Ensuring compliance with these guidelines helps maximize the SEO benefits of your favicon.

Staying Current with Standards: Keeping up with Google's evolving standards is vital for maintaining an effective online presence. Regular updates ensure that your site remains compliant and takes full advantage of new opportunities for visibility.

Consistent Branding: The Role of Favicons in User Trust

Consistency in branding builds trust and recognition among users. A favicon that aligns with your brand identity reinforces this connection each time users encounter it in their browser tabs or search results. This consistency aids in brand recall and strengthens user interaction.

Emotional Connection: Familiar logos evoke emotional responses from consumers. A well-designed favicon is another tool to ensure your brand remains top-of-mind, fostering loyalty and encouraging repeat visits.

Why Reno Businesses Should Prioritize Favicons

For business owners and marketing professionals, understanding the role of favicons in SEO is crucial. While they don't directly affect rankings, their indirect benefits—such as improved CTRs—are invaluable. Optimizing favicons enhances online presence without overwhelming audiences with technical details.

Integrating into Broader Strategy: Favicons are part of a comprehensive marketing strategy that includes various digital touchpoints. They contribute to a cohesive theme that enhances overall brand recognition.

Implementing High-Resolution Favicons: A Step-by-Step Guide

Creating high-resolution favicons involves more than resizing an image; it requires thoughtful design to ensure recognizability at smaller sizes. Our team guides businesses through this process, ensuring favicons meet Google's guidelines while enhancing branding strategy.

Guided Implementation: We offer step-by-step support from concept to implementation, helping you design a favicon that reflects your brand and resonates with your audience.

Elevate Your Brand’s Online Presence

In today's competitive digital environment, every detail counts. Adopting high-resolution favicons can enhance your website's visual appeal and SEO performance. Reach out today to start improving your brand's online presence and stay ahead of the competition.

The Technical Landscape: Favicons in the Digital Ecosystem

Favicons play a crucial role in the technical ecosystem of your website by contributing to overall metadata and ensuring brand visibility across platforms. In our multi-device world, having a high-resolution favicon ensures consistent brand representation on desktops, tablets, and smartphones.

Mobile Optimization: With increasing mobile traffic, it's essential that favicons look great on smaller screens. Users expect quick, visually appealing results; an optimized favicon enhances professionalism across all devices.

Enhancing User Experience Through Memorable Favicons

User experience is critical in web design. The favicon is one of the first visual elements users notice; it appears in tabs, bookmarks, and browser histories. A high-quality favicon makes it easy for users to identify and revisit your site among numerous open tabs.

Navigating Digital Noise: In a crowded digital landscape, a memorable favicon helps users navigate back to your site easily, driving repeat visits and increasing engagement rates.

Real-Life Examples: How Favicons Impact Branding

Real-world examples highlight the benefits of high-resolution favicons. For instance, a tech startup revamped its favicon during a website redesign. The modern icon improved user recognition and engagement significantly compared to competitors.

Measuring Success: Tracking Favicon Impact on SEO

To gauge the impact of favicons on SEO and branding efforts, track key performance metrics using tools like Google Analytics. Analyzing user engagement related to favicon updates allows businesses to refine their digital strategies continuously.

Data-Driven Decisions: By tracking how favicons influence site interactions, you can make informed adjustments across your entire brand strategy, fostering continuous improvement aimed at increasing engagement rates.

The SEO Connection: How Favicons Influence Rankings

Favicons contribute to the broader SEO picture by influencing user engagement metrics like CTRs and repeat visits—signals that indicate value to search engines. An optimized favicon can positively impact these metrics, benefiting overall SEO performance.

Future Trends: The Evolution of Favicon Design

As digital standards evolve, so will favicon guidelines. Businesses must remain adaptable to these changes. Future designs may trend toward interactive or dynamic favicons that engage users more effectively.

Staying Informed: We are committed to ongoing education about these trends, ensuring strategies reflect best practices to keep businesses at the forefront of the industry.

Paving the Way for Reno SEO Success

High-resolution favicons play an essential role in digital strategy by enhancing brand visibility and user experience. Investing in an optimized favicon improves online presence amidst growing competition in Reno and beyond.

Consider how these updates can benefit your business through improved visual branding. Start with small steps that define larger strategies for success—partner with us on this journey toward remarkable online achievement.

Dive Industry Marketing

Jill Rutherford grabbing cash at the DEMA Show.Every year, a team from OCG Creative exhibits at the DEMA Show. DEMA stands for Diving Equipment & Marketing Association, and this year’s show will be our 9th. (Visit us at booth #6143.) Scuba diving industry marketing is a natural fit for us. Much of our team is made up of divers, and I am personally a technical diving instructor, rebreather diver and professional underwater photographer and videographer going back more decades than I want to admit. Marketing for the diving industry is particularly challenging for agencies. The specialized nature of diving, scuba travel and equipment make it challenging for non-divers to speak effectively to the diving audience. Add to that, diving is a highly visual experience, so imaging is key—especially for diving destinations, and dive resorts in particular. Marketing a dive resort is virtually impossible without lots of photos. Most good photographers can provide excellent images of dive resorts topside, but what divers really care about is what’s beneath the waves.

Underwater Imaging for Marketing

Underwater photography is challenging to say the least. Light behaves very differently underwater than it does on land. Equipment challenges are ever present, and much of our ability to capture the diving experience depends on the underwater photographer’s diving skills. In the next three to four weeks, I will log my 5,000th dive. That’s a lot of dives for a diver that’s effectively landlocked. Locally, we dive Lake Tahoe frequently, so cold and deep water is typical. We have the ability to capture images as deep as 330 feet using trimix and rebreathers. We shoot all over the world, bringing back images for equipment manufacturers, dive boat operators, tourism bureaus, retailers and dive resorts. We consider diver resort marketing something of a specialty.

Dive Resort Marketing

Dive Industry Marketing - Underwater PhotographyCapturing the experience, both above and below the waterline, is essential to helping a dive resort attract divers and maximize bookings. We accomplish that by highlight the dive resort as many ways as possible. This includes photography, of course, as well as videography. We arrive onsite prepared to photograph the resort itself, as well as its staff and visiting divers. We film testimonials and candid moments, diving and dining—anything we hope will provide a sense of what the experience will be like for those planning a dive vacation. Additionally, we are FAA Part 107 certified drone pilots. This give us the ability to provide aerial views and spectacular resort fly-through videos that can’t be captured any other way. To ensure safety, we have a fleet of drones ranging from large sensor imaging drones, to FPV and tiny cinewhoop style drones. We carry a $1M drone liability policy, but we’ve never had a done accident of any kind. Finally, we also shoot 360 degree virtual tours and have the ability to take our 360 cameras underwater. Nothing provides a sense of space like a virtual tour. We have the ability to capture 360 degree views at incredibly high resolutions, although most website and digital marketing requirements favor load speed over ridiculously high pixel counts. Most of our 360 virtual tours are shot using HDR (high dynamic range) technology.

Scuba Diving Industry Web Design

At our core, we are a web design agency. We can engineer anything, but we put most of our effort into the elements website visitors care about most. That starts with using actual photos of your dive resort, dive boat, products, etc. We will use stock if we are desperate, but stock photography can’t tell your story, even if the images are good. There is just no substitute for high quality, real photos. After images, we prioritize predictable layouts (user experience, U.I.) and website speed. This is especially important for mobile device web design. Website visitors expect you website to work a certain way, and mobile bandwidth is often limited. There’s no point building a lot of fancy animation if your website visitors can’t load it. We have a lot of experience with functional requirements for diving industry websites. This includes e-commerce, online bookings, database technology and digital imaging. There are very few web design technologies that we don’t work with routinely. We also fix broken websites, so if you’re experiencing problems that have been difficult to resolve, definitely give us a ring.

SEO for the Scuba Diving Industry

Big Island, Hawaii - Dive Industry Marketing at 165' Deep.If there is a single critical element for promoting your dive business, SEO is it. Simply put, you have to be prominent in online searches to compete. Not just your location, company or resort name, you need to be among the top search results for Googlers at the early stages of their online research. That means achieving top rankings for broad, highly competitive search terms. As an example, divers often start their vacation planning using phrases like, “best places to scuba dive,” or “scuba diving vacations.” Keywords like these are a long way from your resort name, yet it is essential to get your location into consideration as early as possible when a diver is just starting to plan. SEO for scuba diving means being visible and influential throughout all phases of the buying journey. It also means utilizing every possible means to increase prominence. We detail that in this article about structured data and schema markup. I can’t overstate how critical it is to ensure that schema is properly coded on every individual page of your website.

DEMA Show 2024

If you will be attending the DEMA Show in Las Vegas, please drop by booth 6143 to say hi. We’ll be giving away some cool stuff and we would love a chance to meet you in person.

Structured Data and Schema Markup: The Secret to SEO

Let's face it, SEO can be a real head-scratcher sometimes. Just when you think you've got it figured out, along comes something new to shake things up. Well, structured data and schema markup are those game-changers that have been making waves in the SEO world. If you're scratching your head wondering what the heck I'm talking about, don't worry – we're going to break it all down.

What's This Structured Data Thing Anyway?

Imagine you're trying to explain your business to someone who doesn't speak your language. Frustrating, right? That's kind of what it's like for search engines trying to understand your website. Structured data is like a universal translator for the internet. It's a way of organizing and labeling the info on your site so that search engines can actually make sense of it. And schema markup? That's just the code we use to implement structured data. It's like the grammar and vocabulary of this universal language. A bunch of big-shot search engines (think Google, Bing, Yahoo!) got together and created this common vocabulary called Schema.org. It's pretty neat – they actually agreed on something!

A Quick History Lesson About Structured Data & Schema.org

Structured data isn't exactly the new kid on the block. It's been around in various forms for a while. Back in the early 2000s, we had these things called microformats. They were like the great-grandparents of today's structured data. Then came RDFa, which was a bit more flexible. But the real game-changer was in 2011 when Google, Bing, and Yahoo! (remember them?) announced Schema.org. It was like the Avengers of the search engine world coming together for a common cause. These days, most folks use something called JSON-LD to implement schema markup. It's been around since 2014 and it's way easier to work with than the older stuff.

Why Should You Care About Structured Data?

Okay, so why should you give a hoot about all this techie stuff? Well, it can seriously level up your SEO game. Here's how:
  1. Your search results look way cooler. You know those fancy listings with star ratings and prices? That's structured data at work.
  2. More people click on your stuff. Those enhanced listings catch people's eyes, and that means more clicks for you.
  3. Search engines actually understand what you're on about. It's like giving them a cheat sheet for your website.
  4. Voice search becomes your new best friend. As more people start talking to their devices, structured data helps you show up in those results.
  5. You might land some prime search engine real estate. Ever seen those knowledge panels or carousel results? Structured data can help you get there.

Types of Schema Markup

There's a whole buffet of schema types out there. Here are some of the popular ones:

How to Actually Implement Structured Data

Now, I'm not going to lie – implementing schema markup can get a bit technical. But don't let that scare you off. Here's a simple example of what it might look like for a local business: json <script type="application/ld+json"> {   "@context": "https://schema.org",   "@type": "LocalBusiness",   "name": "Joe's Pizza Palace",   "address": {     "@type": "PostalAddress",     "streetAddress": "123 Main St",     "addressLocality": "Anytown",     "addressRegion": "CA",     "postalCode": "12345",     "addressCountry": "US"   },   "telephone": "(555) 123-4567",   "url": “https://joespizzapalace.com" } </script> This might look like gibberish, but to a search engine, it's a goldmine of information.

Best Practices (or How Not to Mess It Up)

Like anything in SEO, there are right ways and wrong ways to do structured data. Here are some tips:
  1. Be specific. Don't just say you're a business – say what kind of business.
  2. Keep it real. Make sure your structured data matches what's actually on your page.
  3. Spread the love. Don't just use it on your homepage – use it everywhere it makes sense.
  4. Test it out. Google has a tool called the Rich Results Test. Use it. Love it.
  5. Don't try to game the system. Keyword stuffing is so 2005, and it doesn't work here either.
  6. Mix and match. You can use multiple types of schema on one page. Go wild!
  7. Keep an eye on things. Monitor your search performance to see how your structured data is doing.

Advanced Schema Tricks for Overachievers

If you really want to get fancy, here are some advanced techniques:
  1. Nested schemas: It's like schema inception. You can put schemas inside other schemas for super detailed info.
  2. Aggregate ratings: Show off your overall rating from multiple reviews.
  3. Breadcrumb markup: Help Google understand your site structure.
  4. Sitelinks searchbox: Let people search your site right from Google.
  5. Speakable schema: Make your content voice-search friendly.

What's Next for Structured Data?

The world of SEO never stands still, and structured data is no exception. Here's what I think we'll see more of:
  1. AI and machine learning getting cozier with structured data.
  2. More focus on voice search optimization.
  3. Visual search becoming a bigger deal.
  4. Fancier e-commerce features in search results.
  5. Local SEO getting even more important.

Wrapping It Up

Look, structured data and schema markup might sound like something only tech geeks care about, but trust me – it's worth your time. It's like giving search engines a roadmap to your website, and that can lead to better visibility, more clicks, and happier visitors. At OCG Creative, we don't just slap some code on your site and call it a day. We dig deep into the nitty-gritty of structured data to make sure it's working hard for your business. It's not just about keeping up with the Joneses – it's about staying ahead of the curve. Remember, in the wild world of SEO, standing still is the same as moving backward. Embracing structured data isn't just about optimizing for today's search engines – it's about setting yourself up for success in whatever the digital world throws at us next. So, are you ready to speak search engine? Let's get structured!

Reno SEO & Search Engine Marketing Firm

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Search engine optimization is one of the most important aspects to consider when developing your business' website. Part art, part science, search engine optimization, or SEO is the practice of optimizing a website's content and source code so that it will rank well on Google, Yahoo! and other search engines. One of the most widely misunderstood aspects of website development and promotion, SEO is often viewed as some mystic and incomprehensible procedure that will magically propel your company's website into top rankings. The importance of website optimization can't be denied. Obviously, if your website can't be found by your potential customers there's really little point in going through the effort and expense that it takes develop and maintain it. Volumes have been written on the subject of search engines and how gain those elusive top positions within the rankings. Still, few business owners and managers have a firm grasp of what it takes to get there. In fact, even very few web designers are familiar with the methods by which to ensure a steady climb to the top.

The Problem with SEO Firms

First, it is important to be aware that there are scores of "SEOs" out there, who simply make a few adjustments to a site's meta tags and load its copy up with keywords. In the early days, while search engines were a fledgling industry, a site could achieve high rankings this way, but that standard is over a decade old and not only won't work, but in extreme cases can get your site removed from the search engines altogether. There is an entire Internet subculture of unscrupulous individuals who put enormous effort into trying to fool search engines into ranking sites well that really don't offer the visitor anything of value, or worse, promote the infinite variety of scams that exist on the world wide web today. Without getting into so called black hat methods, there are a few things to watch out for when selecting a professional to handle your search engine ranking strategies. Topping the list is guaranteed results. Don't believe it when an SEO firm tells you that they will guarantee that your site will achieve top rankings. It is one thing for a firm to offer your money back if it is unable to reach your goals for your site, but this is generally not the nature of such promises. The reality is that search engines adjust their ranking standards continuously. So too do competitors tweak their sites to remain on top. In short, there are a lot of factors that lead a website into those top positions-none of which can be guaranteed. Search Engine Submission is another sure sign that an SEO is either in the dark about current practices or is simply full of it. These days, if a URL (Domain Name) is valid, search engines will find it. Next time you see a claim for submission to "thousands of search engines," see how many you can name. Even if there are thousands of search engines, virtually all web searches are made using Google, Yahoo!, MSN and AOL, none of which require submission. Even the legitimate practice of search engine optimization needs to be carefully examined. The standard practice in SEO circles is to charge monthly fees, usually thousands of dollars per month, to optimize specific pages for selected key-phrases and to monitor their position in the rankings. The service usually includes some kind of "back linking" campaign as well. Many of these firms produce fantastic results, but for smaller companies, the cost can be overwhelming.

Search Engine Marketing

Search Engine Optimization one element in the broader area of Search Engine Marketing (SEM), which includes, among SEO, paid inclusion or pay-per-click campaigns, like Google Ad-Words. Such Internet marketing campaigns often employ blogs, affiliate programs and other methods to build links and further promote traffic to the site. Paid inclusion plans differ from SEO in that the latter is focussed on the "natural" or "organic" results search engines provide for a given keyword search. The advantage of high, organic or natural rankings is that they tend to be more permanent. Paid links disappear once the campaign has run its course.

Conversion Rate: The Real Measure

Ultimately, the real measure of an Internet marketing plan's success is in conversions. Any time the visitor performs the desired action of making a purchase, filling out a form, etc., it is considered a conversion. In other words, the visitor was "converted" to a customer. Monitoring your site's conversion rate is critical. The site owner must know the value of conversions and divide that into the cost of the campaign to determine his or her return on investment (RIO). This is especially true for campaigns utilizing paid inclusion tactics. More SEO Information...

What is a Good SEO Company?

The Truth About Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Search engine optimization (SEO) is one of the most important, yet misunderstood aspects of website marketing. In essence, the concept of SEO is simple. By providing the most relevant website or web page for a given search term (keyword), search engines will reward that website with top rankings in the SERP, short for search engine results page. So far, that's no great secret, but knowing how search engines choose is a big challenge. Scores of search engine optimizers (SEO's) stand at the ready--eager to sort it out and magically propel your website to the top. But, is there even such thing as a good SEO company? The answer is yes, but SEO, as a practice, is increasingly hard to define. Google dominates search, which means Google makes the rules. Unfortunately, Google provides only scant clues what the rules even are. "Content is king," is the mantra, but there are thousands of "signals" that content alone can't touch. Some of those signals are very technical, involving additions to the website's underlying code, or even changes to website host servers. SEO used to be something a business owner could "do" by learning a digestible set of best practices. That's really not true anymore. If you are serious about search engine rankings--and you should be--you're pretty much stuck hiring an SEO firm. There are thousands of SEOs ready to take your money. The challenge for business owners is to get to the top of the SERP (search engine results page) without being taken to the cleaners. The truth is most SEO companies are badly behind the times.

The Problem with SEO Firms

This will sound harsh, but any idiot with a computer can call himself an "SEO" or "Search Engine Marketer." There is no grand council of SEO to decide who is or isn't allowed to claim the title and trade dollars for rankings. Not that regulation is a solution, but know there are abundant practices in use by some pretty big SEO firms that are outdated, unethical, don't work, and can actually do your website harm. And, many of these can result in the site's removal from search engines altogether. Without getting into link exchanges, paid directory submissions and all the other stuff that SEOs practice (often with the full knowledge that they are ineffective), the entire practice of SEO as a business model runs in contrast to the goals of business owners. The pursuit of rankings, which are determined by computers, is completely different than doing actual business with people.

Search Engine Rankings is Not ROI

Business owners expect a return on their investments. SEO firms charge big bucks promising search engine rankings. Rankings are meaningless unless the search term is a good match to searchers looking for just the product or service your business provides. Even then, the search needs to result in a click, and eventual conversion.

(Most) SEOs Lack Understanding of General Business

SEO is marketing. Business owners view SEO in the same light as other promotional opportunities. They know that their websites must be seen to be effective, yet lack the background and knowledge to know what steps to take to achieve that result. SEOs, by extension, rarely have any understanding of their client's industry, and therefore rely on the client for all of the information necessary to reach his or her clients. In short, SEO means pushing selected keywords and key phrases to the top. Nothing else. The SEO might see results for the selected keywords, and gets paid whether anyone buys anything or not. It is our belief that SEOs should be able to assist in ensuring the success of the campaign (RIO), not just pushing keywords up the ladder.

iPutty is Different from Other SEO Firms

First, iPutty does not require monthly contracts. That is not to say that a business should expect instant results. Depending on how competitive the keywords, the time it takes to achieve top search engine rankings can vary from weeks to many months, sometimes more. The truth is, once that result has been achieved, maintaining that position is usually a whole lot less time consuming than getting there in the first place. What SEOs won't tell you is that most of the heavy lifting is done in the first few months. After that, the site owner pays simply because of the contract.

Yes, There IS a Good SEO Company Out There

iPutty. Honest search engine results without the high cost and mystery of a typical SEO. And, we can help your business grow in other ways too. Give us a call to learn how we will get your business the exposure it deserves for a fraction of what you'd expect to pay. iPutty, Search Engine Marketing the way business owners like it to be. 775.324.1644

SEO Tactics

Update: 10/2013 The following article an SEO tactic called "link baiting." Of all the SEO tactics that are currently considered best practices, the idea of link baiting is outdated in my view. However, the focus of this article is the emphasis on writing good website content, which has been the ultimate best practice in SEO for as long as such a term existed. So, although the term link bait is out of use for the most part, the concepts presented here as as valid today and when the article was first written in 2007.

What is "Link Bait?"

Link Baiting is the process of writing website copy that is so compelling that the owners of other websites link to that online content. Examples include topical pages that offer articles providing expert advise or information about specific subjects, like a hobby or a medical condition. As an example, let's say you are a business startup consultant located in Reno, NV. and that you have identified your best prospects as males between 50 and 60 years old, with little to no business experience, but who've been in the job market for many years. These individuals likely have long dreamt about starting a business, but have recently gotten serious about taking the plunge. For you, the Reno Startup Business Consultant, the aim is to attract as many visitors as possible to your website that fit this demographic. To that end, you know that high search engine rankings the key to reaching that prospect.

Link Baiting

With link bait, or those web pages that attract links, it is not the primary goal to sell a product or service. Obtaining the link is itself the key objective. This is because search engines use inbound links as a means of scoring a website's relevance to a searched keyword phrase. In other word, websites with lots of related inbound links rank better than those with few to none. That's it. Simple right? Well not so fast. To be effective as link bait, the page must provide online copy that is genuinely worthy of those valuable links. Don't expect to buy an article and have scores of webmasters direct their visitors to it. For starters, the link bait page must be able to be found in the first place, which presents a bit of an SEO catch 22. To earn that link, your brilliant article must first be found.

Link Bait is Really Just Good Website Content

In reality, a page that could be deemed link bait is really just a solid web page with information that your visitors value. So, getting back to our business startup consultant living in Reno example, a web page that takes a visitor step by step through the process of starting a business in Reno would be of significant interest to those thinking of doing so. If the information is accurate, others in related fields like accountants, point of sale system providers and others would have an interest in linking to such a page, because it adds value to the information that they provide.

Link Bait for Dynamic & e-Commerce Websites

Dynamic websites, usually written in PHP or Perl, present a host of challenges with regard to search engine strategies. This type of website assembles the web page only when a request comes in from the visitor's browser. The pages are put together from pre-defined regions like a header, footer, side menu, top menu, etc., which makes individual pages difficult to modify and, consequently, difficult to optimize for search engine visibility. For this reason, it is often best to build link bait pages statically, using simple HTML code and effective SEO strategies. This is not to suggest that eCommerce websites can't serve the purpose of link bait. Quite often, items that are hard to find or offered at a very good price will attract links. This is especially true for hobby related websites in fields where people often form clubs or newsgroups to share information among members.

iPutty Link Bait Strategy

The good news about link baiting strategies is that if you have the time, you can do a lot of the work yourself. Effective link baiting starts with strong copy that people will find so interesting that they want to pass it along. Since iPutty offers SEO services at a low hourly rate, you can write an article and have iPutty develop a link bait optimized page from that in just a few hours. You pay only for the actual work-no monthly contract. iPutty. Delivers honest search engine results without the high cost and mystery of a typical SEO. And, we can help your business grow in other ways too. Give us a call to learn how we will get your business the exposure it deserves for a fraction of what you'd expect to pay. iPutty, Search Engine Marketing the way business owners like it to be. 775.324.1644
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