If you were beginning to think that Google is no match for Facebook and that you will soon only have to market your business through social media, think again.

Google acheived a record number of unique visitors in May 2011. For the first time ever, 1 Billion unique visitors visited Google to perform a search in a single month.

 

This data demonstrates that more and more people are turning to the web to find answer to questions, research products, and to look up information for local businesses. Is your local business visible in a Google or Bing search? If you type a keyword related to your products or services and your business is no where to be found, then you have a serious search engine optimization problem.

If you feel like you need help with search engine optimization, we can help. Check out more information on our seo and online marketing services, and give us a call to tap in to these billion monthly online searches.

Google continues to make algorithm changes to improve the quality of search results. Their goal is to remove high ranking web pages that are loaded with low quality or duplicate content, and instead reward web pages with high quality unique content.

What does this mean for website owners?  Listen how this business owner delt with the recent changes.

Keep in mind that we can help you with your organic search engine optimization campaigns. If you have experienced a recent drop in search engine rankings or have genera questions about your website's performance, give us a call and we'll be happy to discuss your online marketing goals.

Google uses over 200 factors in its website ranking formula. You may already know how important it is to rank well in search engines, but do you understand the complex requirements to be listed high on Google's search results?

We help you understand these technical factors and increase your website's potential to gain new customers online. For more information about our search engine optimization and other online marketing services, contact us and we will be happy to meet with you.

We've said it once and we've said it again, "people do not use the phone book."  While this blanket statement may not be true for older generations of people who are still comfortable using the yellow pages to find local business, most consumers are beginning to use online resources to find phone numbers and information about local businesses.

But, you dont have to take our word for it. I mean, we are a web design firm that specializes in online marketing services. This recent article published by the Wall Street Journal, Companies yank cord on residential phone books, quotes telecommunications industry executives at AT&T saying, "The residential phone book 'no longer provides the same utility it once did.'"

My favorite quote from this article comes from Verizon's vice president of internet technology and policy, Link Hoewing, "You probably have a better chance of finding a name quicker if you can just search for it in a database than try to look it up in the white pages."

This article also lists the states that have been given permission to discontinue print and delivery of the residential phone book: Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin. This list is sure to grow in the near future.

So what does this mean to local business owners?  Well, you must have a web presence in order to be found online.

Websites are no longer novelty marketing items for large corporations. They are frequently visited lead-generation tools that consumers rely on to find phone numbers and "window shop" your business for products and services. If you are not marketing your business online, you are missing out on a growing source for new leads and new business.

We want to help businesses of all sizes and types develop and promote their online presence. If you are interested in rebranding your business online, or establishing and promoting your online presence, give us a call for more information on the variety of web development and web design services that we offer.

Here is a quick look at Google's company history in about 2 minutes.

 

You've realized the importance and value of your business having a great online presence. Now you're faced with the question of how best to make that a reality.

You want to keep costs down but you need to present a professional, credible image to your prospects and customers. In general you have two options. Hire a custom web design company or use an out-of-the-box website template. Below are some pros and cons of both options that can help you make the best decision for your particular situation and needs.

Custom web design and development pros:

1. Unique design. A professional web design company will create a design specifically for you. Your website will be different from anyone else's.
2. Built search engine friendly. Most professional web designers not only understand aesthics but also what actually makes the Internet and search engines work. Using a custom web design company should improve your chances of success in the search engines.
3. Adaptability. By definition, a custom developed website will be fitted and targeted for your company's specific needs and goals.
4. Compatibility. Your website should look and work just fine in any of the several most popular web browsers.
5. Scalability. Not everyone gets everything they want right away. A professional web design company can help you create a plan for starting on time and within budget but still add version 2 and 3 features down the road without starting all over again.
6. Customizable. They should be able to build whatever you can dream as far as your website's functionality.
7. Technology. Professional web designers use programming software that will be around and supported for many years to come instead of using less costly but uncertain platforms.
8. Ownership. Typically using a professional web design company is a contract for hire relationship, which means when they're done you should own everything outright.
9. Experience. They didn't become professionals overnight and have usually completed many different types of projects. You can benefit from this experience by asking quesitons about options and their opinions on how best to accomplish certain goals.

The downfalls of using a custom web design company are:

1. The overall price will probably be more than using template software
2. It may take a little longer to get your site from concept to live online
3. You're dealing with people. This means personalities and customer service will come into play (although this could exactly be a positive thing as well)

Website templates can be useful for:

1. Cost. You have a very minimal budget but for some reason just have to have something, anything online
2. Time. Your website needed to be up yesterday and you can't wait another day.
3. DIY. You like to do whatever you can yourself but just can't code. Templates can let you do it yourself without the need to know any programming languages.

The negatives to using website templates are:

1. Lots of other people will have the same look and feel
2. You will be limited in what you can customize and the features and functionality you can add to your site
3. Some website templates are not built search engine friendly
4. Some website templates are not build compatible with all the popular web browsers
5. Do it yourself means just that. So if you ever get too busy to make necessary changes or updates to your website then they just never get done
6. Most websites templates require their smaller fees to be paid forever. You may own the domain name but in essence you just rent your website from them. If you ever stop paying their monthly or annual fee then you'll no longer have a website online.

The right choice between these two options really depends upon your business needs and goals. As with most things, you get what you pay for. But regardless which method you choose, a great online presence that gets found in the search engines, stands out from the crowd to your prospects and customers, and allows them to interact with your company like they and you want is a great asset that really adds value to your business. 

Little Rock, Arkansas web design firm, 1011 Web Solutions, announces the launch of a new website for The Toggery.  The new online store offers stylish baby, girl and boy clothes that are unique and high quality.  In addition, The Toggery offers school uniform programs for schools across Arkansas and the country plus they have a great line of children shoes, accessories, books and toys.

For over 60 years The Toggery has offered Arkansas parents and schools both performance and style for their children's clothing at great prices and with a 100% product satisfaction guarantee.  Now the most honored children's boutique in Little Rock is opening their online doors to bring the customer service that has kept them in business since 1948 to online parents and schools everywhere.

Web services provided by 1011 Web for The Toggery include custom web design and development, ecommerce, online marketing and website hosting. 

Little Rock, Arkansas web design firm, 1011 Web Solutions, announces the launch of a new website for Mountain Valley Spring Water.  The new site offers simplier and more targeted navigation and showcases the company and product's high quality, commitment to the environment and where you can find healthy bottled spring water that meets your needs.

Since 1871, Mountain Valley has been America's premium bottled spring water and a badge of pride for Arkansas.  No other bottled water has the taste and quality of their natural spring water, proven by the fact they have twice received awards for the best-tasting water in the world.  In addition to offering healthy bottled water, Mountain Valley also is a leader in using recycled packaging and creating sustainable, environmental friendly operations throughout their production and distribution processes.

Web services provided by 1011 Web for Mountain Valley Spring Water include custom web design and development, online marketing and website hosting.

The word on the street is that Microsoft’s new and rebranded search engine, Bing, wants to be a decision engine that serves up websites based more on quality content and information that people can use.

Right off, the first benefit of Bing that I see is that it can be used as a verb. It’s easier to “Bing” a question than “live” or “MSN” a question. This may make it easier to say, but I doubt Bing will ride a wave of popularity based on its name the way Google has.

Some SEO folks are expecting a shake-up of sorts, and perhaps there will be some over time. Bing is making a valiant effort to help people organize search results into categories rather than bouncing in and out of random search results in Google. Other search engines may follow suit, although Google Universal Search already categorizes local businesses, images, and videos and has been doing this for some time now.

Personally, I think nothing has really changed in the world of web development.  As a web design company, we are still focused on one thing and one thing only. Your bottom line!  We strive to build websites that answer your visitor’s questions and provoke them to buy something or contact you for more information.

Search engine rankings make a huge impact on your bottom line. But it’s not like MSN controls a huge portion of the search space now, and I doubt people will readily break their Google habit anytime soon. Google is still where it is at. If changes are to come in SEO, they will be slow.

My SEO recommendations haven’t changed for Bing. Focus on quality content writing and don’t bother trying to game the system to rank higher. Of course there are complicated rules that all search engines want you to follow. All search engines have the same goal, retrieve quality content for people looking for answers.

If you have questions, we can help you better understand these search engine rules, and help you write compelling content that pleases your website visitors as well as improve your search engines.

Not many places are better at connecting people than the Internet.  In a relatively short amount of time someone can find and make deep, quality connections with their target audience.  Whether it's about selling products, promoting a cause, spreading an idea or whatever else, the ones who find and connect others become leaders.

Here's a good video with Seth Godin discussing tribal leadership in the new world.