The Most Epic SEO Blunders of 2014 - SiteProNews

  In A Nutshell...

#1. Navigation, Navigation, Navigation! If I have said it once!  And Content is King!
#2. No Adsense, and services like them, create hideous looking ads, and people are bouncing from these faster than a cancelled check.
#3. Use Only White Hat SEO!
#4. Yes, links still matter!
#5. Use Long Tail Keywords for better search options.

Click link below to read the entire article.

The Most Epic SEO Blunders of 2014 - SiteProNews

Is Facebook Still Worth It? Why It Is and How to Use It - SiteProNews

 FACE IT, FACEBOOK.



 ...1. Let’s Face it, Everyone Has a Facebook Page (except Copyblogger).
Facebook may be on the decline, but it’s not dead. Mostly everyone who
is engaged in the online world and wants to promote their business is on
Facebook. A lot of businesses that are living in the 1990s with no
website even have a Facebook account. Of course, a company website is
still ideal, but being on Facebook is better than nothing. This isn’t to
say you should jump off a bridge if everyone else does it, but let’s be
honest here. For the majority of businesses, it looks kind of weird if
you aren’t on Facebook...







Is Facebook Still Worth It? Why It Is and How to Use It - SiteProNews

6 Paths to SEO Success in 2015 - SiteProNews

 Happy New Year!



 1. Social is the New SEO

 Because social media now accounts for over 25% of all time spent online, it’s an undeniable force.

 2. Approach SEO as a Real-Time Practice

 3. Go Mobile or Go Down in Flames

 4. Fast Sites Equal Faster Profits

 5. Timeliness is Godliness

Working in tandem with the real-time philosophy, aim to keep your
content as fresh and relevant as possible. Leaving holiday content up
even a few days after events have passed can damage search results and
credibility in the eyes of your users.



 6. Email is Still a Powerful Force

 Don’t count this old standby out as a significant marketing tool. With
all the web clutter, well-written and appropriately targeted email
campaigns still have some of the best ROI results around.





 Read the article in it's entirety.

6 Paths to SEO Success in 2015 - SiteProNews

The Benefits of Google for Your Website and Blog - SiteProNews

  HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO SAY IT!
Let's see....you want to get google search results? Maybe you need a google business account. Gee... Google owns youtube? You think videos might be a good idea?



Growing Your Online Presence with Google Plus


G+ is an uber platform for both small and large businesses. Their
innovative and ever expanding tools are designed to assist in creating
and expanding online presence. Whether you’re creating a profile for the
first time or returning to the one you started, optimizing your G+ profile
is important. The ultimate perk of this network platform is that its
set-up doesn’t have to be time consuming to reap results. Of course, the
more you put into G+, the more you’ll get back out.





The Benefits of Google for Your Website and Blog - SiteProNews

Email vs Social Media Marketing: The Facts - SiteProNews

Email Remains Dominant


Undoubtedly you know a few people who have resisted the social media
revolution. They pride themselves on staying off Twitter and Facebook
and not even knowing what a hashtag is. But those people still have
email, don’t they. Email remains the most dominant form of digital
communication. Ninety-one percent of consumers use email daily.


By contrast, only 74 percent of online adults use social networking sites. By focusing on social media at the exclusion of email, you could be missing out on millions of potential customers.





Email vs Social Media Marketing: The Facts - SiteProNews

Using Great Web Design to Support Your SEO Efforts - SiteProNews

 Is anybody listening out there?



Using Great Web Design to Support Your SEO Efforts - SiteProNews

Google's HTTPS Challenge: Making the Right SEO Choice - SiteProNews

 Matt Cutts says it all!



Google's HTTPS Challenge: Making the Right SEO Choice - SiteProNews

Google Social Media Strategies - What You Need to Know - SiteProNews

From this data pool, some very clear indicators of what is considered engaging in the G+ emerged. Here are the key takeaways:

1. Photos reign supreme on Google+, even more than other social
   networks. 57% of posts that got the coveted +1 included, or were
   exclusively, images. Links garnered 27% of the engagement, video 8%, and
   text-only updates saw just 8% of the +1 clicks.
2. Comments, considered an even deeper level of engagement, showed
   similar but not identical metrics. Photos once again are absolutely
   crucial – but only by a 30% margin. Text fell just 2% below photos, at
   28%, proving that thoughtful marketing messages still generate
   comment-worthy reactions. Events and Hangouts elicited their fair share
   of comments, at 14% and 10% respectively, while video and links closed
   out the category.
3. Reshares are the money shot in social engagement, as they
   significantly help to grow your reach. On Google+, photos once again
   receive the most reshares, at 55%; this blows away all the other forms
   of media. Video claims 12%, video 11%, and text just 8%.

Google Social Media Strategies - What You Need to Know - SiteProNews

Why Link Earning Trumps Link Building - SiteProNews

In some ways, it’s simpler. You want people to come to you, rather
than you having to beg them for the links. However, that doesn’t mean
any less work on your part. To earn these links, you need to follow four guidelines to boost your online strategy:

• Put great content first
• Establish your expert credentials
• Pursue smart social media
• Brand your company right

Why Link Earning Trumps Link Building - SiteProNews

Google's Penguin 3.0: Taking Aim at Bad Backlinks - SiteProNews

 More emphasis on Black Hat SEO. There is so much more to SEO than most people realize.





Google's Penguin 3.0: Taking Aim at Bad Backlinks - SiteProNews

Social Media-Do you know how to use it?

The bottom line is this: if you don’t know how to use social in a way that elevates your company, you may in fact cause irreparable damage. To prevent these mistakes from taking down your viable business, heed the warnings the brands who have gone before you just didn’t see coming. We’ll examine a few key public mistakes, and discuss ways your brand can prevent an epic social failure.

http://www.sitepronews.com/2014/09/05/social-media-can-fatal-company/

When Google Hits Your Web Content: Avoiding the eBay Dilemma - SiteProNews

 In a nutshell...

1. Make Sure Your SEO Strategy Matches Google’s Guidelines.
2. Avoid Common Black Hat SEO Tricks.
3. Craft Quality, Likeable Content.

Read the entire article
When Google Hits Your Web Content: Avoiding the eBay Dilemma - SiteProNews

SEO's Two Most Important Tactics | SiteProNews

 Am I preaching to the choir here?



The ever changing world of SEO and how it affects your online presence. If content is KING, then SOCIAL MEDIA is QUEEN!! Snippets here and link to article.



 Your #1 Focus: Viral Content

With every passing day and marketing fad, content strengthens its stronghold as the most important factor in your SEO strategy. Chances are you’re sick of hearing how critical great content is. In order to prove this notion, I’ll share with you some current stats, just in case the urgency to continuously create relevant and stellar content hasn’t yet impacted you.

Social Media’s Role in Great SEO

The second most important factor in lasting and productive SEO is social media. They are exclusive practices with significant impact on each other.

Before I dive into what works in social, it’s necessary to dispel a core myth on how the two relate. Social signals do not themselves increase your SERPs. They are two completely different metrics. Amassing a boatload of Twitter followers and comments won’t improve your search results. Not by itself.





SEO's Two Most Important Tactics | SiteProNews

Google SERP Displays Change Again | SiteProNews

 Don't go changin'.



Google SERP Displays Change Again | SiteProNews

Effective SEO Tips for Small Businesses | SiteProNews

 It is not rocket science!



Effective SEO Tips for Small Businesses | SiteProNews

Google Turns Three: What Does the Future Hold? | SiteProNews

 What I am taking away from this is that a google plus account still helps with SEO.



Google Turns Three: What Does the Future Hold? | SiteProNews

Had a client ask recently about Negative remarks on Social Media

This pretty much covers it!

The Wrath of Panda: Googles New Algorithm Update | SiteProNews

 And the bullet points are:

• Never copy, steal, or scrape content from another site and claim it as your own.
• Resist the urge to predominantly keyword-stuff your site’s content.
  Keyword stuffing is no longer a boon for a site’s rankings, thanks to
  Panda’s prowl, so cease and desist this archaic and damaging practice.
• Ensure all your content is readable to humans, not search engine bots.
• Create the highest quality, original content possible.
• Every time you publish a new piece of content, ask yourself the
  following: “Would I publish this in a major news outlet and feel proud
  to put my name as the author?” If your answer is ever a no, don’t
  publish it to your site.
• Publish content on a regular basis; sites with nothing but outdated and irrelevant posts are potential penalty targets.
• Make sure all backlinks are high-quality; never accept links from
  questionable sources. If you have offending sites as link partners, your
  site is also implicated.
• Double check that your site is technically sound, built with SEO in
  mind. Sites with security risks and obvious viruses are also affected.

The Wrath of Panda: Googles New Algorithm Update | SiteProNews

Seismic Shifts In Search: Googles Land-Grab for Online Revenues | SiteProNews

Interesting article and proof that some things never change. White Hat is how I roll!



...An attempt to change that came with Google’s Panda, Penguin and Hummingbird updates to the many criteria that go into creating what they call their ‘algorithms’. Unfortunately, in driving out the ‘black hat’ SEO people, Google has also made it difficult for those who play by the rules to implement workable techniques.

...The solution may lie in part with ‘content marketing’. From the earliest days of SEO (and Google’s pronouncements on the topic), quality content has always been heralded as being king of the castle.





Seismic Shifts In Search: Googles Land-Grab for Online Revenues | SiteProNews

Google's Matt Cutts: Small Sites Can Outrank Larger Sites | SiteProNews

Google's Matt Cutts: Small Sites Can Outrank Larger Sites | SiteProNews

13 Best Practices for Improving Organic Search Rankings on Google

13 Best Practices for Improving Organic Search Rankings on Google

Mac Vs PC In Graphic Design

File-Nameing Conventions

It amazes me sometimes how a business functions without knowing business basics. These are basics I learned early on. I get calls all of the time from clients asking me to find a file from 2 or 3 or more years ago. I can always find it very quickly. I try and explain the advantages of basic good business principles and very few take it in. Change is good!

The beginning statement says it all taken from PC Magazine.

"Businesses that want to be successful need to be efficient—and that means being organized, right down to the way you and your employees create file names. Follow these guidelines for file-naming conventions to help get you started."

Here is the article part of series...


Businesses that want to be successful need to be efficient--

 Taken from the i-webmaster.org web site and the infamous Boogie Jack

 

Wants to Be a Web Designer

Q: I want to be a website designer like you, where do I start? - David O.
A: This question actually came to me via LinkedIn rather than by email, but that's OK.
Part of the answer depends on what you want to do with your design skills. If you want to work for a company as a web designer you'll probably need to take some classes at a tech school or college. The days of "just being able to build a website" and get a job doing it are mostly gone.
Employer requirements vary, but most will want you to know Photoshop and Dreamweaver, at a minimum, and they often want experience with other programs as well.
The larger companies prefer employment candidates have a Bachelors degree. With smaller companies you may get by with an Associates degree or even a certificate. Some may consider experience in lieu of education, but that probably won't put you in contention for the better paying jobs.
Good communication skills are usually a requirement, along with being a team player, having the ability to follow written instructions, and the usual requirements like being dependable, passing a drug test, the ability to work in a fast-paced environment, etc.
You'll need a very good understanding of HTML and CSS ... just being able to push the right buttons in Dreamweaver won't be enough. Many also require JavaScript knowledge, and having some knowledge in other technologies like Flash, PHP, JSP, AJAX, and ASP (to name a few) only helps.
You must also be able to demonstrate good design skills, so creativity and imagination are intangibles that matter.
If your goal is to work for yourself, you generally won't need a degree, but you will need to be able to wear a lot of hats in addition to have design skills. For example, you'll need the ability to sell your services, to keep accurate records, and set up hosting services.
Working for yourself you may also need skills in web production and web development. Web production includes content creation and management, marketing skills, and above average writing skills. A web developer works with the back end of the web site, such as CGI programming, for example.
The lines between a web designer, web production worker, and web developer are often blurred. Some employers will want people who have at least some skills in all three areas.
If you just want to build sites for yourself, then you only need to learn what you need as you go. An understanding of HTML, CSS and some graphics skills will get you by for that.

Adam Audette Presents: "SEO is Dead. You Have No Time. Welcome to Big Si...

SEO is Dead? SAY it ain't SO!

Yes, I am READY!

http://creative-boom.com/tips/how-to-deal-with-clients-who-wont-listen/

How to deal with clients who won't listen

Posted by Katy Cowan on

9th July 2012

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When you work in the creative industries, you're often hired by firms to provide your skills and expertise. You are there to offer professional consultancy and steer your clients in the right direction. But what if they're not listening to your advice? What if they're fighting you on every suggestion you make?
It's very common to find clients who won't listen. They are a dangerous breed because they originally hired you to achieve an objective but because they're not allowing you to do your job, you can't help them. This not only damages your job satisfaction - it could also damage your reputation, because you just know - at some point - the client will turn around and blame you for failing.
So how do you deal with these toxic clients, achieve their goals and protect your reputation? Here are my top tips…

Get it in writing

When you first put together a proposal for a new client, outlining how you're going to help - make it extremely clear that certain things need to happen if you're going to achieve their objectives. It might be that you need significant budget to develop a website that will do its job. It might be that you work in PR and need serious budget for competitions or advertising. Whatever you need, write it down so you can always refer back to your proposal in future.

Create a status report

To keep track of progress, create a spreadsheet 'status report' outlining all the jobs on your list and where you're up to with each one. Send an updated copy of this report to your client every week, outlining the things you need from them in order to proceed. By keeping a record of ongoing work you'll be able to demonstrate that you are adding value but their input is needed in order for you to do your job.

Have regular meetings

Nothing beats face-to-face communication to keep your clients on track, so organise regular meetings to ensure you're achieving their goals. If there are any issues, obstacles or hold ups, you can raise them during these meetings and aim to tackle them accordingly. Don't be afraid to be bold and point out any reasons why you're not able to do your job. Refer back to your original proposal and remind the client that you needed certain things to happen in order to meet your targets. Keep reminding clients that they need to follow your advice if they're going to be a success.

Listen and consult

Sometimes the customer just wants support and reassurance, so always be humble and listen to what they are saying if they're fighting you on a certain point. Remember, you're a consultant and you're there to guide clients in the right direction, even if you disagree with what they're saying. But when clients fight you, always explain why you disagree. For example, if you're a web developer and you've requested a £1,000 budget to spend on hiring a web designer and they ignore you by hiring someone they already know for £250 (who happens to be god awful at web design) then you can gently suggest that quality web design is hugely important and that you don't think it will work as well. They still might not listen, but at least you can refer back to that conversation (preferably written down in email) at a later date when the client comes back to you and wonders why their website isn't attracting customers. Always cover your tracks and never allow a client to turn blame around on you.

And if they still won't listen?

Let's face it! Some clients always know best. They fight you at every decision. They don't listen to your advice. They try to do everything 'on the cheap'. As a result, you can't achieve their goals. Even worse, the only person they blame in the end is you. In which case, it's sometimes best to walk away before you give them the chance to point the finger, or worse - damage your reputation. If you've tried everything you can to help and it's just not working - inform your client that you can no longer work for them… but ensure you do this diplomatically. Explain that you feel they're not ready for your services, that you want to save them money and that you care. Say how you'll always be there to help, then walk away. Don't leave them in the lurch - do an official 'handover' and keep things professional. Nine times out of 10 they will come back with their tail between their legs, at which point you'll be 'too busy' to help.

How to Become a Web Designer 2014