I have two clients I’m working with that are planning nationwide expansion for early 2008. Besides the high excitement level and hopes for the new year these companies couldn’t be much more different. One serves businesses the other is direct to consumer. One is in technology, the other in education. One targets a high income level, the other a low one. And so on… The marketing strategies couldn’t be more different - except when it comes to search.

Today when people here about a product, service or company they “Google it”. Consumers use an online search before calling or stopping by a store to get more information. Many consumers now search for information online before they even ask their friends for advice. This seems pretty universal whether the market is B2B or B2C. People want to be informed before having a discussion.

This makes sense as people like to feel empowered. And they like to look smart and well informed to their peers. Socially it’s become unacceptable to bring up a subject without having done any research ahead of time - search is just too fast and easy.

The first two steps for both of my clients are the same: Read the rest of this entry »

Search engine optimization, or SEO, has been in the background for several years though it is just now getting legitimized through major industry and news organizations.

SEO is making your site as receptive to the search engines as possible so that they send you relevant traffic. Put another way, whenever you search for anything with Google, Yahoo or MSN/Live the top 10 results are not there by accident - someone worked hard to get their site listed there.

Organic search traffic is valuable because it is free and qualified. The search engines match what the user is looking for with your site so you know this is a warm lead - possibly hot.

I’ve been looking for Sacramento Website Designers for a project I am working on and noticed many of them offer SEO as an “add on”. Curious about my competition I started looking at the descriptions for this critical service and became alarmed. Many of these sites explain they will use tactics that are more than 3 years out of date. Others are using blackhat tactics on their own sites. Here is what you need to watch out for: Read the rest of this entry »

I’m surfing around a bit looking for social networks to join and a common theme is really bugging me. Many of these sites hide their content.

What I mean by “hide” is that you have to be a member to get to the actual content.

Because I can’t see the content I don’t know if I want to be a member. I do know I won’t sign up for anything unless you show me the goods first… or at least a sample.

Holding viewers hostage to your membership policy is bad form. It frustrates the viewer. And that violates the first rule of usability: never frustrate the viewer. Why? Because they leave with a bitter taste and hold a resentment to how your site wasted their time. People that get really upset may write a blog post about it. Read the rest of this entry »

Sacramento residents can now plan their trips through Google Transit, a free service that includes itineraries and maps.

Getting around in Sacramento can be tough, especially if you rely on public transportation. God forbid you live in an “outlaying area” like the City of Citrus Heights where I grew up.

Sacramento RT already offers a trip planner but I expect the Google one to be a bit easier to use and more useful in general with tie-ins to other programs. Read the rest of this entry »

I find myself recommending WordPress more and more these days. My clients always ask two things when I bring it up:

1. What is WordPress?
2. Why is it right for me?

WordPress is enhanced blogging software that lets you - yes you - manage your own website content.

Many of my clients find this useful because as their business changes their website content needs to be adjusted. Often this is basic surface stuff like an address or policy change. Sometimes though, clients want a more robust content management system (CMS) and WordPress fits the bill. Read the rest of this entry »