Web Design NC

Deerstone just launched a brand new website for the Burlington, NC-based insulation contractor, Alamance Insulation. This new website, built on the WordPress platform, offers several features designed to help promote the company’s products and services to the local market.

WordPress was selected as the platform for this website because of the many powerful plugins available that support ease of content sharing through social media, as well as support for search engine optimization on each page of the site for maximum visibility in search engines such as Google.

It is now more important than ever to rank well in the search engines, as the yellow pages are quickly becoming obsolete. Small business with a local focus like Alamance Insulation that recognize this trend early on and position themselves well with search engines now will thrive in the near future as their competitors struggle to make the transition from yellow page dependency.

Another advantage to building the website on WordPress is the ability to easily expand with new pages or content as the need arises. Thanks to a very intuitive content management system (CMS), modifying the site’s content can be done quickly by a staff member and not require the involvement of a web developer – saving them time and money.

Visit the new website for Alamance Insulation at http://alamanceinsulationllc.com/

“Search Engine Friendly” (SEF) is a term used to describe a website’s design, URL structure, menus, content management system, images, content, catalogs and other website elements that have been optimized for the purpose of search engine indexing.

For example, a search engine friendly URL for a widget on an e-commerce site might look something like this: http://www.widgetsRus.com/blue-widgets/large-blue-widget as opposed to a Non-SEF URL that may look something like this: http://www.widgetsRus.com/index.php?id=34567&cc=blue&size=lg

A search engine friendly page for the widget may have “Large Blue Widget” in the page title, and on the page itself. The images of the large blue widget may have image tags named “large blue widget”, etc. Whereas a non-SEF page title would read “itemID=#34567″, and the page may not have proper item descriptions, image tags, content placement, etc.

In a nutshell, Search Engine Friendly means that a site is technically structured so that search engines can easily read and interpret the content.

“Search Engine Optimization” (SEO) is the process of creating and positioning content on and off the website in order to improve the visibility of a website in the search engines. Having a search engine friendly website creates an easier foundation on which to build your SEO content.

A properly executed SEO campaign should start with keyword research to determine the terms people are actually searching on, search volume, popularity, profitability, etc. Once the keyword phrases are identified, the website is “optimized” by creating copy, articles, videos, blog posts and other content both on the website itself as well as on other online resources (off-page) such as blogs, social media sites, content sharing sites, indexes, directories and other off-page locations. Off-page content is also optimized for the target keyword phrases and includes links back to the main website. This aspect of the SEO process is known as “back linking” or “link building”.

Many web design firms often sell their clients on “SEO”, when in fact they are really performing SEF or simply on-site SEO. Optimizing a website is a rarely a “one-shot and you’re done” exercise. SEO is an ongoing process that involves continual keyword analysis, website monitoring, content creating and link building. Competition for the same keyword phrases creates volatility in the search engine results pages. The winners in the search engine war are the businesses that produce quality, keyword targeted content on a regular basis that position themselves as authorities on the subject.

What are QR Codes?

QR (Quick Response) codes are those funny looking square shaped symbols that are starting to pop up almost everywhere these days. They are similar to bar codes, but they hold much, much more information. You’ve probably seen them in your travels. Well, now you’ll know what to do the next time you run across one.

QR codes were designed to be scanned with your iPhone, Android or other mobile device with an onboard camera. All you need is a QR scanning application (called a reader)  for your device. There are many free QR readers available for most of the common mobile phones on the market. A quick search on “QR code reader” on iTunes will yield many free QR readers for the iPhone.

What’s the Big Deal?

QR codes can be used in a number of ways. Once scanned with a QR reader, these codes can be created to deliver a range of content, as well as access certain native features of your mobile phone. Common uses for QR codes include linking to:

• Product Details
• Contact Details
• Offer Details
• Event Details
• Coupons, Specials, Promotions
• Twitter, Facebook and Mobile Websites
• Email and web links

Where Should You Use QR Codes?

Here are some of the common places you’ll see QR codes:

• Business Cards
• Brochures, Catalogs
• Nametags
• Product Tags
• Displayed in Retail Locations
• T-shirts
• Stickers

How Do I Create a QR Code For My Own Use?

There are many QR code generating websites that will allow you to create your own QR codes for free. Here are a few results from a simple Google search on “QR code generator”:

http://www.qrstuff.com/

http://zxing.appspot.com/generator/

http://www.kaywa.com/

QR Codes Are Here to Stay

Although QR code adoption is still in its early stages here in the US, they’ve been actively used for over ten years in Japan, where they originated. My advice is to not be a late adopter of this technology. Mobile devices are rapidly replacing home computers and laptops as social media, web browsing, email and basic online functions are now available on the go from our smartphones. QR codes are the logical path to entering the new mobile marketing arena.

How Do I Get Started With QR Codes?

It’s easy to get excited about QR codes and start putting them everywhere, but remember they are designed to deliver content to your mobile phone. Your first step should be creating the mobile content that these QR codes will deliver to your end users. Start by assessing your website. Is it mobile friendly? Many companies now have two version of their website: the standard version and the mobile version. With so many users now accessing your website from their smartphones, it’s important that you have a “finger-friendly” version of the site that’s optimized for mobile devices. Once you’ve built your mobile website and generate a QR code to send people to it, the sky’s the limit!

Time to get your marketing plans in order for 2011. Let’s make a resolution to not continue with the same old outdated, non-performing marketing methods this year. Here’s what’s IN and OUT for 2011.

What’s OUT:

• Yellow Pages Advertising
• Excessive Print Media Advertising
• Static Websites
• Boring corporate e-newsletters
• Websites with no call to action
• Free blogging sites

What’s IN:

• A blog that’s integrated with your website
• Mobile Web
• Google Places: You only have a few chances to do this right. DON’T mess this one up!
• Squeeze Pages
• A website that’s fully integrated with your social media sites
• More Twitter followers and more tweets
• Article Marketing
• Video Marketing
• Giving away things for free
• Building your email list
• Drip marketing

If you’re heavily dependent on Google Adwords to achieve first page visibility, you may need to rethink your campaign strategy. Google’s new local search results page throws a twist into how your Adwords ads are displayed. Top paid placements may actually be hidden now by Google’s placement of the local search results map.

Read more…

http://www.b2cmarketinginsider.com/online-marketing/googles-local-search-focus-its-affect-on-ppc-for-inbound-marketing-04185/comment-page-1

Lots of companies get it wrong when it comes to social media. Here’s an article at Social Media Examiner that does a great job explaining the approach you should take with social media marketing.

“The Zen of social media marketing is about understanding the mindset of people who are using social media and then using it to your advantage,” says Kabani. And here’s a clue about that mindset: they’re not interested in buying anything! “Remember, social media is not a selling tool! It is an attracting tool!”

That’s right – Kabani recommends using social media primarily to attract people, not sell to them. Because people don’t use social media to look for something to buy. They use social media to express their unique personality and connect with friends and family.

Read the Full Article