PageRank is a link analysis algorithm, named after Larry Page, used by the Google Internet search engine that assigns a numerical weighting to each element of a hyperlinked set of documents, such as the World Wide Web, with the purpose of “measuring” its relative importance within the set.

What? Larry Page?  Gee, I thought it was something about a Google index page. Interesting, isn’t it?

In SEO it is enlightening to periodically run a ranking report of the website to get a picture of how the site is ranking for certain terms over periods of time.  This helps us gauge how “relevant” the page is according to what changes or enhancements we have made to it – basically, what is working or what isn’t making an impact.

Every December I begin the planning for my spring season. I start by setting attainable goals based upon last year’s performances. From there, I build a training schedule that will help me to track my performance and growth along the way. Without proper planning days, weeks, and even months in advance, I know that the likelihood of achieving success is minimal.

Like athletic endeavors, the business world operates best when properly planned and monitored. You can’t make the proper decisions to advance and strengthen your business without having clear, definable goals and a plan to obtain them.

One avenue that you may consider this year for improving your business could be through your website. Would you like your site to be more visible on the web so that it’s easier for customers to find? Do you think that your site needs an updated look to stay contemporary, competitive, and attractive to those who may see it? Set your goals and make a plan.

Maybe obtaining more business through your website should be in your 2011 overall strategic plan. We would be happy to help you out with anything from an SEO campaign, to site design, to adding an e-commerce option. Whatever it may be, give us a call or shoot us an email and we will be happy to accommodate your needs.

Happy 2011 from WEBii

“The ability to multitask is a must for the working mom. LinkedIn is one of the tools you can use to maintain your work-life balance while also gleaning key insights from other career minded professionals. The site is also a fantastic way to establish your professional identity online, let other professionals know about your recent career accomplishments and even nab your dream job.”

The Web in general can be used in wise ways to make a professional woman’s life more efficient.  I believe that Linkedin is a strong contender because of its concentration on a business environment; unlike Facebook, Linkedin is solely focused on harboring and maintaining only business contacts.

Your website should also be used as a “top tool” in your work strategy.  Websites are really a multi-tool, and like a Swiss Army knife, they can be a “life saver”.  Your custom website will serve as a marketing device, a reputation manager, a sales generator, and an efficiency tool.  Imagine how much more time a working mother can save by offering information, downloadable forms, and product ordering on your website – rather than being constantly tied down by the telephone.  Plus, make sure your Linkedin and other community profile links are present on the website, so people really get several touch points.

A tip for Linkedin: if you have had an active profile for a while, remember to log in periodically and review your entire list of contacts.  Have you communicated with these people in any other way?  Do you see any opportunities to reach out to someone either in another online medium or offline with a personal note or networking engagement?

I surprised myself one day when reviewing my list of contacts at Linkedin, realizing that I had nearly 100 untapped people in my database who I had not talked with in a long while.  I took the opportunity to locate some of them on Facebook and help boost our profile there.

Instead of including your javascript directly on the web page, link to it as a source.

In the head of the page, create the script tag, but instead of including the script code within the container of the script tags, link to an external javascript file.  For best organization, store your javascript file in a /js folder (or /scripts or something similar).  Your linked tag will appear in this format:

<script language=”javascript” src=”js/filename.js” /></script>

Now, as your page code is read, this is referenced on one line and the search engines (or other resources) do not need to wade through a long javascript to get to the important meat of your website – the content.

After years of speculation, it’s official: Google’s Matt Cutts stated that Google’s indexing formula ignores the ‘keywords’ meta tag.  What does this mean?  The meta keywords tag does nothing for your position on Google.  However, they are still used by many other search engines and directories, so don’t be too hasty and delete them from your web pages.  As I have mentioned before, having some extra meta tags in your site code is not going to harm you, so it is not a “bad” idea to keep up with your meta keywords.

• You need a CMS software that runs efficiently and won’t bog down the server & site speed.
• You want an administrative interface that is easy for you to use.
• A lot of the nicely coded efficient software have awful looking interfaces.
• A lot of attractively designed systems are incredibly slow and arduous.
• Some software is too new or poorly supported, lacking community resources.
• Some software is widely popular with vast free online resources or paid support options.
• More popular programs often have easy growth options like add-on modules.

When WEBii proposes web site development with a CMS, we take all of these factors into consideration and choose a software or a ground-up custom solution option that best meets the needs of that client.

Example contest web page

If you are looking for a way to encourage people to visit (and revisit) your web site, try an age-old marketing tool: a contest.

Think of a simple give-away item that relates to your business – small items could be: a book by an industry author, a how-to publication that you wrote, a white paper, t-shirts, other promotional items; larger items could be: a plane ticket, a vacation package, cash, etc.

Now create an enticing and simple online form on your web site, and make sure it is easy to find.  Post links and “ads” about the contest on your homepage and other popular pages.  Make sure the rules and dates of the contest are nicely spelled out and do not scare your participants away.  Include a newsletter subscribe option in the form.  Make the confirmation page (thank you page) of your form valuable also – direct the user to particular information that you want them to see.

Take advantage of any marketing channels you have to announce the contest and create buzz about your business – submit the story to your Chamber newsletter, post it on networking web sites, mention it in your e-mail newsletter.

Once your contest is over, remember to follow through with the promise of selecting a winner and delivering the prize.  Take the opportunity to follow up again with your customers and mailing list contacts by announcing the winner in an e-newsletter and other marketing media.

What this does for your business:

• Creates brand (and web site) awareness
• Offers opportunity to gather new contacts for your mailing list
• Invents an excuse to contact and follow up with people
• Generates news about your company
• Increases traffic to other areas of your web site

Trend #1: Canary Yellow is hot hot hot! Use splashes of color within your website design to create contrast and highlight important services or features. A pop of color is not only visually pleasing, but can also help you stand amongst the millions of other websites on the Internet. (Keep in mind, I said to use a POP of color – you don’t want your whole website to be a montage to a bright color that blinds your visitors.)

Trend #2: Braids, braids & more braids. It’s all the rage to braid your hair and I don’t mean the boring, one big braid we saw in the 1990s. Now it’s all about being creative with your braids – maybe it’s a small, side swept braid on just one side of your head or intricate braids tied into an up-do that paint a beautiful weave. Whatever the choice, there is something very hip about being creative with your braids. You are probably thinking how does this translate into my website’s design. It’s simple. While you want your design to be clean and modern, you also want a design that is creative and shows off your personality. Even when it is simple, creativity must be integrated into your website’s design.

Trend #3: Watch your step with those 4 inch heels. The world can be tricky to navigate, especially in four inch heels. However, the height advantage can really work for us shorter folks. However, don’t make your website a maze. Make it easy to navigate. Granted heels make it easier to see farther, but our feet can start to hurt if we have to walk too far. Your website navigation should be a breeze for visitors. The easier it is for them to find the information they need, the longer they will stay on the site.

Trend #4: The oversized handbag is your secret weapon. Inside your oversized handbag is all of your tricks. Use your website to hold a similar arsenal. Not only do you want to have the necessities in your purse (wallet, sunglasses, cell phone) and on your website (contact information, information about the company, products & services), but you want to have the helpful extras. For your website, this means having useful information and links readily available for your customers. It also means highlighting your own expertise for the visitor; you can do this easily through a blog or through posting helpful articles on your website.

Trend #5: Printed graphic tops show what you are made of. One of the most defining aspects of your website is the photography you use. You want to use high-quality, professional photography. Stock photography is very reasonably priced and provides you with the professional look that is necessary. The last thing you want is a website with low resolution images that provide an unpleasant viewing experience for your visitors, who are often potential customers. Fashion rewind … just as your photography translates into what people think about your website, your graphic tops should have prints that are meaningful and reflect your personality. Otherwise, who are you trying to show off to?

Trend #6: One shoulder, please! The perfect top … one shoulder exposed … stunning! Plus, it’s a sassy and fun summer look. Your website should show off your best shoulder. You want to highlight the important information about your company, the products & services you offer, and why folks should choose you.  However, you don’t want to give everything you’ve got away. Use your website to drawn them in. Make sure there is a clear call to action. Basically, you want to entice them to want more, so they will contact you directly.

It is fun to see how two completely separate items – fashion and web design – can relate to each other on so many levels and how you can translate that to success for your business’ web presence.

On a side note, remember to be fashionable in all that you do!