Search Engine Optimization (SEO)by Kelly Mazaris, 11-20-2008 One of the top questions I receive is “Why isn’t my site showing up on search engines?” Just because you've created a website and added products doesn't necessarily mean that you are the top site on Google Search or that you're even ranked at all. You need to optimize your site for the search engines so that potential customers can find you. This is called Search Engine Optimization, or SEO. There are many, many companies out there that guarantee top placement on search engines like Google and Yahoo Search. Beware! No company can guarantee top placement. There is no magic formula that exists and no guarantees for high rankings. But, there are three main ways to optimize your site. They are: 1. Meta keywords, descriptions and title tags Adding these will help a search engine find you and deem your site "relevant", but they do not guarantee high placement. This is just one part of the puzzle. 2. Content It is also important that your keywords and descriptions mirror the content within your site. Content is probably the single most important way to rank high. Your site needs to have good, well thought-out copy. It also needs good product descriptions, category descriptions, etc. 3. Connections/Links Links to your site from other sites and from your site to other sites will help search engines place you higher in the rankings. One good way to do this is to set up a "links" page and offer to swap links/banners with other businesses. There are many top 100 sites that allow for this. Once these changes have been made, you should submit your site to all major search engines. Submission will put you on their list of sites to review and index in their rankings. This can take several weeks, and there is no guarantee, but you should do it especially if your site content is solid. When my schedule permits, I do offer SEO services where I apply the three steps to your site. I do not make any guarantees for top placement, but doing these things increase the probability of a high ranking. Overall, these things, particularly solid content, improves your site overall and will help you sell your products. If you would like to contract Lil' Dolly Designs to perform the above actions to your site, please contact me. #
Why is professional web site design so important?by Kelly Mazaris, 3-8-2008 Nine times out of ten, your web site is your potential customer's first look at your business. How your business is perceived is directly related to the quality, efficiency and appearance of your web site. Frustrated users may leave your site before even viewing your products! Forrester Research estimates that poor web design results in the loss of 50 percent of potential repeat visits, due to an initial negative experience. I am an artist and personally believe that an attractive and well-designed web site will improve your user's experience on your web site. But I agree with other e-commerce experts that the three most important features of good web design have nothing to do with how pretty your web site is but with how well your site is planned and executed. A professional web designer should make sure your web site adheres to the following three principles of web design:
If your web site contains these elements as the backbone of its design, you will ensure a positive user experience. When your customer perceives that you have put enough thought into your web site design, they will trust you and your business. This translates into repeated hits on your web site, increased sales and, thus, a successful business! # These articles are copyrighted by Lil' Dolly Designs. Unauthorized use is strictly prohibited. If you would like to use it in your publication or web site, please contact me. Read more about Lil' Dolly Designs' Design Philosophy.
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Lil' Dolly Designs specializes in hip and trendy web design, e-commerce websites, and chic and modern custom websites for WAHMs, small businesses, boutiques and artists. We also have many funky, fun and affordable premade websites available.