Spring Cleaning for Your Website
Content on the web can be uploaded, edited and updated instantly. So why not leverage and utilize this Internet benefit and make your website’s content as fresh as it can be. Keeping your website current is crucial to ranking high in search engine results. Whether you like it or not, we are at the mercy of natural indexing and search engines.
Google can spot a “stale” webpage by analyzing the appearance of new and recently updated content. Search engines are set up and pride themselves on ensuring that the newest relevant content makes #1 on the queried results. In fact, Google announced in April the release of its new search algorithm called the “Penguin Update.” This new algorithm will better catch people who spam search results or purposely go against Google’s publishing guidelines to rank better.
Stellar Blue wants to share some “spring cleaning” tips and tricks to keep your website in the search engine’s light.
1) Avoid Keyword Stuffing and Web Spamming- Keyword stuffing is when a webpage is loaded with keywords in the Meta tags or content. Placing a few keywords without any heavy emphasis in true content or linking holds little strength. Instead focus on creating high quality phrases that present a good user experience with healthy SEO methods, rather than web spam tactics (Keyword Stuffing.)
2) Check all dates and outdated content- All Internet users rely on up to date information. If your website has a date at the bottom from 2010, your business will loose credibility. Well-presented and current information on your website builds a professional image and presents value to potential customers. You will be able to convert a user coming across your website to somebody who comes across your website and then contacts you for services because you have updated content. Further, customers will constantly return to your website if they know there will always be “something new.”
3) Double check links- Links are a great dynamic for easily referencing different content on your site, if they work. When your linking fails, users become frustrated and leave your site. You do not want “broken links” to be the reason why you lost a sale.
Relating to links and fresh content--if both are optimized, your site can act as “link bait.” Link baiting refers to adding researched credible content on your site so that other websites/blogs will link back to it or refer to it. If you write strong content, other Internet users may in turn link back to your article.
If you have further questions about cleaning up your website's content, contact Stellar Blue’s crew at info@stellarbluewebdesign.com or
(920) 905-0250.
Amanda Betts-Marketing Director
Stellar Blue Web Design, LLC
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Sweep Your Outdated Website Photos Under the Mat
Does your website's photos resemble something from the 80’s? If you can nod your head yes to this question it is time to spring clean and update those photos. We have all heard that a photo is worth a thousand words. Photos can make a lasting impression on a customer that can keep them coming back for more services or drive them away. That is why it is important for your photos to be current and be an accurate representation of your company.
Photos are easy additions to your website to showcase your staff, products and services. Updated photos give your company an edge because they make your website attractive and give the customer a image to serve as an explanation for a product or service.
In the process of changing up your photo library our Stellar Blue crew have some tips for you.
Stellar Photo Tip: Incorporating a carousel, slideshow or motion photo are easy approaches to spice up the imagery on your site and catch the costumer’s attention. It’s an ideal piece of website real estate and you have 8 seconds to grab a user’s attention. Click Here for a working example.
Stellar Photo Tip: Using “real” people instead of stock photos or models can make your company more personable to the costumer online. Using good quality personalized images can help with branding and make your website unique and personal. It is also important to be consistent with your images, which will help customers recognize your company in the future.
Images are a powerful tool and perfect complements to your website content. If the image is compelling it will catch their attention and keep them engaged.
Do not wait any longer to be stuck in the past, update your website photos by sweeping your old photos under the mat!
Still having trouble modernizing your website's photos? Contact Stellar Blue today to learn more tips in freshening up your images.
Greg Waters - Creative Director
Stellar Blue Web Design, LLC
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Freshen Up Your Internet Savvy
It's an overused train of thought that technology is rapidly changing and evolving. And if you are not right there with the change, you get lost behind.
This is true to some extent but let's take a proactive stance! So far in 2012, some big changes have occured in the technology and internet world. Stellar Blue is here to help fill in any gaps or misses. Below are some of the trending topics that may effect how your company or organization uses social media, gadgets and even your website.
• Pinterest-A great visual way to share content! Pinterest allows users to "pin" pictures, videos, and other images to a virtual pin board. Nine months after launch in early 2010, the website had 10,000 users. In January 2012 the site had 11.7 million unique users, making it the fastest site in history! There now is a Pinterest mobile app so we can all pin on-the-go. Click here to learn more!
• Facebook Timeline- The new Facebook layout enables you to tell your life story through photos and personal milestones on your own profile. It looks like a mix between a Pinterest and a Twitter stream. What we think is really awesome about Timeline is that users can actaully look back at ever Facebook activitiy they have ever done since joining the social networking site. Click here to learn more.
• iPad3-Although similar looking as the previous model, the IPad3 features sharper screen with double the resolution and quadruple number of pixels. Besides being more vibrant, this also makes the screen seem as if a user is reading from a printed page, like an eReader. Additional features include a 5-megapixel camera, 4G LTE (super fast Internet speed) and signifacntly longer battery life.
• Search Engine Rules (algorithm updates)- Search Engines like to keep updated on their algorithms to present users with the best search results and avoid spam. New algorithms develop because more webspamming is created everyday. Check out our highlight column on Google's Penguin Update and take note on keeping your website clean to "obey" search engine rules.
Contact Stellar Blue at info@stellarbluewebdesign.com or (920) 905-0250 to take your proactive stance on technology!
Stellar Blue Crew
Stellar Blue Web Design, LLC
Visit Stellar's LinkedIn profile
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