There are many hints, tips and tricks out there, so the team here at Your Plan B Company narrowed the long list down to our Top 5 SEO tricks:
1. Content content content - add fresh content!
Even if your site is a lead generation site or an e-commerce site that doesn’t seem like there’s a need for regularly added content, you should always be adding as much fresh content as possible. In order to rank well for a given set of keywords, you must write about the topics relating to these keywords. The more often content is added, the more likely search spiders will increase the frequency at which they crawl your site. Being crawled more often can help a page rank higher for its targeted set of keywords.
2. Good Code - alt attributes on ALL images
Putting alt attributes on your images actually serves two purposes. In terms of SEO, putting a brief yet descriptive alt attribute along with your image, places additional relevant text to your source code that the search engines can see when indexing your site. The more relevant text on your page the better chance you have of achieving higher search engine rankings.
In addition, including image alt attributes help the visually impaired who access web sites using a screen reader. They can’t see the image, but with a descriptive alt attribute, they will be able to know what your image is and hopefully why it is there on the page.
3. Keywords really do help - check the keyword density
It is also important for you to use the important keywords in your content. Then you should also calculate the keyword density of each of the articles and it should be approximately close to 3%. Keywords help search engines to get an idea about what your website is about. You should make sure that the keyword density doesn’t exceed 8%. Otherwise your webpage may be regarded as spam by the search engines.
4. Site Maps are your friends - add a sitemap to your website
This makes it easier for the various search engine spiders to read and then index your web pages. As indexed web pages appear in the search engines, more people visit your website. And the higher you will float up in the searches.
5. Get more social - add your social media links!
Although technically not SEO, Social Media is such a growing factor in getting your web site noticed, that it’s an important element to include in your plan. Social media ranges from social networks like Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn — to social bookmarking sites such as Delicious, Digg, StumbleUpon and many more. There is a lot of relationship building involved, but as you build your own networks and build quality content on your web site or blog, you’ll see traffic to your website increasing, as well.
And remember, SEO is a contiued task on your website maintenance checklist. Don't stop learning about searches and techniques because there is always something new on the technology horizon!
There is so much information out there that we would like to share with you to help your web project succeed, that we decided it would be best if we blogged it. This blog is our 2008-2012 archive. You can keep up to date on web news, resources, SEO and marketing trends, new technology, print and color trends and sometimes something just for fun at our NEW blog at yourplanb.com/thebuzz !
Monday, April 4, 2011
Monday, March 28, 2011
How the H*** Do You Pronounce GIF Anyway?
A friend sent us this link from Gizmodo by Rosa Golijan on 2/1/11
He claims to have always called it "JIF". I however am old skol and still say "GIF" because that's what my professor called it back in 1990. Maybe I will change? Maybe not? DavidB says "GIF" and Cat says it both ways.
How about you?
Choosy programmers choose "gif" or "jif"?
He claims to have always called it "JIF". I however am old skol and still say "GIF" because that's what my professor called it back in 1990. Maybe I will change? Maybe not? DavidB says "GIF" and Cat says it both ways.
How about you?
Choosy programmers choose "gif" or "jif"?
Monday, March 21, 2011
Hex codes for all the Crayola crayon colors!
This submission made us all scream in happiness!
Who doesn't LOVE crayons?
And now we can be all geeky with hex codes and crayons. Check it out!
Now you may be asking yourself, what are "Hex Codes"?
Hex codes are the values of a color for a website that a browser understands. A very reliable way to make sure the color you chose remained that color when you tested on multiple browsers and operating systems and monitors! Way back in the day there were only 256 colors you could use. Now the spectrum has expanded.
WebMonkey has a useful page of the color chart - take a peek.
w3schools explains:
Color Values
HTML colors are defined using a hexadecimal notation (HEX) for the combination of Red, Green, and Blue color values (RGB).
The lowest value that can be given to one of the light sources is 0 (in HEX: 00). The highest value is 255 (in HEX: FF).
HEX values are specified as 3 pairs of two-digit numbers, starting with a # sign."
So now you can see why web designers think the crayon box version of hex colors is so darn cute :)
Who doesn't LOVE crayons?
And now we can be all geeky with hex codes and crayons. Check it out!
Now you may be asking yourself, what are "Hex Codes"?
Hex codes are the values of a color for a website that a browser understands. A very reliable way to make sure the color you chose remained that color when you tested on multiple browsers and operating systems and monitors! Way back in the day there were only 256 colors you could use. Now the spectrum has expanded.
WebMonkey has a useful page of the color chart - take a peek.
w3schools explains:
Color Values
HTML colors are defined using a hexadecimal notation (HEX) for the combination of Red, Green, and Blue color values (RGB).
The lowest value that can be given to one of the light sources is 0 (in HEX: 00). The highest value is 255 (in HEX: FF).
HEX values are specified as 3 pairs of two-digit numbers, starting with a # sign."
So now you can see why web designers think the crayon box version of hex colors is so darn cute :)
Monday, March 14, 2011
Email Marketing Tips
A friend passed this link to me "You should marry me…now! What to tweak and test in your call to action" from an article posted in September 2010 by Email Marketing Reports.
And I think there are some very useful points made about reviewing your call to action in emails. While not everyone can be Google, there are some useful examples that we can all remember when writing emails or email newsletters.
Consider:
1. wording
2. location
3. coding and format
4. shape, size, colors and highlighting
Read more resources for copywriting.
And I think there are some very useful points made about reviewing your call to action in emails. While not everyone can be Google, there are some useful examples that we can all remember when writing emails or email newsletters.
Consider:
1. wording
2. location
3. coding and format
4. shape, size, colors and highlighting
Read more resources for copywriting.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Do you use Instant Messaging? (Or IM for short)
Instant Messaging
Do you use Instant Messaging? (Or IM for short)
We sure do!
Definition: IM falls under the umbrella term online chat, as it is a real-time text-based networked communication system, but is distinct in that it is based on clients that facilitate connections between specified known users (often using "Buddy List", "Friend List" or "Contact List"), whereas online 'chat' also includes web-based applications that allow communication between (often anonymous) users in a multi-user environment. (read more at wikipedia)
Our favorite tool is Trillian because it allows us to manage multiple accounts on multiple types of services like Google, Facebook and Yahoo on both Mac and Win machines (your cell phone too!).
Download Trillian here!
You can chat with me a variety of ways:
jameybypbco (yahoo)
jbrumfield@gmail.com (google)
JameyBrumfield (facebook)
Instant Messaging is like a quick phone call that you do not have to pick up a phone and dial. Just check to see if I am online and send a quick text note. I can then respond using Instant Message or if more conversation is needed, I can call you! It is a great way to check in, ask a quick question or schedule a meeting. Faster than email and less intrusive than a phone call. Check it out! See you on IM :)
Do you use Instant Messaging? (Or IM for short)
We sure do!
Definition: IM falls under the umbrella term online chat, as it is a real-time text-based networked communication system, but is distinct in that it is based on clients that facilitate connections between specified known users (often using "Buddy List", "Friend List" or "Contact List"), whereas online 'chat' also includes web-based applications that allow communication between (often anonymous) users in a multi-user environment. (read more at wikipedia)
Our favorite tool is Trillian because it allows us to manage multiple accounts on multiple types of services like Google, Facebook and Yahoo on both Mac and Win machines (your cell phone too!).
Download Trillian here!
You can chat with me a variety of ways:
jameybypbco (yahoo)
jbrumfield@gmail.com (google)
JameyBrumfield (facebook)
Instant Messaging is like a quick phone call that you do not have to pick up a phone and dial. Just check to see if I am online and send a quick text note. I can then respond using Instant Message or if more conversation is needed, I can call you! It is a great way to check in, ask a quick question or schedule a meeting. Faster than email and less intrusive than a phone call. Check it out! See you on IM :)
Monday, February 28, 2011
More fun than "Lorem ipsum"
Lorem ipsum
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In publishing and graphic design, lorem ipsum is placeholder text (filler text) commonly used to demonstrate the graphic elements of a document or visual presentation, such as font, typography, and layout. The lorem ipsum text is typically a section of a Latin text by Cicero with words altered, added and removed that make it nonsensical in meaning and not proper Latin. A close English translation of the words lorem ipsum might be "pain itself" (dolorem = pain, grief, misery, suffering; ipsum = itself).
Even though "lorem ipsum" often arouses curiosity because of its resemblance to classical Latin, it is not intended to have meaning. Where text is comprehensible in a document, people tend to focus on the textual content rather than upon overall presentation, so publishers use lorem ipsum when displaying a typeface or design elements and page layout in order to direct the focus to the publication style and not the meaning of the text. In spite of its basis in Latin, use of lorem ipsum is often referred to as greeking, from the phrase "it's all greek to me" which indicates that this is not meant to be readable text
Recently a client sent us this note:
More fun than “lorem ipsum” http://www.fillerati.com/
Now you have a quick way to pour some content into a layout and keep your clients entertained while they finalize their web content! Enjoy!
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In publishing and graphic design, lorem ipsum is placeholder text (filler text) commonly used to demonstrate the graphic elements of a document or visual presentation, such as font, typography, and layout. The lorem ipsum text is typically a section of a Latin text by Cicero with words altered, added and removed that make it nonsensical in meaning and not proper Latin. A close English translation of the words lorem ipsum might be "pain itself" (dolorem = pain, grief, misery, suffering; ipsum = itself).
Even though "lorem ipsum" often arouses curiosity because of its resemblance to classical Latin, it is not intended to have meaning. Where text is comprehensible in a document, people tend to focus on the textual content rather than upon overall presentation, so publishers use lorem ipsum when displaying a typeface or design elements and page layout in order to direct the focus to the publication style and not the meaning of the text. In spite of its basis in Latin, use of lorem ipsum is often referred to as greeking, from the phrase "it's all greek to me" which indicates that this is not meant to be readable text
Recently a client sent us this note:
More fun than “lorem ipsum” http://www.fillerati.com/
Now you have a quick way to pour some content into a layout and keep your clients entertained while they finalize their web content! Enjoy!
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Save your eyes! Suggestions to preserve your eyesight while working on computers...
We are guilty of working at our office computers for hours at a time, forgetting to take short breaks to move around and now, more importantly, LOOK around. A recent article in Women's Health magazine reminded me to remind DavidB and Cat to look away and blink more often when working at their computers... and now I am reminding you!
The Truth Behind Computer Vision
by BRIGID SWEENEY
"Will your beloved time with your computer, smartphone, and tablets come back to bite you in blurred vision? Learn how to preserve your eyesight in an increasingly digital world..."
Read More!
And some extra hints and tips to Preserve Your Eyesight
The Truth Behind Computer Vision
by BRIGID SWEENEY
"Will your beloved time with your computer, smartphone, and tablets come back to bite you in blurred vision? Learn how to preserve your eyesight in an increasingly digital world..."
Read More!
And some extra hints and tips to Preserve Your Eyesight
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