Directories...If you can't beat 'em, join 'em!

There are so many of what I call "super" or "mega" directories out there. Somewhat like the online yellow pages, but often geared to a specific industry.

If you are having troubled getting your site ranked well (and you've done all the right things), you may want to consider looking at who shows up when you type in your specific keywords in a search engine.

The top 10 results may likely include some directory-type websites. It may be worthwhile to invest a few dollars (sometimes they are free!!) towards this form of advertising. I look at it like this: If you cannot get your site in the top 10, you should at least be listed in the directory of a website that is listed in the top 10!

Smart Web Design for this Baton Rouge Web Design Company

I am always providing advice that will serve my Baton Rouge, Louisiana web design (and surrounding areas, of course) customers.

Shame on me for neglecting my own company's website. Time changes things and I certainly know that Google, for one, is often changing their algorithm (how search engine rankings are determined).

So starting at page one of my own web design site, I recently took the time to review and update my content, as well as review keywords being used on my site and how they were being used.

We do well with the search engines, but other web design companies are always making their way to the internet and my goal is to stay on the first page -- where we have been for the last nine years!!

Importance of Keyword Research

Had a discussion with a client earlier today about their website. Their website is doing well in Google rankings for keywords we have used to optimize their site. That is great.

But those keywords were words and phrases THEY thought or I thought consumers might be using to find their service. What I had to stress is that we really need to be using a good keyword research tool to find out what the rest of the world would be typing in Google to find her service. Perhaps others would be using different words or phrases.

Small steps. We will hopefully work on that next!

King (or Queen) of Your Domain

Granted, we charge a few dollars more to maintain a client's domain name than if they went directly through a domain registrar.

But here is one thing that will never happen if your domain is maintained through us: It will not expire!

I cannot tell you how many times clients call us and say "my website is not up and running", only to find out that their domain expired. 99% of the time, this is because the email address they had on file when they registered their domain name is no longer valid. So when notices are being sent to the email address that the domain is coming due for renewal, no one receives those notices.

If you have a domain that you registered, make sure the email address you used to register that domain name is still active and accessible by you.

Website Security

I can't believe it! Somebody pinch me! Is it really possible that it is 2010 and, in doing some research for a client, I just stumbled upon yet another website (not my clients!) that has an online form to accept credit cards AND THE WEBPAGE IS NOT SECURE!!!

Not sure who to blame more - the company who owns the website or the web designer who created the website. I suppose I will blame the web designer first because they should know better. But then at least a "bad, bad boy/girl" goes out to the website owner. Doesn't everyone know that if you are going to include any type of online form that captures private information (credit card numbers, social security numbers), the web page MUST be secured.

If your site gathers any personal information from your customers, check it. Make sure you at least see "https://" in your address bar and look for a little security lock icon somewhere in your browser window.

Testing 1, 2, 3

Internet Explorer 8, Internet Explorer 7, Firefox, Google Chrome... So many browsers out there to choose from now and all have their pros and cons. Could be a web designer's nightmare, though, when it comes to web design.

Each browser has their own 'issues' with dealing with certain HTML code, CSS styles, etc. Be sure to test your web site in several browsers to make sure all your users see your site the way you intended.

While you are at it, test your website in several different screen resolutions as well. Though there are still some 800x600 resolution monitors out there, most are viewing your site at a higher resolution, but you need to think about EVERYONE.

Happy Halloween!

Let's go phishing. Let's not!!

While I would love to have won 500,000 GBP (what is a GBP anyway), I know better than to believe this phishing scam. Make sure YOU know better. If it sounds too good to be true (and this one is just too silly to be true), then it is probably not.

Please be CAREFUL!

EMAIL I RECEIVED:

We are please to inform you that you just won the sum of 500,000.00 GBP,from our YAHOO/MSN RAFFLE DRAW 2009. Fill the details and send it to claims agent.

1.Full Name
2.ResidentialAddress
3.Age
4.Sex
5.Telephone
6.CellPhone:
7.passportcopy
8.Occupation
9.FaxNumber


SELECT A MODE OF DELIVERY:
1. BANK TO BANK TRANSFER.
2. COURIER DELIVERY.

Regards,
Mr. Howard Paul
Email:claimsagentofficer07@gmail.com
Tel: +447024082613