2007 DesignFirms Web Award

A few weeks ago, we launched our first website in 2007 for up and coming professional golfer - Angie Green.

We are extremely proud of this site as it was a complex and cutting-edge design. As most of you know, the more cutting-edge you go, the harder it is to make the underlying code work and still be search engine friendly. The site is 100% XHTML & CSS compliant. We also utilized XML and PHP to generate the schedule.

Our hard work paid off and we were awarded the 2007 DesignFirms Web Award. We received 92 out of a possible 99 points by the judges.

Angie leaves for South Africa in a couple of weeks to begin her busy tour schedule. We will be adding a journal to the site before she leaves, so check out her site and keep tabs on this shining star in the women's golf world. We wish her the best of luck.

Importance of Directories

It is not as simple as it used to be for search engines to find you. While, you can still submit your site via the "Add URL" link on most search engines, it's any one's guess where that goes. Personally, I think it's a fake form that goes into some spam box.

Therefore, if you want those search engines to find you, then you need to have other websites link to you. While I'll get into the importance of links in another post, the first thing you need to do is get listed in all of the "major" directories.

Since directories are usually monitored by us humans, search engines tend to give more "weight" to sites that are linked from reputable directories (not those link farms).

Here are the directories you need to get listed on:

• DMOZ - Open Directory Project (which Google uses exclusively for their directory). YOU MUST be in this.
• Yahoo! - Yes, you have to pay for this listing (for expediting), but just do it. It's worth it.
• About.com - Find the right category and then email the editor. It can be hard to get listed here, but be persistent.

While it can take time to get listed in all of these, it is well worth the effort. Be patient, but also be persistent. If you don't see your listing up within a few weeks, submit your site again.

Search Engines vs. Directories

Before I even get into the process of search engine optimization, let's get back to the basics first.

What is a Search Engine?

• Huge databases that help people find relevant information on the Internet.
• Search engines rely on computer programs called "robots" or "spiders." These programs "crawl" across the web by following links from site to site and indexing each site they visit.
• Each search engine uses its own set of criteria “algorithm” to decide what to include in its database.

What is a Directory?

• Typically are categorial listings of websites that can be searched by a visitor.
• Internet directories generally do not use software programs.
• Compiled by humans who review and organize web sites by subject into categories.
  

Search Engines vs. Directories

• Search engines use robots
• Directories use people
• Top search engines have both robots and people
• Different factors are used for search engines than for directories

Seems simple enough you say. So, why do you need to know all of this? Well, you'll have to wait until tomorrow to find out!

Search Engine Optimization

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) seems to be a buzz word that is finally (thank goodness) hitting the small business world. My clients have started coming to me for my thoughts and recommendations on SEO. While I do offer a full search engine optimization service, I am usually more than happy to gush on about the seemingly simple, yet definitively complex process.

I have been doing search engine optimization since I started building web pages back in 1997. Of course that was when you did all of your optimization in the code (Title & META Tags). Today, the search engines have complex algorithms that evaluate hundreds of factors. This is great for web searchers as this ensures we get the best possible results. However, it is a nightmare for those of us trying to get our clients ranked on their desired keywords.

I now attend several search conferences a year (and have spoken at a few) and subscribe to numerous publications just to stay abreast with the latest changes. Google, for instance, changes its algorithms slightly several times a month (some say even daily).

So, over the next few weeks, I'm going to explain the entire process from soup to nuts. Additionally, I will also discuss the differences for brand new sites and sites that have been around for some time. I will try to keep it mostly high level, but I'm bound to get into the "weeds".

2007 Resolutions

Happy New Year everyone. Hope you all enjoyed a wonderful holiday season and are ready for a fantastic 2007.

Other than fighting off another cold, we have been busy with several new clients, which I'll introduce to you over the next few weeks.

First, I wanted to share some of my 2007 business resolutions (it's always good to have some goals).

1) Make sure my desk is clean before I go home every night (I'll settle for every Friday).
2) Get new business cards printed (yes, I'm slacking on that).
3) Get my photography portfolio printed and hung in the office.
4) Attend more local business networking events.
5) Begin introducing Buckley to the office enivironment (Clementine is too bored)!