Simply Design – Your SEO & Website Design Solution

This is the question we’re asked most.  We love when people ask it, and we live to answer it.  To put it into a single word, the answer is – relevancy.  Our years of SEO research & experience have taught us that Google is always looking for the most relevant website for what people are searching for.  There are, of course, over 300 metrics, aspects & ranking factors that Google takes into account, but at the end of the day, if your website is relevant & useful to your target audience, you will have a fantastic foundation.

It takes a lot to create a website that stands out from the billions of other websites around; but we’ve created a simple answer to this question – you need knowledge and passion.  (Please don’t ask our developers & designers this question though.  They will get too excited.  They will talk your ear off about web design!)  But if you have the design knowledge to make the passion you have for your business shine through, people will notice.

When it comes to billboard advertising, less is more.  Get your targeted message across in as few words as possible.  If you’re looking for a maximum number, no more than 9 (short) words.  Take into account that people will be whizzing by in their cars, so there’s only so much they can read…but creating a connection with those people with only a few short words, well, that’s where the creative process comes in.

Our answer might be different than most.  A simple answer is ‘The process of optimizing a website to rank higher in search engines such as Google, Bing & Yahoo”, but we don’t feel it should stop there.  If a website is at the top of a search engine, but doesn’t convince someone to call, order, or visit your business, it’s not worth it.  That’s why we optimize for more than search engines, but customers as well.  SEO should bring you more business, not just higher rankings.

First, you need to find your target demographic.  It will tell you everything you need to know.  How old are they?  What kind of computer do they use?  Do they browse with Firefox, Internet Explorer, Chrome, or something else?  Are they computer savvy?

Google should always be on your mind when it comes to search, being that they carry almost 70% of search engine usage, but that doesn’t mean you should rule out the others.  If your target audience prefers Internet Explorer, Bing is a good focus.  If they are looking for answers to questions, Yahoo is a good source.

If you need some help pinning down which search engine to target, just send us a message.  We are more than happy to do the research for you.

Traffic does affect ranking, but very little.  Unless you receive hundreds of thousands of views per day, it’s highly unlikely that you’ll see a spike in ranking.  Traffic is good, but a few reasons it shouldn’t be a main focus is that:

A) You’re goal is most likely to gain customers or clients through your website, not just traffic, and

B) If you blindly gain too much traffic from random sources, it could actually hurt your ranking.  If a random source clicks on your website, it’s likely that they’ll click the ‘Back’ button soon after.  This sends a signal to search engines that your site isn’t what people are looking for, so they demote your rank.

Our suggestion is to create a quality experience for your target audience, and the traffic you need to grow and thrive will come with it.

Google is learning & focusing more on user intent. When you make a search on Google, which device you’re on, where you are, your previous search history, and much more are all taken into consideration. What does that mean regarding your result? It could change. If you’re walking down Central Ave in Albuquerque and search for ’Restaurant on Central’ on your phone, your result will likely be different than if you search for the same term at home on your computer – because your intent is likely different depending on exactly where you are, your mode of transportation, etc.

So what does this mean for SEO? Better results. If you’re worried about this change affecting your website, don’t. If you’re doing a good job and following the tips above, just keep it up.

Good search engine rankings don’t happen overnight, but there are some indicators to look at.  One of the best points to look at is – progress. Even an increase of two or three spots on a search engine can be an indicator that a strategy is having a positive effect. If you find little or no progress over time, simply re-adjust your strategy.

Ok, people don’t actually ask us that.  But if it will help your business, we’ll find out for you!  We are THAT committed to doing everything we can to help you grow and succeed.