My marketing and social media strategy.

In the past 6 years as a website designer I have learned a massive amount about web design coding and how it affects the overall presence of a website, within the 'search engine' landscape. A lot of what I put in to a website design as standard practice, is sold by others as SEO or - Search Engine Optimisation

My clients already know that Google likes relevant content and lots of it, they know that the domain name they choose may help or hinder their performance in search engines. In addition, I assure them that my professional coding and attention to detail will ensure that Google always sees their site clearly and most importantly, - for what it is. I do this by using minimal, valid code and by completing all TAGs with relevant information, pertaining to their website's content.

SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMISATION (SEO)

Every business owner will at some point, be sold the line: "I can get you on the first page of Google - for any search term - guaranteed". The simple answer to this is - no you cannot. It cannot be guaranteed. I never cease to be amazed at how many clients come to me with more money set aside for SEO than for the entire design and development of their web site. Why attempt to drive traffic to a poor website that makes you look unprofessional?

Basic SEO should be part of any web site design and as long as your website is legitimate and does what it says on the tin, then it shouldn?t be too hard to achieve either. If you sell tractors in Devon, then your web site can be coded with that in mind.

All images and pages on your web site should have TAGs that Google and other search engines read. If these are relevant, then the search engine will mark your site well when a search is done for 'tractor sellers in Devon'. The problem arises when not only do 5,000 companies sell tractors in Devon, but another couple of thousand are talking about it. After all - you cannot all be on the first page of results.

I am aware that there are companies out there who spend tens of thousands of pounds a year on pay per click (PPC) campaigns with Google, just as there are companies who take out full page adverts in the Times newspaper. However, I specialise in SMEs who are looking to spend their money a little more wisely and take advantage of their smaller size and agility.

SOCIAL MEDIA OPTIMISATION (SMO)

The first differentiator that I have as a web site designer is that I am here to stay. The majority of web designers and developers will design you a website, put it live and then leave you to it. I prefer to employ the maxim It is easier to keep an existing client than it is to find a new one. That being the case, I have to employ long term strategies for keeping my clients popular both on the internet and in real business.

SMO is all about communicating your brand and building a community and a buzz around it. It is then about keeping this community fed with content about what you are doing, using a number of different channels. I am not saying that this community we build will all want to buy tractors from you, but they will certainly make you easier to find for those who do want to.

It is worth mentioning at this point that prior to any of this happening, you will need to sit down and create your brand. This is an extremely important process, the result of which will be central to everything your company does and more importantly, how it does it. But that is a whole other subject.

I offer four services under the banner of SMO and although it would be beneficial to initially ensure that your web site and brand are in order, it is not essential.

BLOGGING POWER

Search Engines have always valued good, valid links in to your website from third parties and although these can be built up via link exchanges and directory listings, I prefer the more genuine approach. Positive independent reviews are very sought after on the web and that is what my BLOG entry is all about. I can help push your website to the top of targeted search results by writing keyword rich, relevant BLOG entries on my website.

FLICKR FEED

Images are essential to any website - they paint a thousand words - they can also be tagged with relevant, keyword rich TAGs for search engines to pick up on. Following on from the mantra above, the Flickr feed allows me to upload your images to your own Flickr account (see www.flickr.com), tag them with the same keywords and make them available globally to search engines and even back to your own website .... and my independent BLOG entry - this is how your brand grows.

ONLINE VIDEO

Taking the Flickr feed to the next level we have video. Making a promotional video of your product available online can be a fantastic marketing tool and yet another way to enforce your brand. Youtube, Blip and Vimeo all allow videos to be uploaded, tagged and shared across the social media spectrum.

TWITTER AND FACEBOOK

Everyone has heard of Facebook and Twitter but not everyone is aware just how powerful they can be for your business. I can use my own Facebook group and Twitter channel to put your product in front of my followers, and I can help you set up your own accounts too. You can use your own Twitter channel as a feed to your website, which keeps your website fresh and updated - it is important to make sure that all of your channels of communication are working in concert and relaying the same message.