Build Your Own Website Bootcamp 
Build and publish your own CMS (content management system) 3-page website, with our help, in one day in our studio!
The “Build Your Own Website Bootcamp” is perfect for organizations and small businesses just starting out, or others who’ve been wanting a simple website they can manage themselves, but can’t afford a custom site at this time.
In the bootcamp, we’ll help you build your website, and teach you how to add more pages, images and everything else you’ll need to know to manage and optimize it yourself.
Since this is something new we’re trying out, we’re only taking a few applicants for this first bootcamp, to be held sometime at the end of January or early February. If interested, click here, and we’ll send you more details.
Cost – $500.00.
SEO Tips for Small Business
SEO (Search Engine Optimization), the process that allows others to find you on the Internet, is easy to learn, but takes time to properly implement. Here are a few tips:
- Learn what keywords others are using to search with Google’s free keyword tool. Enter words and phrases in the keyword tool that you would use if you were searching for your product or service yourself, and see what Google suggests. If you do business primarily in the US, filter their keyword suggestions by “Local Monthly Searches”.
- Create original content, using your best keywords. Don’t copy and paste from someone else’s website, as search engines penalize websites that do this.
- Use relevant keywords in all anchor text–the visible, clickable text in a hyperlink, such as this link to Smellycat Productions, a web design, video production company in Williamsburg VA.
- Give visitors the opportunity to Continue reading
News “Breaks” Faster on Twitter
Breaking news happens no matter where we are, and with Twitter on our mobile devices, it gets to us instantly. This is having a profound effect on the way news is delivered. For instance, when the recent shooting at Virginia Tech occurred and the school went on lockdown, the school not only posted a description of the suspect, as well as where he was last seen on their website, they added it to their Twitterfeed, and this vital “breaking news” spread like wildfire throughout the campus and beyond. Twitter is now the first place many go for the latest news and information on everything from celebrities to stock markets to breaking news. Here’s a couple of tips, as well as a video from Twitter to help you keep up with the latest breaking news and conversations, and “push” your own news and messages out on the Internet: Continue reading
Google Launches New Google Analytics
Google recently launched their newest version of Google Analytics. This latest version offers better functionality, information and report performance such as:
- A completely redesigned, faster interface (read more).
- Multiple dashboards—build multiple custom dashboards to aggregate different statistics on their own page (read more).
- Event Goals! Track your PDF downloads as goals with events, or configure two minutes play time on a video as a goal. Read Kayden’s great blog post on this feature.
Do It Yourself, Search Engine Optimization Workshop
To learn to use SEO, yourself, to increase your business and make money with your website, attend our DIY (Do-it-yourself) Website Optimization Workshop on December 8, 2011 from 6 – 8 p.m. As always, seats are limited, so reserve yours by December 5th by calling us @ 757-250-3197, or email us. Continue reading
Google+ Now “Open For Business”
Rolled out last week Google+ Pages finally brings the social network to the business world, allowing companies of all sizes to post updates about themselves and their products or services. People who follow a Google+ Page can comment on or share the company’s posts, creating running conversation threads. Businesses can also set up hangouts where they can chat directly with potential customers (source: cnet.com).
To help you set up your own Google+ Page for your business or organization, Google has created this handy guide.
To illustrate how Google+ Pages can be used to help small businesses, Google produced this lovely video: Continue reading
Does SEO = Spam?
Not according to Google! Recently, Google’s own Matt Cutts announced that Google does not consider “good” SEO (Search Engine Optimization) Spam, calling it “enormously useful” in helping websites get found and ranked higher in Google.
However, not all SEO is equal. SEO’s employing “black hat” techniques in an effort to increase a website’s rankings do more harm than good, and can result in a website getting kicked out or buried on Google and other search engines. Continue reading
SBA Sponsors Next DIY Website Optimization (SEO) Workshop
The US Small Business Administration in conjunction with Meadowvale Public Library are sponsoring our next DIY (Do-it-yourself) Website Optimization Workshop, which will take place in Richmond VA on November 9, 2011, from 6:30 9:30 p.m.
You can register for this no cost symposium @ http://sbaworkshopnovember92011.eventbrite.com.
Laptops Optional. Seating limited. Continue reading
Monitor Your Social Media in 10 Minutes A Day
With public usage of social media increasing daily, it’s important for businesses to monitor their own social media and keep it updated to maintain their success and search engine ranking.
You don’t need a team to monitor your social media; it’s possible for just one person to do it in 10 minutes (or less!) a day. So, grab a cup of coffee or your favorite energy drink and get your day started with these five easy steps to successful Social Media monitoring:
1) Check Twitter for chatter about your company (2 minutes). Use tools like TweetDeck or Twitter Search to monitor and join conversations about your company or brand in real-time.
Using Social Media to Grow Your Business
Social media has grown in recent years and shows no sign of slowing down! Right now, there are over 750 million users on Facebook alone!
You can use social media to attract followers and customers in many ways. Here are just a few: Continue reading
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