Top 5 Ways to Optimize Your Website for Google

The battle to stay on top of search engine result pages requires a website owner to continually improve page content. Although Bing and Yahoo use HTML tag structures, Google optimization is trickier. The search engine giant separates the affiliate pages and ad sites from domains that provide unique, relevant content. Because of Google’s stricter requirements and guidelines, website owners need to optimize pages to improve Google index rank.

Keywords and Phrases

Keywords and phrases are main content components of a website’s text. Google evaluates the content of a site and places relevance factors on keyword phrases that correspond to popular search terms. For instance, if a website’s focus is on “boat repair,” the keyword phrase should naturally display in several places within the content pages. Focus on full phrases rather than one keyword. Full phrases are more specific and reduce the amount of competition for search engine rank.  Avoid keyword stuffed content, meaning unnatural text flow that inflates the frequency of the keywords. Keyword stuffed content is detected by Google and lowers the website’s index rank.

The Title Tag

The title is coded within the title tag of each individual page. The text within the title tag is displayed in the web browser’s title bar at the top of the user’s window. This tag is also used by Googlebot to determine the content of the page. Although the title tag is not the sole element used by Google’s rank calculations, it plays a major role in search engine optimization. Web page titles should be different for all pages across the domain.  A common method used to reduce title duplication is to dynamically create web page titles using unique introduction text and appending the website business name.

Anchor Text

Anchor text is the content inserted within link tags. Using terms in anchor tags like “click here” or “read this link” make it difficult for Googlebot to detect the relevant keyword phrases for important links on the web page. If generic phrases are used, Google is unable to detect the relevancy of a website for certain keyword phrases. When creating links on your site, focus on the keyword terms that correspond with the website’s content. Use these phrases as anchor text for better optimization. Additionally, Google’s guideline’s state that no more than 100 links should be present on a web page.

Header Tags

Header tags are web page elements such as “<h1>” that provide a bold block of large text. The header tags are used by Google’s algorithm to detect the main focus of individual web pages within the domain. While a title tag is used as an indication of overall website purpose, the header tag is specific to the page.  For instance, if the website’s purpose is “dog food,” an example of a web page header tag text is “organic dog food comparisons.”  Only one “<h1>” tag should be present on each page.

Unique, Compelling Content

Being added to Google’s index is easy; maintaining a high index rank is where the real work begins. Google’s mission is to provide the best user experience for its clients. Search engine users are Google’s main customers, and Googlebot is designed to find the best web pages for a customer’s query. Creating unique content that focuses on the website’s business is the best way to increase index rank. Plagiarized material devalues the site and lowers the index rank. For repeat offenders, Google removes the domain from its search results entirely, so avoid any duplicate content issues.

Although variations in index rank are typical, these five tips help optimize your website while complying with Google’s guidelines. Continue to add unique content to the site, and Google will even crawl the pages more frequently. Google guidelines state that webmasters should focus on designing a website with the reader in mind. Continue optimization on the website with honest practices, and the domain’s index rank will steadily climb.

Native Designs Landscaping and Murphy Assistants: Working Together For Consumer Ecological and Economical Improvements

Collegeville, PA- Native Designs Landscaping, Inc. a landscape design company headquartered in Collegeville Pennsylvania collaborated with Murphy Assistants (MA) to create a website that not only displays their astounding talent in creating outdoor living spaces but also provides information on creating such spaces that respect and enhance the natural beauty of the location while maintaining the integrity of the surroundings.

Native plantings are specially acclimated to the regional climate and potential predators, and don’t require much in the way of alterations. Once your native plants are landscaped and flourishing, they require less tender love and care than non-native ones. The benefits to the consumer includes: limit climate impact; waste reduction; water conservation; reduction to carbon footprint; and energy savings. 

When it came time to establishing their online presence, Native Design Landscaping sought the graphic design expertise of Murphy Assistants, a full-service company of virtual assistants (VAs). 

 Native Designs Landscaping

http://www.nativedesignslandscaping.com

Murphy Assistants

http://www.murphyassistants.com

From Thomas Wolfgang, President and Owner of Native Designs Landscaping, Inc.: “We take complete pride in presenting a professional drafting of the outdoor space to be created, which we create based on personal interviews of the client and on-site evaluations.  Being in the ‘Green Industry’ is serious business to us that we go the extra mile to provide such services to not only provide beautiful surroundings but do it in the most ecological way.”

Murphy Assistants is a one-stop business support team of VAs offering administrative assistance with office management, event planning and desktop publishing. Native Designs Landscaping is a full service landscaping company located in Collegeville Pennsylvania .

Blogging Now: What Can a Blog Do For You?

Many an aspirant writer has toyed with the idea of writing a blog and many millions get going. After a slow start in the late 1990s, blogs caught on – but today they are no longer the simple online diary or weblog of old. 

 

The terrain of the blogosphere has changed radically. Blogs are now a focus of social media marketing and sales pitches. Microblogging via Twitter the current big thing. For some the blog has lost its innocence and with it much of its charm. For others, blogging presents all sorts of opportunities, from democratizing journalism to flogging goods. Anyone contemplating starting a blog today would do well to get a grip on how different – and how difficult – successful blogging is now.

 

Beginner bloggers may have started out on one of the many free blog-hosting websites (such as Blogger, WordPress and similar), lovingly crafted their post and sat back, only to realize that no-one has read it. Some give up. Others investigate, only to discover that for their blog to reach a readership they will have to divert time away from writing and put it into search engine optimization, link-building, directory listings and other methods of self-promotion.

 

Obviously those with the time, energy and motivation have the edge. The sad thing about the blogosphere is that those people are often those with something to sell. They will be skilled in putting their blogs forward, while Joe Bloggs languishes in obscurity at the bottom of the rankings, swamped by professional competition.

 

 

Blogs can be still be worthwhile for amateur bloggers. A blog designed for the entertainment of your circle of friends and family is still a great way to keep in touch. If the writing is good enough, it may pick up a following beyond that, through word of mouth. Quality still rises to the top amongst in the ocean of trashy content that the internet can, with some justification, be described as.

 

There are some simple strategies for those who aren’t overly ambitious to improve their profile. The biggest mistake beginner bloggers make is to define their blog too broadly. A targeted blog, focusing on niche subject matter (cats, cars, political commentary or whatever) has the best chance of floating.

 

The online journal is no longer a novelty and average lives aren’t of interest unless your life has something special to convey. If so, your blog could catch on. Think of Nightjack, a British police officer who won awards for his blog about his experiences in law enforcement – for a while (see below).

 

A little bit of SEO (search engine optimization) isn’t too arduous. Choosing a few keywords and attending to tags doesn’t take much time. Listing with directories and indexes (Technorati is a well-known name) can’t hurt. Joining a blogging community can help – after all, if you don’t read and respond to other people’s blogs, why should they bother with yours? But the fact remains that to gain a wide readership you either have to have something reasonably spectacular to offer or a lot of time to spend on promotion.

Blogging gets people into all sorts of trouble. Oppressive regimes persecute bloggers. Blogging about work regularly opens the door to disaster. The award-winning police blogger known as Nightjack was outed by the press and subjected to disciplinary proceedings. In a recent case, insults about a model led to the disclosure of the blogger’s identity and a lawyer’s banquet. Exposing your personal life can be dangerous, even if you remain anonymous.

If you’re prepared to walk the walk as well as talk the talk, blogging can make your career or be a vastly satisfying pastime. As a business tool, blogging has become a serious option, in tandem with the trend of using social networking sites to promote your products or views. A blog is a chance to show the human face of your business and keep up your search engine ranking with a regular injection of the fresh content that the search engines value highly.

 A hundred million people can’t be wrong about the power of the blog. Some blogs are today’s literature, and show history in the making. The blogosphere may not be the land it was, but it’s still worth trying your hand at it, as long as you know what you’re in for. A blog on one of the major providers’ sites gives you a platform to express yourself that is almost as versatile as a website, but needn’t cost a cent.

True Value

Too often I see commercials for my local telephone provider offering discounts if I sign up to use them over their competitor. What’s frustrating is when I sign up for that great deal, eventually it expires, and my rates start going up. Why do we not offer promos to existing clients, not because we are afraid of losing them, but to show them that we value their business? 

Great customer service has always been important. There is no doubt that you are more likely to visit a store with warm and friendly staff, and sometimes you may even be willing to pay a little bit more for that experience. 

But what happens when your business becomes a given? You are a regular, and you start to feel that the staff is not as outgoing as they once were because they know you’re coming back. 

How does a company ensure that every interaction, whether with a prospect or a long term client, remains as fresh as the first time? What can you do to make a difference? 

Take care of the regular customers you have, offer them promos for staying on-board, perhaps an anniversary discount, or even just to say thank you for their continued patronage. 

Never forget that your clients have options, and although it may be easier to stay with you, they may be willing to deal with the inconvenience of transition to feel appreciated.

Standards of Service

I recently visited a highway-side diner with my family. It’s as close to our home as the local chain hamburger restaurant. I always pay more at the diner for my burger and fries, but why do I choose greater cost over a more economic option that comes with toys for the kids.

 

Besides a really great burger, what I’ve come to expect from this diner is customer service that is not only consistent, but consistently excellent. Whenever I go in there I feel welcomed, that they value my business and I’m willing to pay more for it. What surprises me is that besides the welcoming environment and the pleasant manner of the staff is that they always try to down-sell me. Suggesting alternatives to what I order to save me money, and leave us with less left-over food at the end of the meal.

 

The experience I have with this diner can easily be translated into any business model. Fantastic customer service turns into:

 

• Repeat visits – We all know that new clients are great, but it’s much easier to keep the clients you have, versus going out there and getting new clients.
• Word of Mouth Advertising – The value speaks for itself. Really, what better form of advertising is there?  When they down-sell me, I am quick to pass that information along to my friends, so at that moment, it may have cost them one order of fries, but they gained an order from a family of four.

 

Remember your client, try to go the extra length to save them money, go above their expectations, and leave them with the feeling that their business is valued.

 

When I think about customer service, I am reminded of this quote by Maya Angelou:

 

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did,

but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

Customer Satisfaction vs Customer Loyalty

While doing research for a client in order to boost their client retention, I have really learned a few things. I thought it would make for a great blog post to help others as well as remind myself.

So we have all used customer relationship management software, whether in the sales process or in the win-back of lapsed clients, it is a fantastic tool to keep all pertinent data in one location. At the click of a mouse, you have the clients information in front of you which gives the customer that personal touch that we all love.

We have also seen customer loyalty programs in business. This may be a retail store offering a free item with the purchase of 3 other items. Or every 4th visit you get a free cup of coffee. While that is nice, it is not the real reason we are patronizing the store. If we didn’t like the product, giving it for free would not really be beneficial to us, would it?

Customer loyalty cannot be bought, it must be earned!

I have loyalty cards from the 8 major grocery chains in my area hanging from my keychain. Does it pay? To build loyalty, you must earn it. But how?

• Customer communication – be sure to keep in communication with your client base. Send them small thank you’s, birthday cards and company newsletters.
• Make sure you focus on the customer over your company, keep the focus on the customer’s needs and not your needs (customer centric)
• Establish good ethics – be a company that the customer can really trust

Customer loyalty and retention is about relationships. If you build a solid foundation, your customer will not only remain but they may just refer new business to you.

Tips for Attending Business Conferences

Trade shows are the perfect opportunity for networking and education. When you attend a trade show, you will learn about cutting edge products and services. Whether you are an investor, consumer or client, knowing what is coming next helps you stay ahead of the curve.

Some very important tips for your next event:

• Bring plenty of business cards – the business card is a very essential tool to networking and should be used extensively throughout the event. Gather as many cards as you give.
• Wear a name badge at all times – this makes things more personal when you go to an exhit or training class
• If you are attending a trad show for your company be sure to keep track of all purchases. This will keep you from going over budget.

Attending tradeshows is a way to further your knowlege of your industry. Be prepared and you will gain value and experience from each event.

Customer Care

While reviewing my personal credit card a few weeks ago, it came to my attention that there was a recurring charge that I didn’t recognize. I immediately began researching the charge and after a quick Google search determined the company in question. I was immediately alarmed because this company had been charging me for months and was never supposed to be a paid service. In their commercials and on their site, it boasted of “free” and never mentioned that it was a “limited time offer”.

It seems that they have since made it more clear on their site. This of course is after class action lawsuits and complaints by many to the Better Business Bureau. How unfortunate that they don’t seem to understand the importance of customer care.  After speaking with 3 people within the company, escalating to the manager and being put on hold multiple times, I was not adequately compensated for my charges.

Customer care begins with the first contact a customer has with your company. It is their very first impression that they have of you and representative of the company as a whole.  In order for this to be positive, be sure you are representing a company or product that you truly believe in.

Once this initial contact is made, it is important to develop a rapport with the customer based on respect. This will allow them to feel appreciated.

Work with them to develop an easy and seamless way to complete their transaction. This will encourage them to return to work with you again.

And lastly, please be sure to thank the customer. With so many opportunities for them to select from, it is imperative that you show your appreciation for their business. On a recent trip, Southwest Airlines did this very well when the flight attendant said “You have many airlines to chose from but we are very happy you gave your money to us”. Nothing like a little humor with your thanks.

Excellent standards of service will lead to happy and repeat customers

Going Green: Victory Garden Challenge

 

 

Murphy Assistants challenges Virtual Assistants and other Entrepreneurs to think beyond green and to encourage healthful and sustainable activities in the work place as well as at home  

 

What is a Victory Garden?

During World War I and World War II, the United States government asked its citizens to plant gardens in order to support the war effort. Millions of people planted gardens. In 1943, Americans planted over 20 million Victory    Gardens, and the harvest accounted for nearly a third of all the vegetables consumed in the country that year.  

Emphasis was placed on making gardening a family or community effort.

 

Today our food travels an average of 1500 miles from farm to table. The process of planting, fertilizing, processing, packaging, and transporting our food uses a great deal of energy and contributes to the cause of global warming.

Planting a Victory Garden to fight global warming would reduce the amount of pollution your food contributes to global warming. Instead of traveling many miles from farm to table, your food would travel from your own garden to your table. (thanks to http://www.revivevictorygarden.org/ for this definition)

 

Get involved! Let’s grow together!

 

Post a comment here if you are taking the challenge.  Lets’ s share our progress.

Send an email to us at victorygarden@murphyassistants.com if you are joining our challenge.

We will send you a gift to show our appreciation. You will also be automatically entered in our monthly drawing for prizes. The drawings will be held monthly from April 2009 through April 2010, the entire 5th anniversary year of MA.

Due Diligence: Why it’s important to do your homework

This morning it was reported that Amazon is facing a legal challenge over Kindle. It seems that Discovery is suing Amazon for patent infringement. Discovery is claiming that they have held the patent rights for this idea since 2007.  They are citing that this infringes on intellectual property rights.

So you ask how this affects your business? You may not even offer a product, but rather a service based business. It is still very important to do your due diligence. Small businesses tend to be at a larger risk and possibly more vulnerable due to a lack of resources. 

When I first opened my business, I hired a designer to assist with the creation of my logo (no longer in use). This designer came to me with 3 options and I selected the one that was my preference. I did not have the knowledge that I now have, and trusted that the designer did her research to ensure that we were not infringing on another company. (Silly me, I will now always check). 

Wasn’t I shocked and apalled when I was watching a commercial with my family and my exact logo was in use by a company. Not just any company, but a very well known national corporation. My heart sank, and I immediately made the changes necessary to remove that logo from all of my property and hire a new designer to begin the process all over again.

Thankfully for me I noticed this long before the company did, however it could have gone differently.