Did you know that editing your website with a phone is now possible? With an iPhone, Android or Blackberry you can do just that? With well over 100 clients, we specialize in teaching website management. This is critical. While we do provide contracted services to make updates, many like to have a more “hands on” approach.
An effective website is one that is updated frequently. Making frequent updates can be costly if you contract. Since our website programming provides a very user-friendly option, consider our company for all of your website needs.
Want more information or have questions, please call or email!
Evmikna Graphics has been a lifesaver for my business.
Tom Antor, Grand Rapids, MI
Tom Antor, the organizer for the largest hunting shows in Michigan, chose Evmikna to help him redesign his website and gain control of it. Many of our clients came to us because they wanted control of their website. In 2008, we helped Tom secure control of his domain name and deployed his website into WordPress so that he can make edits on his own.
If only Google would remain static! It is always morphing…it makes our job strategically interesting as we are having to morph right along with it. In the last couple of months, Google has made some important changes related to your local listing. Below is a Google Local Listing.
Since 2008
Google introduced local listings with a map to the left and businesses to the right. These are commonly called the 10 pack. It gets that name from the fact that the top ten businesses in the local region are listed. In some cases there are 3 packs.
When Google started using these listings, it showed the top ten businesses located in the geographic center of town. (See A) We are on the edge of town, therefore, our listing was considerably down the list. This was a frustration. At that time, all we could do is get ourselves above the 10 pack or just below it. (See B) Well, the frustration is gone 🙂
Since June 2009
The 10-pack has changed! As you notice from the above graphic, we are now letter B. We are the second listing. What you should note is that there are at least 4 other website design companies in Davison, Michigan that are closer to the geographic center of town. Yet, we are ahead of them. We don’t really mind being listed #2. Why? Because at the time of this posting, we have 11 reviews. Those reviews get us traffic.
Enough Said Publicly
Okay, we don’t want to publicly say anything more. We are leaders in this region for Search Engine optimization and our competitors want our information. There are a number of factors that Google considers today. If you are not in the 10 pack, and are currently one of our clients, contact us today for a free strategy to improve your listing. If you are not currently one of our clients, we will schedule a meeting for a nominal fee which can be converted into the over all charge if you want us to do the work.
We want to highlight two words that get people to the top of the search engines and make your website profitable—Consistent and Intentional Promotion.
With every website, we do the right things to make sure that your website has potential to be found in the search engines. From the menu coding to on-page content, we build potential into every website. The days of simply building a website correctly and getting results are nearly gone. It used to be that all you did was put content on your site and you are done. However, with the competition on the WWW, more must happen to get your site to the top of the search engines and to see results. You need to be consistent and intentional if you want your website to produce results.
Consistent Website Promotion
Consistency is the key to success in nearly every area of life. Failing to be consistent only leads to frustration and eventual failure. In the world of website promotion, Google (et al) take into account freshness. If you are consistently adding new information to your site, you will see results. Also, consistently building links to your site through other websites, blogs and forums are the keys to success.
Intentional Website Promotion
When you have a plan for promoting your website, you will do more than the one who sporadically adds information. Consider your website as an ongoing experiment. We have over 100 clients and a number of our own personal websites. Through this vast experimentation, we are finding a number of ways to intentionally promote your site. We have clients that secure articles written from their own clients. Another has 10 years worth of print articles in their filing cabinets. Getting this content on their own site is intentional. Why not consider writing a “Top 10” list for your own website. We have and we get traffic directly to that page.
Summary
Every industry can benefit from a consistent and intentional promotion of their website. If your website has become “stale” let us work with you to find ways to freshen it up. If you are beginning a website, keep in mind that if you want your website to be a top producer, it will be a continual project, not simply a one month endeavor.
This week, we are purchasing a new server which improves the hardware and software. We are happy with our current server, but things have improved to such a degree that we chose to implement a new server instead of upgrading our current one.
As a result, this new server will be faster and more secure than ever. There will be no downtime for either website or email. We will take care of everything “behind the scenes.”
This will be a month long process for us. There will be no cost increase for hosting. We may ask you for access to your domain name to point it to the new server, but for most of our hosting clients, we have that information. You will simply be notified by email when we change.
We anticipate only one change that will affect you—strong passwords.
If you have access to the CPanel and/or use WordPress for your site, we will increase the security of passwords. The days of simple passwords are about over. This is unfortunate, but unavoidable. With scammers and hackers, no amount of advanced technology can ever replace the need for a strong password. Of course, having a notebook full of passwords and usernames may not be your desire, there are online password vaults and browser tools (e.g., Roboform) that can store these for you.
Email marketing is very effective! Did you know that one survey, research company finds that email marketing is now ranked above the search engines for helping your business. Let us introduce you to iContact, a very easy-to-use email campaign management program.
For some time, we have recommended AWeber and Constant Contact as our favorite campaign resource. However, a new company is now offering better rates and has some advantages.
iContact Fits Budgets Better
From the table below, you will find that iConstant is either cheaper or the same price as the cheapest solution. The great thing is that iContact offers more flexibility due to more pricing levels.
With pre-filled templates, you do not need to know how to code. You can choose WYSIWYG [fn1 “What You See Is What You Get] templates.
The charts and reporting features are very clear. You can see instantly how many email subscribers added and dropped as well how many opened your email.
Constant Contact is as easy as iContact, however you will pay more for that service. AWeber needs to make some progress here.
Summary
We are very happy with the flexibility and pricing structure of iContact. Consider enhancing your marketing with iContact. Click here to start a free trial!
The latest “buzz” is LocalAdLinkUSA. It is a MLM designed to build a network of people that sell the product, LocalAdLink. Unlike search engine marketing, LocalAdLink is expensive and will not perform as the hype suggests.
What is LocalAdLink?
Most simply, LocalAdLink is a directory of businesses. When you use LocalAdLink, you can find local businesses that advertise through LocalAdLink. It is a new directory introduced in late 2007. This is why it is not a good bargain…
LocalAdLink is more expensive than having your own website. To have your own page in LocalAdLink, you will pay at least $49.95 a month for the smallest package to $200 a month for the premium package. Each business has its own page with a map, a place for information and reviews. Google already provides this as a free service AND will give you local search coverage. If you were to hire a website developer to create a simple web page, such as you will get from LocalAdLink, you will pay a one-time fee of around $500 ($60 every year after for hosting). With the smallest package from LocalAdLink, you will spend $600 for a page, each year!
LocalAdLink has vague language which causes their network marketers to misunderstand what they are selling. LocalAdLink says “…business clients rotate in top positions throughout LocalAdLink’s distribution of partnering sites such as Google, Yahoo, Facebook, MySpace, BOOMj and hundreds more.” What are these “top positions?" LocalAdLink says that they will get you a “top position” in Google. They can do so through the “sponsored links.” Sponsored links are the yellow rectangular boxes. LocalAdLink simply purchases a few clicks to get you into Google’s rectangular Ad box. They are simply selling you some Google AdWords. So, when they say they are getting you into distribution with partnering sites, they are doing so primarily through Google AdWords. LocalAdLink may get you search engine results in the main part of Google, but their pages are designed to give you the most minimal ability to gain that position. If you want to rank for local terms, you can do that for free through Google. Or, you can build your own website and perform some Search Engine Optimization to get ahead of everyone else.
LocalAdLink will not get you the traffic, and business, you expect. It is universally known that Google (Yahoo & MSN) are the places to go to find information. Having based their business model on Google AdWords, LocalAdLink will, at best, get you only 10% of what you could get with your own website or Google local listing.
LocalAdLink is based on an early 1990s approach to internet marketing. In the ‘90s, most people went to DMOZ to search through lists of businesses to find information. When Google came out in 1997, it changed the way searching is done. Very few people use, and will use, LocalAdLink for searching for businesses. People use Google, Yahoo and MSN to find their information. YellowPages.com and MerchantCircle have millions more businesses in their directory. You can get a page through them. The downside is, even with the popularity, you will get virtually no traffic through these kinds of directories.
As a MLM, LocalAdLink is Designed Primarily for Expanding Their Network, not Your Business
On the testimonial pages provided to LocalAdLink marketers, it is obvious that LocalAdLink is primarily important to the one selling the services, not the end-user, you! The popularity of LocalAdLink is not in that it brings clients to your business. The popularity is found among those selling the product. notice the testimonials below. They do not speak of the quality of service for you, the customer.
After working as an engineer where I oversaw the development of the newest and fastest microchips in the world, I decided I was missing out on some of the important things in life. I chose to become a full time LocalAdLink Independent Sales Representative. Not only have my wife and I opened a great business opportunity, but I’ve been able to spend the important hours with my sons that I had been missing. Tucker A.
I think the key to success is to be honest, sincere and have a real desire to help people. After you begin to do that your business just grows. One person tells another, and you build your business. We owe it to people to share the LocalAdLink opportunity with them. Nanette G.
The LocalAdLink compensation plan is very clear about what we earn. People have to just DO IT. Get out on the street, talk to the people, explain the business, and you will see the results. Zoila A.
We try to provide the service our downline members need. Then these people have success and take good care of their LocalAdLink customers and build for the future. Jean A.
Compare the above testimonials with the ones on our homepage. You will then see the difference…
Here is the Webpage LocalAdLink Provides
Pictures say a thousand words. Here is one business’ webpage. Can you find the business?
Notice that the business “Sal’s Smokehouse & Pizza” is pushed far below LocalAdLink’s own advertising. Again, LocalAdLink is primarily about LocalAdLink, not your business as this screenshot demonstrates.
How to Get Local Results for FAR LESS Money than LocalAdLink
LocalAdLink’s markets the idea that local results are best for local companies. If you don’t have the ability to go global, we agree. However, LocalAdLink is not a good choice. As we mentioned above, Google offers Local Results for free. LocalAdLink cannot and will never be able to supercede Google’s local results. Consider the search below:
Not only are we the first result in the “Top Ten” local business results, we are the first organic position.
Consider another result. Dunckel Veterinarian Hospital currently has a page through LocalAdLink. When searching for their site “veterinarian Davison Michigan”, we do not find LocalAdLink ANYWHERE! 1
So, with all of the hype and marketing pitches of LocalAdLink, this veterinary hospital is doing well on its own…without the help of LocalAdLink.
We are professional search engine experts. Let us help you “cut through” the LocalAdLink hype and get you real results!
As of July 2, 2009, Dunckel Veterinarian Hospital no longer has a LocalAdLink page. ↩
I Can Rank You #1 in Google for "Leprechaun Freckles!!!!"
Website designers often find that they rank well for various words and phrases in Google and the other search engines. Unfortunately, this gives typical website designers a false assurance in their abilities. They think they are able to rank websites for all kinds of important terms. I have seen website designers promise their clients that they could rank for competitive real estate, industrial, financial, legal and medical terms. I have clients that have suffered from these unrealistic expectations promised by their web people.
The problem is it only takes a title on a web page and some terms in the content to rank for many words and phrases. It that is all that is done, 99.99999% of these phrases are worthless. Leprechaun Freckles is a worthless phrase. It does not bring ANY traffic. No one searches for "leprechaun freckles." There is no competition for the term.
We do not want you to rank for terms that will not bring a lot of relevant traffic. We will research with you to find the best terms according to your niches. Our clients are educated and know how to build businesses through the search engines.
The next time you hear a website developer tell you that they rank people on the first page of Google, ask them "For what terms and do those terms bring traffic?" Anyone can rank for "Leprechaun Freckles!"
Adding a file to your posts and pages with LiveWriter is rather simple after you add a “Plug-in” to LiveWriter. Here are the instructions for adding the plugin and adding files after you properly install the plugin.
Installing the Plugin to Add Files
Click on the “Add a Plug-in…” icon on the bottom right of your screen.
After clicking on the icon, you will be taken to a web page. Scroll down the page to find the plugin called “Insert File(s).” Click “download”
Follow the instructions to install.
After installing, you should close LiveWriter and open.
After opening LiveWriter, Maximize the LiveWriter window.
You will see the new icon called “Insert File(s)…”
Using the Plugin to Add Files
Click the “Insert File(s)…” link and a dialogue box will open.
Click the “…” to navigate to the file on your harddrive.
Add text in the “Text to appear as link:” field.
Hit “Insert” and you are finished.
Well…I did everything and my file did not upload 🙁
The issue may be related to how your blog was set up. If the file did not upload, do this:
1) Select the “My Blog uses FTP” as well.
2) If that does not work, contact your webmaster and ask for instructions on how to configure the FTP settings.
Passwords, usernames, Aargh! Like most people, over the years I used one username and one password for everything. Now, that is impossible. Some sites want a capital letter, number and a symbol in the password. The password must be between 6-12 characters… so on and so forth! It is a nightmare!
I manage over 100 websites. For each site, I may have two different login identities. That is a ton of usernames and passwords! I tried RoboForm and found this tool to be invaluable! It is a critical tool I use multiple times daily. Here’s the goods…
When I installed Roboform, it automatically gathered all of the usernames and passwords stored in my browsers. I forgot I had created identities on certain sites! In fact, Roboform reminded me of some great sites!
With Roboform, all you simply do is click on a favorites-styled toolbar, navigate to your favorite and click. Roboform automatically takes you to the webpage, enters your login information and submits within a second or two! This saves time!!!
Are you still living in 1997 and want a printed list of all your logins? Roboform has a one-click function that prints an alphabetically organized list of your passwords.
“What if someone steals my laptop?!” God forbid. It happens. Roboform has a feature that asks for your overall password so no one can access your information.
The cost for Roboform is negligible when it comes to a software tool. It costs only $29.95. It comes with free lifetime updates!
To get a free, fully-working trial of Roboform, click the banner below.
Did you know that editing your website with a phone is now possible? With an iPhone, Android or Blackberry you can do just that? With well over 100 clients, we specialize in teaching website management. This is critical. While we do provide contracted services to make updates, many like to have a more “hands on” approach.
Website designers often find that they rank well for various words and phrases in Google and the other search engines. Unfortunately, this gives typical website designers a false assurance in their abilities. They think they are able to rank websites for all kinds of important terms. I have seen website designers promise their clients that they could rank for competitive real estate, industrial, financial, legal and medical terms. I have clients that have suffered from these unrealistic expectations promised by their web people.
Passwords, usernames, Aargh! Like most people, over the years I used one username and one password for everything. Now, that is impossible. Some sites want a capital letter, number and a symbol in the password. The password must be between 6-12 characters… so on and so forth! It is a nightmare!