Question: What do I need to get started with a web site?

Answer: As a starting point, we suggest you read our "Client's Role in Designing for Results" article.

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Question: How much does site design impact search engine marketing?

Answer: It can have a major impact. Common practices favored by many designers may even have a negative impact on your site's searchability, or even prevent it from being effectively indexed by search engines.

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Question: How does one obtain a high position in search engines using relevant search terms?

Answer: The first step is to develop a list of keyword phrases that relate to your site. You need to put yourself in your potential customer's shoes, and come up with words or phrases they are likely to use. If possible, you want to use keyword phrases that help narrow the returns toward your product or service.

The next step is to include the most effective keyword phrases in your site. Placement of these phrases and a reasonable frequency are key, and will vary for the different search engines. There's no quick and easy solution. Obtaining a good position in the top search engines takes time, analysis, and experience. Because it takes time for search engines to index new submissions, you will not know the results of changes until weeks or months later.

Your site also must provide meaningful information. Search engines want the "best of the best" at the top of their results. To rank highly, you need to provide good, solid content. Links from other relevant sites are also an important factor.

Continue reading...

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Question: How important is a high position in search engine returns?

Answer: For most, it's the most important aspect of a successful web site. Studies indicate that most sites are initially found from search engines, and that the top 10 or 15 search engines generate about 90% of the traffic. A high ranking in a major search engine is likely to generate more traffic for your site than paid advertising or other promotions.

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Question: I frequently receive e-mail offers that promise me a top position in search engines for a small, one-time fee. Sounds too good to be true – how can they make that claim?

Answer: Those offers are generally worthless, and should be ignored. Most search engines and directories now charge submission fees that are higher than what the submission "service" charges. Even IF they get you a top position, it's not likely to attract people to your web site.

For example, imagine you had a company called Pretend Associates. If you've been submitted to a search engine and try searching using your company's name or URL, you're likely to get a "top ten" rank. That's often the "promise" these offers deliver. But how many people will enter your company name into a search engine?

If our example company sold second hand books, someone looking for books isn't likely to use "Pretend Associates" as a search term. Potential customers would use search phrases such as "second hand books" or "first edition books." So unless Pretend placed highly when searching on those terms, the "top" position under the company name is useless.

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Question: How much does a website cost?

Answer: It depends on the number of pages, complexity of the content, how material is provided to us, and client requirements. Custom scripts, slideshows, extensive scanning and graphics manipulation, and similar tasks can increase cost. We have done complete sites along with basic, limited search engine submission for as little as $600. It does not cost anything to have us discuss your requirements and offer you a quotation, so please send us your request today.

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