When it comes to managing your business online, there are a lot of places where people can voice their opinions. Public-facing reviews are a great way to collect feedback about your business, and when used strategically, can be a huge boon to your Google rankings. But if left ignored, Google reviews can also do harm.
With recent changes to both the Google algorithm and Google's analytics tools, it's clear to see that websites' rankings are not only dependent on relevance and usability, but also the amount of time users spend interacting with your site. In many cases, your website is your "first impression" to clients who might be finding you from the wider web, and keeping your site at the top of those search results is key. That said, here are four ways to increase interactivity on your site and keep people engaged before they make that final conversion to "customer."
You may be surprised to know that making a website available to others online isn't simply a matter of "putting it up," but is instead a chain of interlocking pieces that contribute to the function of a whole. Between hosting, domain names, DNS settings, nameservers, and more, each of these pieces combine to create the larger puzzle that makes your website accessible to others on the internet.
As an internet user, you've likely heard some of the recent discourse over web privacy, tracking, and changes regarding those topics. Last year, Safari took the first step in blocking third-party cookies, and now other internet browsers are following suit. The death of the third-party cookie is a pivotal moment in the history of internet usage and in the history of internet privacy, but their nebulous description and wide variety of usages has left some in the dark about what cookies actually are.
So, what are cookies, and what are they for?
First impressions are everything, right? More often than not, your website serves as that first impression for potential customers, helping them decide if they want to choose you as their service or product provider. Since your website holds so much weight on a viewer's decision, it's crucial to maintain a positive, updated image in the public eye. People are more and more tech-savvy – and they expect you to be too! In a world full of competitors, make yourself stand out in the crowd by refining your website design, content, and images – after all, this is the part of your website that everyone interacts with. Make it a good experience!
If you bought a car but never changed the oil, rotated the tires, or completed any other maintenance, that car probably wouldn't last long, would it? Even if it still looked passable from the outside, it would be internally deteriorating and before you know it, your car would be rendered useless. The same could be said for your website if it isn't properly maintained. When it comes to your site, it's not a set it and forget it investment. Due to the ever-evolving nature of technology, updates are constantly being released and if you don't keep up, you will likely get left behind.
You likely interact with Google every day, but your personal experience is just the tip of the iceberg. There are hundreds of guidelines in place for web developers and SEOs to follow – all there to get in Google's good graces. However, it's like playing a game where the rules change every so often. Now, it's not without reason – Google's ultimate goal is to improve the user's experience. While great for the user, it can create some challenges and a list of to-dos for you or your web developer. Starting mid-June 2021, Google released a new update that focuses on Page Experience…
Many moving parts go into designing and developing your website, and a big part of the project is having everything your website team needs from the get-go. While the process may appear to be pretty simple, there are many moving parts and one of the common characteristics of a smooth project is a client who comes prepared with ideas, content, and a willingness to collaborate. No one knows your business like you do, and that perspective is extremely valuable when building out your website. Here are ways you can adequately prepare for the design and development of your website.
It's safe to say that most everyone knows about or at least has heard of Google. It's also safe to say that you probably use it every day! However, if you're not a Technical Resource Solutions website customer, you may not have heard about Joomla, an open source content management system (CMS). We chose this platform over 10 years ago and have spent a great many hours explaining to current and potential customers the many benefits of Joomla, with many of them having never heard of the platform at all. Thanks to Google's recently announced sponsorship of Joomla, we're expecting this platform to become more familiar among business owners. Our team is excited about this new development and we are looking forward to all of the benefits that come with this sponsorship.
Google Analytics is a free tool that shows you how well your website is doing and how many visits you get in a day, but it also does so much more. It can tell you how long a visit lasted as well as how many people have viewed your website. And it's seriously free, but you have the ability to upgrade to a paid plan, Google 360.
There is no denying that mobile devices are ubiquitous, and it should come as no surprise that mobile internet browsing has now surpassed that of desktop use. According to Statcounter Website Analytics, as of September 2018, worldwide usage stats are as follows:
Have you ever had one of those weeks when there's so much to do that you have cereal for dinner... every night? If you're an entrepreneur, of course you have! And part of the reason for that is because you take pride in your work, have a good work ethic, and want to ensure your customers are happy with the results.
Around our office, we have a lot of late nights. Lucky for me, I never have to resort to cereal for my own dinner, but the take-out food and caffeinated beverages consumed by some people in my office are always an indication that we're on a deadline, or we're trying to re-work a design that someone wants to tweak.
If there's one thing I've learned through my years of being the ears of Technical Resource Solutions, it's that there's cheap and then there's value – and cheap can end up costing more in the long run.
Last month, we talked about resisting the DIY route for your website. This month, we'll talk about the difference between a trained, experienced professional and someone who knows "just enough to be dangerous."
When someone meets you for the first time, it's likely that they are making a lot of assumptions about you based on your appearance: the clothes you wear, how you style your hair, the car you drive. Whether they choose to do business with you often is based on their first impression, even before you say a word.
A lot of people come into our office, and I sit and listen intently at every meeting while they talk about the things they want in a website, and the things they don't; the things they like about other people's websites – and the things they absolutely don't like.
Where I have the advantage, you see, is that dogs have an uncanny sense for people's emotions. If someone feels confident, I can tell. And when they are unsure about something, well, I know that, too. And a lot of people are really unsure about what they want in a website!
Q: What is Joomla!?
A: It's a Content Management System for your website - and the ! is part of the name.
Q: What is the 2.5 upgrade?
A: An important "migration" from the old 1.5 version for security, continued support, and loads of new features.
