Many search engine optimisation (SEO) companies are struggling right now after Google made some drastic changes to the way it ranks websites. A lot of SEO providers have been relying on cheap link building, done in third world countries. This used to work like gangbusters but I never got involved with it because my gut [...]
Beware of wasting time (and money) on Facebook
Every business today seems to think they need a Facebook page, not to mention Twitter and other social media. You’ll see “Like us on Facebook’ and ‘Follow us on Twitter’ prominently displayed on more and more websites. But has anyone actually stopped to ask why your website visitor should bother to “like” you on Facebook? [...]
Forget about SEO and start publishing great content
I’ve been saying for years that search engine optimisation based around simply building incoming links is a short-sighted approach. I’ve proved this time and again with my own websites, where I have done very little in terms of link building but have published many pages of useful content. And the sites have risen to the [...]
2013 – The Year of Responsive Web Design
The latest post on the Uberflip blog confirms what I have already decided for my business going forward – every one of my websites will be built, where possible, with responsive design. As Uberflip points out, with a multitude of mobile devices coming out almost every week, how can you ensure that your website is [...]
The best online sales video I’ve seen for some time
I just stumbled across this sales video on the Office Autopilot website. It’s so compelling, I watched it right through to the end, even though I don’t have any immediate intention of buying Office Autopilot. Have a look at www.officeautopilot.com/ There’s a lot of so-called “creative” work on the internet. Most of it is technically [...]
How to use Google Adwords for market research
Before you even launch an Internet business, you can use Google Adwords to determine whether there is a market for what you are proposing to sell. For example, to test the market, you could offer a free report about your proposed topic from a one-page website. Then send traffic to that page using Google Adwords. [...]
Google Adwords advertising gets proven results
According to a recent survey of Internet marketing professionals, 54% of marketers believe that pay per click ads (Google Adwords and other paid advertising) are effective. And personally, I agree. PPC ads are one of the types of advertisements that consumers go looking for online, if they are considering buying something. Think about what you [...]
New online store sees 50% jump in conversion rate
I recently launched a new online store for a Christchurch florist – Flowers on Cashmere. The previous website had been online for over five years and was doing quite well, with a conversion rate averaging around 8%. (That means for every 100 visitors, 8 people placed an order for flowers through the website. Many others [...]
How I never lose money on Google Adwords
Google Adwords is notorious for sucking cash out of the wallets of unsuspecting business owners, faster than a high-powered vacuum cleaner. I have to admit, when I first started using Adwords to advertise my web design services about 4 years ago, my credit card took a real hammering. I actually gave up for a while, [...]
Dare to be different!
On the Internet (as in life) most people try to copy each other. They are afraid to stick their neck out and be different. They want their website to look like everyone else’s. They want to play it safe. Unfortunately, this is a recipe for mediocrity. Look at any truly successful online store. It stands [...]
