Allison Miller, Vanguard Visions
Salisbury / Modbury
Selecting a website developer and/or a SEO person
You’ll find these slides at:
slideshare.net/vanguardvisions
Session Overview
• Why is now a good time to be getting a business website?
• Getting a website• Selecting a website platform• Selecting a website developer• Selecting a SEO person• What will you investigate further?• Workshop evaluation
Why is now a good time to be getting a business
website?
CC-BY Image: Telecommunications - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telecommunication
Better infrastructure / access
• 92% of Australian business have internet access
• Australian Bureau of Statistics (2013)
• 79% of Australian homes have the internet
• Good e-practice guidelines for disadvantaged learners in VET (2013)
• 90% of Australians have an internet-enabled smartphone
• AIMIA Mobile Phone Survey (2013)
Internet is already a game changer
Source: Deloitte Access Economics Pty Ltd (2013) –http://www.deloitte.com/view/en_AU/au/services/financial-advisory/deloitte-access-economics/05660fd56ab1e310VgnVCM1000003256f70aRCRD.htm
Connected Small Business, Deloitte Access Economics, 2013 http://www.deloitte.com/view/en_au/au/353dcb8dd760e310VgnVCM1000003256f70aRCRD.htm
Website = Generating more income
Getting a website
Planning a website
“The 3 Biggest Things You May Want To Consider Before Building A Website” video by Hayley Wilsonhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mf_YQFqo20
Define your target market
CC-BY Image: Clipart – Target with arrow by anonymous - http://openclipart.org/detail/13234/target-with-arrow-by-anonymous
What’s its purpose
What’s your website’s call
to action?
CC-BY Image: Megaphone Shout Action Call Scream Loud Speak by Mickyroo - http://pixabay.com/en/megaphone-shout-action-call-scream-50092/
What content?
CC-BY Image:Image: Content Spray Paint Logo - http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d8/Content_-_spraypaint_logo.jpg D23 Expo 2011 – Marvel Panel - http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6070/6081398164_0aec977321_o.jpg
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Branding
Naming your site
URL
Visuals
Themes? Colour Schemes?
Fonts?
Logos? Banners?
Designing your site mapHome Page
Online Shop
Portraits
Families
Individuals
Other photos Landscapes/architecture
Services
Model shoots/portfolios
Weddings
Latest news (blog)
Contact Us
Possible website site map for a photographer’s website
Maintaining and managing
CC-BY Image: TL4458 : High Maintenance Life http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1037526
Selecting a website platform
Types of websites
• Google Sites• WeeblyDIY websites
• WordPress• Joomla
Open source websites
• Adobe Business Catalyst• Blogger
Proprietary websites
Some basic considerations
•Which website platform? •Where hosted? •How/Who will maintain/change?•Can you get your content out?•Search engine optimisation (SEO) support tools?
•Have a blog?•What data analytics does it provide?•Keep spammers/security threats out?
Comparing platforms
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Functional requirement
Platform A Platform B Platform C
Provider or Third party hosted
Open Source
Blog
Online shop
Export information
Others?
Selecting a website developer
Selecting a website developer
More information - questions to ask my web developerhttp://www.business.vic.gov.au/marketing-sales-and-online/online-business-and-technology/setting-up-an-online-presence/questions-to-ask-my-web-developer
1.Ask for quote2.What other services can they offer3.What work flow/processes do they have?4.Who owns the content / design? 5.What’s in the contract?6.Other things?
Selecting a SEO person
What is SEO?
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What is good SEO?
Well designed/functioning site
SEO back-end tool
Popular Key words (Headings & in text)
Hyperlinking (internally / externally)
Unique content - images, video (Alt tags)
Driving people to your website
Blogging
Email lists
Social media
Online forums
Search Engine
Marketing (SEM)
Other online
advertising
Traditional advertising
Keywords
CC-BY Image: by Cambodia4kids Beth - Tags: Keywords to describe digital objects - https://www.flickr.com/photos/cambodia4kidsorg/260004685/
“Great content first, keyword research second!” – Jason Chesters
4 Key Steps the Pros Use to Get Traffic from Search Engines by Jason Chesters http://www.jeffbullas.com/2014/06/03/4-key-steps-the-pros-use-to-get-traffic-from-search-engines/#fkiHor3Pqr3PxFlt.99
Which keywords?
CC-BY Image: by Cambodia4kids Beth - Tags: Keywords to describe digital objects - https://www.flickr.com/photos/cambodia4kidsorg/260004685/
Which SEO person?“If they promise a search position, steer well clear of them”
Not even Google can guarantee you no 1 spot
Considerations before contacting
• Website designed with SEO in mind
• Clear SEO objectives
Which SEO person?
More information - questions to ask my SEO personhttp://www.business.vic.gov.au/marketing-sales-and-online/online-business-and-technology/web-analytics-tools-and-tactics/improving-your-seo-ranking
1.Good quality content (over keywords)2.Previous examples of work?3.Work-flow/process likes?4.Pay on milestones / benchmark?5.Understand your target market?6.SEO reporting? 7.Methods/techniques? 8.How SEO works? 9.Who will be doing the SEO? 10.Contractual arrangements?
Measuring your SEO ROI
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DIRECT ROI INDIRECT ROI
Immediate sales/contracts Sales/contracts which come at a later time
Increased hits on your website Referrals for business from unknown sources
Reduced time spent on customer service or information provision
Increased enquiries about your business
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http://happytechnologies.com.au/top-10-seo-scams
Getting some quotes / advice
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• Do a SEO web search for web developers / SEO people in your industry / locality
• Read blogs / articles by website developer / SEO people
• Read testimonials on website developer / SEO people websites
• Ask in the ‘Adelaide Word of Mouth/Referral Groups’ in FB and LinkedIn
• Ask Polaris Centre / BECs
What will you investigate further?
Workshop evaluation
vanguardvisions.com.au
Allison Miller0400 732 270
linkedin.com/in/theother66
Register for eUpdates: bit.ly/digitalcapability
Connect on: Twitter - twitter.com/vanguardvisions
Facebook - facebook.com/vanguardvisions
