selecting a website developer and/or a seo person - august 2014
DESCRIPTION
You know your business needs a website but you don’t have the time or the expertise to develop the site yourself. However, it seems like every person and their dog is offering website development and SEO services, and all at widely varying rates.Use these slides to help you to develop a checklist which will help you select the best website developer and/or SEO person for your business.TRANSCRIPT
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
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Connect on: Twitter - twitter.com/vanguardvisions
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