A good post in 2016

How to rank better

From Axandra a good bit of information on how to rank better in the organic search engines.

1. How your website design influences the rankings of your web pages on Google

Good website design is important. Although there is no perfect website design that guarantees that Google will rank your web pages highly, there are several website design elements that can have a positive influence on the position of your web pages.

Make sure that your web pages are crawlable

Search engines won't be able to index the content of your pages if it is hidden in fancy scripts or images.
To make sure that search engines can index your content, use plain text and easy to follow text links on your page.
Both the regular content and the navigational elements on your web pages should be easy to parse for search engine robots. Style your pages with CSS and regular HTML tags. Do not hide your content in Flash or JavaScript.

Use responsive web design

Google is building a 'mobile first' index. Your web pages should look good on mobile devices. Of course, they should also look good on desktop computers. Responsive design is the easiest way to achieve that goal.
Responsive web design means that the look of your web pages changes based on the size of the browser window. This is done through CSS.
If you use a CMS (content management system) such as WordPress to create your web pages, chances are that you can install a responsive template quickly and easily.
Web pages that look good on mobile devices get better rankings in Google's search results for mobile devices.

Use an easy-to-understand website navigation

A good website navigation helps your website visitors to find what they are looking for. It also helps search engines to categorize your pages.
If the navigational elements on your web pages use texts that make it clear what the linked content is all about, it's much easier for search engines to rank your pages for that topic. For example, if a category on your website is about 'brown shoes', link to the category page with the words 'brown shoes' in the menu.
Also use a folder structure on your website that makes it easy to understand what the pages are about. For example, list all the pages that deal with the different variations of brown shows in a directory with the name '/brown-shoes/'.

Fast loading pages are good for the user experience

Some people say that the performance of a website is a major ranking factor. Of course, it's always good to improve the performance of your website. However, it won't improve your rankings much.
According to Google, only 1% of all websites need to worry about page load times. If your website belongs to these 1% of the slowest pages on the web, improving the performance will have a positive influence on the rankings. All other sites won't notice a major improvement.
Don't forget that fast loading web pages are good for the user experience. For that reason, your pages should load as fast as possible, even if this does not have a direct influence on your rankings.

More to come soon.

Joe Rossini
jrossini@rossini.com
www.rossini.com

Merry Christmas!

I want to wish every one a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!  More posts to come!

Joe

The key to sales

I have been in sales for over thirty years and ever since I was a young pup I have been nervous and antsy about getting sales. I wanted to close the deal! What I often forgot is that it takes time to close that dea, You have to take into account the other side and their desires and needs. Often all we think of is ourselves. Remember that the sales cycle is just that a cycle and sometimes it moves at warp speed but I have found it most of the time takes it time. Be patient if you have done your job, it will happen. If you do not get the sale remember a no is just the right time to really start to sell!

More to come later.

Joe

What does it take to get leads or sales from your web site

I had a nice conversation with a friend who uses SEO services and Google Adwords and pay per click advertising and we agreed that you must spend money to make money. You can not peace meal things but you must have the right guidance and support to accomplish the goals you wish and the sales you wish. You also have to have patience and if you listen, act on the advice and understand that Rome was not built in a day, you will succeed.
More soon

Joe Rossini

Do you need web support?

I have come across several companies in my sales career that have told me that they no longer had web support.  I ask how can you no longer have web support I would ask and nine times out of ten it was because their web vendor had left the industry. This fact happens so regularly you would be shocked. For many it is a quick way to earn a buck. For some it was a dream or a passion but that dream fizzled out. I have heard all sort of excuses and I have to say look close at who you choose and choose wisely. Choose a company with experience and one that will be there not just today but tomorrow.
Rossini Management Systems has been writing web pages and multi media since 1994!!

More to cone soon.

Joe Rossiniu

How to rank better

From Axandra a good bit of information on how to rank better in the organic search engines.

1. How your website design influences the rankings of your web pages on Google

Good website design is important. Although there is no perfect website design that guarantees that Google will rank your web pages highly, there are several website design elements that can have a positive influence on the position of your web pages.

Make sure that your web pages are crawlable

Search engines won't be able to index the content of your pages if it is hidden in fancy scripts or images.
To make sure that search engines can index your content, use plain text and easy to follow text links on your page.
Both the regular content and the navigational elements on your web pages should be easy to parse for search engine robots. Style your pages with CSS and regular HTML tags. Do not hide your content in Flash or JavaScript.

Use responsive web design

Google is building a 'mobile first' index. Your web pages should look good on mobile devices. Of course, they should also look good on desktop computers. Responsive design is the easiest way to achieve that goal.
Responsive web design means that the look of your web pages changes based on the size of the browser window. This is done through CSS.
If you use a CMS (content management system) such as WordPress to create your web pages, chances are that you can install a responsive template quickly and easily.
Web pages that look good on mobile devices get better rankings in Google's search results for mobile devices.

Use an easy-to-understand website navigation

A good website navigation helps your website visitors to find what they are looking for. It also helps search engines to categorize your pages.
If the navigational elements on your web pages use texts that make it clear what the linked content is all about, it's much easier for search engines to rank your pages for that topic. For example, if a category on your website is about 'brown shoes', link to the category page with the words 'brown shoes' in the menu.
Also use a folder structure on your website that makes it easy to understand what the pages are about. For example, list all the pages that deal with the different variations of brown shows in a directory with the name '/brown-shoes/'.

Fast loading pages are good for the user experience

Some people say that the performance of a website is a major ranking factor. Of course, it's always good to improve the performance of your website. However, it won't improve your rankings much.
According to Google, only 1% of all websites need to worry about page load times. If your website belongs to these 1% of the slowest pages on the web, improving the performance will have a positive influence on the rankings. All other sites won't notice a major improvement.
Don't forget that fast loading web pages are good for the user experience. For that reason, your pages should load as fast as possible, even if this does not have a direct influence on your rankings.

More to come soon.

Joe Rossini
jrossini@rossini.com
www.rossini.com

How were cyber sales on BLACK FRIDAY and CYBER MONDAY

According to Adobe, Thanksgiving and Black Friday online retail sales exceed $5 billion. More noteworthy in some ways is that mobile devices contributed a record $1.2 billion to that total on Black Friday alone.
There was mixed data on in-store traffic and sales, with some sources reporting an initial decline vs. last year and others reporting small in-store gains. However, on a percentage basis, online shopping growth far outpaced store traffic.
While retail analysts and the media focus on the distinctions between online and offline shopping and the particulars and trends associated with specific shopping days — Thanksgiving vs. Black Friday vs. the horribly named Cyber Monday — consumers just focus on bargains and convenience. Individual shopping days have given way to “Cyberweek” deals, some of which started before Thanksgiving and continue this week. Many “Cyber Monday” promotions began yesterday.
Consumers are becoming much more agnostic about where they buy. Yet a huge percentage of online shopping is generated from the sites and apps of traditional retailers. This is one of the underreported stories of e-commerce today. As one example, Macy’s website was overloaded with traffic and unavailable multiple times on Black Friday.
Holiday shopping discounts are now typically the same offline and online, creating less urgency to come into stores. Accordingly, consumers are buying online from stores with physical locations so they can return products if they don’t work. Physical stores take the inconvenience and risk out of online shopping (with returns). These familiar retail brands also instill greater consumer confidence vs. many online pure plays.
Cyber Monday will exceed $2.5 billion in PC-based e-commerce and more than $1 billion on mobile devices, predicts comScore. According to estimates from the National Retail Federation, total retail sales this holiday will grow roughly 3.6, percent to nearly $656 billion. Much of that growth will come online.
This is from Greg Sterling  a great little article.

Looking at it see that phones are surging and will continue to surge in use and surfing and buying. You must have a responsive website so they can find you!  You should also consider a web app if you have a brick and mortar store to drive more sales and traffic.
The web is the new brick and mortar join it now! Call me or e-mail for more information.

Joe Rossini
jrossini@rossini.com