Category Archives: General

What is Search Engine Optimization?

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Every website owner wants to know how to get good search results that direct traffic to our websites, a.k.a search engine ranking. So how do the major search engines determine which websites to list for results? It is really quite automated, yet quite complicated at the same time. While it is fairly easy to affect the results your websites gets, it is also time consuming and it does take knowledge and commitment to increase your website traffic.

Search Engine Optimization: A history lesson…

In the old days, major search engines primarily relied on meta-tags containing keywords and keyword phrases. The search engine robots (computerized scripts) would go out to crawl the web and copy website meta-data and retrieve content, or text, from the websites pages and copy it back to their central database. The central data base was then searched by Search Engine users and the most relevant results, or matches were sent back to the user. While good in theory, this arrangement didn’t work out as well as hoped, because frankly it was too easy and too tempting for website owners, or developers to cheat or try to outsmart the robots.

People started adding tons of keywords and phrases to their meta-data tags that had nothing to do with the products, services, or information being offered. For example, people would add the most popular or trendy words they could think of in hopes of getting more website traffic. For example, words like sex, drugs, rock and roll, Nascar, apple pie, The Beatles and Chevrolet were added. More crafty developers would even add white text to a white page background to embed some of the same words to fool the SE robots. In response, the SE owners had to implement a more sophisticated plan, which included a variety of checks and balances. So what now?

Content is KING

Today, several factors are considered in determining which results will be offered back to the user. Keywords and keyword phrases do not hold the same weight as in the past. Here is what Google has to say about it:

Google does no longer use the meta keyword and they confirm this in their Webmaster Central Blog: Google does not use the keywords meta tag in web ranking. Some search engines don’t use the meta tag information any more because many people abused it. In fact, meta tags may not represent the content of your site, but, it still doesn’t hurt your status with search engines if you make use of these little bits of information, and do so truthfully.

So what do we need to do?

  • Develop content using a variety of words and phrase that include our key areas, that will cater to our desired results.
  • Have a domain name, or generic domain name(s) that contain our keywords.
  • Use descriptive page titles that include your primary keywords.
  • Evaluate your results by looking at our website stats and add to or change content accordingly.

Website Promotion: Can I do it with low or no budget?

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Actually, yes you can. Here are a few free or low cost ways to promote your website and your business: (WARNING – some homework may be required!):

  • Write press releases and submit to local publications (announce anything new with your business- new employee, new website, new offering, new location, etc.)
  • Create a links page and ask complimentary businesses to link to your website – one hand washes the other- I’ll add a link to your website, will you link to mine? Think of other business that would be good referrals sources for you, or compliment your services.
  • Make sure that any membership organizations that you belong to have current data and a link to your website – (IE local Chamber, business associations, etc.)
  • Make sure your web address is included on ALL printed materials (I.E. letterhead, business cards, vehicles, advertisements, brochures) that you use – and are included in all media outlets (Yes, even the press releases).
  • Make use of business directories and free online business listings (see Free Listings below)
  • Surf and search the Internet to see where your competitors are coming up. Investigate to find out how much it cost to be there too.
  • Search online to see who comes up first in the non-paid section of search engines results. Click the link to see if they offer free listings, free advertising, or low cost membership.

Free Listings: As with all things in life, sometimes we need to pay attention to the old sayings we’ve heard over and over. In this case, “You get what you pay for” or “Nothing in life is free”, may be applicable. Some companies, or online organizations, will let you submit your business information for free, with little hassle or obligations. BUT some, although they do not ask for money, do NOT come without any cost. For instance, once you submit your information to a free business-listing directory, normally you will receive an email that must be confirmed. Sometimes by confirming, you have automatically agreed to their terms and conditions. So use caution and pay attention to what these so called “free” listings want from you in return. Another thing to watch out for is automatically subscribing yourself to newsletters, email lists, et cetera. Some of these free services may want you to add a reciprocal link to your website. Other free listings are only temporarily free and will convert to paid advertising in order to maintain the listing. Beware of the terms and conditions that you are agreeing to when providing your data or submitting your website URL (address) and/or email address.

Testimonials

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Lewiston Auburn Economic Growth Council

“Some web companies are good at designing sites, and others are good at the technical side of mapping them out. TH Creations is a very rare breed indeed: they are masters at the front end, i.e., designing a beautiful site, and the back end, ensuring it is functional, well thought out, and accessible. They have far, far exceeded my expectations in creating the “It’s Happening Here!” site. The best way to put it is this way: they took my “dream” site and made it a reality that everybody’s talking about. Their team also makes it a point to remain connected with the industry. With TH, you get big-firm expertise with small-company service.”

-Paul Badeau – Marketing Director

 

Home Conceptions

“I want to thank all of you for a great job. It’s been hard for me to find honest, reliable people since we became Maineiacs, and it is greatly appreciated. Your customer service is outstanding and will serve you well as your business continues to grow. Feel free to use me as a reference.” Thanks again,

-Phil Daigle – Owner

 

Future Fuel Technolgies launches new website!

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www.futurefueltechnologies.com – This website was launched on 05/20/2007 for Future Fuel Technologies, located in Lewiston, Maine. The website was designed and developed by T.H. Creations, Inc. This website employs a content management system and a blog for posting articles written by Frank Norman, degreed Chemist and CEO, of the company. Site viewers can register to post their comments on Frank’s published articles, providing an easy communication tool to interact with their audience, on the hot topic of “Saving Gas”.

What is a Content Management System?

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As the name implies, a content management system allows a site’s owner to easily manage the content within their website. A Content Management System (CMS) uses an online database for managing the site’s content. Utilizing a user name and password, the site’s owner can login directly to the hosting server to modify, add, delete page contents on-the-fly. Once the owner, or administrator , “saves” changes on the server, the new content is immediately available on the world-wide-web.

Our CMS employs an easy to use administrator that does not require any specialized computer knowledge. A simple text editor automatically converts the data into HTML. Image handling and file management capabilities can easily be added to the administrator for handling non-text content. Our CMS also enables the use of an internal search engine , so your site visitors can find what they are looking for quickly and easily. By building CMS websites, we can provide our clients with the ability to easily maintain their websites in-house… no waiting for production time, no additional fees every time something in your business changes. Our sites are built with an expandable foundation to easily accommodate future growth.

How much does a web site cost?

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All of our work is custom designed for our clients. However, we have established some pricing guidelines to help people understand some of the options, features, and different functionalities of websites. Below are a few examples.

Our Basic Static websites start @ $1,000.00. This type of package is usually used to initiate a web presence for informational purposes and/or advertising. This package is recommended for those sites that do not require a lot of regular maintenance, or changes. A typical five page site would include a home page, about us, contact, FAQ, and a products/services page. This starting price would include all necessary components of getting your business established on the World Wide Web. It includes design, navigational structure, and all development necessary to create a web standards compliant website. It also includes the first year of hosting fees and the first year domain registration fee. It is real good place to start.

Our Standard Database websites start @ $1,2500.00. This package is generally used for sites that have a high need for regular maintenance. A database driven site comes standard with a programmed content management system to allow the site owner to update various sections of the web site, even as a novice Internet user.

All database driven sites employ a back-end administrator that provides navigation and add/edit/delete functionality to all of the different database components and a “rich text” style editor in the administrator for editing the primarily text pages or general narrative sections. (I.E. Home, About Us, etc.)

Our E-Commerce Database websites start @ $2,500.00. This package is used to sell products through the web site typically unlimited product pages, category driven with navigation (IE. home page, about us, contact page, return policy page, legal disclaimer, unlimited products pages including a list of product descriptions and attributes (sizes, colors, etc.) with a product image).  Custom programming provides a shopping cart for all products, including product pricing, shipping pricing, applicable taxes, shopping cart display output, confirmation, payment information, billing information, shipping information, etc. *Note: Customer must have a merchant account and secure online financial processing service. Web site must be hosted on a secure server that supports SSL, PHP, CGI, MySQL, and possibly PERL. All product sections will be updateable through the use of a back-end administrator and all static pages will be updateable through the use of a “rich-text” style editor.

Domain Registration Pitfalls

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Registering a domain name is easy…

…finding the one you want available can be another story. If you have a business name, you should probably find and purchase/register your choice even if you do not plan on using it right away. There are individuals and businesses that register domain names just to resell at an inflated price later.

So get your domain name secured as soon as possible. If the name you want is unavailable keep checking back since they do have an expiration date. If the current owner does not renew the name, it will become available to the general public after the expiration date & a short redemption period.

Make sure they can contact you

When you register a domain name be sure to include long-term contact information. Whether you register the name yourself, have an employee do it, or an outside third party, be sure to provide secure contact information to the registrar. We’ve seen cases where a business asks an employee or other service company to register their domain name and the other party provides only their own personal contact information to the registrar. This can become an issue if the employee leaves the company, or the outside service company goes out of business. You should be sure yourself or your company is listed as the registrant and provide long term company contact information and an administrative contact to the registrar, to ensure that you retain legal control of the domain name. Only those listed with the registrar can renew or make changes to the account.