The world of SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is filled with a lot of shady characters and black hat tricks. Most sites use legitimate SEO tactics to gain search engine exposure, but a large number of websites resort to shady “black hat” tactics to try and game the system. Sometimes these attempts fail from the beginning, and some work for a little while, but ultimately Google and other search engines catch on and sites become penalized for their black hat tactics. (continue reading…)
Tag: seo
6 Essential Free WordPress Plugins
WordPress (as many of you already know) is the most popular and one of the most powerful blogging systems available. The great thing about WordPress is the ability to enhance your site’s look, features, and search engine ranking by adding free or low cost plugins.
There are literally thousands of WordPress plugins avaliable. Here I list the top 6 essential free plugins every WordPress blog should have.
I Want To Be #1 on Google Tomorrow
Every web designer has come across the client that wants their brand new site listed on the number one spot on Google “like tomorrow.” Usually these tend to be the people that want to get away with paying $300 for a fully featured site with Flash, message boards, contact forms, videos, a content management system, and the works. Aren’t these people annoying? (continue reading…)
5 Reasons Not to Use Flash
The use of Flash to create an entire website has died down over the years, but its use has far from vanished. Some sites may not be full Flash, but important elements such as logos may still be in Flash. While Flash may be ok (and just ok) for games or videos, full Flash websites are out of style, out of date, and not user friendly. Here are a few reasons to avoid using Flash on your next website.
Earn Extra Money as a Freelance Web Designer
by Mike McKeown
Freelance web design can offer freedoms a regular 9-5 job can’t. You can set your own hours, you are your own boss, and you can take the projects you want to take. The downside is there is no guarantee of income. If times are a little slow for your freelance business there are a few things you can do to bring in a little extra income.
Reasons to Learn and Use Web Standards
by Mike McKeown
Any qualified web designer has heard about web standards and has been told that they should use them, but the question is why? Below are some good reasons to build all of your websites using web standards and valid code:
Why Your Website Needs a Blog
by Mike McKeown
Blogs are all the rage these days. It seems like everyone has one. Businesses, churches, schools and everyday regular people have blogs. Sure a lot of people have blogs just because they like blogging, But why do so many businesses have them on their websites? Because they make money!
But how exactly do they help? Here’s a good list for starters:
Three SEO No Nos
By David Leonhardt
Three things you should NEVER do
(even if some slick-talking “expert”
tells you it will cost you only $499
and will guarantee you gaggles of customers)
(even if some slick-talking “expert”
tells you it will cost you only $499
and will guarantee you gaggles of customers)
A webmistress asked me recently how much I would charge to optimize her site for the search engines. I took a glance at her site, and the first thing I found was a hidden link to an association she was part of.
I asked her why the link was there. She told me it was “for the search engines.” It never ceases to amaze me how much really bad – I mean absolutely horrible – advice is floating around the Internet.