Website Design for Prescription Heating & Cooling

We recently completed this new website design for Prescription Heating & Cooling, a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) company based in the Twin Cities region of Minnesota.

Prescription focuses on services like HVAC installations and repairs, and provides a cost-effective maintenance plan to keep your systems running efficiently.

Check out the new Prescription Heating & Cooling website and keep them in mind for any heating or cooling-related services you may have in the future!

Wohlwend Concrete Website Design by WebDrafter.com

WebDrafter.com is happy to feature its recent website design for Wohlwend Concrete.

For years, Wohlwend Concrete has been dedicated to residential and commercial concrete and masonry work in the Twin Cities MN.

Visit www.wohlwendconcrete.com for more information on their residential and commercial services.

Looking for a new website design?  Visit www.webdrafter.com for a free estimate now!

All Source Website Redesign by WebDrafter.com

WebDrafter.com is proud to unveil the newly redesigned website for All Source Building Service and Supply Co.

For over a decade, All Source has been proud to serve businesses in the Twin Cities MN metro with professional, office cleaning and consumable supply services.

Visit www.allsourcemn.com today to request a free commercial cleaning estimate.

Make efforts toward getting a fresh web design by requesting a free estimate for website design at www.webdrafter.com.

Using Social Networks to Become More Visible

Marketing clients of WebDrafter.com benefit from a wide variety of services designed to drive traffic from search engines and other relevant websites. The more traffic you have coming to your website, the more chances you have to convert website visitors into paying customers. But your website is just one way for you to interact with potential customers.

Another service we've worked into the equation is social media management, which takes a less formal approach to telling people about the products or services you offer. We aim to increase your audience on networks like Facebook and Twitter, and provide answers to questions from potential customers who could one day bring you business.

We'll cover exactly what each network can do for your business in the future. Until then, know that there are multiple marketing and communications channels working around the clock for your business -- to increase brand recognition, increase traffic, and, ultimately, increase your bottom line.

Integrity Exteriors & Remodelers Inc. Website Redesign by WebDrafter.com

WebDrafter.com is happy to announce its recent website redesign of Integrity Exteriors & Remodelers Inc.

Integrity Exteriors & Remodelers is a company that cares and takes pride in its ability to guide homeowners through their remodeling project.  Replacement windows and doors, gutters and downspouts, commercial remodeling and residential remodeling are just a few of the services they have to offer.

Visit www.integrityexteriorsandremodeles.com to view all services available.

Looking for a fresh web design?  Visit www.webdrafter.com for a free web design estimate.

Ryan Roofing Website Redesign by WebDrafter.com

WebDrafter.com announces website redesign for Ryan Roofing.

Ryan Roofing specializes in roofing, siding of all types, replacement windows, gutters, as well as soffit and fascia in the Twin Cities MN area.

Visit www.ryanroofingco.com for a list of all services available from Ryan Roofing.

Make efforts towards getting a fresh web design by requesting a free quote for web design at www.webdrafter.com.

A Remodeled Website for Mathews Funeral Home

WebDrafter.com announces the redesign of the Mathews Funeral Home website.

Matthews Funeral Home is a full service funeral home offering funeral services tailored to your specific needs.  They offer a full line of funeral merchandise including quality caskets, burial vaults, burial garmets, cremation urns, cremation caskets, cremation vaults and associated products.

Visit www.mathewsfuneralhome.com for more information!

Want to better serve your clients and customers?  Visit www.webdrafter.com now to request a free estimate for web design.

The Galler Law Firm LLC Website Redesign by WebDrafter.com

WebDrafter.com is happy to announce the website redesign for The Galler Law Firm LLC.

Galler Law Firm, of Georgia, is there to help if you are in the middle of a financial crisis and thinking about filing bankruptcy.

For more information on Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 Bankruptcy, visit www.georgiabankruptcyattorney.net now.

Looking to better serve your clients or customers?  Visit www.webdrafter.com now to request a free web design quote.

BugStuff Ecommerce Web Design

WebDrafter.com is proud to announce the ecommerce web design for BugStuff.

BugStuff is a seller of quality VB Beetle parts.  Products include air cooled Volkswagen Bug engine, brakes, transmission and more.  Performance and restoration parts available.

Visit www.bugstuffonline.com to view all products offered.

Make efforts towards getting a fresh ecommerce web design by requesting a free web design quote at www.webdrafter.com.

Make SEO, SEM and SMM Easier to Understand

Talking about my job isn't always easy sometimes.

“So, what do you do?” I was asked the other day. “Oh, I do Internet marketing,” I responded. The conversation then went something like this:

“Oh, cool. Do you do SEO?”

“Yeah! You know about SEO?”

“It's where you get people to go to your website, right?”

“Well, kinda.”

The Internet marketing alphabet soup – SEO, SEM and the new SMM – can be understandably difficult to understand. Each piece interacts with the others, and the process doesn't work unless all three pieces run smoothly together. Without a properly optimized (SEO) website, you can't get search engines (SEM) to find it and without that, people won't discuss (SMM) it on Facebook or Twitter.

Here's how I tend to think about the three:

SEO = Smashing Every Obstacle

The basic premise behind search engine optimization is to get your site prepared to be found on search engines. Sounds easy enough, right? Depending on the product or service, you could be facing some hefty competition (obstacles) to people finding you. How do you break through these obstacles? Have your website optimized with great content and the right keywords. Your SEO is sure to be an optimization masterpiece and an obstacle smasher.

SEM = Sending Everyone to Me

SEO is merely the first step. The second part is to get the word out with some search engine marketing. This should be all about getting your message out there, telling your audience about the products and services you have to offer. In doing this, it's all about getting traffic to your website, as more traffic leads usually to more sales. And you do this with great SEM that is all about sending everyone to you.

SMM = Social Means More

I've had many tell me, “I have a Facebook/Twitter account, but I have nothing interesting to say, so I don't use it.” They're missing on the monetary rewards associated with great social media marketing. Having an account is only one part: using it reaps the rewards. Your fans and followers might be discussing you, so why not jump in? The more engaging you are, the better the chance you'll have at turning those fans into repeat buyers.

A Remodel for TitusContracting.com

Twin Cities commercial construction contractor Titus Contracting excels in commercial remodeling and renovation. They wanted the same for their website, so the WebDrafter.com team got to work. With some careful finesse, we gave www.TitusContracting.com a new look, built on WordPress.

Check it out and let us know what you think. And be sure to visit www.TitusContracting.com.

The Ins and Outs of QR Codes

You’ve probably seen them on business cards, flyers and other promotional materials. They are often referred to as “bar codes,” and many folks have no idea how to use them, while others whip out their smartphone whenever they see one. As QR Codes become more popular, however, you’re sure to see more people getting out the smartphone to scan them.

Quick Response

QR is an acronym for “Quick Response.” The quick response comes from the code being scanned and the object – a link, picture, information, etc. – being given to the scanner in short time.

Quick Access

Many companies who WebDrafter.com has worked with have used the codes on business cards, advertisements, flyers and other printed materials to give quick access to their websites. As smartphones are becoming more prevalent, many business owners have recognized the popularity and marketing possibilities associated with them. The QR Code is just one of these.

Quick Usage

In order to scan a QR Code, you need a smartphone with a camera and a QR Reader. There are different applications available for the various kinds of smartphones available. Some of the more popular free ones include (click the app name to go to a page to download it):

• iPhone: QR Reader, NeoReader and Semacode
• Android: QR Droid, BeeTagg and EggMon
• BlackBerry: QR Code Scanner, Code Muncher and QRem
• Windows Phone: i-nigma and UpCode

Upon downloading it, install the application onto your phone. Many have a button that can be clicked to scan the code. Give it a try on the QR Code at left, and get scanning!

Border Buddie Website Design

WebDrafter.com is proud to unveil the newly redesigned website for Border Buddie.

Border Buddie is “the ultimate wallpaper border hanging tool,” and can help users to hang wallpaper borders by themselves.

Visit www.BorderBuddie.com to check out the site and to view the product. 

Don't Let Your Internet Marketing Fail ...

From Mashable.com

The death of British songstress Amy Winehouse was a stark reminder of the dangers of drugs and alcohol, but also reminded Internet marketing gurus why death is not a good marketing ploy.

Microsoft and Apple came recently under heavy fire for, as critics accused them, using Winehouse’s death to encourage the purchase of her albums on the Zune and iTunes services. Both companies offered an apology for their “tacky” tweets and advertising efforts.

So, it’s never a good idea to use any celebrity’s death for marketing a product. What else shouldn’t you have used in your Internet marketing efforts? Here are three things that are sure to set back any campaign, and that WebDrafter.com will never do:

1. Lack of research

When your SEM company launched your campaign, did they ask for your input about keyword research (i.e. what people are/you want people to find you under on Google, Yahoo, Bing, etc.)? Or did they just decide the list on their own?

When it comes to search engine prominence, you should be asked for what words you wish to rank under. There should be a dialogue between you and your SEO company about what keywords are likely to best serve you, and which aren’t. If you were kept out of the loop, this is an indicator the company didn’t put much effort into researching the keywords and what is being targeted will probably not result in the best ROI.

2. Sending unsolicited e-mail

Everyone hates spam. Blog spam, forum spam, e-mail spam, Facebook spam, etc. It’s annoying, but most spam can be ignored. E-Mail spam, however, is a little different. Even though most e-mail providers (GMail, Hotmail, etc.) have great spam protocols in place, unsolicited mail will every so often make its way into our inbox.

Spam will not gain you any customers. It will not increase your search engine results. It will not result in traffic to your website. It may, however, drive away business and cost you rankings. Offer persons a newsletter for which they can sign up, so those who are interested can receive it and you won’t pester those who don’t.

3. Deception

You should never lie to your customers. If you promise savings on a product, you better be willing to come through, lest you anger buyers and cause business to take a nosedive. Your clients will want to deal with a company that is forthright and honest. If you’re not going to be true to your word, then there’s no use for customers to deal with you. 

Long-Term SEO/SEM Gains

You’ve seen the banner ads: “We will get you to the top of Google quickly!” ”Guaranteed High Rankings Fast with Our Services!” “We’ll make you No. 1 in no time!” Self-proclaimed SEO and SEM (search engine marketing) experts touting their expertise, proclaiming themselves to be the Pied Piper of Search Engine Results: they blow their flute and the high rankings simply follow.

Oh, if it were only so simple.

Yes, these companies might be able to quickly get you to No. 1 on Google, Yahoo and Bing. You’ll see success: with more traffic comes more business.

However, it won’t last long.

Companies that boast how they have the “magic formula” or the “secret recipe” to search engine marketing success are blowing hot air. And businesses swayed by these braggers often end up to be Internet marketing victims.

How?

Say you own a restaurant in the Finger Lakes, NY region. Your specialty is Italian food. But, you find your business losing customers to the diner down the street, thanks to their aggressive marketing tactics. You decide to call XYZ Internet Marketing, which gloats about its amazing Internet successes. “We’ll get you to No. 1 on Google for ‘restaurant finger lakes,’” they tell you. They’re so convincing, how could you not believe them? A month later, your site is the top result for that query. Business picks up.

Then, business falls sharply. You find out your site is nowhere to be found on Google. You panic, wondering how this could happen. Then, you hear the term “Black Hat SEO” and wonder if that’s the reason why.

“Black Hat SEO” is everything that is wrong and unethical with SEO/SEM. Companies that specialize in these practices focus more on short-term gains, winning you over early, and once the bottom drops out, they’ll say, “Well, we just need to do this and everything will be fine!” Of course, it’s going to cost you more money, and the results will be nil.

True SEM professionals look at your industry’s market down the road, and will be straightforward with you:

• SEM/SEO is not an overnight process
• SEM/SEO is not a magic bullet
• SEM/SEO is a great effort
• SEM/SEO can and will take a while for results
• SEM/SEO patience can reap great rewards

Do the terms “honest” and “forthright” describe your SEO company? Or are they focusing more on the short term rather than the long term?

Fine Archtops Webdesign by WebDrafter.com

Steve Wagner wanted an online home for all lovers of archtop guitars, so he got the idea for www.FineArchtops.com. Wanting to ensure the website got the proper exposure it deserved, he hired WebDrafter.com to handle the website design, SEO and SEM portions. The design is clean and simple, invoking the aesthetics of a classic archtop guitar.

If you’re looking to keep clean and simple, or even a little more complex, get in touch with WebDrafter.com by visiting www.WebDrafter.com.

Matthews Funeral Home Website Redesign by WebDrafter.com

WebDrafter.com is happy to feature its recent website redesign of www.MathewsFuneralHome.com.

Mathews Funeral Home provides full-service funeral services tailored to clients in Albany GA and surrounding areas. For more information about Mathews Funeral Home, visit www.MathewsFuneralHome.com.

Make efforts toward getting a fresh web design by requesting a free webdesign estimate at www.WebDrafter.com.

Google+: A Plus to Social Media?

It was a day all interested in social media and search engine marketing were waiting for: Google’s answer to Facebook.

What would it look like? Would it change the face of social media, and make Facebook the new MySpace? Would the Google Buzz disaster repeat itself?

Then it rolled out …

The Google+ Project. “Real-life sharing rethought for the web.” The service currently isn’t open to the public, but two WebDrafter.com (@WebDrafter) staff members, lead developer Kevin Crider (@WDKevin) and Internet marketing head Thom Casey (@WDThom), managed to get their hands on invitations.

Despite the service not being open to the public at large, Google+ has gotten a lot of buzz (no pun intended). Is it the “Facebook killer”? Will people leave the nation of Zuckerberg to align themselves with the republic of Page and Brin? Kevin and Thom decided to tackle this question, as well as give an overall review of the search engine king’s newest offering.

Comparisons with Google Buzz

Thom: “Google Buzz came and went without much fuss, except the privacy issues. I never used Buzz that much, and it’s now being replaced by Google+ and the +1 button. I don’t think it’s fair to compare Plus and Buzz, except they’re both used to share content. Hopefully, Google worked out all the privacy kinks and Google+ won’t suffer the fate of its older, less liked brother.”

Kevin: “I disabled Google Buzz the day it went live. I never used it, never had the desire.”

Design

Thom: “Google is the perfect example of a ‘Keep It Simple Stupid’ company. The default profile theme is atypical Google: black text on a white background. Google themes allow users to make it look anyway they want – yes, including giving it a Facebook look – so if one of your gripes with Facebook was the look, then Google’s newest addition might better whet your Internet palette.”

Kevin: “It's been said before, but I absolutely love the new look and feel. Google has done 'just enough' to make it right. It's strikingly similar to Facebook, yet different enough to establish its own identity. The concept is close enough to Facebook, with a Twitter twist thrown in, that it just might succeed.”

Usability

Thom: “I’ve used Facebook since college, so I’m too used to expecting all social networks to operate the same way. I’m not quite getting Circles, which allows users to organize people into groups. However, I give the developers credit for seamlessly integrating most of Google’s offerings in here, including +1 and GTalk. The Sparks feature is interesting as it will feed you news related to your interests, almost like a hashtag or RSS. The overall navigation is very easy to use, even if some of the features are confusing.”

Kevin: "I find the interface to be strikingly similar to Facebook, but when you're taking on a conglomerate as big as the ’Book, too much change will deter the 500 million-plus users you are targeting. Google+ has done it right, so far. They have capitalized on the weak points of Facebook, while improving upon the stronger points. Circles is a way to categorize your different friends, but that's only the beginning. Google also allows content sharing based upon these Circles, as well as so much more. The main difference is the lack of a friendship request. You can add anyone you want to your circle, a lot like following them on Twitter."

Is Google+ the Facebook killer?

Thom: “As of this moment, no. Could it be? It’s possible. No one thought MySpace would lose its footing as king of social network mountain. Facebook has over half a billion users, and while Google might be the authority on search engines, it still has a long way to go when it comes to social media. Facebook’s appeal is that brings everyone together. Until Google+ comes up with a feature akin to Facebook pages (be sure to like the WebDrafter page), it will never truly compete with Zuckerberg’s monster.”

Kevin: “There will be no motivation for most people to switch with the sheer amount of children and older people using Facebook. When Facebook launched, it was targeted at college students, who make up the majority of the trendsetters in today’s eWorld. Soon after, the kids looking up to them wanted to join and the grandparents wanting to stay in touch followed suit, and that demographic created the desire for everyone to be on Facebook. If Google can continue to capitalize on Facebook's downfalls while outdoing them at what they've done right, it absolutely could be the Facebook killer. Until then, we wait.”

Pinnacle Plumbing Web Design by WebDrafter.com

WebDrafter.com is proud to unveil the website design of www.Pinnacle-Plumbing.biz.

Pinnacle Plumbing & Heating Inc. provides commercial plumbing and heating solutions to clients throughout Pennsylvania. All of their services can be found on www.Pinnacle-Plumbing.biz.

Make the first step toward ensuring online success by visiting www.WebDrafter.com and getting a free web design estimate.

Thoughts on the “new” Google

Every time Google does something different, the SEO and SEM worlds feel it. Algorithm changes require different approaches in the way search engine marketing is done. After all, it’s Google, arguably the “be all, end all” of search engines.

Well, there was another earthquake this week. This one was bigger than most. First, it was the announcement of Google +, the search engine’s king answer to Facebook. One can only hope this social network won’t suffer the fate of Google Buzz. According to the Washington Post:

“Circles lets you group your contacts — e.g. friends, work, family. Like Facebook, this features lets you share information with groups of contacts instead of hitting everyone with your latest update at once. Sparks acts like an RSS reader or Facebook news feed, letting you input things you’re interested in and pushing relevant content to you. Hangouts features live group video chats, aiming to foster spontaneous meetings with up to 10 people. You can also alert certain groups of friends when you’re hanging out.”

Alas, Google + is currently invite only and, well, there are no invitations being doled out.

The one change that every Googler can see is the “new” Google. It’s still the same Google, but almost looks completely different. “Just enough” of a change, said one member of the WebDrafter team.

The first thing that caught our eye was the black bar at the top. The front page, for the most part, looks relatively the same. The differences really attract notice on the results pages.

Google Instant, or searching as you type, has gotten a little faster. The former gray search box is now blue. Much like the smartphone app, you can now search by voice, eliminating the need for fingers.

It really isn’t that much of a change, but the new Google is in many ways totally different from what Google used to be. It’s taking all facets of the Internet together and merging them. It’s in many ways a perfect mesh of the mobile and desktop versions,.

And of course, there’s A Google A Day.

You get a question, you Google to find the answer and then a story is shared. A nice, fun feature for those who really love searching the Internet. One has to wonder though: Have all these changes been rolled out because the Android OS, a Google creation, has become the number one mobile OS? Has Google finally reached its peak?

We hope not. 

Hartmann Well Drilling Website Design by WebDrafter.com

The goal for the new www.HartmannWellDrilling.com was to produce a web design that honored Hartmann Well Drilling’s past, but look toward its future. This is most exemplified in the Flash header, which displays past and pictures of the MN well drilling company’s equipment. The rustic look makes this site yet another of our favorites, while we’re also proud of the SEO and SEM efforts being utilized.

Want to honor online your company’s accomplishments? Get in touch with www.WebDrafter.com to get your free website design quote.

Link Building FAQ

Here are five of the most common questions the WebDrafter.com staff gets about link building:

What’s a backlink?

Backlinks (incoming links, inbound links, etc.) are incoming links to a website or page. Every time you post to Facebook or tweet a link, you are giving the site a backlink.

What’s their importance in SEO?

The generally accepted theory is that the more backlinks a site has, the better it will rank on Google, Yahoo and Bing. While a good number of backlinks is still needed to rank high on search engines, recent changes have stressed quality over quantity, and sites with original, well-written content have begun to rank higher over ones with thousands of backlinks.

Is there good backlinking vs. bad backlinking?

Yes. One of the more popular, “black hat” tactics involves commenting on blogs and forums with good Google PageRanks (PR). You’ve probably seen these comments, the one that add nothing to to the conversation, are vague or have nothing to do at all with what is being discussed. Many so-called SEO practitioners do this only for the backlink, knowing the good PR gives them a valuable inlink. However, this is nothing more than spam and may hurt rankings (we’ll get to that in a little bit).

If you’re going to post on blogs and forums for a backlink, then find ones that cater to your industry or specialty and have a high PR. Become part of the conversation and offer your input. This way is much more enjoyable as you’ll find pleasure in building links, and much less frustrating to users who comment for enjoyment.

Can backlinks harm SEO efforts?

Yes. In February, JC Penney was punished by Google and lost many of its rankings. JC Penney hired an SEO firm who got them top placements for terms like “bedding” and “area rugs,” but the problem is that these links were done through blog spam and paid links designed to fool Google’s algorithm. WordStream had a great post on this debacle.

Links need to be built naturally and over time to be beneficial to your SEO efforts. You can’t just go on a massive link spree and do thousands of backlinks in a short period. Link expert Eric Ward explained it like this in a recent Search Engine Land post:

If a site launches in response to a disaster, like GulfOilSpill.org, then 4,000 links is to be expected and is totally natural. But if you have a two year old bingo site with 121 links and you suddenly add 4000 new links in a very short period of time, chances are your bingo site will go bye-bye. It’s not likely to have been natural. 

Should I buy links?

It should be noted that paid links don’t refer to advertisements, like those on Google AdWords. They refer to those that are bought and sold only for the PR.

Paid links can quickly give you high Google rankings. However, it’s not recommended you buy links, although there are plenty of sites out there that will gladly sell you one. There are two types of links out there: follow and nofollow. Paid links with the nofollow attribute (pretty much a way to tell search engines, “Don’t follow us”) are OK in Google’s book.

Google looks at paid follow links as cheating, and developers are working constantly to develop tools and ways to find these links. From Google Webmaster Central:

Google and most other search engines use links to determine reputation. A site's ranking in Google search results is partly based on analysis of those sites that link to it. Link-based analysis is an extremely useful way of measuring a site's value, and has greatly improved the quality of web search. Both the quantity and, more importantly, the quality of links count towards this rating.

However, some SEOs and webmasters engage in the practice of buying and selling links that pass PageRank, disregarding the quality of the links, the sources, and the long-term impact it will have on their sites. Buying or selling links that pass PageRank is in violation of Google's Webmaster Guidelines and can negatively impact a site's ranking in search results. 

Not all paid links violate our guidelines. Buying and selling links is a normal part of the economy of the web when done for advertising purposes, and not for manipulation of search results. Links purchased for advertising should be designated as such.

Got link building questions? Get in touch with WebDrafter.com today about our link building services.  

Carbide Construction Website Redesign by WebDrafter.com

WebDrafter.com is proud to highlight the website redesign of www.CarbideConstruction.com.

Carbide Construction provides modular additions, and kitchen and bathroom remodeling projects to Northern Virginia. To take a look at their services, visit www.CarbideConstruction.com.

Get a fresh look, more traffic and better sales. Request a free website design estimate now at www.WebDrafter.com.

Why Twitter Is a Great Search Engine

When companies talk about SEO and search engine marketing, they are talking mainly about getting your site high rankings on the Big 3: Google, Yahoo and Bing. However, as Twitter continues to grow, it will be more than just a microblogging platform, but a search engine that can compete with the current search engine kings.

Twitter is a great search engine for Internet users because you will find only the most pertinent issues of the day. Apple apparently agrees, as it recently made Twitter the official social media service for iOS5, the latest version of the software that runs the iPhone, iPad and its other portable devices. The two will be integrated to the point that many results will come from Twitter, skipping over traditional search engine results.

For example, here's a screen shot of the Twitter search results for "cars":

We get a healthy mix of information, news and promotion, as well as a Dane Cook joke. It might not seem like that much of a change from Google or Bing SERPs, but this is what real people are talking about in real time. Twitter is essentially searching human interaction.

Here is what appears when you query "cars" in Google:

What appears is whatever the search engine robots have deemed most important, taking out the human element.

That's not to say Google, Yahoo and Bing aren't important for great search engine optimization efforts. You can't not focus on them. But, services like Facebook and Twitter are becoming more important for businesses to use to find out what potential customers are talking about, so they too can get in on the action. As more people sign up for Facebook or start Tweeting, you will need to have your business follow suit, lest you fall behind.

Delta Construction Website Redesign by WebDrafter.com

WebDrafter.com is proud to showcase the website redesign of www.DeltaConstruction.biz.

Delta Construction provides general contractor services to areas in Minnesota and Kansas. To view all their offerings, visit www.DeltaConstruction.biz.

Visit www.WebDrafter.com for a free website design quote.

Excelsior Animal Hospital Website Design by WebDrafter.com

For over 50 years, Excelsior Animal Hospital has been serving the Excelsior MN veterinary care needs, but they felt their website design at www.ExcelsiorAnimalHospital.net didn’t properly convey their dedicated to provide “Warm Hearts for Cold Noses.” Needing a fresh look, the animal hospital approached WebDrafter.com to give them a makeover. It’s simple and sleek, and provides the business’ clients with the best possible information.

Need a makeover? Get a free website design quote at www.WebDrafter.com.

Richard S Werner MD Website Design by WebDrafter.com

The one thing Dr. Richard S Werner wanted to showcase on www.RichardSWernerMD.com was his artistic touch when it came to Minnesota plastic surgery. The staff at WebDrafter.com convened and came up with a website design that did just this. We also provided SEO and SEM initiatives.

If you’re looking to highlight online your artistic touch, get in touch with WebDrafter.com today by visiting www.WebDrafter.com.

Backlinks: What Are They & How Do They Work?

You've probably heard the term thrown about.

"Backlinks."

But, you might not understand what they are, what they do and why they're so important. Backlinks are essentially perceived to be the lifeblood in determining PageRank, Google's "grade" of any website. The notion is that the more backlinks you have, the higher your PageRank and your position on search engine results pages.

However, "the more, the better" theory isn't always true. Having more backlinks, in fact, can sometimes get you kicked off the search engine's index.

What are backlinks?
Backlinks, incoming links, inbound links, etc. are all the same. If Page X links to Page Y's website, Page X is giving Page Y a backlink, and a little free advertising. Backlinks are different than deep links. A backlink points directly at the website's main/home page, while a deep links points to a specific page or image on the website.

Why are they so important?
As noted previously, the more backlinks you have, the higher your Internet standing. There are, however, exceptions to this rule. If your link is on a highly recognized industry website, then that will help boost your site's rank and therefore your rankings. However, if your link is on a website that has nothing but hundreds of links on one page, then that's not going to do your rankings any good.

The types of backlinks you want to aim for are:
- Links within the body's content. Essentially having your website associated with a keyword phrase within text.
- Links that stand alone. You don't want to get lost in the pile. That's why it's important to make sure your link stands out. Getting listed on a page with thousands of other links isn't going to do much for your PR or SERPs listings. You want your link to be the one found not only by the search engines, but by potential clients.
- Links from relevant websites. Your business specializes in gardening equipment. You want your Internet presence to reflect your vast gardening knowledge. Getting a link on a site not related to gardening, or not known or well received in the industry will do you little to no good. You want your links to come from reputable websites, sites that are well known by your peers and colleagues.

So, how do you get quality backlinks?
- Provide something people will link to. If you're a company that sells cupcakes, offer recipes for types of cupcakes that you don't offer for sale. Or write a frequently asked questions (FAQs) about cupcakes. Anything informative and interesting is almost certain to get a backlink. This will not only bring in traffic, but increase your PR and SERPs standings.
- Use microblogging and social media marketing. Twitter and Facebook users love to share links. It's part of the reason these sites were created. Increasing your social media marketing efforts will increase the amount of backlinks you receive.
- Submit to free, reputable directories. Directory submissions are great backlinks, if you submit to the right ones. The Open Directory Project (www.dmoz.org) is the best known, but there is a submissions waiting list, and it could take months before you're listed.
- Guest post on other blogs. Is there a great blog read by most of your peers, and maybe your competition? Author a guest post, and use your content to generate backlinks. Other similar methods include blog comments and forum posts.

These are only a few methods you can use to generate backlinks. If you need help with your backlinking strategy, or other search engine marketing methods, contact WebDrafter.com today.

Capstone Medical Associates Redesign by WebDrafter.com

Every patient that walks into the Palmyra PA office of Capstone Medical Associates’ has different needs. Every person that visits its website, www.CapstoneMedicalAssociates.com, which was redesigned recently by WebDrafter.com, also requires unique services.

With this new website design, Capstone Medical Associates, which provides internal medicine care to patients 12 and over, will be able to better serve its clientele.

Want to better serve your clients or customers? Visit www.WebDrafter.com now and request a Free Quote for search engine optimization or search engine marketing.

How to Pick an SEO Company

Nothing can damage your Internet reputation like spam. The Village Voice recently learned that, as Techland reported:

It's like a lesson in how not to use social media. Village Voice Media, looking for more hits for their various web properties, hires some "social media experts" to drive more traffic to their sites. Said experts start spamming Reddit, and then get caught doing so

Read more: http://techland.time.com/2011/05/02/village-voice-apologizes-a-lot-for-seo-fail/#ixzz1LJYfSB00

Many companies will make promises of being able to get you to the top of Google or Yahoo, but they will do this with Black Hat tactics, like keyword stuffing or fake pages for search engine spiders. These tricks do temporarily work, but they cause damage that’s hard to erase.

When you’re ready to hire an SEO company, keep in mind the following tips:

1. Ask around
   Connect with your social media network – if you have one – or ask other business owners who they used. Read reviews to gain a better insight on who is able to be trusted, and who is to be avoided.
2. Get advice
   Seek out the SEO experts to see who they would recommend. There are plenty of great SEO blogs out there, like SEOmoz and SEO Book, which offer recommendations on who to trust and choose.
3. Ask for references
   SEO is about getting the best ROI. Ask prospective vendors for their list of clients they manages, as well as a list of success stories. Contact clients to see whether they’re happy with their SEO vendor.
4. Get in touch, proposals
   You’ll want to have some contact with the companies before you sign any paperwork. Get in touch and quotes from the two or three best picks, and set up meetings. See what they can do for you, and whether they can give you the service you want for a price you can afford.
5. Trust your instincts
   Pick whoever with whom you feel most comfortable. This company will be responsible for your business’ or organization’s Internet reputation, so you’ll want to be able to trust them.

WebDrafter.com has the reputation and know-how to dedicate itself to your company’s online success. Contact us today by visiting www.WebDrafter.com and requesting a free quote for SEO, search engine marketing or web design.

Aabbott Ferraro Website Redesign by WebDrafter.com

WebDrafter.com is proud to showcase the website redesign of www.AabbottFerraro.com.

Aabbott Ferraro provides HVAC maintenance and appliance services to the Twin Cities MN area. To view all their services, visit www.AabbottFerraro.com.

Visit www.WebDrafter.com for custom website design services.

Chimney Safety Authority Website Redesign by WebDrafter.com

WebDrafter.com is proud to showcase our website redesign of www.ChimneySafetyAuthority.com.

This site was designed knowing the business specializes in chimney repair and chimney cleaning, and this theme permeated through the entire conception.

Our clients come first. Whether you're a new or existing WebDrafter.com customer, please contact us today to learn what our website design and SEO teams can do for you.

Yellow Hat Group Website Design by WebDrafter.com

March was a pretty busy month for all of us at WebDrafter.com. From search engine optimization projects to website designs, the staff here had their hands full. No complaints on our end; we had fun with it all and would gladly do it all again.

One of our favorites was the web site design for www.YellowHatGroup.com. Yellow Hat Group provides consulting and expertise to military and business decision makers, so they needed an online presence. We happily handled a new web design and all the SEO, and we’re pretty proud of how it turned out.

We like keeping busy. Keep us busy by letting us handle your website design and Internet marketing. Visit www.WebDrafter.com now and get a Free Estimate.

H&H Precision Wire Website Design by WebDrafter.com

H&H Precision Wire has been in the CNC machining, water jet cutting and wire EDM industries since 1985, yet never before this year had an Internet presence. The owners recognized they were missing a huge sales platform, so they came to WebDrafter.com for assistance.

The aim for www.HHPrecisionWire.com, like any website designed by WebDrafter.com, is to turn a visit into a sale. This thought was in the back of our staff's minds during every step, from initial design to copywriting. The design and flow is complimented by a subdued color scheme that captures the reader's attention.

We're very proud of this design. We want to be proud of your website design when we complete it. If your company doesn't have a web presence, contact WebDrafter.com today and let us show you how a custom website with proper Search Engine Optimization can provide huge benefits to your business.

The Browser Wars: What Does It Mean For You?

Every time a browser is upgraded, updated or completely overhauled, you can expect the tech magazines to write a “Browser Wars!” article and the blogosphere to follow suit. These articles serve a purpose, so developers and consumers can make an informed decision about the pros and cons of each.

The month of March was a big one for web browsers. New versions of the Big 3 – Microsoft’s Internet Explorer, Mozilla’s Firefox and Google’s Chrome – were released, with new features and retooled user interfaces. We can imagine users experienced a little bit of shock after downloading these, and seeing a completely look different from which they had grown accustomed.

WebDrafter.com’s blog serves to educate and inform the general consumer on all issues related to the Internet, and in this entry, we’ll discuss the updated big three: Firefox 4, Internet Explorer 9 and Chrome 10. What are the big differences from the previous version(s)? What do they mean for you? We’ll answer these questions.

In the first 24 hours of release, Firefox 4 was downloaded 7.1 million times (The Mozilla Blog) while Internet Explorer 9 only saw 2.35 million downloads (Techie Buzz). Numbers for Google Chrome 10 have not been released, but it’s gaining a fast foothold in the browser market, according to StatCounter. Chrome has over 12% of the market, while Firefox remains steady at around 30%. Meanwhile, from April 2010 to March 2011, Internet Explorer dropped from nearly 50% to under 48%.

It’s a bit surprising that IE9 fell behind Firefox 4, considering nearly half of Internet users utilize Internet Explorer as their browser of choice. However, this is probably due to two key reasons: IE9 wasn’t released in conjunction with a new version of Windows (unlike previous releases), and maybe more importantly, IE9 requires Windows Vista or Windows 7, and 41% of users continue to use Windows XP.

Common themes between each:

1. A Chrome influence: One of the unique things about Google Chrome when it first came out was that page tabs were above everything. Chrome’s influence is evident in Firefox and IE, as both browsers have adopted this. Modern web browsers aim to be as simple as possible, making navigation as simple as possible for users.
2. Support for HTML5 and CSS3: Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) is the building block for any website, while cascading style sheets (CSS) is a language developers use to describe the look and format of a markup language, like HTML.
3. This doesn’t affect, or maybe matter, to the average user, but as more and more developers continue to adopt new HTML5 and CSS3 elements – like timed media playback, document editing, geolocation and “drag-and-drop” – browser developers will have to accommodate.
4. Increased security: As phishing and malware is sadly commonplace, developers must take this into consideration whenever they develop a new browser.

Differences between each:

1. Memory usage varies. According to a March 25 CNET article, Chrome 10 uses 390 MB of memory, while IE9 uses 195 MB and Firefox 4 only takes 146 MB. The less memory a program uses, the less of a strain on your resources. Additionally, according to the same article, Firefox 4 had the quickest boot time (around 17 seconds), while Chrome took almost 27 seconds.
2. Each browser has its own set of standards for CSS3. Chrome 10 and Firefox 4 support most of CSS3, while IE9 does support some of CSS3, there is much missing, like some background styles and transformation elements.
3. Google and Mozilla are known for offering users the ability to add plug ins (pop up blockers, social media tools, etc.) and themes for their browsers, and there is a wide variety available. Microsoft does offer add ons, but not nearly the volume of Google's or Mozilla's.

With browsers becoming more identical, it doesn’t matter which you use. Personally, WebDrafter.com recommends you download all three. That way, you have an alternative in case a website doesn’t work on your favorite browser.

For more information on what the different Internet browsers mean for your website design or search engine marketing, contact WebDrafter.com today.