The Importance of Google+ for Local Businesses

Google+ has been the butt of many jokes. Consider this picture that explains social media with donuts:

And while it might seem like Google+ is a virtual ghost town. After all, how many people do YOU know that use Google+?

Probably more than you think.

During I/O 2013, Google’s annual developer conference, Google yesterday rolled out new changes to the Google+ platform, and in a blog about the updates, it was stated:

Consider: 190 million people are now active in the Google+ stream, and 390 million are active across Google (+1’ing apps in Google Play, making video calls in Gmail, sharing videos from YouTube...). It’s a community of artists and astronauts and computer scientists and quilters — and it’s awesome. But we’ve only just begun.

With 190 million active users, Google+ might be the most popular ghost town ever.

However, many local businesses don’t seem convinced of the power of Google+. After all …

More people use Facebook and Twitter, so why should I care about Google+?

Therein lies the dilemma: Facebook and Twitter are the undisputed kings of social media. If you have them, no other social network is necessary, right?

Stop thinking about Google+ as strictly a social network.

Google+ is more of a “social layer” that connects together all of Google’s various products and services, from YouTube, Gmail and Google Docs to AdWords and search.

As search is becoming more personalized, and more users are searching and surfing while logged into accounts (including Google), Google+ will only continue to grow in prominence. To see this in action, check out these results for “social media”:

The differences are highlighted. As a result of the user’s connections +1’ing (i.e. giving the website a “stamp of approval” of sorts) various websites, they now appear on the first page for the phrase “social media” while the user is logged in.

The +1 feature extends beyond just web sites. It extends to Google Play, YouTube and all of Google’s services. It’s becoming an integral part of successful SEO.

Search is now social.

Let’s take another look at the results for “social media”:

The icons on the left indicate those results that are appearing due to the user following those sites respective Google+ pages, and the G +1 button results are designated by the orange +1 button under the placement.

As consumers gravitate toward social networks, search will continue to become more personalized and social. You shouldn’t be thinking, “Does my business need to be social?” but rather, “What can my business do to be more social?”

In an article for Search Engine Watch, Jason Cormier beautifully stated:

The most significant reason to get your business on Google+ is simple: The quality and corresponding engagement around your search engine visibility stands to either noticeably improve or gradually decline.

Local results revolve around Google+, not Places.

Your business might already be on Google+ and you might not even be aware. Remember Google Places? These were the “maps results,” as they were commonly called, but notice anything different:

Last May, Google rebranded Places as Google+ Local, to integrate the system directly into the Google+ stream. It’s not enough just to have this listing, however; you should also have a Google+ Page.

I thought if my business was on Google Places, it was already on Google+?

There is a significant difference between Google+ Pages and Google+ Local. As Google explains, there are key differences between the two:

• Google+ Local is simply an upgrade of Google Places. You can add information and photos, and a link to your website. Consumers can also review your business.
• Google+ Pages allows you to add information, photos, videos and posts.
• Merging the two gives you all the features listed above.

Why is this push for local so important? Consider these statistics:

• 20% of all searches have a local intent
• 40% of mobile searches have a local intent
• 97 % of consumers search online for local businesses

Which is best for my business?

There’s no one size fits all option. For now, the ability to merge Google+ Local with a Google+ Page is only available to those with local, “storefront”-based businesses (i.e. businesses that serve consumers at a fixed location). If you want to create a Google+ page for your business, you have five options:

• Local Business or Place: These are for local operated businesses, i.e. antique shops, mom and pop pizza parlors, etc. Your business must have a physical address (not a PO Box) and this address will show. If you want your address to be hidden, then this option will not work for you.
• Product or Brand: This category is for companies like Nike, Chevrolet, etc.
• Company, Institution or Organization: For companies, organizations, institutions, non-profits, etc. Perfect for those businesses that have more than one location.
• Arts, Entertainment or Sports: For pages dedicated to celebrities, bands, sports teams, books, television shows, etc.
• Other: For those that don’t fit into any category.

You’ll most likely select “Local Business or Place” or “Company, Institution or Organization.” Be careful with which one you choose, as you won’t be able to easily change the category.

In summation:

• Google+ Local/Pages and +1’s show up in personalized results.
• Google+ Local/Pages are essential to show up in local search results.
• Google+ has helped to blur the line between “social” and “search.”
• Google+ isn’t a “ghost town.”
• Google+ will continue to become more essential to ensure your business’ success on the Internet.

Need help setting up a Google+ page? Let the WebDrafter.com online marketing team help you out. Give us a call today at 1-866-421-3723.

Connect with WebDrafter.com on: Google+ | Facebook | Twitter

How to Invite Facebook Friends to Your Facebook Business Page

When you first create a Facebook page for your business, you're missing the key ingredient to building a good community right off the bat -- people! Luckily, you probably have some some friends and family who take an interest in what you do and would be happy to show their support as you build up your base of users. Using a built-in invite feature in Facebook, you can invite your current friends in a few steps.

1) Sign in to Facebook and click on your page's name under the "Pages" section on the left side of the screen.

2) Click the "Build Audience" menu option at the top of the screen. This will open a drop-down menu. From there, click "Invite Friends."

3) Show all of your friends by clicking the "Recent Interactions" button near the top of the box, and then clicking "Search All Friends."

4) Click the check box next to the friends you'd like to invite to your new Facebook page.

5) Click the "Submit" button when finished. The friends you selected will be invited to like your page.

WebDrafter.com, a PA Web design company, helps companies create better looking websites, improve search engine placements, and build up online communities on networks like Facebook and Twitter. Interested in learning more about how we can help your business? Get in touch today at (866) 421-3723.

5 Reasons Your Search Engine Ranking is a Big Deal

Chances are, if you're here, you found this blog post through a search engine and might already be sold on the importance of search engine rankings and search engine optimization's role in improving them. You may have a partner or supervisor, however, who doesn't quite see the need to spend time and resources on optimizing your website to increase traffic from search engines. We've compiled a list of five facts that your search engine ranking is a big deal.

1) Approximately 42% of search engine users click on the #1 ranked site after a search. The second result gets 8%.

2) 62% of users will click a link on the first page of the search results.

3) 40% of SEO campaigns achieve a return on investment (ROI) of 500%. Compare that to pay-per-click campaigns (PPC) -- only 22% of those campaigns reach that lofty mark.

4) Organic search results convert users into buyers at a rate 25% higher than PPC campaigns.

5) 77% of search engine users will click an organic search result over a paid result.

While pay-per-click advertising is a nice supplement to an advertising and marketing campaign, search engine optimization efforts convert more users and reach a high return-on-investment a lot more quickly. WebDrafter.com, a PA Web design company, also specializes in SEO and SEM. Interested in improving your search placements? Call us today at (866) 421-3723.

Benefits of Having a Company/Business Blog

Your company has a website, possibly a Facebook page and maybe even a Twitter account. With all these resources, should your company or business be blogging?

The short answer? Yes.

But, with every other resource your company is using, why should you add blogging to your marketing repertoire? There are several great reasons, but here are three of the best:

Blogging is Great for SEO

When it comes to SEO, few things are as important as well-written, fresh content. If your company is having problems coming up with website updates, a blog can fill this void in a great, timely manner.

Blogging is Great for Sharing

We've all been there: trying to figure out what to share on Facebook, Twitter and other social networks. If sharing material is becoming tedious because you find yourself running out of things to say, then a blog is a great way to come up with content to share with your audience.

Blogging is Great for Promotion

If you want your company or business to expand, then a blog is a great way to promote products and services.

Does your company blog? Why or why not? Let us know on the WebDrafter.com Facebook page, @WebDrafter, on Google+ or with a comment. 

"When Will I Be on Google?"

If you're looking at SEO or search engine marketing, then you no doubt have one ultimate goal: ranking at the top of Google, Bing and Yahoo. Having the No. 1 ranking for highly competitive keywords and phrases places your website far above your competitors, and when your website earns a No. 1 placement, you're almost certain to get the most traffic – and business – instead of your competition.

But, it's difficult to say when this will happen. If you're wondering, "When will I be on Google?" or when your website will rank at the top for a certain phrase, don't expect it to be an overnight thing. Companies who promise top rankings in a certain period are most likely looking at you as low-hanging fruit ripe for the picking. So, why can't predictions be made about search engine placements? There are several reasons:

Algorithms are always changing

Search engine algorithms are always changing to make for a better user experience. These are trade secrets, and techniques and strategies that may have worked six months ago might not today. And when a change happens (especially in Google's case), rankings can be affected.

Rankings are the results of effort

You've created a great website, and you're ready to roll. You let it go, waiting for things to happen. Three months later, they haven't, and you're getting frustrated. Understandable, but rankings don't happen just by creating a website. A great SEO campaign can get your site the rankings and traffic you desire. If you want your website to rank No. 1 for an extremely competitive term, know it will only happen after a great deal of effort.

New competition everyday

While you're waiting for your website to get to the top, so are your competitors. And the battle for rankings can be fierce, and if you don't have an Internet marketing tank on your side, then your website might be a forgotten casualty.

Have questions or a comment? Share your thoughts on the WebDrafter Facebook page or tweet us @webdrafter.

Questions to Ask Your SEO Company

Searching for an SEO company can be hard if you're not familiar with what search engine optimization and search engine marketing entail. So, it's important to make sure you're not losing business even before work begins underway.

Here are three questions you should ask SEO companies before you make your final choice:

"Do you have references and/or case studies?"

Any SEO company that exalts its abilities should be able to prove they can walk the walk and not just talk the talk. If you ask for references and case studies so you can see whether they know their stuff or are just blowing hot air, and you get nothing, then they are probably hiding something you'll want to give more consideration to the other contenders.

"How will it take until I see my site at the top of Google?"

We'll touch on this in more detail next week, but no one can or should guarantee you "No. 1 rankings." When you ask this question, you shouldn't receive a definite answer, and if you do, then it's highly advisable you look elsewhere.  

"Will I receive a report?"

If the company will also be administering search engine marketing campaigns, then you should receive from them a report of what was done on a monthly basis. They should be more than willing to answer affirmatively when you ask this question, and if they don't, then they're probably not as ethical as they're making themselves out to be.  

Is your SEO company reputable?

For every good SEO and Internet marketing company, there is another that seeks to do little more than take your money while not giving you the results and ROI you deserve. Sure, you might rank No. 1 for a keyphrase, but if no one is searching for it and therefore isn't generating traffic, are you really at the top or is your bottom line getting skimmed?

So, how do you know if your SEO provider is ripping you off? Here are three key signs you're not getting your money's worth:

You never hear from them

At WebDrafter.com, we touch base with our marketing clients on a monthly basis, so we can find out what's happening on their end, and vice versa. This way, we can learn about specials and products they wish to promote and feature, while getting news and tips about their respective industry.

Sadly, some companies never hear from their provider. And when this happens, their probably not seeing results either, which leads into the second sign …

You don't know what they're doing

If you're not receiving a report outlining what your SEO firm is doing to help your site's rankings and traffic, then your investment most likely isn't providing you with a return. Or, if you do receive a report, but don't understand what it all means, and get the runaround when you ask questions, you're probably getting ripped off. As a site owner, you need to know what is being done, as some tactics can hurt. Don't be afraid to call them up and demand answers. And if you can't get them, then it may be time to find another company.

You're guaranteed "No. 1 rankings on Google"

"We'll express submit your website to Google, Yahoo! and Bing!" You've probably seen a self-proclaimed SEO expert guarantee you this, while telling you they will be able to get your site ranked No. 1 on Google and "all other major search engines OVERNIGHT." There's just two problems:

1. There's no such thing as "express submission" when it comes to Google, Yahoo! and Bing.
2. No one can guarantee any sort of rankings.

If you've heard this from your SEO provider, you'll more than likely want to begin looking somewhere else.

Further reading from WebDrafter.com:

-          Avoiding Search Engine Fraud

-          Are You "Low Hanging Fruit" for SEO Fraud?

-          Search Engine Optimization Fraudsters

-          SEO Companies Are Stalking You

SEO: When to Listen To or Question Your SEO/SEM Provider

How do you know the SEO you paid for will help people find your website? Is your SEM company doing what needs to be done to get your website great search engine placements?

If you don't know the answers to these questions, you're not alone.

Search Engine Watch recently posted a great blog on when to listen to or question whoever is providing your SEO. Author Kristi Hines had a number of great points including:

"QUESTION When They Say They Can Guarantee You Results Within a Specific Timeframe.
 The only thing that can be guaranteed as far as placement within a search engine is an advertisement via Google AdWords or similar program.
 The goal of any search optimization efforts is to put a favorable influence on search engines to rank your website. If someone says they can guarantee you No. 1 ranking within 30 days, then they are either going to spam you to the top with short lived results or take your money and run."

A proper SEM campaign takes time. It's not something that happens overnight. As one commenter noted, it could take weeks, months or, in some cases, even years.

"LISTEN When They Say They Can’t Guarantee You Results
 It's probably not something anyone wants to hear when they sign a contract, but be sure to listen to those who are honest when they say they can’t guarantee you results. The world's top SEO may not be able to help you, especially if they have suggested you add link-worthy content or properly optimize your website and you’ve chosen to ignore them."

This is important because there are many companies out there who guarantee you will receive X amount of clicks in a certain timeframe. You'll receive the clicks, but it won't result in visitors using your products or services. At WebDrafter.com, you can trust we won't make you guarantees or promise you things we know aren't likely to happen.

As a small business owner or someone needing SEO and/or SEM for their website, the blog is worth taking a few minutes to read. Check it out by clicking here.

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.

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.

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.  

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.

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.

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.

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.