Gaining Ground - Online Marketing & Communications

The ethics of web company links

Martin — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 21:50:54 +0000

Take a look at most business websites and the chances are you’ll see a link at the bottom of the page that says “website design by some-web-design-company” and that the text links to that web design company’s site. As a website owner you might think that is reasonable — it compares to garages that put stickers with their name on in your new car, or the printer who has a credit at the back of a catalogue — well yes and no.

Yes, if the web company has asked permission and fully explained the implications to their client (no typical in my experience).

No, if the implications haven’t been explained. You see, most website owners might not be fully aware that the way search engines like Google convey ‘authority’ ie make a site rank well in searches is a combination of factors. One of these factors (and still quite an important one today) is the number of links pointing to a site. So if said web company has hundreds of links from their customers’ sites pointing to their own site then they’ll benefit from it. You could argue that they are materially benefiting from it and that makes it a somewhat dubious thing if it is done in a ‘grey’ way.

Similarly, some websites have additional text like “ecommerce websites in a town” or “SEO by seocompany” in addition to the common “website by” link. All of these are taking away part of the authority of the host site and passing it onto a third party. Not good.

So, if you’re a website owner, take a close look at what links you can see on your site and ask yourself — how are they benefiting you?

(P.S. Yes we do, but only occasionally and with the owner’s full informed agreement.)

Restaurant Websites

admin — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 23:42:29 +0000

Sample restaurant graphic

If you’re thinking of either getting or improving a website for your restaurant — we can help.

Just use the contact us details to get in touch — we can offer a wide range of solutions from a basic website through to email marketing.

Get your free copy of our top 10 tips for restaurant websites by entering your details below:

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Bing for Business

Martin — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 00:20:57 +0000

Although Google is currently the dominant search engine in the UK — estimates vary, but it is normally reported as aroound 90% market share — there are other search engines out there!

Microsoft’s ‘Bing’ search engine has been attracting a lot of attention and so more people have been checking out its performance against their normal search engine. Whilst this doesn’t mean that Bing will overtake Google anytime soon, it does present a couple of questions for the small business owner.

1) Does my web site show up on a search on Bing?

2) Are my competitors listed on Bing?

There are definitely opportunities to gain an advantage by getting your site listed on any major, new search engine like Bing. Whilst the search numbers might be low compared to Google, you can still generate significant amounts of traffic for your business site.

Keep talking to your customers

admin — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 20:58:14 +0000

It’s a well known statistic that it’s more profitable to keep existing customers than it is to have to find new ones. Online marketing can make it easy for you to engage with your customers, find out what they think about your products and services and keep them coming back for more. Some ideas to look at:

Email marketing campaigns — tell them about your latest products and services or remind them of upcoming events.
Online surveys — what do your customers really think?
Social media — get your customers talking.
Refresh your website content — content management systems.

Be found– promoting your website

admin — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 20:52:57 +0000

The first thing that any website needs to do is to be found by potential customers. There are many ways of making your website both more visible on the internet and also more attractive to your potential customers. We’ve listed some of the ways that you can do this before, just click on each term to learn more about it.

Get a website that is designed to be found and not just look good
Get your website listed on Google (search engine optimisation)
Online advertising — banners and pay per click Adwords
Social media –talking to your customers
Use the right words for your customers — copywriting

Not sure what you need or want? We’ll be happy to have an obligation free chat:

Call 0114 3609789 or email martin@gainingground.co.uk

Make it easy for them to buy your products or services

admin — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 00:38:15 +0000

Great, you’ve got some visitors to your website — now what? Is it easy for them to find the information or products they need? Can they actually buy things you’re your site? What about contacting you, have you made it foolproof? Do you know how many visitors come to your site each day and where they go? How many more sales could you get if you changed some parts of your website? The answers can be found with:

Web site analysis (such as Google Analytics)
Optimising the site layout and content (web site optimisation)
Regularly updating your site information (content management systems)
Making your site easy to navigate (usability design)
Ask their opinion — real time surveying of your website visitors

Gaining Ground Ltd

admin — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 00:02:24 +0000

Online marketing for small businesses

We specialise in helping small businesses like you improve their online presence and performance. We do this in a number of ways, dependent upon what your business is and what your goals are. To see how we can help you, choose from one of the following:

I already have a website, but I want to improve it’s performance

I don’t have a website but I’m thinking about getting one

I want to know more about online and digital marketing

Not sure what you need or want? We’ll be happy to have an obligation free chat, call us on 0114 360 9789 or send an email to martin@gainingground.co.uk