Small Business Websites
- Websites are crucial for all businesses in order to increase visibility to potential customers
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- A small business may have relied on social media and word of mouth to attract clients
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- This may work to some extent but perhaps you have decided that a website is now a necessity
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- There are many more things to consider when compared to a personal site as you will most likely want to drive traffic towards your website rather than being anonymous
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- The two key tools we can use are Search Engine Optimisation and Google Analytics
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What is Search Engine Optimisation?
- Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is the process by which we optimise your site in order for it to appear nearer the top of the search rankings
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- Search Engines examine websites for multiple criteria to determine where they should appear in the search rankings
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- Criteria range from the simple, such as how many times content is replicated to the more abstract such as the quality of meta-tags, keywords and keyword density
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- It is a complex process, but if you are looking for organic traffic as well as links from across the web then it is well worth investigating this to at least some extent
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- Click here for more info on Search Engine Optimisation
What is Google Analytics?
- Their site kit allows in-depth analysis of how your site is performing
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- It has many useful features such as analysing the website in terms of number of visitors, where they have come from, which devices they have used and how they have got to your site - whether that is from an 'organic' search or from links on other websites or indeed by any other means.
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- Another powerful tool it has is the ability to measure the loading times of pages. The quicker these are the more likely a potential client will stay on your website.
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- It is possible to build up a report of your website performance on either an ad-hoc or regular basis.
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- Click here for more info on Google Analytics
Google Business Profile / Google My Business
- This facility from Google literally puts you on the map!
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- Search results often have a map displaying businesses in the local area
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- Most clients would like to know where the business they are interested in is based, even if they plan to work remotely with you
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- It is of course critical for some local businesses who can only work in the local area, such as window cleaners, builders etc.
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- Click here for more info on Google My Business
Do I need these for my small business?
- This really depends on what you want to achieve with your website.
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- If you are after very simple static pages that you will direct people to then Search Engine Optimisation is not really necessary.
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- I would always recommend performing at least some basic Google Analytics as we can speed up your pages and view performance.
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- Alternatively you may wish to drive more organic traffic and rank as highly as possible in search results. In which case it is worthwhile performing Google Analytics, Search Engine Optimisation and Google My Business.
