Create Your Website or Blog Site.pdf - Google Drive

© 2017 Princeton Technology Advisors, LLC

About Me – David Schuchman Information Technology Consultant • Princeton Technology Advisors, LLC

What we do: • • • •

Websites: New, Updates & Redesigns Technology Managed Services (Virus Protection, Tech Support, etc.) Project Management & Technology Implementation SEO, Search Engine Marketing & Email Marketing

Active Blogger: • www.TechTopics4U.com © 2017 Princeton Technology Advisors, LLC

What is Website? A Website - a central location of various web pages that are all related and can be accessed by using an internet browser A Web Page - a document that is accessible through the Internet using an internet browser by entering a URL (web address) An Internet Browser is a software program used to access, present and explore content on the internet (World Wide Web).

© 2017 Princeton Technology Advisors, LLC

What is a Blog Site? Website (or page on a website) that allows you to write articles called “posts” Posts appear in reverse chronological order with the most recent entry appearing first An archive is an index of past posts. © 2017 Princeton Technology Advisors, LLC

Site Structure & Content Sites are hosted on a server:

• The server is where all site programming & content is stored: • Your own server • A Hosting company: There are lots

© 2017 Princeton Technology Advisors, LLC

Site Structure & Content Sites are hosted on a server:

• The server is where all site programming & content is stored: • Your own server • A Hosting company: There are lots

Site Content: • • • •

Text – The written words on the site Images/Graphics – Photographs, Charts & illustrations Video/Animation – Motion images Links – Connections to go to other sites.

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Types of Sites Websites are divided into two broad categories Static sites - do not allow engagement by the audience • Informational (WIKI’s, FAQs, etc.) • Business - services/products, portfolios, pod casts, etc. • Download - documents, photos, etc.

Interactive sites - allow for interactivity between the site owner and site visitors: • Business Applications • E-commerce • Portal. © 2017 Princeton Technology Advisors, LLC

Why Websites are so Important Your Customers Expect You to be There! People are searching for products & information online Professional sites give you & your “brand” credibility Able to influence people’s decisions and educate them Update customers on your offers, products, events, etc. Not yet known? This is where people find out about you

If you’re not found online, you’re irrelevant! © 2017 Princeton Technology Advisors, LLC

Why Post on a Blog Gives you a voice Posts provide information to readers: • • • •

A few short paragraphs Can be your opinion, not something new Snippets of your book, articles, research… Post on your own site, or on other sites

Demonstrate your interests, expertise & passion Credibility – If you write regularly, you must be an expert. © 2017 Princeton Technology Advisors, LLC

Website Best Practices

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About Website Content Be descriptive, but not too wordy Include Keywords in text:

• Words/phases people use to search • Words others may use, not just what you think

Add images & video for interest Add links to other sites – relevancy Your web content must tell a consistent story. © 2017 Princeton Technology Advisors, LLC

About Website Content Local SEO 20% of all Google searches are local: “business counseling mercer county” vs. “business counseling” Optimize content for local search: • Add location and local contact info of every page • Use local search terms as keywords • Add local terms in page URLs • Add a map and directions. © 2017 Princeton Technology Advisors, LLC

Calls to Action A Call to Action is an image or text that prompts website & social media site visitors to take a desired action

Add effective Calls to Action to increase site/message effectiveness.

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Mobile - Responsive Site Design Deliver/view web pages in variable sizes Content layout adapts to device and screen size: • Desktop computer to tablet to mobile phone Most flexible way to design a website for desktop and mobile viewing 20% of Millennials (ages 18 – 35) do not even have a desktop or laptop. © 2017 Princeton Technology Advisors, LLC

Promote Your Website Content It’s Not Enough Just to Publish Your Website… You need to let customers know about it It’s all about your customers… Provide information that is helpful to them Promote your content via social media sites & email for free.

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E-Commerce

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What is E-Commerce Purchase and sale of products or services via electronic channels such as the Internet It’s also known as “Online Shopping” Electronically buy goods and services with no barriers of time or distance.

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E-Commerce Tools ebay – Online auction and shopping website Amazon - Create your own branded online store

Your own website… E-Commerce platforms:

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E-Commerce Best Practices Make a good first impression:

• Good copy & images: Pages as well as products • Displays well on mobile devices • Show customer reviews

Easy to make a purchase:

• Show all prices up front • Provide appealing shipping • Quick check-out options

Be prepared to fulfill orders. © 2017 Princeton Technology Advisors, LLC

Popular Blog Site Platforms WordPress: • •

WordPress.com – Free, includes site hosting WordPress.org – More robust; Needs site hosting

Google Blogger: • •

Free, includes site hosting Great for beginners; Limited built-in features

Tumblr: • •

Free, includes site hosting Great for beginners; Limited built-in features.

© 2017 Princeton Technology Advisors, LLC

Popular Website Platforms WordPress (as before) Squarespace: • • •

Includes hosting; Great for beginners to build a site It has professionally designed templates Personal plan $16/month; Business plan $26/month

Wix: • • •

Build site with drag and drop tools; no coding skills required Setup is quick and easy. Basic Wix site builder is free; Premium starts at $8.50/month.

© 2017 Princeton Technology Advisors, LLC

Hosting Platforms Hosting Platforms: • Can be free • Start at about $3/month

Some Popular Platforms: • • • • • •

Google 1&1 Host Gator GoDaddy Amazon Web Services Bluehost.

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Site Domains Also known as: • URL (Uniform Resource Locator) • Website address

Acquire (register) from hosting providers: • GoDaddy, Google, 1 & 1, Host Gator… • Acquired for a term (1 – 10 years)

Cost: About $10 - 15/year; Can register multiple years Squatters: Buy, hold and resell domains at a (big) profit. © 2017 Princeton Technology Advisors, LLC

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

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What is Search Engine Optimization? Process of gaining visibility in organic (free/natural/slow) search engine results in order to drive traffic to your website There are two primary components to SEO: On-Page SEO and Off-Page SEO

© 2017 Princeton Technology Advisors, LLC

How Search Engines Work You enter a search word or term in the search engine What Google, Bing and other search engines don’t do: • Instantly search every web server and website to return results

What Google and search engines really do: • Night & day search the internet for “everything” • Return that information to store in their database

Your Search Results: • A list of information found in their database. © 2017 Princeton Technology Advisors, LLC

On Page SEO • Page Content: Optimized with keywords & location • Page Title (Title Tag): “Technology Services” • Page URL (with keywords): http://princetontechadvisors.com/technology-services/

• Meta Description (156 character max): • Don't appear on the page itself – hidden in the website program • Tell search engines what a web page is about

• Image (Alt) tags: “Seen” only by search engines. © 2017 Princeton Technology Advisors, LLC

Off Page SEO Off-Page SEO refers to activities by others, outside of your website, that give your website credibility It gives an indication on how the world (via Search Engines) perceives your website The most important for relevancy are: • Link Building (within your industry): • From your website to their’s • From their website to your website! • Social Media. © 2017 Princeton Technology Advisors, LLC

Ways to Improve SEO Start with On Page SEO: It’s your website - in your control Off Page SEO: • • • • •

This will take more time… Promote content in social media and blog sites Ask other website owners to place mutual links Place website link in your social media platforms Submit articles to industry and online magazines.

© 2017 Princeton Technology Advisors, LLC

Site Analytics

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About Analytics Monitor on-going performance, make changes as needed Measure results to see the effectiveness of your social media programs:

• Identify what works • Help you make better decisions • Focus more of your time & investment in the most productive areas

Am I achieving my social media goals? © 2017 Princeton Technology Advisors, LLC

Using Analytics Google Analytics (for your website) is Free: • See where visitors are coming from • Page views, links clicked, bounce rates…

Social Media site analytics:

• Social engagement (clicks, likes, follows, comments, etc.) • Impressions – how many people see your content & promotions

You decide what to do with the information Able to fine tune your online strategy & site content. © 2017 Princeton Technology Advisors, LLC

In Summary Websites & Blog sites are accessible through the Internet Different types of sites. What you build is based on your purpose: Business, personal; Static, Interactive Many development tools & hosting platforms. Chose those that meet you need & budget SEO & Site Analytics enable you to fine tune your online strategy & site content. © 2017 Princeton Technology Advisors, LLC

Questions?

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My Contact Information David Schuchman Phone: 609.454.6010 Website: http://princetontechadvisors.com/

Email: [email protected]

© 2017 Princeton Technology Advisors, LLC