Orange County Web Design

Today, RG Pacific is going to provide some basic web design tips to help you out. We have recently used these simple web design tips to improve one of our client’s sites, located in Orange County. Just through utilizing these easy steps, the web design on your site will improve drastically.

1) Your site needs to offer something valuable.
a. For example, our client in Orange County is offering fashion and styling services. The web design of the site is useful and interesting to visitors.

2) Allow users to navigate easily.
a. Believe it or not, being able to navigate easily determines how long a visitor stays to explore the site.
b. If you go on the site for the Orange County client, the easy navigation of their web design forces you to stay on the page longer without you even noticing.

3) Have a clean layout design.
a. The cleaner your site, the neater it looks. Try using Dreamweaver templates to help your web design. Sometimes big, flashy colors and pop-ups can be a distraction.

4) Program with pure CSS.
a. More and more web designers are using pure CSS websites. Learning minor details such as text links rollover, CSS style bulleting, and making links without underlining will improve your website.
b. The client in Orange County’s web design used to be more table-based but now he switched to pure CSS and it has definitely made a difference.

5) Minimize Clicking, page length, and load time.
a. Let there be as minimal clicks between your visitor and the information you are providing as possible. With technology nowadays, people do not like waiting for pages to load. Make sure the load time on your page is low. And even though you want to provide a lot of information on each page, try and limit each page to two screenfuls.
b. My client in Orange County has the fastest load time compared to his competitors. By removing unwanted tags and unused scripts and using Server Side Include (SSI) files allow your site to load faster.

6) Make sure your contact information or at least a link to it is on every page.
a. This is one of the most important tips of web design because you want your visitors to be able to have access to your contact information anytime, which then will turn in more revenue.

7) Ensure your web design is scalable and your browser is compatible.
a. With the latest technology, computer configurations vary and the web design of your site may not be compatible. 95% of the world’s browsers include Internet Explorer 5+, Mozilla, Safari, and Google Chrome so making sure your web design is compatible is crucial.

8) Last but not least, make sure your website works and keeps on working.
a. Although it may sound obvious, checking your site is probably the most important tip of web design. Making sure everything is in place is key.
b. My client in Orange County has included a “Last Modified” link on the bottom of one of his pages in order to ensure his web design is up to date and working.

Although these tips may be redundant, they will definitely improve your site’s web design. With an improved web design, more people will be attracted; therefore, bringing in more traffic and more importantly, revenue. You can ask my client in Orange County. With the help of RG Pacific, their business has moved forward.

How iPhone applications can help your business

Who doesn't have or know about an iPhone nowadays? It seems Apple has its own Internet niche and platform, especially with the popularity and dominance of the Apple iPhone and iPod Touch (not to mention the iPad that was released this month). The web experience on an iPhone is quite different than any other mobile device with web browsing capabilities. It seems that iPhone-based mobile websites have a different feel compared to other wireless websites- They look, feel, and are experienced differently.

Because of this superiority in how a mobile website can be experienced using an iPhone or iPod, Apple iPhone application development is extremely popular to corporations and businesses alike. the Apple iTunes store has become dominant as compared to other Internet giants, namely Google, Blackberry, and Microsoft. People are more likely to spend money on an iPhone app than to use a free wireless application offered by other service providers. This exudes Apple's dominance, and therefore businesses need to understand this and develop an iPhone application for their products or websites aside from any other mobile initiatives. It seems have a "Apple" plan of action is an area now that is completely independent from all other online initiatives. This is powerful stuff.

As a business owner myself, and an iPhone app developer too, reliance on Apple's web audience is both important and essential to success and long term planning. Everyone expects Apple App development to continue to grow, so a business that relies on e-commerce of Internet exposure as an arm to their growth needs to implement an iPhone app initiative to remain ahead and competitive in their market. But, what kind of iPhone app should you develop? This intriguing question can result in either spending a few thousand dollars, to upwards of $50K+ in development.

Realizing what you want your iPhone website to do is important. Its it what you want the app to do that matters. There are two main distinctions in development:

1) Do you want it to be an extension of your web content.

or

2) Do you want your iPhone app to accomplish a task or function with your customers? For example, sell, execute a task, or store data.

Such a distinction is important both financially and strategically. Some retailers do not have the capability to sell on mobile devices, so, rather then develop an iPhone app with that capability, it will not be feasible in the foreseeable future. Therefore, developing an iPhone app that triggers web traffic and promotes products is just as valuable and important. But, for those companies that do have the ability to afford mobile sales and iPhone database development and execution, being realistic in expectations and studying competitors is also crucial.

Remember, iPhone app development is exciting but it has its limitations. Many developers are frustrated that Apple only gives limited code access and manipulation, therefore limitations exist. Also, once you develop your app, getting it on the App store requires much work and PR initiatives, as well as rules and guidelines.

For more information on app development and marketing, my company would be glad to be of service. You can write me at info@rgpacific.com with your specific questions or call me directly to discuss your project ideas. Apple is now important to business strategy on the web, how will you apply it to yours?

Take care and until next time!

Top 10 Reasons to Create Micro Websites for your Business

Hello all,

Business exposure is so crucial nowadays, especially in todays economy. I see so many businesses cram soo much information on their websites with the intention of exposing all of their products and services to their customers. With their online marketing and advertising budgets lower than before, it has become crucial for businesses to sell as much as possible to each web visitor all the time.

They also have the intention of becoming optimized and listed for all their web services on Google and other search engines. But, since their website is so full of different information and services, it is hard for them to become specialized in a specific service or product... hence, they have a low page rank and do not appear on the 1st page of their product keyword searches! This is huge dilemma and alot of businesses do not know what to do. They cannot afford to remove information, they have no time to redesign their site... and their budget is small. What can they do?

Creating micro websites is the answer! A micro website is a mini website that is specific to a product or service. You have 10 products? The key here is creating 10 mini websites (3-4 pages) that are keyword dense and specific to theis product/service, with a powerful keyword based URL. The goal? Get optimized and listed faster for this product/service keyword, thus having another "branch" in your online marketing tree of offerings.

Here are the top 10 reasons this will work:

1. You can keep it specific to a keyword phrase only! You do not have to worry about Google or another search engine not knowing about what your site is about. The content and keywords will be very specific and direct.
2. You can buy a keyword based URL for your product or service. As you all may know, your URL is the most powerful SEO tool in search engine optimization. Adding your keyword to your domain name can work wonders.
3. You can show your company specialization for this particular product or service. As you know, many web visitors do not take the time to really familiarize themselves with your different offerings. A micro website gives you the chance to show off your expertise and uniqueness of your company as it relates to the product or service.
4. A micro website will get you ranked faster. Creating a micro website that is specific to a keyword phrase gives you up to a 40% faster optimization rate, thus getting you ranked higher much faster than your main website would.
5. Saves you money in online advertising. As you know, SEO takes alot of time. A micro website can save you tons of money in the long run since it can get listed faster than your main website.
6. Gives your company more exposure. Imagine having your micro websites appear for all of your products or services, along with your main website? This is called web dominance. Why not give it a try?
7. Are affordable. Micro websites cost considerably less than adding the amount of pages to your website, both in design and advertising costs. Why not save money and get more exposure on the internet with another website?
8. Great regional strategy. Does your business have multiple locations? Are your services offered in different areas? Micro websites can also help you target geo specific customers with the same keyword strategy!
9. Create backlinks to your website to boost it's page rank. Micro websites can also boost your main website traffic and ranking too. Linking your micro websites to your main website will give your main site considerable web traffic, thus boosting its page rank and backlinks considerably.
10. It works. Thousands of internet savvy businesses have been implementing micro websites to their online busness model. Try typing in a city based keyword, check Google local listings, and see how many websites are the same company. This gives companies who implement it more exposure, better SEO results, and a competitive advantage... all the while saving them tons of money. Try it!

If you would like my company, www.RGPacific.com, to work with you to implement this strategy, please give me a call at 323-314-2127. We are located in Los Angeles and offer the best and most affordable web design, development, and internet marketing services.

Please do not hesitate to post some questions!

How Twitter Can Help Your Online Marketing Efforts

Hello All,

I am sure if any of you watch any TV now-a-days, there is definitely a new online phenomenon going on that everyone is crazy about.. Twitter.com. Twitter is a simple online tool that allows anyone to publish a post in 140 characters or less. It gives you the ability to create your very own online network by either "following" other members, or allowing them to "follow" you. There are some people who have a following of thousands of people, most notably celebrities such as Ashton Kutcher, who won a competition against CNN in attaining one million followers!

Twitter is fascinating to a lot of people, especially working professionals and baby boomers who do not use popular social media networks like MySpace or Facebook that have a much younger, college orrientated audience. Its simple to use and effective. Twitter is also is mirrored with a mobile application which allows you to view, post, and reply to your followers from your smart phones. Cell phone updates account for over 70% of Twitter activity, therefore making it a very powerful and unique application that attracts people "on the go", especially working professionals.

Now, as a business owner, figuring out how such a new and popular online application can help marketing efforts can, at first glance, seem very tricky. How can you convey a strong marketing message with only 140 characters or less? And, more importantly, what tactic is useful in doing so?

Depending on your marketing campaign online, Twitter can either become a burden or a gold mine. It all varies on what your goal is. If you are trying to gain a marketing base, Twitter can be your answer. Rather than spend hundreds of dollars buying opt-in email lists, with the risk of becoming a spammer, Twitter can give you a vast audience who are guaranteed to see any marketing message you convey.

Twitter now allows the ability to post pictures, hyper links, and even media links that are very useful and can spread a viral message almost instantly. For example, with the recent movie release of 'Bruno', studio execs credited Twitter on its almost 40% audience decline the day after the movie was released! Many people "tweeted" bad reviews about the movie, consequently costing the producers of the movie millions of dollars. As you can see, Twitter can become both a blessing and a nightmare, varying very much on what you market and what your product performance is.

For companies that offer services, Twitter can become a useful informational tool that can let people know of new promotions, areas of business, or of recent company news. Usually, people on Twitter follow others whom their friends are following, so such a trend can become useful if you have current or new customers following.

One of the biggest problems with businesses and Twitter is that they do not have the time nor know how to add new followers. Obviously assuming that you have to go out and find people to follow you, most whom you never met, can seem like a very tiresome burden. But, as I said before, Twitter has the ability of becoming the ultimate viral message. If you add one person, chances are their friends will follow. So, becoming active, answering direct questions regarding your posts, and checking back regularly with new postings will almost surely help grow your audience at a steady pace.

Twitter may not work for you, and you may not have the time to Tweet all the time. But, if you currently employ a social media marketing campaign, using Twitter as a TOOL to promote all your Social Media efforts can work wonders, improve your audience, and give you a great Viral tool that can save you tons of money!

Bing.com - will it finally give Google a run for its money??

Hey Guys,

As web marketers, the buzz the last few weeks has been about Bing.com, Microsoft's new search engine that is supposed to be the "Google killer".. faster, interactive, and will not only allow you to search, but help you make "decisions". The magic behind Bing.com is that MSN knows that when a user enters a search quiery, they usually do not find what they want. Bing.com brings all related search options to you at once, which is supposed to save you time and help you find what you are exactly looking for (for example, you search for Cherrios info.. and it gives you both company info, where to buy, company stock info, and so on).

A cool example is when you are trying to find, for example, Laker tickets. Not only does Bing.com bring you natural search results, but also gives you actions that can be taken from the search. You want tickets? It gives you the link. You need merchandise? it gives you a link. You need News or Videos? Links are there. Basically, it organizes the world surrounding your keyword search for you. Bing.com saves you time and makes it a more complete search, rather than Google's direct and simple search. Quite impressive and, in today's age of impatience with users, a great advantage over competitors.

Now, will it totally turn me away from Google? Not so fast! MSN has built a solid engine that is taking in the more regular use of Social Media. I was quite impressed with it and feel they have a good product on their hands. But, what MSN lacks is brand reliability, and people will remain loyal to Google for quite sometime. Google controls so much of the internet, and internet tools like Youtube, Flickr, etc., so it will take a long time for MSN to build that kind of brand loyalty. But, I am quite sure Google is plowing forward and will try its best to not only mirror the new Bing.com interface, but try to improve it.

At long last, Google has some real competition, which should make the world of search engines much better, faster, and more reliable for all of us!

How to submit your viral marketing message to your social networks

Intro:

Your social networks are linked to an audience that is open to hearing your message. Your social accounts belong to groups, forums, and message boards that are ready and able to send your message instantly to all recipients, anytime.

Viral Marketing through Social Media is a lot more effective than email marketing. Emails are not guaranteed to be opened, or read. More importantly, the email is not guaranteed to be sent to inbox’s more than 50% of the time. With Social Media, you are assured that your message will reach your audience, so it is your goal to make and structure your message to be as effective as possible.

Tips:
1. Keep your message less than 200 characters (about 4 sentences)

2. Do not use the words “free”, “sale”, “limited time”, or “buy”

3. The best way to get your audience to respond is to offer a tip, advice, blog article, or information. A direct pitch or call to buy will more than likely get someone to turn away, as many companies do this and thus, the viewer will categorize you with the spammers who sell every day.

How to create and send a viral campaign:

Create a marketing message to your audience
a. The most critical component of your viral campaign is your outgoing message. What do you want to say? Who is your customer? What information are you using to bring them back to your “landing page” (page you are going to link them back to on your website).

Log into your relevant account groups
a. All of your accounts in your social media network have an audience based on groups. For example, LinkedIn will have various groups you are a member of that are from different background and interests. Targeting groups individually, or in smaller groups, will get you a better response than simply sending out the same message to all.

Ask for feedback on your message if possible
a. Are you sending out a link to your latest blog? Offer feedback from the client. A good example is: “How to lose 10 pounds in 10 days. New blog article I wrote, please read it and let me know what you all think!”

As you can see, the message is centered on the new blog article. Thus, the article is your selling point. As viewers link back to your article link and read it, your blog article thus becomes your selling point and will attract potential customers. Thus, again, your message and landing page are key.

Setup your landing page and make it work for your viewers so it can sell for you.
a. As you can see in previous steps, the main function of your message is to bring viewers over to your website. Your landing page, the page they will first see and link to, is thus your selling tool once the marketing message does it job. Be sure it is a page that coincides with your marketing message. For example, do not talk about a new article and then link the viewer to your shopping cart.

It must correlate and include the reason the viewer came to your website in the first place. The article, review, or page that you use is thus the cornerstone of your viral campaign. You have already achieved the call to action, coming to your page, now you must close the viewer into an action. Usually a good tool to include in the landing page is a registration form, comment box, sign-up sheet, or contact number.

Pick an appropriate time to launch your campaign.
a. Picking and choosing when to launch your viral campaigns is very important, yet hard to first predict. The best times to do so are usually in the mornings and evenings, when online user activity is at its peak (8a-10a, 5p-8p).

Do not send out too many messages to your audience
a. If your campaign is either successful or unsuccessful, you will be eager to send out a new campaign. Be very cautious in doing so. You do not want to tune out viewers, or get flagged by the social network community as a spammer. One message a week is ideal.

Use your Blog

a. Your Blog is your best tool in order to both build an audience and gain more traffic to your website. Blog Articles are very powerful in that it can captivate a viewer into buying or subscribing to your product or service.
Benefits of your Social Networks

Targeted Customers:

We are reaching out to people that we know already have interest in our product. Instead of casting a wide net we are being specific, giving us a better return on our time.

High Friend Conversion Rate:

You will get at least 30% of people you reach to our profile/bog and can lead to adding you as “friends”. The benefit of this is long haul marketing, as you can put out bulletins, send messages, and directly market to them with announcements or new products.

Creates brand awareness:

For the people who aren’t familiar with the company they can be introduced to you through these social networking sites.

Continued Promotional Value:

The good thing about marketing on social networks is that it isn’t a one time push. It is a sustainable way to continually market to these customers.

The Truth about the "Keyword" Meta Tag

Hello everyone,

As an Online Marketing Consultant, I constantly get asked questions about SEO and the importance of meta tags. More specifically, the Keyword tag, seemingly the most important meta tag to many people, whom feel it is the key to SEO success. "Why isn't my website achieving a high ranking?" they ask me. "Well", I tell them, "Where you do you want to rank?" And the answer is almost always... Google!

To all you keyword tag fanatics... some sad news... Google does not use the keyword tag, and actually no meta tag for that matter, anymore. Other search engines though, like Yahoo and MSN, still take it into account. But, due to "keyword spamming" in the early days of Search Index Alogorithms, it has less relevance now than it ever has. The "description" tag and "title" tag actually have more merit than any other tag.

Ultimately, content is king with Google. A keyword is more relevant if it is dominant on your web page content and info. Keyword Density on each page is ultimately what is going to get you good ranking attention on your website. That being said, I do not reccommend getting rid of the keyword tags at all. Remember that when your website gets indexed by the search engine bots, they scroll down all the code and words on each webpage. Since they begin at the top of the page, all the way down to the bottom, Your title tag and other tags serve as an intro paragraph to the theme of your web page. Being uniform, concise, and offering relevant keyword density and content is the best method to get your site indexed well for the set of keywords you like.

But remember, keep your keywords very limited per page. I usually tell clients to keep it down to 2-3 keywords or phases per page. You want to be clear on the theme each page has, and trying to add and do too much can hinder the importance and relevance of content. Keep it simple but informative, and you should be good.

Now, go out and do it!!