Google, as we all know, is the master search engine. With the majority of search hits daily, these guys dominate the search marketing world and most of what you hear about in terms of strategy and keyword targeting is based around making the Google algorithm happy.

These days, Google’s requirements for high page rank (the number or value it assigns to your website and individual webpages) is much more stringent than ever before. Still, PR is something a lot of us do not understand. With little transparency on Google’s part, the question of how to rank high is still largely a mystery although a number of factors are of obvious importance – quality links, quality content, and long-term presence.

On the Yahoo and MSN side, the rules seem to behave much differently. Some of the projects I have worked on recently have had surprising and seemingly inconsistent results in these Google counterparts. One website, for example, miraculously appeared right at the top of MSN for a target keyword without any explanation or clear reason. Very strange.

MSN has a network of tools available on its website, which I highly recommend. These are a nice complement to the Google tools we all recognize and use so often already. Like Google, there is very likely a strong connection between the tools MSN offers and its expectations for high ranking values.

This conversation of “how to get top search rankings for my website” is nothing new and will likely go on for a long time to come. If I have anything unique to add (or at least semi-unique) it’s to say that regular content seems to make a tremendous difference in my work. Google’s primary concern (and the other search engines will follow suit) is and always has been content. Sure, links and on-site optimization is important, but those elements seem to be increasingly arbitrary in the fight for SERPs.

I am a firm believer that the greatest investment of time for the best ROI in website development – whether for your business website or your affiliate marketing system – is always going to be in creating more on-site content.

I specialize in helping local business owners get more results from their business website to transform their online business into more offline business in a matter of months.

• Does your website need more of a marketing impact?
• Are you not converting visitors into buyers?
• Is your daily traffic too low for generating sales?
• Do you need help understanding the Internet’s impact on local business?

These are all areas where I can help. My approach is very straightforward and tailored to your needs. I am a big believer that web marketing – and any kind of marketing – is a creative process that requires a long-term relationship with short- and long-term results.

If you’re in Fresno, Clovis, Visalia or any surrounding communities, contact me today to find out how I can help.

First, targeted analytics was the answer. Then, Search Engine Optimization came rushing on the scene. And, today, Social Media is all the buzz. But what will be the next big thing?

Honestly, I haven’t a clue. (OK, well maybe I have a clue, but I certainly don’t have *the answer* you want.)

That’s what makes Search Marketing so exciting. Every new client project I work on brings new questions and thus new answers. And on the other side of the equation, the major search engines are constantly changing their rules to reflect their evolving standards and expectations from web developers.

Suggesting that a final solution exists for any form of marketing is, well, discouraging to say the least! The beauty of the Internet as a social and commercial space is its speed of transformation. Sure, there are major roadblocks and discouraging elements to marketing online - online traffic is much harder to convert these days; search companies are becoming much more stringent; social media is over-hyping and over-buzzing everything!

Still, the answer to these problems is NOT some hard-and-fast system. This is a creative business. (Wait! Isn’t business itself creative?) And creativity is going to be the leading factor for success in the years to come.

Above all else I am a web marketing consultant and advisor, so I am always giving my clients ideas for getting more results from their websites. Here are a few quick tips for getting your online customers to take action:

1. Include an “Opt-in” Form.
Easily the most important function of a website is to capture leads. The only way you’re going to get in touch with your web visitors after they leave your site is if they give you permission to contact them by email. Create a free monthly e-newsletter or offer a free report to encourage sign-ups.

2. Make Your Site Easy to Navigate.
Let’s face it – if your customer gets lost, he or she is going to bail! The “landing page” your online customer sees first is the most important place to capture their attention and send them in the right direction. Look to the most popular sites in your industry for examples.

3. Promote Your Online Business Offline
Always be sure to include your URL on all marketing collateral – business cards, brochures, even license plate frames! I also suggest using capital letters to distinguish between words (e.g. www.JasonClegg.com instead of www.jasonclegg.com).

4. Make It Easy to Order
If you really want your customer to call, put your phone number at the top of every page. If you really want your customer to order online, bury your phone number. Also, go with the best e-commerce package you can get for a sleek user experience.

5. Include a FAQ
Customers always have questions, and questions are almost always about resistance. The more resistance you can reduce online, the more sales you’re going to make right on the website without further offline processing. Be sure to keep your Frequently Asked Questions link visible and updated. What are your most common questions? How can you answer them with simple, positive language?

If your company is not already online with an existing website, you’re going to see a decline in sales and profit in the years to come.

Consider one very important example:

In the past, when consumers needed to locate a local service provider or business (attorneys, doctors, dentists, auto dealers, etc.) where would they go?

That’s right – the phonebook.

Today, that is no longer the case. Most consumers are turning away from their phonebooks as the web becomes more and more central to our lives.

One of the best parts of my business today is helping clients get “in front” of local customers searching for their products and services online. But, I must admit, far and away the MOST exciting part of what I do is delivering Search Engine Marketing and Search Engine Optimization products at a very reasonable price.

Did you know that a full page ad in the yellow pages could run you thousands of dollars per month or more? Sure, you may get some results today and in the future. But as we move further into the online-information age, you’re likely not going to see the kind of Return on Investment you should expect.

Although this was a smart move for virtually every business, it often did not bring the desired results.

So what’s the problem? Why do most business websites fail?

Simple.

Most sites are created by “artists” who create a visual presence that inspires their business owner clients and promises an impressive image online.

Image is helpful, but unfortunately it’s not everything.

Now that the Internet and the World Wide Web are playing even greater roles in the lives of the everyday customer, having a business site is incredibly important.

Yes, your business site should look great. Image does help. Customers are more likely to enter a real-world store if the building looks nice and the entrance is inviting.

But what if that nice looking restaurant was very difficult to navigate once the customer is inside? What if no one is ready and waiting to lead the customer to a table? What if menus are unavailable or poorly organized?

As you might imagine, the same rules apply to business web sites. An effective business site must look nice AND funnel your customers with effective and proven marketing built into the design. And - perhaps more importantly - an effective business site must include lots of behind-the-scenes elements that encourage major search engines like Google, Yahoo, and MSN to funnel customers your way.

This is where most business owners need help today. That’s why I’m here to help.