In another article I talk about when to use a URL shortener, and how to choose a URL shortener. The one I recommend is Bit.ly. Now, you can use Bit.ly for free by simply entering your long URL and it will spit out a shortened version to use in your email or other promotions. But I recommend signing […]
How To Add A Google Analytics Custom Dashboard
Google Analytics offers a huge range of reports on your site’s visitors. But that choice of reports be overwhelming. And individual reports can sometimes contain so much information that new users’ eyes glaze over. Custom Dashboards are one way to navigate this vast array of statistics. In this article, I show you how to get started with […]
Does Your Site Need A Privacy Policy?
Every website could use a basic privacy policy. That’s because every website uses cookies in some way. For example, you should be taking advantage of Google Analytics, and it uses cookies. And if your site uses cookies, it’s helpful to disclose that as part of a privacy policy because cookies convey information about a visitor. […]
Is It Worth Paying For Online Directory Listings?
Here’s the type of pitch you may have received from an online business directory: we’ll improve your search engine visibility by listing you for ONLY $395 a year. Is it worth the money? Probably not, but there’s an easy way to check. Search for a few different keywords relating to your business, and include your location if […]
Duplicate Testimonials – Don’t Do This
The exact same testimonial under different names – ouch. If the testimonial and author were both repeated in the example below, that would look sloppy, but, when the names are different, visitors start to think the worst: are the others real? Is that really a picture of a customer and her daughter? The best defense […]
Using Testimonials And Reviews To Understand Your Audience
One of the hot terms in marketing these days is “persona.” The idea is to better understand your customers by creating profiles or personas. Research for these personas can get complicated, but here’s one that’s fairly easy to do: reading testimonials or reviews. Three key elements to researching your audience are: Finding out what problems they’re trying […]
Google’s New Pander Update Targets Sycophants
If your website engages in servile flattery, or any sort of fawning for gain, Google’s got your number. It’s newest search update, dubbed “Pander,” was rolled out today and already some major players are feeling the effects. While it wouldn’t reveal exact numbers, career advice site bootlicker.com reported most of its pages had significantly dropped in […]
Comparing Time Frames In Google Analytics
Google Analytics makes it easy to compare statistics, and that’s important for understanding trends, spotting changes, and, hopefully, patting yourself on the back for increased visitors. You’re probably already familiar with the date picker at the top right of the Google Analytics reporting screen – by clicking on it you get a calendar for choosing your date […]
Have Google Analytics Reports Emailed To You
So, you have Google Analytics on your site. Good, but do you regularly log in and check your visitor statistics? Me neither. Instead of forgetting to go to your stats, why not have them come to you? On any Google Analytics report there’s an Email link which will automatically email you that report on a schedule of your choosing – […]
Does Your Site Need a Sitemap?
Most small business websites do not need a sitemap. As the name suggests, a sitemap (or site map) lists all the pages on your website, but there are two different kinds: XML Sitemaps These are specially-structured files used by search engines and other robots to better understand the content of and the relationship between pages on […]
Designing Your Website’s Favicon For Browsers
In another article I talked about the importance of a browser favicon for your business’s identity and branding. Here I look at some design considerations when creating a favicon for your website. The key is to take into account the small size – a mere 16 x 16 pixels – and the square proportions. That means, […]