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SEO

Responsive Web Design – Creating Adaptability More Simply

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As new technological devices are developed, the way in which individuals access the web expands. Responsive web design allows your website layout to change with the screen size and capabilities of the device being used to view your site.

Most website are not optimized to work well with mobile devices. These devices require a different approach to layout. First, display size constrains usability. There are varying different screen sizes between phones, tablets, desktops, game consoles, televisions, and now wearable technologies. Sizing is always changing with each new generation or invention.

It’s important to develop a website that looks good and is functional on all browsers, operating systems, and devices.

 

Consider these three examples of responsive web design

(1) Your site may view side-by-side dual columns of information on a desktop monitor. This content on a mobile phone is more accessible as a single column, due to the narrow screen size.

(2) Menu options may be displayed as a horizontal element on a tablet screen, but can be easily turned into a single drop-down row on a mobile device.

(3) Images or interactive items transition easily from a grid layout on a larger screen to a side swipe mechanism on smaller devices.

 

Design Aside

A website designed to respond to the user and their device function just makes sense in today’s evolving technological world. But aside from designing for a variety of web compatible devices, there are other good reasons to ensure your website is responsive!

Better SEO results.  A mobile-friendly website is essential – and even more important if SEO is a core component of your marketing strategy. Search engines like Google offer results people who search the web want to see. That is, they favor websites that are optimized for the platform end users choose. If your site has incorporated responsive design, it’s going to pay off.

Future scalability.  A responsive website gives you the best chances to support newer devices coming in the future. Websites that can adapt to any screen size available on the market or those soon to be developed will be most successful long-term. While you cannot anticipate all device types and screen sizes, a website must be adaptable to multiple device sizes and capabilities in order to compete through functionality today and tomorrow.

Mobile-friendly websites make customers out of users.  Imagine you are shopping for a Valentine gift for your special someone. You don’t need 5,000 results, detailed specifications, user reviews and other unnecessary information. You want an adorable picture of the item, a basic description, price and shipping information. A mobile website does more with less. For impulse buying, simple is simply awesome.

Improve customer service.  Responsive websites make great user experiences! Not only will a responsive web design provide consistent experiences across multiple platforms, individuals enjoy the varying visual effects and functionalities of your design. Swiping through images on a mobile device creates ease of use and a calming, charming feature.

Increase revenue.  Mobile use on the rise. In today’s society, nearly every person has the world wide web available to them at their fingertips within seconds. Shopping online via mobile device has steadily grown in recent years and is expected to continue to grow. It’s time to tap into the mobile market with smarter design work.

If your website isn’t effective on every platform, call the Mediastead team today.
We are very responsive! (Pun intended.)

How long does it take for SEO to work?

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How long does it take for SEO to pay off?

We are asked constantly by clients if we “do SEO”. Good search engine optimization isn’t a trick, technique, or switch we can flip. There are best practices on the backend that we use with every customer. From a developer standpoint, these best practices are designed to prevent penalties more so than achieve specific SEO goals.

Good search engine optimization is a long play.

There are four critical steps to good SEO.

Step #1: Identify important keywords and phrases – Identify the keywords and phrases that your potential customers will use to search for products and services in your industry.

Step #2: Create lots of original content – Articles, photographs, and videos are all search engine ranked, but only if they are highly focused on the keywords from Step #1. Secondly, you need lots of content. Search engines look at both quantity and quality. Creating great content is important, but, particularly in highly competitive markets, quantity is equally important. Lastly, frequency is also important. Search engines favor websites that have a solid history, recent content, and regular updates. Creating new content on a regular basis over a long period of time will ultimately win the battle that is SEO.

Step #3: Disseminate your content – Creating content is most valuable when lots of people are exposed to it. Search engines recognize this. You should have a targeted plan for sharing your content through social media, press releases, and bloggers. Stay on target when acquiring backlinks. Make sure your content is easy to share and easy to find.

Finally, the fourth step is the most important!

Step #4: Be Patient! – It’s not unusual to spend 3 to 12 months before you start to see a significant return on your investment of time. However, once it happens, it gives you a clear strategic advantage over your competitors for the long term. It takes a long time to build up good SEO, but it also separates you from the competition and provides extremely consistent streams of potential customers.

How Mediastead Improves Your Search Engine Optimization

Good SEO is a partnership between you and your website development team.

Creating new content typically falls on the client, because let’s face it, you are the expert. When you hire outside content creators they are forced to search existing sources for content, which already puts you at a disadvantage. Great content is truly original, not simply searched and regurgitated.

Best practices for display of your content fall to your development team. Mediastead takes the original content and evaluates it for your most important keywords. Creating good tags on videos and images, as well as editing written content can dramatically improve the ease in which search engines can “read” your content.

You or your development team can make sure your content is well cross-linked within your own website. Each page ranks individually, and by tying pages together, your strongest pages boost weaker ones and those pages add foundational support to the strong ones.

THE PAYOFF

None of this matters unless you are able to convert search engine visitors into paying customers. Generating traffic to your website is important, but filtering that traffic from your content into your marketing funnel is critical. Make sure your content has opportunities for people to buy products, sign up for newsletters, share on social media, or register for your services.

Great content marketing generates sales. Good content is little more than blogging without direct calls to action.

Our Call-to-Action

Following our own advice, here is our blatant call to action.

If your company would like to create a solid social media strategy for 2018, call us today at 215-253-3737 and ask to speak with an SEO specialist. We will give you a quick evaluation of your current website, some free advice, and if you would like we will also create a proposal for an annual SEO plan.

 

Stroudsmoor Country Inn

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Stroudsmoor Country Inn is a breathtaking resort with old-world charm, resting atop its very own 300 acre mountain, overlooking the magnificent Pocono Mountains.

Ranked #1 by Resorts and Lodging’s Top Ten Pocono Wedding Venues, Stroudsmoor wanted a redesigned website that would showcase all that they had to offer:

  • Being host to over 400 weddings per year, within five wedding venues,
  • maintaining accommodations in seven locations across their property,
  • running an elegant restaurant serving resort guests and local patrons,
  • as well as a bakery located off the main grounds, providing baked goods to the public,
  • and a high-end spa and wedding salon!

Stroudsmoor.com is user-friendly with intuitive navigation, the top priority of this project.

Stroudsmoor came to Mediastead with most of the content we needed to build a brand new website. Our first goal was to re-organize the content into logical sub-sections that would eventually become the website content framework. Knowing that the content would grow over time, the framework we created had to be agile enough to accommodate new content.

If Content is King, then Design is Queen

Stroudsmoor Country Inn’s beauty is unmatched in the Pocono Mountains. Naturally, their website must be designed with the same quality, and elegance that has made Stroudsmoor such a long-lasting multi-generational resort.

It’s all about the photos!

One critical element that would have had a significant impact on the quality of this website was high-end, high-resolution photography. Luckily, Stroudsmoor comes equipped with their very own professional photographer. With all the photos we would ever need at our disposal, our designers went to work.

A new color palette, a structured, but elegant design layout, user-friendly navigation, and a little love …

and you have Stroudsmoor.com. There is much more to see. Feel free to go check it out. We’d love to know what you think!

In addition to developing the new website, Mediastead also works with Stroudsmoor on an ongoing basis through our proprietary PACE Marketing process.

Learn more about PACE here, or call us for a free consultation at (215) 253-3737.

Is SEO Dead? Does SEO Matter to Your Business?

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Is Seo dead?

It’s a hot topic among web developers.

Some believe that search engine optimization is obsolete because of social media – while others believe SEO should be adapted to compensate for social media.

The truth is your web developer’s philosophy isn’t as important as the needs of your customers and your marketing strategy.

Let’s take a snapshot of three types of web transactions, and compare the SEO needs.

Example #1 – You’re shopping for a high-end laptop. You want to find the best value for your dollar.

You could ask your brother-in-law who is constantly tinkering with his computer, but you’re not sure he knows as much about PCs as he thinks he does…

You Google and find a few computer rating blogs. You read a couple and pick your favorite laptop. Then back to Google. You put the model number into the search and find several stores selling the model, plus you discover the manufacturer website which has much more detail. You order a great laptop at a great price and 72 hours later you’re making your brother-in-law jealous.

In this scenario, good search engine optimization is essential. – First, the consumer bloggers depend on traffic to encourage advertisers to support them.

The retailers depend on SEO to make sure they are on the short list every time someone is ready to buy.

Finally, the manufacturer wants to make sure you have all the information you need, and that support resources are easily accessible for each individual product.

Example #2 – You need a plumber. You need a quality plumber who will treat you fairly, because you have no idea why your water smells so bad.

You hop on Facebook and ask your friends and family for recommendations. Within a couple hours you have a few options. You check out their Facebook page, Yelp profile and Angie’s List.

Your plumber doesn’t need to have perfect search engine optimization, they do, however need to be well integrated with social media and actively connected to ratings and reviews websites. Word-of-mouth works best when your web presence is well integrated to turn referrals into sales.

Example #3 – A veterinary hospital. You’re driving to work one morning, and a dog runs out in front of you. Next thing you know you’re holding an injured dog on the side of a road with no owner in sight. The dog needs emergency treatment. – Your only pet is a goldfish your daughter won at a carnival. – You don’t know where to go, and you don’t have time to rely on social media.

You open your GPS app and find the nearest pet hospital. Minutes later you’re driving with the dog in the passenger seat and talking to the vet on the phone.

Luckily your local vet – who usually relies on word-of-mouth referrals – also has a website that is well optimized for local search and mobile friendly. The dog is happy. The vet is happy. She called the owner after scanning the microchip in its ear. The owner is happy.

Plus, you get to tell your daughter how you saved the puppy’s life today. Don’t worry, we won’t mention that you hit the puppy first.

Good news is everybody’s happy. The bad news is thanks to excellent search engine optimization and good social media optimization your daughter has found a new puppy and is texting you links.

Search engines aren’t dead. Depending on your business, their importance can vary, and integration with social media and mobile search may also play an important role.

The takeaway – Find yourself a web development team that truly listens and understands your business. They can work creatively to maximize your website’s potential. If you don’t have a team like that, pop Mediastead into your favorite search engine. – Trust me, we’re easy to find!

What is Web-Centric Marketing?

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Six Strategies for Web-Centric Marketing™

In 2003 Jason Tweed coined the phrase Web-Centric Marketing™ to describe a marketing strategy which relies on websites to close sales, and other marketing techniques to focus attention on the corporate website.

Web Centric Marketing has become even more crucial in the era of social media. It’s nimble strategy gives small to medium-sized companies great return on investment, particularly when marketing dollars are thin.

A decade later the strategy has been refined to incorporate a broader range of marketing techniques.

At Mediastead we recommend clients choose three strategies, and become very astute, with the central goal of connecting each with a high converting website.

Three online strategies:

Content Marketing – Content marketing is the concept of creating original content and proprietary data, and using it to leverage search engines, social media, and to mold perceptions. Content marketing requires a heavy investment in time, but relatively small capital investment. The biggest disadvantage to content marketing is that ramping up awareness is slow, however, once established the content builds upon itself for long-lasting value.

Social Media – Social media is the least expensive, however it often requires a high degree of creativity. It also requires diligence. Unlike content marketing, social media requires constant attention for success. Thoughtful planning and creativity, and an insatiable appetite for data are a must.

Online Advertising – Search Engine Optimization (SEO), search engine advertising and content advertising have one critical component… Analytics. Whether your budget is a shoestring or multi-million dollar, analysis and evaluation are critical. Find the right mix, and grow your business exponentially. Find the wrong mix and flush your money away just as rapidly.

Three off-line strategies:

Advertising – Old-school advertising still works! Web centric marketing doesn’t mean eliminating traditional advertising. It means tying traditional television, radio, direct mail, signage and trade show exposition to your website for improved tracking and increased value for your dollar.

Public Relations – Good PR travels at the speed of light today. Traditional public relations strategies still work well, but their speed and impact have been greatly improved via the web. Creating a sense of goodwill around your company has never been easier. Unfortunately, bad PR travels just as quickly. Make sure you have a twofold strategy for promotion and crisis management.

Direct Sales – Selling hasn’t changed. Deals are still made face-to-face. Gone are the days of door to door marketers, but networking, inside sales and outside sales are thriving. Developing online strategies that support your off-line sales makes your sales team more efficient and more productive; keys to success.

Not every strategy works with every business. Businesses that sell products have different strategies than businesses that sell service. Direct to consumer companies have needs very different than wholesaling or business-to-business strategies.

Growing a business in an increasingly competitive marketplace is a magical blend of strategy, planning, creativity, productivity and analytics.

Mediastead helps your company find that blend, and put it to action!

Call Mediastead at 215-253-3737 and ask for a free strategy session.

Allegiance Home Health Care and Rehabilitation

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Allegiance Home Health Care and Rehabilitation is one of the leaders in the highly competitive home healthcare market serving West Palm Beach Florida.

Mediastead provided six months of content marketing articles that were used as website content and within other company print and email publications. The goal, not only to keep clients interested in educated, was to improve search engine optimization using our Content Is King strategy.

“Good SEO begins and ends with high-quality content. Hacks and tricks work, but never for very long. The only way to assure consistently high organic search rank is to create high-quality original content on a regular basis. Content Is King.” ~ Jason Tweed, Senior Partner at Mediastead

Many web development companies claim to know all the tricks to influence search engines. We recognize is that consistent development of high quality original content, exactly what search engines are designed to find, is the best approach for the long game. Manipulating search engines is a short-term fix to a long-term issue. While some tricks work, a few of them work for more than a few months, and website owners find themselves penalized for attempting to manipulate the algorithm.

Allegiance understood our SEO philosophy, and chose to adopt it. Creating new content over time is a strategy that has worked for many Mediastead clients. It’s the only strategy we endorse.

 

 

Nursefinders of Western Pennsylvania

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Nursefinders of Western Pennsylvania is one of the premier home healthcare companies in Pittsburgh. They serve five counties in southwestern Pennsylvania with nursing services, therapy, and home health aide services.

Nursefinders is a franchise of a company that provides temporary medical staffing services nationwide. Unfortunately, because this franchise specializes in other types of care, the corporate website didn’t meet their needs.

Mediastead marketing strategist, Jason Tweed, worked with nursefinders to develop their new website with a distinctly local feel. Research shows us that certain types of businesses return better search results when using the name of your local communities.

Their new website www.NursefindersPittsburgh.com aims to draw local customers.

The website was just a first step. Mediastead has developed other marketing collateral and works with their three-person sales team to create outside sales strategies and customer relationship management techniques.

Sales Team Goes Paperless

Mediastead purchased iPads for each sales associate, and customized them inside and out. Custom background wallpaper and one click access to their website was just the beginning. IPads allowed salespeople to email documents directly from the iPad to their contacts, virtually turning every page of their website into a deliverable marketing piece. It gave them opportunities to collect contact information quickly, putting contacts directly into their CRM database.

Custom PowerPoint slideshows were then created for salespeople to do a quick five minute presentation. As the team used the slides, they could make small edits based on their interactions with potential referral sources. This means that every presentation improved their sales skills and marketing collateral without printing costs.

For less than $2500, three salespeople are fully equipped with marketing collateral that’s virtually endless.

The iPads create a professional look onscreen, and with custom printed covers, the salespeople look high-tech and professional. It gives the impression that nursefinders is a forward thinking technologically advanced company.

Healthcare is one of the most rapidly advancing fields, and having a technologically advanced sales team demonstrates that Nursefinders is ready for the future.

UPDATE

This client recently changed their name to Emerald Home Health. You can see more information at their portfolio page on Mediastead.

Grind. Brew. Love.

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Brothers, Anthony and Michael Rapino, have teamed up again with Grind. Brew. Love.

Anthony, a coffee lover, and Michael, always well caffeinated, created a lifestyle blog for coffee aficionados.

in this case, Java is more than a hobby. Their goal was to turn their love of coffee into a revenue positive website .

Their business model includes:

  1. Drive readers with original quality content and SEO, supported by advertising.
  2. Membership program with free and premium subscriptions.
  3. Coffee and coffee accessories online store.

It’s still early but with Anthony creating content and Michael’s design skills, this gorgeous website is beginning to draw attention.

 

 

 

 

Does your web company speak your language?

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Marketing your pet care business shouldn’t require learning a second language. At Mediastead, we speak Web, the language of internet jargon. However, we also know the language of veterinary practices and animal hospitals. We create websites and marketing campaigns focused on the needs of vets and your customers. We do things differently at Mediastead.

The language of website development is like Alphabet Soup; HTML, PHP, CSS, iOS,  and on, and on.

The language of marketing isn’t much better. We look to get good ROI from your PPC to maximize your SEO and keep your CAC low.

Whether or not you speak “marketing geek”, the truth is that your business grows based on the marketing you do, the media you use, the messages you send, and the audience you target. Today the internet has changed the way we view all of these variables.

Smart marketers can turn data into dollars. Technology can convert customers into cash flow. Having the right marketing team behind you means you can concentrate on the things that really count; your customers, their pets and your staff.

Mediastead specializes in web technology and marketing strategy for veterinary practices and animal hospitals.

Mediastead can:

  • Build a fully customized and visually striking website
  • Integrate eCommerce for an online store or simply to allow customers to pay for your services
  • eScheduling so customers can reserve appointments for routine care, grooming or boarding
  • Create online media campaigns making marketing streamline and easy
  • Create your offline marketing pieces for greater brand recognition
  • Search Engine Optimization to constantly improve local awareness
  • Email newsletters keep customers informed and your business at top-of-mind
  • Mobile ready websites for easy access from anywhere

Call us at 215-253-3737 for a free telephone consultation.  Mediastead wants to be your partner for all your marketing and technology needs.