| What's "Tombstone" syndrome? | | | | That's because it's a dead end "tombstone" picture |
| Here's the clue. After you've had your website built, | | | | that is not read by the search engine algorithms. |
| you run your mouse over all the content, headlines | | | | And that's not all. People know Ken and Lil and know |
| and tabs. If the mouse doesn't produce the signature | | | | they have a Bed & Breakfast. So typing in their |
| hand to get in, then neither can the search engines | | | | names doesn't produce any results either. Why? |
| get in and find you! All you've got staring at you | | | | Because the "tombstone" webpage put their names |
| from that computer screen is a lovely designed | | | | and contact information inside a graphic that search |
| tombstone for your dead website. | | | | engines cannot read. Ouch! |
| Pretty dramatic, isn't it? Well, think of it this way. | | | | The only way to find them is through Tourism B.C. |
| Your website may as well be dead for all the good | | | | Lucky for them, they put their business in directories |
| it's doing you. It's that simple. | | | | and other marketing venues. If you really want to |
| All Web Designers Know About Search Engine | | | | see their site go to lilyspad.ca Make sure you come |
| Optimization | | | | back and find out what to ask before you invest in a |
| Sure, you may not understand the intricacies of web | | | | "tombstone" instead of a living, breathing, working |
| building and design. And for sure, you expect the | | | | website that generates enough business for you. |
| web builders and designers to know what they're | | | | And Ken and Lil's site isn't the only one out there. |
| doing on your behalf, right? | | | | There are millions! And people wonder why the big |
| Wrong! | | | | deal about the web? Well of course, they wouldn't |
| If you are not aware of what is absolutely required in | | | | understand. But you do. |
| an optimized website, you could be in danger of | | | | 7 "Tombstone" busting questions to ask any web |
| destroying your business opportunities on the internet | | | | builder and designer: |
| - you could be investing in a "tombstone" instead of | | | | I know you understand this. So to help you along, |
| a real live, breathing website. | | | | here are 7 important questions you must ask any |
| Let me explain. | | | | web builder or designer before you invest hundreds |
| Web designers and software developers are | | | | of your dollars into building you a website. |
| producing graphic and flash designs thinking that they | | | | |
| are doing you a favour. Yes, it's pretty alright, | | | | 1. Can you build me a header that is a live link back |
| however search engines can't read graphic and flash | | | | into my home page? |
| designs. Let me repeat that: Google, MSN, Yahoo, | | | | 2. Is my company name, logo, tagline and pictures live |
| and all the search engines of the billions of web | | | | links into my blog and contact pages? |
| surfers can't find your website. | | | | 3. Do my other pages for example, Contact Us, have |
| So that means, when your ideal customer types in a | | | | a live link to my email address and live phone number |
| word or phrase into the search bar looking for your | | | | that can be automatically dialled through services like |
| product, service or information, your business web | | | | Skype? |
| will never come up because your web developer | | | | 4. Can you build my website design to include live |
| didn't allow the words in your website to be live. | | | | email, website and phone contact information in the |
| Now being live doesn't always mean it has to be a | | | | footer on very page? |
| link - although this is probably one of the most | | | | 5. Do you provide content (copy) writers who know |
| important questions to ask. But I'm getting ahead of | | | | about keywords and optimization procedures as well |
| myself. Being live means that the headline and first | | | | as persuasive marketing, or do I have to hire a |
| paragraph is not, and I mean NOT imbedded into a | | | | professional copywriter in addition to the website |
| graphically designed file. It means your words are | | | | design? |
| free to be searched by the engines. | | | | 6. Can you create content that people can read - |
| This Story Made Me Cry | | | | that means no white letters on black background and |
| One of my favourite teachers in junior high school | | | | font sizes that are easy to read without squinting? |
| moved into the interior of B.C. He and his wife set up | | | | 7. Can you research and put keywords and |
| a Bed And Breakfast in Westbank. Ken told me they | | | | keyphrases in my metatags, tags, and descriptions |
| just spent over $2,000 to have a website built. So I | | | | relevant to my business? |
| took a look. | | | | 8. Bonus question: Will my website become a content |
| Honest to goodness, I screamed, then I cried with | | | | rich and a live business opportunity or a visual |
| empathy for them. | | | | "tombstone" offering no potential to be found? |
| Not only did this web designer build them a lovely | | | | Ask, ask, ask is as important as the well-known |
| "picture", but imbedded all their contact information | | | | marketing phrase, test, test, test. It's a shame so |
| inside the "picture". Because of the graphic nature of | | | | many people have spent so much on "tombstones". |
| the website, people could not click onto their email | | | | Don't be one of them. In fact, ask about hosting, |
| address to write for more information. | | | | about domain names, about the business potential. |
| People looking for Bed & Breakfasts in the Westbank | | | | Far too many designers are expert at being creative |
| or Kelowna region can't find Ken and Lil's home - it | | | | - find out what they know about the marketing |
| doesn't come up in the organic search in the top 10 | | | | aspect of being on the internet. Then make your |
| first page - in fact, it doesn't come up at all. | | | | decision. |