How to Find Success With Your Web Service

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Make Your Web Service Work Best For You

Frustrating Web ServiceIn the industry of web development and search engine optimization you’ll hear horror stories of people paying high figures to companies to manage their website without knowing exactly what it is that the web service does for them. Eventually, and inevitably, the customer figures it’s a waste of time and money to have a service that doesn’t illustrate any progress or proof of their work. The client then drops the service and has to start/gamble all over again with a company that may end up having the same issues. While it often seems like you’re on your own with finding a good service, that isn’t entirely the case. Having a web company that provides experienced individuals who know the technology very well is a great asset, but the second and EQUALLY important trait is COMMUNICATION.

Web Service CommunicationYes, client/consultant contact is imperative to the success of any website project. You’re much more likely to get what you want out of the transaction when you keep contact with your web service, and believe it or not, the developers prefer that as well! Proper engagement always starts best with an open line of communication.

When you ask a web service company what it is that they do for you, you can gauge exactly how responsive they will be in future encounters, as well as how helpful their responses will be. Usually before hiring a web development company it is common practice to arrange a meeting to familiarize yourself with who you’re working with and what services they will be providing you. It’s a bad sign in these situations to hear jargon.

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The Need for Ongoing Online Business Listing Management Services

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If a company moves locations or has changed their name or phone number over the years, they are most likely in need of online business listing management services. The Orion Group can update the name, address and phone number (NAP) data found on internet yellow page (IYP) type websites. However, the service is not just a ‘one and done’ type of job. There is a need for the ongoing management of a company’s online business listing presence. Continue reading →

August Report on “Google’s Mobilegeddon

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mobilegeddon

It is now 4 months since Google launched it’s new algorithm nicknamed “Mobilegeddon”.
The impact of this launch is still being studied as time goes on by SEO Analysts, and Online Marketeers, and other research sources in this industry. It is my continued goal to provide research results to businesses who might otherwise lose touch with what is going on with the Internet as they might be too busy running their own businesses and day to day issues that take up all their time.

I still see complacency occurring among web site clients that it was much to do about nothing. Unfortunately nothing could be further from the truth. Here are some interesting findings as I continue my research on this subject. Continue reading →

Was Google’s “Mobilegeddon” all smoke and mirrors?

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Google

It’s been two months now since Google released it’s latest “Algorithm” that has changed mobile searches on smartphones. The vast majority of websites today are not mobile friendly and do not meet Google’s standards. If you’d like to test your web site for to see if it is mobile friendly please plug it in here and check for yourself.

Google’s Mobile Friendly Test Site!

There are several great articles which describe Google’s “Mobilegeddon” of which I have provided links for in this letter:

Google’s New Search Algorithm Stokes Fears Of ‘Mobilegeddon’

Google has made a giant change that could crush millions of small businesses

Mobilegeddon: how Google’s new search algorithm affects business

“The change is only taking place on Google searches made on smartphones. The results will favor websites deemed “mobile friendly,” giving them higher rankings than sites that are only optimized for desktops and laptops.”

This is an excellent article:

Post-Mobilegeddon Update: Is The Impact As Catastrophic As Predicted?

It is my desire to make as many people aware of this so they can take advantage of this situation. Just think! Shear statistics state that 85% of web sites today are not mobile friendly. I believe it safe to assume the same about your competitors.

If your web site is not “Responsive” / “Mobile Friendly” give us a call today so we can explain what you’d have to do in order to comply with Google and beat your competitors to the rewards!

What does Google’s Mobilegeddon really mean?

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Hello!
This is Bill from the Orion Group. I am reaching out to as many people as I can to explain, in layman’s terms, what Google did on April 21st of this year. Some of you may have heard about Google’s “Mobilegeddon”. The title is most accurate because what Google did was literally pull the rug out on the entire internet affecting every website that exists today.

For those of us who do not understand, here is what Google did.

Why is this important?… because Google does not play around and make such announcements just for fun.

Want proof this is happening?

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All of this is because neither site was optimized to “mobile friendly” status before the algorithm update by Google.

Does this not make one think that if such a large percentage of web sites are not responsive, and only those that are will be shown in mobile search results, then we better get going and update our web site? We need to take advantage of being part of the small percentage of sites that will show up in mobile search results and capitalize while others are still playing catch up. In essence, the entire internet is starting over and only the smartest of companies that understand all of this will take advantage of such a small pool of competition showing up in mobile search results.

This is a chance that may never come around again. In order to rank higher in mobile search results and NOT be doomed to losing that traffic all together, you have to have a website that is mobile-friendly. When will Google say that they will be doing the same thing in Desktop and Laptop searches? It’s a scary thought but Google is scary.

I believe Google is forcing the entire internet to do it their way. It purifies searches and it will cost advertisers a lot more money as the field of viewership will be so much narrower for a while.

So, while you may have been putting off redoing your web sites for years, there is now an opportunity to strike while the iron is hot. When the wagons went west in the search for gold, it was the first ones there that got richest the quickest. Now this can be said for having a responsive, mobile-friendly website. If your business values mobile traffic, why wouldn’t you want to be able to cash in on being the only ones who come up on the mobile search results with little to no competition around you for the foreseeable future?

How can you tell if your current website meets Google’s definition of mobile-friendly? There’s an online tool for that. Visit https://www.google.com/webmasters/tools/mobile-friendly/, paste or type in the URL of your website, and click Analyze. Does your site pass? If not, then it’s HIGHLY likely that your site is NOT showing up in mobile search results.

This was a collaborative effort by Emma Edgar, Adam Kuhn & Kevin Barnes

If your website is not mobile-friendly, Orion Group can help.
Call 262-820-9520 for a free consultation.

Get the Most out of Your Business by Blogging

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image of typing on keyboardIncreasing numbers of business owners and corporate executives are beginning to realize the power of blogging. Today’s online presence is about more than a traditional website. Websites are a form of passive advertisement, and visitors are often referred to as viewers because that is basically all they are doing. However, a blog not only provides valuable information to current and potential customers but also acts as an outlet for them to interact with your business.

Your Business Blog is a Trigger

According to recent research, successful businesses use a four-step approach to hook customers on products or services, and business blogging can work as an essential element in the first step: the trigger. Continue reading →

Why You Need to Commit to Lifelong Learning

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Many years ago, a college education was all you needed to be successful in a lifelong career.  But with business today moving at a breakneck speed, keeping up with the constant changes requires a daily commitment to learning.

 

Why You Need to Commit to Lifelong Learning

life-long-learning

Climbing the corporate ladder is one of the obvious reasons for making lifelong learning a priority. Even if your company doesn’t have a reimbursement program, taking classes or other informal learning methods will help you to advance in your field.  It can also be the gateway to starting your own business!

Lifelong learners tend to be better leaders because they are able to connect better with people and be more influential.  With a wider knowledge base, you will be looked upon to tackle issues and overcome challenges. Continue reading →

Can a Business Be Too Small to Need a Website?

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Many small business owners feel they don’t need a website because they are so small that they don’t have any employees or, only one or two. new website Some believe they don’t need a website because their goods or services cannot be sold online.  Unless you are not interested in growing your business, your small business needs a website! Here’s why:

24/7-The internet is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year. Anyone can go online and learn about your services or goods any time of the day or night. It provides accessibility whenever it is convenient for the potential customer. Continue reading →

So You Got Them to Your Website, Now What? Tips to Close More Sales Online

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You have invested time and money in SEO (search engine optimization), listing your website locally, pay-per-click and maybe even TV and radio ads. You notice the amount of visitors to your site has increased, but sales haven’t. Sound familiar?
Have you ever been to a grocery store and noticed an abandoned shopping cart, full of groceries including sweaty milk and melting ice cream? In the grocery business, that’s called a “shop-back cart”. The same thing happens online too. Why do you think customers would leave?
Website conversion optimization is the science of turning website visitors into customers. Many times, the sales path is cluttered and it’s like guess work to find the check-out. Other times, there could be things in your customer’s shopping experience that seem sketchy to them and they abandon their shopping cart just like they do at a brick & mortar store.

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