Ever wanted to know where your website ranks on Google or Yahoo, without having to scroll through hundreds of search results manually? SEO Tools has a created a perfect solution for finding out a websites position across the major search engines, based on a keyword/phrase query of your choice. SEO rank checker is a Firefox addon, so pick that up if you’re not already using it.

Just follow this link to the SEO tools site, and simply follow the instructions to download.

In addition to saturating your website with keywords and oceans of inbound links, there are several “little things” you can do in under an hour that will maximize your efforts. Some of these items may require help from your webmaster, but this is definitely a “do-it-yourself” job with a little Google magic. Below we have prepared a short checklist of some important, easy to do, SEO tips.

• 301 Redirects

  301 redirect is the most efficient and Search Engine Friendly method of achieving a permanent URL redirection. You might be asking, “why would I want to redirect a web address?” Well… consider the URL for a typical company, say http://business123.com. This company has only one homepage, but you can also access the page through three additional URLs that are automatically created through standard HTML coding.

  So you have the following URLs that all take you to the same page:

  http://business123.com

  http://business123.com/index.html
  http://www.business123.com
  http://www.business123.com/index.html

  Visitors of your site know that they are all they same page (even if they even notice), but search engines like Google do not. So effectively, Google ranks these as 4 different web pages, even though they all have the same exact content. Ranking them individually will give the homepage a diluted score. To remedy the problem, one can implement a 301 redirect that will tell search engines to take the three “extra” URLs, and instantly redirect them to a permanent one.

  With a 301 redirect, the address with the www prefix will always become the permanent home of the URL: http://www.business123.com

Managing the task of building a website for your small business can be extremely frustrating and confusing, especially for the individual without a healthy dose of computer knowledge. Don’t worry.. you’re not alone.

We have composed a  basic list of website do’s and don’ts that will help anyone feeling lost in this ocean of web design choices we are faced with today. Let’s start off with some inevitable questions you’re probably asking yourself.

• Is a website even worth the trouble to build?

  Absolutely. Even you don’t intend to drive your sales through a website, it is imperative to have at least some form of online presence.  The internet is like the yellow pages on crack, so at the very least… you’re giving someone the opportunity to get your phone number and address.

• What can a website do for my bottom line?

  Well it depends on two things:

  1. What type of business are you in? A local landscaper will undoubtedly have a smaller market base than a clothing manufacturer.. and some business sectors just don’t require extensive websites. However, establishing an online presence will always increase your credibility as a business, which in turn, will help sell your products or services.
  2. How much money and time am I willing to spend on internet marketing? Just like any other form of marketing, you need to make an investment to see favorable results. There are no silver bullets anymore, so don’t let any company “guarantee” that they can give you a quick, massive gain in website traffic. More about this later.

• How much should I pay?

  This is quite possibly one of the cloudiest areas regarding website companies and freelancers today. As a client looking for a website, it is your job to determine what services or skills you value the most. Ultimately, you should place more emphasis on “what” you’re paying for, rather than “how much” you’re paying. Here are some factors that come into play:

  1. Peace of mind – Paying a premium for professionalism and reliability is generally a good idea when your company’s reputation and bottom line is at stake.
  2. What’s under the hood – If your website’s code is messy or non-compliant with current standards, you’re going to be spending additional money down the road when it is time to update your site
  3. Flexibility — A good programmer will develop a site that is lightweight, but allows for new modules and features to be added without too much effort down the road. Others will develop sites using platforms or languages that don’t make sense, given the project scope (i.e. giving you a 100% flash website, when you really just needed a blog)
  4. Marketing – Do yourself a favor and make sure that your web developer understands the basic marketing direction of the project. It is common to pay for additional marketing services after your site is launched, but you should always ensure that your developer has a proven track record in this area.

  Explore your options, get multiple quotes, & assess the competition. When you have narrowed down your selection to a couple of web designers, ask for additional portfolio samples and professional references. A confident, skilled designer will always oblige.

• What can I do myself to save time and money?

  It is really simple to cut the development cost in half (or more), by preparing some items in advance.

  1. Gather your content – Search around the office for old propsals, statements, brochures etc. While you may require a professional copy writer to produce the actual website copy, your business documents will always provide a solid starting point for the site architecture and direction.
  2. Take some photos - Websites need images, and depending on your industry, a photo can be worth a 1000 words (or sales). Professional photography is quite common in the world of web design, but it never hurts to snap a couple shots yourself. Your designer will determine what style and quality of images your site needs.
  3. Always size up the competition – You can literally save a month of planning by simply showing your web developer what competitor sites you like and dislike. When you come across a site that catches your eye, just bookmark it in your web browser. Keep a running list and VOILA, instant design direction.

Part 2 Coming Soon: — Valuable resources for building a high-end website

Over the next few months we plan to roll out a series of tutorials and helpful articles for anyone new to the world of web development. So whether you’re a small business owener looking for a new website, or an aspiring web programmer looking to create your own, you’ll find tons of useful articles to get you started.

Check back soon!