There are countless tools for promoting your business – from T-shirts, pens and business cards to billboards and local event sponsorships. Online, there are websites, landing pages, search engine optimization (SEO), pay per click ads and, now, social media.

Yes, the online world has gone “social.” With increasing numbers of users on these platforms every day (across age ranges!), it appears they are here to stay. Facebook, Twitter, Google+, YouTube, LinkedIn and Pinterest are among the most popular. Each of these provides new opportunities for your customers to “find” you (and for you to find them) every day.

Here are some practical tips for getting the most benefit from social media for your business:

1. Employ a strategy. Start by answering questions such as these:

• What do I want to achieve by using social media?
• Whose attention am I trying to get?
• What platforms best suit my business?
• Who is going to manage my social media accounts?

2. Develop a consistent, effective voice or style that is applicable to each platform. Examples of how to tailor your posts for some of the most popular networks include:

• Facebook, Google+ – Short posts, especially visually oriented
• Twitter – Status updates, links and media alerts/announcements
• LinkedIn – Commentary on relevant books/posts, professional achievements, recent work projects; professional networking
• StumbleUpon – Share sites/pages you like, in addition to your own
• Pinterest – Visual posts, especially retail and women focused

3. Check out your competition. What are your competitors posting on their social media sites? What seems to be working (or not) for them? Pay attention to the following:

• Are customers active (posting, responding) on their sites?
• What types of posts are receiving the most attention and response?
• Can you do something similar on your own pages (without plagiarizing)?

4. Become a source for valuable, relevant information. Stay up to date on trends in your industry so you can report timely news and updates. Becoming a “go-to” page for the latest and greatest in your field will help you earn more “likes,” “fans” and “retweets.” When sharing content from another site, give credit where credit is due. And make a habit of @tagging people/businesses in your posts. In return they are more likely to do the same for you.

5. Customize content (when it will not violate copyright). Take advantage of free tools (such as one for Windows platform users available at getpaint.net) to edit images, adding your company web address or a custom message.

6. Add a description. When posting or sharing an image, photo or video, add a personal, keyword-rich description in the comments. Always credit the content creators.

7. Be engaging. Post “happy birthday” wishes to employees and friends; say congrats on weddings, anniversaries, promotions, etc. Recognizing special occasions and accomplishments gives opportunities for friends and followers to engage by adding their own well wishes. Personal engagement such as this gives a human voice to your social media pages.

8. Use the Facebook upload option. Uploading a post (such as a video) directly to Facebook can help your pages earn a higher rating on EdgeRank, the algorithm that determines what is displayed on your fans/friends pages. (Choose this option over listing a URL on your page from a post on Vimeo or YouTube, for example.) Add a good description of your post to make it personal.

9. Thank post originators when you share content. Add a note thanking the person/page that first posted a shared quote, image or video. This courtesy generates good will and cooperation among your social network.

10. Be authentic. Social media platforms are designed for real interaction among real people. Though an algorithm establishes ranking, people decide whether or not to “like” or “follow” you. Think of social media interactions on your pages like networking; build relationships by consistent, frequent participation and prompt responses to comments and questions. Auto-posting sites such as TweetDeck and Hootsuite or Facebook’s scheduling feature help you manage your participation; they’re no substitute for interactions with your fans/followers. Choose a posting frequency you can maintain consistently over time.

11. Use signposting. An important element for your online strategy, signposting is linking to your website in your social media posts. This helps drive traffic to your site.

Employ these “how to’s” to keep customers and potential customers finding your business online and improve your return from your social media accounts. If you have questions about social media and your business, contact Raleigh’s Page Progressive. We would be glad to help you win at the social media game of “hide and seek.”

Your website is your business card to the world and, as such, you want it to successfully portray what you do. Whatever your line of work may be, your website needs to tell site guests your story and how you can help them. This “storytelling” may be accomplished through a variety of methods – words, pictures, graphics, video, etc. – all designed to encourage people to choose your services rather than those of your competitors.

So how do you go about creating a website that successfully reaches your target audience? What elements does an effective website include? Is there a special trade secret that needs to be followed? The answers to these questions may vary depending on who you ask; a web designer, a graphics specialist and a writer will have differing points of view – all of them valid.

For a “wired, not tired” website, we recommend 13 elements. Take a look to see how your site fares.

13 C’s of a Successful Website

• Contrast – This refers to textures and styling that make your website stand out and look appealing to your guests. There are a number of ways to obtain contrast; color-scheme, fonts or interactive elements are just a few. Contrast influences where the guests’ eyes focus, so it is important to use contrasting elements with care.

• Composition – Look at your website through the eyes of a first time guest (or ask someone to look at your website for the first time and give you feedback). Would a first time visitor easily find important information? Would he/she find the site appealing? Composition considers the “flow” or ease of use of your site. Large blocks of text are generally turn-offs; if your site is word-heavy, consider a new approach. If your site is difficult to navigate, guests may quickly leave and never return.

• Content – Content is critical. To make the grade in this area, use a variety of content (text, images, video, webinars, podcasts, PowerPoint presentations, etc.) and update it regularly. This keeps guests coming back to read what’s new and gives your site more favorable results with the search engines.

• Company information – Keep your “About Us” page up to date and easy to find. Use this page to describe your brand, and give your company a “face” by posting photos of key staff members.

• Connected with social sharing – More than ways to connect with your friends, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest and all the other social networks are great tools to promote your business. Make it easy for people to share your content by including social share buttons on your site. A post shared by one of your guests might result in a new customer.

• Contact page – Keep contact information correct, up to date and easily accessible so website guests are able to reach you by phone or email.

• Company blog, podcasts, webinars – These elements are great ways to add new content to your site on a regular basis. Before committing to any one of them, you’ll need a plan for how you will update it and how often. Don’t take on more than you are prepared to follow through on consistently. If you don’t have time to create the posts yourself, you can hire professional content developers to help you. Select them carefully. The web designers at Page Progressive have staff members and partners who are happy to help with this.

• Calls to Action – Engage your reader and encourage them to respond by incorporating a call to action. Keep your main goal or purpose clear to your readers and repeat it frequently. Create an “opt-in” box in a sidebar or footer and use links to it throughout your site. For e-commerce sites, make your payment page easily accessible by using “call to action” or payment buttons.

• Correct keyword research – This “c” is considered by many to be the most important step in creating a successful website. Tools such as Google’s Keyword Tool help you determine the most popular search terms used to find the kind of services you offer. Identifying and using these “key” words strategically on your site will help more potential customers find you. Known as “organic search,” this is still the primary means for generating site traffic.

• Categories – Have a navigation bar with broad categories that branch off into more specific ones. Many experts recommend avoiding drop down menus as these can be awkward to use.

• Consistency – Keep the look of each page consistent by using a common font type, color scheme and layout template.

• Compatibility – Some studies show that 30 percent or more of internet browsing is done on tablets, smart phones and iPods, and this percentage is increasing every day. Now’s the time to incorporate changes to make your site compatible with these devices. Options for doing so include using a responsive theme or creating a dedicated mobile site. If you have questions about compatibility, contact Page Progressive. We can help you find the best option for making your site accessible and user-friendly for mobile device browsers.

• Credibility – Proving your reliability is a must, since many consumers are cautious about using online businesses (and rightly so). Demonstrate your trustworthiness by posting testimonials from satisfied customers, before and after photos of problems solved or services rendered, awards won by your company or staff, money-back guarantees, memberships to reputable associations, and media coverage (TV, radio, print or online) of your business.

In addition to considering these 13 C’s, here are three elements to avoid.

• Flash and animations – Search engines cannot read these, and they do not work well with mobile devices.
• Typography and font colors difficult to read – Choose your font size and colors thoughtfully, and consider using bullets, short paragraphs and empty space for best readability.
• Clutter – More is rarely better. Use images, videos and animation sparingly. They may look cool, but they can easily be overkill. If an image or video communicates a key point and contributes to your message, then it’s likely worth using. If it doesn’t enhance the content, avoid using it.

Does your website get a passing grade on the 13 C’s? If so, then congratulations. Your site is likely “wired.” If it’s missing the mark on multiple factors, then it is time to send your tired website a wakeup call.

Page Progressive has many years of experience with designing successful websites. If you want to move your website from tired to wired, contact us. We’re here to help.

*Image courtesy of renjith krishnan/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Facebook’s ever-changing algorithm, EdgeRank, determines what shows up in individual news feeds. It’s helpful to understand some basics about the algorithm in order to get the most mileage from your Facebook business page.

EdgeRank sorts posts based on three factors: affinity, weight and time decay. Higher rankings in these three areas means an item is more likely to show up in a user’s news feed.

Here’s a brief look at these determining factors:

• Affinity – The relationship between the content creator and the user. Content created, liked or shared by those closest in affinity to you is more likely to show up in your news feeds.
• Weight – The reaction or interaction (likes, comments, shares) received by an item. More positive responses and interactions mean an item is more likely to make it into news feeds.
• Time decay – The timeliness or recency of a post and responses to it. Posts are most likely to be displayed in news feeds within a short timeframe of being posted, liked, commented on or shared.

How to Optimize for EdgeRank

To optimize your Facebook content strategy, consider these questions:

• What content will give the best impression of my company?
• What type of content is most likely to prompt a like, share or comment?
• What time of day are most (60 percent or more) of my fans on Facebook?

Help with the answers to these questions may be found on your Facebook business page’s Insights option. On your Admin Panel, look for “Insights” and click on “See All.”  This will display a page showing what posts received the most responses (views, likes, shares and comments) from your fans. Make note of what these posts have in common (subject, day/time posted, content type, etc.) and plan posts similar to these in the future. If there are no noticeable trends, try varying your content types (photo, video, links, polls, etc.) and posting days/times for a few weeks, then check the results on Insights.

Engaging your Facebook fans, not attaining a high EdgeRank ‘score,’ is the objective of your content strategy. But understanding how EdgeRank works to prioritize and display content, and what content engages your fans, helps you plan ways to get your news in front of more people on Facebook.

Contact Page Progressive if you want to learn more about marketing with Facebook.

1. Publish more visual content. Incorporate a photo or video into your posts to garner more pick up in the types of news feeds your fans are choosing. (Some may opt for a news feed of images and exclude ‘text only’ posts.)
2. Plan photo-focused ads. Pair strong, persuasive copy with an engaging photo in your ads. (Avoid using ‘random,’ uninteresting photos.)
3. Keep your copy short. With the emphasis on photos, Facebook has changed how it displays captions. They no longer appear below the photos but overlay them in the news feeds. Keep your copy brief, informative and engaging. Use a call to action to engage your fans.
4. Focus more on your messengers. Know your Facebook fans and what they love, and post content they will want to share with their friends. Doing so is the best way to build your following.
5. Create more compelling content. Facebook now shares ‘top’ articles similarly to LinkedIn. Posting compelling content that will be shared by others can help you stand out from the crowd.
6. Integrate your Facebook and Pinterest strategy. About 98 percent of Pinterest users are also on Facebook or Twitter. And 21 percent of them have purchased an item after seeing it on Pinterest. Incorporating Pinterest along with Facebook posts may improve your sales conversion rate.
7. Encourage users to ‘check in’ to your business whenever they visit your physical location. From FourSquare to Google Places to Facebook, people can check-in, rate their experience and potentially recommend your place of business.
8. Increase “Likes” on your page. Here are some hints for doing so:

• Share posts from your Facebook business page on your personal Facebook wall.
• Send personal invitations to like your page to your friends, family and employees
• Tag people and places in your posts as well as any other business you work with or for
• Like Facebook pages of local businesses that are not in competition with your line of work
• Use posts that ask viewers to “Click ‘Like’ if….” Choose these posts carefully; use this when you expect the majority (60-100 percent) will like it.
• Display photos of your products or images that depict your services.

Your business can benefit from the latest changes on Facebook when you incorporate suggestions such as these. This popular social media platform changes frequently; but with perseverance, you’ll find it offers opportunity for promoting your business or cause. If you have questions about Facebook marketing, please contact us here!

More visually engaging new feeds

Behind the recent news feed changes are statistics such as:

• 50 percent of news feed content is visual (photo, video, graphics, etc.)
• 90 percent of information transmitted to the brain is visual text.
• Photos generate 53 percent more “likes” than the average post and 104 percent more comments than the average post.
• 40 percent of people will respond better to visual information than plain text.
• Visuals are processed 60,000 times faster by the brain than text.

Facebook users clearly show a preference for visual content, including photos and video. The platform’s news feed changes respond to this bent by displaying larger images and graphics.

Now more than ever, incorporating relevant images into your Facebook business page can help you get exposure on this popular platform.

Here are some questions to consider:

• Do you have an engaging cover photo that reflects what you do, value and believe?
• What does a glance at your Facebook page “say” about your brand?
• In what way can you convey or support your desired messages with a photo, video or image?

Videos, as well as photos and graphics, get a higher billing in the new design. When you post or share a video, viewers see a full-size image rather than a small one with a link. Your news feed will display photos of the people who view your videos, along with an option to send the viewers an invitation to “like” your page.

More types of feeds

Responding to user feedback, Facebook has introduced more types of news feeds – hoping users will spend more time on the platform as a result. This new feature allows users to “filter” or select or he type of content they want to see in “sub-feeds.” For example, they might focus choose to create a feed focused on music, games, pictures or videos. Other options can feature a chronological view of all friends’ updates or only those from close friends.

For businesses, these changes may lead to more opportunities for your content to be viewed by your fans and their friends. Make the most of this by regularly posting interesting, engaging and timely content – including visual images.  “Old” news is not news at all but history, so keep your page current and interesting with relevant content added on a regular basis.

Consistency across devices

This year, approximately six out of 10 Facebook users will access the platform through a mobile phone. In 2014, that number is expected to be nearly seven out of 10.

Recognizing this, Facebook made changes in this recent round to provide a consistent appearance and experience for users regardless of their access device.

This should benefit your business as mobile users who access your page via a mobile phone or tablet will get a look consistent with those who access it via computer.

Have you adapted your business website to be user-friendly for mobile phone and tablet users? If you haven’t and want to learn more about how to do so, Page Progressive can help. Please give us a call.

Stay tuned for more tips on using Facebook to promote your business, coming in our next post!

Since 1991, Diamond Contracting, Inc. has been specializing in commercial contracting. They are known for being a highly skilled team, led by Mike Swanson, Andy Ward and Bryan Wolfe, that understands the value of bringing strong work ethics to each job. This dedication to detail and to their clients is reflected when one sees the finished building or up-fit. As commercial contractors, they are able to design, build, renovate or up-fit a retail location, warehouse, sales center or sports facility to meet your needs. Not sure what changes are actually needed at your location? No problem! Diamond Contracting, Inc. offers site analysis, value engineering and building system integration.

At Diamond Contracting, Inc., you will find contractors who want to see your business location be all that it can be. It is their goal to build or design a space that is structurally sound as well as one that is safe, functional and attractive. They can provide the floor plans, elevation drawings and preliminary site plans then work with reputable registered architects, plumbers, mechanical and electrical contractors and site engineers.

At Diamond Contracting, Inc., it is their desire to go above and beyond their clients expectations, while paying close attention to joining quality materials and any budget constraints. They are happy to be a part of your construction project regardless of if it is a small-scale renovation or a major commercial development. They work hard to ensure that the finished product blends smoothly with the existing structures or environmental elements rather than simply having a completed project. It is because of this eye toward the surroundings that Diamond Contracting Inc. was bestowed the Sir Walter Raleigh Award for Community Appearance in recognition of the many projects and contributions they have made to keeping  the city’s environment looking beautiful.

It is this dedication to customers that Diamond Contracting and Page Progressive both believe is critical to running a good business. Like Diamond Contracting, Inc., the Page Progressive web development and design team works hard to ensure that your website is all that you want it to be. So if you need work done on your website contact Page Progressive, but if you want a great business location built or upfit, then check out Diamond Contracting, Inc. and see what they can do for you.

But how do you determine if your website is fully optimized to enhance user experience? The simple answer is, frequent testing. Unfortunately, this testing is not a one and done activity. Rather, it is an ongoing enterprise. According to Website Magazine‘s (February 2013) editor in chief, Peter Prestipino, there are three rules of website optimization:

1. Forget all you think you know about what makes an effective Web presence. Rather, make future decisions based on observable and recordable behaviors from analytics.
2. Recognize that website optimization testing is a trial and error process; don’t hesitate to understand and challenge the limits of what can be done.
3. Commit to frequent testing to ensure that the designed end user experience meets the ever-changing expectations and requirements of the audience.

“Forget all you think you know about what makes an effective Web presence. Rather, make future decisions based on observable and recordable behaviors from analytics.” - Website Magazine‘s editor in chief, Peter Prestipino

Following these rules is an important step in optimizing your website user’s experience. However, there are some specific elements involved in creating an optimum experience for your website guests. Here are some key steps you can take to make your website all your guests expect it to be.

• Caching – Although caching can be helpful in keeping your website afloat when you get a torrent of traffic, it also is known for slowing down page load time.
• Images – The bigger these are, the longer load time involved. It is recommended that you keep each page under 1mb total.
• Speed – We live in an “I want it now” society, and expect our Web experiences to be the same. So, if your website is loading slowly, there are a variety of changes, in addition to caching and image size, that you can make. These include choosing a reliable web host that can handle your website configuration, using a content delivery network to deliver content to users more efficiently, minimizing redirects and “mini-fying” coding such as HTML comments, CDATA sections, whitespaces and empty elements that decrease load time.
• Content – Quality content will always be a key to website optimization. It is recommended that you add new content at least once every 21 days and that the majority of your website’s pages contain a minimum of 300 words, as this lends more authority. Also, as part of your content creation, be sure to optimize headings, subheadings and Call to Action elements, in addition to font, size and color.
• Keywords used in SEO – You want your website to rank with search engines, so don’t overlook the value of keywords and long tail phrases. Be sure they are used in your page headers, contact page and about us page, as well.
• Social share buttons – In this day of social media engagement, don’t miss the chance to let people share your website content via social media sites. Consumers frequently want to “show off” what they are reading or purchasing online via their social media sites. Having the social share buttons not only allows them to show-off but in their doing so, they are helping promote your site.
• Know your sources –This goes back to testing. Figure out where your website traffic is coming from, as well as at what point they are leaving. Based on this information, change your site where necessary.
• Encourage user feedback – Consumers want to be heard. Be sure your website has somewhere that comments can be submitted and that you have someone who is checking and responding to those comments. This will give you a firsthand look at what your site guests are looking for, allowing you to optimize your site accordingly.
• Is it mobile? – As more and more consumers are surfing the Web via mobile technology, it is vital that your website be optimized for the mobile device. Consider these statistics from Hubspot.com regarding mobile Web browsing:

• 96% of smartphone users have encountered sites not designed for mobile devices.
• 67% of users are more likely to return to a site if it is a mobile-friendly site.
• 48% of users say they feel frustrated or annoyed when they visit sites that are not mobile friendly.
• 78% of users want to be able to find what they are looking for on a mobile site in just a couple of clicks.
• 73% of users stated a need for shorter forms with fewer fields and minimal scrolling.
• 76% of mobile users want to get location and operating hours from a mobile site.

Optimizing your website is a vital part of building a better user experience. It requires dedication, frequent testing and updating, but all of this is time well spent if the result is more site guests and higher sales. If you want to determine if your website is user-optimized, but don’t know how or where to look, give Page Progressive a call. We are here to help!

“The more elaborate our means of communication, the less we communicate.” Joseph Priestly

Methods of communicating are constantly changing –  especially when it comes to Web design and mobile devices. As a result of these frequent changes, it is the smart Web marketer and designer who keeps up with not just the communication devices but the design elements that are used on them. After all, communication only communicates if it is useable and understood. To help you be up to speed with communicating with your Web customers here are 10 of the latest Web trends.

1. Responsive Web Design (RWD) – No matter what article you read on 2013’s Web trends, RWD is in the top three (if not the first) items on the list. RWD entails creating a Website to be used on all forms of digital devices – laptops, smartphones, tablets and anything else that may be developed. Though it may be time and labor intensive at the outset to create RWD, the payoff is well worth it. Clearleft founder Andy Budd says that, “RWD will be a key element for a company’s mobile strategy, baked in from the start.”
2. Retina Support – Simply put, retina screens are twice as dense as any average LCD. A retina screen has the same number of physical pixels but digitally twice as many pixels within the same amount of space. A great tool for implementing this isRetina.js.
3. Social Feeds – As social networks continue to grow, bridging the gap between brands and consumers is more important, but also becoming even easier. Not only is having “Like” and “Follow” on social media sites important, but you want people to be able to promote your products, services and blog posts through social feed buttons/badges. Some of the most well-known options, beyond Facebook and Twitter, are StumbleUpon Badges,  Google +1 Button, Pinterest Buttons, LinkedIn Share Badge, Dzone Vote Buttons, and 100+ Remarkably Beautiful Twitter Icons And Buttons.
4. Single Page Web Design – Though not a new idea, it is becoming a popular trend, as it allows users to have a more natural navigation experience. When this design trend is paired with other trends such as fixed headers, vertical navigation, typography and image tiles, the single page layout is a great way to draw attention from visitors and make a rather impressive website design.
5. Parallax scrolling – A great example of this design is Pinterest or Tumblr. By using single page design, with multiple layers where users can move either vertically or horizontally, and having sectional transitions during the scrolling process users can easily move from item to item without needing to change pages. However, keep in mind that it will not work for every website.
6. Typography – This is perhaps one of the most important elements of Web design, so it is vital that you carefully select the font and text location with care. Typography elements to consider are placement on the page, the font color, size and even the page navigation; you also need to keep in mind how the page will look/work on mobile devices.
7. Fixed Header Bars – Having a fixed header makes it easy for site guests to scroll down your page, without needing to return to the homepage. Although this is not something new, it is becoming more popular. Fixed headers work on nearly any website from blogs to private companies, as it allows users to have a great experience without needing to look very far to navigate the website.
8. Personality – Another 2013 Web trend is adding personality to your page. This is not just about having an “About Us” page. Rather it is adding interest through storytelling, pictures and videography. With Internet speeds getting faster for all types of devices, the numerous features on cameras & phones, plus tools like Adobe Creative Suite, Animoto, After Effects and DSLR use, websites are going to become more personable and illustrative.
9. More Open Source Designs –Many web design experts believe that there will be an increase in developers spending more time doing open source projects. This will be reflected in Web designs.
10. Minimalist Landing Pages – You need a landing page that sells your products/service, but it doesn’t need to be overdone. Today’s trends are showing are return to minimalism. A great example of this is at PictoPro.

These are but 10 out of the many trends for 2013. Take a good look at your current website, landing pages or other sites you have designed and see how they stack up to these trends. Remember, it is about communication. Your website’s job is to communicate to your guests how you can help them, so be sure you are communicating as effectively as possible. If you need help with implementing any of these trends, talk to Page Progressive - we are here to help!

Sources:

• Feb. 2013 Website Magazine
• http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/web-design-trend-2013/
• http://www.netmagazine.com/features/20-top-web-design-and-development-trends-2013

Here’s their notice:

1. Guaranteeing the #1 spot on Google. This cannot be done as no one controls Google’s algorithm. A company that promises the top spot is either using unethical SEO measures or  ranking you for a long keyphrase with very little competition in order to trick you into “amazing” results.
2. Requiring a one-year contract, often with a multitude of restrictions and references to proprietary information if you ask for more information about what work is really being done on a monthly basis.
3. Having a contract that is unclear about how and what they are doing to promote your business. Like any contract, do not sign it until you fully understand what is being done. In fact, you may wish to get a copy of the contract and have someone you trust, that understands the Internet, explain the contract to you. If you don’t understand the language used, you won’t know for sure if, or how, they are doing their job.
4. Beware of either exceptionally high or low pricing. Don’t just hire the first Internet marketing company you find. Consider talking to, and getting bids from several companies, so you have a good price range and it will help to orient you to the different terminology and services offered so you can make a more wise decision. However, do be sure that when comparing companies that you are comparing like with like.
5. What type of/how often are emails being sent, if email marketing is involved? Perhaps one of the most unethical, and annoying, business practices is that of spam. People do not like to get junk mail. Repeated email from the same company only serves to get ignored, blocked, and possibly make people mad. It rarely, if ever, causes someone to make a purchase.
6. Not being “upfront” with e-mail content. Be sure that you approve of any e-mail content created by the Internet marketing company.  Be sure that Internet marketing company you choose sends minimal e-mails, which are right for the audience you want to reach. It is your reputation at stake, and a good one cannot be bought!
7. Not being forthright in how they utilize SEO. As one of the most effective tools in the Internet marketer’s toolbox, there are many ways that SEO can be accomplished. Unfortunately, not everyone is willing to take the time to do it right. Rather, some companies opt to take shortcuts and/or employ a variety of Black Hat SEO techniques. (Keep in mind, that while these Black Hat methods may get you a high rank initially, in the long term that boost may be negated as search engines become smarter at detecting these strategies!)Here are some common Black Hat practices to be aware of:

• Keyword stuffing – Packing a webpage with keywords, but having little useful content
• Doorway pages – HTML pages designed to only be read or seen by search engines.
• Invisible text –Hiding list of keywords on the background of a page by using a matching font and background color
• Bait and switch – Loading a page with popular keywords, even if it has nothing to do with the actual search
• Meta tag stuffing – Like keyword stuffing, except the words are listed in the Meta data fields…not as common these days as most search engines now put little emphasis on the meta keyword tag because of this practice
• Backlink buying – Paying for or receiving compensation for backlinks to a website. Google does not approve of this method and so you want to be very careful about what links you pay for and why. Paying $299 to be reviewed and listed in the Yahoo Directory is fine, paying a company to give you 10,000 backlinks, indiscriminate of where they are…not so fine usually.
• Pyramids – Creating many sites just so those sites can be back-linked to each other. Also called link-farming, and Google is pretty good at figuring this out eventually and negating any boost you may get in rankings by using this method.
• Duplication – Using content from other sites just to make sure your site appears to have plenty of updates and content…and even worse is repeating the same content on your own site over and over but just switching out choice key phrases like “Raleigh NC” with “Durham NC” is a no no.

As you can see, there are numerous activities and actions to be aware of when hiring an Internet marketing provider. And whether it is Black Hat SEO practices or being secretive with your company’s Web information, this can hurt your business. We never employ Black Hat practices. Should you hire us to do Internet marketing, social media, or any other aspect that helps your business, we believe that you should be able to see an improvement in your site’s page ranking by using above board methods and we will always be transparent with you on what we are doing. Should you be concerned about how your Internet marketing is being approached, talk to us. We are happy to help you succeed.