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Contact me for help with all your Internet Marketing needs: Web design, search engine optimization, social networking and media,
analytics, conversion tracking, paid search marketing, e-mail campaigns and much more...
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Greetings!
 | | Read more and learn how WSI helped Heartland Bank with their recent "online facelift". |
Welcome to this month's issue of the Internet Minute. You'll learn about some of the recent changes in SEO from our friends at Google. We've also got a cool new site launch to introduce you to...
I've got lots of stuff to share, so let's get going... I hope you enjoy this issue of the Internet Minute!
-Eric
Questions or comments...? eric@poweredbywsi.com
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What to Know When it Comes to Search Rankings and SEO...
Recently I had the pleasure of hosting my good friend and colleague, Baltej Gill, on my weekly webinar show (Free Webinar Wednesdays) to chat about all the changes that have taken place at Google and are making an impact on search results. In case you've not heard, they recently announced another update to their "search algorithm" called Penguin, but what's that mean for site owners trying to achieve the coveted #1 position in a search ranking?
While it's not possible to recap the entire webinar here (but you can watch it online for free), one thing is evident... search engines like Google are trying harder than ever to mimic human behavior and interests to help determine page ranking results.
 Click above to view the webinar.
If you think about it, that makes total sense. Who uses Google? People do, so the better Google can deliver what people really want (and not what unscrupulous webmasters are trying to trick them into delivering) the more they will come back. But, what do people want??? Here are two key takeaways from the webinar for you to consider:
Content Is King
If you think about it, the Web is really nothing more than a collection of content... ALL TYPES of content. That means text, images, video, audio, etc... What's amazing is that many businesses set up a website, add their information and never come back to "freshen things" up. Imagine if you said the same thing over and over at your next social event. Think anyone would want to talk to you much? Well, that's the same as having stale content on your site. Once someone has read it once, there's no need to come back.
We Are Social Creatures
Search engines are recognizing (and rewarding) companies that have an active and engaged presence on the social networks. Why? Well, humans are social creatures and we like to know what others are talking about - because knowing what are friends think about a particular product or service means more to us than reading an advertisement or promotion from a company. What better way to do this than through social networking and having these conversations online? We read what others are saying, can watch videos, post comments and interact. All of these activities play off our innate social nature, and will positively impact your position in the search engines.
What's Your Strategy?
 There's a lot more to it, but these are the main areas that you should make sure you're focusing on now. If you need help with content, WSI can help to build a blog for your website, or even assist with creating some of the content for you. Interested in getting more social? Hopefully you are convinced that engaging in a "social strategy" using sites like Facebook, YouTube and even Google+ is a good move. We can also help with social channel setup, engagement strategy, employee training and even policy creation. All of this (and more) can be combined with our SEO programs and will help to better position your business in the search engines. Make sure you're taking steps to increase the odds of being found the next time someone is searching for what you do and the services you offer!
Give me a ring (269-841-5007) or drop me an e-mail at eric@poweredbywsi.com to learn more. I'd love to help you achieve greater success online.
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WSI Helps Heartland Bank With Their Recent "Online Facelift" - Desktop and Mobile Options
A couple of years ago WSI was selected to help Heartland Bank (Gahanna, OH) with a complete re-design of their website. Taking inspiration from the Tommy Bahama website, it featured a new, full-page, eye-catching photo each week showing the bank involved in its community on the home page (an important thing for a community bank).
Recently, WSI had the opportunity to yet again work with the bank on the next generation of their site and "turned it up a notch" with an even better site design, a new blog to communicate community events, a featured Online Account Center and a mobile version that automatically loads when someone visits their site from a mobile device.
Click the image to visit the bank's website.
Home Page Story & Blog
Keeping with the initial inspiration from the prior site WSI designed, the home page continues to feature images of the bank involved in the community. We are using a blog to capture the "Home Page Story" for each event and visitors can click through to read more and see for themselves just how committed the bank is to the communities it serves. Each blog entry features a photo gallery of images from the event and the bank rotates the home page image every couple of days to keep it "fresh" for visitors coming to the site.
Online Account Center
With a keen interest in making it easy for people to do business with them, Heartland Bank offers several ways to get an account stated with them online. Whether you want to apply for a mortgage loan, credit card, auto loan or even get a checking, savings or CD account... all of these functions can be found under their Online Account Center. This new feature is prominently displayed on their home page for all to see and is one more way the bank is looking to build convenience for their customers.
Mobile Browser Formatting
 As the first bank in Ohio to have a mobile app in both the iPhone and Android markets, Heartland understands that customers are using their mobile devices more every day. So, WSI developed a mobile version of their website that automatically recognizes when someone is visiting with a mobile device and loads the content in a different format. Not only does this make it easier for visitors to read the information, phone numbers can be touched to call and information is automatically formatted, making maintenance and updating easy for the bank.
Mobile It's estimated that by 2013 the mobile device will be the preferred method for browsing the web, and Heartland Bank is ready. Check out www.HeartlandBank.com on your mobile phone and see for yourself!
If you're interested in bringing some of this functionality to your website, let's connect. Whether your a bank or not, having a site that makes it easy to add content (did you read my SEO article earlier), convert visitors to customers and embrace the mobile device are all things that should be on your radar screen! |
Reminder: Fighting Childhood Cancer One Pedal Stroke at a Time...This post appeared in my last issue, but wanted to include it again as a reminder for my event.
 | | Here's me with Christi, the reason I'm pedaling to fight childhood cancer. |
This year I'm excited about getting "back in the saddle" and racing to fight childhood cancer and supporting the Children's Neuroblastoma Cancer Foundation. Inspired by Christi Thomas who will remain "forever 9", I founded Pedaling With a Purpose in 2006, a site designed to help fellow cyclists raise money for worthy causes doing what they love - riding their bikes. It's been an honor to help support the CNCF over the years and help to keep Christi's spirit alive.
For my 2012 event, I'm racing the Cedar Point 70.3 mile triathlon in Sandusky, Ohio. I'm also excited that one of my very good friends (and ultra-distance athlete extraordinaire) will be joining me for the weekend, Kathy Roche-Wallace. My partner in fundraising this year, she's doing the 140.6 mile distance race and is quite an amazing story in her own right. In fact, you can watch the Free Webinar Wednesdays episode where she was my guest and shared her story about being an adventure athlete (and how what she's learned over the years actually can be applied in business).  | This year Kathy Roche-Wallace is joining me to help fight childhood cancer.
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If you're interested in learning more about the "back story" and what an amazing little girl Christi was, you can visit her website or the blog that continues to be updated by her mom. To support the CNCF and make a donation to support Kathy and me in our race this year, you can visit our fundraiser page. Any amount is appreciated and helps get one step closer to putting an end to this nasty form of childhood cancer. >> DONATE TODAY! << |
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Thanks for taking the time to read this month's issue of the Internet Minute. Feel free to share it with friends and colleagues and if you have suggestions for future issues or questions, don't hesitate to let me know.
See you online...
Eric :-)
Web Development | Internet Marketing | Paid Search Management
SEO | Site Analytics | Conversion Strategies | E-Mail Marketing
Social Media | Online Document Management | Strategic Planning
*Full disclosure, this indicates this is an affiliate link. I may receive compensation should you decide to register for this online event. However, I've already registered for this event and would not promote this unless I believed it was of value to you.
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