With all the discussion lately about mobile access, you might find this explanation of the difference between a smartphone and iPad site. Both tablets and smartphones are mobile devices and can display a web site on the Internet, which is where the confusion often begins.
Basically, smartphones are one kind of hardware and tablets are another. With smaller screens and memory, smartphone sites should be light on graphics with pages that are sized to eliminate sizing and as much scrolling as possible. When we design a smartphone site, the pages are sized so they display best on a smart phone screen.
In the case of an iPad, the larger and more graphical format allows us to design more visually appealing sites which are comparable to standard web sites. However, in being designed specifically for iPads, the formatting is perfect for presentation on that hardware. So, yes, these are two different kinds of sites and if you want all bases covered, you need a standard desktop site, a smartphone site and an iPad site.
With smart phones, the info on the site is translated to templates designed for the hardware being used. So, a smart phone site on your server will have templates for iPhone, Blackberry and Android. Each will present a little differently but the design and use on smartphones are the same. An issue occurs when you have a smartphone site without an iPad site. Calling up such a web site on iPad will display the iPhone site by default. This is why it is important to watch your iPad traffic and add an iPad site to the mix when you begin to get a lot of mobile traffic on iPads. All of these stats are available on Google Analytics and, yes, you should be watching them on a regular basis.
If you are ready to expand or begin a smartphone or iPad site as part of your Internet strategy, please contact me for more information at donald@dogstarmedia.com.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Hottest topic: Mobile Sites
Everyone is talking about mobile web sites these days. I think we have finally reached a tipping point on business owners recognizing the importance of mobile sites and, thus, how they are different from standard web sites. Maybe we are past the early adopter stage because so many people are seeing between 15-25% of their traffic coming in on mobile devices. If 1 in 4 people who view your site are doing so on mobile hardware, yes, you had better be meeting their browsing needs.
The Dog Star Media plan for mobile sites has been long-sighted. We recommend early adoption of smart phone mobile sites at 5% traffic. The recommended mobile site is a 7-page starter mobile site that can be expanded when there is more traffic. When traffic reaches 10%, we think this is a must have.
As traffic inches up to 20%, we recommend building out the site more, adding between 5-7 more pages to make sure all critical content is on the site. Now, for many of our clients, mobile traffic is on its way to 25%. This is the point where we recommend fully building out your mobile site with all the content of your current site. It will look vastly different on the smart phone site, but its vital that this content is presented properly for the hardware being used... especially when such a large percentage of site users are using mobile hardware.
So, when do you add in a iPad site? Just look at your Google Analytics for the answer. Apply the same criteria to the iPad users and you will have your answer. Probably, if you are a cosmetic surgeon or cosmetic dentist, you need to have an smart phone, iPad and standard site if you are going to going to meet the browsing preferences of your site visitors.
So, are you ready to make improvements in this area? Chances are you need to do so. Start by looking at your Google Analytics which will detail your mobile device use. Don’t have that or need help figuring it out? Do you know it and know what you need to do? Ready for a smart phone and/or iPad site? Just email me at donald@dogstarmedia.com. We were ahead of the curve on this and have been doing mobile sites for more than two years now. We can help.
The Dog Star Media plan for mobile sites has been long-sighted. We recommend early adoption of smart phone mobile sites at 5% traffic. The recommended mobile site is a 7-page starter mobile site that can be expanded when there is more traffic. When traffic reaches 10%, we think this is a must have.
As traffic inches up to 20%, we recommend building out the site more, adding between 5-7 more pages to make sure all critical content is on the site. Now, for many of our clients, mobile traffic is on its way to 25%. This is the point where we recommend fully building out your mobile site with all the content of your current site. It will look vastly different on the smart phone site, but its vital that this content is presented properly for the hardware being used... especially when such a large percentage of site users are using mobile hardware.
So, when do you add in a iPad site? Just look at your Google Analytics for the answer. Apply the same criteria to the iPad users and you will have your answer. Probably, if you are a cosmetic surgeon or cosmetic dentist, you need to have an smart phone, iPad and standard site if you are going to going to meet the browsing preferences of your site visitors.
So, are you ready to make improvements in this area? Chances are you need to do so. Start by looking at your Google Analytics which will detail your mobile device use. Don’t have that or need help figuring it out? Do you know it and know what you need to do? Ready for a smart phone and/or iPad site? Just email me at donald@dogstarmedia.com. We were ahead of the curve on this and have been doing mobile sites for more than two years now. We can help.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
SEO - Don’t be confused
Frequently, I am reminded how confusing search engine optimization (SEO) can be. It is a highly technical concept that is complicated with unrealistic expectations and assumptions about how things work. When there is this much confusion, people tend to sell on fear and insecurity. If you have doubts about logical processes being used for your SEO, you should know it can be very logical if you re realistic about what is possible.
Our SEO process begins with the selection of Efficient Keywords. These are keywords on which you can realistically be ranked more highly more quickly. They are also terms that are confirmed as those being searched. More than likely, a vastly popular term is not going to be an efficient keyword because of the amount of competition. So, Reality Check #1: get ranked where you can and build up your traffic. Traffic the one thing you cannot fake. If you have it, you are going to be considered more relevant.
Reality Check #2: Just because you think a keyword is valuable doesn’t mean that it is. If a keyword is not being searched, we cycle it out and replace it with a keyword that is being used. Many clients get enamored with certain words with which they identify. There are online tools that tell you if words are being searched. These are much more accurate in determining value of the keywords than opinion.
Reality Check #3: Just because you are not optimizing for a given term does not mean you cannot get relevant on it. Most people do not realize that their reports only detail the words that are being optimized. That is not all keywords.... just the ones being reported on. A good way to look at this is the words on your SEO reports are being worked and prioritized for effort. They are not your exhaustive list.
Reality Check #4: Sticking with a consistent organic strategy is the best way to go. A great deal of the strategy is selecting keywords. Any time you make changes, you open up the chance of going backward before going forward. If your SEO company can’t tell you why they are choosing certain words or employing certain strategies, you may have a problem in this area.
Reality Check #5: Focus on traffic. The goal of an SEO program is increased traffic. Don’t get sidetracked by a fixation about appearing ranked on certain terms. The effort to get there (which is often futile on the clearly most popular terms) will not be worth the cost in time and money and still no results are assured. Your SEO goal should be to increase traffic and by doing that your relevance as it relates to other, more hard to get terms. Sure higher placement on some terms should yield more traffic... in theory. What we know for sure is that sometimes taking the path of least resistance gets you what you want the most: more traffic. As far as the high value words... that is what paid search is for!
If you are looking for logical, methodical and sensible SEO strategy, try our Efficient Keyword strategy. Just email at donald@dogstarmedia.com for details.
Our SEO process begins with the selection of Efficient Keywords. These are keywords on which you can realistically be ranked more highly more quickly. They are also terms that are confirmed as those being searched. More than likely, a vastly popular term is not going to be an efficient keyword because of the amount of competition. So, Reality Check #1: get ranked where you can and build up your traffic. Traffic the one thing you cannot fake. If you have it, you are going to be considered more relevant.
Reality Check #2: Just because you think a keyword is valuable doesn’t mean that it is. If a keyword is not being searched, we cycle it out and replace it with a keyword that is being used. Many clients get enamored with certain words with which they identify. There are online tools that tell you if words are being searched. These are much more accurate in determining value of the keywords than opinion.
Reality Check #3: Just because you are not optimizing for a given term does not mean you cannot get relevant on it. Most people do not realize that their reports only detail the words that are being optimized. That is not all keywords.... just the ones being reported on. A good way to look at this is the words on your SEO reports are being worked and prioritized for effort. They are not your exhaustive list.
Reality Check #4: Sticking with a consistent organic strategy is the best way to go. A great deal of the strategy is selecting keywords. Any time you make changes, you open up the chance of going backward before going forward. If your SEO company can’t tell you why they are choosing certain words or employing certain strategies, you may have a problem in this area.
Reality Check #5: Focus on traffic. The goal of an SEO program is increased traffic. Don’t get sidetracked by a fixation about appearing ranked on certain terms. The effort to get there (which is often futile on the clearly most popular terms) will not be worth the cost in time and money and still no results are assured. Your SEO goal should be to increase traffic and by doing that your relevance as it relates to other, more hard to get terms. Sure higher placement on some terms should yield more traffic... in theory. What we know for sure is that sometimes taking the path of least resistance gets you what you want the most: more traffic. As far as the high value words... that is what paid search is for!
If you are looking for logical, methodical and sensible SEO strategy, try our Efficient Keyword strategy. Just email at donald@dogstarmedia.com for details.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
What’s New on The Cosmetic Channel
The Cosmetic Channel kicks off 2o12 with more than 300 doctors enrolled, many of whom are linking all sorts of video from YouTube. The Cosmetic Channel is becoming a great site to visit to learn about procedures and the doctors who do them. Subscription is free and the site continues to rise in the rankings. New doctors find us and join each month.
So, with new year, how about some new video. If you are a CosmeticChannel.com subscriber, here is a special offer. If you are not a CosmeticChannel.com subscriber, why not join for free so you can get this offer, too?
Here is our special offer:
Make a new 3-minute video for YouTube, use on your web site and to link to The Cosmetic Channel. Any format for $3600. Interview, facility tour, chromakey studio, shot on location or in our Dallas studio. Two 3-minute videos: $5400. Three 3-minute videos: $7200.
What story do you want to tell on video? What message can you use over and over in different ways online and on DVD? Marketing is becoming more and more about video, so how do you want to make your video this year?
If you are interested in learning more about making updated 2012 video for YouTube, The Cosmetic Channel and more, please contact me at donald@dogstarmedia.com. And, join TheCosmeticChannel.com to be part of the most varied cosmetic procedure video site on line.
So, with new year, how about some new video. If you are a CosmeticChannel.com subscriber, here is a special offer. If you are not a CosmeticChannel.com subscriber, why not join for free so you can get this offer, too?
Here is our special offer:
Make a new 3-minute video for YouTube, use on your web site and to link to The Cosmetic Channel. Any format for $3600. Interview, facility tour, chromakey studio, shot on location or in our Dallas studio. Two 3-minute videos: $5400. Three 3-minute videos: $7200.
What story do you want to tell on video? What message can you use over and over in different ways online and on DVD? Marketing is becoming more and more about video, so how do you want to make your video this year?
If you are interested in learning more about making updated 2012 video for YouTube, The Cosmetic Channel and more, please contact me at donald@dogstarmedia.com. And, join TheCosmeticChannel.com to be part of the most varied cosmetic procedure video site on line.
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