The Monthly “Steal” by David Steele

The Monthly “Steal” is a bit of relevant technology information intertwined with personal thoughts, opinions and some real life experiences. It is written by David “Steele” and is free, hence a “steal” from a “Steele”.

I have been encouraging our clients to start blogging, setup news feeds, create knowledgebase or anything that talks about their services to help increase keyword counts. It’s like pulling teeth and some of our clients are dentists! As a developer, we need content to help position websites organically on search engines. And, as I told the landscaper, content does not grow on trees. I use the analogy that websites are like a camp fire. You can build a huge fire by adding a little Boy Scout juice and the neighbors will take notice. But, if you don’t keep adding fuel, it will go out. Or, drop the frozen chicken wings into the outdoor cooker too quickly and you get everyone’s attention, as I found out this past weekend.

I explain to our clients that we can build a great web site, but if you don’t continue to feed it with content and market your site, organic search placement will not always work. But, in the back of my mind during all these sessions, I keep hearing – what about Intrada’s Blog A blog is a regularly updated website or web page, typically run by an individual or small group, that is written in an informal or conversational style. Blogs cover a wide array of topics?from personal diaries and entertainment news to professional insights and niche interests. The content on a blog usually consists of various posts or entries that appear in reverse chronological order, with the most recent post at the top. Blogs serve numerous purposes, depending on the nature and goals of the blogger. Personal blogs often function as online journals, allowing individuals to share their thoughts, experiences, and opinions. Professional or business blogs, on the other hand, can be used to establish thought leadership, engage with customers, and drive traffic to a company's website. Many bloggers leverage social media to promote their content, fostering a sense of community and interaction among readers. The interactive nature of blogs is one of their distinguishing features. Many blogs allow readers to leave comments, enabling a two-way discussion between the author and the audience. This interactivity can create a loyal readership and a strong sense of community. In addition to written content, blogs often incorporate multimedia elements such as images, videos, and links to other relevant websites or articles, enriching the reader's experience. Overall, blogs provide a versatile and dynamic platform for expressing ideas, sharing information, and connecting with a global audience. . Agh!

I’m no writer, blogger, or even qualified to use English at times. Just ask my senior English teacher who I thinks my father paid off the school so I would pass the 12th grade. I am the perfect example of why it’s recommended to write at an 8th grade level when communicating with people online – it’s a stat. So, what’s the big deal?

I focus on the online strategy and purpose of each media resource to maximize organic placement of our clients’ websites. I learned a long time ago that I need to leave the writing to the professionals and design to the designers. But, I want to know the estimated traffic, who is the target prospect, who are the competitors, what is the message and desired goals our client wants to accomplish.

How we communicate is changing so fast that we don’t even notice what we are missing and to get our message out quickly sometimes requires a pause to figure out what to say next. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

1. 

   What are your goals for organic keyword/key phase placement? We use Google Keyword Planner to identify our search words and estimated volume.

2. Where do you currently show up under these keyword/key phase placements and who is your online competition? We use MOZ to track our current and competitor ranking.

3. 

   We focus our new content to include keywords/key phases in our target placement and use social media sites to drive traffic to these articles.

This process gives me a focus for the content development by supporting both social and organic goals. But this still brings me back to the time required to create this content. It’s hard because this content is an investment to your website and does not always produce instant return. Intrada provides structured content development for clients based on organic placement goals. This same content is then used on social media sites, new media development and online advertising campaigns. We also use this content to stay in contact with clients through email blasts and traditional print media. But, it requires setting time aside to research, plan and develop the content to support your entire digital marketing efforts. Create a calendar, set some goals and reserve off the time to get started. Start small, but be specific with content focused on an organic placement goal then watch, test and measure.

Intrada has been developing content on a regular basis as it allows better placement on competitive AdWords campaigns, increased visibility on organic search goals and has fueled our social media growth. Start writing and share why you should be noticed.

If you are interested in learning more about Intrada, give me a call or email me today.

David Steele, Partner / Webmaster A Webmaster is a professional responsible for maintaining, managing, and improving websites. The role of a Webmaster encompasses a broad range of tasks, including designing web pages, updating content, ensuring website functionality, and optimizing site performance. Webmasters must possess a solid understanding of HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and other web technologies to effectively handle the technical aspects of website management. Webmasters also play a crucial role in implementing and managing SEO (Search Engine Optimization) strategies to enhance a website's visibility on search engines. This involves keyword research, on-page optimization, link building, and analyzing site traffic through tools like Google Analytics. Moreover, Webmasters are often tasked with ensuring site security by implementing measures to protect against cyber threats and regularly updating software to prevent vulnerabilities. In addition to technical expertise, Webmasters must have good project management and communication skills, as they frequently collaborate with content creators, designers, and marketing teams. Their ability to troubleshoot issues, manage hosting services, and enhance user experience makes them an indispensable asset for any organization looking to maintain a professional and functional online presence. Overall, the role of a Webmaster is dynamic and multifaceted, requiring a blend of technical prowess and strategic insight to manage and continually improve a website's performance and security.

djsteele@intradatech.com
570-321-7370