| According to the latest Federal data, the state of | | | | index it, too. |
| Maryland has about half a million small businesses and | | | | There are many, many other technical, |
| even more self-employed individuals. For a | | | | behind-the-scenes, coding that can be done to |
| geographically small state, that's a lot of competition! | | | | further tweak the online optimization. However, |
| The good news is that the Internet provides vast | | | | those are beyond the scope of this article. Be sure |
| opportunities for a small business or business of any | | | | to discuss with your developer or content |
| size, for that matter, to get in front of potential | | | | management provider what is happening behind the |
| customers. | | | | scenes to help boost your on site optimization. |
| The nature of the Internet and emergence of social | | | | External Links |
| media provides a unique, level playing field for | | | | Just optimizing your website won't get you ranked |
| businesses of all sizes to compete. | | | | well in the search engines. One thing that search |
| To take advantage of what the web has to offer, | | | | engines use to determine how they rank your site in |
| there are a number of things small businesses can do. | | | | search results is how many incoming links a website |
| Website | | | | has. It's important to get links in. Simply exchanging |
| All businesses need a website, a static location where | | | | links doesn't work well anymore. Search engines |
| they can send potential clients to learn more about | | | | actually detect reciprocal links and discount them. |
| their products and services. The website should | | | | Where can I get links into my Maryland business |
| contain compelling photos of completed work, | | | | website? |
| products or other photos that promote the | | | | There a number of ways to get one-way links into |
| business's product or service. We the emergence of | | | | your website. Some great ways include: |
| Web 2.0 technologies and social media, it has become | | | | Web Directory Submissions. We directories most |
| quite easy for businesses to create a website in | | | | always allow you to add a link back to your website. |
| some cases for little or no cost. | | | | Do a quick search for your business type or service |
| But just creating a website is not enough. Search | | | | type in Google. Make sure you use your city or state |
| engines account for at least eighty percent of most | | | | in the search term. Chances are on the first 2-3 |
| websites' traffic. For this reason, a website needs to | | | | pages of results, there are web directories. These |
| be created with visitors in mind, as well as search | | | | are a great place to add your business and/or |
| engine robots. First, your visitors need to be provided | | | | website! Some are free and some charge a fee. |
| with a simple interface and easy navigation. Visitors | | | | There's typically an "œadd your business" link |
| should be able to quickly and easily locate the | | | | somewhere on the page. Simply fill out the forms |
| information they are looking for. The site should have | | | | they provide. Give yourself a good description and |
| a design that's easy on the eyes and entices the | | | | any supporting information. Typically the more |
| visitor to stay and learn more. Aside from the user | | | | information you can provide, the better your results. |
| experience, the search engines also need to be able | | | | Google Places. If you don't add your business |
| to index your website and effectively crawl ALL | | | | anywhere, make sure it's in Google Places. Google |
| pages. | | | | places are those listings that show up right next to a |
| Basically, an inviting and professional design, easy | | | | map at the top of search results. Google typically |
| navigation, useful content and search engine | | | | shows the map when someone types in a geographic |
| optimized HTML pages are the recipe to a successful | | | | search, such as "Rockville, MD Attorney". If you build |
| website. Employ these core requirements and a | | | | out a great profile on Google places and have clients |
| website can provide a valuable, and in some cases, a | | | | post comments there, you can do quite well. NOTE: |
| primary source of client leads. | | | | Bing & Yahoo Local listings. Just like Google |
| Search Engine Optimization | | | | Places, Bing and Yahoo also have Local business |
| Is your website getting traffic? Does it rank with the | | | | listings. Make sure you build a profile on all of them! |
| search engines? You may have a beautiful, state of | | | | Local Directories. Local directories provide perhaps the |
| the art website and get no traffic. If you find that | | | | best and most relevant links back to your website. In |
| your site isn't producing leads or getting adequate | | | | Maryland, there are a number of local directories. |
| traffic, here are a few things to make sure your | | | | Below is a very brief list. You can find others by |
| website itself is developed so that search engines | | | | search Google for "Maryland business directory" or |
| can see it and index it properly. | | | | "Baltimore business directory". |
| Make sure it's not created solely by graphics, Flash or | | | | Some local business directories include: |
| JavaScript. The search engines index text. Period. | | | | - - - marylanddirectory.org |
| They can't read a Flash animation or a graphic. Alt | | | | - - - Other great ways to get links is through press |
| tags help, but where possible include a decent | | | | releases, articles and social networking/bookmarking |
| amount of text on each page. | | | | sites. These take a great deal of explanation, so I'll |
| Make sure you or your developer understands the | | | | save them for the next article. |
| appropriate use of HTML tags and meta tags. These | | | | Summary. |
| alone can make or break the success of your | | | | A good website design, search engine optimized |
| website. I've seen websites go from page five of | | | | pages, useful content and inbound links are an |
| search results to page one, simply by properly | | | | essential start for any company looking to promote |
| formatting HTML tags such as IMG and META tags. | | | | their products and services online. Some of the |
| Relevant Content. Make sure your website's content | | | | requirements for building and promoting a Maryland |
| is relevant. Create a separate page for each product | | | | website can be a bit technical. There are excellent |
| or service you provide and be sure to provide | | | | tools for do-it-your-selfers that handle most of the |
| adequate content, photos, etc to support the service | | | | back end optimization. However, to ensure you're |
| or product being promoted. | | | | getting the most from your website and online |
| Easy navigation. Always, always provide a simple | | | | marketing, it's advised to seek assistance from a |
| interface for individuals to navigate through your | | | | Maryland web designer or Internet Marketing |
| website. This also helps the search engines better | | | | consultant. |