Does internet marketing and SEO really work?  Well, a team of researchers at Washington University has determined that search engine marketing, ie Google search effectiveness, provides a tremendous return on investment for businesses.

In a down economy where advertisers are concerned about every dollar spent, a team of researchers at Washington University in St. Louis has developed a new method of measuring the effectiveness of Google search advertising, taking into account not only online sales, but goods or services purchased off-line as well.

More and more people looking for products do so via the internet.  If a local or a national business is not trying to put themselves in a position to be found by those searchers, they are losing money … lots of it.

Although the average cost per click using Google search advertising increased from around 25 cents in 2004 to almost 80 cents in 2007, it returns a value of about $10 per click for each keyword, the study suggests.

“This is very important for the advertising industry,” Chan says. “And also I think it is important for Google itself. They want to really show their customers, their business clients, how effective search advertising is.”

Google’s total advertising revenues in 2010 were $28 billion, up from $439 million in 2002.

One of the major advantages of search advertising is that it creates a better fit between potential customers’ needs and the advertised message. By reaching out to a large audience with immediate interest in the product advertised, search advertising provides a platform for advertisers not only to stimulate sales among existing customers but to also acquire new customers and grow business.

Although most of this study is aimed at Pay Per Click advertising, it rings even truer for the natural searches.  Having a position on the first page of the primary search engines is extremely important for businesses.  The best way to do this is to provide searches the information they are looking for … as long as it fits what your business has to offer.  There are many internet marketing consultants that can assist business with what they need to do to position themselves in the most favorable position they can.

…More at Customers acquired through Google search advertising more valuable than previously thought

Website Design Mistakes

Website design software is everywhere, and so are website design companies.  Even we do website designs for our clients that are very effective in getting qualified prospects calling.  As mentioned in the NC Website Design article, you can even design your own website for free.   There are  many different website builders.  Considering the many options that exist, it’s completely understandable that small business owners often feel a sense of confusion when it comes to building a website.  While there are many extremely desirable elements to website design, there are also some things you should avoid.  Here are five website design mistakes you should be careful never to make.

Website Design Mistake #1:  Using PDF Files Instead of Pages

It might be tempting to scan existing documents into pdf format and upload them onto your website.  Give visitors a link to click, and up comes your pdf. Easy, right?  Wrong!  People hate finding pdf’s on websites.  They take a long time to load, and they can be hard to read.  Take the time to create a new page that contains the pertinent information.  You can build links and backlinks, add great photos, and make your page a pleasure to visit instead of an irritation.  Annoyed visitors leave a site and look for a better one – so skip the pdf’s.

Website Design Mistake #2:  Using Bookish Text

People want information fast.  They want to scan your site and see whether you have what they are looking for.  So:

• Do not make your site look like the page of a book.  Keep it interesting.
• Use photos and vary the text size to highlight different areas of your page.
• Use bulleted lists and quick paragraphs with headers that tell the visitor what they’re going to find under that heading.
• Make your site interactive.  The more fun people have when they visit your site, the more successful it will be.

Website Design Mistake #3:  Building A Flashy Site That Is Too Complicated For Users To Navigate

You can have the most beautiful looking website in the world, but without elements that are properly built using proven website design techniques, your site will be just more pretty pictures – and the internet is full of those!  People want to go to a site, find what they are looking for, and leave.  The better and faster the internet gets, the faster people expect sites to work.

Website Design Mistake #4:  Preventing Smartphone Users From Accessing Your Site

This is a relatively new mistake in website design, and if you’ve got a website now, it’s worth looking into.  Can people who surf the web on their iPhone, Droid, Blackberry or other smartphone get into your site?  Can they find what they’re looking for, and navigate well?  If not, your site needs first aid.  Fast.

Website Design Mistake #5:  Not Hiring A Professional To Handle Website Design

You might want to help your buddy who is learning about website design build his portfolio by building you a website, and while that might be OK if he has some experienced guidance, it also might ruin your chances of ending up with a great site that is both user friendly and high ranking.  These days, website design is about a lot more than looking good.  Hire a professional, and your site will do exactly what you need it to – gain you business, and increase your bottom line.

We will be happy to provide some tips on your existing website so that it will rank high in the search engines … no strings attached.  Our website review will be quick and provided in plain English.  You will come away with things that you can act upon immediately to start getting noticed.  Give my NC SEO Consultants cell phone a call at 336-407-6490.  We will help you eliminate your website design mistakes.