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  • “The Sky Is Falling” – Why Most SEO’s Freak Out When Algorithm Updates Hit

    “The Sky Is Falling” – Why Most SEO’s Freak Out When Algorithm Updates Hit

    The internet is ever-evolving, and this should not be breaking news to anyone. Updates, AI, and constant change keep most SEOs on their toes. One thing I’ve tried to teach myself and my clients over the years is that core algorithm updates happen, and these days, they happen more often than ever before.

    Search Engine Optimization and Web Design in Kansas City

    As content becomes more accessible and easier to create, thanks in part to artificial intelligence sources like Chat GPT, Gemini, and countless others, search engines have been adjusting how and what ranks well due to the tsunami of published content. While most beginner SEOs genuinely aren’t capable of publishing good, quality content with a simple AI prompt, the fact that so many websites are pumping out garbage content makes search engines like Google have to make adjustments. Like the “helpful content” algorithm update, search engines are slowly but surely catching on to content solely designed to help a website rank higher organically but provide little to no informational value to the reader.

    As a rule of thumb, when organic search rankings get volatile, it’s sure that a big core algorithm update is on its way, as I have seen in the past few weeks. The trick with SEO is that if you’re not ahead of what’s coming, you end up scrambling to try to “fix” what Google, Bing, or other search engines ding your site(s) for. That’s never a good idea because it usually involves a complete content makeover, which is not only time-consuming but also a waste of time and resources when it should have been right the first time. At Web Force KC, we don’t “freak out” anymore when rankings fluctuate because we know that the content we publish for our clients is solid, timely, relevant, and informative as it pertains to whatever industry they are in. I guess the point of this blog is that keyword-jamming a ton of blog posts with AI isn’t a viable option anymore, nor is it an effective marketing strategy. Of course, I use AI to help with tasks that would otherwise take a ton of time, but publishing trash content just to rank for a few low-value keywords is not part of Web Force KC’s game plan.

    Until next time. 🍻

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  • Smoke and Vape Shop SEO and Online Marketing: Tons Of Fun, But Not Easy!

    Smoke and Vape Shop SEO and Online Marketing: Tons Of Fun, But Not Easy!

    When I started Web Force KC over 12 years ago, I knew it would not be a typical ad/marketing agency. For years, I had worked for agencies that always seemed to overlook thriving industries because the nature of their businesses was considered taboo or high-risk. Smoke, tobacco, and vape shops were an industry that I had followed since I was in high school because, well, it was part of my culture. While smoke shops (or head shops) have been around since the 1960s, the industry’s explosive growth can be seen on almost every corner of every city and suburb, including here in Kansas City.

    Smoke and Vape Shop Search Engine Optimization, Web Design, and Online Marketing

    So why would Web Force KC want to get into smoke and vape shop marketing? Well, for one thing, it’s FUN! That’s not to say I don’t enjoy creating content for my other clients’ industries. Still, if you can imagine waking up every day and knocking out blog content and social media posts about vapes, bongs, rolling papers, and other smoking/vaping supplies coupled with local sports, holidays, weather, events, or whatever while getting paid for it, and more importantly, soundly dominating any market we are hired to promote shops in, it’s pretty damn fun.

    The thing is that it is by no means easy. Smoke and vape shops have always had an interestingly restrictive place in online marketing and social networks; not knowing the rules of engagement can land an agency in big trouble. While the US continues to lower its guard on things like cannabis, some social media platforms will suspend or ban users for violating community guidelines. This means that if they deem a post to be about drugs (THC/CBD/kratom, etc.) or promoting tobacco (cigarettes, chewing tobacco), they will take action. (Trust me, I’ve been in Meta jail countless times). Plus, most, if not all, of the top social media platforms won’t allow smoke/vape shops to use paid advertising (or boost) for content. If that’s not enough, Google and other search engines won’t allow PPC campaigns for smoke/vape shops, leaving SEO and organic content marketing the only viable choice for success. Yelp does allow smoke/vape shops to do paid advertising, but based on my experience, the results are lackluster at best for the amount of money you’ll spend.

    So, how does an agency effectively market a smoke/vape shop in a hyper-competitive market? Well, it mostly has to do with creating solid, consistent content and having a firm understanding of what the ultimate call-to-action(s) is. Obviously, “get directions‘ is number one, but getting phone calls is a close second because that’s when the stores’ staff sales skills have to kick in. Thinking local and staying on top of what’s happening is a significant component of creating compelling content. We’ve learned from experience that not knowing what’s going on in the metro can directly affect sales volume on any given day.

    A prime example is when football starts in the fall. Here in KC, it’s a must-watch TV unless, of course, you’re at Arrowhead. Making sure that the smoke/vape shops get EARLY social media posts and content published is crucial because foot traffic dies in every shop after kickoff, tipoff, or, in some cases, the first pitch. The same is true in the Dallas-Fort Worth market when the Cowboys play, which seems odd because they are never very good (sorry, not sorry).

    Without giving out any secrets, the truth is that no marketing campaign is “easy,” but many standard online marketing tools are limited or non-existent in the case of smoke and vape shops. It takes solid, consistent content with clear and easy-to-access calls to action because no one walks through your doors if you don’t show up in a given search.

    Until next time. 🍻

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  • The Audience, The Character, The Voice, and The Content

    The Audience, The Character, The Voice, and The Content

    Most of the content I come across online about SEO, social media, and marketing are typically flashy, rocket-to-the-top promotions or theoretical assumptions about how and what Google and AI are doing, which is not what this piece will be about by any means. A few years ago, I began to focus heavily on the fact that each client (and sub-clients, which I’ll explain in a later blog) has a unique character and voice. Not only do their business and the services/products they provide have distinct characteristics, but I, as their marketing/content creator and strategist, unconsciously created a voice and dynamic character to coincide with each client’s content produced. Ideally, this character, voice, and content combination needs to be not only reflective of the business but also speak directly to their clients or customers. While Web Force KC’s clients have become widely diverse in terms of industries, the overall approach to creating unique, relevant, and effective content pieces, big and small for each of them, has not changed but has, in fact, vastly evolved.

    Character Driven Search Engine Optimization, Social Media, and Website/Blog Content Combined Can Create A Company’s Voice Accurately

    Whether it’s a simple and time-sensitive social media post on GAME DAYS for the group of smoke and vape shops in KS, MO, and TX we work with or the quality, professional lawn and landscaping voice urging potential customers to secure spring lawn care and landscape services in the dead of winter, I’ve found that switching back and forth between characters has become much easier. That being said, I have over 12 years of practice doing it.

    What is interesting in today’s online arena is finding the balance between engagement and creating content that is not only witty, cute, and/or informative but also helpful, sprinkling in the all-important call to action. “Why should you hire ‘X’ company?” “Why should you shop at ‘Y ‘store?” Thoroughly knowing and somewhat becoming each character often allows me to also walk in the shoes of their potential clients and customers, which before seemed virtually impossible and, quite honestly, felt weird. With all of the analytics and tracking tools available to marketers today, it seems almost absurd not to have fictional yet authentic characters and accurately representative voices in any online marketing content, as it will often give a very defined inside look at what works, what doesn’t, and how the overall strategy can be improved and refined.

    While no marketing strategy is perfect or guaranteed, for that matter, making sure that your company or organization has a distinct voice and character that accurately reflects the goals, values, and vision is never a bad thing to have. Just like riding a bike, learning to ski, or even learning to type furiously with little error, creating a solid voice that reflects your character takes time, practice, and a ton of effort. And remember that as your company/organization grows, so too does the voice and character, ideally for the better.

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  • How To Avoid The Online Reviews Blues

    How To Avoid The Online Reviews Blues

    Local Search Engine Optimization in Kansas City, Leawood, and Overland Park

    One of the most challenging things we’ve had to deal with at Web Force KC while working with our clients over the years is online reviews. In fact, after many years of trying to communicate how vital getting online reviews are to our clients, we eventually crafted a clever reminder that we tend to tell at least one of them once a week: The only review that you’ll get that you don’t ask for is usually one that you don’t want. What’s odd about online marketing and its effect on consumers’ buying decisions is that the days of 2 neighbors chatting at their fence line asking, “who does your lawn care?” are rare, if not nonexistent. What’s even more interesting is that we now use the internet to find products and/or services we want or need and base our buying decisions on the opinions (i.e.reviews) of people we don’t even know. Of course, word of mouth and referrals still exist, but as a marketing agency, our job is to generate leads and customers solely through a carefully woven web of our client’s online presence and let the companies we promote deliver their goods and services the way they see fit.

    That’s why getting solid reviews and maintaining a quality rating is imperative to the success of any business using the web as a tool to generate business. In the case of Web Force KC, we primarily work with small, locally owned, and operated businesses that, more often than not, have big corporate competition that can be tough but not impossible to beat in the SEO arena. With online reviews, we’ve found that larger corporate entities that offer similar services to our clients often struggle to get and maintain good reviews for whatever reason, which is why keeping and growing our client’s online reputation is a big part of what we do. The dilemma is not so easily solved by merely asking customers to write beaming reviews because most will say a resounding “YES” but soon forget or blow it off. This is why we took the initiative to make getting and asking for reviews simple and streamlined using the fact that most everyone has a smartphone in their pocket or purse that can be used to help get our client’s customers onto their review pages and leave feedback that helps win even more business. We’re not going to get into details as to how we are creating seamless avenues to get more reviews or even social media followers, but chances are you’ve seen how and what we do in nearly every business, particularly since COVID-19 hit the US last year. (Hint: it has something to do with a phone’s camera.)

    For some industries we work with, it is incredibly challenging to get consistent reviews as many of our clients are in what some would consider taboo industries. We’ve found that many of their customers don’t necessarily want to advertise publicly that they shop there for whatever reason. That’s why when you see that breakthrough moment with a customer that digs what you do or sell, you make it a point to say something along the lines of, “I’m glad we could help. We’d appreciate it if you could write a review for us so that other people know that we’re the real deal.” That sounds a bit canned, but you get the point. You and your staff should ask for reviews from every customer you know is satisfied with what you do or did every day. Of course, you can’t make everyone happy, and it’s safe to assume that most people online know that, which is why the occasional bat-shit crazy review from someone that you could never satisfy isn’t going to hurt a business that has countless 5-star reviews and 1 or 2 bad ones.

    We get that you get busy, overwhelmed with the details of running a business, and can easily forget to ask for reviews. Still, the fact is that you likely already have customers that can and will write a stellar recommendation for what you sell or do, but they don’t know how and where to do it. Ask and show them.

    Call Web Force KC at (816) 462-9128 for Kansas City web design and online marketing.

     

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  • The Copyright Conundrum: Part 1

    The Copyright Conundrum: Part 1

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    When I first started Web Force KC (what seems like eons ago), never in a million years did I think that anyone would ever steal content, photos, or overall marketing strategies that I had created until someone did. At first I was somewhat flattered that I had managed to do something for my clients that would cause someone to want to take it, use it and act as if it were their own but that “they like me, they really like me” feeling quickly drifted away as I continued to find more and more instances of infringement from not only in the Kansas City area but all over the world.

    SEO and Effective Web Design in Kansas City, MO

    It started with blog content locally here in Kansas City with multiple businesses that were similar to one of my clients’ lifting content and publishing it as their own on their website. That really pissed me off because I take pride in creating original, effective content but I was wise to not lose my temper as that never seems to accomplish anything. I simply warned them to remove it and moved on however a few short months later I found them doing the same thing again…and again…and again until finally I had to seek legal council. At the time it was somewhat exciting in that I had never had to consult with any attorney for my business and understanding how copyright law works was absolutely fascinating because, well, I create things online all day, everyday. Over time I began to find new more efficient ways to make sure that the content I create and images I take for for my clients is protected and now, as of November 2020, I am unfortunately having to send out cease and desist/demand letter emails at a minimum of once per week. It used to be kind of an adrenaline rush but now it’s become more sad and irritating especially when you consider that most of the guilty parties are the web design and/or marketing companies these businesses hired to help them.

    Unfortunately, I don’t have any mercy for them anymore as my clients pay a premium to be exclusive and for Web Force KC to create one of a kind, unique website and blog content for them that is not only representative of their business but also extremely effective at helping them grow them. As Web Force KC continues to implement new copyright detection technology and more efficient methods of finding instances of infringement online, we will become more effective at protecting the exclusive marketing services we provide to our clients. We have also partnered with intellectual property attorneys that guide us in how to best approach each instance of copyright infringement so that when it’s time to strike, we can execute flawlessly and more importantly legally.

    In other words, don’t steal from Web Force KC’s clients because we will find you and make your life very unpleasant. 

    Call Web Force KC at (816) 462-9128 for effective web design and online marketing in the Kansas City area.

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  • Shoot Yourself In The Foot Marketing

    Shoot Yourself In The Foot Marketing

    We all have opinions and beliefs which is fine and good but dragging divisive opinions and beliefs into your marketing strategy could cost your business big time. Don’t get me wrong, I personally have some pretty strong beliefs and opinions that I am more than will to stand up for but I have refused to incorporate them into my business’ or my clients’ marketing strategies and for good reason.

    Local Web Design and SEO in Kansas City, MO

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    Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay

    At the time that this blog is being written, Kansas City (and our entire country for that matter) is polarized on a variety of issues. Civil unrest is a daily news blip and with elections on the horizon in November, there is no shortage of back and forth banter among opposing opinions both online and offline. The funny thing about all of the chaos and insanity is that marketers are finding ways to still get into your head and plant the seeds of their products or services but they are doing it very, very carefully so as not to cut themselves off at the knees. Let me explain: a few weeks back I published a blog titled Marketing In The Age Of COVID-19 where I briefly touched on making sure your marketing efforts don’t piss off 50% of the people you are trying to get to. But I feel like this needs to explored even more particularly in light of some recent campaigns I’ve been following closely that are failing in a major way. If you are from the Kansas City area and you listen to the radio or watch TV, you may have noticed that a very prominent plumber in the area has decided to throw his hat into the ring and run for senate in Kansas. What’s odd is that his hilarious political ads are often followed by or preceded by his ads for his plumbing business. To be fair, I learned that he no longer actually owns the plumbing business but is still the “face” of their marketing campaigns. It’s a free country and more power to a guy that started out as a plumber that ends up running for public office once he sold his company but his rhetoric is highly divisive and word on the street is that the plumbing company is suffering as a direct result of it. You can watch for yourself as the train wreck happens in real time but it is no mystery as to why the plumbing business in which he’s still the “face” of is drowning. Any time you drag politics, polarizing opinions, or beliefs into your marketing efforts you should expect repercussions from those on the opposite side. Republican vs Democrat. Pro-life vs Pro-Choice. Pro police vs anti-police. Etc. Etc.

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    The goal of marketing your business is to get the word out about what you do, how your do it, where you do it, and why someone would choose you to do it for them and I’m having a hard time thinking of an instance where political or philosophical beliefs would come into play as a means of enhancing a marketing message aside from, well, political marketing. The truth is that anyone opposed to your opinions will likely be opposed to your business because in this day and age, we have a hard time seeing other points of view which makes marketing with politics or any mildly controversial subject matter dangerous and likely ineffective. I’m not saying don’t stand up for your beliefs and ideals but make sure that you consider whether or not they have anything remotely to do with what you do and who you might piss off to the point that they don’t want to do business with you. Sadly, we have all become more easily offended and triggered and it likely won’t get any better anytime soon. We recommend you focus on what you do and/or sell and let the idealists fight it out on social media because the fact is that you won’t change anyone that has already made up their mind as to what they believe. Keep your marketing neutral and go after everyone instead of having people come after or boycott you and your business based on your personal beliefs. You can’t please everyone but you’re marketing efforts will be phenomenally more effective when you focus more on what you do, not how you personally think. Sure it’s hard to appeal to everyone but that’s why my clients pay Web Force KC to do it because it is far from easy. That’s just one of the things we do for our clients.

    Call Web Force KC at (816) 462-9128 for effective web design and online marketing in the Kansas City area.

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  • Content Marketing Kicks Ass

    Content Marketing Kicks Ass

    Photo by Kaitlyn Baker on Unsplash

    I’ve always loved writing. I can’t remember the actual moment when I realized that writing came naturally to me but I know it was when I was very young. As a teenager I wrote a ton of poetry and other odd literary project most of which was real hit and miss but nevertheless writing was and continues to be a creative outlet that has not only gotten me through some pretty rough times, it has quite honestly kept me sane (still does). I’m lucky enough to get paid to write for my clients and I don’t take that responsibility and privilege lightly. Through my content writing on their websites, blogs, social media, and other marketing projects, I get to literally become the online voice of that business which is enormously fun but can often times be very difficult.

    Search Engine Optimization and Content Marketing in Kansas City, MO

    Writing for a business is content marketing and the best part about it (at least for me) is that I’m rarely at a loss for words or ideas. The trick to effective content writing is finding new ways to describe the same products or services over and over again in new ways that are relevant to my clients, their customers, and ultimately the search engines which is why they pay me to write in the first place. Looking back at some of my early content marketing work, it was pretty evident that the rules of the search engines weren’t very strict like they are today. In fact, I remember writing blog posts that were so absurdly overly keyword heavy that any normal person reading it would think a lunatic wrote it. That may have worked then but it certainly doesn’t work now in 2020.

    Photo by Skye Studios on Unsplash

    Rich, unique content is what Google says they want to see and these days when you lay the keyword babble on too heavy, you’ll likely get penalized and loose rankings. This means that there must be a balance between relevant content that is unique, current, and most importantly makes sense to both potential customers reading it as well as the search engines in order to be effective. It sounds more complicated than it really is but it does take some practice to get content to consistently flow and at the same time be functional for online marketing goals. Integrating what’s currently going on is an easy way to create content that is engaging and relevant but there are some really deep pitfalls you’ll probably want to avoid if you go that route. For example, leaning one way politically with your business’ voice will inevitably cut off any potential customers that are on the opposite end of the political spectrum of you which isn’t good. A good rule of thumb I use when I’m debating whether to use an outside current event or mindset in content is to ask myself “is there a large group that are vehemently opposed to this?” If the answer is yes or even maybe, I don’t do it. Don’t get me wrong, I could care less if someone gets offended by my personal opinions but they have no place in my business communications or my clients’ content for that matter.

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    I guess the best advise I can give on content marketing is just keep typing no matter what (you can always go back and edit later), keep the content upbeat, and keep it current and relevant to where you are and what’s going on there. Don’t try to explain your whole business in one content piece but instead try breaking up parts of what you do or what you sell into separate content. Don’t expect all of your content to make you surge up in the search engine rankings because you’ll be very disappointed. Obviously some content will be more productive and effective than others and the key is to maximize those that really kick ass and learn why they performed so well so that you can take your future content to the next level.

    When I first started in the SEO/online marketing industry the phrase “Content is King” could be heard in pretty much every sales pitch or presentation to new clients and it still holds true today. Sure you can go and pay Google a mountain of money to show up prominently and  immediately with AdWords but the fact is that once you stop paying, you immediately become invisible again. With content marketing and search engine optimization, your online presence is built organically which, in my opinion, is much more powerful, effective and lasting. Especially when you consider that most Pay Per Click ads only see a roughly 2% click through rate which isn’t much for what you pay. Content marketing works exceptionally well but it is by no means the most simple and easy path to succeed online. However, when done correctly, content marketing can be the most powerful and effective tool in your online marketing arsenal and that is why I enjoy it so much.

    If you have questions about content marketing, SEO, or web design in Kansas City, feel free to get in contact with us.

    Call Web Force KC at (816) 462-9128 for web design and online marketing in Kansas City.

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  • The Rise, Fall, and Rise Again Of QR Codes

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    I’ve been a big fan of using QR codes in marketing strategies for many years. Ever since the smartphone became something that nearly everyone had in their pocket, the QR code has been a pretty nifty bridge to take you from the physical world as we know it to the magical land of the internet simply by pointing your phone at the black and white blocked squares. If memory serves me correct, the first REAL phone I owned was the G1 which was one of, if not the first phone to run Android by Google. The G1 amazingly enough had an app for scanning QR codes. At the time it was absolutely astounding to scan codes but there weren’t many ways to actually generate QR codes efficiently or free for that matter. Now you can spot QR codes on everything from Heinz Ketchup bottles and TV commercials to the trailer of a remodeling company and the invoices they send to their customers which should scream to you that they still work. In fact, today’s smartphones make it easier than ever to scan a QR code because all you need to do is open your phone’s camera and point whereas previously you needed an app that was almost always ad sponsored to scan.

    Local Web Design and Online Marketing in Kansas City, MO

    What’s interesting about QR codes is that they aren’t necessarily a new thing. In fact, they’ve been around for many years before the advent of smartphones or the widespread use of the internet as we know it today. QR codes are essentially bar codes but they are read quite differently and are capable of storing much more information. The first bar codes were developed in the 1960s in Japan where the country was experiencing huge economic growth, especially in retail industries. Grocery store cashiers, at the time, had to hand key in prices and products which is not only inefficient but it was also exhausting. Once in use, the bar code revolutionized product pricing, inventory management, and global commerce as we know it. However, the bar code was soon found to have limitations most specifically in the amount of information that could be stored with an individual code. A typical bar code could only store around 20 alphanumeric characters of information which isn’t a whole lot. Plus, a bar code can only be read in one direction (left to right) with a singular scanner device (today’s bar code scanners have since fixed this with more advanced scanning techniques). That’s where Denso Wave Incorporated enters the picture as they were already developing more advanced code reading capabilities that could store much more information than a simple bar code. The QR code they were developing could be scanned unidirectional meaning no matter which way it’s facing or which angle you’re scanning from, it can easily and flawlessly be read. As expected, it took many years and a ton of trial and error before it worked seamlessly. Fast forward to 1994 when the Denso Corporation finally released the QR code as we know it to the public in Japan which prompted the Japanese automobile industry to quickly integrate the codes into auto parts and production processes. They were immensely popular (mostly in Japan) but they soon faded away from the public eye until around 2002 when the explosion of smartphones allowed everyone to have a scanner in the palm of their hand. As everyone on the planet began to get their hands on every increasingly powerful smartphone devices, the use of the QR code rose as well. QR codes have been used on everything from coupons and security badges to airline boarding passes and so much more (just look around and you’ll likely find a QR code on something near you). QR codes seemed to disappear for a number of years especially for public use and applications but with the most recent smartphones equipped with a code scanner in their camera app, they have seen a huge resurgence. While you would think that inventing something as useful and globally used as the QR code would make the inventor insanely rich, the creator did in fact patent the code but opted to allow public use without restriction.

    Today it’s pretty simple to create a custom QR code for businesses or for whatever. At Web Force KC, we use them to help our clients get better customer reviews, direct their customers to non-public pages on their websites, add to their social media presence, promote sales, and many more applications and functions that are easily accessible to anyone with a smartphone. We strive to find new and creative ways to use QR codes for our clients to help them grow their businesses.

    If you enjoyed reading this blog, do us a favor and pull out your smartphone, open up your camera, point it at the QR code below, follow the link, and write a review for Web Force KC. We would appreciate it!

    QR-code-Web-Force-KC-Google-reviews

     

    Call Web Force KC at (816) 462-9128 for web design and online marketing in Kansas City.

     

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  • New Business Starter Pack

    New Business Starter Pack

    Photo Credit Alex Holyoake

    My daughter and I are total meme geeks and one of our favorites has always been the “starter pack.” If you’re not familiar with them I highly recommend you check them out as they are hilarious. The starter pack meme is usually a series of images that collaboratively represent a type of person or character but with less then complimentary intentions. Anyway, I had an old friend ask me about starting a new website for his wife who had recently lost her job and was opening up her own private practice. It made me think about how I really don’t have a starter pack for new business owners. I’m not going to get into extreme details but instead I thought that providing some basic insight on setting up a website as, in my humble opinion, it is the most effective way to get a business going and start generating revenue.

    Local Online Marketing and Website Design in Kansas City, MO

    Get a good name for your business. I’ve worked with countless businesses over the years that have the weirdest names and honestly it takes more work to effectively market them. My advise is to pick a name that has at least little bit to do with what your business actually does. Made up words that don’t make sense to people likely won’t make sense to the search engines either unless you pound brand based content repeatedly when you could be spending your online marketing time more productively like pushing keywords related to what your business does.

    Get a good domain name (that isn’t too long). When my clients ask me to research domain names I tend to look for ones that contain what they do and where they do it. For instance, one of my clients recently added a new location in North Kansas City and wanted me to put a website together specifically for that location. He owns multiple smoke and vape shops but this location is the first in what KC people call the “Northland.” I ended up picking SmokeShopNorthKC.com as it not only is one of the main keywords (smoke shop) we will be going after with our SEO services but also where we will be pushing those keywords (in North KC). Don’t bang your head against the wall trying to find a domain name that does the SEO for you because you’ll never find it but do your best to pick one that makes sense, is short and to the point, and most importantly one that is easy to remember.

    local-web-website-hosting-KC-KCMO-Kansas-City-MO
    Photo Credit  Taylor Vick

    Get good hosting. If want to build a website, you’ll need a place to host it. Hosting is essentially renting space on someone’s server for the files that make up your website. Ideally you should host your website where you buy your domain name but it isn’t absolutely necessary. Check out the reviews on the hosting company because most of them suck to say the least. No offense but GoDaddy really sucks. I’ve had to deal with them for years and each time it’s a struggle to refrain from yelling and screaming at them. Plus, they like to nickle and dime your for every little thing which is just silly. Web Force KC can provide hosting and website security through our partnership with Just Host. We’ve worked with them for years and have never had any major problems especially when it comes to their support which is exceptional. The downtime is minimal which means that our clients’ websites rarely, if ever, are “down for maintenance” which is a good thing.

    Have a professional write your website content. Nothing is worse than having terribly written content on a website. First, your potential customers can get annoyed really quick if your content is poor quality and end up bouncing off of your site to one of your competitors. Second, the search engines like rich, unique content that makes it crystal clear who you are, what you do, and where you do it. Content writers usually aren’t cheap but they do provide an invaluable service that make businesses money.

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    Photo Credit Christian Wiediger

    Have good images. If you aren’t a photographer, no worries, you’re not alone. I’m by no means a great photographer and neither are most of my clients even though we have increasingly more powerful cameras on our phones. I’ve had clients that have held contests with their employees to take pictures which worked out pretty well but in the end nothing beats a professional photographer. There are many websites that offer free image downloads for any type of use including commercial use. DON’T USE PICTURES THAT AREN’T YOURS! Copyright infringement is real and can cost you a ton of money. (Trust us, we’re currently in the middle of suing a local business for stealing our images and content). We recommend checking out Unsplash.com for tons of great free images. In fact, we used UnSplash images for the blog you are currently reading and we think they look pretty damn good. You may not find exactly what you are looking for there but you can at the very least get some good ideas. If all else fails, go buy some stock photos.

    Lastly, make sure your website makes sense. A website should allow users to get the information they need or get in contact with you quickly and easily otherwise they’ll go somewhere else. I can’t tell you how many times a website (or more specifically a web designer) over-complicated thing when the business offered a pretty simple service or product but made it almost impossible to actually get info, make a purchase, or get in contact with the company. Clean, simple, and user friendly always works.

    At Web Force KC, our goal is and always has been to help our clients navigate the ever-changing world of the internet while helping them grow their business as well. Our common sense approach to web design, content creation and website hosting/security allows our clients to focus on running their business instead of worrying about the web.

    Call Web Force KC at (816) 462-9128 for local web design, SEO, and online marketing in Kansas City.

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  • Grab Your Piece Of The Pie

    Grab Your Piece Of The Pie

    local-SEO-company-KC-KCMO-Kansas-City-MO
    Photo Credit sheri silver

    We like to think of the internet as an infinite landscape of information which is, for the most part, fairly accurate. The driving force behind the constant expansion of the web as we know it is content generated by its users and the largest indexing system our planet has ever seen making sense of it. Whether it’s uploading a video to YouTube, posting on Facebook, or writing and publishing a blog like the one you’re reading now, it is the content creators that make the the internet what it is and what it will be in the future. At Web Force KC, we write accessible, functional content for our clients that is designed to capture a portion of online searches for specific keywords in specific geographic locations.

    Local SEO and Web Design Company in Kansas City, MO

    In the broad scope of things, there are over 80,000 searches on Google per second on average which is astounding to consider but as a marketing company, we tend to focus more on the searches that concern our clients and more specifically for what they do and where they do it. Just as there is a finite number of Google searches per second, there is also a finite amount of searches for a specific service or product per second, per day, per month, and per year and when the focus is specifically on a certain geographic area, the numbers begin to quickly shrink and become more manageable. Whatever the number of searches is for your industry (or more accurately for what your business does or sells), the sum of the searches represent an uncut pie with pieces being distributed to businesses (your competitors) that show up prominently for that specific search in a specific area. Sound confusing? Think about this example: in the spring months in the Kansas City area, it’s not uncommon to see hundreds if not thousands of searches per day for lawn care, lawn and landscaping, or other services that homeowners are looking for to spruce up their yards. Because Web Force KC works with a local lawn and landscape company in the Kansas City area, we position their website as high as possible on the search engines for the keywords that we know will be searched for and in the locations that we want to be visible in. When successful, the fact is that some business’ websites will be dropped down in rankings on the search engines and become less visible as yours rises.

    Google-marketing-SEO-Kansas-City-MO-KCMO
    Ideally, you want to see more searches driven to your business online based on what you do (category, product, or service) as opposed to your business’ name.

    That is how you take your piece of the pie (well, it’s not quite that simple but hopefully you get the point.) By creating rich, relevant content on various online mediums, we increase our clients’ visibility on the web to capture more and more of the pie over time. Unfortunately this isn’t something that happens overnight and it takes an enormous amount of work, consistency, and collaboration to make it happen. In fact we plan for months ahead on how, where, and what we want to be positioned for with all of our clients year round. The point is that there are only going to be a certain number of searches locally for lawn care services or for whatever it is that you do or sell and by making certain that our clients’ websites are visible, accessible, and make sense to potential customers that visit them, we take a good piece of the pie and make those searches become productive and profitable to a business. Positioning your business’ website for visibility will no doubt help add new customers that are searching for what you do or what you sell but ultimately you and your staff are responsible for converting them into actual revenue. Web Force KC helps small businesses put themselves, and more specifically their online presence, into the spotlight locally on search engines where their potential customers are already looking. Our content marketing strategy has proven time and time again to be successful at generating new business and helping our clients grow.

    Call Web Force KC at (816) 462-9128 for local web design, SEO, and online marketing in Kansas City.

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