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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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    Search Engine Optimization

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    Web Design     Social Media

    Search Engine Optimization

    360° Virtual Tours

    Support     Contact

  • The Art Of (Online) War

    The Art Of (Online) War

    Photo credit Felix Mittermeier

    All industries have competition and that not only applies on the ground but also online. The goal of any marketer should be to position their clients to give them the advantage over their competition and, of course, make them money while they do it. At Web Force KC, we’ve seen our share of competitive industries and have successfully marketed them to help them grow but not without a fighting a few battles along the way and having to declare all out war on their competition. It’s not a simple task because there really is no ‘one size fits all’ solution for online marketing because the internet is an ever changing landscape and each industry presents its own marketing challenges. The ultimate goal is to get our clients’ websites onto the first page of the search engines, more specifically Google as it sees 92% of all search traffic because once you show up there for what your business does, people can easily find and more importantly contact you to do business. It is all out war in marketing and the competition is always looking to get an edge on you and your marketing strategy.

    Local Web Design and SEO in Kansas City, MO

    Photo credit Birmingham Museums Trust

    At Web Force KC, we take these battles personally which is why we constantly monitor, track, and analyze our clients’ competition. We do this for several reason which I’ll explain in a moment but in the initial stages of putting together a marketing plan, it’s more to get an feel for how the industry works, what the common keywords are, and ultimately learn about the business itself so that we our content writers can speak to it and write about it confidently. We’ve seen our clients’ competition blatantly stealing website content, product images, keyword strategies and their overall marketing plan which sucks but it’s just part of the game. Web Force KC has had to go so far as to install anti-copyright software on many of our clients’ website due to repeated incidents of copyright infringement which, to be quite honest, was somewhat flattering when it first happened but is quite infuriating now (PSA: we have filed suit and will continue to sue for copyright infringement when we find it). Unfortunately, there’s not much that can done legally when our clients’ competitors use a keyword strategy we create or revamp their entire marketing plan to keep up with ours unless of course they slip and accidentally copy content word for word. No one really owns the rights to any keywords or keyword sets (unless perhaps they contain a business’ name which is not a wise idea) so it then becomes a matter using keywords more effectively to win. Tracking how our clients rank for specific keywords and keyword sets on Google that apply to their business is a way to show progress and performance but we also track the competition as well to keep ourselves in check. Slowly but surely as our marketing plan unfolds, we topple the competition that are sometimes huge companies with massive marketing budgets that have no idea what happened until it’s too late which is exactly where we want them: scrambling on the defense. We exploit the competitors’ online weaknesses using our strengths and protect our clients’ rankings and online presence with a continuous assault of content and adjusting strategically when necessary.

    It’s not all out war in a traditional sense but it has become more and more apparent that many of our clients’ competition have had to make dramatic adjustments to their marketing plans due to our efforts which we take a lot of pride in and thoroughly enjoy. It’s not a matter of working harder on a clients’ marketing campaign by producing more content more frequently but instead it’s working smarter, more strategically, and always being one step ahead of the competition. When our clients’ competition is trying to play catch-up and we continue to relentlessly move forward, that’s a win and that’s what Web Force KC does. Winning the war online against your competitors will better enable you to win the war on the ground which is what effective marketing should do.

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

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  • What Does Your Website Do?

    What Does Your Website Do?

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    Photo credit Carl Heyerdahl

    What does your website do? Seems like a pretty simple question, right?  But when I meet with business owners for the first time, they can rarely give me a good answer. More often than not, they say, “nothing,” which is probably why they are meeting with me. So, I’ve learned to ask this instead: “What do your want your website to do that it isn’t currently doing?” and it’s at that point the answers start flowing like a river. Of course, you can probably guess that the most common answer is “make me more money” and that’s a perfect answer because that’s what a website should do, right? The question then becomes “How can your website make you money?” and that’s when things get interesting.

    Local Web Design in Kansas City

    I am lucky enough to get paid to play on the web pretty much all day, every day with very few exceptions and I see a TON of websites. Over the years I feel like I’ve become a mean critic of most of the websites I see because it seems like they are more of a design dog and pony show without a quick call to action which is typically how websites generate income. For the most part, the local businesses that I work with want 3 things from their websites:

    • Phone Calls
    • Customers getting directions to their location(s) 
    • Email inquiries/quotes on services

    Seems pretty cut and dried right? It’s actually not so easy. You see, just because you build a website, doesn’t necessarily mean your customers will come (Field of Dreams was somewhat misleading). In order for a website to generate traffic, it must be easily found and not just for the name of your business but rather for what you do (lawn care, copyright attorney, handyman, bar and grill, pizza delivery, smoke shop, gas station, brewery, dry cleaner, car wash, tattoo shop, etc.). That’s where Web Force KC comes in. We’ll never claim to build the most gorgeous websites you’ve ever seen but you can be damn sure that they will be found by potential customers when they need your product(s) and/or service(s) locally.

    SEO-website-design-designer-Kansas-City-MO-KCMO
    Photo Credit Christian Wiediger

    The way that we approach web design is by asking simple questions like “How do you want your customers to find you? Do you want more calls, emails, or both? Do you have a physical location that you want customers to come to?” The answers to these questions are how we design your website meaning a business that wants more phone calls would have their phone number listed prominently and repeatedly through the website along with perhaps a ‘Click To Call‘ button for mobile searchers. The same applies to a website designed to capture more emails. Obviously a simple and easy to fill out contact form would likely be placed and more importantly visible all over the site. (We discourage displaying actual email addresses as it will tends to generate a TON of spam.) Brick and mortar locations that want foot traffic coming through the door will rely heavily on Google maps integration and calls to action that suggest visitors to the site “Click To Get Directions.” So I guess the real question becomes ‘What do you want people to do when they are on your website?‘

    You would think that this is all common sense and the average web designer would have a firm understanding of how this all works but the fact is that most don’t. We’ve rebuilt countless websites that literally had no coherent direction, no call to action and worst of all no traffic going to them. We refer to these types websites as “billboards in the middle of a very vast desert.” No one ever sees them and they do nothing for the business.

    Think of your website as the frame and interior of a vehicle. It may look ultra cool and have fancy functionality but without an engine, it just sits there, going nowhere, doing nothing. Web Force KC builds websites that cater to the search engines and ultimately make money for our clients. With every web design project we’ve taken on, the results and stats have been overwhelmingly positive for our clients as their websites begin to show up on the search engines for what they do and convert the searcher into an opportunity for them to add new customers. If you’re website is doing nothing for your business, call Web Force KC at (816) 462-9128 for a free consultation.

     

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

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  • Why You Should Blog About Your Business

    Blogging For Businesses In Kansas City

    Web Force KC helps small businesses in Kansas City and surrounding areas develop solid and consistent online marketing strategies that are results driven and effective. One of the main ways we help the businesses we partner with is by blogging on behalf of their business. We typically are not using the blog to make social commentary, rant & rave, or create a social buzz. In fact most of the time our blogging is a direct assault on keywords and sets of keywords that generate traffic to websites that can then convert into potential customers for the businesses we work for. There is much more to it than just dropping a ton of keywords onto a blog and blasting it out onto the internet and we thought we would share some of the things we at Web Force do in blogs for the businesses we work with.

    Using Effective Titles In Your Blog

    Whether your business is seasonal or not, there is always something you could talking about for your business online. Web Force KC researchesweb-design-search-engine-optimization-Kansas-City-Lees-Summit what keyword(s) or keyword phrases are the most relevant to your business online and then we find ways to incorporate them into blog titles, page titles, and content with the blogs. The trick is to not duplicate the content while still utilizing the target keywords and keyword phrases which can be difficult which is never easy. As targeted keyword campaigns become more successful and effective, Web Force KC will broaden the keyword spectrum to include other relevant keywords to the business that are an expansion to the keyword sets that are the foundation of the campaign.  Using primary target keywords in blog titles along with location based verbiage usually makes the for the most effective blog titles that yield the best traffic but the curtains need to match the drapes in the content, categories, tags, H1, H2 H3 etc.

    Web Force KC uses knowledge of web design, search engine optimization (including blogging) and a little sales savvy to help grow small businesses via online marketing. If you own a small business and would like to see how Web Force KC can help your business’ marketing call (816) 462-9128 for a free consultation.

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

    Contact Web Force KC For Web Design and Online Marketing In Kansas City at (816) 462-9128

    Web Design    Search Engine Optimization     E-Commerce Web Design    Social Media Strategies

     

  • Consistency Counts In Your Online Marketing Efforts

    Web Design & Search Engine Optimization In Kansas City

    Just because you have a website and have claimed all of your online business directories doesn’t mean that you will have a flurry of potential customers visiting your website. As your website ages and content is not added to your site (blogging, additional pages, etc), it will more than likely begin to fall in search engine rank. If left alone over an extended period of time, your website will likely fall beneath your competitors websites on the search engine leaving your business with little to no website traffic and little to no online conversions from your website.

    Adding Constant Content To Your Website In Kansas City Works!

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    Is Your Web Design Effective?

    Assuming your business’ website has a blog and social media, you have an online avenue to continually add content to your business’ online presence. Structured and effective blog writing can take anywhere from 1 hour to several hours to write, categorize, tag, title, describe and finally add SEO keywords to your blog.  Using H1, H2, H3, etc tags within your content will help the search engines determine what your blog (and your website) is about and where it should show up as it pertains to a given search.  Assuming your blog is written and structured correctly, the search engines may add your blog post (as opposed to a specific web page on your website) to the search engine results creating an effective entry point into your website.  Continually thinking of blog topic ideas is where it tends to get difficult and Web Force KC are experts at creating relevant, effective blog posts and ideas that put your business into the search engine results for your product or industry in your area. Regardless of whether your business is focusing on attracting potential customers locally or nationally, adding relevant content constantly is an absolute must. 

    The problem with most web design is that web designers are typically not search engine optimization specialists and if your website was designed in such a way that it is not an effective website in Kansas City, Web Force KC would like to help you. Web Force KC does not keep our online marketing strategies and procedures a secret from our customers because we want them to understand what we are doing for their business, why we are doing it and how it helps their business grow.

    For a free estimate on what it would cost to build an affordable & effective website for your business in Kansas City call Web Force KC at (816) 462-9128.

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

    Contact Web Force KC For Web Design and Online Marketing In Kansas City at (816) 462-9128

    Web Design    Search Engine Optimization     E-Commerce Web Design    Social Media Strategies

  • Mobile Friendly Web Design

    Mobile Friendly Web Design In Kansas City & Overland Park

    web-design-Kansas-City-Lees-Summit-Overland-ParkLook no further than while you are driving down street to see people literally glued to their phones and mobile devices.  It is sometimes scary how many people you might see during any given rush hour in Kansas City looking at their smartphones while driving or stuck in traffic.  Your potential customers could be looking for your type of business and the products/services your company offers from their mobile device. If your website is difficult to see, read or navigate you may be loosing out on potential customers as they will no doubt choose to view a website designed to fit whatever device they are using.

    Web Design For All Devices In Kansas City & Overland Park

    Web design by Web Force KC is done by first determining how to make your business’ website effective.  It does no good to simply create a website that is pleasing to the eye that will never be seen by anyone other than the web designer and the business owner(s).  Our web design is carefully calculated to maximize conversions of visitors to your website and effective at ranking high on the search engines to ensure a steady flow of traffic.  Web Force KC also approaches web design with the idea that your website should look and feel good to your potential customers regardless of how they enter into your site (blog, social media, etc) and regardless of which device they are using (laptop, desktop, phone, or tablet).  Our web design staff tests each website we design in Kansas City on all platforms and devices to ensure that however your potential customers choose to connect with your business’s website, they will have a clean, seamless experience with navigating through it.

    Having a mobile & tablet friendly website should not be unattainable in terms of cost for small businesses in Kansas City.  Web Force KC offers quality, affordable and most of all effective web design for Kansas City businesses and organizations. For a free estimate on what it would cost to build an affordable & effective website for your business in Kansas City call Web Force KC at (816) 462-9128.

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

    Contact Web Force KC For Web Design and Online Marketing In Kansas City at (816) 462-9128

    Web Design    Search Engine Optimization     E-Commerce Web Design    Social Media Strategies

  • Affordable & Effective Web Design In Kansas City

    Web Design In Kansas City, Overland Park and Lees Summit

    Your business web site can do many things to help grow your business. But like everything else in life, you will only get out of your website what you put into it. Static web design that never changes probably do not get indexed often by the search engines leaving it less than effective because it is never seen by your potential customers.  Whether you are wanting your business’ first website built or needing to update your current website to better market your business, Web Force KC can help you with affordable and effective web design.

    Affordable Web Design In Kansas City & Lees Summit

    Websites and web design have become an absolutely necessary tool for businesses in the Kansas City area. With traditional marketing like print, direct mail, and other mediums that are costly with results that are difficult to track, online marketing via web design and search engine optimization enable potential customers that are looking for what your business offers find you. Like any type of marketing, time, effort and creativity are involved in web design and online marketing in Kansas City and many internet marketing companies have extremely high rate. At Web Force KC, we mostly work with small businesses in for website design and online marketing via search engine optimization. We understand that many business owners want to grow their businesses online but have been burned by national marketing companies in the past that charge an arm and 2 legs for little to no return on investment.  Web Force KC makes web design and search engine optimization affordable with results that can be tracked.  Web Force KC builds websites for small business owners in Kansas City & Lees Summit that reflect the businesses they represent and are effective beyond conventional expectations.

    Whether you are wanting your business’ first website or need to update your current website, Web Force KC can help you achieve your online goals.  Our web design for Kansas City businesses is simple, clean, affordable and effective making Web Force KC a valuable partner for your online marketing needs. 

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

    Contact Web Force KC For Web Design and Online Marketing In Kansas City at (816) 462-9128

    Web Design    Search Engine Optimization     E-Commerce Web Design    Social Media Strategies

  • Online Inventory Management With Your Website

    Website Design & Search Engine Optimization In Kansas City & Lees Summit

    Your business’ website in Kansas City can do much more than be an online billboard or a digital business card to attract potential customers. In fact, your website can help you keep track of your inventory online if you business sells physical products and/or has fluctuating inventory. Web Force KC has helped business owners and organizations manage and sell inventoried products online and develop inventory management systems that are integrated into web design.

    Integrating Inventory Management Into Web Design

    Keeping track of your business’ inventory can be a real pain for business owners particularly if you business’ inventory fluctuates daily or weekly. Since most inventory management is done with spreadsheets or some type of organized, structured medium, Web Force KC  has helped develop spreadsheet inventory management applications that automatically integrate into your website when updated.  The online inventory management system is designed to minimize the time necessary to update a “master inventory” sheet in addition to updating your website so as to showcase your business wares. Web Force KC will first integrate the inventory management system into your website and then teach and train your staff to manage your website’s inventory management system. Below is an example of a very simple inventory management system:

    [webkite_results id=263]

    Web Force KC provides effective web design solutions for businesses in the Kansas City area.  We are constantly improving our ability to not only help business owners with their website but also to develop effective and efficient solutions for them so that they can focus on running their business.

    Contact Web Force KC For Web Design and Online Marketing In Kansas City at (816) 462-9128

    Web Design    Search Engine Optimization     E-Commerce Web Design    Social Media Strategies

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