Website optimisation and google places/maps

[mikecotterill]

Hi guys just wondering if people knew the cost of the above services. Met someone today and they were wanting to charge me nearly a grand for that and for a website?! Just wondered if it was dear or not?

[mikecotterill]

What company are you? To be honest I don't have a site but just interested

[arborlicious]

Like "central-services" said, website optimisation is all about making sure that when someone searches in google or the like for say "Tree removal", "firewood" or "stump grinding" then a link to your site appears on the first page of results (don't get hung up on being no.1 on the list)

 

On you site you need to have relevant content - not just a page filled with a hodgepodge collection of key words or key words hidden in the page headers since the google algorithms for ranking pages are wise to this rubbish. You need to actually write a few paragraphs of content that describe what you do and where you work e.g:

=======================

We're a small company based in somewhere specialising in tree removals, tree pruning and firewood supply. We also service the following areas: here, there and over there

=======================

 

Now when the google robot has a look at your site it can index all of the above words so that when folk perform a search with enough relevant terms it should list your site. (In Australia at least it's also a good idea to put the word "lopping" somewhere since in these parts people still refer to arborists/tree surgeons as tree loppers. Maybe with some content like "lopping refers to cutting branches willynilly while we prefer to target prune...")

 

You can submit your site to google so that it knows to send its robot over for a look (this can take a few days) - no website optimisation people required.

 

Also, if your site is updated regularly with new content google will also see this as more relevant and push it up the rankings.

 

In my opinion, websites for tree surgeons need not be more than electronic glossy brochures. You just need enough relevant content and some nice pictures so that people can find your site and get a phone number to call you.

 

cheers,

Steve

[Burytreeman]

Hi Guys, i was just wondering what the cost of setting a website up is and what the day to day costs are? i have some computer experiance obviously but nothing re websites. Any help/advice will be appreciated! Tony

[arborlicious]

Hi Guys, i was just wondering what the cost of setting a website up is and what the day to day costs are? i have some computer experiance obviously but nothing re websites. Any help/advice will be appreciated! Tony

 

Saying facetiously - i was just wondering what the cost of cutting a tree down is? i have some experience cutting firewood but nothing re cutting down trees.

 

It all depends what you want done. The main thing is coming up with the actual content.

 

Annual costs once you have a simple site up and running would be no more than it costs to keep your domain name registered - say $10/year and basic web site hosting say $50-$100/year.

[Burytreeman]

Steve, thanks for your input. I am a littler wiser now! i did get a book called the idiots guide building a website. I now seek one called the super idiots guide to building a website, lol

[morten]

Steve, thanks for your input. I am a littler wiser now! i did get a book called the idiots guide building a website. I now seek one called the super idiots guide to building a website, lol

 

Have a look at Get your free website - Getting British Businesses Online

 

It will provide you with free website address (xxx.co.uk) no annual charges for the first two years.

 

Also, it'll provide you with full analytics tools (Google Analytics) that will allow you to check visitor statistics, geography etc.

 

It is, however a DIY solution.

 

With regards to Search Engine Optimization (SEO), read the free guides available from Google:

 

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) - Webmaster Tools Help

http://www.google.com/webmasters/docs/search-engine-optimization-starter-guide.pdf

[morten]

Hi guys just wondering if people knew the cost of the above services. Met someone today and they were wanting to charge me nearly a grand for that and for a website?! Just wondered if it was dear or not?

 

Google Places listing is free, see Add a listing for your local business - Places Help

[Johntucker]

The keyword is the pulse of your website. The availability of the site to the target audience is based on them. The target audience will type in the 'keyword' to get their result. So, you need to be creative and specific at the same time with the necessary keyword so that the audience reaches your website.Most importantly, it is essential to stay abreast with some of the latest trends of every search engines to make the website feature on top of the search results list. Submit your website to the maximum number of web directories possible to get the best results. Marketing through social networking is also beneficial to reach the target audience and increase your traffic.

[windfall]

My site is done in wordpress, todate the site stands me at £550.

 

WindFall Logging Firewood and alternative eco fuels

 

Its a full e-commerce site with a really easy to use content management system so i can play around with it to my hearts content.

 

Wordpress have various templates for all websites, brochure stylee to e-commerce. Cant reccomend it highly enough.