Southern Web Group just launched a clean and crisp website packed with easy-to-use real estate tools for Ruth Skogstad and Kristen Sodemann, a top producing mother-daughter team at Beacham & Company, Realtors.

Client’s Name: The Skogstad-Sodemann Team

Location: Atlanta, Georgia

Services Provided: Professional design, cloud web hosting, iHomefinder IDX search tools, email newsletter and content management system

Website Link: http://www.skogstad-sodemann.com

Recently, Google has released a series of changes that will prohibit unsavory Search Engine Marketing (SEM) and optimization practices. Many small business owners will see this and think, “My search engine marketing is totally legitimate”—but is it?

If you’re stuffing your content with keywords; if you’re working too hard to build back links; if you’re overly giving or receiving in your sharing of links with other sites; or if you’ve already received an unnatural link warning from Google (which millions of small businesses have), then it’s likely you’re not up to date on best SEM practices.

To ensure your small business is maintaining standards, here are a few tips to help you better market your company to major search engines.

1.     Diversify your content.

This is one of the very first steps you should take when implementing or refining your small business SEM practices. Don’t rely solely on link building when there are other proven, effective ways to generate interest. Consider email marketing campaigns; solicit user feedback and reviews from satisfied customers; and invest time in your social media efforts. The higher quality and more diversified your content, the more buzz you will create for your business.

2.     Truly engage.

Many small businesses don’t feel as if they have the time or resources to truly participate in the more community-based aspects of their industry. It’s imperative you write educational articles; serve as a guest blogger on other professional, high-quality sites; engage in forums that are relevant to your industry; and actively promote the content you’re generating during these activities.

3.     Focus on quality and user experience above all else.

In order to effectively market your small business online, rich, relevant content and end-user satisfaction are imperative. You’ll want to engage your users and somehow add to the value of their online experiences. Use videos, interaction and education—no matter what industry you’re in, you have some form of specialized knowledge you can share with your users.

4.     Evaluate your search engine optimization tactics.

Create specialized pages for the several services and products your company offers. Incorporate targeted, well-placed key terms and phrases to your content’s benefit. Start a blog or a forum where you can create quality content, educate your audience and increase the end-user’s experience. Think beyond static text and optimize your videos, media releases and social media channels.

Overall, effective SEO and SEM today means straying away from what was once the commonly taken, cut and dry approach. You must diligently engage your users; focus on diversifying your content; and always keep quality at the forefront—these honest methods of marketing to the engines will generate the links and traffic your business needs.

Southern Web Group provided a clean redesign for Georgia-based Benchmark Receivables Management, a firm specializing in commercial, medical and consumer collections issues.

Client’s Name: Benchmark Receivables Management

Location: Marietta, Georgia

Services Provided: Professional redesign, content management system, email newsletter design and cloud web hosting and email.

Website Link: http://www.benchmarkrm.com

Internet capabilities are very useful features of smartphones, but there is a one problem— often when websites are built, they are built to display optimally on a much larger screen. Because of this, there are often irritating issues between desktop versions of websites and the mobile devices on which they’re accessed.

The solution:  a mobile website. There are several reasons, especially as a business owner, you need a mobile website—here are just five.

1. Positive user experience

   As a business, ensuring positive user experience is paramount to your success and future growth. You want users on mobile devices to enjoy easy navigation and scaled, quickly accessible content. You should never force them to zoom in and out in order to locate information or view your site in its entirety. Your website should be compatible with the device accessing it, and the only way to ensure this to invest in a mobile website.

2. Save time, data and money

   Many mobile device users monitor their data usage, and it’s aggravating when a traditional website takes a long time to load. It takes time and expends more data—thus becoming more expensive—than desired. Specially designed mobile websites will load in a timely fashion and correctly, which not only saves data, it also contributes to the overall user experience. The speedier the website loads, the faster users can locate the information they’re seeking.

3. Search Engine Optimization

   Search engines now offer mobile-specific search results. Another reason you need a mobile website is the fact that it helps you get listed and recognized in mobile search directories. Websites are scoured and indexed based on several factors, and the algorithms of search on smartphones and other mobile devices vary from those used by traditional desktop searches. To help your business appear higher and more relevant in mobile device searches, it is imperative you optimize through a mobile website.

4. Improved functionality

   There are several pieces of software and website attributes that simply don’t function (or, don’t function well) on smartphones and mobile devices. For example, Flash may not be supported or recognized by both search engines and most mobile browsers. Images may display awkwardly or not at all. In fact, there are commonly recognized mobile website and browser standards you should adhere to in order to help your site operate optimally.

5. Potential to increase revenue

   As a business owner, your ultimate goal is to generate income and grow your operation. To do this, you must constantly gain new customers and actively market your company. With over half of the adults in America owning a smartphone and the vast majority of people starting their search for products and services online, you truly can’t afford to have an inferior mobile website. You need to have the ability to easily advertise, utilize social media and give potential customers the most convenient Web experience possible when they visit your site, regardless of the device they use to do so.

To find out more about creating a mobile version of your website, contact Southern Web Group for more information.

The mission of the Bobby Jones Golf Club and Park Conservancy is to create a master plan for the Golf Course, the Bitsy Grant Tennis Center and Atlanta Memorial Park, as well as renovations to all recreational features of the property.  For help promoting the cause, the organizers of the newly founded non-profit organization turned to Southern Web Group.

Client’s Name: Bobby Jones Golf Club and Park Conservancy

Location: Atlanta, Georgia

Services Provided: Professional design, cloud web hosting and email, email newsletter and content management system

Website Link: http://www.bobbyjonesconservancy.org

To help introduce their new multi-million dollar life-saving technology, Central Georgia Radiation Oncology asked Southern Web Group to redesign their practice’s website.  The result is a clean, easy-to-use website that better highlights the growing oncology practice’s renewed dedication to technology with videos and improved imagery.

Client’s Name: Georgia Central Radiation Oncology

Locations: Macon, Georgia and Warner Robins, Georgia

Services Provided: Professional redesign, content management system, email newsletter design and cloud web hosting.

Website Link: http://www.centralgeorgiaradiation.com

For three years, the Society of International Business Fellows (SIBF) has tapped Southern Web Group to design and develop their annual Summit website.

Client’s Name: Society of International Business Fellows

Location: Atlanta, Georgia

Services Provided: Professional design and content management system

Website Link: http://www.sibfsummit.org

A new discount real estate brokerage, HomeSations Realty, contacted Southern Web Group to help develop their first website.

Client’s Name: HomeSations Realty

Location: Johns Creek, Georgia

Services Provided: Professional design, content management system, IDX solution, email newsletter, cloud-based email & web hosting.

Website Link: http://www.homesations.com

Bonneau Ansley of the Ansley Group asked Southern Web Group to build a first-rate website for his growing luxury real estate team in Atlanta.  By incorporating a search-engine-friendly real estate search solution and WordPress, we delivered a great website that not only looks great, but works exceptionally well.

Client’s Name: The Ansley Group

Location: Atlanta, Georgia

Services Provided: Professional design, content management system, IDX solution, email newsletter, cloud-based email & web hosting.

Website Link: http://www.bonneauansley.com

Over the past two years, the LemonStand shopping cart has developed into a sleek and powerful solution for a wide range of eCommerce needs. Whether you are selling t-shirts with simple size variations or a built-to-order computer system, LemonStand has the flexibility to adapt to your specific product catalog needs.

For a typical online store owner, product and inventory management couldn’t be easier or more flexible. Import products via a CSV file (including product images!), offer physical and digital products, create unlimited categories and subcategories to organize your wares – then easily promote new products, sales and specials with seamless integration to popular email blast applications.

When it comes to discounts, sales and promotions, LemonStand covers an incredible range of options, from free shipping or quantity discounts to bundled product groups, to help you engage new customers and keep current buyers loyal. You’ll find it simple to move discontinued products by creating attractive packages and promotions, and just as easy to offer the latest and greatest products at introductory discounts.

Search engine optimization is a core feature of LemonStand’s technology, offering Google Analytics integration, auto-generated site maps, meta tags and descriptions on the product and category level, custom product landing pages and highly-indexable store URLs.

Recently added features include more theme flexibility in the design of your site and browser-detection to deliver an optimized site theme to mobile devices. LemonStand Marketplace modules allow you to further extend the functionality and features of the system.

Module options include:

• USPS Click-n-Ship for simplifying the process of printing shipping labels
• Gift certificates for enabling online store credit
• Connections to email marketing services, like Campaign Monitor and MailChimp

Contact us for more information about building an eCommerce site with LemonStand.