Search engine marketing consultation services for small to medium-size businesses.

Text As King

"Is the text being treated as central to marketing and search engine optimnization?

Research on user orientation shows that people look for text first and that good copy sells. Therefore, we want a balance of text and graphics where graphics are in service of the text and the Sales Process. Text is King.

Graphics and technology don't sell product, focused copy to a specific target audience sells product.

Graphics make important contributions. They can…

• Communicate trust, credibility, and professionalism
• Stimulate interest.
• Direct emphasis to important text. 
• Lead the user down the path of sales.

Each time a graphic is being considered ask what contribution it is supposed to making. Use only as many graphics as essential for the specific page.

Use jpg’s in most instances and make sure they are optimized for quick download.

If using graphics for any navigation, make sure they are readable by a Search engine.  Whenever possible include a complimenting text link.

Flash should only be used for a single function on a site and never as the primary page instead of text.  Also, the jury is still out as to whether people really like to sit and watch a Flash program.  I think it’s more helpful for instruction or training, when the user has selected the process.

http://www.semconsultation.com/worksheets-articles/site-evaluation.html for Helps and Hindrances related to technology and graphics.

	TEXT	HTML
H E L P S	One keyword phrase ("kp") focus Theme of the page related to kp Theme of the site related to kp # total words Kp Density % (frequency) 3-5% Kp strategically placed: prominence, headers Links with kp used Text links within site Links to strong theme sites	Title: kp, prominence, frequency, # characters Meta Keyword: kp, prominence, frequency, # characters Meta Description: kp, prominence, frequency, # characters Domain name, directory, file Name using kp Graphics as kp Alt Tags with kp Tags: (make sure not overdone) no frames,http-equiv, style, font, paragraph

	STRUCTURAL	ALERTS (Some call it Spam!)
H I N D E R A N C E S	No text or minimal text Javascripts Dynamically generated pages or symbols Tables Frames Slow loading Graphics before text Image maps Flash Directory level	Repeating keywords Tiny text Invisible text Redirect tags Optimizing too many pages with same kp Multiple titles Kp in tags not pertaining to content Too many Information Pages Machine generated pages Site map without text, only links Hidden text and/or links Unethical use of cloaking Link exchange programs or link farm

Sales Medium -  A 4-Fold Friendliness - Text Is King - Clean Website

Navigation - Organic Optimization - Customer Focus