First, if you are having trouble getting your site indexed try submitting the URL to a site that gets indexed frequently. When you submit your domain name to these site be sure their reputation is good. Search engines will rank your site based on how reputable the sites that link to you are. Twitter is an excellent example because they are both reputable and indexed often.

Google URL Adder

If you didn’t know, Google has its own tool for adding URLs to its index. If you’re not sure Google can find your domain, try applying for Google spider to crawl your site on this site by using the tool. Google uses spiders to index websites so they appear in their search results. If you’re confused about how Google works check out this video, or visit their page all about it.

Web Design Agency

Normally, if your relationship is good, the design company that is making your site will add your domain to their portfolio. If their site gets indexed often yours is bound to get picked up. Be warned that not all websites are added to design company’s portfolios. Many only show their best work so they don’t overwhelm new clients coming to their domain.

Be sure to recognize the decisions made by those you are working with. You never know what their situation is like or how many clients they are working with. However, chances are, if you’re a really good client they will do you a favor and get you indexed anyways.

Just think for a second here. If you know that Facebook has 4,000,000 active accounts, that there are millions of Tweets per day, and Google searches are the most popular place to find out about local business online; would you think they were important? Would you think a website was important?

In fact, most small business don’t yet. According to Vanessa Fox, Author of Marketing in the Age of Google (HIGHLY recommended), “Only 44% of small business even have a Website.”

Most small business don’t want to spend the money

This is huge! Most small business don’t think they can afford to connect with customers outside of traditional marketing. That 56% if you missed it.

56% of small businesses are not thinking about the web yet. On Google, that means most small business can get ahead of their competitors 56%.

So, how much will that website cost you? Well, it depends on what you want, who you get your website from, and what their rate is.

Now, You can probably find someone who can build you a site for under $300. Just remember, what you put in is what you get out, and I’m not talking time. Its more like, garbage in garbage out.

Before I close here, I don’t want to leave a bad taste in your mouth. I want you to get pumped! This is an amazing opportunity. There is simply no reason to be overwhelmed.

Here are a few suggestions

1. Start small! Do not go in all at once. Facebook Pages and Twitter are free. Try them out right now! Go ahead, Google them… Google how to make a Facebook Page.
2. Find a consultant. You don’t need to be the expert. Its important to find a good consultant for digital marketing.
3. Don’t be cheap if you can help it. Have a defined budget. Know what your online brand is worth. It might be more than you think.
4. Read blogs on the topic. Find a good marketing blog and follow it. Some of the most relevant people in the industry, Chirs Brogan, Mitch Joel, and Seth Godin, give their knowledge away for free.

The rapid progression of the web is a social quandary and few have sound advice on new media and its many aspects. Even the most influential people in the industry find it hard to keep up.

Only two years ago Facebook overtook MySpace as the most popular social network. Even Twitter, with its limited social interface, has stunned many with its popularity in the last year.

It would seem foolish to places bets, or even found a company, on this ever changing medium, Social Media. There is simply no other market were business models can change over night. However, Mitch is playing this game! And he is playing it very well.

Mitch

Mitch fully understands the fertility of Social Media and has founded his business with multiple avenues into the heart of Digital Media.

If you are interested in what Mitch has to say check out his blog, podcast, or book!  His advice and thinking on New Media is topnotch and his success vouchers for it. Mitch Joel is a must follow!

Commitment

We all want more return visitors and websites that push commitment have a hard time getting them. Users need to be lead, not pushed, by a good call to action. However, getting commitment requires more than a good call to action. It require something for users as well.

Users commitment requires

• Trust
• Time
• Tolerance

Honesty is the first step to trust. While a good call to action can provoke interest users need to trust you first.  Also, users need time and tolerance to make their decision. While reducing distractions increases tolerance time is something that is totally dependent on the user.  Simply put, commitment is decision users make when they are ready.

Ask the Right Questions

When working on a design for a client you can avoid needless confrontation by keeping the conversation solution oriented. Instead of asking if a client likes a specific color, focusing the conversation on aesthetics, ask if the feel is appropriate for the sites visitors. This calls for attention to detail and planing on the designers part.

When you ask questions avoid those that are based on emotion. Instead ask how the site relates to the visitors.

Do you think that this black and orange color scheme is appropriate for teenage girls?

By asking questions that focus on the goal, a design that is appropriate for the user, we can gain more ground; even if the answer is no.

Be Different

Think outside the box. It’s very important to set yourself apart from the competition. For example take a dull site map and rethink. Site maps don’t have to be boring. By colorizing them or putting them in the footer you can add spice to a website in no time! Don’t think it’s about following trends though. It’s about the contribution you can make.

Think Smart

Think before you act. Get a sketch book! I make this a personal goal. Putting your thoughts and ideas on paper will help them happen faster. Draw up a design or concept before you implement it. This will save you a handful of hair and give you a few more hours of sleep.

Consider your code. Before you breakout your favorite editor, sketch out the process and structure first. This will save loads of time on complex projects; and organizing your thoughts is never a bad idea on small projects too.

Connect

Don’t make everything from scratch. Use your resources to increase productivity and increase your ROI. You can’t recycle your time; spend it wisely!

Using Vimeo, Flickr, and other third party web apps can sometimes be the solution your client is looking for. Utilizing WordPress is an excellent example of using your resources, if you are making a blog. While it’s fun to make your own CMS try not to re-invent the wheel.

If you are programming make thing easier by using outside resources. Consider joining a forum, searching documentation and guides, or grabbing some open source code to complete your next project. You might even learn new trick or two while you’re at it.