SEO Misconceptions: 1:45 – 7:05
Kimber and her fancy post-it notes jump in first with misconceptions she still hears about SEO and marketing in general.
1. We Control What Google Shows:
There are certain steps we take to help a site consistently rank on Google, but month-to-month or day-to-day we cannot control what will be returned in Google’s search results. And the search engine’s near-constant algorithm changes keep us on our toes, taking steps to satisfy their latest rules and requirements.
2. Internet Marketing Equals Sales:
The goal is sales for your business. Of course it is! The role that internet marketing plays in the sales process is often introducing your brand to the audience. Internet marketing tactics that include SEO, content, and social media are often the very first step in building brand awareness and recognition for your business.
Design Misconceptions: 7:20 – 12:45
Ashleigh took a break from warming her toes in a patch of sunshine to share the misconceptions she hears most often about the print and web design process.
1. We Did This In Five Minutes:
For most design projects Ashleigh creates three layouts for client presentations. But trust us, she’s not skating by on the bare minimum. Those three final layouts are the end results of industry research, brainstorms, initial sketches, color choices, and font alternatives.
2. If You Like a Website, We Give You That Website:
In our discovery meetings, we always ask clients about websites in their industry (or other industries) that they really like. Sometimes they like a site so much that they expect us to design the same site with their logo on top! A designer will certainly use elements of these site as inspiration to create something new, but you can’t just copy a site with your branding dropped in place.
Web Development Misconceptions: 12:50 – 18:00
Chris brought an extensive list of web design misconceptions that people still believe.
1. Just Build It!:
There’s a lot that goes into developing a website, beyond taking the approved design and making it come to life on the screen. Often, that’s the easy part. Improving site security by installing SSL, testing and tweaking for optimal site speed, and ensuring ADA compliance all go into the “building process.”
And don’t disappear clients! Development is not done in a vacuum and we still need your input and feedback throughout the build process.
2. You Need to Know Code to Maintain Your Site:
If built correctly, you won’t need to know anything about HTML or CSS to keep your website updated. Through a content management system, you can change images, update content, and even add pages without knowing even a stitch of coding.
3. It Needs to Go Above the Fold:
There is no longer a need to jam every bit of important information above the “fold.” Why? Because the fold no longer exists. Web users, at this point, are so trained to scroll that information placed further down the page will surely be seen.
Content Marketing Misconceptions: 19:30 – 23:23
Kelly wraps up the conversation by noting two of the top misconceptions she hears about creating content for websites.
1. Content is a Blog:
Just because you have a blog doesn’t mean you’re creating content. Content is so much more than having a blog on your site. A blog is a great start, but, in addition, you should be regularly updating page content, adding an FAQ page, designing infographics or checklists, creating videos, or even recording a podcast.
2. I Write What I Want:
We’d never fault anyone for regularly adding content to their website. However, not every blog topic is necessarily a good blog topic. A content strategy should rely heavily on keyword research and an analysis the words and phrases that users are searching for online. Otherwise, your blog, video, or infographic may never find the audience it deserves.