Web copy and website design

For me, web copy is essential to the design of a website. I've always believed that content is the starting point and the design presents it well and enhances the message.
Two recent projects have highlighted this for me. I recently wrote the copy for www.house-clearance-bournemouth.co.uk but the site had already been built and designed by another company so I was only really writing the body of the page and had no control over strap line, images, graphics, footers etc.
The second project is one where the client has seen a web design he wants me to mirror but as yet hasn't decided what content he wants on the site. 'easy navigation' is a requirement for the project but that's hard to do when the number of other pages and content of those pages is unknown.

Keyword Density and Search Engine Penalties

Keywords and phrases help boost your sites ranking in search engines - but overdoing it means you will be penalised. When writing web copy, aim for 5% keyword density.
As you probably already know, you should use your keyword phrase in:

• the meta title
• meta keywords
• meta description
• h1, h2, and h3 headlines (and h4-h6, if you have them)
• the first paragraph of text in the HTML
• in link text
• in alternate text for images
• scattered throughout the rest of the text on the page

But remember to write for your customers first and the search engines second. If your customers find the text annoying to read they won't be your customers very long, no matter how well optimised your site is for the search engines.

Google has never been a fan of SEO as it can skew search results. They have introduced penalties for over-optimisation. The best way to combat this is to check your current web pages, tweak slightly and to write newer fresh content rather than rework the old.

This is a handy tool for checking the keyword density of your web pages.

Contact me if you would like help writing content for your website.

New content managed website for Cote Consultants

Visit www.coteconsultants.com to see the new website for Cote Consultants built on a WordPress platform. This London based executive coaching company recognise that networking will provide the majority of leads for their business but that a professional looking website was required to provide background information on their company, services and consultants.

Are you guilty of neglecting your business website?

Facebook Pages

I've been busy recently helping some businesses / charities set up on Facebook and Twitter and step into the world of social media marketing. Why not visit (and LIKE) their Facebook pages to get some ideas for your own business?
Southbourne fast and flat 10K, 5K and FUN run
Resolve HR Consultancy
PotteryPainters
Domestic Angels
Individuality Swimming
YUYO
and for my own business Southbourne Web

The hottest social networking sites

Here is a short and up to date list of a few of the best performing, most current and trendiest social networks to be using in 2012.
http://webtrends.about.com/od/socialnetworkingreviews/tp/Social-Networking-Sites.htm

Disappointment with ecommerce on Facebook

Last April, Gamestop Corp. (GME) opened a store on Facebook to generate sales among the 3.5 million-plus customers who’d declared themselves “fans” of the video game retailer. Six months later, the store was quietly shuttered...
Read more