When creating a business website you need to remember that all things are not necessarily meant to be shared. A little too much information (like what your dog looks like sitting next to you) can result in unwanted publicity and even a loss of potential sales.

As a business person you want to convey your professional skills and abilities to your readers. The information they need should be provided in a concise and easy to read format.

You need to pay attention to details and make sure your online site is inviting, entertaining and as intriguing as possible without crossing that invisible line of decorum.

For instance the header of your website is where you provide a punch of information that will allow clients to connect with who you are, and what you are about. This is the place for contact details such as your office phone numbers, fax number and cell number.

The header should also include your professional mission statement. Tell the reader what value you offer. Explain what you are bringing to the table and how you are going to make a difference in their lives. Keep this brief, but don’t miss the chance to get your “why use me” out there for the world to see.

Don’t forget to include a tagline as part of your header. This is one of the best ways to generate interest, boost your site recognition factor, and increase familiarity with your readers.

While some agents want to play up their photo, you really should avoid making it part of your website header. A logo can work, but a personal picture (even a professional business shot) does not make the cut. Does anyone really want to see your eyes staring at them while they are searching for specific information? The answer is a resounding, “No.”

Your header should be carefully composed so that you get maximum impact out of the words that you choose. There are other avenues that you can use to share that photo. A picture might be worth a million words to some people, but if that head shot can be a turn-off for potential clients you should opt out of the idea.

Do you concentrate on creating your personal profile or do you tackle a business page on Facebook instead? This is certainly a decision that faces many individuals when they are making the transition to the Facebook (FB) community.

If your primary interest is building your business then you might want to consider a business account on Facebook. A business page on Facebook is one on which you are able to meet and greet new customers and build better relationships and future sales.

Once you decide you want to get a new FB business page you are also going to agree that the page is primarily for promoting your line of work and less (to no) personal socializing. Facebook officials have created some firm guidelines that drive this point home.

This will be set up for the benefit of your company or products; and not designed as the hub of your social life. When it comes time to think about the social scene you can check out the profile pages.

Of course this does not mean that there is no socializing involved. Your business page is the perfect place to interact with lots of different people at different levels. This is acceptable just as long as you understand that your online socializing is going do be conducted in a professional manner. After all being social, learning the fundamentals of entertaining viewers and developing a network of contacts are elements necessary for your business success.

You are also given the ability to post an unlimited number of paid promotional advertisements on a business FB page.   The benefits and ROI on spending your marketing dollars on Facebook ads is debatable at best, however.

A profile page on FB can include a few comments relating to your business activities and events. You will need to write them so people don’t view the messages as being “hard sell” ads for your business.  It is at the discretion of Facebook as to whether or not they will permit any type of business related posts on your profile, and can cancel your account at anytime should they desire to

In order to maximize the value of Facebook for your company it is necessary to keep your pages interesting and update on a very frequent basis (daily is definitely preferable). If you can make time for both a business page and a profile page-then more power to you! Grab those reins and ride out into battle. If this job is taking too much of your time just work on one of these FB options. This is the only real way to harness the energy of the Facebook universe and let it help power your marketing strategies.

When you are ready to price a website for your business you might just find yourself overwhelmed by the options and costs that are involved. One thing you need to do immediately is to ask “How much should a website cost?”

There are hundreds of answers to this simple question. And every answer is going to be different, for different reasons.

To be quite honest, the cost is going to be based on lots of different factors. It is up to you to decide exactly what items you want; what items you need and which items you can ignore.

Designers of websites can set a flat fee for the project and/or charge an hourly rate. These rates can range from $30-$300 per hour.

In order to determine how much a website should cost, take into account the overall quality that you want. A templated design is a cheap option, but it is also something that fails to attract much attention. Online browsers are already used to seeing millions of these identical appearing sites.

The total cost of your website will depend upon your designer, but there are other factors in play. For instance all of the following will impact the cost of those online pages:

• professional quality and appearance of your site
• number of pages
• amount of time and difficulty of work that is involved (out of the box versus customized site)
• integration of special website features
• cost of logo design
• the “uniqueness” factor that will make your site different from all others

The more elaborate websites can be extremely expensive, but many businesses are able to get a high quality website designed for less than $5,000.

You’ll need to determine a budget for your website and then talk with several professional design experts. This will help you discover exactly how much bling you can get for your money. Look at all of your options and make wise choices at every turn. Don’t get caught up by “website styles” when you should focus on true substance and quality.

If you do not have the proper SEO techniques in place when you create your web pages you are going to find yourself behind that proverbial “eight ball.” It takes the right combination of well written content and essential search engine optimization tactics to get top billing online.

There really are specific algorithms in use by the search engines. Even though a different keyword algorithm is used by each of the main search engines there are some things you can do to make your site grab all of their interests.

Your first obstacle is to get some quality writing for your site. While you do want to get noticed by the search engines you need to be equally concerned about your ability to attract the interest of real people.

A page that sounds natural is going to appeal to the average consumer. People want to read something that they understand and then return to your site if you give them what they want. This means more traffic, more public interest in your site and potentially more sales. Isn’t this what you really want?

Include a search engine optimized title (utilizing your researched keyword phrase(s)) that also has been optimized for your keyword. This SEO tactic is a basic element that will boost your chances of success.

Flash is not something the search engines really understand. Same principle applies to images. All of these will require alt tags if you want the search engines to decipher them properly. In order for your online content to be indexed your alt tags need to include the specific keyword(s)  you are targeting.

Never stuff unnecessary keywords into your text. Overuse and misuse of keywords is an absolute no-no. Stuffing your site with keywords is not only silly, it can lead to penalties (or an online ban) for your site.

Your keyword phrase(s) should be included within your H1 and H2 tags, as well as the tags and description of your post/page.

Your keywords should be placed carefully for maximum optimization of the pages. Do not allow your keywords or key phrases to become the main focus of your written material. Use the keywords, but be sure that the content is informative, on topic and makes sense for your future readers.

Site maps can be submitted to at least two of the major search engines. You should include a map of your site on your pages. This will create a more effective and efficient search when the engines do arrive at your business site since the map identifies the most important pages.

Inbound linking requires dedication and time. The better these links are, the higher your ranking will become. Inferior or suspicious links will harm your ranking, and these are best avoided. Trust only those inbound links that have already proven to be reputable and trustworthy (ie ranked higher than your own site).

When your content is interesting to your readers you have them on the hook. When your website also includes such details as anchor text, images with anchor text and well-written material that provides value to the readers, those search engines will also find it hard to ignore your website. This means that your online pages will begin to climb the ranking charts and move you toward your goal of earning a coveted first page (and ultimately number one position).

Getting ready to shoot some pictures of a home or office? Then you best be sure that you have taken the time to spot any potential problems before you put that camera into action.

There are some simple photography tricks that you can use to make your listings look as captivating as possible.

Thank goodness you can now take your photos via digital imaging. This means that you can instantly see what the picture looks like and make the necessary adjustments to your lighting, staging or camera angles – no more guess work involved.

This is your opportunity to practice your skills with a camera. The more adept you become, the better the final shots will be. The better the picture, the more interest you will generate amongst home buyers.

Remember that the wrong lighting can make even a luxurious home appear dull, boring and uninviting. Lighting problems are easily solved with just a few adjustments. You might have to open a window; open the doors or simply change the controls on your camera.

Back-lighting is effective in certain environments but this does require a light touch and practice in order to get the best pictures. Luckily lighting is one thing that you can adjust repeatedly-until you are satisfied with the photos.

Professionals home staging experts have the knack for making any home look wonderful. They know how to highlight the best features and architectural details. If your budget does not allow for the hiring of an interior design expert or a home staging team then just take a page from their book and DIY.

Natural light is very flattering and you can create more of this lighting effect by removing heavy drapes and window coverings. Practice taking pictures until you discover where to find the best natural light.

Fluorescent lights and decorative lamps can create problems. Switch these lights off and check the next set of photos and see if you are satisfied with the shots.

Always get rid of any excess clutter in the rooms of a home that is going onto the market. Clutter is unappealing and very distracting in a photo.

Keep the line of the camera level when snapping those pictures. This easy trick will make sure that you avoid out of focus shots or those funny “fish-eyed” pictures that are an instant clue to amateur photography skills.

Slower speeds on the camera shutter are your best option when taking pictures that are going to be shot in less than optimal light. * Low light=Low shutter speed.

Your hands may be steady but there is still a chance that you will come up with some shaky pictures. Eliminate this problem with a tripod for your camera.

A wide angle lens can let you digitally display an entire room to interested buyers. Just remember to check the vertical settings. These lines should be perfectly perpendicular to the floor. Once you have established a totally vertical angle the final picture should be spot-on too.

Sometimes photography tricks are simply not enough to help you do a good job for your client. In order to show that home in its best light you must have quality camera equipment. That camera phone may not cut it for prime professionalism. Try a DSLR and external flash equipment for the best results.

Online real estate marketing has grown in importance dramatically in recent years. With web-based marketing, Realtors® and real estate companies alike can reach new clients and keep their pulse on local real estate markets like never before.

A vital component to online real estate marketing and advertising is neighborhood pages. These pages are imperative for providing local (also known as hyper-local) real estate information to potential clients as well as expanding the reach of Realtors® and real estate firms of all sizes.

Neighborhood pages allow for unprecedented marketing and advertising opportunities, letting companies and Realtors® reach out and connect with prospective homebuyers and real estate investors from all across the globe in a very specific and niche-oriented way. Additionally, they provide vitally useful information on local schools, amenities, attractions and other points of interest for potential clients to see, allowing them to become acquainted with the neighborhoods they wish to live in and be able to better decide if it fits their unique needs.

Another reason that these pages are so important is the information about home prices and property values they allow both realtors and homebuyers to conveniently and quickly access. This can be done extremely effectively by utilizing the agent’s MLS IDX system and, if using WordPress as your platform for your site, plugins and widgets which are specifically made for such pages.

By creating neighborhood pages, you are essentially creating single landing pages for each neighborhood.  Depending on your market area, this can enable you to develop your website exponentially in a very short amount of time!  In addition, if created correctly (using researched keyword phrases within the page urls, titles and tags), you can gain great strides in search engine results and traffic to your site, which in turn will provide you with additional clients and eventual sales.

These pages act as critical real estate guides and information sources for potential homebuyers, giving them the knowledge they need to know before they move into a neighborhood. By gaining such specific insight into a neighborhood and its housing inventory before reaching out to Realtors® physically, prospective homebuyers are more likely to buy a home with that specific Realtor®. Having the right information about each neighborhood at the right time can make the difference between closing the sale or not.

Acting as an informational tool for local Realtors® and a connection to prospective real estate buyers, neighborhood pages are vitally important in the world of online real estate marketing and advertising. No Realtor® or firm in today’s world should enter the competitive market without investing the time and resources into creating neighborhood-based pages for clients to view online.

Blogging is an increasingly popular and effective online activity. Blogging for the best SEO results, however, can be tricky. Good SEO requires dedication, a basic understanding of search engine marketing, a grasp of search engine principles and the drive to write compelling and enticing content.

Making your blog appear at the top of a search results page can be tough work, but with some dedication to your craft and a good understanding of SEO principles, can be done effectively. Good SEO skills are honed over time and require extensive trial-and-error tests. However, by blogging daily and researching effective SEO principles, you’re one step closer to making your blog one of the most popular online.

As a general rule of thumb, daily blogging is the best way to increase your SEO results. By pumping out new content on a steady, daily basis, you’ll ensure that your blog rises in the search engine rankings by developing a following and generating buzz. Daily blogging is the most effective way to build up your blog and make a name for yourself online.

Daily blogging, it should be noted, doesn’t mean just putting up content for no other reason. Be sure that each blog post is relevant to your audience and is edited and proofread extensively. Just putting up new, yet irrelevant, content is a surefire way to turn your audience off and lose your place in the SEO rankings. By making each post clever, relevant and clearly directed at your target audience, you’ll practically ensure that your blog slowly but surely develops a following over time.

Blogging on a consistent, daily basis is only half the battle. It’s important to remember that each blog market is different. Make a point to research how competitive the market is for your blog and what keywords work effectively. The more you know about your blog audience, the better you can tailor your blog to increase in traffic and on search engine results.

Effective SEO blogging takes time. By blogging daily, employing relevant content and getting to know your audience inside and out, you’ll be much better equipped to make your blog appear higher in the search engine results and ultimately generate more traffic and buzz overall.   However, being consistent in your blogging is more important.  Be realistic in how often you can (and will) add new posts to your blog.  One way to ensure that you do not move closer to the top of search engine rankings is by being inconsistent.

Creating calls to action on your website

Real estate sites are a vital tool in reaching out to potential homebuyers and spreading information about local real estate markets. However, some fail to be effective due to a failure to entice prospective real estate buyers into contacting the Realtor® about buying property and homes.   This is largely due to an ineffective call to action. Calls to action are a critical step in reaching out to potential homebuyers and generating lucrative property sales leads.

Here are just a few ways to make calls to action on real estate pages more enticing and effective when attempting to reach out to new clientele:

Active & Urgent Language

The first and arguably most effective technique is to use active and urgent language when addressing your audience. Focus on action words and phrases like “How’s the market” and “What’s my home worth today?”  Doing so adds a sense of urgency to the reader that may have been missing before and the primary reason for the audience disconnect.

Multiple Teasers & Temptations

Having strong calls to action on every page is another effective technique for real estate bloggers.   Visitors to your site will not just be on your home page – they will (hopefully) visit numerous pages within your site and as such each page should have a call to action.  After all, the main purpose of having a website is to gain additional leads and sales, and the only way to do that is to gain their information, which can be obtained through your calls to action.

Be Deliberate & Obvious

Also, be sure to incorporate the call to action into your webpage prominently. Placing a “Contact Us” link on the sidebar of each page is a great way to catch the audience’s attention and to get the phone to ring.   It is also important to not clutter the call to action with other less important content. Doing so will make it blend in and seem less important.

Finally, make a point to use bolder colors and larger fonts to catch the audience’s eye better.

Calls to action are a critical link in online real estate marketing. By using urgent language, staying consistent and making the call more prominent and enticing, you will be able to generate sales and reach out to prospective property buyers.

Easy to use and highly intuitive, WordPress is one of the top website and blogging services online today. As with other blogs, many have inquired about its safety and privacy for users. The security of WordPress, fortunately, is ironclad and amongst the best on the Internet. WordPress’ tough security features, top-flight customer support and stringent privacy controls make it among the safest and most secure blogging services in the entire world. For prospective bloggers, the security of WordPress shouldn’t be in doubt.

WordPress incorporate strong, state-of-the-art security features to guard users from privacy breaches, spam, viruses and other online hazards. WordPress 3.0, for example, maintains strong security safeguards as well as spam filters and other security measures. These features make it among the safest and most secure blogs out there.

Additionally, WordPress is also noted for its top-notch customer support services. Any privacy or security breaches are dealt with swiftly by WordPress. The company has made great strides in responding to potential security and privacy violations immediately, ensuring that users are as safe and secure as possible. WordPress’ eminent safety measures and excellent customer support make it among the most secure blogs in the world.

WordPress also features excellent privacy controls and settings that allow bloggers to maintain their privacy and security without breaking a sweat. The privacy settings allowed by WordPress include exclusive and private access by only pre-approved individuals, letting bloggers enjoy excellent safety and security from various online threats. In addition to its excellent privacy controls, WordPress also boasts top-notch safeguards against viruses, hackers and other online annoyances and threats. These privacy and safety features all ensure that WordPress users are secure and that their identities and intellectual properties are completely protected against any and all breaches.

Thanks to its excellent security features, fantastic customer support and strong privacy controls and settings, WordPress is among the most secure online. The site’s firewall of safety and security software ensures that users are safe and secure and that their identities are fully protected from hackers, viruses and other online threats. With its top-notch security and privacy features, all WordPress users can rest assured that they are safe.

We feel very confident in recommending the use of WordPress based websites!