The site allows users to get information, make a donation and even sign up to become a CASA volunteer.  The site is managed through a CMS which allows CASA to easily make updates to site content themselves. 

We are very excited to announce the launch of ShopLocalMilledgeville.com, a new community site that encourages citizens of Milledgeville to shop locally. 

The site allows business owners to edit their own profiles and add information like business hours, logo, business description and more.  Businesses can also add events and sales to the community calendar, create coupons and add articles.  There are more great features currently being developed for this site as well.

Check the site out at: http://www.shoplocalmilledgeville.com

Over 75% of web users skim the text on a website instead of reading the content word for word.
How can you optimize your text for web readers?

• Write small chunks of text or make lists.
• Create headings and subheadings.
• Write about 50% less than you would on printed material, such as a brochure.
• Italicize or bold key words or ideas.
• Each page on your website needs to serve a specific purpose and have specific content. Don’t clutter your content.

Statistics say web users spend as much as 80% of the time “above the fold.”
First things first!

• Put the most important and keyword-rich information first. This isn’t an essay that needs an introduction before getting to the “meat” of the content.
• Avoid incredibly long pages of content. Most people are not going to read it!

Search engines need to know what your business is all about!
What good is your website if no one can find it?

• Anticipate what customers and potential customers will search to find you!
• Use geographic key terms as well as traditional key terms about your business.
• Make a keyword list before writing your web content.
• Extra tip: Update your content frequently! Search engines wants to know your business is still around!

The web is an active medium! Keep your user engaged!
Web users are fickle. They go from web page to web page and usually have something specific they are looking for.

• Predict what your customer will want to get from your website and be precise in providing that information to them.
• Write actionable content. That is, content that allows for action to be taken.
• Use contextual links. These are links within your content that link to other pages on your website or blog. Whenever you write “contact us,” link to the contact page.

Keep an appropriate tone and use effective language!
Don’t eliminate potential customers.

• Keep in mind that most of your website visitors aren’t experts in your field; try not to use too much technical jargon.
• Use simple language and short sentences.
• Avoid cliches, sarcasm, or sayings as it may confuse some.
• Use active verbs.
• Be personal and direct. Keep a conversational tone rather than a formal one.
• Extra tip: Remember to check your site content for spelling and grammatical errors. This will give you less credibility!

If you need help writing effective, search engine friendly content for your website, contact us on our site or give us a call at 478-390-6770!

We are pleased to announce the recent launch of the redesigned website for Diamond Directors. Because their previous website was out of date and difficult to update, they needed a custom solution with a CMS, or content management system. This system allows them to easily make updates and create news items that link to external websites.

Diamond Directors is responsible for training pro athletes like Jason Heyward of the Atlanta Braves. Their methods are innovative and their website reflects that. With video tips, a blog, and online video instruction and analysis, the new website is truly an extention of their business.

We are proud to have added Light Force Family Chiropractic to our portfolio! Our family has been getting adjusted here for years, and it is a truly amazing place with an even more amazing staff.

This website features a dynamic flash piece, an “Ask Dr. Sherry” corner where the public can get their questions answered, and a wealth of wellness articles in a custom designed WordPress blog that flows seamlessly with the rest of the website. Check it out today at www.lightforcechiro.com.

About Light Force Family Chiropractic
Light Force Family Chiropractic is a bridge to wellness for the countless families we attract. While initially people might be drawn to us for a pain-based problem in the neck or back or perhaps even headaches, what they find when they begin care is much more than pain relief. What they find is that oasis called wellness which is so elusive in today’s healthcare environment. We assist on the journey from sickness which is often manifested in physical pain or general malaise to true health and wellness which are displayed by a renewed sense of hope and increased energy. How long has it been since you felt really well? Is your idea of wellness merely the absence of symptoms or do you have a true sense of what your physical goals are? Do you plan to spend your golden years managing a list of prescriptions a mile long or do you want to spend them managing your life’s purpose? At Light Force Chiropractic we explore with you the answers to these questions and more.

However, we know that many small businesses are on tight budgets and feel that they cannot afford to hire a professional web design firm. What you may not know is that having  a custom site built by Goebel Media Group can be financed.  If you take advantage of our website design ’same as cash’ financing program, your payments can be as little as $100/month until your balance is paid off.

If website financing is something you may be interested in please request a web design quote.

We are happy to announce the launch of our latest client website, Hartland Farms Inc.  The Hartland Farms website is a full custom website design with a full administrative backend. The main functionality of the website is the tree catalog which list available trees and is fully controlled by the business. 

About Hartland Farms Inc
In 1991 Gary & Teresa Waters founded Outdoor Environments, Inc., a landscape and garden center located in the rapidly growing community of Grayson, Georgia.  In 1999, they expanded and opened a 2nd location 45 minutes North of Grayson in Braselton, Georgia.  The success of Outdoor Environments, Inc. allowed Gary to begin supplying others with “Quality Grown Trees” that he grew himself.  In 2000 Hartland Farms, Inc. was born.  Now with over 500 acres, and nearly 200 acres currently in production there is plenty of room to grow.

So what do you need to get started building a website? Let’s talk about some of the real basic concepts that we need to understand. This is how we break it down for our clients– think of it in terms of building a house.

• The first thing you need is SPACE to put your house– some “land.” In the web world, the space to store your website is called hosting. A web host runs servers, which are computers connected to the internet at high speeds 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. These computers can be accessed by anyone who has an internet connection all over the world.
• You also have an address so people know where to find you. For your website, you will have a web address, or domain name. This would be something like www.goebelmedia.com or www.google.com. Dot com’s, net’s, and org’s are generally better for SEO and since they are running on short supply nowadays, it is important to buy your domain right away. The cost is cheap, around $10/month. We find the best place to buy domain names is at www.GoDaddy.com.
• Typically, you aren’t going to design your own house so you would need an architect– or for your website, a web designer. You are going to need a web designer with experience not only with web design but ideally with programming, graphic design, SEO, and internet marketing.
• Your house is the actual site design. This is code, typically HTML, that will be place on the hosting, or the land, at the domain, or the address. Just as there are certain critical elements of a house, there are some things you definitely want to include on your website. You want to make sure you have your logo and slogan in a prominent place on your site. You also want to include ways for your customers to contact you, and ways to convert traffic into sales. You could add a sales component to your site or include “lead forms.” It is also important to include analytic tracking code on your website so you can understand where your customers are coming from, how they found you, and how they are navigating through your site.
• Finally, if you buy a house, you have to maintain it. The same goes for a website. It will turn a customer off if your website always looks the same and search engines such as Google or Bing prefer fresh content. Think of these updates or design changes as a fresh coat of paint. As far as redesigning your website, I have heard that this should occur every 2 years. For small businesses, we believe that every 5 years is sufficient.

So, that is some of the basic information you need to know to bring your business online.

If you aren’t convinced that now is the right time to start thinking about your website, consider the following reasons:

1. Customers and potential customers need to know where to find you.

Every business can benefit from having an effective website. That being said, not every business needs the same type of site and not every business needs a large and expensive site. Many small businesses simply need a few pages with their phone number, address and directions to their location. This is going to allow new and returning customers to access the information they need about your business whenever they need it just by searching you out in a search engine such as Google.

2. Your customers are already shopping (and pre-shopping) online.

According to Forrester Research, online sales in the US are expected to reach $331 billion in 2010. This market is only expected to grow.

There will always be a place for brick and mortar retail shops, but e-commerce is something you shouldn’t ignore or resist. Not included in the $331 billion figure are consumers who went online to research, price, and comparison shop products before going into a traditional store to actually make their purchase. So even if you aren’t ready to sell online, a website can motivate your customer to buy from you.

Another promising statistic from Forrester states that although the economic downturn has impacted overall sales in nearly all areas, the online sales growth rate has diminished only slightly and continues its upward trend by as much as 13% per year.

3. The sooner you get online, the sooner you will start making new customers online. 

Building a superior online presence takes time. Having a website built can be quick, but getting into the search engines and ranking well for the keywords you want can take months, even years for competitive terms. The good news is that you can get started right now by going to Godaddy.com and buying the domain name (that’s your .com or .net address). The domain will only cost you about $10/year. The earlier you get started, the sooner you can start getting results.

If you are serious about making 2010 your year to bring your business online, be sure to attend the January Market and visit http://www.goebelmedia.com for more information.

About Seal Arc Welding
Seal Arc Welding is located in Eatonton, GA near Lake Sinclair and Milledgeville, GA and operates a welding and fabrication shop. We have been in the steel fabrication and mechanical installation for over 25 years and have expertise in cutting, threading, and welding pipes and other prefabricated materials.