Blog Post

7 Reasons Responsive Design is What You Should be Asking For!

Richard Fagan • March 8, 2019

7 Reasons Responsive Design is What You Should be Asking For!

In 2015, Google updated their search ranking algorithm to factor in a website’s ‘mobile-friendliness’ as a ranking signal. That means that as of April 26, 2015 sites not optimized for smartphones smaller screens started seeing their ranking downgraded.

If your site is like most websites, Google brings you more traffic than any other source. Google estimates that more than half of all searches are performed on mobile devices. If you aren’t seeing similar results in your traffic, it’s most likely because your website isn’t mobile-friendly. While Google doesn't explicitly favor one method of mobile optimization over another in the rankings, the search engine does recommend using responsive design. Doing what Google recommends seems like a no-brainer.

If you are unclear whether your website is considered mobile-friendly by Google, use their free online test.

If your site isn’t mobile-friendly, you have several options to get you there. These options will be most likely be tied to the web developer you choose, but generally speaking the options include: building a separate mobile website, adaptive design, responsive design or even a mobile app. For most websites, the best solution is responsive design. Here are 7 reasons why:

  1. Google recommends it
    If your website is like most websites, the vast majority of traffic is coming from Googles search results. Given that more than half of online searches today are coming from mobile devices, shouldn’t your website be in line with what the world’s most utilized search engine recommends? Google recommends using responsive design. That should be good enough for you.
  2. Better Cross-Device Experience
    Mobile Shopping Research, published by Internet Retailer, found that the majority of shoppers will use multiple devices when shopping. When it comes to conversion rates, it’s clear that usability and trust are key components. What the research found is that customers might begin their research on a mobile device and then return to your site later from a tablet or desktop to purchase or complete a contact form. What if your desktop site doesn’t match the look and feel of your mobile site? With responsive design, your customers will always get a uniform experience across all devices. This reinforces usability and trust and increases conversion which translates into SALES!
  3. Responsive Design is Exact
    Responsive Design provides an ideal user experience on any device. No mater what device your customer uses, smart phone, tablet, laptop or desktop, they will see the site you want them to see. Other methods of mobile optimization can only optimize for a specific device (not multiple devices).
  4. One Website to design, build and maintain
    It is true that Responsive Design is more complex than a traditional desktop website, but with other options, you’ll need to build a stand-alone mobile website. That means with other options, you'll need to invest additional time and expense to design, build and maintain two websites.
  5. Superior SEO
    If you want your website to rank well in both desktop and mobile search, you’ll only need to optimize one domain and one version of each page. When you opt for a separate mobile website, you are doubling the workload. In addition, with a Responsive Design, you will eliminate the potential of duplicate content which decreases your ranking.
  6. Scalability
    Display technology continues to change on a rapid pace. Mobile phone and tablet screen sizes are always changing. While other methods of design focus on specific screen sizes, Responsive Design does not! Your website will render properly on today’s version of a smartphone, as it will on what comes next.
  7. Cost
    You will hear lots about Responsive Design costing much more than the other methods. You will be surprised when you contact us for a quote. We have been quoting $900 for a basic 5-page website. Hosting plan for a Responsive Design Website costs $39/month. This includes a User Control Panel allowing you to make edits yourself if you choose. This price includes SEO at launch and monthly summary or detailed traffic reports sent directly to your email inbox.

If your website is 3 years or older, you are a likely candidate for a website redesign. The days of talking about most online searches being performed via a mobile device have come! If your website is not mobile-friendly, you are missing out on all those potential customers and clients searching for your products and services from their mobile device. Contact ustoday for your FREE, no obligation, consultation.

The Impact of Social Media on SEO: Which Connections Matter Most?
By Richard Fagan February 18, 2025
Search engines are constantly evolving, and one of the most debated topics in SEO is the influence of social media on search rankings. While Google has stated that social media metrics like likes and shares are not direct ranking factors, there’s no denying that social media activity can have a significant indirect impact on SEO. The question is: Are some social media connections more valuable to SEO than others? The short answer is yes. Not all social media platforms contribute to SEO in the same way. Some platforms are more authoritative, indexed more frequently, and capable of driving high-quality referral traffic. In this article, we’ll explore which social media connections offer the most value for SEO and how to leverage them for better search rankings. 1. YouTube: A Powerhouse for Video SEO YouTube is owned by Google, making it one of the most influential platforms for SEO. Well-optimized videos can appear in both Google’s video search results and regular search listings. By incorporating keyword-rich titles, descriptions, and captions, you can enhance your website’s visibility. SEO Benefits: YouTube videos rank in Google’s search results, providing an additional avenue for visibility. Embedded YouTube videos can increase dwell time on your website, a positive user engagement signal. Video content encourages backlinks and social shares, indirectly boosting domain authority. 2. Twitter/X: Fast Indexing & Brand Mentions Twitter is one of the few social media platforms that Google indexes frequently. Tweets from authoritative accounts often appear in Google search results, making Twitter an effective tool for amplifying content reach. SEO Benefits: Tweets appear in search engine results, increasing visibility for trending topics and branded searches. Twitter encourages brand mentions, which can lead to natural backlinks from other sources. Sharing high-quality content can drive referral traffic and encourage organic link-building. 3. Pinterest: Image SEO & Long-Term Traffic Pinterest is often overlooked in SEO discussions, but it is a powerhouse for driving organic traffic, especially in visual niches like fashion, food, travel, and home decor. Pins can rank in Google image searches and continue driving traffic for months or even years after they are posted. SEO Benefits: Pins and boards get indexed by Google, providing additional opportunities for search visibility. Keyword-rich descriptions help improve rankings in both Pinterest and Google searches. High engagement on Pinterest can lead to more inbound links from blogs and websites. 4. Reddit & Quora: Niche Authority & Referral Traffic Both Reddit and Quora offer opportunities to position yourself as an industry expert while driving targeted traffic to your website. While links from these platforms are typically nofollow, their impact on SEO goes beyond link value. SEO Benefits: Well-received answers and discussions can appear in Google search results, increasing your content’s reach. A strong presence on these platforms can build brand authority and encourage organic backlinks from other sources. Referral traffic from niche communities tends to be highly engaged, reducing bounce rates and improving on-site metrics. 5. Facebook & Instagram: Brand Awareness & Engagement While Facebook and Instagram are less directly tied to SEO, they still play a role in overall digital marketing success. Posts on these platforms aren’t typically indexed by Google, but they help with brand discovery, social sharing, and audience engagement. SEO Benefits: Strong social engagement can lead to more website visits and increased branded search queries. Viral content can attract media attention and backlinks from other websites. Social proof and user engagement contribute to trust and authority, indirectly boosting SEO. Maximizing Social Media for SEO Success To make the most of your social media connections for SEO, follow these best practices: Share high-quality content that is valuable, shareable, and engaging. Optimize your social media profiles with relevant keywords, descriptions, and links to your website. Encourage social sharing to increase content reach and the likelihood of earning backlinks. Use social media to amplify new content, driving initial traffic and engagement that can lead to organic ranking improvements. Engage with industry influencers and communities to increase visibility and credibility. Not all social media connections are created equal when it comes to SEO. YouTube, X, Pinterest, and Reddit offer the strongest indirect SEO benefits by driving traffic, encouraging backlinks, and increasing content visibility in search results. However, a well-rounded social media strategy that includes brand-building on platforms like Facebook and Instagram can still contribute to overall online authority.  By leveraging the right social media channels strategically, you can enhance your SEO efforts, drive more organic traffic, and establish your brand as an industry leader. Social media and SEO go hand in hand—so make sure you're using both to their full potential!
By Jayne Fagan January 15, 2025
"Threading out" on X (formerly Twitter) refers to the practice of creating a series of connected tweets, known as a "thread," to convey a more complex or detailed idea than would fit into the 280-character limit of a single tweet. It allows you to break down longer content, such as blog posts or articles, into smaller, digestible chunks while keeping the narrative flow intact. ### Why Threading Out Works - **Engagement**: It keeps the audience engaged for a longer period as they scroll through your series of tweets. - **Visibility**: Each tweet in a thread can receive its own likes, retweets, and comments, increasing the chances of your content being seen by more people. - **Context**: It allows you to fully explain a topic, showcase your expertise, and provide detailed insights without overwhelming readers in one tweet. ### How to Thread Out Content 1. **Start with an Introductory Tweet**: This should hook your audience by introducing the topic and encouraging them to keep reading. It might highlight a problem, ask a question, or make a bold statement. Example: *"As a startup founder, delegation can feel like giving up control—but it's essential for scaling your business. Here's how to do it right. 🧵👇 #Leadership #StartupGrowth"* 2. **Break Down Key Points**: Each tweet in the thread should present a single point or idea. This could be a step in a process, an insight, or a piece of advice. Keep each tweet concise and clear. Example: *"1/ The first step in effective delegation is building trust within your team. Without trust, you’ll be hesitant to let go of tasks that you could be passing on to others."* *"2/ Set clear expectations when delegating tasks. Ensure your team knows the objectives and outcomes they’re working toward—this removes ambiguity and empowers them to perform."* 3. **Use Visuals or Links**: Some tweets can include links to your full article, website, or even images or charts to enhance the point you’re making. Visual elements can draw more attention and increase engagement. Example: *"3/ Still unsure about letting go? Here's a quick guide on how to develop a delegation mindset: [link to blog post]."* 4. **Conclude with a Call to Action**: The last tweet in the thread should tie everything together and invite further engagement. You could ask for comments, encourage retweets, or direct your audience to more resources. Example: *"Thanks for following along! What delegation challenges have you faced in your startup? Let me know in the comments, and check out my full article here: [link]. #Delegation #StartupLife"* ### Example of a Full Thread: **Tweet 1:** *As a startup founder, delegation can feel like giving up control—but it's essential for scaling your business. Here’s how to do it right. 🧵👇 #Leadership #StartupGrowth* **Tweet 2:** *1/ The first step in effective delegation is building trust within your team. Without trust, you’ll be hesitant to let go of tasks that you could be passing on to others.* **Tweet 3:** *2/ Set clear expectations when delegating tasks. Ensure your team knows the objectives and outcomes they’re working toward—this removes ambiguity and empowers them to perform.* **Tweet 4:** *3/ Don’t micromanage! Trust your team to get the job done once the task is handed off. Micromanagement stifles creativity and slows down progress.* **Tweet 5:** *4/ Remember: Delegation isn’t about dumping tasks; it’s about providing opportunities for growth. Empower your team by giving them meaningful responsibilities.* **Tweet 6:** *Thanks for following along! What delegation challenges have you faced in your startup? Let me know in the comments, and check out my full article here: [link]. #Delegation #StartupLife*  ### Conclusion Threading out is an excellent way to share detailed insights while keeping your audience engaged. By breaking down content into smaller pieces and creating a cohesive narrative, you can showcase your expertise in leadership or any other field while driving traffic to your longer content on LinkedIn or your website.
By Richard Fagan January 15, 2025
5 Features That Will Make Your [Niche] Website Stand Out From The Crowd
By Richard Fagan January 15, 2025
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Google Indexing Explained.
By Richard Fagan November 24, 2024
The Google Index process refers to how Google collects, organizes, and stores information from web pages to make it accessible through search results. The purpose of this process is to enable Google Search to quickly retrieve relevant information in response to user queries. The process involves several key steps: 1. Crawling Definition: Google uses automated bots called "Googlebots" to discover new or updated web pages by following links on the web. Purpose: To find as much content as possible, ensuring the search index remains comprehensive and up-to-date. How it works: Googlebot begins with a list of known URLs (from previous crawls or sitemaps) and discovers new pages by following links from these. 2. Rendering Definition: After crawling, Google processes the HTML, JavaScript, CSS, and other elements to see how the page would appear to a typical user. Purpose: To understand the layout, design, and content as users would experience it. How it works: Google uses headless browsers (like Chrome) to simulate how the page renders, ensuring it can read dynamic or JavaScript-generated content. 3. Indexing Definition: Google analyzes the content and structure of crawled pages and organizes the data for storage in its massive index. Purpose: To make content searchable by categorizing it based on topics, keywords, and other signals. What Google stores: Text content Meta tags (e.g., titles, descriptions) Structured data (e.g., schema markup) Images and videos (if applicable) 4. Ranking Definition: When a user searches, Google retrieves information from its index and ranks results based on relevance and quality. Purpose: To deliver the most accurate and helpful answers to users. Factors considered: Keywords in the content Page quality and authority User experience metrics (e.g., page speed, mobile-friendliness) Backlinks and site reputation Purpose of the Google Index Efficiency: By pre-organizing data, Google can retrieve results almost instantly when a query is made. Relevance: The index helps ensure that users get the most pertinent results based on their search intent. Scalability: The index allows Google to handle billions of searches daily across an enormous volume of web content. The Google Index process is essential for organizing the internet’s vast amount of information, making it searchable, and ensuring users find relevant, high-quality results efficiently.
Maximizing Engagement on Social Media
By Richard Fagan September 16, 2024
H aving a strong presence on social media is essential for any business. Whether you're a coach, consultant, or entrepreneur, the key to expanding your reach and engaging with your target audience is consistency and smart content strategy. One of the most effective approaches for growing your following on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) is by repurposing content you’ve already created. Here’s how you can take your insights and leverage them across platforms for maximum impact. The Strategy: Repurposing Your Best Insights If you're already sharing articles and thought leadership on LinkedIn, you're in an excellent position to maximize your content’s value. Grabbing engaging statements or thought-provoking takeaways from these articles and posting them as concise tweets is a proven way to reach new audiences. Why? Because X thrives on short, sharp, and engaging messages. By repurposing existing content, you're not only saving time but also giving your content a new lease of life. Key Benefits of Using X to Grow Your Audience 1. Concise Thought Leadership: With its 280-character limit, X forces you to distill your insights into bite-sized wisdom. Posting these key ideas helps you build authority in your niche, whether it’s leadership coaching, consulting, or any other field. 2. Increased Engagement: By pulling quotes or highlights from your articles, you provide followers with impactful, easily digestible content. This encourages likes, retweets, and comments—furthering your reach. 3. Multi-Platform Presence: Using X to promote your full articles posted on LinkedIn or your website can drive traffic across platforms. You create a digital ecosystem where users can engage with your content at different touchpoints. 4. Conversation Starter: Engaging statements not only showcase your expertise but also invite conversation. Use your tweets to ask questions or offer solutions, inviting others to contribute and share their perspectives. Best Practices for Repurposing Content on X 1. Thread it Out: Some topics are just too rich for one tweet. Use Twitter threads to break down your article into a series of connected tweets that tell a complete story or present an argument. Each tweet should lead naturally into the next, keeping your audience intrigued. 2. Use Hashtags: Don’t forget to include relevant hashtags like #Leadership, #Coaching, or #Consulting. This expands your reach to users searching for specific topics. 3. Engage in Real-Time: It’s not just about posting and walking away. Interacting with comments, retweeting valuable insights from others, and actively participating in conversations will increase your visibility. 4. Link Back to Full Articles: Always include a call to action or link back to your longer-form content. This could be your latest blog post, a detailed LinkedIn article, or a resource on your website. 5. Consistency Is Key: Like any good social media strategy, consistency is critical. Make repurposing content from your articles into tweets a regular part of your social media routine. It reinforces your expertise and keeps your name in front of your followers. Why This Approach Works By repurposing content, you’re not just filling space on your social media feed. You’re reinforcing your personal brand, creating valuable touchpoints for your audience, and driving traffic back to your core content on LinkedIn or your website. You’re establishing yourself as an authority in your field, making sure the effort you’ve put into creating long-form content is recognized and appreciated across different platforms. Conclusion The more platforms you can engage on, the stronger your digital presence will be. Repurposing content from LinkedIn for X (Twitter) is an efficient, highly effective way to maximize your reach and grow your business. If you need help creating a content strategy that works across platforms or want to build a professional website to showcase your services, we’re here to help. Contact us today to learn how we can elevate your digital presence and take your business to the next level!
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