se·man·tics The meaning or the interpretation of a word, sentence, or other language form: We’re basically agreed; let’s not quibble over semantics.

I’m always quick to pull out the old “semantics” argument with friends and family. But when it comes to website design and online marketing semantics are huge! You know what your business is and the words you use to describe it. But you’re already visiting your site, you need to find out the words that people searching the internet use to find businesses in your industry.

This issue came to the forefront of my mind this afternoon when I stumbled upon a site called Geoff’s Google Duel. This site is basically just an application that allows you to compare the number of results for two different keywords or keyword phrases. Just out of curiosity I entered “web design” vs. “website design.” Here are the results:

Now what stands out to me immediately looking at those numbers is that I should definitely be actively targeting “website design” as the competition is far less than “web design.” And it might be a more realistic shorter term search engine goal. If you have a young or newly redesigned site, reaching the top 100 for “web design” could really be an impossible dream, but with a lot of hard work and active marketing, it could be a possibility for “website design” or at least not bring quite as loud of snorts and smirks from the pros as reaching the top of “web design!”

Keep in mind though…that there are other things to take into account. There is probably a reason those numbers are so lopsided. The number of searches for “web design” is probably higher, right?

A quick search on Wordtracker shows that the daily prediction for number of searches is as follows:

• “website design” - 2,030 searches per day
• “web design” - 6,291 searches per day

From a purely free, organic search engine optimization point of view, I for one, would not snub my nose at over 2,000 searches a day. So you might notice me substituting “website design” for “web design” here and there.

After all, it’s just semantics!

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I just read a hilarious post over at Gray Wolf’s SEO blog.  I have run into these kind of things so many times!  I’ll let you go over there and check it out, but suffice it to say that perhaps the US National Park Service should get a few SEO experts in on their web team!

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Yes, even during the joyful holiday season, I am still plagued by that dang Google monster who seems to have taken up permanent residence under my bed…or desk for that matter. He’s still chasing me and nagging me to write more articles, put in an extra SEO effort, get more links, blog more frequently, etc.

Well, it doesn’t look like he’s going to be going anywhere anytime soon. According to a New York Times article,

Google, the search engine company, displaced Yahoo as the world’s second-most-visited Web site in November and closed in on the leader, Microsoft, a market researcher said yesterday.

Check out the article for all the specifics and breakdown of the numbers. But needless to say, it looks like Youtube was a big help to the big G.

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In my daily feeds cruising, I ran across Do you have advertising on your Website, a poll on About.com Web Design. I thought it was funny in light of my post earlier this week regarding the same subject, To Adsense or Not to Adsense.

As of this moment, there are only 21 respondents to the poll so far, but the results from even that limited number seem about as clear cut as my original post.  Pretty much 50/50!

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After spending yet another day wading through the latest SEO articles, sites and blogs, I just began wondering…How many people give up on their websites and online marketing plans before they even really get started?

Optimizing your webpages and blog posts is important.  BUT for small businesses and individuals just taking the first steps towards gaining an online presence, don’t let the big, bad SEO boogie monster scare you away!

Most SEO experts will tell you that the one of the most important pieces of the search engine puzzle is building quality sites filled with great content, which coincidentally should be any website owner’s goal in the first place, right?

If you’re getting overwhelmed and start to feel like giving up and that you can’t do this…just focus in on what you started to do in the first place…build a great site that complements your company’s mission and image.

I know this advice might sound oversimplified…it is and that’s the point!  You will inevitably hear more and more SEO techniques the longer you’re online.  After awhile, you will most likely begin to notice that there are three or four main commandments of the SEvangelists and when you feel more comfortable, definitely start playing around with those and find what works for you.

If you’re already at that stage, please by all means continue and check out the SEO gurus blogs, websites, etc.  I do not claim to be an expert!  There is obviously value in being aware of what’s going on around you, or more importantly with the search engines, above you.

Just please, don’t let the Google Monster under your bed, the Yahoo Crypt Keeper in your closet keep you and your business from joining the rest of your competitors online

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When launched my first business website, DW Office Solutions, I struggled with the decision of whether to put ads on it or not.  On one hand, Adsense and other advertising programs can mean a few extra cents while you’re waiting for your online business to take off.  However, I often wonder how putting ads on your business’ website might effect your business’ image and eventual success.

I have read many opinions supporting both sides of this issue.  I think it really has to be a decision based on your personal views and, at times, gut feeling.

I’ve always taken an approach of looking at my site the same way I look at other sites as a viewer and potential customer.  I’m not saying that I will never buy something from a site with Adsense, and I have no problem whatsoever with ads on content sites.  But in my mind, it does take away a bit of the professional image of a service company to see those little Google boxes plastered about.  Obviously, there are ways to include the ads without being blatantly displayed, but my gut feeling always leads me to question business’ who prominently display such ads on the same pages where they’re describing why I should buy from them or why I should hire them.

These are solely my opinions, based only on my “gut feelings” and not research but I can’t help wondering how successful a company is at their specialty if they feel the need to post ads?

Again, I think it’s really something that each business and designer need to discuss and decide for themselves!

Do you use Adsense or it’s alternatives on your business site?

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According to an article at CNET today

Search engine rivals Google, Yahoo and Microsoft are teaming up to make it easier for Web site owners to make sure their sites get included in the Web indexes, the companies are expected to announce Thursday.

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“I typed the word Google into Google. Guess what came up? Everything.”

-George Carlin

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There is an interesting video clip now showing on CNN.com. The clip is from Fortune’s Most Powerful Women Conference and features Ariana Huffington and Marissa Mayer of Google discussing an intriguing business practive of the king of all search engines.

The big G’s policy is to always build in a failure rate of 60-70% for all new product launches. Mayer explains that in a fluid business like the internet game, historically at least 2 of every 5 new ventures fail. She says that by incorporating a high failure rate into the planning of each new offering, Google is better able to move quickly in the event of either the success or failure.

Many business experts and coaches often preach the value of positive thinking or believing your way to success.

Do you think planning ahead for failure is a key to overall success or a surefire path to doom?

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No way! I do not claim to be an expert in the field of SEO. I read enough about it, and I try to keep up with my blogging and my article writing and I’ve seen modest success with those tactics on my virtual assistant site.

But I have to give myself a little shout out here…

DW Web Solutions my web design site, home of this blog was officially launched on Saturday.  I have put quite a bit of work in there. I was hoping for a few pages to be indexed on MSN sometime this week…they always seem to be the first at that! But you know, I wasn’t expecting much.

Imagine my surprise this morning to find that 2 pages of that site have been indexed by the big G! I know that the seasoned pros at marketing and SEO probably would not be impressed, but I am extremely pleased.  Enough to write this blog for the sole purpose of recording this moment!

Who knows when the rest will be indexed or even if those pages will stick around right now, but I’m certainly motivated now.

So to you seasoned pros and fellow SEO soldiers, how long does initial indexing usually take?  Does anyone else get this ridiculously excited about these things?

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