Yesterday, a standardized web design was the most important aspect of a website. Today, for websites to come across professionally and to remain relevant, they need search engine optimization, relevant content, and social media integration. As marketing costs soar, implementing these elements is essential for the survival of the small business.

A website should be optimized from the group up. For the small business, the power of the internet lies in getting traffic to the website from search engines. The chances of the website being found by internet users looking for the small business' products and services increases as the website climbs higher in the results page that search engines serve. There is no point in having a pretty website if it is not appearing in front of its targeted audience. Keyword research is the central theme of the search engine optimization. Once the small business knows what keywords and phrases internet users type when searching for like businesses, these should be used in every aspect of the website, from naming image files, to creating descriptive url's.

Although vital for search engine optimization, fresh and relevant content reflect the personality of the business to the website's visitors. Fresh content signals that those behind the website are around; that somebody cares. Having relevant, insightful, and intelligent content, compels visitors to consider a business as serious, effective, and able. More than once, I purchased the services of a business because the content of its website was on target.

Social media has a dual effect on a website; one that influences the website's visitors, and another that influences the broadcasting of the website over the internet. With the integration of social media, a website let's the user connect to the business; users get a sense of reward when they "like" a business that has served them well. This has broader implications. Since Google and Bing have integrated social media into their search results, when a user likes, shares, or tweets a website, that website is likely to appear among the search results of that person's network, and in some cases to be broadcasted over the web at large.

The implementation of these elements is paramount for the small business to keep its marketing costs low. Furthermore, given our increasing reliance on the internet to find solutions to everyday problems, small businesses stand a chance of growing their customer base from search engine traffic. To apply these takes determination, savvy searching skills, and hundreds of hours. But for small business owners, to focus on what they do best is key. Our web design and web development is geared towards turning your website into an valuable asset: a channel that helps you connect with those you want to help.