Don’t throw your extra stuff in the trash. Give to those in need, without the middleman. Relief Market is the easiest way for people to find items they need. And it’s completely free for both parties. Our goal is simply to serve communities by providing a simple way for those in need to find help. Just post your extra items, then people can search for free, second hand stuff they can use. Everybody wins.

We’re excited to announce that Relief Market has launched. We’re working hard to make the website a resource that truly helps our local communities. And the system was designed to quickly scale up as interest and participation grows. Learn more…

We recently completed a new website for Ms Sparky Electric, an Electrician in Encinitas, CA. It’s a completely new design and expanded presence. The site incorporates and extends their brand with appropriate colors, design and messaging. Although the site has only been live for about a week, it’s already doing very well in Google for relevant searches – much better than the original site.

I was recently part of a conversation where the group was discussing strategies for the placement of contact information on a website. While everyone agrees that contact info should be “easy” to find, opinions differ as to how “easy” is defined and measured. I decided to define the characteristics I think are important and conduct a study where I would measure them.

Continue reading “Website Study: Contact Info Accessibility, Metrics and Averages” »

There seems to be an increasing number of “search engine optimizers” cold calling and cold emailing every company they can find contact information for. If fact, they contact me about once a month!

The pitch is always the same. First they identify themselves as calling from a generic company name, usually something like “Data Movers” or “Search Performance” (however, upon further investigation I’ve found that this is often not the actual company they’re calling from). Then they mention that their company “works for”, “works with”, or is a “strategic partner of” Google. Sure. Then they continue to explain that there’s a great opportunity right now, for your specific business because they have “some openings on page one” of Google, Bing and Yahoo for “your products or services” in “your specific geographic area”. Really? Continue reading “Beware: SEO Cold Calling on the Rise” »

Get our new book, 10 Mistakes Your Small Business Is Making Online. A free download to help educate small business owners about common mistakes with websites, social media, performance tracking, and evaluating web professionals. Arm yourself with the simple guidelines outlined in this book. Don’t start your next web project or campaign without it. Download now

If you like beer, you’ll love this web game. Beers earn ratings based on the results of head-to-head battles where you choose the winner. It’s extremely simple and a little addicting. It’s totally free and it works on your computer and mobile devices like the iPhone and iPad.

Take a look at BeerVersusBeer.com

Thanks to our great Clients, Partners, Colleagues, Family and Friends, we’re celebrating the completion of our first year in business.  Take a look at our birthday wall, signed by many of them.

Movie Theater Advertising – Just imagine this on a 40 foot screen

Ever considered advertising your business at the local movie theater? During the pre-show, theaters often display national, regional and local ads, before the previews and the feature itself. I’ve been researching cinema advertising for a while now, speaking with account representatives at Screenvision, and considering the options. Most importantly, I’ve been generating ROI goals, as theater advertising isn’t the cheapest form of promotion.

In-theater advertising offers another way to attract geo-targeted clients. It’s an appealing option that few local companies take advantage of. But the moviegoer demographics tell an encouraging story. Continue reading “Now Showing on the Big Screen… modMACRO” »

We’re building a new site for the San Diego Alarm Association (SDAA). Features include an association directory with contact information and company logos, and latest news section. The site includes a back-end that allows easy management by group admins, as well as an internal message board that provides members a simple way to share and communicate in a central, secure manner.

The site design includes a mostly grayscale look that’s professional and strong. Reds are used to offset the coldness while maintaining a security-enforcing feel.

We’re known for working with small businesses to create tailor-made websites and information systems. But lately, we’ve had a lot of people asking for pre-packaged, simple web solutions that can be launched in a matter of days. Start-ups and smaller firms sometimes just want to get online now, for cheap, then worry about building a “real” site later.

In keeping with our small business heritage, we’ve introduced Small Business Web Packages. They’re designed specifically for start-ups and smaller firms who need a quick, inexpensive solution to web presence. They are scalable solutions that include everything you need to get started – domain registration, web hosting, and a templated website. These aren’t full-blown custom sites. They’re packaged solutions that meet an immediate need. And they start at just $30/ month. Learn more