Posted on 5th May 2012 by suem in Understand Your Website
As a website design firm, we see our fair share of clients looking for immediate results when it come to search engine optimization for their existing or new business websites. Often they are frustrated by our answer that organic SEO is a process. It would be a disservice to our customers to create sites using techniques designed to trick Google’s algorithm. The goal is long-term positive results and the fact is, it takes time.
Google’s latest webspam updates have proven that once again. The Panda refresh and Penguin updates have been in place for about two weeks. Both implemented with days of each other, they have caused quite a commotion throughout the Internet.
The Panda refresh proves that content is king. According to Google’s Matt Cutts, “ The goal of many of our ranking changes is to help searchers find sites that provide a great user experience and fulfill their information needs. We also want the “good guys” making great sites for users, not just algorithms, to see their effort rewarded.”
The sites being rewarded have original, relevant subject matter, are grammatically correct, and show attention to detail. In the ecommerce arena, sites must be visually appealing, easy to navigate and visitors should feel confident giving credit card information.
Although both are focused on working in unison to reward quality websites that provide a better user experience, Penguin’s focus is webspam. It isn’t brain surgery. This algorithm is negatively affecting the ranking of sites that do not follow Google’s quality guidelines.
If your website has had a recent fall in rankings, it’s time to get your site in shape. If this is beyond your scope, do your research. It is more important than ever to hire a company that focuses on compelling design, quality content and does not engage in using ‘black hat’ techniques for optimization.
Posted on 26th March 2012 by suem in What's New
CT Website Design, melissa croghan, website design, website design ct
Melissa Croghan is an artist who explores humanity in her oil canvases. Exhibits in the Hartford area last year highlighted her Mother America series. This spring, Croghan’s current exhibit “The Branches of Humanity” focuses on the relationship between people and nature. “In this body of work, I continue my narrative fueled paintings and include a number of figurative works and great craggy trees,” Croghan comments. “Nature and people alike may be said to reveal personality, to be wounded, craggy, or sublime.”
The sixteen oil paintings and pastels in Croghan’s current series are showing through May 3rd at the University of Connecticut Health Center at 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT. Her work can be seen in the lobby and mezzanine of the main building. Visitors are invited to attend the reception for the artist’s solo show: Thursday, April 12, 2012, 4:30 – 6pm.
Her artwork is in private and public collections within the U.S. and abroad. Most days Melissa can be found working in her studio at the Farmington Valley Arts Center, Studio 4A. “From portraiture, natural world paintings, narrative art and embedded poems in my ongoing Mother America series, my art suggests a continuum of national identity, evolving self,” says, Croghan. “What is the human condition, what are our fears, our personal and spiritual needs? I engage these questions in all my work.”
Melissa is also pleased to announce her newly designed website, MelissaCrogan.com, where many of her works can be seen. Insight Design Studios was commissioned to redesign and develop the new site with a focus on Melissa’s distinctive style. Her oil paintings, mixed with other natural mediums and poetry are designed to encourage audiences to ponder life’s deeper issues.
Please visit http://www.melissacroghan.com/ to learn more about the artist, read more about upcoming workshops and events. You can also contact Melissa directly at 860.408.1618 or croghanart@gmail.com
