Three Reasons You Need To Be Blogging

With our web design clients, we hear it all the time - "Why would I need to be blogging? I'm not a blogger." But in our case (for our clients) you are either selling a product or service online, or have a business that needs exposure on the world wide web. Whatever your business is, your online presence could benefit from having a blog.

Reason Number Three:  You could be taking advantage of the opportunity to blog about yourself, your company and your products. Certainly the idea is to eventually get OTHER bloggers to blog about you, and it can seem a little self-serving to write about yourself. But truly, if you do it in a way that is informative and educational to others - specifically your client or potential client - in the form of how-to's, product reviews and tips and tricks that pertain to your industry - you'd be generating useful and relevant content.  In our opinion - content about your company, if it's done without a sales-y attitude, is a great option, even if you are writing it yourself.

Reason Number Two: Blogs are great for SEO, in many ways. First, you gain accidental traffic to the blog, that you might not get to your website. Second, you can take advantage of this traffic by optimizing each post with a great title and tags, as well as back links to your website (keep them deep, with great anchor text keywords, and they'll be more juicy.) Whether you have a Blogger blog (like this one) where the content lives externally from your website, or a WordPress blog where the content is on your server acting as bait for the search engines - you need a blog to boost your SEO effort.

Reason Number Three: Blogs are great for social media. It could be your 'hub' or 'headquarters' for socially sharable content. Or, maybe it's a way for you to easily update your website with news and events about your company. Whatever your blog is used for (news, events, or socially shareable content) it all works great for Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus, Linked In and other social sharing sites.

Of course, your content is best suited for your clients when it comes from you. And - it's best suited when it comes regularly. Just don't have time? If you're super busy and don't have a clone to channel your thoughts to a blog post, and want someone to do it for you - Kari and Company does offer blogging services. Just sayin'.

And, since social media is great exposure across the internet and certainly boosts SEO, you start falling into a never ending useful funnel of goodness that leads potential clients and new clients RIGHT to your website. That's the idea, right? Happy Blogging!

Web Design Company Clients Support MacArthur High School After Prom Party

I am wowed by our clients! Of course, without clients - we'd have no business. I am so lucky to get to be the one to design small business websites for them, or even do a custom Volusion design or Core Commerce design, or maybe do a some social media services for them. Kim and I work really hard to provide a great service, with a great end result, at a fair price - with some added value of good communication and the desire to go above and beyond. For our clients - I already knew they were amazing, but it's now confirmed - that they support us in s many ways!

As many of you know, my niece is graduating this year from the same high school Kim and I graduated from many moons ago. Like most kids, they are getting ready for Prom, and the parties to follow. Kim took a role to support an effort to host a huge after-Prom party - sort of a lock-in - where kids can have a drug-free, alcohol-free good time at SpeedZone in Dallas. Kids attending the MacArthur High School after prom party will be able to race through the night, drinks, snacks, games and giveaways - until the sun comes up the next morning. The idea is to keep them off the streets, and off drugs and alcohol - for what should be one of the most memorable nights of their life. The alternative is often tragic, and parents decided a few years ago that after-Prom parties were a great way to protect their kids.

So - we reached out to our web design clients, because we needed financial support to pay for the venue, as well as donations and giveaways to encourage kids and volunteers to participate in this special event. We were nothing short of AMAZED at the return from our clients. I've created a short-list of people who participated, as well as what their business does to thank them for their contribution.

• Oransi Air Purifiers - The folks at Oransi have been clients for a few years and we have done a couple of Volusion store designs for them. They offer selection support for the latest efficient air purification systems.
• Native Juicer - Offering professional grade juicing systems - commercial blenders and commercial juicer products that are easy to clean and store, and retain the valuable nutrients of the natural fruits and veggies you're working with.
• Rawhide Company - Offering high quality cowhide rugs, in all shapes, sizes and colors - (even very fun bright colored cowhide rugs!) a highly durable and stylish accessory for ANY dwelling (maybe even a rug for dorm room!)
• mod. - Modstraps.com offers HUGELY stylish designer camera straps and camera bags. Custom patterns, fabrics and innovative designs make for one of the hottest products for photographers!
• Clive & Co. Dallas Hair Salon - We didn't do Clive & Co.'s web design, we just are helping with some changes to the website, and a little SEO support (we optimized a little with some tweeks to the website to increase exposure for search...) - But Clive & Co. is one of the Premier Hair Salons in Dallas. Clive and his team of expert hair stylists and hair colorists work in an upscale environment and offer exclusive products such as Bumble and Bumble and Kerastase.
• Cellular Repair School - the folks at Cellular Repair School and InspectUrGadget.com are great guys - and very savvy about what's going on in today's technology. They see the a huge opportunity for people wanting to own their own business - repair and restoration of cellular and mobile devices. They offer training and support for people wanting to delve into this booming industry.
• Jet Lag Apparel Direct - they aren't officially open yet - but they will be soon - and you will be wanting some of their cargo shorts. A hot and hip brand of apparel.
• Generation Flirt - the most beautiful, custom cut ladies tees and tanks for ladies. You would think their tees were made in Heaven. Cut longer, and specifically designed for comfort and appeal, and hip designs on front, back and sides - there's tons to choose from. What generation are you?
  

There are more too - coming in every day - supporting this effort in various ways. We will post more as we receive. WE CANNOT THANK YOU ENOUGH. Our most sincere thanks and appreciation go out to all of these businesses. Please take a moment to visit their websites, share their info on your social networks.

If you are interested in donating a product or service to the MHS After Prom, or making a donation, visit www.MHSAFTERPROM2012.com or contact Kim - kim@kariandco.com.

Again - WOWED by our clients. You guys are the best in the world and we thank you!