Effective Internet marketing in a nutshell (SEO Ranking factors)

August 27, 2009 | Leave a Comment

The debate can be an endless one. If you’re interested in internet marketing (making your website more visible on the web and getting more visitors to your site) you’ve often asked yourself “what is the best method?”. In my humble opinion it’s SEO (Search engine optimization) because it’s targeted, effective, relatively affordable and it’s a great investment that lasts. But if you’re interested in SEO, you’ve probably also asked yourself “What exactly are the factors that help my site rise to the top in the search engines?”

Well, since I’m not a Google engineer and nobody outside the labyrinth of the Google campus (Googleplex) is privy to that specific information, there is one good way for us to get a good idea of what criteria search engines use to rank websites higher or lower in the SERPs (Search engine results pages) and that is collaborative analysis. The concept is simple. By collecting a wide range of opinions and experiences, the truth will rise to the surface and the answers will become clear – or at least clearer. Actively working to increase your rankings in the search engines (commonly called Search engine optimization or SEO) is one of the most effective, yet least understood methods of internet marketing. It is confusing and time consuming to learn and keep up with the search engines, but there are some solid factors that we know are very important by collectively compiling information and learning from each other over the years. Read more


Posted by chris.auman | Filed Under Blog 

What makes a great Web Design Company

August 12, 2009 | Leave a Comment

prizecupWhat’s it mean to call yourself a web design company? It seems that these days everyone thinks that they can tack this service onto any business venture. I saw a sign along the road the other day that offered Video editing & archiving, graphic design and website design – and this wasn’t the worst offender I’ve seen. Just the fact that a company lists video editing on their company sign tells me that they’re not a specialist. They’re simply trying to offer another service as an add-on money maker – further diluting their ability to be great with one core service. They probably have a computer, maybe some graphic design experience (if you’re lucky), some fancy software and they’ve learned how to setup a hosting account. Beyond that, they’re not far removed from the client’s they try to serve. I actually applaud people for trying new things and expanding their horizons – and if you’re looking for a down and dirty website presence on a budget then maybe this type of “we do it all” type of provider is for you.

At Sanctuary Media Group, we specialize in website design and online marketing. This is all we do and we’ve been doing it for a long time. As the president of the company I built my first website in 1994 – back in the stone age days of the web. Over this period of time I’ve seen a lot of things come and go, change and evolve, and to say the least – I’ve learned a thing or two. I’ve learned how to provide solutions for my clients that help them succeed online – not just a web address and some fancy buttons.

When hiring a web design company, there are some things that you should consider. You need a company that can not only give you a website but you need to make sure that they know HOW to make it work for you. Read more


Posted by chris.auman | Filed Under Blog 

How to create a two column page of content in Wordpress

August 7, 2009 | Leave a Comment

two-columnsManage two columns of content, on one page, from within the Wordpress admin.

I realize that this post is going to be a little technical for most – actually most people won’t need to read it – but I thought it might be useful for those who are seeking advice on this subject around the web.

I had a need for a Wordpress client site where we needed to actively manage two columns of content on the same page but we needed to do it from within the Wordpress admin. (No modification of the HTML directly or direct customization of your theme like you normally do in a sidebar, etc.) In addition to this requiring a low tech, no programming/ftp knowledge solution, I needed it to be completely code based. There may or may not be good plug-ins available around the web to accomplish this task but I’m a Wordpress plug-in phobic. I don’t like to use plug-ins if I don’t have to because you have no idea about how well they’re written or exactly how well they’ll work in the future as you update to newer versions of Wordpress. Read more


Posted by chris.auman | Filed Under Blog 

Donating your business services

August 3, 2009 | Leave a Comment

You know, in today’s economy I’m probably not the only person that’s forgot about the option of donating your company services. I really haven’t forgot about it, but I’m guessing that, like me, it just might not be on the top of your list of things to do. We’re all concerned about keeping our boats afloat. We have stresses from all levels at work and at home and the last thing that we have time for is free work, right?

Well, I’m here to help you change that way of thinking. Up until now we’ve provided discount options to non-profits and companies that we appreciate, but I’ve always been too, well, busy to even consider it. But I think that donating your services every once in a while might turn out to be a good thing on several levels.

Here are some ways that donating your services can help you grow your business AND help you do some good in the process. Read more


Posted by chris.auman | Filed Under Blog