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Advanced Disposal Services New Website Design

Advanced Disposal Services | Hudsonville, MI

About Advanced Disposal Services

Advanced Disposal Services serves the Western Michigan area, including Kent, Ottawa, Allegan & Muskegon Counties. They provide roll-off containers for roofing, construction, and residential cleanups as well as compactors for industrial and commercial waste. They also offer recycling dumpsters and compactors for cardboard, office paper, metal, steel, wood, concrete, etc.. Visit their website at: advanceddisposalservice.com

Website Features

  • Custom Website Re-design
  • Mobile Website Development

VirtualOne Software Launches New Website Design

VirtualOne Software | Florida

VirtualOne

About VirtualOne Software:

VirtualOne is committed to solving any of the business challenges present in the produce industry by taking advantage of technology and automation in a cost effective and efficient fashion. These challenges can surround growers, packing houses, labor contractors, shippers, and produce handlers. Our diversified product line goes beyond the day to day farming tasks. Our software suite also addresses production and harvest management, as well as, food safety and traceability compliance according to the standards recently proposed by the industry at large through the Produce Traceability Initiative or PTI. Visit their website at: www.virtualone.net

Website Features

    • Website Re-design
    • WordPress Content Management
    • Online Contact Us form
    • Website Searching Functionality

Holland Furniture Launches New Website Design

Holland Furniture |  Holland, MI

Holland Furniture

About Holland Furniture

Holland Furniture is a locally owned and operated store in Holland, Michigan. They have a vast selection of NEW FURNITURE, and UPSCALE RESALE ITEMS partnered with a line of NEW MATTRESSES. Visit their 12,000 square foot showroom to see items displayed as they would in the comfort of your own home. Inventory changes daily so there is always something new and another treasure to find. They have a well seasoned sales staff that is available to help you in any way to make the proper selection for your home and budget.

Website Features:

  • Custom WordPress Development
  • Content Management System
  • Online contact us form
  • Mobile Website Development

Google Pigeon 3.0

Google Search Engine Update

Google Pigeon 3.0pigeon 3.0

Pandas, Penguins, Hummingbirds….and Now Pigeons?!? 

Google’s at it again.  Their “Virtual Zoo” continues to expand.  It now includes Pigeons.  Google continues to roll out new algorithms to better improve their users’ experience by providing the best results for their search queries.

Each of the updates focuses on different aspects to provide better, more relevant search results.

Panda (February, 2011):  High quality vs. poor quality content.

Penguin (April, 2012):  Earned links vs. link manipulation.

Hummingbird (Sept., 2013):  Long-tail queries vs. individual search terms.

Pigeon: ???

The Pigeon update was launched on July 24, 2014.  Since Google said they had no internal name for the update, Search Engine Journal decided to name it “Pigeon” (http://searchengineland.com/library/google/google-pigeon-update) after the bird that tends to fly back home because this latest update zeroes in on local results for local products, goods, and services.

Pigeon (July, 2014):  Local directories vs. local, brick-and-mortar listings.

If you are a brick-and-mortar business, you need to pay attention.  You may have already noticed that your website has dropped in rankings in favor of local directories such as Yelp, Yellowpages, Superpages, Yellowbook, Insiderpages, Smartpages, Manta, Urbanspoon, TripAdvisor, and OpenTable.  Matt McGee, editor of Search Engine Journal, summed up his article, “Google’s Pigeon Update Solves Yelp Problem, Boosts Local Directories”, with this warning:  “For those businesses and websites, local search has just gotten a lot more difficult.”  http://searchengineland.com/googles-pigeon-update-solves-yelp-problem-boosts-local-directories-197949

So, if you are a local, brick-and-mortar business, what, if anything, can you do to rank your local listing?

Though it may be “difficult”, it’s not impossible.  The #1 method is to improve, and keep on improving, your content.  Content is still king.

What else can you do?

  • Claim and optimize your “Google My Business” listing. Use all of the tools that Google gives you.
  • Make sure your business and all relevant information is listed correctly on all of the popular local search directories for your industry in your area. This enables your potential customers and clients to find your website.
  • Connect your social media account to your directory listings whenever possible.
  • Since no changes have been noticed with respect to local carousel results, take advantage of this by complementing your business profile with high quality, attractive photos.
  • Work on collecting positive reviews from satisfied customers.
  • Research your competition to determine what they may have that you lack by particularly focusing on back links and content.
  • Continue to use white hat SEO methods since all of Google’s updates are geared towards rewarding the basic white hat SEO techniques and weeding out or penalizing the black hat.

talk to us about SEO

***Create the best user experience possible by making your site the best it can be for them.

***Good Content.  Great Content.  Amazing content.

As much as you might think that Google’s updates are “for the birds”, you need to pay attention since these updates could determine whether or not your website is “for the birds”.

Whitecap’s Baseball or Bust

Thank you Matt Elzinga!

Thank you Matt!

Matt ElzingaIt has been a month, but a word about Matt Elzinga is in order. Many of you have talked to Matt Elzinga throughout the past years. Matt has decided to pursue his interests in the realm of Christian Education. He is now a teacher at a local Christian high school in a high school setting. Matt is teach music, application programming and adding his technical abilities to support the ongoing operations of the networks that are currently being utilized.

Matt has been an important part of our company as we have grown throughout the years since he began his work at Spectrum Net Designs 9 years ago. We have appreciated Matt’s work and his desire to assist our clients during this time and now congratulate him on his new endeavors.

Matt is a huge baseball fan, so as a “thank you”, our company celebrated in a suite at the Grand Rapids Whitecaps Baseball game! Enjoy some pictures below!

Kalsbeek Plumbing Launch New Website Design

Kalsbeek Plumbing | Grand Rapids, MI

About Kalsbeek Plumbing

Kalsbeek Plumbing is a family owned and operated business. They specialize in commercial and residential new construction, remodeling projects, as well as service and repair work. At Kalsbeek Plumbing they aim for customer satisfaction and desire all to have a positive experience through their goal of honesty, integrity, respect & hard work.

Website Features

    • Mobile Website Design / Responsive Design
    • Online contact us form
    • Content Management System

Visit their website at: www.kalsbeekplumbing.com

we help your business grow

Trinity PRC Website Re-Design

Trinity PRC  | Hudsonville, MI

Trinity PRC

About Trinity PRC

Trinity PRC was organized on July 18, 2001 and is the daughter church of Hudsonville PRC. Our congregation has about 90 families with 150 children and a total membership of approximately 400 souls. The council is composed of 6 ruling elders and 5 deacons. We belong to the Federation of Protestant Reformed Churches in America (PRC) which is a denomination of 27 churches and almost 6,000 members. They were founded as a separate denomination of Reformed Churches in 1924 and trace their roots to the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century in Europe. They follow the 3 historic reformed creeds also knows as the Three Forms of Unity; the Heidelberg Catechism, the Belgic Confession, and the Canons of Dordt. They believe these three creeds accurately and fitfully summarize the teachings of scripture.  To read more about our church, please visit our new website at: www.trinityprc.org

You like the treatment we gave the the Trinity PRC church in Hudsonville, and now you think you would like to level up your site. Send us an email here at Spectrum Net Designs. We will make sure that not only is your site easier to read and navigate, but we will also optimize it for SEO (Search Engine Optimization) so your site will rank higher on google.

Website Features:

  • Custom WordPress Development – Content Management System
  • Embeded YouTube videos
  • Links to social media
  • Online Submit Form

we help your business grow

DeClarks Landscaping – Website Redesign

DeClarks Landscaping | Romeo, Michigan

About DeClarks LandscapingDeClarks Landscaping

At DeClark’s Landscaping, they put all they have into every job they do. Whether it’s lawn maintenance, a complete landscaping design and construction package, or commercial snow plowing, they want to make sure you are completely satisfied with their services and end result. Their goal is to make your experience a pleasant and effortless one that gives you a landscape that will last a lifetime.

They offer a wide variety of landscaping services, but most of their customers hire them because  they do everything you need, instead of hiring multiple companies. They are a one stop shop for everything your landscaping needs – from design to installation, weeding to fertilization, and lawn mowing to commercial snow removal, they do it all. Since we serve most of southeastern Michigan’s landscaping service needs, they can turn your yard maintenance or landscaping project from a chore into a single phone call to them.

Website Features:

  • Mobile Website Development / Responsive Design
  • Rotating homepage slideshow
  • Multiple photo galleries specific to each service provided
  • Online Employment Application
  • Contact Submit forms
  • Social Media integration
  • Visit their NEW website at: www.declarkslandscaping.com 

What to Write?

blog ideas

Don’t Know What to Write?

Here are 100+ BIG BLOG IDEAS!

School is back in session!  Back to the basics, the three R’s:  “Reading, ‘Riting, and ‘Rithmatic!”

What is the #1 basic of SEO?  ‘Riting! Content, that is.

Writing content for your customers is the most important part of SEO, which Google and the other Search Engines are looking for.  Not only do you need to have good content, but you also need to have fresh content. When you went back to school in the fall, most likely the first writing assignment you were given was a variation of “My Summer Vacation”.  

What to write

The typical first response (especially if you had a boring summer) was probably, “I don’t know what to write!” And now, blogging is one of the best ways to add content to your website and keep it fresh.  “Aw… do I have to?  I don’t know what to write!

Here are some POST IDEAS FOR  BLOGGING: 

  • Service updates
  • Product updates/details
  • Specials / Promotions
  • Company events
  • Company newsletters
  • Industry Update
  • Answering FAQ’s

Googling “blog ideas” gets you more than 750 million results. 

The following are some sites offering many….

And if you still need more ideas, there are Blogging for Dummies books:

  • Blogging for Dummies by Susannah Gardner, Shane Birley
  • Professional Blogging for Dummies by Susan J. Getgood
  • Blogging for Dummies (5th Edition) by Amy Lupoid and Susannah Gardner
  • Blogging All-in-One for Dummies by Susan Gunelius
  • Corporate Blogging for Dummies by Douglass Karr and Chantelle Flannery

With hundreds of ideas at your fingertips, the phrase “I don’t know what to write” should no longer be a big part of your vocabulary.

Why Content is King

Content strategy

Content Is King ~ The Importance Of Content On Your Website

You’ve got the user interested.  They’re on your website. You’ve made a great first impression!  They’ve seen your eye-catching graphics, your impressive photos, and your awesome video.  Now, how do you keep them there?  How do you make a lasting first impression?

Content Makes The User Happy

“Content is King.” This term is bandied about all over the Internet.  When googled, millions of results show up.  Is it a “new” term?  Who said it first?  Why is it so important?  “Content is King.”  The title of an essay by Bill Gates in January 1996. http://www.craigbailey.net/content-is-king-by-bill-gates/ Yes, 1996.  Eighteen years ago, Gates  wrote:

“If people are to be expected to put up with turning on a computer to read a screen, they must be rewarded with deep and extremely up-to-date information that they can explore at will.”

Google must have had this idea in mind when they created Panda.  Or… like Bill Gates, they knew that for users to have a satisfying experience, they would “dwell” on the site that provides the answers they are looking for.  They have questions; you have the answers.  This not only pleases Google, but it also pleases them… and you.  Your site has the content that accomplishes the goal the user booted up his/her computer, or even more likely, mobile device in the first place.  The user is happy, Google is satisfied, and the mission of your website is fulfilled.

So, all in all, what is the #1 reason “Content is King”? ~ Content makes the user happy.

They have found the answer to their quest.  They have googled successfully.  Your content, whether it is the informative text, Q&A’s, blogs, or all of the above, has satisfied them.  Your content has made them content.  And… if they convert, you’re happy as well!

But, how do you get that royal content?

Hard work.  In order to satisfy Google’s Panda algorithm, your content has to be high quality.  It has to be unique, original.  It has to be well written with good grammar and correct spelling.  It has to be fresh, renewed often.  And… it has to appeal to the reader.  Remember that they are the most important reason for writing anything.  Write directly to them.  And now we’ve circled back to the major reason why “Content is king”:

It makes sure the user is happy. Which makes all of us happy.

Engels Nursery | New Website Design

About Engel's Nursery | Fennville, MI

Engels NurseryEngel’s Nursery’s focus is providing the highest quality seedlings and transplants possible at competitive prices. They pride themselves in setting high standards and meeting them in all aspects of their business from plant quality to grading standards to customer service.

They are a “grower direct” company, meaning all of their products are grown directly here on our farms, dug fresh and shipped directly to you on time. Don’t deal with seed distributers that don’t know what they are doing, and are only concerned with the sale. At Engel’s Nursery they take great pride in making sure that your seeds get to you safe sound and ready to go in the ground.

As a grower of wholesale trees, shrubs, and seedlings, so you can be sure you are always dealing with experts.

Another advantage of working with Engel’s Nursery is that they are a family owned and operated company. While their selection is large, their operation as a whole remains relatively small and family focused. Family is very important to Engel’s Nursery and they want their customers to know that. Visit their website here.

Website Features:

  • Online Availability – click here to view
  • Plant Search Functionality – click here to view
  • Content Management System
  • Mobile Website Design

we help your business grow

2014 Michigan West Coast Chamber Golf Outing

Annual Golf Outing for the Michigan West Coast Chamber of Commerce

On July 16 we attended the annual Golf Outing for the Michigan West Coast Chamber of Commerce. The day started out very chilly so golf outingwe were glad to be golfing in the afternoon!

Laura volunteered in the morning taking pictures of all the action, capturing the “Oh, no’s” and the “YES!” moments. It was great to be able to meet many new members of the chamber as well as ones we have already established a great relationship with.

Brandon Kaptein was the winner of one of the door prizes! He was selected to win a Weekend Get-a-way at Chrystal Mountain!

Here are some photos of the day….Enjoy!

Custom Landscape Contractors Website Design

Custom Landscape Contractors | Washington Court House, OH

Custom Landscape ContractorsAbout Custom Landscape Contractors:

Custom Landscape Contractors was founded in 1996 to provide landscaping services with a focus on quality products, customer service, and integrity. Over the years, we have flourished into a full-service, multifaceted company. Including, but not limited to, complete commercial & residential landscape design & installation, irrigation installations, hardscape installations, mulch blowing, fertilizing, and much more. However, even as we continue to grow, we never forget our original, founding commitment to our customers. Reach out to our office today if you’re a homeowner looking to renovate your landscaping or a contractor looking for a quote on your upcoming project!

Ever landscape is custom designed by our talented staff to create an area for you that is truly individual. Using our experience, education and knowledge of plants and landscape construction, we are committed to helping you realize your landscape vision to add value and enjoyment to your property and home.” Come take a look at the new Custom Landscape Contractors Website.

Please reach out to us here at Spectrum Net Design if you are interested in taking your site to the next level. Join the community of entrepreneurs and businesses who are enjoying their new website that is not only easier to navigate, but is also optimized for SEO (search engine optimization) to help your site rank better/higher on google.

Website Features:

  • New website design
  • Social Media Integration
  • Photo Gallery
  • Responsive / Mobile Website Design

Earthworm Castings Unlimited Website Design

Earthworm Castings Unlimited | Waterford, MI

About Earthworm Castings Unlimited

Earthworm Castings Unlimited is a .5-0-0 pure earthworm castings manufacturer, bag wholesaler and bEarthworm Castings Unlimitedulk distributor located in Waterford, Michigan. It is the mission of Earthworm Castings Unlimited to educate others to recognize earthworm castings as the absolute best soil enricher, potting soil mix or plant food on the market today. ECU aims to further educate others about the versatility of earthworm castings for all outdoor & indoor gardening purposes; whether it’s with your garden ,house plant pots and hangers, greenhouse and/or farming. ECU’s earthworm castings are an eco-friendly alternative to the hazardous toxic chemical fertilizers found in stores today.

To read more about Earthworm Castings Unlimited, visit their website.

If you are interested in leveling up your website with Spectrum Net Design send us an email. Join our community of business owners who took their site to the next level not only by making it easier to understand and navigate, but we will also optimize your site for SEO (Search Engine Optimization). When you optimize your site for SEO you are add to and formatting your content so it ranks higher on google thus giving you more free traffic.

Website Design Features:

  • Content Management System
  • Online Purchasing of Item through PayPal
  • Contact Form Submissions
  • Social Media Integration

SpeedTech Equipment Website Design

About SpeedTech Equipment | Hudsonville, MI

SpeedTech Equipment has 17 mobile service trucks on the road every day servicing your equipment. They also have 3 parts runner vehicles and 2 roll-back trucks equipped with a crane able to deliver, more, and haul your equipment.

SpeedTech, , a division of Speed Wrench Inc. is well positioned in the waste industry. Speed-Tech sells, installs, and services compactors, cardboard balers, truck docks, and other material handling and recycling equipment. Visit their website at: www.speedtechequipment.com

Website Features:

We were able to help SpeedTech Equipment take their website into the 20th century with new and improved website features:

What is Panda 4.0?

What is Panda 4.0?

Google Search Engine Update

Panda 4.0

And So the Virtual Zoo Expands!

 “Google is rolling out our Panda 4.0 update starting today,” tweeted Matt Cutts, Head of Webspam at Google, on May 20, 2014.

A brand-new animal? Or an old one that’s evolved?

Since Google first rolled out Panda on February 24, 2011, there have been at least 25 refreshed and confirmed updates.  Since Cutts specifically named this update as 4.0, it is only logical to conclude that this is a major update to the actual algorithm.

What does this mean?

Since it was rolled out in 2011, the Panda algorithm has focused on penalizing websites with low-quality content as well as those websites that are low-quality.  As such, Google is committed to providing their users with the highest quality sites that have proven they are experts in their field and so deserve to be in the top search results. 

So, what does Google consider to be low-quality content? This can be, but not limited to:

  • duplicate content
  • thin content
  • syndicated content
  • low-quality affiliate content
  • scraped content

In other words, they are looking for original content that best answers the user’s query.

But, that’s not all.  Google is also looking for good (excellent!) user engagement.  In addition to finding content that answers their queries, is the user able to navigate through the site easily without technical difficulties, affiliate jumps, stimulus overload, etc.?  What is their dwell time, that is, the amount of time the user spends on a website before clicking back to the search results?  If users are on a site for a particular site for a minimal amount of time, the website is most likely not meeting their needs.

So what is Google looking for? Is there any way to please the Panda?

  • Meet the needs of your users.
  • Original content.
  • High-quality content.
  • Original content.
  • Meet the needs of your users.

It should also be noted that Panda 4.0 did not only penalize what was determined to be low-quality sites or sites with low-quality content.  Some sites that had previously been hit by Panda actually showed improvement in their SERP.  Most of these sites seem to have either worked hard to shed syndicated or duplicate content and/or written their own, original content.

All, in all, what does it take to “beat” Panda?  What should be the focus of your website?

YOUR USER. 

If your ultimate goal continues to be your user’s experience and meeting their needs and not trying to spam Google, Google’s virtual zoo, including Penguin and Hummingbird as well as Panda, will reward your website.

Search Engine Journal

Peacock Landscaping LLC | Website Re-design

Peacock Landscaping LLC in Burtchville Twsp

Peacock Landscaping, LLC, and Peacock’s Healthy Lawns are now servicing Harbor Springs, Petoskey, Burt Lake, Walloon Lake, Charlevoix, and surrounding areas.   After 22 years in the landscaping business downstate, owner Paul Peacock made the decision to move his family and business operations to Northern Michigan in 2015.  He brings not only a passion for the outdoors, but a high level of expertise relating to turf and landscape care to this area. So you can always trust that you are working with a company that cares about every project.

After being founded in 1995 they have been committed to providing the very best service and top quality materials that their customers can be proud of year after year after year. Please visit their website at: peacock landscapingwww.peacocklandscaping.net

We were privileged to work with them on their recent website design project. A few of the features on their new website include:

we-love-to-help-your-business-grow

Content Writing Techniques

Check Your Spell Check! Content Writing Techniques

Do I have to?!?!

I have a lovely spelling check

That came with my PC,
Witch plainly marks, four my review,
Miss takes I can not sea.
I’ve run this poem threw the thing.
I’m sure your please too no.
It’s latter perfect in every weigh.
My checker tolled me sew.

This poem, author anonymous, should show why it’s very important not to rely solely on your spell checker.

The content of your website is a reflection of you.  It’s your potential customer’s first impression in a world of seemingly infinite websites.  If a spelling error is encountered within the first few seconds of their time on your site, are they going to stay?  Or bounce off to the next site?  Are you willing to risk it?

Do correct spelling and grammar make a difference to your SERP (Search Engine Results Page)?  Matt Cutts, Google’s search engine expert, has been asked this since 2006. At that time, he highlighted a banner from an SEO site that read, “Don’t gamble with your money.  We offer a 100% money back guarantee!” SEO Advice: Spell-check your web site

He then challenged whether or not you would trust your money with this business. Much less trust that they “guarantee” your money back?

In 2011, Cutts stated that although spelling was not used as a direct signal in Google’s algorithms for SERP,  “I think that it would be fair to think about using it as a signal.” When asked in 2013 if one should correct grammar and spelling in comments posted on one’s website, Cutts replied that although the content of the comments would not directly affect the SERP, he warned, “Just make sure that your own content is fine quality.”

So, once again, should you check your spell check as well as your grammar on your website?  This, however, may not be the right question.  Does having good spelling and grammar better serve your potential as well as your current customers or users?  Does it give them a better experience?  Does it keep them from bouncing off before they understand what your website is about or before they click your call-to-action?  Does it give them the best first impression that you have to offer?  Does it make your site easier to read?

Ode to My Spell Checker

Eye halve a spelling checker
It came with my pea sea.
It plainly marks four my revue miss steaks eye kin knot sea.
Eye strike a quay and type a word and weight for it to say
Weather eye yam wrong oar write.
It shows me strait a weigh as soon as a mist ache is maid.
It nose bee fore two long and eye can put the error rite.
Its rare lea ever wrong.
Eye have run this poem threw it,
I am shore your pleased to no.
Its letter perfect awl the way.
My checkerAnonymous

It may be you’re still not convinced.  Consider this:  After all, wood ewe have continued two reed this if it was al lick this?

Reed moor a boot this ate:

Evergreen Lawn & Snow | Website Re-Design

Evergreen Lawn Snow Website

Marne Michigan Based Company Launching New Website

We have recently re-designed a website for one of our current clients: Evergreen Lawn Care & Snowplowing. Located in Marne, MI, they service clients in many different counties in west Michigan in the Ottawa and Kent Counties including Grand Rapids, Holland and Zeeland. Visit the new Evergreen website to check them out. No matter if you need to some lawncare or just want to see what we can do we promise you that you won’t be disappointed.

Features of the website: 

  • Full screen width design
  • Content Management System – they are able to update their employment opportunities page to keep their visitors updated with their current job openings
  • Online Employment Application – submitted via email
  • Responsive Design / Mobile Website Design – the website is now user friendly across all PC’s, Tablets and Phones
  • Search Engine Optimization

If you are looking for the same or similar treatment for your website we would love to help you and your company out. We can guarantee that our marketing team will be able to improve your websites conversion rate and be able able to grow your paid and organic web traffic. So if you are interested in growing your traffic and conversion rates our Marketing Team would love to help you out.

we-love-to-help-your-business-grow

Rhoads Farm – Newly Designed Website

Ohio based Rhoads Farms new website

The CENTS show that we exhibited in January proved to be a very successful show. We were thrilled with the amount of interest that there currently is in the website design industry. We met some great companies, and also some new companies that we are excited aboutrhoads farm building a working relationship with together.

One of the companies we met is Rhoads Farm In & Split Rail Nursery. They are located in Circleville, OH. At Rhoads Farm, their highest priority is making sure that they deliver the freshest produce possible to our clients, whether you are a wholesale customer of one of our many retail customers. Rhoads Split Rail Nursery is one of the Midwest’s finest suppliers of wholesale shade, evergreen, and ornamental trees. With over 150 acres at our disposal, we can meet your needs, whatever the size.

One of the main focuses of their website re-design was incorporating online availability. We developed an online availability where the visitor can search for products that Rhoad’s Farm has to offer. If they would like to see pricing, a password is provided by Rhoads, and then they are able to view the pricing for their products. Visit their website at: www.rhoadsfarminc.com

Features of Rhoads Farm Website: 

  • Newly designed website
  • Online Availability with Password protection for pricing
  • Represents both their companies & their specific information
  • Photo Gallery
  • Contact Submit Forms

we help your business grow