The Internet is a very complex field, and if a web site is to generate revenue, things like design, loading speed, browser compatibility and search engine optimization (SEO) all have to work together. As business tightens, often the first question we are asked is how to achieve better search results.

Many business owners are told by designers that by paying them to add a few tags on a page, they will be top of the searches. Of course, if it were that simple, everyone would be number one. For a start,  there are thousands of search engines (Yahoo, Google, AOL, Ask,  to name the larger ones) and each look for something different in a site. Also, many searches can take between six weeks and three months to even list a site.

Even if your site reaches the first page, you cannot rest.  First-place results can easily slip away almost overnight. If someone else's site emerges with similar or better keywords and coding, it can quickly overtake yours.

It is also essential that you have the means to observe your site traffic; a counter is not enough.  You need to see how many hits you are getting and where people came from, as well as the search engines and keywords they used to find you. Every few months, you and your designer(s) need to analyze your traffic stats, search results and placement. You need to know which search engines are working for you and which aren't. Also, which keywords are working and which aren't.

This regular ongoing tweaking can result in high ongoing expenses when you have to pay a designer for each change or an SEO company thousands of dollars a month.

We frequently have business owners tell us their initial site cost was very low.  They are not pleased with the results they have gotten and are paying large monthly fees for pay-per-click, SEO and changes, all of which makes managing and maintaining their site cost prohibitive.

Our clients wanted to bypass these ongoing costs, which is how our WebUpdate system came about.  We created a system where the site owners can update their sites easily and quickly from anywhere. Our system also contains extra features such as SEO, traffic stats, photo and video galleries, and bulk email broadcast as standard, just to name a few.

If you are ready to take your business to the next level, now is the time to research newer web technologies, such as our own WebUpdate4 system, which includes many advanced features designed to give your business the best competitive edge online.

Terry Young is the founder and CEO of Internet Marketing and Design. Since 1997,
his computer programming and graphic design knowledge have kept his company
at the forefront of the latest technology in web development.