Internet Building Codes Blog

Last time we were talking about the recipe for SEO success and I equated SEO to a great chocolate chip recipe. Like a chocolate chip recipe, you can’t expect to get the same results if you forget to add all of the right ingredients. As I was pondering the similarities, I thought of another one. Many times, people think that you can do SEO a little at a time. But how would it work if you made a batch of cookies with the eggs and figured you’d add them later if the cookies tasted a little odd? Of course that wouldn’t work. You can’t just add eggs to a baked cookie. And there are some things that are fundamental to a great SEO recipe and can’t just be added later if things don’t taste right.

I know, many of you are thinking that the web is dynamic and can be changed at any time. Sure that’s true, but it’s much more difficult to improve a page’s validity with Google than it is to just do it right from the beginning. Once Google has tasted your recipe, they are less likely to believe that you’ve suddenly become a great cook (or SEO engineer in this case.)

Here’s a quick example. If you have a number of pages in your site, it’s likely that they weren’t all created on the same day. Google picks up on your pages as you create them, provided you’ve developed a site that’s regularly spidered by Google. If you want to see which pages Google has spidered, search Google for site:yourdomain.com. You’ll immediately see a list of all the pages that Google knows exist in your site. Some of the older ones will have link that says “cached.” Click one of those links. That will tell you in a box at the top the last time Google bothered to read through that page. I’m sure you’ll be surprised. While you may be thinking that Google loves your site and reads through it every hour, you may be surprised to see that Google is only bothering to read the pages that have changed regularly. Take your blog for instance. If you have developed a pattern of frequently changing your blog, Google may visit your site every hour or more to see if you have new content. But the other pages on your site that have not changed are not read again by Google. So might it be difficult to go back and try to fix them, to try and add eggs now. You could, but Google wouldn’t necessarily know you made any changes.

So how do you get Google to notice your changes so that your updated pages will be indexed again? We’ll get to that one later. Until then.

Chadd Bryant

The key to SEO has been a hotly contested topic in certain circles for years now.  Some people have speculated that the key is linking.  Others claim that it’s keyword research.  Others will fight to the death for meta tags.  The truth is, there isn’t a single magical key to SEO.

There are many ingredients in a successful SEO campaign and without combining them, most SEO efforts will not succeed.  Think of SEO like a cookie recipe.  Many people know how to make a batch of cookies.  And in order to make a great batch of chocolate chip cookies, you have to mix flour, salt, eggs, chocolate chips, butter etc.  Have you ever made a batch of cookies and when they came out of the oven, something just didn’t taste right?  Something was missing.  Maybe it was the sugar?  Or maybe the eggs?  You could do everything right.  Measure all of the ingredients precisely, preheat the oven to the perfect temperature, bake them for 14 minutes but something still tasted funny.  Cookies just don’t taste right if you get 95% of the recipe correct.  You have to get it 100% correct in order for them to taste great.

The same is true of SEO and unfortunately, the majority of all websites taste a little funny because all of the ingredients aren’t included.  SEO just doesn’t taste right when you leave out one of the vital ingredients.  You can research your keywords, build optimized pages that have the perfect keyword density, link your pages together to make the most of each page’s PageRank but if you forget to include the external links, the end result may not work.  Or do everything else but neglect to reinforce your SEO with internal links, the end result may not work.

There are literally dozens of ingredients in a delicious SEO recipe.  Sure some are more important than others but the point is, don’t expect to get great results from your SEO campaign if you’re just combining one or two ingredients.  Just writing a great headline, a keyword-loaded title and uploading it doesn’t
mean that you’ll see top search engine position.

Until tomorrow.

Chadd Bryant.

For those of you who don’t know who Matt Cutts is, he’s probably the most-respected search expert in the industry not only because of his intelligence, but also because of his insider knowledge as an employee of Google. So here’s a link to a great article summarizing Matt’s most important revelations: http://sn.im/mattcuttstips.

“I need help with my RFP.”  I hear that from clients who are asked to develop an RFP for a project that’s beyond their own expertise.  Think about it.  If you were an expert in this field, you wouldn’t need to hire outside help, would you?  So you find yourself thinking, “I need help with my RFP.”

The IBCC can help.  Our professionals understand the intricacies of even the most complex website development project and are here to help you write your RFP and even review the proposals that you get back.  After reviewing the proposals from your potential candidates, our experts will even help you evaluate the candidates so you can choose the right one.

Because the majority of all websites underperform, the IBCC was formed to establish website development standards.  With these standards as a benchmark, you can be assured that the candidates that you interview will be closely examined to determine if they can meet the high standards set forth by the IBCC.  If you’ve been thinking that you may be needing help with your website RFP, contact the IBCC today at 888-674-0079.

RFP consulting from the professionals at the IBCC– This unique consulting service was developed to assist small businesses, large enterprises, non-profits and government agencies who are considering writing an RFP, specifically those who are in the market for a new website.  It’s a fact, the majority of website owners are disappointed with their existing sites so it’s becoming increasingly important to find the few qualified website development agencies who understand the best practices required to create an effective website.  That’s why the IBCC exists.

RFP consulting services available through the Internet Building Code Council include:

• help writing your request for proposal
• development of your evaluation criteria
• proposal review
• vendor selection recommendations
• follow-up website audit post development

Most RFP consulting services provided by the IBCC include the complete package from start to finish but did you know that each RFP consulting service is available on an individual basis?  In fact, many organizations who have already engaged the services of a web developer turn to the IBCC just to take advantage of the IBCC’s proprietary website analysis which analyzes websites from a marketing perspective as well as a technical perspective.  Nearly 200 individual points are evaluated on every website examined during this valuable follow-up RFP consulting service.

To inquire about whether or not the IBCC’s RFP consulting services are right for your organization, please call 888-674-0079 today.  One of our professionals would be happy to assist you.

RFP help is commonly asked for by people like yourself who are required to write an RFP, then review the proposals and select a vendor having never done anything like it before. If you’re inexperienced with the RFP process, the whole thing can be a little daunting. If you’re in need of help with your RFP, the IBCC is here for you.

RFP help from the professional consultants at the IBCC is available for small businesses, non-profits, large enterprises and government organizations alike. It doesn’t matter which type of organization you’re affiliated with, the IBCC can help you navigate the entire RFP process from start to finish.

The RFP help center offers information on how to write your own RFP including RFP sample templates but if you’re looking for more in-depth RFP help, the professionals at the IBCC are experienced and have an understanding of what is needed in order to write an effective RFP . This ensures that your vision for your project is communicated properly to your potential vendor pool. But the RFP help doesn’t end there. Once you receive your proposals back, evaluating the RFPs can be an equally difficult and often scary process. For those who have limited experience with the RPFs, evaluating and judging the proposals is tough because it’s difficult to judge which vendors are most qualified for your project. The evaluation criteria used by the IBCC eliminates the less qualified candidates and clearly identifies the strongest proposal, ensuring that the best possible vendor is chosen for your project. To learn more about the many ways that the IBCC can help with your RFP, visit our RFP Assistance page.

Help with website RFPs.  That’s why we’re here.  The IBCC exists to help small business, enterprise, non-profit and government organizations navigate the difficult process of finding a qualified website development vendor.  With all of the so-called “experts” out there who are all competing for your project, who can you really trust?  How can you be certain of who knows their stuff and who’s just faking it until they make it?  It can be difficult to tell the real professionals from those who are novices.  In an age where computers, web development software and internet access are readily available, more and more newbies are entering the marketplace offering their services, despite their lack of experience.

When you’re asked to assist your organization in the development of a new website, it can be a little daunting, especially if you’re not tech savvy.  After all, if you were an expert in this area, you’d be developing the site for your organization rather than finding someone else to help out.  So if you’re not an expert, how can you be expected to differentiate between those who are and those who aren’t?  Many times, those who are new to the industry know more about how to fake it than they do about web development itself.  That’s why the IBCC created our Website RFP Assistance Program.

If your organization needs help with website RFPs, the IBCC may be the answer to your worries.  The unbiased advice of the IBCC can be trusted becuase all others have a desire to win your RFP.  The IBCC isn’t in the business of developing websites so you can rest easy knowing that we’re on your side.  We exist to help you with your website RFP.  We exist to hold your hand through this process and help you find the very best vendor for your website project.

So what should you know if you need help with your website RFP?

Our consultative services pay for themselves.  Consider the cost of fixing a poorly designed website.  Since more than 96% of all websites have never been read, that translates into billions of dollars wasted on inferior website development.  The odds are against you, when you realize that 96% of all sites have not been read.  And that’s not just a small percentage of websites.  Finding a qualified website vendor can be like finding a needle in a haystack.  That’s why we’re here.  Invest a small amount up front to ensure that you make the right choice.

We’ll help with your website RFP process from writing the proposal, to proposal review, vendor evaluation and even follow up with our comprehensive website audit to make sure that your chosen vendor fulfilled their obligations.  With the IBCC on your side, vendors know that they have to provide the best for you because they can’t slip anything by our professionals.  If you need help with your website RFP, please give us a call today to discuss your site with one of our members.  Call 888-674-0079.

Chadd Bryant

If you’re looking for help with a website RFP, the IBCC may be just what you’ve been looking for.  Many people find themselves in your situation.  Often times, employees are asked by their supervisor to develop an RFP for the new web site.  If you’re like a lot of people, the first thing you did was you headed to Google to see what an RFP was in the first place.  Once you realized that you were supposed to write a request for proposals, you probably began feeling a little overwhelmed and unqualified.  Usually the people asked to write an RFP are not necessarily the ones who understand the ins and outs of web development.  Instead, they’re the just the ones who got the task dumped on in their lap.

If that sounds like you, then you just might need the help of the IBCC.  After all, that’s what we do.  We can help with a website RFP so that you feel confident that you’re asking the right questions.  With your career on the line and the reputation of your company in your hands, you can’t afford to make mistakes when evaluating the various website vendors that may submit proposals for your review.  The IBCC doesn’t just help with your website RFP though.  We hold your hand all the way through the vendor selection process, asking the tough questions and looking out for your best interest.  With the unbiased advice of our qualified professionals, you can rest easy knowing that you’re not alone.  You can have peace of mind, knowing that the IBCC’s advice is completely unbiased.  Without a dog in the fight, so to speak, the IBCC can offer advice that you can trust.  For more information on the IBCC’s other services including website analyses, please visit the IBCC’s main website.

Website RFP help is just one of the unique services offered by the IBCC.   If you’re a little weary because you’ve been asked by your supervisor to develop an RFP for your organization’s new website, don’t worry.  We’re here to help with your website RFP.

What is the IBCC?  It’s a consumer protection agency who’s mission is to help small businesses, enterprise and government organizations to navigate through the process of writing an RFP and helping with the vendor selection process so that you’re assured that you’ve made the right choice for your organization.

Website RFP help from the IBCC is designed to offer relief in an area where many people have little experience.  The experts at the IBCC have years of experience and are able to recognize the potential red flas that can often lead to unsatisfactory results.  Plus the IBCC’s professionals understand the latest technology and can offer advice to help you steer clear of unskilled vendors who may unknowingly damage your online reputation.  Since the IBCC’s professionals don’t have a dog in the fight, you can trust the unbiased advice you receive.  For more information concerning the IBCC’s website RFP help, call 888-674-0079.

Chadd Bryant

Website RFP assistance offered by the IBCC is so unique that many people don’t fully understand what it is and how the IBCC can assist small businesses, enterprise and governmental organizations as they navigate the complicated website development process.

Many times, the process of finding a new website development partner is one that’s full of unknown avenues as employees with little experience with website development are asked to lead the process.  The professionals at the IBCC are experts with a keen understanding of the latest technology used in the web development process.  With the unbiased advice of the IBCC, you can rest easy knowing that you have someone on your side, helping you to choose the best vendor for your project.

Website RFP assistance may be right for your organization if you have concerns about how to choose the right website development partner.   Call today to discuss our RFP consulting programs to see if one may be right for you.

Chadd Bryant
888-674-0079