We are sure you’ve heard of Google Analytics and the Search Console (formerly Webmaster Tools), and probably use them. But I’d like to share the tools I’d also suggest.

Ahrefs. Want to know which sites link to your site?  Which links are keepers and which are clunkers?  Who links to your competitors?  Ahrefs is the best backlinks checker and analysis tool.  I use it every day.  It’s $79/month - which may sound expensive if you’re not a full-time SEO-er - but the intel it gives you is priceless.

Moz Local.  The free scan is gives you a rough picture of which major local directories you’re listed on, as well as how many of those listings have the correct info.  The paid version ($84/year) will actually create listings on those sites for you - and the listings in its network often are a pain to claim/fix or create manually.  I use the free version every day and use the paid version for a good chunk of my clients.

NAP Hunter Lite.  A Google Chrome extension that finds incorrect business listings, so you can fix them.  Free.

Whitespark’s Local Citation Finder. Tells you which local-business directories and other “local citation sources” your competitors are listed on.  That allows you to list your business on those same sites, too.  That’s an advantage you can neutralize.  The “Small Business” version is $20/month, but the free version is pretty good.

CrazyEgg.  It shows you a heatmap of exactly where your website visitors click and scroll.  You can study the heatmaps and understand how to make your site better at converting however much traffic you get.

Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test.  Tells you whether your site is technically mobile-friendly.  (It can be technically mobile-friendly but still not very good, so in some senses that’s a low bar.)

Review handouts.  One-page PDFs that you give to your customers to walk them through how to post a review on Google. You can generate a free PDF over at Whitespark. 

Asana.  The project-management tool I and my helpers use to get things done.  The free version is probably all you need.

Wondering how your site stacks up online?
Check out your site results with our FREE checkup here. 

Tip1: Link building should be done a bit at a time and frequently… so that it looks organic.

Tip 2: Include towns and cities within your title and Meta description tags.

Tip 3: View and comment on related blogs, and link to your website in your signature.

Have questions about how to get your website to rank higher in the search engines... contact Crawford Designs today! We'll show you how to reach those top pages!

The cutting edge approach has been the more popular choice in many towns, however in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania the rules are somewhat different. The main reason for this is the town’s rich historical past. Gettysburg has, and will always have a prominent place in American history.

Given the great value bestowed upon heritage and history, should Gettysburg, PA web design be cutting edge or more traditional? While there are companies that stick to more traditional web design options, some choose to be more hip and trendy. Portraying an online presence that is contemporary and high tech is quite acceptable given the nature of the company’s business. Many commercial establishments exercise the freedom that they have in choosing a modern look to portray their online identities to Internet users.

However, it is quite clear that many Gettysburg PA websites often imbue the design with traditional themes, showing how much the people value the region’s place in American history. For instance, companies engaged in tourism choose a more historical approach in web design elements. Some good examples of trades that maintain a traditional image are tour service providers, souvenir shops, bed and breakfasts, and local restaurants. It is rather obvious why this becomes the choice for most companies in these trades. Local and international tourists visit Gettysburg to experience its historical value. If the design leans toward this concept, visitors might become more engaged and more interested in what the business offers customers who take the time to explore their online offers. 

Choosing a more traditional look over modern, cutting-edge style will not in any way put the company at a disadvantage. On the contrary, it would be a better choice in many respects. 

These days, most companies go for the contemporary approach, making web design using traditional elements the alternative. Advanced designs have their own advantages, but the same is true for a historical point of view. Contrary to popular belief, a historical theme could be exciting as well. In the hands of the right web designer it would not come out boring as people usually expect. With the right vision, a great mix of modern and traditional elements would definitely put a website at a prominent spot.

What makes traditional design very special is that it has the ability to remind visitors of their historical origins. In this day and age, many people often forget, being consumed by consumerism and exposed daily to the conveniences of technological innovations. Historical themes in web design have the potential to remind people where they came from and the values that have propelled their communities to where they stand now. Web design can help instill pride in one’s roots.

The web site might have a traditional look and feel, but it must have all the high tech attributes that Web users are looking for and have been accustomed to. The designer might even find himself shifting from one element to another as balance and harmony are sought in the process. Nevertheless, once everything is in the right place, what comes out at the end is a web site that piques the user’s interest and projects the values intended by the designers.

The important thing is to get a head start now. There are many solutions and resources that could be accessed in order to pull off an effective historical approach to web design for Gettysburg, PA companies. The same principles apply to other locations with similar historical significance. What matters is that you establish an online presence at the soonest possible time.