One thing you don’t want to overlook if you are looking to build traffic to your site is the relevance of image searches. When I recently looked up the traffic results of one client’s site, it was enlightening to find 2 of the top 5 queries with resulting hits were from Google image search. In fact, it turned out almost half of the top 20 quieries were from image search.

To be sure your images are being indexed, use Google Webmaster Tools and make sure “Image Search” is clicked on in the Settings. Be sure to also name your images appropriately. If you are displaying a picture of an organic apple, for example, name the graphic “organic apple” and not something like “pic2″. Seach engines cannot see your images, so they rely on either the file name or “Alt Tag.”

E-Commerce sites don’t have to cost as much as they used to. Seasoned web developers will tell you a shopping cart in the ol’ days would cost in the tens of thousands. One of the first e-commerce sites I worked on progressed into the hundreds of thousands of dollars, as the retailer kept finding a need for added features. In the end, it was a completely custom site that was fully integrated with the company’s sales, inventory, shipping and ordering system.

But today open source platforms provide the core code to develop a shopping cart. And, lots of those much needed features are already built-in. The software can give you company a head start on developing an online presence. Here is a list of just a few of the more popular free e-commerce packages.

Zen-Cart

Ubercart

osCommerce

Magneto

LAND INTERACTIVE built the Flash-based DesignTecInc website last Fall, and we’re happy to see the site has launched successfully. The Flash site uses dynamically loaded images which allow for quick download of the Flash site. Users can scroll or click through the company’s interior design portfolio, driven by a supporting XML file. Check out the site!

Recent studies have shown that bounce rates are already a factor in how Google ranks pages. Industry experts predict bounce rates may become even more of a factor, as search engine results pages (SERPS) become more and more personalized.

What is a bounce rate? In simplest terms, its how quickly someone leaves your site. The rate is defined by a number; the higher the number, the quicker the bounce rate. Read the rest of this entry »

Do you have a sitemap for your website? If you don’t you should consider adding one. A sitemap can be a valuable map for search bots if for some reason your pages are too difficult or impossible to index. In addition, Google Webmaster tools allow you to submit a sitemap. Here is a link to the proper format for sitemaps.

“In short, SEO involves manipulating a particular website with a view to increasing its ranking in search engines’ results and so increasing its online traffic.” This ZDNet article gives an overview of SEO terminology and techniques. Check out the article.

LAND INTERACTIVE has launched its new site! Built on WordPress, our new site will be able to provide clients with reference to our current and past projects, as well as provide ideas and resources for site building.

We’ll try to keep you up-to-date in the world of SEO, with tricks and secrets of the trade. We’ll also post any relevant links in Flash developments, and see how the folks at Adobe can figure out the SEO issues that arise when building a Flash based destinations.

As far as WordPress goes, how can we say enough? WordPress has made it so easy to create organized and well structured sites without months of development. We’ll try to post any updates on open source platforms including Worpress, Typepad, Drupal and Pligg.

‘Nuff said, thank you for visiting the site. We’ll see you back soon.

LAND INTERACTIVE developed an online brand for Home Security Weekly, a daily publication featuring stories and blogs related to homeland security. The client wanted a simple, yet recognizable brand. It was also required that the logo be contemporary and friendly.

LAND INTERACTIVE was given the opportunity to develop RedhillGroup.com. The site is built on the WordPress platform and utilizes several customized PHP plug-ins and code modules. Please visit RedhillGroup.com.

LAND INTERACTIVE had the unique opportunity to launch a Flash-based web presence for luxury clothing line Parker Blue Collection. The collection of fine cashmere and cotton clothing is marketed toward high-end retailers. Visit ParkerBlueCollection.com to view the site.