Patience is the Key!

I am within a month of my one year anniversary of starting Flying Change Webs & Graphics. When I first built and designed my website, I incorporated keywords, carefully coded the text for SEO, registered with the top search engines and directories, wrote some quick articles to publish, and acquired links back to my own website.

Several months past and I still wasn't happy with my ranking. I asked an SEO colleague of mine if he could look at my website and give some advice. He said one word:

PATIENCE!

"You're kidding!" I thought to myself. But, being somewhat new to the the art of SEO, I took his advice. As I waited, I continued to read about SEO, tweek my keyword selection, adjust some headline text, page title text, and add links through networking, writing, and all the great new web designs I've given people over the last 11 months.

Today I performed a couple of test searches to see where I stood. My focus and passion is designing websites for small businesses, especially in my home state of Maine. Here is the results I got today on Google.

Search:
Small Business Website Design Maine
Results:
Page 1, Position 5

Other results, using web design, portland maine, and other website design search criteria, placed me within the first 3 pages.

My friend was right ... With all the other elements in place - website design, keyword optimization, and free submissions - patience was all I needed.

If you are ready to experience this same success, contact me now to start your new web design project with Flying Change Webs & Graphics.

The Squatty Dog

I'd like you to meet a member of my family. Her name is Holly. She weighs in at less than 12 lbs. She may be small in size, but she thinks she is one of the horses at the barn.

It's Holly - The Squatty Dog.

Holly is a Jack Russell Terrier that we adopted 3 years ago at a horse show. Now, something should know about me. I've never owned a small dog. I've always had 90 lb dogs. My father always referred to little dogs as "drop kick dogs". I swore I would never have one of those.

But here I am ... with this little dog that is smaller than my 16 lbs cats. And I can't imagine our house without her. She is the sweetest dog, friendly to everyone and every animal. She is not one of those "yip yip yip" dogs. She is small enough to travel easily with us. She attends every horse show and just loves life!

Holly the Squatty Dog and her mindset can teach to small businesses owners a few lessons:

small CAN MEAN BIG

EXAMPLE: Holly will go face-to-face with a horse for a treat. (This is no joke ... I've seen it happen.)
THE LESSON: Small "packages" are often strong and steady. They know their niche and they are proud to stick up for it. Small businesses often have a small, specialized market they cater to. This often makes the small business stronger in that area, so there is no need to be intimidated by the "big guys".

EXAMPLE: Holly runs circles around her black and yellow lab "friends".
THE LESSON: Small can make it easier to move around and shift gears quickly to accommodate changing situations with clients. No red tape ... just trying your best to please.

EXAMPLE: Holly cuddles up with the cats who are nearly DOUBLE her weight.
THE LESSON: The "big guys" and "small guys" can help each other. If a job is too big or beyond your expertise, don't be afraid to refer a client to a "big guy". What goes around, comes around and it could be that the same "big guy" is referring you for a job that is too small for their scope.

Don't underestimate the power of being "small". Know your strengths and use them toward the success of your small business.

The Inspiration of a Proud Mom!

As my logo and website implies, I am, indeed, involved with horses. On a daily basis ... actually, during this time of year I eat, drink, and breath horses because my daughter is a competitive 3-day eventer. She is currently at the Training level and this weekend we were in beautiful Vermont. She and her thoroughbred horse, Billy, performed like stars and, after completing the 3 phases of what proved to be a very challenging competition, took home a 3rd place and was one of only three (3) that had a "double clean" round in the cross country course.

For Flying Change Webs & Graphics, going to these shows is a source of inspiration. The colors, the people, the beautiful horses, and the dedication these riders have to make it through the 3 phases. I come home exhausted, and at the same time energized with new ideas.

When the horse and riders are given the "go" on the cross country course, they are told "HAVE A GREAT RIDE". It's a wonderful philosophy, whether you are riding a horse, building a house, or designing websites: enjoy what you are doing, do it to the best of your ability.

So today, no matter what you're doing today ... "have a great ride!"