The most common questions

How do I get visitors to my website?

Your business can have the best-designed website in the world but if you don't get visitors, you won't benefit from it. So how do you get visitors to come to your website? There are several ways to do this. Common methods include search engine optimization, advertising of various kinds, and social media and content marketing.

What is Search Engine Optimization?

Search engine optimization, or SEO, is the work you do to get your website to appear higher in search engine results. This helps bring more visitors to your website.

SEO may seem difficult and scary, but it doesn't really have to be. An easy way to get started is to simply provide content that your potential customers are interested in. The content of your website will be your strongest and most important asset, so start there. Think about some topics your customers are looking for and write a detailed text about the topics. Using too much technical language can be detrimental if those are not the terms customers would be searching for. Everyday language may be easier for your visitors to understand and is likely also beneficial for your search rankings.

You can read more SEO tips here.

Can I get to number one on Google?

Yes and no. Someone, of course, is number one every time you search on Google, but the search result won't always be the same when two people search the same thing. There is much that goes into the search results. For example, geographic location, previous searches, and user data. Search engines work hard to ensure that the results are as relevant as possible to the person searching. So there is no definitive number one on Google, but you can do your best to appear as high up as possible on the right people's searches.

What is SSL?

Having a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificate means that the information sent between the visitor's browser and the server (where the website is located) is encrypted. Not having an SSL certificate signals to users that the page is not completely secure. The lack of the certificate can also negatively affect a website's rankings on search engine results. You can check if a website has an SSL certificate by checking the address bar of the browser (where you enter URLs). You should see a padlock or text that indicates whether the connection is secure or not.

Can't find where you check if your site has SSL? Google "SSL checker" and you will find lots of tools you can use to check if you have SSL or not.

What is SEM?

Search Engine Marketing (SEM) is a collective term for all types of marketing done through a search engine. This includes paying for search engine advertisements as well as the optimization of a website for search engine rankings.

Should my website be mobile optimized?

Yes. Nowadays, over half of all online traffic is done through mobile devices. Customers expect to be able to find information fast and easily while on the go. A company without a mobile-optimized site risks losing potential customers to competitors with easy to navigate mobile sites.

Mobile optimization also plays a part in search engine rankings. A site that is not mobile optimized can be negatively affected in search rankings.

What is a domain name?

A domain name is the address of your website. For example, www.pinevision.com.

Read more about domain names here.

What is a web host?

Like a business needs a physical location, a website needs the same thing. Every website is stored on a physical server somewhere. A web host is a company that physically stores the site for you. 

The servers are connected to the internet, which means that you can access the content (eg your website) from anywhere. Thanks to the use of domain names, visitors can access a website by typing the name instead of having to remember a difficult IP address to access a page on a certain web server. 

What does it mean that the website is responsive?

Instead of a website having a fixed size (like a book or newspaper), websites need to be able to readjust to the screen it is displayed on. So whether the visitor uses a mobile phone, a tablet, a computer or a large TV, the content will adapt and be displayed in an appropriate manner.

What is a CMS?

A CMS or Content Management System is just as the name suggests, a tool for managing content. So when we talk about websites and a CMS, it is the tool that you use to create and update your content. There are a lot of different CMSs available today. Some are built to create and maintain large websites, and others are built to make it easy for those with smaller websites. Some examples of CMS are Wordpress, Joomla, Squaresapce, and epage.

Should I use social media and a website for my company?

The short answer is: Yes!

The slightly longer answer is that it depends. You should be where your target group exists. A website is a bit of a credibility factor today. People assume that a company has a website and that you can get answers to most questions there. A website is also a platform that you own yourself and therefore a safe building block to have to fall back on.

Social media, on the other hand, is a platform that you do not own, and where you play according to the platform's rules. Each update the platform executes can change the outcome of your strategy. Therefore, it is wise not to rely entirely on a single platform. The positive thing about social media is that they have lots of users. Most people are likely to spend more time on Facebook or Instagram than on your website. Appearing on platforms where users already exist can both be easier and more efficient than relying on them to find your company's website.

You can read more social media tips here.

What is a web cookie?

A cookie is a small text-based file that a website can ask to put on a user's computer. The file is often used for the website to remember what you have done on it. For example, a cookie can help the website remember which language you set, that you put things in a shopping cart, or that you logged in. Cookies can also be used to figure out which advertising is most suitable for you. For example, Google uses web cookies to make search results and advertising as relevant as possible.

How often should I update my website?

There is no one size fits all answer to that question. What everyone should aim for is to, at a minimum, keep the content updated on a regular basis so that there is no outdated or incorrect information.

However, if you plan to create a new website, it may be a good question to consider. What resources do you have when it comes to updating the website? Do you have the ability to update it yourself? Does your provider charge an hourly fee to make updates for you? Can the changes be made fast and easily? These questions can help you choose a website tool (or CMS) that best works for you.

What is Google Analytics?

Google Analytics is a tool used to track web analytics. It can show an in-depth look at what kind of traffic is coming to your website, how they clicked on your website, and what they do when they are on the page. This makes it possible to analyze the user experience and make changes to convert visitors at a higher rate.

Read more about Google Analytics here.

What is display advertising?

Display advertising is advertising done on websites or social media platforms. These ads can take the form of an image or short video. Display advertising can be seen in many places including banners on a news website, before a youtube video, or in between social media "stories".

What is a banner?

A banner is an ad (either a picture or video) that usually occurs on the top or side of a website.

What is Google Business Profile?

Google Business Profile is a free service at Google that gives you more control over how your business is represented in google searches. You can take a look at the reviews, add photos, and change information.

Learn more about Google Business Profile here.