You can never have enough website traffic… unless of course you get so much that it takes down your web server, but that is another blog post.  Anyway, what I am trying to say is that we are all probably looking for ways to increase traffic to our websites or blogs so I have a few tips that you can use that may help you to increase your traffic.  Since I am all about measuring, I suggest that before you start implementing these suggestions that you take a snapshot of your website statistics. You can get your website stats from Google Analytics, or your web host may provide this information through CPanel or some other software. To make it easier, I am providing a worksheet that you can download and record your website stats as well as track your progress as you implement the following suggestions.

Now that you have this information, let’s begin.

Direct Your QR Code to a Video

Creating a QR code and directing the user to a video about your business is a very innovative marketing idea.  One option is to have the video hosted on your web server, another option is to direct user to YouTube and include link to your website.   If you place the video on YouTube, here is a very helpful tip to help direct traffic to your website or blog.  Here is the tip:  Place link to your website at top of the description on YouTube because users may not click “read more” link.  This may increase their chances of clicking your link which will increase your traffic.

I experimented with a QR code and YouTube video for a 3d video that I created using XtraNormal.  If you have not heard of XtraNormal: they are an online service that allows you to create videos simply by entering text.  Their service provides the animations and scenes, you simply pick what you want to use and put it together.  Okay, back to business.  Let’s look at the next suggestion for increasing traffic to your website using QR codes.

Screenshot of MSLinkExchange QR Code Video on YouTube

Link a QR Code to Your Website

Another way to increase traffic to your website is to create a QR code and link it to your website.  This is a more direct approach to getting traffic because you are directing the user to your site as opposed to directing them to another location such as YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, or any other location first.  You can create your QR code here on the Mobile Site Link Exchange; just make sure to enter your website’s URL on the form.  If you are out of business cards, now would be a good time to get them printed with your QR code on them.  Handing out business cards with your QR code on them is a sure way to get some extra attention and increase your chances of someone scanning your QR code with their smartphone to visit your website.

People get excited about this, but often fail to implement it correctly.  Here is a tip that will have you looking like an expert:  make sure that your QR code directs to the user to a mobile friendly landing page.  If you do not have a mobile friendly website, call me, I have a team of experts that can build one for your company (the same company that was featured on CNN for having one of the “coolest QR codes”).

Get a Custom Designed QR Code

Custom QR Code designed by Comtactics

If you can afford it, get a custom designed QR code to increase traffic to your website. This is a sure way to get noticed and increase website traffic.  QR codes are cool, but a custom designed QR code will surely get the attention of your customers.  The examples below shows a standard QR code and a custom designed QR code.  Most businesses that use QR codes and are using standard quick response codes.  Using a custom designed quick response code will be a sure way to stand out from your competition.   Comtactics designs custom QR codes for agencies and businesses.  Contact a representative to discuss your project at 800.975.5161 or visit http://comtactics.net to learn more.

Now that you have this information, it is time to use it!  Make sure you download the worksheet so you can capture your website stats to track your progress!

Standard QR Code

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Here are some additional resources about QR codes that you may find helpful.  Click on the link to see the article.

• Are QR codes here to stay or are they just a fad?
• Want to learn how to create your own QR codes?  Read this article – Create QR Codes
• Have you gone mobile yet?  Your customers have.  This is a must read – Why You need a mobile website, now!
• Advertising Effectiveness? Learn from big name brands such as Nationwide and Radio Shack on how to improve your advertising effectiveness.

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The post How to Use QR Codes to Increase Website Traffic appeared first on MSLE.

Here are some SEO tips you can use to make your website search engine friendly.  I could give you some long explanation, but I’d rather not; I like to keep things simple.  What SEO means in a nutshell is that you are making simple modifications that make it easy for search engines such as Google, to “crawl” your site so that it may be properly displayed in search results.  Increasing traffic to your website is not an overnight task.  It takes time to build your web site traffic but it is worth it in the end.

Note:  You can also use these SEO techniques with mobile websites.

I am going to help you by providing some helpful tips that you can start implementing right now that will help to increase traffic to your website or blog.

SEO Techniques You Can Use

Here are 5 Search engine optimization (SEO) techniques you can implement right now to increase traffic to your website or blog.

1.  Create Clear Meta Descriptions

Create clear, unique meta descriptions for each web page. If you are using a CMS (content management system) for your website or blog such as Joomla, WordPress, Drupal, etc. they usually come equipped with the functionality you need in order to update your Description Meta Tag for each of your web pages.   The “description” meta tag appears between the <head></head> tags.   The information in the description tag is often displayed in search results (I have seen them in Google) and it is displayed when your web page is displayed when someone performs a search.

Google Search Results with Title and Description Meta Tag information displayed. Click the image to see full size

2.  Use Header Tags – <h1></h1>, <h2></h2>, <h3></h3> etc.

Format your content in a way that it is easy for readers to see what is important by using H1, H2, H3, etc. tags.  Reader’s eyes will follow the content and will be able to see the hierarchy of your web page or blog. This will keep your articles from looking flat to the reader.

Example of h1 and h2 header tags in a web page. Click to see the full size

3.  Include Alt Tags with Your Images

If you use images, tag them with descriptive keywords using the alt tag.  This will help search engines index your images so they may be returned in search results.

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<strong>Here is an example of an image with the alt tag:</strong>

<img src=”qrcode.jpg” alt=”This is a picture of a QR code” />

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This really works, I have seen in my web site statistics where I have received traffic from a Google image search.

4.  Create Search Engine Friendly URLs

Use words in your web page URLs.  They should look more like http://yourdomain.com/qrcodes.html as opposed to http://yourdomain.com/?id=32

Visitors of your website or blog will be able to easily remember your URL if it has words in it as opposed to numbers, or lots parameters in it.  This may encourage links to your website which may increase traffic.  If you are using a content management system or CMS setting up search engine friendly URLs is easy to do.  Check out the configuration file of settings to get started.

This is a screenshot of a Search Engine Friendly URL. Click on the image to see the full size

5.  Create Unique Title Tags

Create unique title tags (<title></title>) for each web page.  Title tags are usually displayed in the first line of the search results returned by Google.  Often times you can configure your CMS to automatically set your title tag based on specific settings.

I hope you find these useful.  These modifications can be done right now and start you your way to receiving more traffic to your website.  Remember, it is not overnight, but you will see changes gradually over time.

Here are some additional resources about QR codes that you may find helpful.  Click on the link to see the article.

• How to create a mobile website – Awesome tool for professional networking.
• Learn about Dynamic Interactive Portals™ – perfect marketing tool for campaigns, events, or product packaging
• Have you gone mobile yet?  Your customers have.  This is a must read – Why You need a mobile website, now!

The post How to Use SEO to Increase Traffic to Your Website or Blog appeared first on MSLE.

Creating mobile web pages is very simple, and you can now do it on http://MobileSiteLinkExchange.com!

Mobile web pages are a great way to interact with existing and potential clients via their smartphones. Thanks to my partnership with the mobile web page manager for recruiters, tradeshows and colleges, WeAllScan.com, I am able to offer web pages along with accompanying QR codes that you can print on virtally on any item:

• Business Cards
• Flyers
• Tshirts
• Resumes
• Brochures
• Signs
• Tradeshow displays
• the list goes on…

Follow these steps to create your Mobile Web Page

Creating your free mobile web page is very simple and can be done in a matter of minutes, just follow these steps

Step 1 Click on Create Mobile Web Page

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You can also click here to create your mobile web page
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Click on Create Mobile Web Page on the top menu

Step 2 Complete the form and click the button at the bottom of the page

Create Mobile Web Page Form

Step 3 Get your QR code and Print it on your business card!  

You will then receive your personal QR code that leads to your personal webpage!

Personal QR code that is created when you set up your site on http://mobilesitelinkexchange.com

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Here are some additional resources about QR codes that you may find helpful.  Click on the link to see the article.

• Are QR codes here to stay or are they just a fad?
• Want to learn how to create your own QR codes?  Read this article – Create QR Codes
• Have you gone mobile yet?  Your customers have.  This is a must read – Why You need a mobile website, now!

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The post How to Create a Mobile Web Page appeared first on MSLE.

You can scan any document with your Android phone or tablet and convert it to a PDF document.  This includes newspaper articles, pictures, printed documents…virtually anything printed can be converted to a pdf with your Android smartphone or tablet.  Here’s how.

Situation

You need to scan a document (contract, photo, newspaper article, etc.) convert it to a pdf, and e-mail it to someone.  You are not at your office, but you have your Android smartphone or tablet, such as a Samsung Galaxy Tab, with you.

Solution

CamScanner - This application is available in the Amazon App store and it is only $4.99. CamScanner is easy to use and has proven, in my opionion, to be on my list of “must haves” for any Android smartphone or tablet.

How to scan documents and convert them to a PDF

1. First, download and install CamScanner from the Amazon App Store.  There are two versions of this app, a free version (contains advertising) and a licensed version (costs only $4.99).
2. After installing CamScanner on your Android phone or tablet, open the software by clicking on the CamScanner icon.
3. Click on the icon on the bottom left corner of the screen, it looks like pages with a plus symbol on it.  This will open up your camera.
4. Place your Android phone or tablet’s camera over the document or image you wish to scan, then click the shutter button on the screen (the big circle).  This will scan your document into your Android phone or table.
5. Click on the OK button on your screen.  Crop out any unwanted area of the document you just scanned by adjusting the green lines.  Do this by placing your finger on the dots on the corner and adjusting them to capture the desired area of the document.  Once you are done adjusting your lines, click the check mark on the screen.
6. CamScanner will display your document on the screen.  To save your document, click the check mark and your document will be saved as a PDF.
7. To convert your document to a pdf and send it as an attachment with your Android smartphone or tablet: click on the icon with the three circles on it.  This will create the pdf and attach it to an e-mail.
8. All Done!

Download the CamScanner App for Android

You can Download the CamScanner App (licensed) easily from the Amazon App Store.  Here is a link to the download the free version of CamScanner for your Android.

• How to Create Powerpoint on Samsung Galaxy S3
• Learn how to use NFC on Samsung Galaxy S3
• Get free audio books on your phone
• 7 Must Have Apps for your Android
• Learn how to scan QR codes with your phone.

The post How to scan a document and convert to PDF with Your Android appeared first on MSLE.

So, you want to learn how to create QR codes?  You have come to the right place. Creating QR codes is simple and you can do it right here on http://MobileSiteLinkExchange.com.  It only takes a minute and this article will show you how.  Before we get started, make sure you have a general understanding of QR codes and how to scan them with your smartphone.  Here are a few articles that can help you:

• What are QR codes?
• How to scan QR codes
• QR Codes and Mobile Marketing

Now that we have a basic understanding of QR codes, lets create one!

How to Create Your QR Code

First, visit http://MobileSiteLinkExchange.com and click on QR Codes and Mobile Marketing > Create QR Codes or just click here.

Next, enter the following information in the form:

1. The website address that you would like for people to visit when they scan your QR code.

• Here are some examples of a web address (URL) that may help you:
• If you want have the person visit your Facebook when they scan your QR code, you would enter: http://facebook.com/yourname,
• If you wanted them to visit your website, you would enter your entire website address like this example: http://mobilesitelinkexchange.com,
• If you wanted the person to visit your Twitter page, you would enter your entire Twitter URL like this example:  http://twitter.com/mslinkexchange

1. Your e-mail address – This is required, we send your QR code to you along with the information that you entered.

Here are some optional data that you can provide:

• The location where you have the QR code placed, i.e. business card, flyer, newspaper ad
• city
• state
• zip

This information will be sent you in an e-mail at the address you provide.

Once you enter the information in the form provided, click the button labeled, Create My QR Code.

Screenshot of QR Code Generator Form

After you create your QR code, it will appear on the confirmation page. To save your QR code, you can save it to your computer by right-clicking on it. Once you have saved it to your computer you can add it to virtually any printed item, i.e. business cards, flyers, posters, etc.

How to Create QR Codes confirmation page

Listen to this podcast to learn how to create QR codes

More about QR Codes

QR codes, or Quick Response codes were invented in Japan by a company named Denso-Wave.  They are gaining popularity in the United States and other countries.  Mostly in the U.S. they have been used for marketing, however, they can also be used for education, real estate, networking, coupons, and more.  Download our QR code Scanning guide to help you gain a better understanding of how to scan quick response codes as well as some best practices.

 Check out this 3D Video about QR Codes

Learn how to scan QR codes

Creative Marketing idea with Quick Response Codes

Why you need a mobile site – now!

The post How to Create a QR Code appeared first on MSLE.