It seems everywhere I go it seems people are talking about mobile apps and mobile websites. But it seems most people don’t quite know which is which or even exactly what they are. But everyone seems to think they need…one of them.

Mobile websites and mobile apps do have some similarities. For one, they are both viewed on mobile technologies, ie. smartphones such as the iPhone or blackberry and tablets (iPad). They both can be used for advertising and are supplemental to your main website.

First let’s discuss a mobile website. Mobile website is a version of your traditional website that is geared specifically for the mobile phone. While it uses the same content and theme as your standard website, the content is rearranged for the smaller browsers and slower download speeds. Specific technology that isn’t supported by mobile browsers is avoided, and specific content (such as the directions to your store or restaurant) that mobile viewers would be more likely to need, is highlighted.

Technology is built into your existing website to detect the type of visitor and when a user visits your website, the appropriate version is shown. The user doesn’t have to choose or commit to anything, it just happens when they view your site on a mobile browser.

Now for mobile apps. Mobile apps are stand alone software that is downloaded onto your phone. The user must look for the app and choose to download it either The App Store (Apple and the iPhone) or Google Play (Android users). It lives on their phone until they decide to delete it. Because the entire app is downloaded, it can work without internet. While it may offer some of the same content as your traditional website (or mobile website), it a stand-alone application.

Mobile apps do have a few advantages and disadvantages. One advantage of mobile apps is that you have direct contact with your user via push notifications. Push notifications are alerts that are sent to the phone (think of the little notice you get when you get a text message or miss a call). This gives you direct link to your user! One disadvantage is because it is downloaded software, it requires more commitment from the user and in general has a smaller user base. Mobile apps are a great way for loyal customers to interact with your business on a regular basis.

Search engine optimization, or SEO for short, is the process to make your website come up higher in search engine (google, bing, yahoo) results. What good is a website if it can’t be found? Even the prettiest website or the best product should be marketed. So should your website. And the process of marketing your website specifically for search engine results is SEO.

Did you know that every web page has a ranking? This ranking is your website’s online reputation. Is your website known to be helpful to users? Do other users link to it (which means you have useful and relevant content)? Does your website follow all the “white hat SEO” rules? What is your website even talking about? All of these things are part of the process of getting your website found by the right users. The goal is to get your website on the first page for your keywords.

Optimizing your website involves several key factors. First, we study your market and your business to understand what your website is trying to say and to WHOM is it trying to communicate. Using this, we develop targeted keywords. We rework your content to best attract and meet the needs of your users. We code in a specific manner that search engines understand, to best feature your keywords.

According to Netcraft, there are 644 million active websites on the internet. Search engine optimization is what makes your website stand out in the sea of competing websites.

Don’t know what PHP is? Don’t worry about it. We do! The majority of our sites are built in PHP with dynamic content, advanced templating to allow for quick download speed and lightweight, browser and search engine friendly websites.