Calgary Web design covers the full gamut of elements that comprise a Web presence . One interesting theme that ties design together is location . The cliche “location, location, location” is well worn because of its importance in successful ventures, whether online of offline . We will see how location relates to every key aspect of site development and marketing . Location is critical when developing a website, from hosting to web design, social media to advertising .

1.    Domains – Those little letters that make up a domain name, also inherently carry the power of location  . Say you have a blog on blogger.com and that blog has a subdomain on that site, then you are leveraging the power of location found in the parent domain. . Having connections to a larger network helps create connections that would not be there if you set up your own blog . Another powerful way to use location is based on your actual location, e.g. building a web design site under the monikor “Calgary Web Designer” will reinforce your niche by location . If you service only one area or region then this can help you brand your site to show your dedication to this region, be it a town, city, state or province or even a country . You can even create multiple subdomains for each region that you serve, under a main domain, if you have a business that has multiple offices or locations across the country or around the world . Enforcing your region’s location in the domain name shows that you are focused on serving this local area .

2.    Web Hosting – This is a lesser known factor that is often overlooked by people looking for Web hosting packages . Most people do not account for where their website is hosted, and most probably don’t care . They only look for the lowest price and best deal .  It is a best case scenario to find a local IP address, if you are concerned with promoting location, e.g. we use servers located in Calgary, Alberta . IP addresses are taken into consideration in some search engines’ indexing, so having a local host can help a bit with your search engine ranking . It can also be easier for you to get support if your Web host is located nearby .

3.    Web Design – In web design, location plays a key role in the visual layout of any Web page . Generally speaking, the highest valued areas should be dedicated to logos, advertising space and featured content . Visual real estate is valued by the user’s eye and reading patterns, so the logo should always go at the top left or center of the page, along with the main menu and any login forms . Ads can be located at the top, bottom or side, basically around the main content area . If, for instance, you dedicate the right column of your Web design to show Google Adsense advertising, then you will see that Google will provide targeted ads that, yes, are determined by your location and/or the location of the user viewing the ad . A visitor to your site may well receive advertisments based on their, or your, location . The location of content might seem like a given, but it is important that the main content, and any highlighted content, be placed in clear and easy view for the user to scan quickly .  

4.    Web Content – When it comes to your main content you need to consider the location of your content on the page, so it is prominent and easy to read . Location is key when placing page headings and links in the content . When generating content for articles, location is important when considering your chosen keywords but also where the backlinks are placed to your website . Search engine spiders will prefer to see your links at the top and bottom of the content .

5.    Search Engine Optimization – Google and other search engines now display results based on the viewer’s location (e.g. Google Local), so it is important that your Web site be properly optimized and submitted to the main search engines . Create a business profile that defines your location . This way, your listing will appear by location, alongside your local competitors and in front of competitors who are based elsewhere . Defining your location in your search terms will immediately help to funnel local, targeted traffic to your site .

6.    Bonus tip – Web Advertising – Paid advertising is related to search engine optimization. The two big hitters Google Adwords and Facebook ads both provide powerful tools to define and track your campaigns . This is another way that you can target your ads to your specific, localized audience and increase your click through rate .

Location, as an element of Web design, needs proper attention at all stages of Web development . Keep location in mind from the domain registration down to post-launch search engine marketing and Web advertising campaigns . Whether or not your company is located in Calgary, Alberta and you need Calgary Web design, or any other place worldwide, location is critical to your Web site’s success!