You write about rel="author" (a tag used in header code of websites to tell information about the author of the site). What are your favorite sites for keeping up with search engine news?

That's an excellent question. I really do keep up all of the time. Every day I read an article or two, whatever I come across. I am a member of the WordPress Web Designers Group in LinkedIn, which I highly recommend, and I get the TemplateMonster Newsletter, which is also excellent. I'm always seeing links to interesting articles in all kinds of blogs, and there are a lot of these. In our field, as soon as something important happens, there's a lot of buzz, so it's fairly easy to stay updated.
 

As a designer of websites for small and medium businesses, what percentage of clients would you say are aware of SEO?  What are your clients' most common requests?

You are right that not all of my clients are aware of the significance of SEO – at least, not when they first contact me. However, after their website is constructed and we reach the stage of updating the content, I teach them how to conduct a survey of key words and where to place their emphasis, so they learn which words and expressions to link, how to select a title for their pages, which tags to choose and which alt texts to provide their images with.
 

What tips would you suggest to other web designers to make their clients happy?

I'm glad you asked that. I love to give out tips. So here we go:

a) First of all, listen to your clients. Nobody knows their businesses better than they do, and if you listen to them patiently, you'll find it easier to identify their needs and provide them with good service.

b) Show them you care about their website: look for new promotion channels for them. For example, recently I discovered a really good website called c-israel, which promotes the field of tourism coming into Israel and offers six month's registration for free. I immediately recommended the site to all kinds of B&B accommodations and tourist attractions among my customers, and told them to register, and they were very grateful
 

You recently enjoyed a nice bit of press coverage with Galit Harel. Many SMB's don't know how to go about obtaining press attention. How did you achieve that?

Galit Harel is a good friend of mine, and I can tell you that she has excellent contacts with the magazine Haim BaEmek (Living in the Valley), where this article was published. However, for the sake of accuracy, this is a totally promotional activity where you purchase advertising space. Unfortunately, this advertisement didn't bring the desired results.

Actually, the best investment I've ever made in marketing has been to join BNI. I recommend this to everyone who has a business and is committed to its success, although I am aware that it might not suit everyone, and not everyone will automatically be accepted as a member.
 

Your friend Ruthka recently shared a video with you on design that sells. Where did you first learn about designing for conversion?

Even before people began using the expression "conversion rate", I constructed websites that are directed to bringing results. Twelve years ago, these expressions weren't yet in use, but my approach was the same.

An internet website shouldn't exist if it doesn't work. If you aren't getting enough hits, if your website doesn't earn you money, you should look into it and determine what you need to change and improve.
 

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