As online marketers become more aggressive with Search Engine Optimization (SEO) campaigns, there can become a point at which businesses begin to over-optimize. When focusing purely on SEO, many companies lose sight of the end goal, which is to provide information to users. Even when you are following all of the more recognized SEO rules, when is optimization overdone and how can you prevent this from happening on your website? Are there Tsunami warning indicators to get out of the game before Google’s next Panda or Farmer update? And how do you find the ideal balance for your site, not…more»

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a piece of legislation designed to ensure that differently-abled people are properly equipped to navigate the same things that everyone else enjoys. Just as you wouldn’t build a shopping center without an alternative to stairs, so ADA standards require that websites are configured in such a way that someone who is hearing-impaired, or sight-impaired, etc., is not summarily excluded from using a public website. Building a website so that it conforms to ADA standards is largely a matter of putting yourself in that other person’s place and anticipating what they’re going to need,…more»

Reposted from WebsiteMagazine. There are many reasons why your attempts at conversion optimization could fail. If you avoid the mistakes listed in this article, then you will be more likely to succeed — it’s as simple as that. To achieve success in conversion optimization, here are the five biggest mistakes to avoid. 1. Getting blinded by your own knowledge and preferences If your conversion optimization efforts are largely based on what you like and how you behave, then you are more likely to fail. Not everyone is like you; there are at least three other temperaments to consider. According to…more»

The former whipping boy of algorithm-based search engines in Ask.com has reinvented itself – and it’s better than ever – if you’re a believer in user generated content in the form of questions and answers. Ask.com remains the fourth largest site in the US for unique searches according to May 2011 comScore data, with 63 million domestic monthly unique monthly users. That alone, make Ask.com relevant. The company, a brand of IAC, has struggled for years which may change as it completes its transition for pure Web search to a question and answer site and mobile service. “Ask’s approach to…more»

Google is taking steps towards offering offline access to its web apps, by offering Gmail offline starting today— and offline Google Calendar and Docs over the next week. Gmail offline, a Chrome Web Store app, will allow users to read, respond, organize and archive email without an Internet connection. The app is powered by HTML5, and is based on the Gmail web app for tablets, which was also made to function with or without Internet access. As for Google’s other offline apps— Google Calendar allows users to view events and RSVP to appointments without an Internet connection, while Google Docs…more»