Looking To Hire a Website Design Company in Michigan?

Good Michigan website design companies are hard to find.  Many Michigan website designers are nothing more than rip off artists.  Over the past 5 years I have hired 3 different website designers in Michigan to build small business websites for me.  I spent $5,000 with these web design companies in Michigan and all have ripped me off.  The most expensive was $2,500 and the final product was totally dysfunctional.   It has been six months since I was last ripped off by a web design company in Metro Detroit MI. 

These experiences drove me to become self sufficient in website design.  Doing so was surprisingly easy I created this website to save my fellow Michiganders or anyone else from the pitfalls and problems of hiring a website design company to design your site.  Free advise for any small business in that needs a website. 

How To Get Found On Google and Bing Fast!

I also figured out how to get your website highly ranked on Google and Bing for local searches!  You have landed on this website because it was on the first page right?  I will show you a fast and easy method of getting your website found.  Don't throw your money and time away!   Follow the steps below and you can design a website that your customers can find!

 Design Your Own Michigan Small Business Website!

There are a few different companies that offer easy click and build websites.  However, the best I found is 1and1.com They provide a lot of different templates to choose from and the controls are pretty self explanatory.   Plus if you ever get stuck or have a question they have 24 hour customer service. 

First thing you need to do is visit 1and1.com and sign up for the website builder program.  The basic program starts and $10 a month and you get a free .com domain name (or you can use one you already own).  All the logistics of hosting and building a website is handled.

Now the Basic $10 a month package is great however, the PLUS  $20 a month package is the way to go if you can afford an extra $10 a month.  For the extra $10 a month you get access to some cool extras and more templates to choose from.  

Either way it is a hell of a lot cheaper than hiring a Michigan web design company!  Any body can create a nice website quick.  I set this website up in 2 hrs on 1and1.com!   No kidding it is that fast and easy.  Just take your time and make it look nice.

Choose a Domain Name For Your New Website

Once you are signed up with 1and1.com you need to choose a domain name for your website.  This is a very important piece of the puzzle when it comes to being found on Google and Bing!

1.)  Get a .com.   Forget the .net, .org, .info,  and all the others.  Buy a .com!

2.)  Use keywords in your domain name.  For example if you are a painting company make sure you use the word  "painting"  or "painter" as part of your .com name.

3,)  Localize your domain name.  Chances are your Grand Rapids based painting company only services the Grand Rapids area and not the entire USA.  Let the search engines know that right away by adding Grand Rapids in the domain name. 

 So the perfect domain name for a painting company in Grand Rapids would look like one of the following expamples:  grandrapidspainting.com, paintingingrandrapids.com, or paintingingrandrapidsmi.com.

Once a website like this is submitted to Google and Bing it will start showing up on the first page when people make searches for "Painting Companies in Grand Rapids" or "Grand Rapids Painting".  Using this method to select a domain name will yield search results right away.

Choosing Keywords For Your Website

1and1.com website builder has a spot to insert keywords and they make it easy.  For a local business you want to use keyword phrases that local people would most likely search.  Take a few minutes and pretend you are the customer searching for your product or service in your area.  What would you type into the Google search bar?  Make a list.

Lets use our painting company for an example.  Below is a list of some keywords I would use all separated by a comma which is the format for search engine keyword submission.  Take your time and make a keyword list for your website using the example below as a guide.

grand rapids painting,find painter in grand rapids,painting companies in grand rapids,painters in grand rapids mi, painters, painting, painting company in grand rapids,michigan,painting company,Comstock Park,Wyoming,GR, ect.............

Here are the keywords I chose for WebsiteDesignersInMichigan.com.  I was trying to target the whole state.

website designers in michigan,web designers in michigan,web designer in michigan,website design michigan,web design michigan,michigan website design,michigan website designers,web design company michigan,web designers in mi,web designer in mi,website design mi,web designers in Detroit mi,web designer in Detroit mi,website design Detroit mi, web design Detroit mi,Detroit mi website Detroit design,Detroit mi website designers,web design company Detroit mi,web designers in Grand Rapids mi,web designer in Grand Rapids mi,website design Grand Rapids mi,web design Grand Rapids mi,Grand Rapids mi website design, Grand Rapids mi website designers,web design company Grand Rapids mi,web designers in Metro Detroit mi,web designer in Lansing mi,website design Midland mi,web design Flint mi,Kalamazoo mi website design,Troy mi website designers,web design company warren mi,web designers in Bay City mi,web designer in Metro Detroit mi,website design Wyoming mi,web design Northern mi, UP web design,

(Important! Make sure every one of your keyword phrases or words is on your website!)

Submitting Your Website To Google and Bing 

Submitting your website to Google and Bing is thee most important piece to driving traffic to your website.  If you fail to complete this task no one will find your website.  You want to submit your website manually so it is indexed faster and you know it was done properly.

To submit your website to these search engines you need to have a webmaster tools account for both search engines.   It's free and easy to sign up, so go to Google Websmaster and Bing Websmaster to setup an account.

Once signed up you need to add/submit and verify ownership of your website.   Adding is easy but verify is a little tricky.  You need to upload files to your root directory.  ROOT WHAT?  Relax!  Remember you have 24 hour customer service if you have problems. 

1.) Okay start by opening up your Google webmaster and Bing webmaster, and your 1and1.com account.

2.) Add your new website to each webmaster.

3.) Once entered they will ask you to verify that you own the website.

4.) Choose verification method 1 and download the xml file for both Google and Bing.

5.) On your 1and1.com control panel click on Webspace Explorer.

6.) Once the Webspace Explorer page opens find your website on the left hand side and click on it.

7.) Now click on the upload button above.  When you do you will be asked to select a file to upload.  Upload both the Google and Bing verification files. 

8.) Once uploaded go to Google and Bing webmaster tools and hit verify. 

Create and Add a Sitemap Easy!

A sitemap will help Google and Bing quickly index your website.  It is free and easy to create and really a must.  Do this it right after verifying your website with Google and Bing.

1.) Go to this website and instantly create a Sitemap and download it.
xml-sitemaps.com

2.) Go back to 1and1.com Website Explorer and upload your sitemap file to the server.

3.) Go to Google and Bing and submit Sitemap.

(Anytime you change the information on your website create and submit a new Sitemap.)

GOOD START!

If you followed these directions you are off to a great start.  I have added some more information on how to get your website found by your customers on the SEO page.

SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization
.

Hopefully you found this information useful and are not wasting your money on an expensive website designer in Michigan.

List the Local Cities You Serve!

Some Where On Your Website List the Cities You Serve For The Search Engines Bennefit

Acme | Ada | Addison | Adrian | Afton | Ahmeek | Akron | Alanson | Alba | Albion | Alden | Alger | Algonac | Allegan | Allen | Allen-Park | Allendale | Allenton | Allouez | Alma | Almont | Alpena | Alpha | Alto | Amasa | Anchorville | Ann-Arbor | Applegate | Arcadia | Argyle | Armada | Arnold | Ashley | Athens | Atlanta | Atlantic-Mine | Atlas | Attica | Au-Gres | Au-Train | Auburn | Auburn-Hills | Augusta | Avoca | Azalia | Bad-Axe | Bailey | Baldwin | Bancroft | Bangor | Bannister | Baraga | Barbeau | Bark-River | Baroda | Barryton | Barton-City | Bath | Battle-Creek | Bay-City | Bay-Port | Bay-Shore | Bear-Lake | Beaver-Island | Beaverton | Bedford | Belding | Bellaire | Belleville | Bellevue | Belmont | Bentley | Benton-Harbor | Benzonia | Bergland | Berkley | Berrien-Center | Berrien-Springs | Bessemer | Beulah | Big-Bay | Big-Rapids | Birch-Run | Birmingham | Bitely | Black-River | Blanchard | Blissfield | Bloomfield-Hills | Bloomingdale | Boon | Boyne-City | Boyne-Falls | Bradley | Branch | Brant | Breckenridge | Breedsville | Brethren | Bridgeport | Bridgewater | Bridgman | Brighton | Brimley | Britton | Brohman | Bronson | Brooklyn | Brown-City | Bruce-Crossing | Brutus | Buchanan | Buckley | Burlington | Burnips | Burr-Oak | Burt | Burt-Lake | Burton | Byron | Byron-Center | Cadillac | Caledonia | Calumet | Camden | Cannonsburg | Canton | Capac | Carleton | Carney | Caro | Carp-Lake | Carrollton | Carson-City | Carsonville | Casco | Caseville | Casnovia | Caspian | Cass-City | Cassopolis | Cedar | Cedar-Lake | Cedar-Springs | Cedarville | Cement-City | Center-Line | Central-Lake | Centreville | Ceresco | Champion | Channing | Charlevoix | Charlotte | Chase | Chassell | Chatham | Cheboygan | Chelsea | Chesaning | Chippewa-Lake | Clare | Clarklake | Clarkston | Clarksville | Clawson | Clayton | Clifford | Climax | Clinton | Clinton-Township | Clio | Cloverdale | Cohoctah | Coldwater | Coleman | Coloma | Colon | Columbiaville | Columbus | Comins | Commerce-Township | Comstock | Comstock-Park | Concord | Conklin | Constantine | Conway | Cooks | Coopersville | Copemish | Copper-City | Copper-Harbor | Coral | Cornell | Corunna | Covert | Covington | Cross-Village | Croswell | Crystal | Crystal-Falls | Curran | Curtis | Custer | Dafter | Daggett | Dansville | Davisburg | Davison | De-Tour-Village | Dearborn | Dearborn-Heights | Decatur | Decker | Deckerville | Deerfield | Deerton | Deford | Delton | Detroit | Dewitt | Dexter | Dimondale | Dodgeville | Dollar-Bay | Dorr | Douglas | Dowagiac | Dowling | Drayton-Plains | Drummond-Island | Dryden | Dundee | Durand | Eagle | East-China | East-Jordan | East-Lansing | East-Leroy | East-Tawas | Eastlake | Eastpointe | Eastport | Eaton-Rapids | Eau-Claire | Eben-Junction | Eckerman | Ecorse | Edenville | Edmore | Edwardsburg | Elberta | Elk-Rapids | Elkton | Ellsworth | Elm-Hall | Elmira | Elsie | Elwell | Emmett | Empire | Engadine | Erie | Escanaba | Essexville | Eureka | Evart | Ewen | 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Harbor-Beach | Harbor-Springs | Harper-Woods | Harrietta | Harris | Harrison | Harrison-Township | Harrisville | Harsens-Island | Hart | Hartford | Hartland | Haslett | Hastings | Hawks | Hazel-Park | Hemlock | Henderson | Hermansville | Herron | Hersey | Hesperia | Hessel | Hickory-Corners | Higgins-Lake | Highland | Highland-Park | Hillman | Hillsdale | Holland | Holly | Holt | Holton | Homer | Honor | Hope | Hopkins | Horton | Houghton | Houghton-Lake | Houghton-Lake-Heights | Howard-City | Howell | Hubbard-Lake | Hubbardston | Hubbell | Hudson | Hudsonville | Hulbert | Huntington-Woods | Ida | Idlewild | Imlay-City | Indian-River | Ingalls | Inkster | Interlochen | Ionia | Iron-Mountain | Iron-River | Irons | Ironwood | Ishpeming | Ithaca | Jackson | Jamestown | Jasper | Jeddo | Jenison | Jerome | Johannesburg | Jones | Jonesville | Kalamazoo | Kaleva | Kalkaska | Kawkawlin | Kearsarge | Keego-Harbor | Kendall | Kent-City | Kewadin | Kincheloe | Kinde | Kingsford | Kingsley | Kingston | Kinross | La-Salle | Lachine | Lacota | Laingsburg | Lake | Lake-Ann | Lake-City | Lake-George | Lake-Leelanau | Lake-Linden | Lake-Odessa | Lake-Orion | Lakeland | Lakeside | Lakeview | Lakeville | Lambertville | Lamont | Lanse | Lansing | Lapeer | Lawrence | Lawton | Leland | Lennon | Leonard | Leonidas | Leroy | Leslie | Levering | Lewiston | Lexington | Lincoln | Lincoln-Park | Linden | Linwood | Litchfield | Little-Lake | Livonia | Long-Lake | Loretto | Lowell | Ludington | Luna-Pier | Lupton | Luther | Luzerne | Lyons | Macatawa | Mackinac-Island | Mackinaw-City | Macomb | Madison-Heights | Mancelona | Manchester | Manistee | Manistique | Manitou-Beach | Manton | Maple-City | Maple-Rapids | Marcellus | Marenisco | Marine-City | Marion | Marlette | Marne | Marquette | Marshall | Martin | Marysville | Mason | Mass-City | Mattawan | Maybee | Mayfield | Mayville | Mc-Bain | Mc-Millan | McBrides | Mears | Mecosta | Melvin | Melvindale | Memphis | Mendon | Menominee | Merrill | Merritt | Mesick | Metamora | Michigamme | Michigan-Center | Middleton | Middleville | Midland | Mikado | Milan | Milford | Millersburg | Millington | Minden-City | Mio | Mohawk | Moline | Monroe | Montague | Montgomery | Montrose | Moran | Morenci | Morley | Morrice | Moscow | Mosherville | Mount-Clemens | Mount-Morris | Mount-Pleasant | Muir | Mullett-Lake | Mulliken | Munger | Munising | Munith | Muskegon | Nadeau | Nahma | Napoleon | Nashville | National-City | National-Mine | Naubinway | Nazareth | Negaunee | New-Baltimore | New-Boston | New-Buffalo | New-Era | New-Haven | New-Hudson | New-Lothrop | New-Troy | Newaygo | Newberry | Newport | Niles | Nisula | North-Adams | North-Branch | North-Star | North-Street | Northport | Northville | Norvell | Norway | Nottawa | Novi | Nunica | Oak-Grove | Oak-Park | Oakland | Oakley | Oden | Okemos | Old-Mission | Olivet | Omena | Omer | Onaway | Onekama | Onondaga | Onsted | Ontonagon | Orleans | Ortonville | Oscoda | Oshtemo | 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Rosebush | Roseville | Rothbury | Royal-Oak | Rudyard | Rumely | Ruth | Saginaw | Sagola | Saint-Charles | Saint-Clair | Saint-Clair-Shores | Saint-Helen | Saint-Ignace | Saint-Johns | Saint-Joseph | Saint-Louis | Salem | Saline | Samaria | Sand-Creek | Sand-Lake | Sandusky | Sanford | Saranac | Saugatuck | Sault-Sainte-Marie | Sawyer | Schoolcraft | Scotts | Scottville | Sears | Sebewaing | Seney | Shaftsburg | Shelby | Shelbyville | Shepherd | Sheridan | Sherwood | Shingleton | Sidnaw | Sidney | Silverwood | Six-Lakes | Skandia | Skanee | Smiths-Creek | Smyrna | Snover | Sodus | Somerset | Somerset-Center | South-Boardman | South-Branch | South-Haven | South-Lyon | South-Range | South-Rockwood | Southfield | Southgate | Spalding | Sparta | Spring-Arbor | Spring-Lake | Springport | Spruce | Stambaugh | Standish | Stanton | Stanwood | Stephenson | Sterling | Sterling-Heights | Stevensville | Stockbridge | Strongs | Sturgis | Sumner | Sunfield | Suttons-Bay | Swartz-Creek | Sylvan-Beach | Tawas-City | Taylor | Tecumseh | Tekonsha | Temperance | Thompsonville | Three-Oaks | Three-Rivers | Tipton | Toivola | Topinabee | Tower | Traverse-City | Trenary | Trenton | Trout-Creek | Trout-Lake | Troy | Trufant | Turner | Tuscola | Tustin | Twin-Lake | Twining | Ubly | Union | Union-City | Union-Lake | Union-Pier | Unionville | University-Center | Utica | Vandalia | Vanderbilt | Vassar | Vermontville | Vernon | Vestaburg | Vicksburg | Vulcan | Wakefield | Waldron | Walhalla | Walkerville | Wallace | Walled-Lake | Walloon-Lake | Warren | Washington | Waterford | Waters | Watersmeet | Watervliet | Watton | Wayland | Wayne | Webberville | Weidman | Wells | Wellston | West-Bloomfield | West-Branch | West-Olive | Westland | Weston | Westphalia | Wetmore | Wheeler | White-Cloud | White-Lake | White-Pigeon | White-Pine | Whitehall | Whitmore-Lake | Whittaker | Whittemore | Williamsburg | Williamston | Willis | Wilson | Winn | Wixom | Wolverine | Woodland | Wyandotte | Wyoming | Yale | Ypsilanti | Zeeland |