Unfortunately, a lot of search engine optimization companies lack the skills and knowledge about another
important factor in directing customers toward sales. That skill is image optimization. Unoptimized images
can have a tremendous effect on your sales and can even have effects on your search
engine rankings.
Most SEO firms have high bandwidth connections (we have a Fiber Optic connection that races through
the internet), but they fail to consider download times for the large percentage of internet users
around the world who lack high speed, broadband internet connections.
We understand, in part because our business started by working with small companies that relied on
slower internet connections. This factor caused us to give a lot of consideration to methods to make
professional web sites that load quickly. This starts with image optimization by using professional
photography applications like Adobe Photoshop and Macromedia Fireworks to size an image appropriately
for the web.
We can all remember what it is like to surf the internet on a slower bandwidth connection, and how
frustrating it was. The optimization techniques have improved over time so that dial-up users can actually
view higher quality pictures at a faster rate than they once could. So, it comes down to creating an
environment in your site that is conducive to shopping (and does not drive away traffic). It is optimizing
your visitors' experience on your web site by not frustrating them (and at the same time offering them
the graphical images they require to complete a transaction).
How does this hurt my search engine rankings?
As search engines crawl and examine your site, if your page does not load in an adequate amount of
time, they will not be able to fully index the page (and will often mark it to come back later). |
