Hitwise says September 2011 search queries of eight or more words increased 3 percent from August 2011. So, what does this meant to you? Actually not much, but it does give me the opportunity, to show you the numbers for the other search term lengths. Knowing how many words the searching public (pretty much all of us), typically uses should be used in your search engine marketing strategy. You do have a search engine marketing strategy, don’t you?

That said, here are the numbers:

Knowing those numbers should affect how you approach search engine optimization (SEO), and your Google AdWords campaigns. You do have both of those in your search engine marketing strategy, don’t you?

So, who are you trying to benefit from those changes you just made, or are contemplating making, to your website? What, or who, is driving those website updates? Are they being made because of any of the following?

• You, your boss, relative, or friend,  saw or read about, what they feel, is a cool feature on another website.
• Your  ___________ (fill in the blank) took a class on web design, and the instructor said  __________(fill in the blank).
• Several businesses similar to yours have large photos at the very top of the page, and rank well in Google Search results.
• Several businesses similar to yours have small photos at the very top of the page, and rank well in Google Search results.
• Several businesses similar to yours have no photos at the very top of the page, and rank well in Google Search results.
• Several businesses similar to yours have videos at the very top of the page, and rank well in Google Search results.
• You read on Facebook that you should __________(fill in the blank).
• You read on a blog with SEO tips that you should __________(fill in the blank).
• You saw a Tweet that said you should __________(fill in the blank).
• @@@@@@@ (Celebrity name withheld) had I guy on her TV show talking about having a YouTube video on all your main pages helping in Google rankings.

What often is forgotten is your target audience. Ask yourself, will the changes make your site more attractive and/or more user-friendly for your target audience? Is your website better because of the changes? Do those changes better describe the benefits of your services, or the quality of your products? How will your audience perceive you, your company, or what you offer?

When reviewing our client’s websites and prospective changes, we sometimes have to remind them, they are not the users, nor are we. We are changing their website for their target audience, not us, or the boss, relative, friend, or someone on TV. It is the website visitor we should be considering.

Are you making changes to your website for yourself, or for your target audience? There is only one correct answer.

From all us at WebWise Design & Marketing, thank you to all involved in the nominating, selection process, and awarding WebWise Design & Marketing the 2011 Fennimore Chamber Business of the Year. Thank you to all of the Chamber Members who worked so hard on the planning and execution of Chicken Barbeque & Awards presentation. Well done as usual. Thank you to our families, friends, community members, and our WebWise clients for supporting us through our first sixteen years. We feel privileged to work and live in this wonderful area, and to be able to in some small part serve our community. Thank You!