Mike Johnson Design

I was introduced to a program/website the other day (won’t mention the name until after my “experiment”) that allows you to submit content to high-page-ranked websites. These websites are dofollow, which results in getting 3 backlinks per article written. I’m going to track my progress for one month. From Alexa.com, I noticed that all of my sites only had 1 site linking in (except this website which has 35, and two other sites have around 16). So we’ll see how many one-way links I can get after one month and I’ll be sure to post my stats.

I’ve been working really hard the past few months on strengthening my “SEO Game” and I’d like to share a few of the things I’ve learned:

1) Create links that contain the keyword you’re trying to rank for: Here’s a great example: Tailor Made Health. Notice how the link contains the keyword both in the actual text AND the URL. This way Google (or any other search engine) gets an idea of what it’s going to find when it follows that link.

2) Write keyword rich content. Here’s a sentence from a friend’s website: If you’re looking to buy a home or condo in Orange County, you’ll find the best deals from KEYWORD LINK HERE. See how the keyword they’re trying to rank for is located within the sentence?

3) Use meta tags: title, keywords, description.

4) Use H1, H2, and H3 tags within the content, along with relevant images (with alt tags).

5) Write articles that actually make sense. Don’t just write fake content just to throw your keywords in. You AND Google knows what you’re doing. I don’t recommend it.

6) Get backlinks from high page ranked sites.

These are just a few great and easy-to-do examples I’ve found across the way. Hope this helps!

Remember back when it was almost “forbidden” to embed fonts within your site? Well…those days are finally over!

I recently came across this site that generates, as well as gives you the code, for embedding fonts the RIGHT WAY! The site is font squirrel and they offer so many types of FREE fonts that can be used on ANY site. It’s literally one of the best sites I’ve ever seen.

So, go to font squirrel right now and try it out. I will eventually change the headings on my website to something a little more modern and will NEVER have to use text in images again! It’s going to fantastic.

**Update: I no longer work for NextClient. Thank goodness because that company is going under!! (Hopefully sooner than later). I work for a company called 4over.com. They are awesome!

I have been working for NextClient.com for over 1 year. What an accomplishment! I got this job immediately after I graduated and knew that it was going to help me learn and grow in ways I didn’t know were possible. I am now an expert in the following programming languages: HTML, CSS. I have also had the opportunity to work on various WordPress projects. I feel confident in my ability to build better websites (with clean code, of course) and will continue learning daily so that I can become the web developer I want to be. This job has given me a better outlook on what I want to (and will) become.

Upon searching for new and improved icons for my web designs, I came across MediaLoot.com. This site offers a premium collection of icons, brushes, texture packs, web elements, and more. Here’s what they say themselves…

MediaLoot was founded as a way for the design community to come together and get more resources for less money. Our roots are in the community, and we take all of our directions from you. Vote for new resources, request new features, or give us ideas we haven’t even thought of — we’ll just keep working to bring you what you want.

So if you’re curious about MediaLoot and have a little cash lying around, I urge you to check out this amazing website and what it has to offer. You’ll be impressed.

In October 2009, not more than 2 weeks after I graduated Platt College San Diego, I was offered a full-time web developer position at NextClient.com. I have been working there for the past 7 1/2 months. I enjoy what I do although, most days are pretty redundant. I do basically the same website cutting, coding, and implementing every day. I have learned a lot about floats, margins, and more, and have to say that this job has given me the tools necessary to feel confident in a job that requires slightly more knowledge. I am excited about what the future holds for me and will continue striving to better myself and my design/development skills. Until next time…

After long hours of thought, I decided I would give my website a make-over. As a web designer/developer, I feel the need to change my website every year to keep up with design trends.  Graduating from Platt College San Diego didn’t just set me on my way to a brighter future, it also gave me something to look forward to each day. For me, I look forward to creating new websites and giving something back to those in need. I hope you enjoy the new look and feel of my site. Take care — Mike

I recently finished working on a site for a client (http://www.falconsbodyboardshop.com). I was able to bust out the big guns on this site (not really, but I never get to say that). I did, however, learn much more from this site than any of my previous sites. Hopefully I’ll get more clients like this one. He was a pleasure to work with.

View Falcon’s Bodyboard Shop