When creating a website, many small businesses spend hours fine-tuning the look and layout of the site but never give a second thought to the host.

They select a host-based on what others have suggested or just type it into a search and choose the first affordable one they find. However, it is important that you realize that your website host is an important aspect of your online presence and your site.

As more and more of the world transitions to the internet, it is vital that your business has a website. Not only are websites easier for people to access, but they also give businesses a sense of credibility when customers are trying to decide whether or not they want to use your services. Here is a beginners guide for building your business website, and some key information you should consider.

If the website for your business is receiving some traffic from Google but not as much as you'd like, there's a good chance you're looking for strategies to improve your rankings.

Although there isn't a secret solution to instantly boost your site to the top of the results pages that are most important to your business, there are ways to start moving in the right direction.

Top Picks for Christmas Stocking Stuffers

With the holiday season just around the corner, business owners need to pull out all the stops to stay ahead of their competition. Offering fun and affordable Christmas stocking stuffers will bring in more customers and increase your sales this season. If you have boxfuls of small, inexpensive products that you want off the shelves, you can put them on sale as "stocking stuffers" and "kill two birds" with just one promotion. Here are some products you can sell as stocking stuffer ideas.

Tis the season with a reason for shopping and sharing cheer with the office crew. Stocking stuffers or treats under the tree, what are the gifts that will surely please? Each year brings the challenge of solving the puzzle of the perfect gifts for employees. Nothing too personal and yet nothing too work oriented, the guidelines furnish a lot of information but not the solution. Read on for a few thoughts for thoughtful bosses who want to find just the right gifts for members of their office team.

One of the keys to great search engine ranking is link building. Link building, or the practice of getting external websites to link to one’s own website, has always been difficult.  Why should another website link to yours?

Google would like the links that point to one’s website to be earned. A blogger, reporter, or resource directory thinks your site has great content or is worth mentioning (good or bad), and creates a link to your site. Unfortunately, this process is slow and to a large degree out of the control of a website’s owner.

2010's landmark legislation, the PPACA, or "Affordable Care Act" is rolling along toward full implementation. The insurance exchanges will open for enrollment on October 1st and the mandate for individual coverage goes into affect January 1, 2014. Business owners wonder how the new law will affect them. Here are six ways your company could be affected when the law kicks in.

If you're thinking of starting a small business, think beyond your product and employees and pay attention to your marketing efforts.

Marketing has come a long way over the past few years due to social media, and these days it's much easier to get your business's name out there than in years past. No more big bucks spent on newspaper ads or commercials. You can do it yourself for pretty low cost, but you've got to know some of the important facets of social media marketing.

Brick and mortar businesses rely on a visually appealing storefront in order to attract new customers. The outside of a business can become worn and damaged over time due to age, weather or other issues. A business that looks run down and unmaintained will not generate excitement or interest from people walking or driving by. Five tips can help owners to revitalize the look of a brick and mortar business.

Running a successful business requires hard work and dedication, especially when it comes to appealing to customers and potential clients. Understanding a few different techniques that can come in handy with improving your marketing approach is a way for you to truly reach the audience you have in mind. Knowing how to market your business or brand can help to ensure you are achieving as much success as possible.