As someone who manages websites, people often ask me about what online tools I use. Here are 10 online tools I use on a daily basis that help with all the webmaster tasks I perform.
WhatTheFont :: Sometimes you need to figure out what font is used in a logo or graphic. This tool is pretty good at figuring out what font is used and gives options.
(Item Removed) The tool we had here no longer has a secure connection, so we removed it
Sauce Labs :: I used to like Adobe’s Browser testing. But they shut it down. Sauce Labs is picking up the slack and you can see how your site looks at in many different browsers.
Character Counter :: If you write several tweets at once, it helps to make sure you stay under that magic 140 number. This simple tool counts for you, so you don’t have to open up word or other software.
Convert Case :: Many times clients send me docs, or emails all in upper case. This tool lets you convert to various cases, such as lower case, sentence case, etc.
Lorem Ipsum Generator :: When you are building a website, you often need placeholder text. This allows you to grab some text, based on how many words, paragraphs, bytes, etc.
Sucuri SiteCheck Malware Scanner :: Malware is the plague of our time. It is often hidden where you can’t find it. This tool identifies if you are infected. And the company can assist cleaning your code.
Google Translate :: For those of us who manage websites in multiple languages, the Google Translate tool comes in handy. While the translation isn’t perfect, it is pretty good and handles the chore well enough for most instances.
SSL Checker :: This tool tells you if a server has a secure certificate, who issued it, and when it expires.
Network Tools :: This tool allows you to perform many tests, such as: Traceroute, Ping, Domain Name Server (DNS) Lookup and WHOIS.
Added Online Tools :: 5/28/23
We have some more online tools we have now added to this list:
Embed Responsively: :: this tool allows you to embed videos, images and content that will respond to the size of your visitors’ screens.
Optimizilla :: This free online image optimizer uses the best optimization and lossy compression algorithms to shrink JPEG, GIF and PNG images to the minimum possible size while keeping the required level of quality.
ChatGPT :: We’ve all heard about AI, and this tool can be very helpful in website management. While we don’t recommend you have it write all your blog posts and use it word for word, it does come in handy when you’re looking for things like hashtags for posts, or for generating ideas.
Twitter Fonts Generator :: Spruce up your social media post with this fun little tool. Despite its name, it works on other social media outlets as well.
As we are always discovering new online tools to help make our job more efficient, we will be updating this post. Please check back. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us.
Local search is an important part of any SEO strategy targeting customers in a specific city, or neighborhood. Local SEO is where you work to improve your rankings and visibility in local search results such as Google’s Map Pack & Local Pack. Here are the 5 ways to improve your local rankings:
Optimize your website for local search: Ensure that your website is optimized for local search by including your business name, address, and phone number (NAP) on your website, and making sure that your website is mobile-friendly and loads quickly.
Create local content: Create content that is focused on your local area and its interests, such as events, local news, and attractions. This will help you establish yourself as a local authority and improve your chances of ranking in local SEO results.
Claim and optimize your Google My Business listing: Ensure that your business is listed on Google My Business, and that the listing is up-to-date with accurate information, including your business hours, contact details, and photos. You should also encourage your customers to leave reviews, as positive reviews can boost your local search rankings.
Build local citations: A citation is any mention of your business on another website, and can include your business name, address, and phone number. Building local citations on relevant websites can improve your local search rankings.
Get involved in the local community: Getting involved in the local community can help you establish relationships with other local businesses and organizations, and can help you build links to your website. You can participate in local events, sponsor local charities, and join local business organizations to increase your visibility and improve your local SEO rankings.
Bottom line:
Local SEO is one of the most important factors for small businesses, especially those which conduct business in certain geographic areas. Think of it like this, if you are in Dunedin Florida and need a plumber, you typically search for Dunedin Plumber. So you want to make sure your local optimization helps you to be in the top of local search rankings. RooSites helps our clients with Local SEO as part of all of our Management Plans.