Category Archives: SEO

How to Craft an Effective SEO Strategy

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SEO Strategy: How to Succeed Search engine optimization (SEO) can be quite a complicated machine. Not only that, but it is one that is constantly evolving and that has tons of moving parts. Thankfully, even if you do not have a large budget to outsource SEO services to someone else, there are a few basic principles that you can stick to in order to at least capture the low-hanging fruit when it comes to SEO and in turn to drive some traffic to your website.

As with most important things, the first step in creating a successful strategy is to create a plan- namely to set goals on what you would like to achieve. Remember to keep them SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, time-based) though as dreams are not the same as goals! From there, it will be much easier to see results as you aim for your defined goals.

When it comes to implementation, it is important to stay focused on current strategies and not the past. Things like an over-emphasis on keywords are really a thing of the past and may even harm you in today’s climate. Keyphrases or long-tail terms are really a better way to think about things as those are what people are searching for. They also often appear a lot more naturally in content and sound better to visitors too. It is important not to focus on these too much too and to keep content are genuine and real as possible, but keeping keyphrases in the back of your mind certainly won’t hurt.

As you develop your content, always keep the end user in mind and you will already place yourself a couple of steps ahead of the game when it comes to doing well with Google and other search engines. Aside from killer content, do your research on everything relevant to your website as possible. This includes keyphrases that people are actually searching for and competition analysis. Incorporate this into your SMART goals and subsequently into your plans to achieve those goals and you will realize some synergies in your strategy.

In addition to on-site changes, it is important to stay on Google’s good side and to provide it with certain information that may help you. Keeping profiles on relevant Google websites (such as Hangouts and if you are a local business filling out local listing details and claiming your business) as well as notable social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter is important as Google derives a lot of information from these sources and growingly is placing more emphasis on them in generating search results.

Once you have a solid social network presence built around a site that has strong content and has some sort of online presence via backlinks (tread lightly and keep the links believable and relevant to avoid getting dinged), it is time to do some research on your competitors and to really see what is working in your niche and what isn’t. From there, see how you can incorporate these ideas into your website strategy in order to improve SEO and drive rankings higher.

If you follow the information in this post, you will have a solid foundation on which to build your search engine strategy. Good luck!

If you have any questions in regards to the SEO optimization for your website please contact us for a free consultation.

Image credit: Robert Churchill

Expanding Your Social Media Presence For SEO

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Expanding Your Social Media Presence For SEOSocial media and social networking is how business is done nowadays. Without a presence, without acumen in how to do things, you’re going to be so far back of the pack that you might as well not even exist.

It’s not a philosophical issue, but one of the reality of today’s marketing. Without a social media presence you’re not going to get far especially if you’re selling your services and goods.
Clients are always looking for the best fort he lowest cost. That’s it in an nutshell. If no one knows you exist, you could have the next best thing to sliced bread and it wouldn’t do you any good.

It’s a nightmare if you don’t know how to use Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and the rest. You’ll need to hire a social media marketer and they can cost a fortune. These experts charge a lot and for good reason, they usually get results, but the field is chock full of scammers and other criminals who promise to make you a viral sensation overnight but all they do is take your money and either don’t do a thing or do a superficial showcase of their own ill gotten links, trades, shares, that makes Google boil with anger and will get your site penalized or beaten so far into the ground reputation-wise that it would take a miracle to pull you back.

You can study up on how to do social media marketing but by the time you get the course or instructions, the information inside is so old it’s no longer effective. The pros aren’t going to display their secrets, no, they’re going to hog them to themselves because they know there’s no shortage of ne’er-do-wells just waiting to take their place and squeeze them out of the market.

So how does one battle these obstacles? By first realizing that it takes patience. It takes planning and follow up. You’re going to get people to pay attention to you and then your business. Make sure your website or blog is up to snuff. Meaning, it’s professional, with proper spelling, well tagged and relevant pics, good to great copywriting, a sitemap, NAP (Name Address Phone) in prominent placement and engaging presence so that people will show up, convert, and retain. That’s it. That’s your goal and a few simple steps can get you on your way.

First of all, get yourself your personal and business accounts on these social media networks. Once that’s done, become friends with those in need of your services and products. If you’re a pet grooming service then look for people in your area who have pets. Look for the fan clubs of those pets too. Share their pictures and videos and validate them for their posts and contributions. People will grow toward you and when you speak, they’ll listen. Don’t spam them, don’t overwhelm them, just keep conversations natural and never, ever get into a fight or debate.
Soon, you’ll see your influence grow. You’ll be in contact with people who are organically interested in what you do. When that person shows off the horrible haircut their prized poodle got, you dive right in and let it be known that your company would never allow such a thing to happen and how you will offer to fix the problem for free. The person will almost faint. A free doggie do? Others will notice the generous offer and when you’re done and the job is spectacular, you have a legitimate claim to fame that you can milk for years to come. Opportunities like this are what make or break you. Let’s say a comparative photo shows what the poodle looked like ‘before’ and ‘after’ with your URL at the bottom of it. It’s going to be posted on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and the rest for a long, long time, ever driving more traffic to your social media pages, websites, and blogs.
See how simple it is? It take patience, it takes some good old fashion good communication and showing off what you do best.

Don’t Crash Land With Your Local SEO Landing Pages

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Landing pagesDon't Crash Land With Your Local SEO Landing Pages aren’t what they used to be thanks to the updates that Google has been doing, and marketers who haven’t been on their toes are seeing the miserable effects of not having adapted.

Landing pages used to be a great way to get traffic, by adding dozens of landing pages that pointed to the main site or sales page. Marketers and SEO pros would name a new sub domain after anything they could use to point a landing page to the main page or sales page of a site. Well, that isn’t working anymore and for good reason.

Google got tired of this tactic. Their new procedures penalize marketers and local SEO prose for trying this. Instead, what’s really working is the old honesty is the best policy procedures. Basically, your site had better have the right spelling, layout, relevant data, relevant links, blogs that engage and are well written, properly tagged photos,
If you think you’re going to outsmart Google on this, you’ve got another think coming. It’s not going to work. Stop right now and get on the good foot of local SEO.

So what do we do with our landing pages now? Well first of all, don’t put up landing pages with the same or similar content. Google will see this as cookie cutter type webmastering and SEO and that will cost you dearly. Your landing pages should have a sub domain name that is relevant to the ‘action’ of the page, not just the location. If you live in New York City for example and own a plumbing business, you should first have a landing page for your exact location with proper data like name of company, phone number, etc., especially zip code. Now to get other people to zero in on your page, you need to have landing pages that focus on an ‘action’, but put the location in the copy. For example, If you wanted to get the traffic going to Queens, NY, but your office is in Manhattan, you would put up a subdomain that says, yourdomain.com/plumbing/fix_clogged_pipes.html and in the copy, put your location and what you do in Queens and add important info like the zip code for that area and a landmark if possible.

This all adds up in the short and long term and it shows that you’re not just trying to snag up all the traffic, but the relevant traffic regarding the exact services you’re providing.

There are many changes on a theme here, but being straightforward, and being professional will get your local SEO and landing pages in good standing and profitable.

Don’t Rely On Automation To Do Local SEO

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Don't Rely On Automation To Do Local SEOSure it would be nice to have some robot or android to come along and do all your SEO for you, but that isn’t going to be the best option.

Having something like your local SEO being handled by some service or automated process might sound like it would make life easier but in reality, it could well penalize you in the short and long term. It’s about organics. Getting organic traffic and processing organic driven content is fr more advantageous, as Google’s algorithms are detecting these things and putting down the hammer.

What all this means is that you’re going to have to take greater responsibility for your local SEO than you may have counted on. This is in no means a bad thing, actually it’s great news. Reason being is that this puts you in the driver’s seat so that you’ll be on top of things as the effects you create will be of your doing mostly.

See, if you use automated type inclusion services for local SEO or SEO in general, you’re putting your future in someone else’s hands at a premium price. Sure they have subscription services for local SEO but once that subscriptions service ends, you’re back to square one. Suddenly your site doesn’t look like a professional is running it anymore an you’re left out on a limb trying to gain control. Inclusion services, especially for link building can do more harm than good. It’s best to learn how to do things on your own and be the captain of your own ship.

Getting even more involved means engaging with your audience and industry. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, get in deep to find out what people like, need, want. Investigate what the industry pros have to say. They might just let out that bit o f information that changes the game in your favor. If they’re beefing about not having enough of this product or that service, that’s your chance to pounce on the opportunities and optimize your site thus.

Remember, optimizing your site means following basic processes and procedures. The only thing that has changed from the old days is the integrity and honesty level. The ‘Black Hat’ techniques used by the unscrupulous just won’t cut it anymore and anyone foolish enough to try using them, will feel the wrath of Google for a very long time.

Keep things natural, organic, don’t take wild risks with your site as you could bring the house down on you, and you would have to pay big money to get out of trouble. Local SEO calls for more specialized skills than regular SEO, so you’ll need to hone those skills and apply them brilliantly, and honestly to get the most gains from your efforts and invested dollar.

Not saying don’t pay for some things regarding your SEO campaigns, but today’s marketer and web developer have to understand the balance that is necessary to get the best ROI aka Return On Investment, as well as making the kind of impact necessary to stay competitive in today’s online market.

Developing your business through SEO Mobile Tactics

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Developing your business through SEO Mobile TacticsIn today’s booming industry of various personal, smaller, and specialized businesses there’s lots of great products, options, and services available to consumers. Unfortunately, many businesses are not aware of, or invest enough time and efforts into optimizing their business via the Internet, and don’t consider enough local SEO based tactics. Did you know upwards of 92% of offline business is accrued through Internet searches, such as product and business reviews, and product detail descriptions?  ‘Big Book’ resources such as Yellow Pages and Newspapers are becoming a part of the past, and in order to stay on top, it’s best for you to evolve along with your business into its most modern form.

Let’s review a few key-solutions to strengthening your business, it’s online presence, and adding to your overall business generated revenue through local SEO strategies!

Utilize Google+ and update your Business Profile

A lot of people, and businesses, underestimate the power of Google+ and it’s search result’s data to-date. But in fact, as Google is still the leading Search Engine in today’s market, it is most practical then to assume its superiority in generating business revenue. With that being said, consider adding or revamping your current ‘NAP’ details, also known as Name, Address, and Phone Number. A lot of prospective customers fall onto your website or business with, and maintain the intentions of purchasing your products—but unfortunately outdated local SEO based information or a lack thereof commonly deter business from you. In example, although they could try to do their own investigative work as to finding out where you’re located, it may just be easier or more convenient for said customers to then just go to a more reputable or easily accessible business such as WalMart, or another local business that has all of it’s business details readily available to it’s customers. Also, when you have up to date address details, it makes it more practical for Google to directly guide prospective customers to your address via Google Maps, automatically!

Promote local SEO Keyword strength, and keep it relevant!

Try to ensure your website and business are filled with relevant, non-spam like keywords to ensure that prospective customers are able to locate your business and product information, per what they are in search of. Doing so also enables you and your business to be more prone to receiving accurate feedback, and connecting the ‘citations’ or keyword usage of your business, it’s location, your name, and even allowing you to provide responses and feedback to compliments and criticism. A proactive business-owner is the most desirable, in any and all circumstances in today’s ‘Business World’.

Test your success!

Consider utilizing services online such as SCHEMA.ORG and Mobiletest.me to find out where your website and business currently ranks. This will also allow you the opportunity to consider actions that might otherwise strengthen your business goals and your overall product(s) strength.

In conclusion, know your market, know your customers, and get your name out there! While there are many SEO professionals and businesses that can help promote your name and products, there are also various tips, resources, and tools online—both free and paid—that can also contribute to positive growth.

The Art And Science Of Content Marketing

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The Art And Science Of Content MarketingContent marketing is a primary element of a successful online business.  Far too many people get it confused and don’t know what the modern strategies are and how to get the best ROI regarding such.

First of all let’s start with good common sense, honesty, integrity and ethical behavior.  Settle for nothing less than top professionalism across the board regarding content marketing.  This means form the ground floor up.  Looking at what you have at the moment and how it can be improved to match the strategies that are game winners now, not the old school tactics that have been played out.

Combining a good content marketing with solid research is where the first step is taken.  Before you can provide content you have to know what your target audience is and what it wants.  Other than that you’ll be shooting blind and that’s too haphazard for the high end business game you’re laying.  You’ll need to combine your content marketing with solid SEO or you’re headed for trouble.

Research, does a good battle plan make and once you know what’s needed, wanted, and sought after in your niche, you’re on the way to doing what comes next, creating content that is relevant, pertinent, and authoritative.

Google’s new software can separate the chaff from the wheat regarding what is an authority site and what isn’t there’s a lot going on here from raw data to layout to top quality copywriting and more.  If your content isn’t useful or engaging you won’t attract surfers and you won’t get them to action, nor retain them.

This is the game plan right here.  You can have all the best looking graphics and bells and whistles on your site that money can buy, but if your content even looks like advertising copy then you’re going to lose out.  For 4example, if you have a hair care business, you need to know what people needing hair care want, need, desire, complain about, etc..  Your site’s content has to cater to these concerns.  Not just one contrived article after another about how great this product is or that product is, but what is happening now in your niche and how can the surfer benefit from what you’ve posted and the services and products you offer.

Engaging and shareable content wins out here.  If surfers aren’t interested in your content you won’t attract them, convert them, nor retain them.  That would be a massive fail.

Your content also has to be mobile friendly.  That’s a whole ‘nother range of SEO to deal with too.  Mobile is the fastest growing market and with 1000s of millions of people using mobile devices instead of traditional laptops and desktops, not being mobile SEO is foolhardy to say the least.

The real bottom line here is that you’ve got to earn your surfers and their trust.  If they don’t trust you, can’t get valuable information from you, nor special treatment like as in discounts, you will lose those surfers and fast.  Your list and other ways to communicate with your surfers requires that you update your info and don’t spam.  Engage the surfer with wit and charm and let them know you empathize, sympathize with their position.  In other words, act like you’re one of the group who is here to help and let them take action because they trust your wisdom and guidance.  Don’t have copy that is regimented.  Use copy that is personable an friendly, yet informative.  Once people realize they can turn to your content to better their situations, save time and money, they will flock to you, recommend you, and share.

It’s all about marketing the right way.  Being a valued asset, not just some internet jazzy website slick marketing person who peppers their site with catch phrases and hot topic buttons.  People are getting wise to these tactics and they shy away from them.  Be the real deal and you’ll get the surfers that matter.

‘Mobile-friendly’ compliancy standards in place for Google Search Engine

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‘Mobile-friendly’ compliancy standards in place for Google Search EngineIn advance of one of the largest SEO based conferences–the Ungagged London (16-18 May)–businesses, corporates and entrepreneurs alike are collecting data and sharing strategies for the upcoming changes to the Google search results system, and how their website or business is ranked.

With it’s new change, unlike Panda or Penguin, this new modification to Google’s search engine is defined to provide businesses with a new prospect for engaging and drawing in potential business and consumer viewing. Unlike the past aforementioned changes, this is arguably less about website compliancy per Google’s regulations, and more so about modernization and application of new marketing strategies with an entirely new, more customized and supportive approach for it’s consumer audience.

Personal businesses will face—at least initially—the many benefits of the Google mobile-friendly changes and platform as it sets the SEO pretext for merchants and (larger) businesses alike to optimize how their consumers may not only view their websites or information, but also how it’s found. That is, because smaller businesses and entrepreneurs have more flexibility and the ability to presumably act faster, within their development and IT teams, to service or meet new business module expectations or service opportunities for its customers. Per the new rating guidelines, Google is looking to have all, if not as many as possible merchants on board to modify their websites to a mobile-friendly status with the ‘incentive’ of making it to, or holding its place in top Google search results—something that could previously only be achieved through SEO expertise, arrangement, and application of keywords.

Consumers and viewers alike will ideally be granted the ability to now access information on the web more easily; from merchants, to businesses, all the way to academic institutions through a new ‘mobile friendly’ option in which is verifiably obtained through the ‘crawling’ of Google data systems or ‘spiders’.

Google Webspam team speaker and former senior member Kaspar Szymanski pointed out the dynamics of how not having a mobile-friendly website or business inconveniences customers, leaving much room for fellow competition. Additionally, in doing so, providing an increased reputation in accessibility for the Internet as technology continues to evolve into the next generation. Patterns of previous and future performance, willingness to adapt their platforms, and allocate additional funding are all factors that business owners must take into consideration and determine whether or not the financial justification is applicable for them and their businesses future.

Mr. Szymanski, a fellow SerchBrothers.com co-founder pointed out that smaller business owners and entrepreneurs shouldn’t be intimidated. He explained how merchants and business owners should take into consideration the value and purpose of their business, and budget permitting, to just work with what they have in efforts to rein in and maintain success.

Take into consideration the expectations of your customers and readers that explore your business on a daily basis. While meeting the ‘mobile-friendly’ required, or expectations per Google’s impending changes to gain higher of or new ranking—it’s important to not lose sight of pleasing the customer firs. On top of this, let’s not forget that you, the business or website owner are also a customer of Google. With that being said, it will behoove Google to tread lightly with precision, support, and practicality in the changes it makes to further develop or enhance website modules and service features in the future for customers and business owners alike. Likewise, the significance in which these changes play through developing already prestigious businesses such as Fortune 500 enterprises are of comparable, if not greater value. These businesses too will benefit in revenue increase through the enhanced accessibility for its consumer’s beyond the impartial previous SEO based tactics or approach in which we perhaps have otherwise become too comfortable with.

Local SEO Calls For Tried And True, Old And New Strategies

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Local SEO Calls For Tried And True, Old And New StrategiesWhen it comes to local SEO, there are old and new, tried and true strategies that call for logical and precise application.

There’s no room for error here.  One needs to know the game and study from top to bottom as the landscape changes fast, but if one has their fundamentals in, they’ll be able to adapt to the changes and dominate.

The basics of local SEO success start with the same responsible tactics and strategies that held fast in the past and present.  First of all is knowing your market and location.  Having a set work agenda with precise goals.  You want your goods and services to be at the top of the roster regarding your location.  When people are shopping, you want them to know you’re the place to be, not your competitors.

This calls for studying on many levels. Know what your competition is doing as well as their strategies.  Once you get a good picture as to what you’re up against, you’ll be better able to plan and execute your plans.

Utilizing a variety of venues, like social media is a start.  Optimizing your site for get targeting and data ecosystem are also paramount.  This takes skills, and you had better either learn them, or hire someone of reputable character to do so. Don’t go with any fly-by-night company that makes ridiculous claims, like they’ll get you to the top of Google in one night.  That’s BS in capital letters.  A real, ethical, and responsible company will chat with you, go through the motions, set a time table, a sound budget, and strategy for the short and long term.  Just read up on the reviews of the company and ask if they’ll be along for the long ride.  A pro level company will stick with you through thick and thin.

That, out of the way, the techniques and strategies call for steps that are sound and have the ability to be examined and scaled up.

You’ll need to utilize “store locator” options.  Some require precise programming so you’ll need to either study up or hire someone.  This will allow you to list our store locations and the most minute details so that the search engines an other directories can list your data accurately.  There’s software for doing store locator local SEO and strategies you can do on your own, once you’ve studied thoroughly.

Social media and search engine local listings.  This is where you’ve got to really go to work.  Input your data on all these types of sites and link to it and have your links in them.  Google, Facebook, and the rest, even YouTube, have local listing features.  Once you put your accurate data in, they’ll interlink and boost your search engine presence.  Remember, local SEO also calls for relevant, well done content and professional websites.  If your work looks sloppy, you’ll either get penalized or receive negative comments and reviews.

So the bottom line is to study, apply, and do the professional level approach. Don’t shy away from hiring a pro if need be, and keep your eyes on the prize.

Using Local SEO And Multiple Locations

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Using Local SEO And Multiple LocationsLocal SEO is tough enough but when you’re a company or agency that services multiple locations, then fine tuning your local SEO calls for a more precise strategy.

To handle multiple location SEO it calls for following the same basic strategy for regular local SEO but expanding on it smartly and logically.  First of all, the ore locations you have, the more ammo you have for getting traffic and conversions to your site.  Your site should have its basic information, the blog, the quality content and pertinent links.  The se applies for multiple locations.  You’ll need to have pictures, videos, and copy that specifically targets those locations.

All pics, videos, copy, should have links and tags with the name of that particular location.  As with local SEO, using landmarks, known events, sports teams, even celebrities.  Be prudent here and don’t overdo it, however taking advantage of such venues adds to the spice and authority of your site and blog which is what Google and the other search engines are looking for.

Use only one url for all your sites.  If you have a service in New York but have outlets in Queens, Brooklyn and the Bronx, then you’ll need pages with the names in the urls and each should interlink with one another under the same url.  This will build up power toward you and let surfers know there’s an outlet near them. Include all contact info and make sure the data is all spelled correctly.

Adding social media to this helps also.  Put up a Facebook page or Twitter account for each of your locations with the emails all under their names.  Something like support@brooklynjoesautobody.com or support@queensautobody.com and your main site’s email support@joesautobody.com.  There are variations on a theme but you get the picture.

All videos and pics should have your location in the tags like, “photos, Joe’s auto body Queens” or “videos, Joe’s auto body Brooklyn.  Keep fresh content rolling on occasion and Tweet whenever things change like sales or discounts.  Post them on your Facebook accounts and Reddit and other social media too for each location. This will get your posts and Tweets listed in the Google search results and your chances of success will improve greatly.

It won’t happen overnight but you should see results soon.  SEO is a long term project that needs constant attention and maintenance.

You’ll have to do some detective work regarding citations.  Look for your site on sites like Yelp and others that list websites and offer reviews.  Make sure their information about you is correct and updated.  Contact them with the new information or correct information so that people can find you appropriately.  The same goes for the review sites.  If you have customers who’ve left reviews you’ll need to contact the sites where these reviews are and make sure the info is correct.

Same goes for pics that might be listed in Google images and videos.  If you have a YouTube channel you need to add that info and don’t just do one video of your main store, but do videos of each location including even funny or human interest moments and post those.  Embed your links in the videos and make sure each location video has links to the others.  Push for subscriptions and on your Facebook pages push for shares and likes.  Intermix your social media and citations and you’ll have a network of information that builds up.

Keep it up and you’ll see the kind of results you can be proud of.

Google Gives Out a Warning: Why Your Non-Mobile Sites Are No Good

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Google Gives Out a Warning: Why Your Non-Mobile Sites Are No GoodIt’s a known fact that we’re a mobile society these days, you don’t see people without their phones in hand on the train or bus. There’s a very good reason for this feat, and that’s because technology has given us the best possible options we could ever ask for (at this point in time, anyways). Google has always been looking out for those whom dedicate their work to a specific site, and when you’ve been building up a site to work on mobile for a year or two that’s got to feel food. Google definitely rewards webmasters who are willing to work harder than the rest, but just how much do you need to do in order to get good rankings? Obviously a mobile-optimized site is going to bring in a lot more traffic, but why would it? Not only that, but why do you need to make use of it so badly? The internet is a very serious business, especially when there is the exchanging of money at hand. Nobody wants to feel like they’re throwing away their hard earned cash at a site nobody even visits, which is why you need optimal rankings. Google is always going to keep you in the loop when it comes to your webmaster needs and wants, especially if your site has the potential to become much more than it already is.

Mobile Optimization

There is actually a process that you can put your website through in order to see if its capable of handling mobile operations or not, but Google isn’t going to put you through it by themselves (even though they essentially help out the entire time). When you’ve put your site through Google’s Webmaster Tools it’ll decide whether or not it can be used on a mobile basis, and if it can’t they’ll send you an alert. This is something that you as the webmaster will need to accomplish, as mobile SEO isn’t going to be implemented by the company who’s paying you (obviously). Make use of Webmaster Tools and you’ll be able to identify whether your site is friendly for mobile users or not, which should be a top priority if you’re serious about your work. Being an efficient site is key, but being a site that has the perfect mobile SEO tactic in place is even better. For some reason it feels like the world of mobile marketing is growing faster and faster, and that’s probably because people are constantly getting phones.

Google will automatically e-mail you if your website falls under the “alert” category, but mobile SEO should always be keeping you alert. The e-mail will go over which pages were actually found as being negatively beneficially when it comes to your web page, as well as how you can go about fixing the problem. This is where Google really shines with it’s business solutions, because they’re very smart about this entire process.