Content That Improves Your Local SEO

How To Improve Your Local SEOImproving your ranking in search results requires publishing rich local content. You might have spent hours searching for a particular recipe or tutorial that’s worth reading. For doing so, you might have scrolled through Instagram posts or read blogs of local bloggers. We mostly prefer using Google to do our searches and look for the best results for some searches.

You get multiple content types from Google Business Profile, Google Maps, and local reviews even while using Google. If you are a local business, you might already know that local websites find it tough to compete against more prominent brands even if they are widely popular locally. They are usually pushed down further and further in local SERPs.

Speaking of statistics, in 2020, about 65% of Google searches helped users get the information they were looking for from the search results pages. It is 15% more than the previous year. Next is your Google Business Profile and other Google search result features. Previously ranking for local SEO was pretty easy, wherein you merely needed to add your NAP in the footer and build a few directory links. However, with time the competition intensified, and these efforts weren’t enough.

To improve local SEO search results and stay in the competition, you need rich local content. Websites like SEOSELLER.com increased their traffic by over 300% only by creating local content. Similarly, sites like Geek Solutions saw a 300% increase in organic visibility for their Bloomfield Dental Designs through local content. Ranking for less competitive local keywords improves if you create rich local content. For maintaining your website and adding local content to fuel your regional SEO strategy, we have featured nine different kinds of local content that you can recreate with your business.

What Does Local SEO Content Mean?

Texts, images, and videos are all forms of Local SEO content. Collectively they help in meeting the needs of local searchers. They can be anywhere on your website, local landing pages, Google Business profile, etc.

For local businesses that target any specific area or zip code, every content on your website is primarily for residents. You must understand that there isn’t any local SEO magic wand that can instantly drive local traffic to your business. The only difference between usual content and local content is the intent behind the search.

While creating content, think like a local user, local entities, or local semantics to make a deeper connection. The process involves more effort than simply matching local-based keywords in your blog content. When implemented correctly, it works.

What Are Essentials of Creating Local SEO Content?

Consider SEO as a puzzle as you need to put different pieces together. Below we have discussed some basics yet essentials that can considerably increase your chances to rank better for local SEO keywords.

Integrate Schema Markup

With Google search results getting more affluent yet more attractive, the schema has become more crucial. It helps algorithms understand how content relates to each other – adding schema markup for local businesses or authors helps highlight expertise and authority.

Spread Local Key Phrases In Content

Local keyword research is essential for mapping out your content. However, understanding a topic that guides and fits those keywords is more important. Taking a step back and thinking about a business as an entity while sprinkling local mentions can work wonders in your local SEO content.

Well-optimized navigation pages and usage of good meta-titles and meta-descriptions for key local phrases boost your goal conversions from the first month itself.

Write As You Speak

Local voice search is widely popular for local SEO. Surprisingly, 75% of people owning smartphones use them while searching for a local business. Thus while writing an article, you should adopt a conversational tone as it’s easier to target the longer voice search queries for SERPs.

Graphics Are Great For Your SEO

Some of us often ignore images when focusing on local SEO. However, with mobile search leading the way, optimizing your images for mobile searches is essential. Incorporating unique images in square formats and using alt text and schema markup increases your chances to rank better for local search results. Use original and engaging images instead of stock photos that complement your content. Doing that helps in telling a more compelling story.

Organize Local Events

Many of us habit scrolling each Friday to look for some happening events around us. It could be anything from a festival, charity dog wash, or free yoga session. Such events can be an excellent opportunity for local businesses to drive awareness as a marketer. However, you will lose some powerful local SEO mojo if you host any local event without announcements on your website or social media profile.

Blog Content

Blog content is beneficial as a lot of magic happens if you do it correctly. For local businesses looking to compete for local SERPs, the active blog helps in improving your rankings. There are tons of ideas that you can regularly feature in your blogs. It could be a new location announcement, new events, new launches, or your views on some local developments. Even interviews or reviews by famous local personalities can be a subject for your blog.

Improving your ranking for critical local keywords isn’t difficult but can be challenging if you lack experience. Local SEO Jacksonville Company for years has been helping businesses outrank their competitors in and around Jacksonville, FL. Its focus has been to create unique SEO content for its customers and help them get the best results for their businesses.

Do I Need To Hire An SEO Expert?

Do I Need To Hire An SEO Expert?SEO is the short form of Search Engine Optimizer or Search Engine Optimization. One of the big decisions a business has to contemplate is hiring the services of an SEO expert as it can lead to an improvement in the website and can save time as well. But a wrong choice can lead to damage to your website and can cost you in terms of reputation as well. However, there are several SEO agencies out there that provide useful services to different website owners.

Services provided by an SEO expert

Advertising by using Google does not have any impact on the website ranking in search results. Google doesn’t accept payments for ranking websites. You do not need any money to rank in the organic search results either. If you are running a small local company you can complete most of the SEO work by yourself. If you believe that you need help from pros read on for selecting the right SEO agency. Some of the significant services provided by the SEO agencies include,

  • Technical advice about the site development.
  • Review of the content on the website and its structure.
  • Content development.
  • Keyword research.
  • Management of the online business development program.
  • SEO training.
  • Expert advice in niche markets and geographics.

Selecting an SEO agency or a Search Engine Optimizer

In case you are thinking about hiring the services of an SEO expert, it is a good idea to get started immediately. A good time to do this will be when you are thinking about re-designing your website or while planning a new one. This way you and the expert can make sure that the website is designed to be friendly for the search engines bottom up. A high-quality SEO expert can improve the existing website. Here are some considerations while selecting an SEO expert for your website.

Interview the prospect: Some pertinent question you can ask the prospect are,

  • Do you take into consideration the Google Webmaster Guidelines?
  • Can you produce examples of prior work or share your success stories?
  • Do you offer other marketing services to complement the SEO business?
  • What results can you expect?
  • What is your experience in the area?
  • What are the significant SEO techniques you will use?

Check their business references: You can talk to the prior clients of the SEO agency to find out whether they were satisfied with the services provided by this agency, whether they are easy to work with, and did they provide positive results?

Ask for search and technical audits: Ask the experts to perform an audit of your website and report what is required to be done. You might have to pay for this work. You may provide read-only access on Search Console for this purpose. The pros should be able to provide realistic estimates about the work involved and possibilities of improvement. If they say they can guarantee first place in SERPs, go look for another expert.

Be committed to making the changes: You have to be devoted to making the changes recommended by the experts. It takes a lot of time and effort for making the changes recommended by the pro. If you are not serious about making these changes, it is not worthwhile taking the trouble to hire a professional. Finally, decide who you wish to hire.

While selecting the SEO it might be a good idea to perform some research about the industry. One of the better ways of doing it is by using Google. You need to be careful while selecting the agency because many firms follow practices that are not ethical. If your business operates from Jacksonville, FL you can get in touch with reliable experts, Local SEO Jacksonville Company for estimates and advice.

Reasons Behind The Failure Of Your SEO Performance

Reasons Behind The Failure Of Your SEO PerformanceThere can be many reasons for the failure of your SEO strategy but it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have fallen in the eyes of Google and other search engines, or you are suffering because of some mysterious penalties imposed by Google. Although it is tempting to blame the failure of your website on advancements in the organic SERPs and cite the failure to something outside your control, the reality is different. There are many mundane reasons behind the failure of the SEO performance of your website. Consider some of these reasons that may be causing the downfall of your website.

1. Impatience: Keep in mind that SEO is a marketing strategy that always pays off in the long run. In the first few months of your SEO campaign, it is pretty much guaranteed that you will get a negative ROI. As you begin to invest more in the development of the strategy the ROI will gradually rise. So, do not be unduly concerned if you have spent a few months already and into your SEO strategy without clear results.

2. You may not be targeting the right clientele: It is not sufficient to rank highly in the Google SERPs. You must rank well for different search terms that matter. When you are a car dealer and you are ranking for keywords and keyword phrases that are dealing with some class-action litigations, your website is not likely to rank too highly or get you a lot of traffic from the rankings. Ensure that you are targeting correct segments from your demographics and you update the strategy accordingly.

3. Priorities are incorrect: You will find several priorities you must address during an SEO campaign such as the creation of regular content, ensuring onsite optimization, developing inbound links, social engagement, etc. But, if you end up spending a lot of time on lower priority areas of the strategy such as posting news updates on the social media platforms rather than spending the time on higher-priority work such as establishing a relationship with useful publishers from the niche area, it is pretty much guaranteed that you will not get results.

4. You are not paying attention to valuable metrics: Some people describe a term called vanity metrics to refer to the numerical metrics that do not matter to the bottom line. For instance, having plenty of followers on Facebook may seem significant but remember, the follower count cannot be the indicator that tells you how engaged the audience is with the brand. When you spend a lot of time trying to arrive at these numbers rather than developing relationships that count, your SEO performance is not likely to improve.

5. Low-quality content: Bad or low-quality content refers to the poorly researched, hastily written, plagiarized, or otherwise boring content in the eyes of the followers. When you post a lot of such content, Google takes notice of it and, you are likely to earn an algorithmic penalty thanks to the Panda algorithms. Panda algorithms were developed for detecting thin and spammy content. It penalizes the websites if you have too much of it. It is not sufficient to just write blog posts regularly. You must offer something valuable to the audience.

When you are only getting started with SEO practices, these are some of the things you need to avoid. If you are already in the thick of things, you have to resolve these issues. Do not be surprised if this requires some fine-tuning but, there is no guarantee, and there is no certain formula that assures success. It might be a good idea to reach out to the professionals such as Local SEO Jacksonville Company if you reside in the Jacksonville, FL area.

Boost Your Site’s Performance in 5 Easy Steps

How to boost your site's performanceThis spring, don’t focus just on cleaning your house, as your website also needs some attention. And be sure that you will be amazed by the results!

The good part is that cleaning your website doesn’t require that much effort as making your entire place shine. It takes just a few simple moves and your SEO spring cleaning will be done, boosting the site’s search performance.

We’ve put together a list of 6 tips, easy to apply and with some serious effects. Without much further ado, let’s see how you should tidy up that website!

Start with an inspection

First thing first, begin by collecting all the data you need. Use a crawler and identify all types of metadata and site errors, as well as the status of each page, to figure out which areas need attention.

One of our favorite tools for this is Screaming Frog, as it offers very detailed information, but it’s up to you to decide which one works best for your website.

Get rid of low-performing pages

Google Analytics can reveal which one of your pages is doing good, so why not take a look through all of them? You will surely find out that there are some of them that don’t bring the desired results, so it’s not worth keeping them anymore.

Specifically, we’re talking about those pages supposed to be targeting valuable keywords, but aren’t attracting enough natural search traffic. If you put enough SEO efforts in them, but still don’t obtain what you want, it’s time to call it quits and clear the clutter.

Eliminate all the duplicate metas

Another very easy thing you can do in order to boost your site’s performance is to look at each title tag and meta description and make sure it’s unique. Sure, this can be a bit time consuming, especially if you have a lot of pages, but it’s definitely a rewarding job.

Titles are still one of the most important on-page SEO elements, so it’s mandatory for them to be unique and not surpass 65 characters. As for meta descriptions, although they’re not a ranking factor, they can seriously affect CTR rates from the search results. Then can reach over 300 characters, but for the best results, include your major keywords in the first 155, which are shown in SERPs.

Break all those redirect chains

In time, a lot of your pages will become obsolete, leading to chains of 301 redirects. Or, if you prefer, one URL will redirect to another, redirecting to another, then to another, and so on. But what wants this?

Such chains require a lot of server requests to execute, not to mention that they slow down page loading times. The good news is that your crawler can produce a report of these chains, so why not replace them with a redirect from the first URLs to the last ones?

As you can see, just a bit of spring cleaning can have some excellent effects on your website. If you just don’t have the time to do it, you can ask Local SEO Jacksonville Company to help you! With the most competitive SEO packages, able to satisfy any small business owner in the area, they will make sure that your business stays at the top of the search results.