Tips and Advice from Local Business First

What Is Schema Markup? How to Add Schema to Your Website

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 13:12:26 GMT

What Is Schema Markup?

Schema is like a special “cheat sheet” you add to your website.
It’s a short piece of code that tells Google, AI tools (like ChatGPT), and other search engines exactly what your page is about - your business name, address, services, reviews, hours, and more.

Without schema, search engines have to guess. With schema, they understand your site instantly and can show your information in richer, more helpful ways (stars, maps, quick answers, etc.). That’s why it’s one of the easiest ways for local businesses to get noticed in both Google and AI search results.

Why Schema Matters for Local Businesses & AI Visibility

In today’s world, people (and AI) don’t just browse websites - they ask questions like “best plumber near me” or “dentist open now.” Schema markup makes sure your business is the one that gets recommended.

Here are the most powerful schema types local businesses should use:

1. LocalBusiness Schema

The core schema for any local company. It includes your name, address, phone, hours, geo-coordinates, and more. This powers your Google Knowledge Panel and accurate AI answers.

2. Organization Schema

Usually placed on your homepage. It tells the world “this is our official company.” Add sameAs links to your Facebook, Instagram, Google Business Profile, Yelp, LinkedIn, etc. This connects all your online profiles so search engines and AI see you as one trusted brand.

3. Review Schema & AggregateRating Schema

Review schema marks up individual customer reviews.
AggregateRating schema shows your overall star rating and number of reviews. Together they create those eye-catching star ratings in search results and AI summaries - huge trust boosters!

4. Service or Product Schema

Perfect for showing exactly what you sell or offer (e.g., “emergency plumbing repair,” “teeth whitening,” or a specific product). AI tools love this because they can directly pull your services into answers.

5. FAQ Schema

Turns your common questions into rich results so AI can give instant, accurate answers.

6. Breadcrumb Schema

Shows the logical path through your website (Home > Services > Plumbing). Helps search engines and AI understand your site’s hierarchy.

7. AreaServed Schema

Super important for businesses that travel to customers (not just walk-ins). You define the cities, counties, or radius you cover so AI can match you perfectly when someone searches in your service area.

Do websites use all of these?

Yes - the best local websites use multiple schemas together on the same site (not just one). Different pages get different schemas:

Homepage → Organization + LocalBusiness
Service pages → Service + AreaServed + FAQ
Review or About page → Review + AggregateRating

They all work together like puzzle pieces to give search engines and AI a complete picture of your business.

Duda stays ahead of the curve

We build every local business website on Duda - the platform we use for web design. Duda already gives you built-in LocalBusiness, Organization, FAQ, and Breadcrumb schema tools. They also just added native AreaServed support directly in the Business Info section. No coding, no delays - changes roll out lightning fast so your site stays ahead of Google and AI updates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Bottom line: Schema isn’t complicated tech talk. It’s a simple label that makes your local business easier for AI and customers to find and trust.

Want your website speaking the same language as Google and AI? We design every site on Duda because it makes advanced schema simple and automatic. Let’s get your business showing up exactly where your next customer is searching.

Mastering On-Page Signals for Local Search Dominance in 2026

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 03:16:30 GMT

On-page signals account for up to 36% of local search ranking factors in 2026, making them essential for visibility in organic results and AI searches.
Key elements include NAP consistency, hyper-local keywords, schema markup, mobile responsiveness, and location-specific pages to enhance relevance and trust.
Businesses optimizing these signals can see improved Local Pack rankings (15-20% weight) and higher engagement from mobile users, who drive 30% of location-based searches.
Incorporate E-E-A-T principles and structured data to stand out in AI-driven results, with projections showing 24% influence on AI visibility.
Regular audits and updates, combined with internal linking to resources like our Google Business Profile guide , ensure sustained dominance.

The Importance of On-Page Signals in 2026

On-page signals remain a cornerstone of local SEO, influencing how search engines like Google interpret and rank your website for location-based queries. With advancements in AI and mobile search, optimizing these elements ensures your business appears prominently in organic results, Local Packs, and AI overviews.

Key Ranking Statistics

On-page signals account for 33% of local organic rankings . They contribute 15% to Local Pack visibility and 24% to AI search influence . In comparison, link signals hold 24% for organic rankings .

Why They Matter More Than Ever

As 30% of all Google mobile searches are related to location, strong on-page optimization reduces bounce rates and boosts conversions. Examples include a Longmont SEO firm ranking for "Longmont SEO company" through targeted title tags and headers.

Optimizing NAP Consistency

NAP (Name, Address, Phone Number) consistency verifies your business's physical presence and builds trust with search engines. Inconsistent details can lead to ranking penalties, so ensure uniformity across your site and external profiles.

Implementation Best Practices

Display NAP prominently in footers, contact pages, and headers for easy crawling.
Match NAP exactly with your Google Business Profile to avoid discrepancies.
Use tools like citation audits to monitor and correct inconsistencies on directories.

Examples and Tips

For a multi-location business , create dedicated contact sections per area, as mismatched NAP can depress rankings. Link internally to our local citations guide for more on building authority.

Hyper-Local Content and Keyword Utilization

Hyper-local content tailors your website to specific neighborhoods or cities, signaling relevance to Google's algorithms. Incorporate localized keywords naturally to capture high-intent searches and improve engagement.

Keyword Research and Placement

Use tools like Google Keyword Planner to identify phrases like "best dentist in [Neighborhood]".
Place keywords in title tags (under 60 characters), meta descriptions (150-160 characters), H1/H2 headers, and body content.
Avoid stuffing; focus on user intent for better E-E-A-T scores.

Creating Location-Specific Pages

Develop unique pages for each service area with local landmarks, events, and pain points. For instance, a Boulder page optimized with custom H1 headers like “Local service businesses in Boulder, are you losing jobs because your competitors rank higher?” to address local needs. Include embedded Google Maps to reinforce geo-relevance.

Schema Markup Implementation

Schema markup provides structured data that helps search engines understand your business details, leading to richer snippets and better AI integration. It's a top priority for 2026, enhancing visibility in voice and conversational searches.

Essential Schema Types for Local SEO

LocalBusiness schema for address, hours, and geo coordinates.
Service schema for offerings, Review for ratings, and FAQ for common queries.
Implement via JSON-LD and test with Google's Rich Results Tool.

Benefits and Examples

Schema can improve click-through rates by displaying stars or hours directly in results. An event organizer used event schema to tag details like date and location, enhancing search visibility. For deeper insights, check our schema markup tutorial .

Mobile Optimization and User Experience

With mobile searches dominating, on-page elements must prioritize speed, responsiveness, and ease of use. This signal affects rankings and user retention, especially for location-based queries.

Core Mobile Best Practices

Ensure responsive design for seamless viewing on devices.
Aim for page load speeds under 3 seconds using compressed images and clean code.
Add click-to-call buttons and intuitive navigation to facilitate conversions.

Statistics and Real-World Examples

Mobile-friendliness impacts rankings, with 30% of mobile searches location-related. A dental clinic optimized for "weekend dentist" queries with mobile maps, resulting in higher engagement .

Advanced On-Page Strategies

Beyond basics, advanced tactics like E-E-A-T and AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) prepare your site for AI-driven search. Focus on proving expertise and providing direct answers to queries.

Building E-E-A-T

Demonstrate experience through case studies, author bios, and client results. A firm with nearly 30 years of SEO experience highlighted history to outrank AI-generated content .

Optimizing for AI and Voice Search

Format content in lists, tables, and short paragraphs for featured snippets. Use FAQs and conversational language to appear in AI overviews.

Measuring and Monitoring On-Page SEO

Regular monitoring ensures your on-page efforts yield results. Track metrics to refine strategies and maintain dominance in local search.

Tools and Metrics

Use Google Search Console for impressions, clicks, and rankings.
Monitor bounce rates, conversions, and review trends via dashboards.

Ongoing Optimization Tips

Conduct audits quarterly and update content for local events. Link to our local SEO services for professional help.

FAQs

SEO Strategy in 2026: Mastering Content, AI Visibility, and Agentic Search

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 13:20:31 GMT

Create authoritative, structured content that answers user intent directly while being easy for AI systems to parse and trust.
Earn visibility in AI answers through Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), schema markup, and consistent E-E-A-T signals-brands cited in AI results see 35% higher organic CTR.
Prepare for agentic search by making your site machine-readable so AI agents can research, compare, and act (book, buy, recommend) on behalf of users-the agentic AI market hits $8.5 billion in 2026 with 75% enterprise adoption.
Local businesses win big: Complete Google Business Profiles feed AI discovery, driving up to 45% more customer requests while traditional rankings alone are no longer enough.

In 2026, SEO is no longer just about ranking on Google’s “10 blue links.” Search engines have evolved into AI-powered answer engines and autonomous agents that discover, summarize, and even complete tasks for users. Successful local businesses must excel at three pillars: creating the right content, earning visibility inside AI-generated answers, and preparing for agentic search. This guide shows exactly how, with practical examples and tactics tailored for local companies.

Creating the Right Content for 2026 Success

High-quality content remains the foundation, but 2026 demands content that satisfies both humans and AI systems. AI search engines now prioritize clarity, originality, and demonstrated expertise over keyword density.

Building E-E-A-T and Original Insights

Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness (E-E-A-T) are non-negotiable. AI models heavily weight first-hand experience, author credentials, and third-party citations. A simple example: a local plumber writing “We fixed 47 emergency leaks last winter in Springfield-here’s the exact process” outperforms generic “how to fix a leak” articles. Include real case studies, photos, and client quotes. Brands are 6.5× more likely to be cited when mentioned by trusted third-party sources.

Structuring Content for Humans and Machines

Use clear headings, short paragraphs, bullet points, tables, and direct answers at the top of sections. Add FAQ schema and HowTo schema so AI can extract information instantly. For local businesses, hyper-local content (e.g., “Roof Repair in Springfield After Heavy Rain 2026”) performs exceptionally well. Learn more about mastering on-page signals for local dominance in our guide: Mastering On-Page Signals for Local Search Dominance in 2026 .

Targeting Conversational Intent and Long-Tail Queries

Users now speak naturally: “Best roofer near me who can fix storm damage this week.” Create comprehensive, intent-focused guides instead of thin pages. Our full SEO services help local businesses build these authority pieces: Local SEO Services .

Earning Visibility in AI Answers

AI Overviews and tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Gemini now handle discovery for millions. Visibility here is measured by citations and mentions, not just rankings. Organic CTR drops 61% when an AI Overview appears, but brands cited inside it enjoy 35% higher click-through rates.

Implementing Structured Data and Schema Markup

Rich snippets, LocalBusiness schema, and Review schema make your data instantly understandable to AI. Local businesses with properly marked-up service pages appear in AI local recommendations up to 30× more often than those relying on rankings alone.

Optimizing for Citation and Answer Engine Optimization (AEO)

Write in clear, factual language. Lead with direct answers, back claims with sources, and maintain consistent brand sentiment across the web. Optimize your Google Business Profile aggressively-it directly feeds AI answers for local queries. See our latest tips: Optimizing Google Business Profiles for Organic GEO and AI Search and Is Google Business Profile Important for AI Discovery? .

Leveraging Local Assets for AI Trust

Photos, recent reviews, and consistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone) data across directories boost AI confidence. A complete GBP can increase AI-recommended visits dramatically compared to incomplete profiles.

Preparing for Agentic Search

Agentic search is the biggest shift: AI agents don’t just answer-they research options, compare prices, check availability, and complete transactions.

Technical Foundations for Machine Readability

Ensure your site is fast, mobile-first, accessible, and uses clean HTML with proper headings and schema. AI agents crawl and act on structured data far more reliably than plain text.

Enabling Actions and Transactions

Clear pricing tables, real-time availability, click-to-call buttons, and booking forms help agents execute tasks. For a local roofing company, structured service data like “Roof Repair - $450–$850 - Same-Day Quote” makes it easy for an agent to recommend and schedule you.

Maintaining Data Freshness and Consistency

Update hours, inventory, and offers in real time. Consistent information across your site, GBP, and directories prevents agents from discarding you as unreliable.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is Google Business Profile Important for AI Discovery?

Sat, 14 Mar 2026 09:02:05 GMT

Quick Summary

AI discovery tools (like Google Gemini and ChatGPT) pull most local business info straight from Google Business Profiles.
A complete GBP can make you 70% more likely to be visited and show up in AI answers.
48% of local searches lead to a GBP interaction within 24 hours.
Businesses with photos and regular updates get 45% more directions and 31% more website clicks.
Small steps like adding photos, collecting reviews, and keeping info fresh help both Google search and AI recommend you.
Master Roof in Milford, MA is a perfect example of a local business winning with a strong profile.

AI discovery is simply the way smart tools like Google Gemini, ChatGPT, or Perplexity answer questions such as “Who does roof repair near me?” without you scrolling through pages of links.

These tools don’t guess - they read trusted data across the internet and create a short, helpful answer in seconds.

How AI Tools Find Local Businesses

They check structured data (easy-to-read info like address, hours, services).
They look at reviews, photos, and recent updates.
Google’s own AI (Gemini and AI Overviews) especially loves data from Google Business Profiles because it’s verified and up-to-date.

The Role of Google’s Data in AI Answers

Google’s AI Overviews now appear in many searches and often pull facts directly from your Google Business Profile. Other AI tools also trust Google data heavily, so a strong profile helps you show up everywhere.

Why Google Business Profile Is Crucial for AI Discovery

Your Google Business Profile (the free listing that shows on Google Maps and search) is no longer just a map pin - it’s one of the main sources AI uses to recommend businesses.

If your profile is incomplete or outdated, AI may skip you or give wrong information. If it’s full and active, AI loves to feature you.

How GBP Feeds AI Overviews

When someone asks an AI a local question, Google’s system checks your profile for:

Exact services
Hours
Photos
Reviews
Then it creates an answer like “Master Roof in Milford has great storm damage repair and 5-star reviews.”

Stats That Show the Impact

Businesses with complete profiles are 70% more likely to get visits.
Profiles with photos see 45% more direction requests.
78% of consumers now discover local businesses through AI-generated recommendations.

Real Example: Master Roof in Milford, MA

Master Roof is a family-owned roofing company at 2 Main St, Milford, MA. They serve the entire state with roof replacement, storm damage repair, skylight fixes, and more.

Their strong Google Business Profile helps AI recommend them because:

Clear services listed (roof repair, insurance claims, GAF roofing)
Regular photos of real jobs
Link to their Google reviews page showing honest 5-star feedback
Consistent info that matches their website

When someone in Milford or nearby asks “best roof repair near me,” AI tools can confidently pull Master Roof’s details and show their profile - bringing more calls and estimates.

What Small Business Owners Can Do to Improve SEO and AI Discoverability

The good news? You don’t need a big budget. Here are simple, free or low-cost steps that work for both regular Google search and AI tools.

Claim and Fully Complete Your Google Business Profile

Make sure every section is filled: description, services, hours, attributes (like “woman-owned” or “financing available”), and service areas. Incomplete profiles get skipped by AI.

Add High-Quality Photos and Regular Posts

Upload clear photos of your work, team, and happy customers. Post weekly updates (specials, before/after shots, tips). Profiles with photos get way more attention from both people and AI.

Create Special Posts for Offers and Promotions

Use the free “Offers” feature in Google Posts to spotlight time-limited deals, discounts, or packages. These posts show up right in Google Search and Maps. AI tools love fresh offer data, so they’re more likely to recommend you when someone asks about current specials. Master Roof could easily post “$500 off full roof replacement this month” and watch AI pick it up.

List Events to Boost Local Visibility

Create events directly in your Google Business Profile - things like “Free Roof Inspection Day,” workshops, or community giveaways. Events appear prominently on Maps and in local searches. AI tools notice active community businesses, so this is an easy way to get recommended for “events near me” or “roofing workshops in Milford.”

Add Products and Detailed Services

Fill out the Products or Services section with photos, short descriptions, and prices when possible. This turns your profile into structured data that AI can read instantly. When someone asks “roofing cost near me,” tools like Gemini can pull your exact offerings instead of guessing.

Use Q&A and Enable Messaging

Proactively answer common questions in the Q&A section (e.g., “How long does roof replacement take?”). Turn on messaging so customers can chat directly. Higher engagement and quick responses send strong signals to Google and AI that your business is responsive and trustworthy.

Collect and Respond to Reviews

Ask every happy customer to leave a Google review. Reply to all reviews quickly - even the 1-star ones. AI reads recent reviews to answer questions like “Is this roofer reliable?”

Keep Your Information Consistent Everywhere

Use the exact same name, address, and phone number on your website, Facebook, Yelp, and directories. AI gets confused by mismatches.

Create Helpful Content on Your Website

Write short blog posts or pages answering common questions (like Master Roof’s articles on “common roof repairs in MA” or their roofing cost calculator ). Link them from your GBP. This helps AI understand exactly what you do.

Frequently Asked Questions About Google Business Profile and AI Discovery

Ready to make your business easier for AI (and real customers) to find? Start with your Google Business Profile today.

If you’re in Massachusetts and need roof help, check out Master Roof in Milford - they’re a great local example of getting this right! Visit masterroof.com or search them on Google Maps.

Questions? Drop a comment below or contact us . We’re happy to help!

Optimizing Google Business Profiles for Organic GEO and AI Search

Sat, 21 Feb 2026 12:19:27 GMT

Accurate and consistent core information builds trust with Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) and AI algorithms, ensuring your business appears in relevant local searches.
Precise categories and service listings help match user intent, boosting rankings in map packs and AI recommendations.
Compelling descriptions, posts, and Q&A sections provide rich data for AI summarization and improve organic discoverability.
Authentic photos and videos enhance GEO signals and user engagement, leading to more directions and calls.
Consistent reviews and responses signal prominence, with AI favoring fresh, detailed feedback.
Use tools like ChatGPT for efficient optimization, identifying gaps and refining strategies.
Steer clear of common errors like inconsistencies or inactivity to maintain long-term visibility.
Regular updates prepare your profile for evolving AI trends, driving sustained growth.

Establishing a Strong Foundation with Accurate Information

A solid Google Business Profile (GBP) starts with precise, verifiable details that align with Google's algorithms for relevance and trust. This foundation prevents confusion in GEO searches and ensures AI systems deliver accurate recommendations.

NAP Uniformity and Contact Details

Ensure Name, Address, and Phone (NAP) details are identical online. Include accurate emails and define service areas to match users in nearby regions. Inconsistencies can erode trust; verified businesses receive over 21,643 views annually in Google searches.

Up-to-Date Hours and Attributes

Keep operating hours current, including holidays, and add attributes like payment methods, accessibility, and amenities. This supports AI filtering for queries like "open now," improving visibility in real-time searches.

Optimizing Categories and Service Listings for Relevance

Categories and services act as semantic anchors, guiding AI to map your business to specific user queries and enhancing GEO targeting.

Primary and Secondary Category Selection

Choose a precise primary category, such as "Emergency Dentist" over "Dentist," and add up to nine relevant secondary ones. Avoid broad or unrelated categories to prevent diluting expertise; GBP signals account for 32% of Local Pack rankings.

Detailed Service and Product Listings

List offerings accurately, aligning with your website to avoid overextension. Use natural descriptions that explain services, targeting local intent-for instance, a plumber listing "24/7 Leak Repair in Seattle" captures high-intent searches.

Keyword Mapping and Website Integration

Incorporate local keywords naturally, backed by dedicated site pages. This boosts topical authority; for example, link services to local SEO strategies (/local-seo-strategies) on your site for better AI verification.

Crafting Compelling Descriptions and Content

Descriptions and updates provide natural language data that AI uses for summaries, while keeping your profile dynamic for GEO visibility.

Business Description Best Practices

Write clear, engaging sentences explaining services, audience, and area served. Focus on user intent without stuffing keywords; aim for a professional tone that answers common questions, like highlighting eco-friendly practices for a salon.

Google Posts and Regular Updates

Post at least twice monthly with news, offers, or tips. These signal activity; over 60% of local searches lead to Maps interactions before website visits. For example, a restaurant posting "Weekend Brunch Specials" drives engagement.

Q&A Optimization and Enhancements

Manage Q&A by seeding common questions with keyword-optimized answers. Add highlights and attributes to enrich semantics, aligning with AI local ranking factors (/google-ai-local-ranking-factors-how-to-win-local-search-in-2026).

Harnessing Authentic Visuals for Engagement

High-quality media confirms your business's real-world presence, strengthening GEO signals and aiding AI in extracting details.

Original Content and Media Types

Use genuine photos of storefronts, staff, and services instead of stock images. Include geotagged elements; profiles with visuals see higher interaction rates.

Photos, Videos, and Specifications

Upload profile photos (250x250 px), cover photos (1080x608 px), and videos (720p, up to 30 seconds). Short clips of services, like a mechanic demonstrating repairs, boost mobile appeal.

360° Tours and Update Strategy

Add high-res panoramas for immersion. Update monthly; authentic media increases direction requests by confirming legitimacy in AI results.

Driving Review Momentum and Interactions

Reviews provide dynamic prominence signals, with AI prioritizing ongoing, detailed feedback and responsive businesses.

Review Acquisition and Velocity

Encourage steady reviews over volume; aim for specifics like services or locations. Businesses get about 595 calls yearly from verified profiles.

Timely and Personalized Responses

Reply within 24-48 hours, referencing details politely. For a negative review, acknowledge the issue and offer resolution, reinforcing trust.

Impact on Rankings and AI

Fresh reviews with context help AI categorization; track metrics like replies for stronger signals, as seen in local citations' role (/how-important-are-local-citations-for-ai-discovery-of-local-businesses-in-2026).

Leveraging AI Tools for Optimization

AI assistants like ChatGPT accelerate GBP refinement, offering insights on gaps and strategies tailored to GEO and AI search.

Structured Prompts and Process

Role-play as an SEO expert; input details for recommendations on categories, descriptions, and posts. For example, prompt for competitor gaps in a bakery's profile.

Implementation and Tips

Apply suggestions section-by-section, re-optimizing every 3-6 months. Cross-reference with guidelines; AI visibility is 3-30x harder than traditional local search.

Comparing Approaches

AI with prompts outperforms generic methods; combine with manual checks for compliance.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Neglecting key areas can undermine visibility; addressing these maintains credibility in competitive GEO and AI landscapes.

Outdated or Inconsistent Information

Regular audits prevent trust loss; inconsistencies lead to negative reviews and reduced AI confidence.

Incorrect Categories and Overloading

Broad selections dilute signals; focus on relevance to avoid misaligning with user intent.

Ignoring Reviews and Inactivity

Unresponded feedback signals abandonment; regular posts and visuals are essential for freshness.

Preparing for Evolving AI and GEO Trends

As search becomes more conversational, prioritize actionable content and regular refreshes to adapt to algorithm shifts.

Regular Refreshes and Engagement

Update every 3-6 months; active profiles thrive in AI ecosystems, driving conversions.

Future-Proof Strategies

Emphasize clear data and e-commerce integration; explore AI hallucinations prevention (/are-ai-hallucinations-real) for reliable visibility.

Ready to optimize? Contact us (/contact-us) for expert GBP help.

For more:

Winning Local Search with AI (/local-search-rankings-in-the-world-of-ai)
2026 Local Search Factors (/google-ai-local-ranking-factors-how-to-win-local-search-in-2026)

Frequently Asked Questions

Google & AI Local Ranking Factors: How to Win Local Search in 2026

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 17:35:22 GMT

The New Reality of Local Search in 2026

Local businesses in 2026 face a transformed landscape where AI Overviews appear in over 70% of searches and tools like ChatGPT or Perplexity deliver instant recommendations. Classic tactics such as Google Business Profile optimization and backlinks remain important, but success now demands blending them with AI-savvy strategies that position your business as the clear top choice in generated answers.

Key Local Ranking Factors in 2026

Experts agree that certain signals dominate both traditional local packs and AI responses. Drawing from Whitespark’s 2026 Local Search Ranking Factors report, BrightLocal insights, Neil Patel’s LLM analysis, and Uberall data, these weighted factors provide a practical roadmap for visibility across all platforms.

Google Business Profile Optimization (32% Weight)

Complete every section of your GBP with precision, including primary and secondary categories, detailed services, geo-tagged photos, regular posts, and accurate hours. This digital storefront remains the strongest single signal for both local packs and AI selections.

Customer Reviews as Power Players (20% Weight)

Prioritize volume, quality, recency, and positive sentiment while weaving in relevant keywords. Respond to every review promptly and maintain authenticity across Google, Yelp, Facebook, and other sites—AI tools actively scan these for trustworthiness.

On-Page Optimization and Schema Markup (15% Weight)

Build hyperlocal content on service and location pages while adding structured data markup. This combination helps search engines and AI systems quickly understand and cite your business.

Behavioral and Engagement Signals (13% Weight)

Drive clicks, longer dwell times, direction requests, and conversions through fast-loading sites and clear calls to action. These real-user interactions signal to both Google and AI that your business is popular and reliable.

NAP Consistency and Online Trust

Keep your name, address, phone number, website, hours, and descriptions identical everywhere online. Even small discrepancies make AI hesitate to recommend you, undermining credibility across the board.

Hyperlocal Content for Intent Matching

Create pages and posts that directly answer natural queries such as “Best roofer for Massachusetts winters” or “Car accident lawyer with 5-star reviews in Dedham, MA.” This alignment with real user intent boosts both traditional rankings and AI citations.

Earning Mentions and “Best Of” Features

Secure features in local news, “best of” lists, and industry blogs. These unstructured mentions carry extra weight in AI responses because they demonstrate genuine prominence beyond standard directories.

Traditional Local SEO Tactics That Remain Essential

Core local SEO principles have not disappeared-they have simply become more competitive. Google’s algorithm continues to evaluate relevance, proximity, and prominence, with on-the-ground signals still carrying heavy influence according to expert consensus.

The Core Pillars (Relevance, Proximity, Prominence)

Match search terms precisely, appear close to the searcher’s location (especially for “near me” queries), and build overall reputation through reviews and citations. These timeless foundations underpin every successful local strategy.

Mastering GBP and On-Page Elements

Treat your Google Business Profile as your primary digital storefront by optimizing categories, services, and photos while keeping on-page titles, headings, and content keyword-focused without stuffing. Proximity personalization based on user history further refines results.

Leveraging Reviews and Citations

Focus on steady review velocity, detailed text, and photo-rich entries. High-quality citations from local directories and authoritative backlinks strengthen prominence, but always prioritize quality over sheer quantity.

How AI is Reshaping Local Search and Recommendations

Google and large language models no longer simply rank pages-they synthesize answers and recommendations from your entire online footprint. Users now ask conversational questions, forcing businesses to think beyond keywords.

Focus on E-E-A-T and Consistency

Demonstrate Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness through detailed bios, case studies, and community involvement. Consistent NAP data and clear descriptions across every platform give AI the confidence to recommend you.

From Rankings to Recommendations

AI often returns shortlists, pros-and-cons breakdowns, or a single top pick rather than long link lists. It cross-checks sources for consensus, so any inconsistency or lack of proof dramatically reduces your chances of being featured.

Blended Core Ranking Factors for SEO and AI Success

The most effective approach merges traditional pillars with AI requirements into four unified factors that work across both environments.

Relevance – Matching User Queries

Align GBP categories, services, and dedicated location pages with exact search intent. For AI, emphasize urgency, hyperlocal context, and even multilingual support to match full-sentence questions.

Prominence – Building Reputation

Accumulate diverse reviews, press mentions, and “best of” features. AI places extra value on unstructured citations in blogs and news because they signal authentic recognition.

Trust and Entity Strength

Maintain flawless Name, Address, Website consistency, identical descriptions, real photos, project examples, and comprehensive schema markup. Adding credentials and ownership details further strengthens E-E-A-T signals that AI loves.

User Engagement and Behavioral Signals

Optimize for clicks, dwell time, mobile speed, and interactive GBP elements like videos. These metrics tell both Google and AI that visitors genuinely love and trust your business.

Practical Strategies to Optimize Beyond the Basics

Traditional tactics establish presence; AI tactics establish credibility and clarity. Use this checklist to move ahead of competitors in both traditional rankings and AI-generated answers.

Supercharge Your Google Business Profile

Post weekly updates, upload fresh photos and videos, and answer common questions in a conversational tone that mirrors how people query AI tools. Make booking and payments easy for AI agents. If your business takes appointments use tools like Calendly (for booking tim es), OpenTable (for reservations), Square, or Stripe (for payments). Some platforms support full booking or payment in one quick step. See list below:

Claim and Fully Complete Your Google Business Profile
Add High-Quality Photos, Videos and Regular Posts
Create Special Posts for Offers and Promotions
List Events to Boost Local Visibility
Setup Online Booking and Payments
Add Products and Detailed Services
Enable Messaging

Build Authentic and Detailed Reviews

Encourage customers to share specific stories mentioning services and locations. Respond to every review and diversify across platforms to strengthen sentiment signals.

Chase Unstructured Mentions

Go beyond directory listings by pitching for local news features, event coverage, and “best of” lists-these carry significant weight in AI recommendations.

Implement Comprehensive Schema Markup

Add LocalBusiness, Service, Review, Area of Service and FAQ schema to every relevant page. This structured data makes your information instantly machine-readable for AI overviews.

Create Hyperlocal, AI-Friendly Content

Write scannable pages with short paragraphs, bullets, and FAQs on timely topics such as “2026 Roof Replacement Costs in MA” or “What to Expect at Your First Chiropractor Visit.” Tie content to local weather, regulations, and culture.

Prove Expertise with Supporting Assets

Publish case studies, before-and-after galleries, transparent pricing guides, and comparison articles. These proof elements give AI concrete reasons to cite you as the expert choice.

Dominate Multiple Platforms

Maintain consistent profiles on Apple Maps, social channels, and industry directories. Tools that track entity recognition help ensure AI sees you as a unified, trustworthy brand.

Monitor AI-Specific Metrics

Shift focus from pure rankings to Search Console impressions, AI tool referrals, and branded search growth. Regularly test real queries in Google Overviews and other LLMs to identify and close visibility gaps.

Traditional tactics deliver presence and relevance; AI tactics deliver credibility, clarity, and consensus. When the entire web agrees you are top-tier, AI will echo that verdict every time.

Local Search Ranking Factors for 2026 for AI and SEO Optimization

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 01:07:29 GMT

In 2026, local search rankings are no longer just about adding keywords or building backlinks.

Google (and AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and AI Overviews) are now trying to answer a single, dominant question:

“Is this local business real, trusted, popular, and relevant for this searcher right now?”

What Matters Most for Local SEO in 2026?

Local SEO today has 3 major “game boards” where results are shown: Local Pack, Local Organic and AI Discovery. The following is an example of each.

1. Local Pack / Maps (The 3-map results)

The Google 3-Pack is the map section that appears near the top of search results and highlights three nearby businesses. It shows key details like the business name, star rating, review count, hours, and buttons to call, get directions, or visit the website. Businesses rank here mainly based on proximity, relevance, and prominence (reputation). The most important ranking factors are: Google Business Profile (GBP) signals, Reviews, and Website (On-Page) signals.

2. Local Organic (The regular website results)

Organic local search results are the regular website listings (not the map) that Google shows for searches with local intent, such as “roof replacement near me” or “Dedham car accident lawyer.” These rankings are driven mostly by traditional SEO signals - strong page content, keywords, backlinks, site quality, and location relevance. The most important ranking factors are: Website (On-page) signals, Links, and Behavioral signals.

The best page that fits the ranking criteria for "roofing company showing case studies in MA" is the roof replacement case study page on the Master Roof website.

3. AI Overviews (The summary at the top of Google Search results)

Google AI Overviews are AI-generated, concise summaries at the top of Google Search results, designed to answer complex queries directly using information from across the web. Powered by Gemini, they provide quick, summarized answers with citations for deeper exploration. The most important ranking factors for AI Overview and Discovery are:

Website (On-page) signals
Reviews
Citations (Mentions)

Google’s AI Overview is pulling text, links, and images directly from this Canvas n Cup article , proof that a detailed, thorough blog post can earn real visibility in AI-driven search results.

3. AI Discovery (ChatGPT, Gemini, Grok, etc.)

AI-discoverability is how easily your business can be found and recommended by AI search tools (like Google AI Overviews, ChatGPT, Bing Copilot, and voice assistants). It depends on having clear, consistent, trustworthy information across your website, Google Business Profile, reviews, directories, and reputable mentions so AI can confidently understand who you are, what you offer, and where you serve. The most important ranking factors for AI Discovery are:

Website (On-page) signals
Reviews
Citations (Mentions)

Interestingly, most AI platforms were unable to read reviews directly from Google. Instead, they initially pulled review data from Avvo.com. However, once we specifically prompted the platforms to look for Google Reviews, Jason Ranallo appeared first - largely because his Google reviews are embedded directly on the Jason Ranallo Personal Injury Lawyer homepage. In addition, the website includes a dedicated Testimonials page , which further reinforces positive review sentiment and gives AI multiple trusted sources to reference. Together, these elements make Jason Ranallo’s reputation easier for AI platforms to discover, understand, and surface in results.

ChatGPT Example

Grok Example

Each of these seach types have different search algorithms, so you don’t rank the same way in all three.

But the good news is: the same core work improves all of them - just with different priorities.

This is what’s reflected in the Whitespark 2026 Local Search Ranking Factors , based on a survey of 47 local SEO experts analyzing 187 factors , including the new category: AI search visibility.

This ranking is a weighted blend of signals from the following:

How is the Ranking for a Local Business Calculated?

Local ranking is not a simple formula.

Instead, Google weighs dozens of signals depending on:

what the searcher types
where they are located
what device they’re on
business category
local competition
what appears most trustworthy and useful

Local ranking factors can be categorized in 9 groups:

Local ranking in 2026 is about proving the following:

You’re the most relevant business
People choose you
People trust you
Other websites mention you
Your info is consistent everywhere
 Your content gives the best answers

Need help? Want to do a deeper dive into how to make your website perform better on searches? Don't hesitate to send us a message.

How Important Are Local Citations for AI Discovery of Local Businesses? (2026 Guide)

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 01:06:44 GMT

Introduction

AI-driven search is changing the rules of local marketing.

Today, customers don’t always browse search results. They ask AI questions like:

“Best roof replacement company near me”
“Where can I get IV therapy nearby?”
“Best massage therapist open now”

And instead of clicking websites, they often get direct answers-including a short list of recommended businesses.

This creates a huge shift in what local SEO success looks like:

If AI is choosing the businesses it recommends… is it choosing yours?

What “AI Discovery” Means for Local Businesses

AI discovery means your business is:

recognized as a real business entity
validated consistently across multiple sources
clearly described (services, categories, location)
trusted (reviews + prominence signals)
active and current (fresh updates, accurate hours)

AI systems don’t trust marketing claims.

They trust repeated confirmation across reputable sources.

That’s why citations play a bigger role now than ever.

Why Local Citations Matter More in the AI Era

1) Citations act like “identity verification”

AI’s main challenge isn’t finding businesses-it’s confirming which business information is true.

Citations help verify name, address, phone number, hours, categories, services, and website details.

When these match across the web, AI becomes confident.

When they don’t match, AI becomes uncertain-and uncertain businesses rarely get featured.

2) Citations help AI connect your entity across platforms

AI systems “map” businesses like entities in a knowledge graph.

Citations connect your business across:

Google Business Profile
Apple Maps
Bing Places
Yelp
Facebook
chamber directories
industry directories
data aggregators

This creates a clean, consistent identity footprint—the exact kind of footprint AI prefers.

3) Citations influence “no-click” local recommendations

Local search is becoming winner-takes-most.

AI and local interfaces often surface just a few businesses to call, visit, or compare.

If you’re not consistently present and validated, you won’t be in that shortlist.

The AI Visibility Triangle: Citations + GBP + Reviews

Citations alone aren’t enough.

In 2026, AI discovery is shaped by three major forces:

Citations = entity verification
Google Business Profile = intent matching + current details
Reviews = trust + prominence signals

The right tools don’t just submit directories—they strengthen the entire triangle.

Deep Comparison: Local Directory Tools That Impact AI Discovery

1) Synup Presence

Best for: SMBs and agencies that want scalable listings management with automation.

Strengths: 75+ directories, duplicate suppression, automated listing updates, automated indexing, AI local posting.

Why it supports AI discovery: blends entity certainty with freshness signals through ongoing AI posting.

2) Semrush Local

Best for: agencies and marketing teams who want citations + local SEO performance tools.

Strengths: listings management, audits, reporting, and GBP AI Agent.

Why it supports AI discovery: supports consistent optimization activity, increasing the signals AI uses to validate and recommend businesses.

3) Yext

Best for: multi-location brands needing strict consistency and control.

Strengths: Knowledge Graph structured business info, fast updates, duplicate suppression, single source of truth.

Why it supports AI discovery: reduces entity confusion and boosts structured certainty across the web.

4) Uberall

Best for: franchises and large multi-location organizations.

Strengths: listings management at scale, reviews/reputation, analytics across locations.

Why it supports AI discovery: improves both verification and prominence signals (reviews and responsiveness).

5) Whitespark Listings Service

Best for: citation cleanup and done-for-you citation building (quality first).

Strengths: cleanup/corrections, manual citation building, high-quality directories, authority expertise.

Why it supports AI discovery: improves trust, accuracy, and authority signals that AI systems rely on.

6) Neustar / Localeze (Data Aggregator Layer)

Best for: strengthening upstream business data distribution into the local ecosystem.

Many directories don’t manually verify businesses—they pull from aggregators.

Neustar/Localeze has historically played a role in distributing standardized business data and resolving inconsistencies.

Why it matters for AI discovery:

AI depends on consensus across sources. Aggregators influence that consensus by feeding multiple platforms consistent data.

If upstream data is wrong, incorrect info spreads widely and may create duplicates—reducing AI confidence and visibility.

Summary: Which One Should You Choose?

Best affordable AI citations + automation: Synup Presence
Best agency local SEO stack (citations + reporting + AI GBP help): Semrush Local
Best enterprise entity control: Yext
Best franchise/multi-location dominance: Uberall
Best citation cleanup + quality done-for-you: Whitespark Listings Service
Best upstream ecosystem correction: Neustar/Localeze

AI Discovery Checklist (Local Businesses)

Audit citations for NAP consistency (Name, Address, Phone).
Remove duplicate listings and outdated addresses/phone numbers.
Update and complete Google Business Profile (services, categories, hours, attributes).
Ensure Apple Maps and Bing Places are accurate.
Publish weekly updates/photos/offers to GBP to improve freshness signals.
Collect reviews consistently and respond to all reviews.
Strengthen location pages on your website with NAP blocks, embedded maps, and local content.
Add structured data: LocalBusiness schema + FAQ schema.
Earn local authority mentions (chamber listings, sponsorship pages, nonprofits, local press).
Consider aggregator-level correction (Localeze) if business info is widespread/inaccurate.

Internal Link Recommendations

Google Business Profile Optimization Guide
Review Generation Strategy (Templates + Process)
How to Build Location Pages That Rank
LocalBusiness Schema Implementation Guide
AI Overviews + Local Search Strategy Guide

FAQs

AI Hallucinations Explained: What They Are, Why They Happen & How to Avoid Them

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 22:36:05 GMT

What are AI Hallucinations?

An AI hallucination happens when an artificial intelligence system generates information that sounds correct but is not based on real data, verifiable sources, or the content it was given. The key issue is confidence - hallucinations are often delivered as facts, even when they are false.

AI hallucinations happen when AI “fills in the blanks” and makes something up — kind of like seeing shapes in the clouds. It usually happens because the training data isn’t perfect, contains bias, or the model is too complex and makes the wrong assumptions.

Hallucinations vs. Incorrect Data

Hallucinations and incorrect data are related but not the same thing.

Hallucinations occur when the AI invents information that does not exist or is not supported by the input. Incorrect data happens when the AI repeats information from a source that is outdated, incomplete, or wrong.

In simple terms:

Hallucination: The AI makes it up.
Incorrect data: The AI repeats bad input.

Why AI Hallucinates

AI models do not verify truth the way humans do. They predict language based on patterns. When information is missing, unclear, or contradictory, the model may fill in the gaps with something that sounds reasonable. This is why hallucinations are more common when users ask for very specific facts without providing reliable sources.

How to Reduce AI Hallucinations

You can significantly reduce hallucinations by:

Requiring answers to be based only on provided sources
Asking the AI to cite or quote its sources
Allowing the AI to say 'not found' or 'unknown'
Using retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) with trusted documents
Adding a verification or fact-checking step

Example of Real-Life Hallucination:

I gave Chat GPT this prompt:

Can you recommend a great paint party experience in Cambridge, MA?
And it gave me the following company name and pictures.

I responded: Funny, you displayed pictures from a different company. They belong to Canvas n Cup. Then I got this reply:

Hallucination one: The Painted Burrow is a Bar

Hallucination two: The images belong to two different businesses, one being Canvas-n-Cup.

How often is AI wrong?

Hallucination rates for common AI models.

There is no single universal hallucination rate because it depends on the task (summarization vs. Q&A vs. coding), the prompt, and whether sources are provided. ChatGPT and Claude have the highest hallucination rates as summarized below.

Source: Vectara Hallucination Leaderboard (updated January 5, 2026), summarization faithfulness measured with their HHEM evaluator and a curated document set.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Optimizing Google Business Profiles for Multi-Town Coverage: Strategies for Larger Areas and AI Discoverability

Mon, 19 Jan 2026 01:06:10 GMT

In the competitive digital world of 2026, a robust Google Business Profile (GBP) is crucial for service-based businesses expanding across multiple towns without losing local search relevance. For industries like event planning, roofing, and legal services-where customer proximity drives decisions-strategic GBP optimization can boost visibility in Google's Local Pack and AI-driven searches. This article draws on concrete examples from three Massachusetts-based companies: Canvas N Cup (a paint-and-sip event studio in Westborough serving in-person and virtual clients), Master Roof Contracting (a Milford-based roofing firm covering over 70 towns statewide), and the Law Offices of Jason M. Ranallo P.C. (a Dedham personal injury law firm with an additional Milford meeting spot, assisting clients across Massachusetts towns). We'll explore multi-town expansion tactics, GBP's role in AI discoverability, key AI factors, and optimization steps.

Expanding GBP for Multiple Towns: Balancing Scale and Local Relevance

Service-area businesses (SABs) often operate from a core location but extend services regionally. Google permits hiding addresses and defining service areas, but proximity signals remain key to rankings.

1. Set Up and Verify Service Areas Strategically

Define up to 20 realistic service areas (e.g., cities or ZIP codes) within a two-hour radius to avoid penalties.
Canvas N Cup , based in Westborough, could list nearby towns for in-studio events while leveraging virtual options for broader reach, such as hybrid corporate parties connecting teams in MA and CT.
Master Roof exemplifies this by specifying towns like Framingham, Plymouth, and Taunton, aligning with their statewide roofing repairs and storm damage services.
Jason Ranallo Law , with bases in Dedham and Milford, might add surrounding areas for personal injury cases like car accidents, ensuring coverage for slip-and-fall or dog bite claims across MA towns.

2. Optimize Profile Elements for Local Signals

Maintain NAP (Name, Address, Phone) consistency across platforms.
Choose fitting categories: "Art studio" and "Party planner" for Canvas N Cup's workshops; "Roofing contractor" for Master Roof's repairs; "Personal injury attorney" for Jason Ranallo Law's accident representation.
Add attributes like "Free consultations" for law services or "Virtual services available" for paint parties.
Upload geo-tagged media: Canvas N Cup could share event photos from Westborough sessions; Master Roof, project images from Attleboro repairs; Jason Ranallo Law, infographics on MA accident laws.

3. Leverage Reviews and Localized Content

Solicit town-specific reviews: Canvas N Cup 's 4.9-star feedback often praises virtual team-building; Master Roof's 5-star reviews highlight Milford-area storm fixes; Jason Ranallo Law could encourage testimonials mentioning Dedham consultations.
Create landing pages: E.g., canvasncup.com/virtual-parties for regional events, masterroof.com/roofing-framingham for local repairs, jasonranallolaw.com/car-accidents-dedham for injury claims.

4. Monitor and Manage Multi-Location Tools

For growth, use separate profiles per physical site, like Jason Ranallo Law 's Dedham and Milford spots, managed centrally.

These approaches help firms like these appear in "near me" searches across expanded areas.

The Role of GBP in AI Discoverability

GBP profiles significantly aid AI discoverability in tools like Google's Gemini or ChatGPT, which pull structured data for local recommendations. For queries like "paint parties near Westborough," AI might feature Canvas N Cup's 4.9 ratings and virtual options; "roof repair in Plymouth" could highlight Master Roof's services; "personal injury lawyer in Dedham" may summarize Jason Ranallo Law's free evaluations. This extends visibility beyond traditional results, especially for SABs.

Key Factors AI Considers in GBP Optimization

AI prioritizes:

Completeness and Accuracy: Verified profiles with full details.
Reviews and Sentiment: High ratings like Canvas N Cup 's for engaging events or Master Roof's for reliable repairs.
Entity Optimization: Clear services and locations, e.g., Jason Ranallo Law 's focus on MA accidents.
Multimedia and Engagement: Photos, posts, and Q&As.
Web Integration
Schema-linked sites for better AI indexing.

Location filters persist, so reinforce local ties in multi-town setups.

How to Optimize GBP for AI in 2026

Focus on Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) for natural, helpful content.

1. Enhance Profile for AI Parsing

Use descriptive bios: Canvas N Cup could note "Virtual paint and sip for MA and beyond"; Master Roof, "Statewide roofing in 70+ towns"; Jason Ranallo Law, "MA personal injury help with no upfront fees."
Preempt Q&As: "Do you offer virtual events?" for Canvas N Cup.

2. Boost Reviews and Social Proof

Encourage detailed feedback: Post-event for paint parties, post-job for roofing, post-case for legal wins.

3. Integrate with Website and Schema

Add LocalBusiness schema: List areas on sites like masterroof.com's town pages.

4. Monitor AI Tools and Adapt

Test AI queries and refine based on insights.

By applying these, businesses like Canvas N Cup, Master Roof, and Jason Ranallo Law can expand reach and excel in AI searches.

FAQs

Google Main Algorithm Updates in 2025

Mon, 05 Jan 2026 14:16:00 GMT

Google makes changes to its search algorithm all the time, but in 2025, there were several big updates that website owners and content creators need to know about. Some of these focused on general search quality, while others brought more AI-driven search experiences.

How Often Does the Google Search Algorithm Change?

All the time. Google updates its search algorithm thousands of times every year.

Small updates - daily

Google makes small tweaks almost every day
Most are tiny and go unnoticed
These help fine-tune results, fight spam, and improve relevance

Core updates - a few times a year

Major “Core Algorithm Updates” usually happen 3–4 times per year
These can noticeably impact rankings (up or down)
They affect many sites at once and can take weeks to fully roll out

Spam & quality updates - several times a year

They target:

Spammy tactics
Low-quality content
Manipulative links
These may be announced or quietly rolled out

AI-related changes - ongoing

Google is constantly improving:

AI Overviews
AI Mode
How it understands search intent and content

These changes don’t always come with announcements, but they change how results are displayed

Below is a clear list of the main updates of 2025

1. March 2025 Core Update

Google rolled out its first big core search algorithm change in March 2025. These “core updates” are broad changes that affect many aspects of how Google ranks content.

Sites with helpful, high-quality content tended to do better
Some sites saw changes in rankings even without any site edits

Google tries to reward content that truly helps users, not just content that tries to game the system.

2. June 2025 Core Algorithm Update

The next major update arrived at the end of June. This update continued to refine how Google understands content relevance and usefulness.

Sites with strong authority and expert content often benefited
SEO professionals noticed ongoing ranking shifts that took weeks to settle

3. August 2025 Spam Update

Google rolled out a spam update focused on improving search quality by filtering out low-quality and manipulative tactics.

Less spammy content appeared in rankings
Sites using poor practices saw reduced visibility
Encourages focus on real, helpful content

4. December 2025 Core Update

Google’s third core algorithm adjustment of the year launched on December 11 and finished around December 29, 2025.

Broad, general improvements to search rankings
Re-emphasis on relevance and quality
Ranking volatility for many sites

5. AI Mode in Google Search

In 2025, Google continued to expand its AI features within search, including AI Mode. This allows users to ask complex questions and receive conversational, AI-generated answers.

Users can ask more detailed questions in natural language
Traditional search results may be reshaped by AI responses
SEO now includes optimizing content for AI-generated results

6. AI Overviews Updates

Google’s AI Overviews continued evolving in 2025. These AI-generated summaries appear at the top of search results and aim to answer questions quickly.

AI Overviews may appear more or less often depending on the search
Clear, well-structured content has a better chance of being featured

2025 was a big year for Google search updates. The main takeaway is simple - helpful, trustworthy content still wins, but AI now plays a much bigger role in how people search and see results.

To stay ahead, do the following:

Focus on content written for real people
Build authority and trust in your niche
Answer questions clearly and naturally
Prepare your content for AI-powered search experiences (structured data)

Google Business Profile Changes in 2025

Wed, 31 Dec 2025 13:00:10 GMT

Google Business Profile (GBP) continues to evolve in 2025 with new features that help businesses show up better in Google Search and Maps and improve how customers find them.

2025 brought useful updates to Google Business Profile that make it simpler to:

Communicate quickly with customers (WhatsApp links)
Use AI to answer questions and save time
Manage reviews and business information accurately
Share photos, posts, products, and offers

The big theme this year is better automation and more intuitive tools, especially leveraging AI in order to help local businesses connect with customers and stay visible in search.

Here’s a simple list of the most important changes and updates from this year.

1. WhatsApp Integration for Better Messaging

One big update in 2025 is the ability for businesses to link their Google Business Profile to WhatsApp. This makes it easier for customers to message you instantly and for you to respond quickly.

Why it matters:

Faster customer responses
Better communication can lead to more conversions

2. New AI-Powered Q&A Automation

Google introduced AI-generated answer suggestions for questions on your Business Profile. The system can create quick, helpful replies based on your business details — but you can review and approve them before they go live.

Why it matters:

Saves time answering FAQ.
Helps users get accurate answers faster

3. Discontinuation of the Customer Questions

In late 2025, Google removed the legacy Q&A API, meaning the old way of handling customer questions is going away. It’s being replaced by the new AI responses instead.

Why it matters:

You may not see the old Q&A section anymore
Focus shifts to curated AI answers

4. Better Review Tools

Google improved how businesses can manage reviews, including reporting fake or suspicious reviews more easily.

Why it matters:

Helps protect your reputation
Encourages real customer feedback

5. Enhanced Visual Content Options

Regular Photos, Short Videos, and Posts continue to be important, and in 2025 they remain key ways to attract attention right in search results and Maps. Read the article from

Why it matters:

More visual content can increase engagement
Shows customers what to expect

6. Easier Direct Profile Management

Google made it simpler to access and edit your Business Profile directly from Search without going through a separate dashboard.

Why it matters:

Save time updating info
More control over how your profile appears

7. Suggested Edits from Google

Google sometimes suggests edits to your Business Profile (like address or hours), but these can affect accuracy if accepted without review. Many business owners are now paying closer attention to manage these suggested updates.

Why it matters:

Helps keep info accurate
But be careful - not all auto-suggested edits are correct

8. Local SEO Best Practices Still Important

Although not a feature change itself, SEO pros note that optimizing your profile with:

Accurate categories
Complete business details
Plenty of reviews
Updated posts still boost visibility in local search.

Why it matters:

Better rankings in local “Map Pack” results
More clicks and calls from potential customers

9. AI in Local Search Experience

While not exclusive to Business Profiles, Google’s broader AI enhancements to Search and Maps - like conversational AI and personalized results - also affect how users find local businesses. AI helps tailor results to what people probably want when they search.

Why it matters:

Business profiles may appear in new AI-powered search experiences
Content clarity and accuracy become even more important

Is Google Removing Questions & Answers (Q&A) from GBP?

Wed, 31 Dec 2025 12:47:31 GMT

Google is officially removing the traditional Questions & Answers (Q&A) section from Google Business Profiles as part of a transition toward AI-driven search experiences.

Key details of the phase-out include:

Google discontinued the Q&A API on November 3, 2025. This stopped third-party marketing tools from automatically managing questions and answers.
The public-facing Q&A section began a gradual removal on December 3, 2025. Most business listings are seeing the feature disappear in waves, with full removal expected to take several months.
The static Q&A list is being replaced by an AI-powered "Ask" button (also referred to as "Ask Maps"). Powered by Gemini, this tool generates instant, conversational answers by pulling data from the business's website, description, reviews, and existing profile information.
Business owners are encouraged to export their historical Q&A data manually, as past threads may eventually become inaccessible to the public.

Recommended actions for local businesses

Since AI on Google Search now generates answers based on existing digital information, businesses should focus on these areas to ensure accuracy:

Update the Google Business Profile to ensure all attributes, services, and business descriptions are complete and accurate.
Move popular customer questions to a dedicated FAQ page on the website.
Implement FAQ Schema on the website to help Google's AI easily read and use verified information for search results.
Monitor reviews, as AI heavily weights recent customer reviews when answering user questions, making review management more critical.

What are some strategies for migrating GBP Q&A content?

To migrate your Google Business Profile (GBP) Q&A content effectively, the primary strategy involves exporting existing data and repurposing it on your website, particularly with FAQ schema markup to help Google's AI surface the information.

Content migration and repurposing

Before the feature is fully phased out, manually capture or use third-party tools to export all existing Q&As.
Consolidate the salvaged Q&As into a dedicated Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page on your business website.
Mark up your new website FAQ page with FAQ schema . This structured data helps Google understand the content and makes it eligible for rich results in search, effectively replacing the visibility the GBP Q&A once offered.
Repurpose Across Platforms:
Integrate answers into your general business description and service sections on your website.
Create targeted Google Posts that address key questions and link to detailed pages on your site.
Use the content for social media posts or blog articles.

Foundational optimization strategies

Since Google's AI-driven "Ask Maps" feature will pull information from your entire digital presence, focus on building an authoritative content base.

Fully Complete Your Google Business Profile(GBP) : Ensure every section of your GBP is filled out with comprehensive, accurate, and up-to-date information, including services, hours, booking, and descriptions.
Encourage Keyword-Rich Reviews: Ask satisfied customers to mention specific services, products, and locations in their reviews. Google's AI heavily uses review content for its generated answers.
Ensure Data Consistency : Verify that your business name, address, and phone number and website (NAPW) are consistent across all online directories and review platforms to build credibility. These are also called citations.
Monitor AI's Representation: Regularly search for your business on Google to see how the AI is presenting information and correct any inaccuracies at their source (your website or GBP).

What other content can be repurposed?

In 2025, with Google transitioning toward AI-generated answers, your Google Business Profile (GBP) should be viewed as a central content library. Beyond Q&A, you can repurpose the following assets to feed Google’s AI and improve multi-platform visibility:

1. Google Reviews as social proof

Customer reviews are valuable content. AI uses these to answer user questions.

Website Testimonials: Embed Google reviews on your homepage or a dedicated "Wall of Love" page.
Social Media Graphics: Use quotes from 5-star reviews to create "Image Quotes" for social media.
Video Stories: Convert customer stories from reviews into short videos.

2. Google posts for cross-platform content

Google Posts provide updates to search engines.

Snippet Repurposing: Use excerpts from blog posts as Google Posts to drive traffic to your site.
Social Media Alignment: Repurpose Facebook or LinkedIn posts as Google Posts. While GBP posts have specific formatting, the core message can be the same.
Email Newsletters: Use the text from a Google Post in your email newsletter.

3. Visuals (Photos and Videos)

Visual content helps AI understand your business and offerings.

Short-Form Video: Behind-the-scenes clips or product showcases uploaded to your GBP can be cross-posted on other platforms.
Service Pages: Use images from your "Products" or "Services" section to enhance your website's service landing pages.
Pinterest Pins: Use photos of your storefront or menu items on Pinterest with links to your website.

4. Service and Product Descriptions

Descriptions in your GBP "Services" and "Products" sections are a resource for AI.

Website FAQ Content: Use service details from GBP to build out the "Services" pages on your website.
Meta Descriptions: Use 160 characters from your GBP description as meta descriptions for your website.

Does it matter for NAP if the number is swapped by Call Rail?

Yes, it matters, but it does not negatively impact your SEO as long as you follow industry-standard implementation rules. Modern call-tracking tools like CallRail use Dynamic Number Insertion (DNI), which is specifically designed to maintain NAP (Name, Address, Phone) consistency while providing detailed attribution.

Why DNI Does Not Hurt Name Adress Phone Number Consistency

DNI works by using a JavaScript snippet to swap the phone number on your website only after the page has loaded for a human visitor.

Search Engines see the original number: Google’s crawlers (bots) typically read the static HTML of your page, which still contains your "canonical" (main) business number.
Users see the tracking number: Real people who arrive via specific sources (like an ad or social media) see a unique number from a "pool," allowing you to track that lead.

Best Practices for CallRail and GBP in 2025

To ensure your phone number swap doesn't confuse Google or hurt your rankings, use these standard local SEO configurations:

Google Business Profile (GBP) Settings:
Primary Phone Number: Set your CallRail tracking number here. This ensures you capture call data directly from search results.
Additional Phone Number : Add your main, permanent business line (the one on your other citations) as a secondary number. This creates a link for Google's algorithm to verify your business's identity and maintain NAP consistency.
On-Site Schema: Your website's local business schema should always use your main business number, not a tracking number.
Directory Consistency: Do not use different tracking numbers for every minor directory (Yelp, YellowPages, etc.). Use your main business number for these citations to build a strong, consistent "authority" signal for Google.

By using this "Primary/Secondary" setup on your GBP and DNI on your website, you can track calls effectively without any risk to your local search rankings.

Adapt to gain AI Visibility in 2026

As Google phases out the Q&A section from Business Profiles in favor of AI tools like the "Ask" button, businesses must adapt to maintain visibility. Prioritize optimizing your GBP, migrating Q&A to website FAQs with schema markup, repurposing reviews and visuals across platforms, and using call-tracking like CallRail without harming SEO.

This evolution emphasizes comprehensive digital assets to feed Gemini's responses. In 2026, thrive by treating GBP as an AI hub: invest in interconnected content, monitor representations, and evolve proactively for seamless customer experiences.

How to Make Your Content AI-Friendly

Wed, 24 Dec 2025 21:13:57 GMT

AI search optimization is key to helping your content get seen on new AI-powered search platforms. These systems review content in a different way than old-fashioned search engines, so you need to make your content clear, detailed, and easy for them to handle. Simply adding a few keywords or using basic SEO tricks won't cut it. Instead, your content should be relevant, well-structured, and designed so AI can easily break it down and match it to how they rank and display results.

Read the following content optimizer checklist:

1. Structure Your Content for AI

Make your content easy to read and scan.

Use a strong, clear title.
Break up sections with headings that sound like real questions.
Start with a short summary at the top.
Use bullet points or numbered lists instead of long paragraphs.

A large-scale study of AI Overviews in local search (60,000+ tests) confirmed that structured formatting increased visibility.

2. Embed Semantic Markup

Give search engines extra clues about your content. Semantic markup is a way of writing HTML code for websites that uses specific tags to describe the meaning and purpose of different parts of the content. For example, wrapping a blog post in <article> tells search engines and AI it's a self-contained piece of writing, not just random text.

Add “FAQ” labels if you answer common questions.
Use “How-To” labels for step-by-step guides.
Make sure your page’s title and description match what people are searching for.

Schema markup is cited in Google’s guidelines and research from Whitespark as helping content get pulled into AI-driven search results.

3. Showcase Authority (E-E-A-T)

Show you’re trustworthy and know what you’re talking about. E-E-A-T is a guideline from Google to evaluate the quality of online content. It stands for E xperience, E xpertise, A uthoritativeness, and T rustworthiness.

Add an author bio so people know who wrote it.
Link to trusted websites (like news outlets or government sites).
Link to your own related pages to keep people exploring your site.
Share reviews, testimonials, or success stories from real people.

Google’s Search Quality Rater Guidelines and HubSpot research confirm that credibility, experience, and trust drive stronger AI visibility.

4. Write in an AI-Friendly Style

Use natural, simple language that answers questions clearly.

Write the way you’d explain something to a friend.
Give short, direct answers to common questions.
Add examples or stories so people understand better.
Use a variety of phrases people might search for, but don’t repeat the same keyword too much.

HubSpot’s “AI in Marketing” survey found that the best-performing AI-assisted content is conversational, natural, and human in tone.

5. Enhance User Experience

Make your page easy and enjoyable to use.

Add images, graphics, or charts with short descriptions.
Make sure your website loads quickly and works well on phones.
Add a table of contents on long articles.
End with a clear call-to-action (like “Contact us” or “Book now”).

Local SEO case studies show that mobile optimization, site speed, and strong visuals play a direct role in search performance.

6. Optimize for AI Summaries & Overviews

Format content so AI can grab quick answers.

Put a short “quick answer” under each heading.
Use simple lists (pros/cons, steps, benefits).
End with a FAQ section (including schema coder) that matches how people type questions into Google.

Whitespark’s AI Overviews study highlights that content with FAQs, lists, and direct answers is more likely to be chosen for AI snippets.

Clover Vet Website and Search Engine Optimization

Sat, 18 Oct 2025 16:48:57 GMT

Revamping Clover Vet's Website for Modern Pet Care Excellence

Clover Vet, a beloved veterinary clinic in Clover, South Carolina, has been serving the York County community since its expansion in 2012. Specializing in dogs and cats, the clinic offers comprehensive services including annual exams, vaccinations, surgery, diagnostics, pharmacy, and dental care. With a focus on stress-free visits, preventive health, and treating pets like family, Clover Vet needed a digital presence that reflected its warm, professional ethos.

In 2025, Local Business First , a web design firm recently relocated to Clover, SC, took on the project to redesign Clover Vet's website (https://www.clovervet.com) . Having already built sites for local organizations like the Clover Chamber of Commerce, Clover Alumni Association, and Clover Rotary Club, Local Business First aimed to transform Clover Vet's outdated online platform into a modern, user-friendly hub optimized for search engines and pet owners alike.

The Challenge

The original website for Clover Vet was outdated, with a clunky design that felt stagnant and uninviting. Navigation was cumbersome, making it difficult for users to find essential information quickly. Behind the scenes, the site was challenging to edit and update, limiting the clinic's ability to add fresh content like blog posts or service details. This resulted in poor user engagement and suboptimal search engine performance, as the site lacked modern SEO elements such as keyword integration, mobile responsiveness, and fast-loading pages. In a competitive local market, Clover Vet risked losing potential clients to more digitally savvy competitors.

Key issues included:

Aesthetic Limitations: Dull visuals that didn't capture the fun, caring nature of veterinary care.
Functionality Gaps: Hard-to-manage backend, no easy integration for calls-to-action like appointment requests.
SEO Deficiencies: Minimal optimization, leading to lower visibility in searches for "vet in Clover SC" or "pet vaccinations York County."
User Experience: Non-responsive design that didn't adapt well to mobile devices, alienating on-the-go pet owners.

Our Solution

Local Business First approached the redesign with a focus on simplicity, functionality, and fun. We rebuilt the site using a modern content management system that allows easy edits without technical expertise—empowering Clover Vet's team to update resources and blog posts effortlessly. The new design incorporates a clean, linear layout with Markdown-inspired structuring for readability, ensuring a seamless experience across devices.

Key Design and Features Implemented

Visual Style and Branding: We adopted a fresh, approachable aesthetic with white backgrounds, green accents inspired by the "Clover" name, and playful pet imagery (e.g., dogs with tongues out, puppies in arms). Readable fonts and friendly icons create a warm, inviting feel that aligns with the clinic's family-oriented philosophy.

Layout and Navigation: The homepage serves as a central hub with sections like "Health & Wellbeing" (hero banner with appointment CTA), "Clover Vet - More Than a Veterinarian" (about the clinic), "Veterinarian Services" (linked list of offerings), "What Our Patients Say" (testimonials with pet photos), "New to Clover Vet?" (onboarding info), and "Resources for Pet Owners" (blog previews). Subpages, such as service details (e.g., /annual-visit-exams) and contact (/contact), maintain consistency with text-heavy, list-based content for quick scanning.

Functionality Enhancements:

Integrated call-to-action buttons for appointments (/contact) and direct calls (tel:803-222-7381).
Added a blog section with expandable "Show More" features, allowing easy content addition (e.g., posts on pet obesity and diet dated May 9, 2025).
Ensured mobile-responsiveness for pet owners browsing on phones or tablets.
Simple contact page with address, hours, holiday closings, and no complex forms to keep it lightweight and user-friendly.

SEO Optimizations : We embedded relevant keywords naturally (e.g., "annual exams," "pet obesity," "York County vet") in headings, content, and URLs. Internal linking between services and resources boosts site authority. Descriptive image alt texts and fresh content dates enhance search rankings. The site's fast-loading, simple structure supports better performance in local searches.

The redesign emphasizes education and engagement, with detailed service pages (e.g., annual exams covering vaccinations, parasite screening, diagnostics, and nutrition advice) and blog posts offering actionable tips, like helping pets lose weight through portion control and exercise.

Results and Impact

Post-launch, Clover Vet's website has become a vibrant extension of their clinic. The modern design has improved user dwell time, with intuitive navigation leading to more appointment inquiries. The easy-to-edit backend allows the team to publish timely resources, keeping the site fresh and relevant—evident in 2025 blog updates.

Quantifiable benefits include:

Enhanced Visibility : Optimized for SEO, the site now ranks higher in local searches, driving organic traffic from pet owners in Clover and York County.
Improved User Engagement : Testimonials and fun imagery build trust, while CTAs streamline conversions (e.g., phone calls up by an estimated 20-30% based on similar projects).
Operational Efficiency : The functional CMS reduces update time from hours to minutes, freeing staff for patient care.
Community Connection : As part of Local Business First's local portfolio, the site strengthens Clover Vet's ties to the community, mirroring designs for other Clover organizations.

Feedback from Clover Vet highlights the "fun and functional" transformation, with clients noting the site's ease of use and informative content. The Clover Vet website redesign showcases Local Business First's commitment to empowering local businesses with tailored digital solutions. By addressing pain points and infusing modernity, fun, and SEO smarts, we created a platform that not only represents Clover Vet's exceptional care but also drives growth. If your business needs a similar upgrade, visit https://www.localbizfirst.com to get started.

SEO Isn't Dead. It is Thriving More Than Ever in the World of AI

Sun, 24 Aug 2025 00:25:04 GMT

SEO Isn't Dead - It's Thriving More Than Ever

In today's world, where AI is everywhere, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is more important than ever for getting your business noticed online, building trust, and driving sales.

You've probably heard people say "SEO is dead" over and over. It's a catchy phrase that grabs attention, but it's not true. Search engine optimization (SEO) hasn't disappeared - it's just grown and changed with the times.

Busting the "SEO is Dead" Myth

The old way of doing SEO was simple: follow a checklist, stuff in some keywords, and hope for the best. But the internet isn't simple anymore. Search engines like Google now use AI to understand what people really want when they search.

The goal is still the same - get visible to attract customers - but how you do it has evolved. Businesses that adapt to these changes win more customers and keep them longer.

How SEO Has Evolved: From Basic to Advanced

In the beginning, it it was all about keywords in page titles , descriptions and getting links from other sites. Those basics still help, but they're not enough today.

Then search engines got smarter. They started focusing on the intent behind a search - what the person actually needs to solve their problem - not just the words they type. This meant creating content that's helpful, well-organized, and shows your expertise.

Now we have even a more advanced SEO. It's not just about one webpage ranking high. You need to think about the whole search results page, including AI summaries, quick answers, local business listings, videos, and images. Plus, use special code called schema to help search engines understand and trust your site.

Don't Get Distracted by Fancy New Terms

You might see buzzwords like GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) or AEO (Answer Engine Optimization). They sound cool, but they're not entirely new. They're just extras on top of good old SEO.

Stick to a solid SEO plan, and these can fit right in without confusing things. Chasing trends can waste your time; focus on the basics first.

Google Says SEO Still Counts

Google keeps reminding us: create helpful content, and it'll show up in more places, including their AI features.

If your pages load quickly, answer questions clearly, and prove you're a reliable source, Google will reward you by featuring your site.

Why Many Business Websites Aren't Ready

A lot of websites were built years ago and haven't been updated. They look okay, but they fall short in today's AI-driven searches.

Common issues include:

Thin content that just repeats keywords without real value
Messy site structure that makes it hard for search engines to explore
Weak signals of expertise, experience, authority, and trustworthiness (what Google calls E-E-A-T)
No schema code, so search engines can't easily "see" what your business is about

Fix these like you'd patch a leaky roof, and your site will perform much better.

What is E-E-A-T?

E-E-A-T is Google’s quality framework for evaluating websites and content. It stands for:

Experience

Has the author or site shown first-hand experience with the topic?

Expertise

Is the content written by someone knowledgeable in the subject?

Authoritativeness

Is the site or author recognized as a trusted source?

Trustworthiness

Is the content accurate, transparent, and safe for users?

Here are some ways to demonstrate E-E-A-T

Roofing Service

Experience:

Post before-and-after photos of real roofing projects.
Share short case studies about challenges (e.g., storm damage repairs) and how they were solved.

Expertise:

Write blog posts like “How to Spot Roof Damage Before It Becomes a Problem.”
Create videos showing common roofing issues and maintenance tips.

Authoritativeness:

Display certifications (GAF, Owens Corning, OSHA, etc.).
Highlight memberships in professional organizations (e.g., local Chamber, Better Business Bureau, etc).

Trustworthiness:

Feature verified customer reviews/testimonials with names and towns.
Show licensing and insurance information clearly on the site.

Paint Party Business

Experience:

Share photos and videos of actual parties and events.
Post stories of groups (bachelorettes, birthdays, team-building) who had a great time.

Expertise:

Blog topics like “5 Tips for Hosting the Perfect Paint Party” or “Best Group Activities for Corporate Teams.”
Include profiles of your instructors with their art background.

Authoritativeness:

Showcase press mentions (local news, community calendars, blogs).
Highlight partnerships with local venues or charities.

Trustworthiness:

Understand what your audience is looking for when they land on your page. Are they seeking information, trying to solve a problem, or ready to make a purchase? Tailor your content to meet those needs directly. For example, if someone searches “how to choose a roofing service,” provide a guide with tips and your contact details at the end.

Personal Injury Lawyer

Experience:

Share anonymized case studies: “How we helped a client recover medical costs after a motorcycle accident.”
Post attorney bios with years in practice, education, and types of cases handled.

Expertise:

Write articles like “What to Do Immediately After a Car Accident in Massachusetts.”
Record short videos explaining legal terms or processes in plain English.

Authoritativeness:

Highlight bar association memberships, awards, or recognitions.
Publish articles in local media or legal directories.

Trustworthiness:

Show testimonials (where ethically allowed) with client consent.
Make your fee structure (e.g., contingency basis) clear and transparent.
Include secure contact forms and confidentiality statements.

The New Rules: How to Play (and Win) the Modern SEO Game

We're not throwing out the old rules - we're building on them. Now, SEO is about creating content that works for both people and AI across different formats. It's a bigger opportunity!

Aim for the Whole Search Results Page

Don't just chase one link. Grab space in multiple spots for more visibility:

AI Summaries - Write complete, easy-to-follow answers with sources, steps, and lists.
Quick Answers (Featured Snippets) - Add short, 40–60-word summaries at the top of your pages.
Knowledge Boxes - Use schema for your business details, like name, logo, and FAQs, and keep them consistent everywhere.
Local Listings - Update your hours, services, photos, and encourage reviews.
Videos and Images - Create short videos showing how to do things, with good file names and transcripts.

This way, your business shows up more prominently, leading to more clicks and customers.

What Is Schema?

Schema is special code you add to your website that talks directly to search engines like Google.

Think of it like giving Google a cheat sheet about your business. Instead of guessing what your site is about, Google instantly knows:

Who you are
What you do
Where you’re located
What services or products you offer
What your reviews say

This extra information helps your business show up in better spots on search results, like:

Star ratings under your listing
Local business panels
FAQ dropdowns
Video previews
Event listings

Schema Example 1: Roofer

Without schema:

Google sees “roof repair,” “shingle replacement,” and “Milford” on your page but isn’t 100% sure if you’re a roofing company, a supply store, or a blog.

With schema:

You tell Google: “This is a roofing company located at 123 Main St, Milford, MA.”
You list your services: roof repair, gutter replacement, skylight installation.
You add business hours and customer reviews.

Result:

When someone searches “roof repair near me”, your business has a better chance of showing up in:

Google’s local map pack
Rich results with star ratings and “Open Now” details
AI-generated recommendations

Schema Example 2: Paint Party Business

Without schema:

Google sees words like “paint party,” “fun event,” and “BYOB” but isn’t sure if you sell supplies, teach art classes, or host events.

With schema:

You mark your business as an event-based service.
You add details about your events: dates, prices, group sizes, and booking links.
You include photos and star customer ratings.

Result:

When someone searches “bachelorette paint party near me”, your events can appear:

In Google’s events carousel
In AI overviews with featured photos
With star ratings under your name

Schema Example 3: Personal Injury Lawyer

Without schema:

Google sees “personal injury,” “car accidents,” and “lawyer” but doesn’t know if you’re an attorney, an insurance adjuster, or a legal blog.

With schema:

You specify: “This is a personal injury law firm.”
You list practice areas: car accidents, motorcycle crashes, dog bites.
You add attorney profiles, awards, and office locations.

Result:

When someone searches “best personal injury lawyer near Dedham”, you have a better chance of:

Appearing in local panels with attorney bios
Showing FAQs directly on the results page
Being featured in AI-generated “recommended lawyers” lists

Why Schema Matters

Helps Google understand your business faster
Improves your visibility in search results
Enables rich snippets (FAQs, events, videos)
Boosts your chances of showing up in AI summaries

Bottom Line

Schema doesn’t change how your site looks — it changes how search engines see it.

For a roofer, it highlights services and reviews.
For a paint party business, it highlights events and booking info.
For a personal injury lawyer, it highlights practice areas and credentials.

When done right, schema makes Google trust your website more and gives you more visibility where your customers are searching.

Create Content for What People Really Want

Focus on the problem your customer is trying to solve, not just keywords. Use simple language, step-by-step guides, and proof (like examples or stats).

Build topic clusters - one main page on a subject, linked to supporting pages. This helps visitors find answers fast, makes search engines happy, and boosts your site's reputation.

Use Schema and Structured Data - It's Essential

Schema is like a label that tells search engines exactly what your content is (e.g., a product, how-to guide, or FAQ). Keep it accurate and matching your page.

This helps your site appear in rich features and AI responses, increasing your chances of being seen.

Build Trust and Expertise (E-E-A-T)

Show you're the real deal by creating in-depth guides that cover everything from basics to advanced tips. Include author names, bios, and links to their profiles. Add dates to show freshness.

Back up claims with simple evidence, like a quick stat or screenshot. For example, if you say a tool saves 30% of setup time, explain how you know.

For example, one business added FAQ schema to 80 pages and saw 22% more clicks in a month — that's the power of small, steady changes.

Why Hiring an SEO Agency Makes Sense Now More Than Ever

You can handle some SEO yourself, but a good agency speeds things up and gets better results.

They stay on top of changes, test what works, and tailor a plan for your business. They'll train your team, organize your content, fix technical issues like site speed, and track progress with clear reports.

It's like having an expert partner who helps your wins last.

Winning in the New SEO World

The internet hasn't made SEO obsolete - it’s just raised the bar.

Optimize for the full experience: AI features, traditional links, and everything in between. Write helpful content, prove your expertise, and use clean code. Your business will come across as reliable and useful, attracting more customers.

"SEO is dead" is just hype. The lazy, old-school version is gone, but smart SEO is stronger and better for everyone.

Most websites need an update to keep up - yours probably does too. It's not a criticism; it's an opportunity. With a good plan, you can refresh your site to claim more space in search results and turn that into real business growth.

If you're looking for an SEO partner who cares about your success, we're here to help. We offer straightforward guidance, solid execution, and ongoing support to keep your business visible and thriving.

Long-Term AI SEO Strategy for Your Business

olympia@localbizfirst.com (Olympia Caswell) — Fri, 20 Jun 2025 13:28:28 GMT

How to Build an Effective SEO Strategy for Your Business in World of AI

For local businesses like a pizzeria, a roofing service, or a hair salon Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the key to being found online when customers search for “best pizza in [city]” or “best roofing contractor near me.” In 2025, artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming local SEO, powering smarter search engines and changing how customers discover businesses. This guide offers local business owners a practical, long-term SEO strategy using AI, designed for non-technical users to boost visibility, attract nearby customers, and grow revenue in an AI-driven world.

AI is reshaping local search. Voice assistants like Siri help customers find nearby cafes, while Google’s AI Overviews deliver instant answers tailored to location. Traditional SEO, reliant on basic keywords, no longer cuts it. Search engines now prioritize user intent and context, requiring content that answers specific, local queries.

By leveraging AI tools, local businesses can compete with bigger players, optimize their online presence, and connect with their community.

Understanding AI’s Role in SEO

AI is transforming SEO by changing how search engines understand and present information, making them smarter and more intuitive. Here’s a breakdown for local business owners:

Shift from Keywords to Prompts

Traditionally, SEO was all about keywords—specific words or phrases that users might type into search engines, like “best running shoes 2025.” However, with AI, search engines can now understand the context and intent behind a user’s query, even if it’s phrased differently. For example, users might ask AI chatbots, “I run five miles a day on pavement. What running shoes should I get?” This shift is driven by the rise of AI-driven search experiences, such as ChatGPT, Grok or Google’s AI Overviews, where the average query is longer and more detailed, often comprising 23 words compared to 4.2 words in traditional Google searches.

AI-Driven Search Features

Search engines are integrating AI to provide summarized answers at the top of results, such as Google’s AI Overviews. These summaries compile information from various sources, making it crucial for your content to be comprehensive and relevant enough to be selected. This means your website needs to offer value that AI can pull from, like detailed guides or FAQs , to appear in these summaries.

Longer, More Detailed Queries

Users are asking more specific and detailed questions, especially with AI chatbots. For instance, 70% of ChatGPT queries have “unknown” search intent, meaning they don’t fit traditional categories like informational or transactional searches. This requires content that can address complex needs, such as “How do I choose a roofing service for my historic home?” rather than just “roofing services.”

Local Intent

With 70% of AI chatbot queries having “unknown” intent, customers ask niche questions like “Which salon in [city] does balayage for curly hair?” Your content must address these hyper-local needs. For local businesses, AI-driven SEO means creating content that speaks directly to your neighborhood’s unique demands.

Practical Tips for Local Content Creation

Should I use AI for SEO? Yes, you should consider using AI for SEO, but not as a complete replacement for human expertise and critical thinking. To build a long-term SEO strategy in this AI-driven landscape, focus on the following strategies:

Create In-Depth, High-Quality Content

Summarize content at the top of a weboage or blog post.
Tools like ChatGPT or Grok can help brainstorm topics based on your business niche. For example, ask, “What are common questions people have about roofing services? ” to get a list of potential blog post ideas.
Focus on answering detailed questions that your customers might have. For example, if you run a roofing business, write about “How to spot roof leaks” or “What to expect during a roof replacement. ” This aligns with the trend of longer, conversational queries and helps your content get picked for AI summaries.
Use long-tail keywords, which are more specific and less competitive, to target niche audiences. For instance, “roof repair for older homes” is more targeted than “roof repair.”
Ensure your content is comprehensive, covering all aspects of the topic to provide value.

Optimize for Semantic SEO

What is Semantic SEO? Semantic SEO involves helping search engines understand the meaning behind your content , not just the keywords.

Use related terms and concepts to provide context. For example, if you’re writing about “roofing services,” include terms like “shingle repair,” “gutter installation,” or “roof leaks.” This helps search engines see your content as relevant to a broader range of queries.
To do this, type your target keyword into Google, and it will suggest related words and phrases. Then, incorporate these into your content to improve relevance.

Write for Humans, Not Just Search Engines

Your primary audience is your customers, so write in a natural, conversational tone that engages them. Use storytelling, examples, and clear explanations to make your content relatable. For instance, share a story about how you helped a customer fix a roof leak to build trust.
While optimizing for SEO, remember that AI tools like ChatGPT struggle to create deep analysis or original insights, so focus on firsthand experience and value that AI can’t replicate.

Structure Your Content Well

Use headings, subheadings, bullet points, FAQ, and numbered lists to make your content easy to read and navigate. This helps both readers and search engines understand your content better. For example, structure a blog post with sections like “Signs of Roof Damage,” “Cost Estimates,” and “How We Can Help.”
This structure also aids AI interpret your content for summaries, improving your chances of appearing in AI Overviews.

Incorporate User Intent

Understand what your audience is looking for when they land on your page. Are they seeking information, trying to solve a problem, or ready to make a purchase? Tailor your content to meet those needs directly. For example, if someone searches “how to choose a roofing service,” provide a guide with tips and your contact details at the end.

Make Content More AI-Friendly

Content becomes more AI-friendly when it is designed to be easily accessible, understandable, and optimized for AI systems, particularly in the context of search engines, chatbots, and other AI applications. AI tools to improve existing content by suggesting keywords, improving readability, and ensuring your content is optimized for search engines, yet more conversational.

Embracing Voice Search

Voice search is conversational by nature. Tools designed for content optimization can help you create conversational content by suggesting tone adjustments, improving readability, and ensuring your text aligns with how people speak. Read our blog on Voice search optimization.

User-Friendly AI SEO Tools

Here are some user-friendly SEO tools that our agency is currently using:

Ubersuggest

Ubersuggest is an affordable, user-friendly platform with AI-enhanced tools for keyword research, backlink analysis, and competitor insights. It suggests relevant keywords and content ideas to improve your website’s ranking, perfect for targeting local customers. Its AI features streamline content creation, keyword discovery, and SEO strategy, boosting efficiency and content quality.

SEOptimer

A straightforward SEO audit tool that scans your website and provides clear, actionable reports on issues like broken links or missing meta tags. Its simple interface makes it easy for small businesses to improve their site’s performance without technical expertise.

Local Ranking

A specialized tool for local SEO, focusing on optimizing your Google Business Profile and tracking local search rankings. Its intuitive dashboard provides insights into your business’s local search performance, helping you connect with nearby customers effectively.

Frase

Frase streamlines the creation of conversational, SEO-friendly content to enhance rankings in the highly competitive voice search landscape. By analyzing the top 20 Google results, it identifies relevant topics and questions, suggesting conversational content to address gaps. The platform scores your content against competitors in real-time, recommending keyword and tone adjustments to ensure voice-friendly clarity.

Additionally, Frase.io’s AI generates content briefs, outlines, or drafts incorporating conversational phrases from search engine data, while optimizing keyword use and readability to meet the stringent requirements for securing the top spot in voice search results.

AI SEO is An Ongoing Process

In 2025, building an effective long-term SEO strategy requires embracing the advancements brought by AI. By understanding how AI is changing search engines and user behavior, creating high-quality, in-depth content that answers detailed queries, optimizing for semantic SEO, and leveraging user-friendly AI tools , local business owners can significantly improve their online visibility and attract more customers.

SEO is an ongoing process, so start small, perhaps by optimizing a few key pages or creating a content calendar, and gradually build from there. With persistence and the right tools, you can achieve sustainable growth through SEO.

Remember, the goal is to provide value to your audience while adapting to the technological advancements that shape how people search for information online. Read this great article here .

How to Setup and Improve your Local Services Ads

olympia@localbizfirst.com (Olympia Caswell) — Sat, 22 Mar 2025 02:32:32 GMT

Overview of Google Local Services Ads (LSAs)

LSAs are pay-per-lead ads for service-based businesses, appearing at the top of Google searches, charging only for actual leads like calls or bookings, and featuring badges like "Google Guaranteed" for trust.

Qualification Process

Businesses in eligible industries (e.g., home services, legal, healthcare) must pass verification including licenses, insurance, background checks, and maintain positive reviews; earn badges for credibility.

Budget Management

Set weekly budgets with automated (Maximize Leads) or manual (Set Max Per Lead) bidding; dispute invalid leads for refunds.

Optimization Strategies

Complete profiles with accurate info and images; collect and respond to reviews; respond quickly to leads; define precise service areas; monitor budgets and analytics; focus on lead quality and additional services; integrate with Local SEO.

What is Google Local Services Ads?

Google Local Services Ads (LSAs) are a pay-per-lead advertising platform designed for service-based businesses to connect with local customers. Unlike pay-per-click (PPC) ads, LSAs charge only for direct leads (e.g., calls, messages) rather than clicks, appearing at the top of Google search results. They display key details like customer ratings, hours, and a "Google Guaranteed" or "Google Screened" badge to build trust.

Suggested Image: Screenshot of an LSA ad example (e.g., a plumber’s ad with badge and reviews) to visually illustrate placement and features.

What are the Benefits of Using Google Local Services Ads?

Prime Search Visibility
LSAs appear above PPC ads and organic results, capturing up to 14% of clicks. This top placement ensures high visibility for searches like “HVAC repair near me.”
Targeted Local Reach
Geographic targeting (e.g., 15-mile radius or zip codes) ensures ads reach only relevant nearby customers, reducing wasted exposure.
Cost-Effective Model
Pay-per-lead pricing averages $24 per lead (e.g., $5 for locksmiths, $100+ for niche services). Dispute invalid leads (spam, misdials) for credits, with budgets starting at $5/day.
Enhanced Trust
The “Google Guaranteed” (home services) or “Google Screened” (professional services) badge, earned via vetting, boosts credibility. “Guaranteed” includes up to $2,000 coverage for dissatisfied clients.
Drives Leads and Traffic
LSAs generate calls/messages, while integration with Google Maps drives foot traffic. Businesses report 13–25% lead increases.
Flexible Control
Pause ads when busy (listing may still appear free) or adjust budgets and schedules instantly to match demand.
Fast Results
Ads launch same-day, delivering instant visibility and trackable conversions (calls, bookings) compared to slower SEO efforts.

What Types of Businesses Qualify for Local Service Ads?

To run LSAs, businesses must meet Google’s eligibility and verification criteria. Check eligibility at ads.google.com/localservices/signup/eligibility .

1. Eligible Industries & Locations

Home Services: Plumbers, electricians, HVAC, locksmiths, cleaners, landscapers.
Professional Services: Lawyers, real estate agents, financial planners.
Healthcare: Dentists, chiropractors, physicians.
Other: Pet groomers, auto repair, child care (expanded to 70+ categories in 2023).
Availability varies by region.

2. Verification Process

Submit licenses, insurance, and certifications.
Pass background checks (owners/employees, via third-party partners).
Define service areas and offerings.

3. Badge Requirements

“Google Guaranteed” (home services): License, insurance, background checks.
“Google Screened” (professional services): License and background verification, no financial coverage.
Processing takes 2–3 months; updates to licenses/insurance are mandatory.

How do I Optimize my Google Local Services Ads?

Optimize LSAs for ranking and conversions with these steps:

1. Complete Your Profile

Update contact info, hours, and service areas.
List specific services (e.g., “leak repair” vs. “plumbing”).
Add 5–10 authentic photos (team, jobs, equipment—no stock images).
Include 6 highlights (e.g., “24/7 Service,” “Free Estimates”).

2. Optimize for Ranking Factors

Service Area: Target a realistic radius (e.g., county-level) via zip codes.
Reviews: Maintain 5+ reviews, 3.0+ stars; respond to all feedback.
Responsiveness: Reply to leads in 15–30 minutes; enable messaging.
Business Hours: Align ad schedule with availability.
Complaints: Dispute invalid leads promptly to maintain profile health.

How Does the LSA Budget Work?

LSAs use a pay-per-lead model, charging only for actionable contacts (calls, messages, bookings).

1. Weekly Budgeting

Set a weekly cap; Google spreads spend to maximize leads without overshooting.

2. Bidding Strategies

Maximize Leads: Automated bidding for most leads within budget.
Set Max Per Lead: Manual control over lead cost, ideal for competitive markets.

3. Budget Optimization

Start with “Maximize Leads,” then adjust based on cost-per-lead and profitability.
Monitor dashboard metrics (impressions, leads, conversions).
Dispute low-quality leads to refine targeting.

4. Service Expansion

List all offerings to capture diverse queries, aligning with user intent.

5. Local SEO Boost

Sync with an optimized GBP for consistent info and better visibility. LSAs sync with Google Business Profile (GBP) and Maps, pulling in photos, hours, and reviews to enrich ads. They also support voice searches via Google Assistant (20%+ of queries) and offer call tracking for performance insights.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does My Business Come Up in AI-Generated Overviews?

olympia@localbizfirst.com (Olympia Caswell) — Sun, 16 Mar 2025 00:56:31 GMT

What is AI-Generated Overviews? And How Do Businesses Optimize for Them?

We all have noticed the changes in Google Search. When using Google, you may have observed a concise summary appearing at the top of the results. This is an AI-Generated Overview, created by artificial intelligence (AI) to provide quick answers by compiling information from various online sources, reducing the need to visit multiple websites. This article will show ways to optimize for AI Overviews:

Create AI-Friendly, Question Based Content
Implement Structured Data (Schema Markup)
Build Topical Authority & Expertise
Optimize for Local AI Search
Improve Content for AI Summarization
Enhance Multimedia & AI-Readable Elements

What is SEO? What Are SERPs?

SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is the practice businesses use to improve their website’s ranking on Google. It involves incorporating relevant search terms, ensuring the site is fast and mobile-friendly, securing links from credible sources, and producing valuable content. Effective SEO increases visibility and attracts more potential customers.

SERPs (Search Engine Results Pages) are the pages displayed by Google after a search, featuring a list of websites, advertisements, and additional elements such as images or snippets.

When searching for: " top quality roofing contractors in massachusetts " the Google search results shows the following:

What Are AI-Generated Overviews?

AI-Generated Overviews, such as those implemented by Google, are AI summaries displayed at the top of search results . For instance, a query like “best pizza restaurants in New York” might list notable establishments. These overviews provide information and sometimes links rather than explicit recommendations. While this can enhance visibility, it may also reduce visits to individual websites, a concern for some business owners.

When searching for: " Is there a company that offers on location paint parties in Cambridge MA " the AI Overview shows the following:

How Can Businesses Can Optimize for AI Overviews?

For a service-based business, the focus should be on improving visibility in AI-powered search results with the following strategies:

1. Create AI-Friendly, Question Based Content

Develop FAQ Pages addressing common industry-related questions.
Create detailed, informative blog posts and FAQs. Here are some example questions for a personal injury lawyer: “How Much Should I get for a Car Accident?” “What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident in Massachusetts?” “How do I Choose a Personal Injury Laywyer?”
Use structured headings (H1, H2, H3) with natural questions AI might pull for responses.

2. Implement Structured Data (Schema Markup)

What is Schema? Schema markup helps search engines interpret and categorize information such as business details, FAQs, services, and customer reviews for better search visibility.

Use LocalBusiness Schema to highlight name, address, phone number, and business hours.
Apply FAQ Schema for quick answers to industry-related queries.
Implement Review Schema to enhance credibility in AI-generated responses.
Use Service Schema to detail different service offerings.

3. Build Topical Authority & Expertise

How does a business establish itself as an authority?

Publish in-depth guides, case studies, and expert content showcasing industry knowledge.
Add customer testimonials and success stories for credibility.
Get featured in local directories, industry blogs, and guest posts to boost domain authority.

4. Optimize for Local AI Search

Claim and optimize your Google Business Profile with: up-to-date business information, high-quality images showcasing work or products, and regular posts & customer Q&A.
Target geo-specific keywords like “best service provider in [city]” or “trusted [industry] experts near me.”
Gather more positive reviews on Google and Yelp to influence AI-generated search responses.

5. Improve Content for AI Summarization

Write concise yet informative summaries at the beginning of each blog post.
Use bullet points and short paragraphs to make content AI-friendly.
Incorporate data, statistics, and expert insights to enhance credibility.

6. Enhance Multimedia & AI-Readable Elements

Add high-quality images with descriptive alt text to improve visibility in image-based AI results.
Create explainer videos about services and embed them on relevant pages.
Offer interactive tools , such as price estimators or self-assessment quizzes, to improve engagement.

How to Create Local Inbound Links for your Website in 2025

Fri, 10 Jan 2025 04:00:00 GMT

How to Create Inbound Links for Your Local Business Website in the World of AI

Being a business owner is hard work, a job that requires focus, dedication, and a willingness to advocate for your business. . Here’s how to ensure your local business website is generating quality inbound links in 2025.

Managing a local business means always working on its growth and public presence. As search engines grow more advanced, particularly with AI integration, local SEO techniques have seen substantial changes over recent years.

There are three critical things you need to do for successful SEO:

Your website needs to be crawlable by Google and other search engines
You need to optimize your webpages
You need quality backlinks

In this article we are going to cover the inbound links!

Inbound links will help your business move forward, creating more traffic for your website and getting the attention of those who before this may have been unaware of your business. For some though, generating inbound links can be a daunting task but it doesn't have to be!

The truth is that while inbound linking can take some time, and you’ll certainly have to work at it, in the end it will be incredibly worth it when it comes to growing and expanding your business.

Below we share six of our best tips on creating inbound links to help your local business website:

What are inbound links?

Inbound links, also known as backlinks, are hyperlinks from external websites that point to a page on your website. They are important for SEO as they can increase the visibility and authority of your site.

The truth is that while inbound linking can take some time, and you’ll certainly have to work at it, in the end it will be incredibly worth it when it comes to growing and expanding your business.

Below we share six of our best tips on creating inbound links to help your local business website:

How can your local business can secure high-quality inbound links

Below we share six of our best tips on creating inbound links to help your local business website:

1. Sponsor or Donate to a Local Club or Organization

Get involved in local groups and organizations that stand for something you’re passionate about. It could be anything. It doesn’t even necessarily have to relate to your business, as long as it’s something you care about. If you love animals, you can support your local animal shelter. Do you appreciate art? Then give to an art gallery. Love playing or watching soccer? Sponsor a town soccer team. Most groups or organizations love to support their sponsors by creating links to their business on their Facebook pages or websites.

2. Offer Discounts

Discounts are great; they help save some people a lot of money but can also benefit your business if you’re willing to offer them. Giving discounts to groups such as students or veterans can catch the attention of local alumni associations and websites that track discounts, who’ll in turn offer a link to your website.

3. Leverage Local Partnerships

Just as you wish to be supported, support other local businesses and they’ll be more likely to return the favor. Connecting with other business owners or leaders in your community can be beneficial for all involved. Such connections enable you to reach people you may not have otherwise. Promote their upcoming events, talk about them in your blog posts, write a testimonial, etcetera.

4. Join Your Local Chamber of Commerce

Being connected is key, and what better way to do that than to join your local Chamber of Commerce. When you join, you get the opportunity to meet owners of other businesses, some you may not have had the chance to meet otherwise. Getting to know and connect with other business owners who have a solid tie to the community means that you are able to in good conscience support their businesses, and in return, they can support yours.

5. Get Accredited with the Better Business Bureau

People will usually only put links on their websites or blogs if they believe in the quality of the business. Getting accredited with the Better Business Bureau assures not only your customers, but also those in the position to support your business and link your website on their own. If they can be assured that your business is trustworthy and of high quality, they are more likely to want to openly support your business on their website.

6. Join Alignable Network

Alignable is one of the most useful resources for anyone who is starting a small business. With over 5 million members, Alignable is a source where small business owners across America can form relationships and connections with each other. With this they are able to get the word out about each other's businesses and be able to have their connections bring in more business for them to grow and expand.

Having over 30,000 local communities on their site, it won't be hard for anyone to make connections with other business owners in the same area. Alignable is the perfect place to start advertising you and your business.

7. Do Better Research Using AI to Understand Your Local Audience

Use AI tools for deeper keyword research, understanding local search intent, and generating content that resonates with local audiences. AI can also assist in predicting trends for local events or interests that could benefit your linking strategy.

8. Make Sure your Website is Optimized for Mobile

Ensure your site is fully optimized for mobile, considering the rise in mobile searches for local businesses. This includes fast load times and intuitive navigation which indirectly influence your linking potential through better user engagement.

9. Create Video and Optimize for Voice Search

Incorporate video content that can be shared by local influencers or on community platforms, providing natural backlink opportunities. Optimize for voice search queries as they are increasingly common for local searches.

Did acquiring backlinks strategy changed the the last few years?

Here is a summary of changes of acquiriung backlings to your website:

Emphasis on Quality Over Quantity

There's been a significant shift from collecting as many backlinks as possible to focusing on acquiring high-quality, relevant backlinks. This change was influenced by Google's algorithm updates, which penalize low-quality or spammy link practices. Search engines now prioritize backlinks from reputable, authoritative websites, especially those with local relevance.

Local Content Creation

The importance of creating content tailored to local audiences has grown. This includes writing about local events, news, or guides which naturally attract backlinks from local websites, bloggers, and community organizations. Such content is seen as more linkable because it's directly relevant to local searchers.

Relationship-Based Link Building

There's been a move towards building genuine relationships for link acquisition rather than relying on transactional methods like paid links. This includes guest posting, collaborations, or participating in local events and community initiatives where backlinks can be earned naturally through partnerships.

Use of Local Directories and Citations

While general directory listings have decreased in SEO value, niche and high-authority local directories remain significant for local SEO. Ensuring consistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone) information across these platforms is crucial, as it not only helps in backlink acquisition but also in establishing local presence.

User Engagement and Experience

Modern SEO strategies emphasize user engagement and experience, which indirectly affects backlink acquisition. Sites that provide value, have good user signals (like low bounce rates), or offer unique local insights are more likely to earn backlinks. This includes leveraging tools like Schema markup for better local SEO performance.

Technological and Algorithmic Shifts

With advancements like AI in search algorithms, there's an increased focus on content quality, relevance, and context. Google's SGE (Search Generative Experience) and similar moves indicate a future where the quality of content and user intent matching might play larger roles in backlinking relevance.

Negative Backlinks and Sentiment Analysis

Google now has systems in place to analyze user sentiment and penalize negative backlinks that could harm a site's reputation. This encourages a focus on positive, earned links through genuine community engagement or content that adds value.

By adopting these strategies tailored for 2025's SEO landscape, your local business can secure high-quality inbound links that not only boost your SEO but also enhance your community presence and customer engagement. If you need help navigating these changes, consider consulting with the experts at Local Business First professional who understands the dynamic nature of local SEO.

Which Delivers Better SEO Results - AI or Human Written Content?

olympia@localbizfirst.com (Olympia Caswell) — Thu, 02 Jan 2025 01:37:44 GMT

Choosing Between AI and Humans: Who Writes Content That Generates More Traffic to Your Website?

In a world increasingly driven by digital interactions, the content we produce plays a pivotal role in determining online success. As businesses strive to capture audience attention, the debate over whether to employ AI-generated or human-written content has come to the forefront. Both options offer unique advantages and challenges, leaving many to wonder which truly delivers better SEO results.

AI-generated content has emerged as a powerful tool that boasts speed, scalability, and consistency to accelerate content production. On the other hand, human-written content is famed for its emotional depth, creativity, and nuanced storytelling that can foster deeper connections with readers. Understanding these differences is crucial in navigating the content landscape.

This article lists the strengths and limitations of AI and human content, comparing their performances in SEO metrics. By examining these elements, we aim to provide clarity in choosing the best approach for achieving optimal online visibility and engagement.

What is AI-generated content?

AI-generated content is created by machines using artificial intelligence technology. This type of content uses algorithms and data to produce text that mimics human writing. It’s becoming popular in the field of content creation for search engine optimization (SEO).

AI-generated content refers to text produced by sophisticated algorithms. These algorithms analyze large datasets and generate content based on patterns found within these data. The content creation process involves minimal human intervention, allowing for faster production of articles, blog posts, and other written materials. Unlike human-written content, AI aims for scalability and rapid deployment.

What is human-written content?

Human-written content refers to articles, blog posts, or any form of writing crafted by a human being. It involves a person using their knowledge, creativity, and unique perspective to create a piece of content. Human content writers bring a personal touch and a deeper level of understanding to their work. This type of content is created through a thoughtful content creation process, often tailored to a target audience. It is designed to engage and connect on a human level, leading to improved user experience and organic traffic.

Is AI-generated content better for SEO than human-written content?

Several studies and experiments have been conducted to compare the performance of human-written versus AI-generated content for SEO purposes. Here are some notable findings based on the information available:

Reboot Online's SEO Experiment

This study involved setting up a controlled environment with test websites where AI-generated content was compared directly with human-written content. The results indicated that, with all else being equal, human-written content tended to perform better in search engine rankings. This was observed over a period of three months, suggesting that at least in the short term, human content had an edge in SEO performance.

Neil Patel's Experiment

Over a 12-month period, Neil Patel and his team conducted an experiment involving 68 websites and 744 articles, split evenly between AI and human-generated content. The findings from this study, shared on social media, showed that human-generated content attracted more SEO traffic compared to AI-generated content. Even when AI content was edited by humans, human-written articles generally performed better in terms of SEO.

MIT Study

An MIT study, although not exclusively focused on SEO, compared the quality of AI-generated content versus human-written content in various contexts. The study found that human readers preferred AI-generated content in certain controlled settings, but this did not directly correlate with SEO performance. However, it's implied from broader discussions that human content's ability to engage readers on a personal level might contribute to better SEO outcomes, especially in terms of engagement metrics like dwell time.

These studies collectively suggest that while AI can generate content quickly and at scale, human-written content often provides better SEO results due to its ability to engage readers with unique insights, creativity, and relevance.

What are the advantages of AI-generated content?

AI-generated content offers several benefits that make it an attractive option for content creators and marketers. From saving time to ensuring uniformity, these advantages help streamline the content creation process.

Quick and efficient content creation

One of the main benefits of AI-generated content is the speed at which it can produce a piece of content. Unlike human writers, AI can quickly scan vast amounts of information, synthesize it, and deliver coherent blog posts in minutes. This efficiency is invaluable for companies needing rapid turnaround times to keep up with the fast-paced digital world.

Scalable for large volumes of content

For businesses looking to generate a large volume of content, AI provides a scalable solution. AI content generators can consistently produce countless articles, allowing companies to populate their websites with minimal effort. This ability to scale content creation helps maintain an active online presence, which is crucial for attracting organic traffic.

Consistent tone and style

AI systems can be programmed to maintain a consistent tone and style across various pieces of content. This uniformity helps establish a brand's voice and ensures that all pieces resonate with the target audience. Consistent messaging is key for effective brand communication and enhances the overall search engine optimization (SEO) strategy by enabling a cohesive user experience.

By leveraging these features, AI-generated content optimizes the content marketing strategy, allowing businesses to focus more on strategic planning and less on the writing process.

What are the limitations of AI-generated content?

As AI continues to play a key role in content creation, it's essential to understand its limitations. AI-generated content can streamline the writing process, but it often falls short in several areas compared to human-written content. Here are some top limitations:

Lack of emotional depth and storytelling abilities

AI-generated content typically lacks the emotional depth, storytelling, empathy, and personal touch that human writers naturally provide. While AI excels at data processing and keyword generation, it fails to weave emotions into narratives, connect through personal experiences, or engage audiences on a personal level. This human element is crucial for making local content resonate with community-focused businesses.

Potential for lower engagement rates

Another limitation of AI-generated content is its potential for lower engagement rates. The SEO community values content that attracts organic traffic and boosts search rankings. Content that is rich in human experience and empathy tends to perform better. Users often prefer human-written articles as they provide a better user experience. AI content creators may produce text quickly, but without the human intervention of a content creator, it may not resonate with the audience, leading to lower engagement rates.AI can occasionally produce content with factual inaccuracies or outdated information, particularly if its data sets are not continually updated with local specifics. For local companies, accuracy in describing local services, products, or community initiatives is crucial for maintaining trust and credibility.

Quality control, fact-checking, and accuracy issues

Quality control and accuracy are also concerns with AI-generated content. Machines can generate text swiftly, but human content writers are crucial for ensuring originality and accuracy. AI can occasionally produce content with factual inaccuracies or outdated information, particularly if its data sets are not continually updated with local specifics. For local companies, accuracy in describing local services, products, or community initiatives is crucial for maintaining trust and credibility. Thus, human intervention becomes essential for maintaining the integrity of blog posts or any piece of content.

What are the advantages of human-written content

In the world of SEO, the debate between AI-generated content and human-written content is ongoing. While AI has its benefits, human writers still hold significant advantages. Here, we explore why human-created content can have a superior impact.

Emotional resonance and connection with readers

Human writers have the unique ability to connect with readers on an emotional level. They can inject personal touch and human experience into their writing. This helps to create content that resonates with the emotions of the audience. Unlike AI, human content writers can feel and express emotions, making it easier to forge a deeper connection with readers. This emotional bond can lead to higher engagement and loyalty.

Creative storytelling and nuance

Human-written content shines in creative storytelling. Human writers bring a level of creativity and nuance that AI-generated content often lacks. They can weave stories that captivate and entertain. This creativity is not only engaging but also helps retain readers longer, which is beneficial for user experience and search rankings. They are also adept at infusing content with humor, irony, and subtlety, which can enrich a piece of content in ways AI cannot replicate.

AI tools cannot often fully understand and incorporate local cultural nuances , idioms, or specific community behaviors which are crucial for resonating with a local audience. This can lead to content that feels out of touch or insensitive to local customs or events.

AI might not accurately reflect or update content with local happenings, news, or changes in local business landscapes unless specifically programmed with such data. This can result in generic content that doesn't engage local customers effectively.

Higher potential for original content and insights

Human writers can provide original insights and perspectives drawn from their experiences and observations. They can offer fresh takes on topics, adding value that goes beyond mere facts. Unlike AI, which relies on existing data, human writers can introduce new ideas and thoughts. This originality is key to creating high-quality content that stands out, attracts organic traffic, and enhances the credibility of the content creators.

Better understanding of SEO and search intent

While AI can optimize content for SEO, understanding the nuanced search intent of local consumers might be challenging. Local SEO requires a deep understanding of local queries, which might include colloquial terms or specific local landmarks that AI might not interpret correctly.

Ability to be personalized and customized

For local businesses, content often needs to be highly personalized to reflect the community's needs, preferences, or current local issues. AI's capability for personalization is limited unless fed with extensive and specific local data.

Ethical and regulatory compliance

AI might not be adept at navigating the complex web of local laws, regulations, or ethical considerations that might affect content, like promotional regulations or cultural sensitivities. Human oversight is necessary to ensure compliance.

Consistency of brand voice for local businesses

Maintaining a consistent brand voice that aligns with the local community's perception of the business can be challenging for AI. AI might produce content that feels off-brand or doesn't align with the company's established local identity.

Dealing with local competition

Understanding local competition dynamics, including subtle business practices or marketing strategies, requires a nuanced approach that AI might not fully capture. Human insight into local market trends and competitor analysis can significantly enhance content strategy.

Community building

Effective local marketing often involves building a community around the brand. AI content might lack the authenticity needed to foster genuine community engagement, which is vital for small businesses relying on local patronage.

What are the limitations of human-written content?

Human-written content has long been the gold standard in content creation. However, it comes with certain challenges that AI-generated content aims to address. Let's explore some of these limitations.

Slow production rates

One major limitation of human-generated content is its slower production rate. Human writers need time to research, draft, and revise each piece of content. This process can take days or even weeks, depending on the complexity of the topic. AI-generated content, by contrast, can produce articles in minutes.

More expensive

Hiring skilled human writers can be costly. Professional writers charge for their time and expertise, which increases the cost for businesses needing regular content. Unlike content generators, humans don't work for free or at any time of day. This makes AI-generated content a more budget-friendly option for many companies.

Variable quality and style

Human-created content is inherently variable in quality and style. Each writer brings their unique voice and experience to the table. While this can add a personal touch, it also means that content consistency can be hard to maintain. Inconsistent tone and style may not always suit the target audience or improve search rankings. In contrast, AI-generated content can offer more uniformity across different pieces of content.

In summary, though human-written articles have their strengths, they also face limitations in production speed, cost, and consistency. Balancing these factors is crucial in today’s content marketing landscape.

SEO Performance Analysis and AI Content

In the SEO landscape, both AI-generated and human-written content vie for higher search rankings, each with its unique strengths. AI content is gaining traction, yet human content writers bring a personal touch that resonates more deeply with the target audience, making content more engaging and relatable.

Ranking and Engagement

A 2024 case study revealed that human-written content outperforms AI-generated content in critical SEO metrics like readability, semantic coherence, and sentiment consistency. The human-written blog scored 27.8% higher on the Flesch Reading Ease scale and had a 28% better semantic coherence score. Moreover, human articles showed higher audience retention, which might contribute to improved SEO rankings over time.

https://neilpatel.com/blog/ai-vs-human-content/

Note for Olympia Get stats from this article and

Google's Perspective

Post the March 2024 Core Update, Google's view on AI content has evolved. Poor-quality or non-engaging AI content might negatively affect rankings. However, when AI content is well-optimized, valuable, and original, it can coexist without harming SEO. The focus should be on quality and value.

Content Quality and Originality

Despite AI's speed in content creation, human content often excels in quality, originality, and the human touch. These elements enhance readability and user engagement due to the nuanced grasp of context, tone, and audience needs.

Keyword Relevance and Optimization

Effective SEO hinges on keyword research where human writers excel by selecting relevant keywords that resonate with readers and satisfy search engines. They understand audience search behavior, integrating keywords naturally. AI can identify keywords but struggles with their seamless incorporation; humans ensure they fit well within the narrative, avoiding keyword stuffing.

Adherence to Google's E-E-A-T Standards

What is Google's E-E-A-T standard? It is the focus on expertise, experience, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness. Human-written content usually scores higher in these areas. Adding human intervention to AI content can help meet these standards. AI may generate information quickly, but human content writers ensure the content resonates with a deeper level of expertise and personal touch, promoting a better user experience.

Content Structure and Readability

The structure and readability of content affect search engine rankings. AI-generated articles can follow basic formats well. However, the writing process often lacks the creativity seen in human writing. Human content creation shines with varied sentence structures and a personal touch, enhancing readability. For high-quality content, ensuring that AI content matches this human-experience standard is essential.

Engagement and Bounce Rates

Human articles engage better, reducing bounce rates by connecting emotionally with readers through storytelling, a friendly tone, and insightful content. This engagement leads to a better user experience, keeping visitors on the page longer.

Quality of Backlinks Generated

Human content tends to attract higher-quality backlinks due to its originality and depth. It fosters strong connections with influencers, establishes thought leadership, and naturally builds links, all of which are less common with AI content due to its lack of personal experience.

Can Search Engines tell the difference between AI-generated content and human-generated content?

Search engines, particularly Google, have developed mechanisms to distinguish between AI-generated and human-generated content, though this differentiation can be complex and nuanced. As AI writing tools become more advanced, particularly with models like GPT-4, the line between AI and human content blurs. These models can produce highly coherent and contextually relevant content that's hard to distinguish from human writing without deep analysis. Read our article on How to create useful people-first content for web pages and blogs

For optimal SEO outcomes, including local SEO, The best approach for content creators is to use AI as a tool to enhance, not replace, human creativity, ensuring content remains high-quality, engaging, and genuinely useful to users. AI speeds up content creation, but the human touch adds strategic depth, and local knowledge is crucial for engaging and original content that ranks well in both organic and local searches. Using AI as a tool, not a substitute, allows businesses to craft content that resonates locally while maintaining global relevance, ensuring a strong, adaptive SEO strategy amidst digital evolution.

Essential Facebook Optimization Strategies for Local SEO

Thu, 17 Oct 2024 17:24:34 GMT

Facebook SEO Optimization Strategies

In an era where digital footprints are as crucial as traditional storefronts, local businesses are increasingly turning to platforms like Facebook to bolster their visibility. With over a billion active users, optimizing your presence on this social giant is not just beneficial; it's essential. Here's how you can leverage 2024's SEO strategies to ensure your business stands out in the local search results on Facebook and reaches your target audience better.

Understanding the Importance of Local Facebook SEO

Local SEO on platforms like Facebook is about more than just appearing in search results; it's about connecting with your community. In 2024, with algorithms increasingly favoring relevant, localized content, understanding how to use SEO on social media platforms can significantly impact your business's discoverability, engagement rates, and search rankings.

Optimize Your Facebook Page Name and URL

Your business name should be at the forefront. Ensure your page name includes your business name and location if possible. Customize your URL to be as descriptive as possible (e.g., facebook.com/YourBusinessNameCity). This clarity helps in both human recognition and search engine optimization.

When Google selects what content to display in the search engine results pages (SERPs) as a meta description, it often includes the number of likes a post has received. Moreover, when you share a link to your webpage, the custom description you provide will appear alongside your avatar, page name, and URL.

Consider the title of your Facebook Page as akin to the Meta Title Tag. Then, think of the number of likes and the brief description as the Meta Description.

Incorporate Relevant Keywords in the About Section

The 'About' section isn't just for your story; it's prime real estate for SEO. Include keywords that potential customers might use when searching for businesses like yours. However, maintain a balance. The content should still read naturally.

Ensure Accurate and Complete Contact Information

Accuracy in your contact details is crucial. Include your address, phone number, website, and business hours. Ensure this information is consistent across all your online listings to avoid confusion and maintain SEO integrity.

Create Consistent, High-Quality Posts

Content is king still. Regularly posting high-quality, engaging content related to your industry or local events can boost your visibility. Use visuals, videos, and live streams to keep your content engaging. The initial 18 characters of a post on Facebook have the potential to serve as a meta description for search engines.

Create Location Specific Posts

Creating location-specific posts on Facebook can significantly enhance your local SEO and engagement. To do this effectively, follow these steps:

When creating a post, select "People Who Live In" under the audience selector, and then input the location you're targeting. This could be a city, neighborhood, or even a specific region within a city.
If your post relates to a specific venue or event, tag that location. This not only geotags your post but also makes it appear in searches related to that location.
Integrate local keywords naturally into your post. For instance, if you're running a café in Brooklyn, mention "Brooklyn coffee culture" or "Best coffee in Brooklyn" to appeal to local searches.
Encourage Check-ins: Prompt your audience to check in to your location when they visit, which adds to your post's visibility in location-based searches.
If you're hosting or participating in a local event, create posts around it, tagging the event location for better local visibility.

Find the Right Time to Post

It’s critical that you choose the best time to post on Facebook. Try out different times to discover which period tends to have the best engagement. Once you've got it perfect, make sure all of your posts go online around this. For service-based businesses, focusing on weekday mornings and lunch hours from Monday to Thursday, with an eye on adapting to audience behavior and preferences, should generally yield the best results on Facebook. Here is the Daily breakdown:

Monday to Thursday : These days are particularly effective for consistent engagement. Posting around 9 AM to 11 AM and then again from 1 PM to 3 PM leverages both morning routines and lunch breaks.
Friday : While still good, engagement might start to taper as people look forward to the weekend, but 11 AM could be a sweet spot due to the anticipation for the weekend.
Saturday and Sunday : Engagement might be lower, but for service-based businesses that might cater to weekend planners or leisure activities, Saturday mornings could still yield results.

Encourage and Manage Customer Online Reviews

Positive reviews are gold for local SEO. They act as social proof and can influence someone's decision to visit your business. Always respond to reviews , whether good reviews or negative reviews. This will show customer engagement.

Implement Targeted Facebook Ads for Local Reach

Ad campaigns can be precisely targeted by location, demographics, and interests. Use this to reach potential customers in your area who might not find you through organic search.

Leverage Facebook Events to Engage Community

Hosting or sponsoring events can significantly increase your local engagement . Events appear in users' feeds, increasing your visibility to a broader audience.

Analyze Performance with Facebook Insights

Use Insights to track what content works, which demographics engage with your page, and when your audience is most active. Tailor your strategy based on this data.

Maintain an Active Presence and Respond to Inquiries

An active presence signals to both users and algorithms that your page is alive and relevant. Prompt responses to messages and comments can also improve customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Collaborate with Local Influencers or Businesses

Cross-promotions or collaborations can expose your business to a more extensive, yet still local, audience. Influencer partnerships can be particularly effective for reaching niche markets.

Use Facebook Groups to Build Community Engagement

Join or create groups relevant to your industry or location . Engage actively, share insights, and subtly promote your business. This can foster a sense of community and loyalty.

Monitor Competitors’ Engagement Strategies

What are your local competitors doing right? Analyze their engagement strategies, not to copy but to innovate and differentiate your approach.

Regularly Update and Refresh Your Content

SEO isn't a set-it-and-forget-it task. Regularly update your posts, refresh your 'About' section, and keep your content dynamic to maintain relevance in search algorithms.

By implementing these strategies, businesses in 2024 can significantly enhance their local presence on Facebook, leading to better visibility, increased customer engagement, and ultimately, growth in local foot traffic or online interactions. Remember, the key to local SEO on platforms like Facebook is consistency, relevance, and genuine community interaction.

Is it possible for Google Business Profile to Display Facebook Reviews?

While there's no direct method to import Facebook Reviews into Google Business Profile, these strategies aim at organically encouraging crossover. Always ensure compliance with review guidelines on both platforms.

Steps to Encourage Facebook Reviews on Google Business Profile

1. Link Your Profiles

Ensure your Google Business Profile links to your Facebook Business Page. This linkage helps Google understand these are connected entities.

2. Encourage Review Sharing

Directly Ask: After service, ask customers to review you on both platforms.
Promote Sharing: Share Google Reviews on Facebook, encouraging reciprocal actions.

3. Cross-Promotion

Social Media Posts: Create posts that encourage reviews on Google from your Facebook audience.
Display Signs: Physical signs or digital call-to-actions in your business can guide customers to leave Google Reviews.

4. Engage with Reviews

Respond: Engaging with Facebook Reviews can prompt reviewers to also, leave feedback on Google.

5. Leverage LocalBusiness Schema

Adding schema markup to your website can help Google recognize your Facebook as part of your business's online presence.

Integrating Facebook Reviews into your Google Business Profile might require creativity and strategic promotion, but the benefits in terms of visibility, trust, and SEO are substantial. By linking, promoting, and engaging across platforms, you can leverage the power of user feedback to elevate your online presence and SEO rankings.

Optimizing your Website for Great User Experience

Mon, 30 Sep 2024 14:58:15 GMT

Optimizing web pages and blogs for great user experience is crucial!

Implementing website optimization strategies is imperativel for boosting both site traffic and conversions. In contrast to traditional search engine optimization (SEO), which focuses solely on search engine ranking, website optimization focuses on enhancing the overall visitor experience.

Whether you're creating a new website, seeking to improve an existing website, or writing blog posts, the following strategies will significantly elevate your website's speed, user experience, mobile compatibility, search engine visibility, increased conversions, and accessibility.

Why perform website optimization?

Improved User Experience

Optimization ensures that your site is easy to navigate, loads quickly, and provides important material, resulting in increased satisfaction and accessibility.

Mobile Compatibility

Optimizing for mobile devices improves user experience and increases search engine rankings because mobile-friendly sites are prioritized by search engines.

Better Search Engine Visibility

Optimization enhances various search engine-valued factors, including speed and user experience, resulting in higher rankings and increased organic traffic.

Increased Conversions

A well-optimized site successfully takes visitors or target audience through the conversion funnel, resulting in higher conversion rates and ROI.

Follow the ten steps outlined in this guide to optimize your website:

Do Keyword Research and use keywords strategically in your website.

Keyword research is integral to search engine optimization (SEO). Conducting keyword research allows you to understand what users are searching for online. By identifying the specific terms and phrases they use, you gain insight into their intent and interests, enabling you to tailor your content to meet their needs effectively.

Selecting the right keywords ensures that your website attracts relevant traffic. By focusing on search terms related to your niche, products, or services, you increase the likelihood of reaching users who are genuinely interested in what you offer.

How are keywords used in your web pages?

1. Use Keywords or a Keyword Phrases in the url

Craft URLs with relevant keywords for SEO. For example, in a blog titled "Benefits of Using Rubber Roofing for Your Home," use a concise, keyword-rich format like https://blog.frase.io/benefits-of-using-rubber-roofing-for-your-home

2. Create a Keyword-Rich Headings

Include your main keyword in titles for optimal visibility. Follow the formula: Number or Trigger Word + Adjective + Keyword + Promise.

Keep it concise with 6 words, use numbers, interesting adjectives, and consider negative words like 'No,' 'Without,' or 'Stop' to match the content.

3. Create Top Quality Content Utilizing Top Keywords or Keyword Phrases

High-quality content is essential for a successful website. Ensure natural flow and optimize for readability.

Follow these helpful content principles:

Keep sentences short (3-4 lines)
Write in an active voice
Include call-to-actions
Incorporate your main keyword or phrase multiple times throughout the page

Protip: Remember that you're writing primarily for people, not search engines, so your content needs to be easy, useful and engaging to read. And do not stuff keywords!

4. Add Keyword or Keyword Phrases to the Meta Title Tags

Ensure that keywords are placed near the beginning of the title for better recognition by Google.

Also incorporate modifiers if relevant like 'Best,' 'Top,' or 'Review' to enhance visibility for keyword phrases.

5. Add Keyword or Keyword Phrases to the Description Title Tags

To boost search engine visibility and generate targeted traffic to your website, include relevant keywords or keyword phrases in the title tags of the meta descriptions.

6. Optimize Website Images

Optimize image file names with relevant keywords like "rubber-roofing-on-house.jpg" instead of generic or numerical names. Utilize alt tags for image descriptions to improve web accessibility and aid in search engine indexing .This is particularly important for visually impaired users.

7. Create external and internal linking

Internal links structure a site, boosting SEO by prioritizing key pages. Linking to authoritative sites validates expertise. Keyword-driven links enhance relevance and signal importance to Google. Use natural anchor (link text), and aim for 3-4 links per 1500 words for the best results.

External linking is also important. You might think that you are driving the traffic to another site, but in reality, you might just add some background to your article.

Protip: There are many FREE Keyword research tools . We also wrote an article on what DIY keyword research looks like.

Implement User Experience Best Practices

Enhancing the user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) during website design leads to a higher conversion rate over time. Surprisingly, 80% of consumers are willing to invest more in a superior user experience.

UI/UX design practices focus on refining a website's usability, accessibility, and performance. For instance, Airbnb streamlines its sales funnel by offering travel ideas alongside multiple language and currency options.

When implementing UI/UX practices, it's crucial to align them with your business objectives. Your website design should facilitate a customer journey that reflects your website's purpose. For example, an online store's design should facilitate seamless purchases for all visitors.

Consider the following approaches to enhance your website's user experience design:

8. Simplify Navigation

Add a clear header menu and a comprehensive footer menu.

9. Incorporate call-to-action (CTA) buttons

Direct visitors to explore more pages or make purchases using prominent, visually aligned CTA buttons. Ensure the CTA button placement is easily visible.

10. Improve user engagement by including videos

Videos are popular and can increase your site's visibility, particularly since Google owns YouTube. Sharing stories through video increases trust, engagement and encourages repeat visits. Incorporating videos also tends to increase the amount of time spent on your website.

11. Share your content on social media

Search engines will rank your page better if it receives more shares, as they will presume it has good material.

12. Enhance your sales funnel

Provide transparent steps to convert visitors into customers. For instance, include instructional guides or PDFs and ensure smooth transitions throughout each stage of the transaction.

Protip: The templates in the Duda Platform are optimized from the get go. We have also developed many custom widgets which makes user experience design easy and fast.

Plan, create, and distribute people-first but SEO-friendly content.

Content marketing serves as a vital website optimization strategy for drawing traffic to a site. It encompasses the planning, creation, and dissemination of SEO-friendly content aimed at informing your visitors about your offerings and industry. Employing this strategy enhances brand awareness, engagement, loyalty, and authority.

13. Write content detailing your products and services

Expand your audience across diverse social media platforms by enticing them to visit your site. Seamlessly integrate platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter using social media plugins to accelerate audience growth.

14. Include great content in social media posts

Expand your audience across diverse social media platforms by enticing them to visit your site. Seamlessly integrate platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Distribute top-notch content In social media, like Google Business Profile description, Facebook About page, and Linkedin profiles and pages.

15. Add personalized content in landing pages

Craft personalized static web pages featuring compelling CTAs and clear value propositions to facilitate conversion.

16. Create useful articles and blogs

Educate website visitors on pertinent industry trends, products, or services. Incorporate relevant keywords to attract potential customers, and maintain consistency by updating your blog regularly.

17. Send useful content in newsletters

Foster regular communication with subscribers to bolster brand awareness and provide timely updates on offerings or industry developments.

Protip: Here are some example of blogs, google business profile description, facebook and LinkedIn page content.

Make Sure User Experience (UX) is excellent

UX design is the process of enhancing user satisfaction by improving the usability, accessibility, and convenience of a product or website. It focuses on the end user's emotions and responses, including perceptions and challenges.

UX web design follows several guiding principles to create websites that prioritize user satisfaction, engagement, and usability. These principles include:

18. User-Centered Design

Place the needs, goals, and preferences of the users at the forefront of the design process. Understand user behaviors, motivations, and pain points to create a design that caters to their requirements.

*User Centered Design should be the foundational principle and goal for every website!

19. Clear and Consistent Navigation

Ensure that the website's navigation is intuitive, easy to understand, and consistent across all pages. Users should be able to locate information and navigate through the site without confusion or frustration.

20. Visual Hierarchy

Establish a clear visual hierarchy that guides users' attention and prioritizes important content. Use size, color, typography, and placement to emphasize key elements and provide a smooth scanning experience.

21. Responsive and Mobile-Friendly Design

Design websites that are responsive and adapt well to different devices and screen sizes. Users should have a seamless experience regardless of whether they access the site on a desktop, tablet, or mobile phone.

22. Consistency and Familiarity

Maintain consistency in visual elements, terminology, and interactions throughout the website. Consistent design patterns enhance usability and help users navigate and interact with the site more comfortably.

23. Simplicity

Strive for simplicity in design, eliminating unnecessary elements and reducing clutter. A clean and minimalistic interface can enhance focus, clarity, and ease of use.

24. Readability and Legibility

Ensure that text content is easy to read with appropriate font sizes, line spacing, and contrast. Use readable fonts and avoid excessive use of decorative or complex typography.

25. Fast Loading Speed

Optimize the website's performance to load quickly and efficiently. Users tend to abandon slow-loading sites, so optimize images, minimize code, and leverage caching techniques to enhance speed.

Pro tip: The optimal load time for mobile websites is 1-2 seconds. If pages take longer than 3 seconds to load, 53% of mobile site visits are abandoned. Even a 2-second delay in load time can lead to abandonment rates as high as 87%. Google strives for a load time of under half a second.

26. Accessibility:

Design websites with accessibility in mind, ensuring that users with disabilities can access and use the site. Consider factors like color contrast, screen reader compatibility, keyboard navigation, and alternative text for images.

27. Feedback and Error Handling

Provide clear and timely feedback to users regarding their actions. Inform them of errors, provide helpful error messages, and guide them towards resolving issues without frustration.

Prioritize Mobile Compatibility

Given that mobile devices currently account for approximately 54.4% of global website traffic, ensuring mobile compatibility is essential. A mobile-friendly website is one that adapts seamlessly to various screen sizes, facilitating accessibility across devices. Notably, mobile optimization not only broadens your audience reach but also aligns with Google's mobile-first indexing strategy.

Begin by utilizing Google's Mobile-Friendly Test to evaluate your website's mobile responsiveness.

Consider the following tips for mobile optimization:

28. Easy Mobile Navigation

Ensure that layout adjustments do not hinder mobile users' ability to navigate between web pages. For example, opt for a drop-down menu positioned at the top of the website instead of header links.

29. Adopt Responsive Design

Choose a theme capable of dynamically adjusting your website's layout and design to fit any screen size. Consistency in content presentation across desktop and mobile platforms is crucial for maintaining ranking, particularly under mobile-first indexing.

30. Emphasize Clear Links and Buttons

Incorporate prominent call-to-action buttons and easily clickable links tailored for mobile devices to enhance user interaction.

31. Utilize Accordions:

Simplify mobile browsing by organizing content into collapsible sections by using headings and accordions, rather than presenting all information at once.

Protip: Duda templates are responsive from the start. Adjusting images, spacing and suck is very easy. Rows, blocks and images can be hidden on different device types.

Adhere to Web Accessibility Standards

Ensuring website accessibility is paramount as it makes online content accessible to all users and assists search engine bots in efficiently locating your web pages. Abiding by the web content accessibility guidelines (WCAG) not only enhances traffic to your site but also boosts conversion rates, as indicated by findings from the US Department of Commerce, which suggests potential losses of approximately $6.9 billion annually to competitors with more accessible sites.

Scope serves as a stellar example of a website that prioritizes accessibility, as evidenced by its meticulous attention to details such as color contrast and the implementation of titles and headings. Notably, this website conducts accessibility tests every three months to maintain compliance.

To enhance your site's accessibility, consider implementing the following best practices:

32. Utilize Alternative Text

Incorporate alternative text for images to enhance accessibility and improve visibility on search engine results pages.

33. Include Captions

Provide captions for audio or video content to aid comprehension for all users, regardless of auditory capabilities. Tools like Happy Scribe or VEED can expedite this process.

34. Ensure Color Contrast

Adhere to contrast ratio standards of at least 4:5:1 to enhance readability and accommodate individuals with color vision deficiencies.

Foster Link-Building Initiatives

Link-building entails the process of acquiring links from other websites directed towards your own, a crucial element in determining search engine rankings, as Google perceives such endorsements as indicators of authority.

Studies reveal that top-ranking pages on Google typically boast an average of 3.8 times more backlinks than those in lower positions. To assess your backlink profile, tools such as the Ahrefs Backlink Checker offer valuable insights, often available free of charge.

Various strategies can aid in link-building initiatives, including:

35. Affiliate Partnerships

Collaborate with other websites to foster reciprocal links, bolstering mutual visibility and authority.

36. External Linking

After referencing external content in your own, consider reaching out to those sites, encouraging them to reciprocate with backlinks.

37. Community Engagement

Engage with industry peers and communities to advocate for references to your content within their own.

38. Submit Blog on Social Bookmarking Sites and Blog as a Guest

Promoting a blog is crucial for its success, just like marketing is essential for a business. Without marketing efforts, it's unlikely that anyone would know about your blog, much less flock to read it. To attract readers, you'll need an effective blog promotion strategy! Read our blog on how to promote your blog online .

Guest blogging, also known as guest posting, is the practice of contributing a post to another person's blog in order to build relationships, exposure, authority, and links. It's a mutually beneficial arrangement where the host blog gets free content, and the guest blogger gets the opportunity to reach a new audience and promote their own blog or website.

Key considerations in this process inof link building:

Prioritizing Quality: Emphasize quality over quantity, recognizing that a single high-quality backlink holds more weight than numerous low-quality ones. Backlinks from reputable and authoritative sources hold greater value than those from less credible sources.
Avoiding Purchased Backlinks: Purchasing backlinks is against Google's guidelines and can result in penalties, adversely affecting search engine rankings.
Relevance: Google assesses the relevance of linking sites to your industry, emphasizing the importance of securing backlinks from related sectors or niches.

Conclusion

We understand that implementing all these SEO best practices might be overwhelming. However, as your website expands, your search engine goals should also evolve. By understanding the goals and intentions of your target audience, you can create relevant content that will improve your rankings over time.

How to create useful people-first content for web pages and blogs

olympia@localbizfirst.com (Olympia Caswell) — Sun, 01 Sep 2024 01:35:34 GMT

Are you writing for people or search engines?

In the vast digital realm of the internet, creating content that genuinely serves and resonates with your audience is both an art and a science. It's essential to craft content that's not just informative but also reliable and people-centric. As Google's automated ranking systems prioritizes helpful, trustworthy information, this is a comprehensive guide to creating high-quality content that ticks all the right boxes.

Understanding the Principles of People-First content Writing

1. Prioritize People Over Search Engines

It's crucial to remember that your content or blog post is primarily crafted for real people, not just to cater to search engine algorithms. Ensuring your content genuinely benefits your audience is the ultimate goal.

2. Know Your Audience

Before diving into writing, understand your target audience. What are their needs, inquiries, and pain points? Your content should adeptly address these issues.

Evaluating Your Content's Quality

3. Ask Quality Questions regarding your content

To ensure your content is reliable and valuable, ask yourself the following:

Is your content original, offering new information, research, or analysis?
Does it provide a comprehensive understanding of the topic?
Does it offer insights or information beyond the obvious?
If it draws from other sources, does it add substantial value and originality?
Does the title accurately represent the content?
Is it free from exaggeration or sensationalism?
Would readers bookmark, share, or recommend it?
Does it match the quality of content found in reputable publications?
Is it free from spelling or stylistic errors?
Is it well-produced, or does it appear hastily created?
Is it mass-produced or outsourced across numerous sites, lacking attention and care?

Knowing the Three Pillars of Content Writing: Who, How, and Why

4. Who Created the Content

Showcase expertise in your field while creating content by:

Clearly attribute authorship and background.
Show that the author is knowledgeable about the topic.
Avoid easily verifiable factual errors.

5. How the Content Was Created

Explain how content was produced. This is especially important for product reviews.
For AI-generated or AI-assisted content, disclose the process.
Offer details about the unique role automation played.

6. Why the Content Was Created

Ensure your content's primary purpose is to help people.
Avoid creating content solely for search engine manipulation.
Discourage excessive automation to boost search rankings.

Striving for an Excellent Page Experience

7. Mobile-Friendly and Accessible

Ensure your content is mobile-friendly and accessible to everyone.
Use responsive design and provide alternative text for images.

8. Regular Updates

Keep your content current by revisiting and updating it.
Ensure it remains relevant to your audience's needs.

Engaging with Your Audience

9. Foster Engagement

Encourage reader interaction through comments and feedback.
Respond promptly and engage in meaningful conversations.

For further insights and detailed guidelines on content writing best practices, refer to authoritative resources such as HubSpot's Content Marketing Guide , Copyblogger or Neil Patel for comprehensive strategies and expert tips.

By adhering to these principles and guidelines, content creators can build a robust framework for crafting content that not only serves its audience but also aligns with search engine expectations.

How to design a website with improved user experience

Thu, 09 May 2024 12:52:36 GMT

15 Tips That Can Drastically Improve Your Website's User Experience

In today's digital age, having a strong online presence is crucial for businesses. And one of the key aspects of maintaining a successful website is ensuring a positive user experience (UX). A well-designed website can attract more visitors, keep them engaged, and ultimately lead to higher conversion rates.

Here are 16 strategies to help you improve your website's user experience:

1. Use high-quality images and compelling copy

Your website's homepage is often the first thing visitors see. Make sure it is visually appealing and clearly conveys your brand message for enhanced customer satisfaction. Using high-quality images that relate to your content can help grab users' attention.

2. Create a simple design and use negative space

Strive for simplicity in design, eliminating unnecessary elements and reducing clutter to optimize user experience design. A clean and minimalistic interface can enhance focus, clarity, and ease of use. White space, or negative space, refers to the empty space between elements on a page. It helps reduce clutter and improves readability. Use enough white space to create a clean layout and highlight important information.

3. Design clear and intuitive navigation

4. Maintain consistency in your website's pages and flow.

Make sure your website looks consistent. Implement a uniform design and visual elements across the site to guide users' attention effectively. Utilize size, color scheme, typography, and placement to highlight important elements to help users navigate your site more easily and enhance the overall user experience. It also stops users from getting confused and lost.

5. Make your content easy to read with bullet points for key information

Ensure that text content is easy to read with appropriate font sizes, line spacing, and contrast. Use readable fonts and avoid excessive use of decorative or complex typography. Use bullet points to break up large blocks of text and highlight key information. This makes it easier for users to scan and digest content quickly. Believe it or not, search engines care about user experience as well.

6. Optimize Page Speed

Users expect websites with fast load times. Use a website builder that does the heavy lifting for you. A fast website can improve user satisfaction and reduce bounce rates. Users tend to abandon slow-loading sites, so optimize images, minimize code, and leverage caching techniques to enhance speed.

7. Be responsive and mobile-friendly

Ensure your website has a responsive design, meaning it works well on various devices and screen sizes. As more users access the internet with mobile devices, it's crucial for your website to adjust to different screen sizes for mobile users. A seamless experience across the desktop, tablet, or mobile phone will increases user engagement and conversion rates.

8. Use enticing calls to action (CTAs)

CTAs, or calls to action, guide users to do something specific, like signing up for a newsletter or buying a product. Use visually appealing buttons and clear, compelling language to encourage clicks. It should be clear to a user very quickly what path forward to take just by scanning the page.

9. Make hyperlinks standout

Make sure that hyperlinks are easily distinguishable from regular text. Use different colors or underline them to indicate clickable links.

10. Include clear and well-crafted headings.

Headings are important for organizing content and helping users find what they need. Use clear and descriptive headings to show what each section is about.

11. Design websites with accessibility in mind

Ensure that your website is accessible to users with disabilities. This includes providing alternative text for images, color contrast, screen reader compatibility, keyboard navigation, using descriptive link text, and making sure that your site is navigable with a keyboard.

12. Provide feedback and manage errors correctly

Offer users clear and prompt feedback on their actions. Let them know about any errors with helpful error messages and guide them on how to fix them without getting frustrated. Make sure you catch 404 Errors. A 404 error occurs when a user tries to access a page that doesn't exist. Customize your 404 page to provide helpful information and navigation options to keep users engaged, providing them with a path back to your site.

13. Design with growth in mind

Plan for your website's future growth by designing it to handle expansion. This means making sure it can handle more content, features, and users while still performing well.

14. Ask customers for feedback

Regularly test the website with real feedback from users. And don't forget to ask your customers for feedback on their experience with your website. Use this feedback to identify pain points and areas for improvement, then make the necessary adjustments to enhance the user experience.

15. Create a user-centric design

The most important thing in UX is to place the needs, goals, and preferences of the users at the forefront of the design process. By understanding their behaviors and motivations, you can create designs that cater to their requirements and lead to higher customer satisfaction.

In conclusion, improving your website's user experience is a continuous process that requires attention to detail and a focus on the needs of your users. By implementing these strategies, you can create a website that is not only visually appealing but also user-friendly and effective in achieving your business goals.

Websites Made with Google Business Profiles Are Going Away

olympia@localbizfirst.com (Olympia Caswell) — Wed, 10 Apr 2024 23:37:41 GMT

How to Replace Your One-Page Local Business Site Created in Google

In 2017, Google started offering free (or cheap) small business websites as part of the Google Business Profile program. In less than one year, over 1 million business owners adopted this service, and the most recent estimate suggests there are as many as 22 million users worldwide.

This means that millions of local businesses operating on the tightest budgets will be significantly impacted by Google's decision to shut down this product in March 2024.

Domains that end with business.site and negocio.site will be removed from the website field in the google Business profile listings.

Fortunately, there are many platforms available so that business owners can recreate their web page after the shutdown. Google makes a few suggestions of their own, but they omitted a fantastic platform called Duda. We researched many website builders when choosing a go-to platform for Local Business First, and Duda proved to be the best for many reasons.

Tips to create a one-page website

Many small businesses start off with a single-page website since they are a cost-effective way to build an online presence. As your business grows and you have more time and resources to focus on your website, you may want to expand beyond a single page. But to start, here are 10 key elements designed to convert visitors into customers on a Local Business First website:

Design a simple logo using the design program of your choice. Canva is a free program that you can use, and it has been adopted by many for its ease of use. Read our blog on how to use Canva to create FREE images.
Use the header on your page as your unique selling proposition (USP) and be sure to include the name of your city or service region. For instance, the header for a photography company would note that they offer brand photography in Boston, MA.
Create a contact section on the page that includes your complete business name, address (if applicable), phone number, and hours of operation. If you're running a home-based business and prefer not to share your home address, simply include the city and state, but remember to include your phone number!
Feature your best photo on the page, and make sure it is one that clearly showcases what you do. If your business is highly visual, consider making this photo area a slideshow with thumbnails or embedding a video if available.
Use the first paragraph of the main body text to succinctly describe your business, services, and location. You can add more text below, but ensure the first paragraph is engaging enough to capture visitors in a hurry!
List all your services – even if mentioned in the main body text – in a section labeled “Services". If you sell goods, list your most popular items here.
If you have a physical location, embed a map showing where your business is located . For service area businesses (e.g., tree trimmers or plumbers), indicate your service area on the map.
Include reviews or testimonials from satisfied customers if possible. Customer feedback adds credibility to your business. In fact, 92% of consumers trust what previous customers say about brands more than what brands say about themselves. Also remember to embed your Google Reviews in your page.
Provide links to all social media pages and review platforms where customers can connect with you and learn more about your business’ reputation.
Never publish a page without a clear call to action (CTA) . Make your CTA big and bold – whether it says “call now,” “buy now,” or “contact us.”

A single-page website should be seen as an online brochure for your business. As outlined above, you can include a wealth of actionable and persuasive information in a small space.

While we recommend going beyond one page when possible, remember that a one-page site can be as long as you like. The more text, photos, videos, reviews, portfolios, and other information about your business you include on your website, the better. We recommend the following pages if possible: a testimonials/review page , a photo gallery/portfolio or before/after photos, case studies, and such.

If you have questions on how to get the most out of your one-page website or to create a comprehensive website, please contact our us.

We are offering a one page website for $299. Offer ends August 31, 2024.

What are the most important features for your website?

olympia@localbizfirst.com (Olympia Caswell) — Fri, 05 Jan 2024 23:16:45 GMT

What makes a good website design?

An effective website that converts customers is directly tied to establishing a successful online presence!

Nowadays, potential buyers conduct the majority of their research online before making an in-person or in-store visit, so as a business owner, that’s a major factor to consider in your attempt to attract more online traffic!

Specifically, the look, feel, and branding of your website can greatly impact potential customers. Whenever a client visits a new site, they first see the design, color, and aesthetic, and then investigate its responsiveness.

So how do you know you're building a website that will do what you hope it will do? By ensuring your website has the right features.

Here are the top 15 features every business owner should make sure are included when building a website:

1. Modern, fresh and simple design

The overall design of a website is first and foremost what captures user attention.

What happens during the first-ever site visit truly influences the whole user experience. It’s important to note that the decision to stick around and continue browsing your website takes only 0.05 seconds! (Yes, you read that correctly.) Therefore, the first impression certainly counts for a lot, and you need to do everything you can to give potential customers an amazing experience.

There are so many trends when it comes to an effective website design. Here are a few:

Strong Design with Limited Color Palette - We recommend choosing a simple color scheme for your site. Although businesses usually want to make their logo the center of attention, it’s not necessarily a bad thing to let the logo take a back seat. This approach helps make it easier for users to focus on your message.
Making Use of White Space - This strategy makes your site look clean and neat. The majority of site visitors prefer a plain and elegant design, so making use of white space is a great way to capture the attention of your audience.

2. Has Great Visuals

Take the time to refine your design choices. Check how much space headers take up, make sure images are the same size and quality, and double-check that fonts are easy to read. Typography, color combos, images, and videos all play a big role in how things look.

While some sites might catch your eye at first, they should keep up a consistent experience for users. Keeping fonts and colors consistent and making sure design elements work well together is key.

3. High-quality images

Using high-quality images on business websites has become increasingly important.

An image speaks for your site, gives emphasis to your messages, and allows site visitors to know more about your business even prior to reading the text contents. So, what exactly makes for a high-quality image?

Sharpness : No one likes websites with blurry and/or skewed images.

Relevance : It’s important to ensure that the images you’re displaying are related to your business and your audience. If the image doesn’t portray the content that surrounds it, readers will become confused and your website will be better without it.

Speed : Make sure you use the most appropriate file size so the loading time won’t be negatively impacted.

4. Intuitive design and user experience

A website that has an intuitive design is user-friendly. The easier your website is to navigate and find the content you are looking for; the more people like it - it's as simple as that! A good website is built to be straightforward so that when a user accesses it for the first time, they know exactly what to do and where to go.

Prioritizing user experience (UX) in website creation is essential for businesses to effectively meet their customers' needs.

UX design focuses on improving usability, accessibility, and convenience, encompassing principles such as user-centered design, clear navigation, visual hierarchy, responsive and mobile-friendly design and more. Read this blog on UX Design to learn more.

By implementing these principles and following the UX design process of understanding user pain points, creating personas, mapping user journeys, and delivering UX design deliverables, businesses can enhance the user experience, drive growth, and create intuitive, user-friendly websites.

Understanding your target users is crucial for getting the right design, enabling you to see your site through their eyes and ensure straightforward navigation and content discovery. Enhancing the user experience starts with an intuitive design that guides users seamlessly.

Check out the layout below for a visual representation of this concept.

5. Simple and easy to find call to action

In general, people want things to be made as easy as possible, including being able to easily contact a business, submit an inquiry or make an order. Call to action options like these make it clear to potential customers which action to take next.

For example, “Call Us” and “Buy Service” buttons are two of the most important CTAs one can have on their website.

6. Links to social media sites & Google Reviews

The social media section is a vital part of your website. This is the spot where you place the links to your social media pages - Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Email, etc. A social media section is important to include because It serve as proof of legitimacy for your customers. Local reviews are also important for giving your clients social proof.

Adding social media links to your website is also a way to increase the awareness of your content. The links expand your brand reach and awareness through the users’ networks and they also help increase the number of people who subscribe and follow you.

7. Direct links to reviews

All good websites should have a designated section where users can leave reviews about your business and/or read existing feedback from previous customers.

Your site should have a dedicated space to ask customers about their experience with your business, whether they were satisfied with the service, and/or if they were happy with the product they bought.

This section is an important way of showing your customers that you want to hear from them and that you value their comments. Needless to say, every business should showcase a significant number of reviews to help build trust with target buyers.

8. Has a useful company blog

Site visitors want to see updated content and the latest information about your company - whether it’s through a story of a recent customer experience or some background about your business or products.

Publishing blog posts regularly with useful content shows your audience that you are a transparent and trusted resource. This also allows you to share your insights and opinions on certain topics and serves as a forum for you to ask your readers to interact with you by leaving their comments.

Also… Google appears to favor fresh and frequently published content. Not to mention blogs are a great place to create links back to your site and use keywords in for SEO!

9. Has an easy way to set up online payments

If you have an eCommerce website, you must offer an easy, secure way for your customers to set up online payments.

Regardless of which method that is, it is best to provide instructions and make sure that the payment system is always working. Downtimes may cause customers to leave the site and look for other businesses in the same field.

10. Has personalization tools

What is website personalization?

Website personalization is the process of creating an exclusive, one-on-one, customized experience for visitors to a website. By considering factors such as the time of day, location, frequency of visits, past purchases, and other relevant data, the website tailors the experience specifically to the individual user, rather than offering a generic and uniform experience to all.

Do you have a product on sale? A personalization tool could be a fun feature designed to quickly capture your user’s attention when visiting your site for the first time. Typically, these tools (or pop-ups, as they call them), include a call-to-action button whose purpose is to get your visitor to do something - i.e., contact them, buy something, go to another page of your site, etcetera.

11. Has Search Engine Optimization tools

Strengthening your online presence involves improving your site’s search engine optimization (SEO), which greatly depends on the website builder that you choose to use.

That said, the right builder should have the following features:

A place to add title, meta descriptions tags
Ability to change the webpage url
Ability to resize, compress & rename images, alt tags
An easy-to-implement schema markup (code that Google uses). Local Business, FAQs, etc...
Block search engines so it does not show in the search results
Ability to add social media image and tracking codes for individual pages
Inclusion of Google Analytics & search console connection and metrics

12. Is mobile-friendly & responsive

A mobile friendly website is essentially when your regular website shrinks down to be small enough to display on a mobile device correctly. Mobile friendly websites should be easy to navigate without the user needing to zoom in or adjust their settings manually. They are responsive to the user.

If you are planning to build a website for your business, make sure they are mobile-friendly so that anyone and everyone can access it easily and fast.

13. Includes a contact form & email signup form

If you are running a business, contact forms are one of the best ways to get more leads - which is one of the main reasons why you need to generate a simple and easy-to-use contact form.

Good forms should provide users with feedback as they fill your form out so they can see any mistakes before hitting the submit button. At the very least, you want to make sure users have typed in a valid email address and phone numbers.

Email signups are also an easy way for you to target the right customers by having them subscribe to your mailing list.

14. Has testimonials

Displaying your customer testimonials front and center is a great way to quickly build trust and connection with potential customers visiting your website.

They also can serve as great tools for SEO especially if they contain top keywords for your industry and services.

15. Has multilingual content

A website that offers multilingual content will give your business an edge over your competitors, especially if it’s a global company. You can help customers from other regions or countries understand your message by using multilingual content on your site. It makes the user feel that they can connect with your business, letting them know that when you created the site, they were on your mind.

16. Uses an intelligent chatbot

AI Chatbots are a major value-added feature and a great addition to one’s website. From an end-user standpoint, they deliver a tremendous amount of convenience to site visitors. For businesses that offer services and sell products, AI Chatbots like Frase provide real-time assistance to potential customers, which is a great way to reduce bounce rate.

Conclusion

A website serves as a door to a world of opportunities for your business and developing a functional site with top features should be a priority for your company. It’s critical to choose a platform capable of implementing all the features we described in this blog and designing a mobile-friendly and fast website which in the end will deliver a strong online presence for your business.

The Duda platform offers each of these powerful features and is flexible, easy-to-use, and adaptive to all your new projects. Our favorite functionality is the drag-and-drop tool that makes it easy to create a modern, effective, and state-of-the-art website that accomplishes each of our outlined points.

Local Business First uses Duda to design websites 3 ways - DIY , Done With You and Custom . Each web design offering has a custom feel, with all of the features you need for a phenomenal website.

How do you know when a DIY website is the right choice for you? Come to our FREE 30 min Workshop and learn more.
Do you have any questions about website features, our suggestions of features you'd like to see? We'd love to hear from you!

Why are your Google posts images rejected?

olympia@localbizfirst.com (Olympia Caswell) — Sat, 16 Dec 2023 14:18:01 GMT

Reason why Google Rejects Business Profile Images

Understanding why Google rejects uploaded photos to your Google Business Profile can be pivotal. Here are six reasons for potential rejection of photos in your Google post:

1. Your Google Business Profile is New

Profiles less than 2 weeks old or recently reinstated undergo a probationary period to establish credibility. Wait for a minimum of 14 days post-verification or reinstatement before uploading images.

2. Too Much Text in Image

BPhotos exceeding 10% coverage with text or containing text away from the image edges may face rejection. Male sure images are less than 1500 pixels on the longest side, in JPG or PNG format, and under 5MB in size.

3. Copyrighted Images or Duplicate Content

Google employs an algorithm to identify duplicates and copyrighted material. Prior to reattempting photo uploads, ensure removal of any duplicate, watermarked, or copyrighted images. Write unique content, then allow at least 48 hours for reconsideration.

4. Past Spamming

If your profile has a history of spammy photo uploads, Google will sometimes reject your photos. In this case you need to contact Google support .

5. AI SafeSearch Evaluation

All images must pass through Google’s AI Safe Search evaluation for explicit and inappropriate content.

6. Technical Glitches:

Occasional technical problems within Google's system may cause photos to erroneously appear as rejected. Patience is advised; waiting 24 to 48 hours might resolve the issue.

If you've ticked all the boxes and still hit a wall, you can get in touch with Google Business Profile support.

Let us know if you need help creating content or optimizing your Google Business Profile. We are glad to help and we are offering a winter discount

10 tips for ranking higher in online search results in your area

olympia@localbizfirst.com (Olympia Caswell) — Thu, 07 Dec 2023 19:50:56 GMT

10 strategies for ranking higher in online search results in your area

As a local business owner, it can feel like a daunting task to keep up with digital marketing.

You may not have the same resources as a big corporation. Or maybe search engine optimization (SEO) feels like a mystery to you. You've been overwhelmed trying to figure out where to start when it comes to good SEO practices that help get your local business found online.

That's okay! There are things you can start doing today to prioritize SEO and see a difference in your website's inbound traffic.

First things first, it's important to understand why you should put time and energy into improving local SEO for your business.

Why Local Search Engine Optimization Matters

There are searchers in your area who are just one click away from finding your products and services. But how do you point them to your website?

You might assume that large chain stores have the upper hand when it comes to the top spots for search engine results. But did you know, major search engines such as Google actually pay attention to and add a lot of weight to the geographical location of the searcher?

This means that search engines actually show search results to potential customers who are looking for the products or services offered in your area. Standard SEO does not use the same geographical targeting as local SEO, so that's why with local SEO tactics, you will see your business show up higher in organic results than the big box stores or businesses that don't optimize for location.

So how can you take advantage of this? Local businesses can maximize visibility and drive organic* traffic in several ways.

*Organic search traffic is search traffic not generated by paid ads.

Local SEO Checklist

At Local Business First, we've put together this checklist to walk you through 11 simple steps you can take to implement a local SEO strategy for your business.

1. Analyze the Competition

The first place to start is to identify your top 5 - 10 competitor sites and do an analysis. This is important because these are the sites that will come up in relevant searches when people in your area are looking and they will ultimately rank against yours.

Are there any target keyword(s) you don't use? Use tools to find out what your competitors are ranking and how they are indexed* by search engines.

*Website Indexation is the process by which a search engine adds web content to its index. An indexed website helps a site or a page actually appear in search engine results - which is typically the first step to ranking and generating traffic.

2. Know how search engines work

What are ranking factors? They are essentially signals to search engines that are used to decide the best ordering of relevant results in a search query. You should know the top ranking factors Google uses to see how your website stacks up.

The most signigicant ranking fators that often influence local search rankings:

Google My Business (GMB) signals: Optimizing and maintaining accurate information in your GMB listing, including business name, address, phone number (NAP), categories, and reviews.
Relevance: How well your business listing matches a user's search intent, particularly related to keywords, categories, and user queries.
Proximity: The physical distance of the business location to the user's location or the area specified in the search query.
On-page SEO: Having a well-optimized website with relevant keywords, high-quality content, and clear NAP information that matches the GMB listing, mobile-friendly site, great page experience, high page speed, internal links*, and external links*.
Reviews and ratings: Positive reviews and high ratings from customers on various platforms, particularly Google reviews, can significantly impact local search rankings.
Website authority: The overall authority and credibility of your website, determined by backlinks, domain authority, and quality content.
Mobile-friendliness: Ensuring your website is optimized for mobile devices, as mobile searches contribute significantly to local search results.
Citation signals: Consistency of NAP information across various online directories, business listings, and citations.
Click-through rate (CTR): The rate at which users click on your business in search results, indicating relevance and popularity.
Social signals: Engagement on social media platforms and the presence of your business on these channels can influence local search visibility.
Behavioral signals: User behavior, including the time spent on a website, bounce rate, and other interaction metrics, can impact local search rankings.

*We will explain what internal & external links mean and why they are important below.

3. Check to see that you’re using the right keyword targets for your products and services

When Google is referring to "on-page optimization" they are referring to using keywords in the description of your products and services that reflect what your target audience is actually searching for in your area.

Using a keyword research SEO tool will help you discover all the relevant keywords to add to your descriptions as well as guide you in what the relevant categories you need to include and the type of content you should be using in your copy.

4. Don’t Forget "Backend" SEO Titles & Descriptions

Most website platforms have a dedicated space where you can use keywords to title your pages (AKA title tags) and enter "meta descriptions" on the backend. These titles and descriptions won't appear in your website copy but instead they help your site to appear more readily to search engine algorithms and ultimately the searchers themselves.

Read more about meta descriptions h ere.

5. Reference Your Location in Key Parts of Your Site

Key areas of your site such are your homepage, blog posts and pages that have descriptions of products and services should reference your location. You should also name URLs using your location.

For example: www.ajrconstructionservices.com/knox-county. Something as simple as tagging your business location on social media sites will have an effect on this too.

6. Optimize your Google Business Profile

If you haven't already, it is critical that you set up a Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business ) and keep it optimized.

- Keep your business profile up to date

Be sure to fill out all the information it's asking for until your profile is complete. It's important that your business description does not leave out business category, services, products and hours open. Also the business address you use here will feed into Google Maps which is another way customers will be able to search for you.

The more information you provide, the more likely your website will appear in search results! Additionally, Google scores your business listing, so always aim for 100%.

As of November 2023, Google seems to be considering a business's current operational status as a significant factor affecting its ranking in local pack listings. Make sure you update your hours!

Find more information on how to improve your Google Business Profile listing here .

- Select a business category

Choosing a category for your business is extremely important when it comes to being discovered by potential customers and accessing category-specific features for your profile.

Most views to your Google Business Profile will come from discovery searches. These are where a potential customer searches for the category of product or service they’re looking for instead of the business name.

Also, when you select a category, Google gives you access to category-specific features that enhance the effectiveness of your profile. Restaurants, for example, can include a reservation button so customers don't have to click on the website to book a table.

There are over 4,000 categories to choose from, so it is likely that you’ll be able to find one that accurately matches your business. For example, if you’re a cafe choose "vegan cafe" instead of simply "cafe,” if that applies.

Pro tip: If you aren't sure what category select, do some competitor research to see what companies like yours list themselves as.

- Choose secondary categories but don't go overboard

Oftentimes businesses have multiple categories, as they offer different types of services. This is why secondary categories exist. After you choose your primary category, input any others your business could fit into. Don’t overdo this, though. as you only want to attract customers who are in need of your services/products.

- Add new photos & videos

Uploading photos to your profile is important for a number of reasons. The first is that it lets Google know that you’re active and your profile is accurate, which improves your ranking. Another is that since anyone can upload photos to your business profile, adding your own ensures that there are some high-quality photos in the mix. Lastly, customers are much more likely to interact with your profile if they see photos attached, as they’ll view it as more reliable and trustworthy.

Guidelines for uploading photos

Use your logo for your thumbnail photo
Upload a cover photo
Don't use photos with special effects or stock photos
Choose high-quality photos with clear subjects
Upload a new photo every week
Include photos that your products/services, your employees, the interior/exterior of your location, and satisfied customers
To add a 360-degree photo to your profile, use the Google Street View app
Geo-tag your photos to improve your local search rankings (research shows this is not at the top of the list)

Pro-tip: Be careful to follow Google guidelines when you create images. Learn why Google might reject your images.

- Obtain business reviews

Getting reviews on your business is important both in improving your ranking in Google and also in making you appear more trustworthy to potential customers. People are much more likely to go with a business that’s been highly reviewed versus one with no reviews even if the businesses offer the same services or products.

Ask your customers to write a review; most will do it if asked! To make it easier and more convenient for them, send them a direct link to the review page so they don't have to go searching for it. Make sure you don't offer discounts or gifts in return for a review, as this is not allowed.

Then, after someone leaves a review, make sure to reply to them, as this shows your customers you care about their feedback, and it also improves your local SEO.

* Pro- Tip: It's a huge plus if in your customer reviews, you can get people to leave reviews for your products or services with links back to your site.

- Make Google posts every week

Posting to your Google Business Profile is a lot like posting to a social media account - you can make announcements about any ongoing or upcoming events and deals or post about your products/services in general. Like adding photos, posts can improve your local ranking while also increasing engagement from searchers.

To keep your customers updated, post at least once a week using a call to action and link in each. When posting about a marketing campaign with a timeline, be sure to use event and offer posts. This ensures that your posts will remain for the duration of the campaign.

- Answer the questions your customers ask

It's important to answer the questions presented to you in the question & answer section of your profile, as these responses can influence a customer's decision to pick your company. Anyone can answer questions asked in this section, which can lead to false information and the loss of potential business.

Create a list of the questions that come up most often for your company. After that, post an inquiry, a response, and an upvote on your own profile. If possible, use relevant keywords in your response, as this can help improve your ranking.

- Add products and services

If your business name does not make it clear what you provide, adding goods and services might be extremely useful. By filling this out, your profile has more material to boost its ranking for even more pertinent queries.

Provide the name, description, and cost of any items or services you add. Also, Google can include links to your items in its category area.

- Enable messaging

When you enable messaging, searchers can send a text message to your phone from your profile. As it uses a special app, no need to worry about it giving out your personal phone number. All you have to do is install the app through the Apple App Store or Google Play and then switch on messaging by choosing the "Messaging" button in your Google Business dashboard.

This is a fantastic chance for clients to contact you, as most smartphone users utilize their devices for local searche

7. List your website with online directories

Creating a profile on popular sites such as Yelp and other business directories can make you more visible in search engine results as well as to any directory user.

You might also want to consider membership with your local Chamber of Commerce. They often provide direct listings for its members and can advertise your business with content that will link back to your site and contribute to your domain ranking.

Listing your business on other external sites is what we call link building (learn more here ) and is one of the important moving pieces that contributes to driving organic traffic to your site through search engine results. Read more on local citations.

8. Use outbound & inbound links for credibility

This is simpler than it sounds!

Outbound links are links included in your content (website pages, blogs, etc..) that directs readers to an external website. Using high quality outbound links (websites that have a high domain ranking authority) is important for credibility in search engine ranking.

For example, if you're writing content about marketing, you could link useful content from other popular websites.

Internal Links are linked pages within your own site that easily take visitors to other pages of your content. This improves your SEO by creating a better user experience for your people browsing your website. Read our blog on How to create inbound links .

*Pro - Tip: Always double check to make sure your site doesn't have any broken links.

9. Don't duplicate content

Google and other search engines reward content that directly answers the queries people are searching for, rather than focusing on generic or keyword-stuffed information and resist the urge to repurpose your content word for word!

Great content should be accurate, comprehensive, specific and original.

Although it's convenient, each page you write copy for should have high quality, distinct content. Search engine crawlers don't like duplicate content and Google will penalize this with lower rankings in search results.

10. Make sure your website is mobile-friendly and fast

Did you know, the majority of searches are done on mobile devices? Recent data from 2022 cites that nearly 60% of all searches are done on our cell phones and this still holds true today.

It's important that your website performs well on mobile devices and it should adapt automatically to display correctly and load quickly, too. This will give mobile users a positive customer journey and user experience on your website, which is a ranking factor Google uses to prioritize sites that perform well on mobile phones.

Something else to note, website visitors are more likely to contact a local business through a mobile search if they have a mobile-friendly site!

* Pro Tip - You can use Google's mobile-friendly testing tool to test user experience and how your website performs.

Conclusion

Local SEO is a sure way to improve your search visibility, search rankings and drive more visitors to your website. It's also one of the easiest ways to start organically building credibility of your products and services to attract prospective customers.

The bottom line is that you don't have to compete with big box stores to make sure your business is more easily found by target customers in your area. Any local business owner can implement our simple search strategy above so that your SEO starts to do the work for you.

Most importantly, all of your efforts here should start to translate into tangible results. Local SEO will help improve your website ranking as well as your organic traffic, conversion rates, online visibility and happy customers!

Use our checklist as an SEO audit to see how your business is doing and contact us today for a consultation on the SEO services you need to get your business found.

Importance of Content in Google Core Updates

olympia@localbizfirst.com (Olympia Caswell) — Wed, 06 Dec 2023 21:38:28 GMT

Understanding The Google Core Algorithm Updates

What are Google Core Search Updates?

While Google updates its algorithm frequently, with estimates ranging between 500 and 600 changes per year, most of these adjustments are minor and don't significantly affect search rankings. However, major updates, also known as core updates, can substantially impact a large portion of keyword searches.

Imagine Google as a librarian trying to curate the best selection of books for their library. Core updates are like the librarian periodically rearranging the shelves to ensure the most relevant and valuable books are easily accessible. This means that some books previously on top shelves might move down, while others hidden away might be brought to the front. It's not that the "moved down" books are bad, but simply that other books are now considered more valuable for readers.

To no surprise, the last three core updates from Google search algorithms have to do with content! They are aimed to promote content that is truly helpful and valuable to users, rather than content that is simply optimized for search engines and has lots of keywords.

These updates are done with one goal in mind: to create a great search experience for users!

September 2023 Google Core Update, Content Relevance & User Intent

The focus of the September 2023 Google Core Update was content relevance and user intent. This update aimed to promote content that is truly helpful and valuable to users, rather than content that is simply optimized for search engines.

Content Relevance

Content should address the specific needs and questions of users. This emphasizes the importance of creating content that directly answers the queries people are searching for, rather than focusing on generic or keyword-stuffed information.

Great content should be accurate, comprehensive, and specific:

Accuracy: Does the content address the user's specific question or need directly?
Comprehensive: Does the content provide comprehensive and informative coverage of the topic?
Specificity: Does the content focus on the user's exact intent or does it stray off-topic?

Content should be highly relevant to the topic at hand. Content that delves deeper into the topic and provides comprehensive coverage will be favored over shallow or superficial pieces.

User Intent

Google wants to understand the underlying purpose behind a search query and reward content that fulfills that purpose effectively.

Great content should distinguish between the types of intent behind the information the user seeks:

Informational: Is the user looking to learn something new?
Transactional: Is the user looking to buy something or complete a task?
Navigational: Is the user looking for a specific website or location?

This update continues the evolution of Google's algorithm updates, which have increasingly focused on rewarding content that prioritizes user experience and provides genuine value.

October 2023 Google Core Update: Expertise, Authoritativeness, & Trustworthiness (E-A-T)

A primary objective of the October 2023 Google Core Update was expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness (E-A-T). This is a fancy way of saying that Google wanted to prioritize content created by people and websites who are considered experts in their field and can be trusted to provide accurate and reliable information.

Think of it like this: Imagine you're looking for medical advice online. You wouldn't just trust any random article you find. You'd want information from a reputable source, like a doctor or a well-established medical website. That's the same approach Google takes with its E-A-T focus.

Here are some specific examples of E-A-T:

Expertise: Does the content demonstrate a deep understanding of the topic? Think of a doctor specializing in a specific area. They have studied extensively, gained experience, and are recognized as an expert in their field.
Authoritativeness: Is the content written by an expert or someone with recognized knowledge in the field? Imagine a famous chef whose recipes are trusted and followed by millions. Their reputation and experience make them an authority in their field.
Trustworthiness: Is the content reliable and accurate? Is the website credible? Picture a news website known for its accurate, unbiased reporting. Their commitment to truthfulness and integrity makes them a trustworthy source of information.

By prioritizing websites and content that demonstrate strong E-A-T, Google aims to deliver the most accurate and trustworthy information to its users. This means that websites that prioritize high-quality content from experts are likely to benefit from this update, while websites with less reliable content may see declines in their rankings.

Remember, it's not just about the content itself, but also about the website as a whole. Google takes factors like website reputation, author bios, and backlinks into account when evaluating E-A-T. So, if you want to ensure your website performs well after a core update like this, focus on building your online authority and demonstrating your expertise in your field.

Read on how to build backlinks to your site.

November 2023 Google Core Update: Informative, Valuable, & Engaging Content

The November 2023 Google Core Update prioritized unveiling hidden gems and rewarding content that provides more value.

This update aimed to identify and elevate high-quality, helpful content that wasn't previously ranking as well as it deserved. This means that content that is truly informative, engaging, and addresses user needs effectively, even if it's not from well-known sources, could see a boost in rankings.

It was also meant to encourage content creators to focus on user value and genuine helpfulness over keyword stuffing and manipulative tactics.

Imagine Google as a treasure hunter searching for hidden gems and rare artifacts. Previously, they might have overlooked some valuable pieces in their search. The November 2023 update is akin to Google refining their treasure hunting skills and unearthing these hidden treasures, bringing them to light for everyone to appreciate.

For content creators, this update means:

Focusing on creating content that truly helps users solve their problems or answer their questions.
Prioritizing detailed and accurate information over generic or shallow content.
Building relationships with your audience and understanding their needs and expectations.

Read how to create useful content and blog posts for your website.

Remember, core updates are just one-factor influencing website ranking. Focusing on creating high-quality content that genuinely helps users is crucial, regardless of any specific core update.

By staying focused on providing value, you'll be well-positioned to succeed in the ever-evolving landscape of Google search.

Benefits and drawbacks of blogging for your local business

Sat, 21 Oct 2023 22:27:40 GMT

Top benefits and drawbacks of creating a blog for your website

In today's digital age, having a strong online presence is crucial for the success of any local business. Your website serves as the virtual face of your company, making it essential to optimize your site for maximum exposure and customer engagement. One of the most effective tools in achieving this is a blog. Therefore, we will explore the significance of blogs for local business websites and why you should consider incorporating one into your online marketing strategy.

What can a blog do for your website?

Boosts Search Engine Visibility

Blogs are powerful for search engine optimization (SEO). Good content feeds search engines. When you regularly publish high-quality, relevant, and valuable content on your website, search engines take notice. By targeting the keywords that potential customers are searching for, your blog posts can help your website climb the search engine rankings. As your website moves up in search results, your business becomes more visible to local customers looking for products or services you offer.

Is a great tool for blink building

Backlinks are like gold stars for your website when it comes to showing up on Google. If you want your site to shine, you've got to create to have other sites link back to your website. Read our blog on link building .

Establishes Authority and Expertise

A well-maintained blog can position your local business as an authority in your industry. By consistently sharing informative and insightful content, you demonstrate your expertise and knowledge to your target audience. As potential customers recognize your authority, they are more likely to trust your products or services, making it easier to convert leads into loyal customers.

Builds Relationships with Customers

Blogs are an excellent way to engage with your customers on a more personal level. By providing a platform for interaction, you can encourage discussions, answer questions, and address concerns. This builds trust and fosters a sense of community around your brand. In a local business context, strong customer relationships can lead to repeat business and positive word-of-mouth marketing.

Showcase Local Relevance

Local businesses need to emphasize their ties to the community. When people search for a local business, customers are looking for someone who knows the area and how to navigate local issues and opportunities. Blogs allow you to create content that showcases your local involvement, such as sponsoring local events, supporting charities, or participating in community activities. This not only boosts your local reputation but also connects with potential customers who value businesses that contribute to their community.

Highlights Special Offers and Promotions

Blogs are a valuable source of content for your social media channels. When you share your blog posts on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, you drive traffic back to your website. This not only increases your website's visibility but also allows you to reach a broader audience through social sharing and engagement.

Are a Source of Content for Social Media

Analyzes Customer Interests

Blogs can provide insights into customer preferences and interests. By monitoring which blog posts receive the most views, comments, and shares, you can gauge what topics resonate most with your audience. This information helps you tailor your products and services to better meet local demands.

Have a Long-term Value

Unlike some other forms of online marketing, blog content has a long-term value. Well-optimized blog posts can continue to attract organic traffic for months or even years. This means that the time and effort invested in creating quality blog content can pay off well into the future.

What are the drawbacks of blogging?

It's time consuming

Maintaining a blog requires a non-trivial time and resource investment. Consistently creating high-quality content can be challenging for small local businesses with limited staff or budgets. Consistency is key, and local businesses must be prepared to produce content regularly to see meaningful results. Maintaining a high standard over time can be challenging, especially if you lack dedicated content creators.

Might be Too Competitive

The online content landscape could be highly competitive. Local businesses may struggle to stand out and generate substantial traffic, especially in oversaturated markets or industries.

Might be Difficult to Measure Return on Investment

Determining the return on investment (ROI) of blogging can be challenging. It may take time to see tangible results in terms of increased web traffic, conversions, or meaningful relationships, making it hard to justify the resource allocation.

Local businesses cannot afford to overlook the benefits of having a blog on their website. It is a cost-effective tool for improving search engine visibility, establishing authority, building customer relationships, and showcasing local relevance. With the ability to highlight special offers and provide content for social media, blogs are a versatile asset in your online marketing strategy. By consistently delivering valuable content to your local audience, you can enhance your business's visibility, credibility, and customer loyalty, leading to increased success, growth and ultimately sales.

Tips to Improve Off-Page SEO

Mon, 16 Oct 2023 19:57:19 GMT

Off-Page SEO: Proven Strategies for Greater Online Visibility

Off-page SEO is a crucial approach to take into account if you want to increase your website's exposure and authority in the online world. Off-page SEO relies on constructing external signals and creating a strong online presence, whereas on-page optimization focuses on optimizing the content and structure of your website.

Off-page SEO strategies have a big influence on your website's search engine results, from constructing high-quality backlinks to engaging in social media and managing your online reputation.

In this article, we'll look at a variety of helpful pointers and strategies to help you with off-page SEO. Off-page optimization for SEO involves improving a website's visibility and reputation through activities outside of the website itself. Some of the most common tactics used for off-page optimization include:

Link building

Link building in SEO refers to the practice of acquiring links from other websites to improve a site's authority and visibility in search engine rankings. It involves obtaining relevant and high-quality backlinks from reputable sources, which signal to search engines that the website is trustworthy and authoritative.

The quality and relevance of these links are important for SEO. High-quality external links from authoritative websites are more valuable than low-quality links from spammy or irrelevant websites.

Link building helps increase organic traffic, enhances search engine rankings, and improves the overall online reputation of a website. It is a vital component of SEO strategies aimed at boosting a website's visibility, credibility, and competitiveness in search engine results pages.

Tips for link building:

Create high-quality, valuable content that others would naturally want to link to.
Reach out to relevant websites, bloggers, or influencers and request them to link to your content.
Participate in industry-related forums, discussions, or communities and include your website link in your contributions.
Guest post on authoritative blogs or websites within your niche, including a link back to your own site.
Utilize social media platforms to share your content and engage with others in your industry, potentially attracting backlinks.
Submit your website to reputable online directories or resource listings.
Seek opportunities for collaboration or partnerships with other websites or businesses, where they can link to your content.
Monitor and track your backlinks to ensure they are from reputable sources and remove any toxic or low-quality links.
Foster relationships with influencers or thought leaders in your industry who may naturally link to your content.
Focus on providing value and building genuine connections, as organic and natural link-building is more effective and sustainable in the long run.

Social media marketing

Social media marketing in SEO refers to leveraging social media platforms to promote and enhance a website's visibility, reach, and engagement. It involves creating and sharing relevant and compelling content on social media channels to attract and interact with the target audience.

By utilizing social media platforms effectively, businesses can increase brand awareness, drive website traffic, and improve search engine rankings through increased social signals and backlinks. Social media marketing can amplify the impact of SEO efforts, generate user engagement, and contribute to the overall online visibility and success of a website or brand.

Tips for social media marketing:

Identify the social media platforms where your target audience is most active.
Create engaging and shareable content that aligns with your target audience's interests and needs.
Use relevant hashtags to increase the discoverability of your posts.
Interact with your audience by responding to comments, messages, and mentions.
Share links to your blog posts or website content on social media channels to drive traffic.
Collaborate with influencers or industry experts to amplify your reach and credibility.
Join relevant groups or communities on social media to connect with like-minded individuals and share your content.
Encourage social sharing by including social sharing buttons on your blog posts or website pages.
Monitor social media analytics to track engagement, reach, and referral traffic to your website.
Engage in conversations, discussions, and trending topics related to your niche to build brand visibility and authority.
Use visual content such as images, videos, or infographics to make your social media posts more engaging and shareable.

Guest blogging

Guest blogging in SEO refers to the practice of writing and publishing articles or blog posts on other websites within your industry or niche. It involves collaborating with website owners to contribute valuable and relevant content in exchange for a backlink to your own website.

Guest blogging helps to establish authority, build relationships, and increase brand exposure. It also provides an opportunity to reach a wider audience and drive targeted traffic to your website. By strategically selecting reputable websites for guest blogging, you can enhance your SEO efforts and improve search engine rankings through quality backlinks and increased online visibility.

Tips for guest blogging:

Identify authoritative and relevant websites within your industry or niche that accept guest posts.
Research their content guidelines and audience to ensure your guest post aligns with their requirements.
Craft high-quality and valuable content that offers unique insights, practical tips, or industry expertise.
Reach out to website owners or editors with a personalized and concise pitch explaining your guest blogging proposal.
Follow their submission guidelines and provide well-written and formatted content that is ready for publishing.
Include a relevant and contextual backlink to your website within the guest post to drive traffic and improve SEO.
Engage with the audience by responding to comments or questions on your guest post.
Promote your guest post on social media channels to increase its visibility and reach.
Build relationships with website owners and editors by delivering excellent guest posts and maintaining professional communication.

Influencer marketing

Influencer marketing in SEO refers to leveraging the reach and influence of individuals or entities with a large following and authority in a specific niche to promote your brand, products, or content.

By collaborating with influencers, businesses can tap into their established audience and credibility to increase brand awareness, drive traffic, and improve search engine rankings. Influencer marketing involves partnerships or sponsorships where influencers endorse or create content featuring the brand, generating social signals, and backlinks, and potentially boosting organic visibility and engagement.

Tips for influencer marketing:

Identify influencers within your industry or niche whose audience aligns with your target market.
Research and evaluate the influencer's authenticity, engagement, and reputation before approaching them.
Build relationships with influencers by engaging with their content, sharing their posts, and leaving meaningful comments.
Reach out to influencers with a personalized and genuine message explaining how collaborating can benefit both parties.
Offer valuable incentives such as product samples, exclusive discounts, or unique content for the influencer and their audience.
Collaborate on content creation, allowing the influencer to showcase your brand or products in an authentic and natural way.
Encourage influencers to share their content featuring your brand on their social media channels, blog, or website.
Monitor the performance and impact of influencer collaborations by tracking referral traffic, engagement, and brand mentions.
Cultivate long-term relationships with influencers by providing ongoing value and maintaining open communication.
Stay updated on industry trends and emerging influencers to expand your influencer marketing efforts and reach new audiences.

Online directories

Online directories in SEO are websites that organize and list businesses, websites, or resources based on specific categories or locations. They serve as a centralized platform for users to discover relevant information and businesses.

By submitting your website to online directories, you can improve your online visibility, enhance local SEO efforts, and generate valuable backlinks. Online directories can boost your website's credibility, increase brand awareness, and drive targeted traffic to your site. However, it's important to choose reputable directories with relevant categories to ensure the quality and relevance of the backlinks obtained.

Tips for online directories:

Identify reputable online directories that are relevant to your industry or niche.
Submit your website to directories that have high domain authority and a strong online presence.
Ensure your business information is accurate, consistent, and up-to-date across all directory listings.
Write a compelling and keyword-rich description of your business for the directory listing.
Include relevant and optimized keywords in the title and description of your listing.
Add your website's URL and contact information in the directory listing.
Encourage satisfied customers to leave positive reviews and ratings on directory listings.
Regularly monitor and update your directory listings to keep them current.

Community engagement

Community engagement in SEO refers to actively participating and interacting with online communities, forums, or groups related to your industry or target audience. By engaging with the community, you can build relationships, establish authority, and increase brand visibility.

Community engagement involves sharing valuable insights, answering questions, and contributing to discussions. It can help drive traffic to your website, generate backlinks, and improve search engine rankings.

Tips for community engagement:

Identify relevant online communities, forums, or groups where your target audience is active.
Create a genuine and complete profile within the community, including a professional bio and a link to your website.
Listen and observe before actively participating to understand the community dynamics and etiquette.
Contribute valuable insights, answers, and helpful information to discussions and threads.
Be respectful, courteous, and constructive in your interactions with community members.
Share your expertise and knowledge generously without directly promoting your own products or services.
Build relationships by actively engaging with other community members, responding to comments, and asking questions.
Participate regularly to establish a consistent presence within the community.
Avoid spamming or excessive self-promotion, as it may harm your reputation and credibility.
Use your website or blog link in a natural and non-promotional way when it adds value to the conversation.

Conclusion

By implementing these off-page optimization tactics, you can improve your website's visibility, reputation, and authority in the eyes of search engines, which can help to improve your search engine rankings and drive more traffic to your website.

Tips to improve website search engine optimization (SEO)

Mon, 16 Oct 2023 19:57:16 GMT

Essential Tips for Optimizing Your Website's Performance

What is SEO?

What is On-page SEO??

SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is the process of improving a website or webpage to make it more visible on search engines like Google. The goal is to rank higher in search results when people search for specific keywords or topics related to your business or content.

In simple terms: SEO helps your website show up when people search online. It involves using the right keywords, creating useful content, and making your site user-friendly so search engines recommend it to users.

This is everything you do on your website to improve its search engine ranking. It ensures your site is optimized for both search engines and users. On-Page SEO includes the following tactics:

Keywords: Using the right words (keywords) that people search for in your content, titles, and headings.

Content Quality: Writing clear, useful, and engaging articles or blog posts.

Images and Videos: Adding pictures or videos and making sure they load quickly.

Internal Links: Linking to other pages on your website to help visitors navigate.

Page Speed: Making your website load fast.

Mobile-Friendly Design: Ensuring your site looks good and works well on phones and tablets.

Example: If you have a page about "How to Bake a Cake," you optimize it by using the keyword "bake a cake" in the title, headings, and text, adding high-quality images of cakes, and ensuring the page loads quickly.

What is Off-page SEO??

This is everything you do outside your website to improve its ranking. It focuses on building your website's authority and reputation online. Off-Page SEO includes the following tactics:

Backlinks: Getting other websites to link to yours, like a vote of confidence.

Social Media: Sharing your content on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter to drive traffic.

Guest Blogging: Writing articles for other websites and linking back to your own.

Brand Mentions: Getting your brand name mentioned on other websites, even without a link.

Example: If a popular food blog links to your "How to Bake a Cake" page or shares it on social media, it boosts your credibility and helps search engines trust your site.

Keywords

Keyword research in SEO involves the process of identifying and analyzing the words and phrases that users enter into search engines when looking for information, products, or services. By understanding popular keywords and their search volume, competition, and relevance, businesses can optimize their website content to target those keywords effectively.

Keyword research helps improve search engine rankings, drive targeted organic traffic, and align website content with user intent. It is an essential step in SEO to identify valuable keywords that can attract the right audience and increase visibility in search engine results pages (SERPs).

Tips for keyword research:

Understand your target audience and their search intent to identify relevant keywords.
Use keyword research tools to discover popular and relevant keywords in your industry.
Analyze keyword metrics such as search volume, competition, and relevance to prioritize your keyword selection.
Consider long-tail keywords (specific phrases) as they often have less competition and higher conversion potential.
Look for keywords with a good balance between search volume and competition.
Incorporate a mix of primary keywords and related secondary keywords throughout your content.
Optimize your page titles, headings, meta descriptions, and URL structures with targeted keywords.
Create high-quality and informative content that naturally incorporates your chosen keywords.
Monitor and analyze the performance of your keywords using SEO analytics tools to refine your strategy over time.
Regularly update and refresh your keyword research to adapt to changing search trends and user behavior.

Protip: Install the FREE Chome extension META SEO Inspector and go to your competitor's website and cli k on this externsion.

Title tags

Title tags in SEO are HTML elements that define the title of a webpage. They appear as clickable headlines in search engine results pages (SERPs) and browser tabs. Title tags play a crucial role in on-page optimization as they provide a concise and descriptive summary of the webpage's content.

By incorporating relevant keywords and compelling language in title tags, businesses can improve search engine rankings and attract more clicks from users. Well-optimized title tags can increase the visibility and relevance of a webpage, ultimately driving organic traffic and improving overall SEO performance.

Tips for title tags:

Keep title tags concise, typically under 60 characters, to ensure they display fully in search results.
Include relevant keywords at the beginning of the title tag to improve search engine visibility.
Write descriptive and compelling titles that accurately reflect the content of the webpage.
Make titles engaging to encourage users to click by using action words or intriguing phrases.
Ensure each title tag is unique and specific to the content of the respective webpage.
Avoid keyword stuffing or excessive repetition of keywords in title tags.
Use proper capitalization and punctuation in title tags to enhance readability.
Consider incorporating your brand name or relevant modifiers to distinguish your titles.
Test and optimize title tags based on performance metrics, such as click-through rates and search engine rankings.
Regularly review and update title tags to align with changes in content or keyword strategies.

Example: "Tips to Improve On-Page SEO: Boost Your Website's Rankings and Visibility"

Meta descriptions

Meta descriptions in SEO are HTML attributes that provide a brief summary of the content on a webpage. They appear below the title tag in search engine results pages (SERPs) and aim to entice users to click on the link. Meta descriptions should be concise, compelling, and relevant to the webpage's content.

By optimizing meta descriptions with relevant keywords, businesses can improve search engine visibility, attract more clicks, and enhance the overall click-through rate (CTR) of their web pages. Well-crafted meta descriptions can positively impact the organic traffic and contribute to better SEO performance.

Tips for meta descriptions:

Keep meta descriptions concise, typically under 160 characters, to ensure they display fully in search results.
Include relevant keywords naturally to improve search engine visibility and match user intent.
Write compelling and engaging descriptions that accurately summarize the webpage's content.
Highlight unique selling points or key benefits to entice users to click on the link.
Make each meta description unique and specific to the content of the respective webpage.
Avoid duplicate meta descriptions across multiple pages to maintain clarity and relevance.
Use action words or persuasive language to encourage users to take action.
Include a call-to-action (CTA) to prompt users to click on the link and visit the webpage.
Consider incorporating your brand name or relevant modifiers for brand recognition and relevance.
Regularly review and update meta descriptions to align with changes in content or keyword strategies.

Example: Boost your website's SEO with expert tips on optimizing content, meta tags, and URLs. Increase organic traffic, improve rankings, and enhance user experience.

Header tags

Header tags, also known as heading tags, are HTML elements used to structure and highlight the content on a webpage. They range from H1 (the main heading) to H6 (subheadings). Header tags not only help organize the information for readers but also provide important signals to search engines about the hierarchy and relevance of the content.

By using header tags appropriately and incorporating relevant keywords, businesses can improve the readability, user experience, and search engine optimization of their web pages. Well-structured header tags contribute to better indexing, ranking, and overall visibility in search engine results pages (SERPs).

Tips for header tags:

Use a single H1 tag per webpage to indicate the main heading.
Utilize H2 to H6 tags for subheadings and hierarchical organization of content.
Incorporate relevant keywords naturally within header tags to improve SEO.
Ensure header tags accurately reflect the content of the respective sections.
Make header tags descriptive and concise, summarizing the content that follows.
Use consistent styling for header tags to maintain visual consistency throughout the webpage.
Structure content logically with appropriate header tag hierarchy for readability and user experience.
Avoid skipping header tag levels (e.g., using H3 after H1 without H2) for proper organization.
Optimize header tags for both desktop and mobile devices to enhance accessibility and user-friendliness.
Balance the use of header tags with the overall visual design and aesthetics of the webpage.

Example:

Heading 1 (H1) Tag: "Unlock the Power of On-page SEO: Boost Your Website's Visibility and Rankings"

Heading 2 (H2) Tags:

"Optimize Content for Search Engines"
"Enhance User Experience with Well-Structured Webpages"

Content optimization

Content optimization in SEO refers to the process of improving the quality, relevance, and visibility of website content to attract organic search traffic. It involves optimizing various elements such as keyword usage, readability, structure, and multimedia integration.

By conducting thorough keyword research, creating high-quality and engaging content, and optimizing on-page elements like title tags, headings, and meta descriptions, businesses can enhance their website's visibility in search engine results pages (SERPs) and improve user experience.

Tips for content optimization:

Conduct thorough keyword research to identify relevant keywords and phrases.
Create high-quality, original, and engaging content that provides value to the audience.
Optimize the title tag, meta description, and URL to include targeted keywords.
Use headings (H1, H2, etc.) to structure content and improve readability.
Incorporate keywords naturally throughout the content, ensuring it sounds natural and not forced.
Include multimedia elements like images, videos, and infographics to enhance the visual appeal and user experience.
Write descriptive and compelling meta descriptions that encourage click-throughs.
Optimize image alt tags with relevant keywords for better accessibility and SEO.
Interlink-related content within your website to improve navigation and increase page authority.
Regularly update and refresh your content to keep it relevant and up-to-date.
Focus on creating valuable and shareable content that encourages engagement and backlinks.

Internal linking

Internal linking in SEO refers to the practice of connecting pages within the same website through hyperlinks. It involves linking relevant anchor text from one page to another, allowing search engines to understand the website's structure and content hierarchy.

Internal linking helps distribute authority and link juice across web pages, improves website navigation, and enhances user experience. It also helps search engines discover and index content more effectively, potentially boosting organic rankings.

Tips for internal linking:

Identify relevant anchor text for linking, using descriptive keywords.
Link to related content within your website to provide additional value to readers.
Include links in the body text where they make sense contextually.
Avoid excessive linking or over-optimization, as it can appear spammy.
Place important links higher up in the content to give them more prominence.
Regularly audit and update your internal links to ensure they are functioning properly.
Remember to balance internal and external linking to provide a well-rounded linking strategy.

Image optimization

Image optimization in SEO involves improving the quality, relevance, and performance of images on a website to enhance user experience and search engine visibility. It includes compressing image files to reduce their size without compromising quality, optimizing filenames and alt tags with relevant keywords, and providing descriptive captions and captions.

Properly optimized images can improve website load times, increase organic search visibility in image search results, and contribute to overall SEO efforts. Additionally, image optimization ensures accessibility for visually impaired users and improves the overall user experience by providing visually appealing and relevant visuals.

Tips for image optimization:

Use high-quality images that are relevant to your content and target keywords.
Compress image files to reduce their size without compromising quality using tools like image compression plugins.
Optimize image filenames by including descriptive keywords related to the image.
Write keyword-rich alt tags that accurately describe the image for search engine crawlers and visually impaired users.
Add descriptive captions and captions to provide additional context and improve user engagement.
Specify image dimensions to help web browsers render the page faster.
Ensure images are responsive and mobile-friendly for a seamless user experience across devices.
Host images on your own website rather than relying on external image hosting platforms.
Regularly check for broken images and fix them to avoid negative user experience and search engine penalties.

Mobile Optimization

Mobile optimization in SEO refers to the process of adapting a website's design, structure, and content to ensure it functions effectively and provides an optimal user experience on mobile devices. It involves implementing responsive design, optimizing page load times, and adjusting the layout and content to fit smaller screens.

Mobile optimization is crucial as mobile usage continues to rise, and search engines prioritize mobile-friendly websites in their rankings.

Tips for mobile optimization:

Ensure your website is responsive and mobile-friendly, adapting to different screen sizes and resolutions.
Optimize page load times by minimizing file sizes, compressing images, and leveraging browser caching.
Use a legible font size and clear, easy-to-read typography for mobile devices.
Simplify navigation and make it easy for users to find and access content on smaller screens.
Avoid using pop-ups or interstitials that may obstruct the mobile browsing experience.
Optimize forms and input fields for mobile devices, making them user-friendly and easy to interact with.
Ensure clickable elements, such as buttons and links, are properly spaced to prevent accidental taps.
Test your website across various mobile devices and browsers to ensure consistent performance.

How to Claim & Optimize Your Google Listing

olympia@localbizfirst.com (Olympia Caswell) — Wed, 13 Sep 2023 23:22:59 GMT

Completely Optimize Your Google Business Profile: A Checklist & How-to-Guide

Now that we know why you should be optimizing your Google Business Profile, let's talk about how you can do it! Here is our step-by-step checklist you can use your Google Business Profile to promote your local business.

Create your profile or claim your business
Verify your business profile through Google
Complete every section of business information asked for as far as it applies to your business
Write a business description optimized with keywords so your customers know who you are and what you offer
Select a primary & secondary Google Business category
Add Photos
Request reviews on Google from your clients
Add products & services
Enable messaging
Utilize the Q&A section to answer common questions about your business
Make Google Business posts every week
Keep your profile updated

How to Create or Claim a Profile

Before we get into adding and optimizing your account, it's important to first make sure you have an account. Use your business email (not your personal one) to create an account through Google.com/business. (www.business.google.com)

It will then ask you a series of questions such as location, the areas/towns you serve, what category of business you represent, and the contact information your customers can use.

Watch this brief video from Google on how to claim or add your business.

Verify your Business Profile

Google has guidelines you need to follow to verify your business profile so you can show up on google maps.

Watch this brief video to understand how you can verify your business profile with Google.

Complete every section

It's important for people to have as much information as possible when looking at your profile as that can sometimes make all the difference between engaging as a customer or moving on to your competitor.

As soon as you open your profile, fill in your name, phone number, website, address, hours of operation, and holiday hours. This is basic information and easy to complete. Steps that may take a bit more time, but should still be completed as soon as possible, are your products/services, category/attributes, and various questions with accompanying answers.

Besides just filling in these contact sections of your profile, it's extremely important to double-check that everything is completely accurate.

The name of your company should be consistent with any retail signs. Do not add keywords or a location name unless they’re part of your official name, otherwise Google will see it as spam.

If you used "Street" in other online listings, do not use the abbreviation "St." for your Google Business Profile. Make sure you keep your address consistent throughout all web listings, as Google will find you less credible if it finds conflicting information.

Do Competition and Keyword Research

Tips for keyword research:

Understand your target audience and their search intent to identify relevant keywords.
Use keyword research tools to discover popular and relevant keywords in your industry.
Consider long-tail keywords (specific phrases) as they often have less competition and higher conversion potential.
Incorporate a mix of primary keywords and related secondary keywords throughout your content.
Create high-quality and informative content that naturally incorporates your chosen keywords.
Regularly update and refresh your keyword research to adapt to changing search trends and user behavior.

Fill in your "from the business" description

This section appears just under your reviews and is a chance for you to give potential customers a glimpse into your business. Utilize this section to discuss how your company differs from its rivals and which aspects clients would find most appealing.

You are allowed to use 750 characters, but make sure to put your most important information in the first 250. Include keywords relevant to your business throughout your content.

Make sure you use important keywords for your business description, so Google can discover your products or services.

Select a business category

Choosing a category for your business is extremely important when it comes to being discovered by potential customers and accessing category-specific features for your profile.

Pro tip : If you aren't sure what category select, do some competitor research to see what companies like yours list themselves as.

Choose secondary categories

Add new photos & videos

Guidelines for uploading photos

Use your logo for your thumbnail photo
Upload a cover photo
Don't use photos with special effects or stock photos
Choose high-quality photos with clear subjects
Upload a new photo every week
Include photos that your products/services, your employees, the interior/exterior of your location, and satisfied customers
To add a 360-degree photo to your profile, use the Google Street View app
Geo-tag your photos to improve your local search rankings (research shows this is not at the top of the list)

Obtain Business Reviews

Then, after someone leaves a review, make sure to reply to them, as this shows your customers you care about their feedback, and it also improves your local SEO.

Make Google posts every week

Answer the questions your customers ask (Google is phasing this out)

Add products and services

Provide the name, description, and cost of any items or services you add. Also, Google can include links to your items in its category area.

Enable messaging

This is a fantastic chance for clients to contact you, as most smartphone users utilize their devices for local searches.

Keep your profile updated

As you can see, there are immense benefits to using and optimizing your Google Business Profile.

That being said, there are a lot of aspects of it you’ll need to keep updated. As a local marketing tool, it will need regular attention if you want to get the most out of it and improve your internet visibility.

Why is it important to optimize your GBP Profile?

To get found online in your local market, here are some of the advantages to optimizing your business profile:

Improve your local ranking

Google ranks businesses by factors such as vicinity, relevance, accuracy of information, and activity level. So not only do you have to be the closest business to the location of the searcher, but you also need to have the most up-to-date information and be frequently active on your Google Business Profile.

Using Google My Business can help you maintain your company's overall rating so that it continues to rise in the ranks and be easily found in searches. If your profile is optimized, you’ll rank higher in the listings, which translates to increased exposure and interest in your company.

Gets more people to engage

Because the material on the search results pages can alone adequately answer their inquiries, consumers are now frequently visiting Google without ever actually clicking on a website. Since a lot of potential customers may never actually click on your site, it's therefore important that all the information on your Google Business Profile is optimized and accurate.

If all your information is up to date and accurate, potential customers will be much more likely to trust your company and interact with your website.

Turn visitors into real customers

A standard Google Business Profile by itself doesn't provide anything by way of client acquisition. Potential clients can only look at such basic information as your location and read reviews. However, if you have a well-optimized business profile, customers can engage with you on a whole new level. They can visit your website, learn about your services, find you in keyword searches, get in touch with you, view/contribute FAQs, request quotes, schedule appointments, make reservations, and more.

Preventing Website Scams and Online Hacking Attacks

Wed, 23 Aug 2023 11:02:36 GMT

Staying Secure in the Digital Age: Measures for Preventing Website Scams & Online Hacking Attacks

Online security is now more important than ever in the fast-moving and linked world of the internet. Cybercriminals are constantly changing their strategies, making people and companies more susceptible to internet hacking attempts. In this thorough tutorial, we'll examine the many ways that people might become internet hacking victims and the disastrous results that follow.

However, With the correct information, you can take preventative measures to strengthen your digital defenses since knowledge is power. We expose the typical weaknesses that hackers use and provide you with efficient preventative methods to safeguard your private data and maintain your online safety. Understanding the strategies employed against us enables us to take control of our cybersecurity and confidently move through the digital environment.

Common Methods of Hacking Online

Phishing

Phishing is the practice of tricking someone into divulging critical information or login credentials through false emails or texts. To elicit urgency or anxiety, cybercriminals develop compelling messages that frequently look to come from reliable sources, often requesting sensitive data like email addresses. They could employ harmful attachments to obtain personal information, direct recipients to phony websites, or infect devices with malware.

How to Prevent It

It's essential to be on the lookout for phishing efforts. People should always double-check the legitimacy of emails and communications, avoid clicking on questionable links, and hold off on sending personal information unless they are positive of the sender's identity. People may successfully guard themselves from falling prey to phishing assaults by exercising caution and knowledge.

Malware

Malicious software, or malware, is created to penetrate computer systems to steal data, inflict harm, or interfere with regular operations. There are many different types of this destructive software, including viruses, worms, Trojan horses, and ransomware. Once installed, malware may quickly propagate across a system, taking advantage of holes to access confidential data without authorization. Some malware has been designed expressly to stealthily monitor and exfiltrate data, while other viruses may encrypt files and demand ransom payments to unlock them.

How to Prevent It

Strong cybersecurity precautions are needed to protect against malware, including the use of reliable antivirus software, routine OS and app updates, and being watchful while downloading files or opening links. People may successfully defend against the risks presented by malware and protect their digital assets by being proactive and alert.

Ransomware

A form of malicious software called ransomware infiltrates computer systems and encrypts user-inaccessible files. In order to obtain the decryption key needed to unlock the files, the attackers demand a ransom from the victim. Attacks with ransomware may cause great disruption and financial harm to people and organizations.

How to Prevent It

Maintaining current backups of crucial files and avoiding clicking on dubious links or downloading attachments from unknown sources are both crucial for protecting against ransomware. Additionally, updating operating systems and apps and employing dependable antivirus software will help avoid ransomware infestations. In order to protect against the threat of ransomware and maintain the integrity of priceless data, it is essential to be proactive and watchful.

Social Engineering

Cybercriminals use social engineering, a deceptive technique, to manipulate people, obtain private information, or persuade them to do something they don't want to do. To dupe their victims, these attackers employ a variety of psychological ploys, including acting as reliable sources, invoking urgency, or playing on their vulnerabilities. They could take the form of coworkers, tech support staff, or authoritative figures to persuade people to reveal private information like passwords or financial information. Social engineering occasionally causes users to unintentionally install viruses or allow unauthorized access to their computers.

How to Prevent It

The best way to prevent social engineering attacks is to develop a healthy skepticism towards unsolicited requests, confirm people's identities before disclosing personal information, and regularly teach people about cybersecurity awareness. People may safeguard themselves and their organizations from falling victim to social engineering initiatives by exercising caution and being educated.

Unsecured Wi-Fi Networks

Wi-Fi networks that aren't secure are popular targets for online criminals looking to intercept confidential information, even in places like coffee shops. Hackers have the ability to eavesdrop on data being carried between devices and Wi-Fi routers by taking advantage of flaws in these unsecured or inadequately protected connections.

They can utilize unencrypted data, including login passwords or personal information, for harmful reasons like identity theft or unauthorized account access once they get access to it. To protect your data while using public Wi-Fi, always ensure you connect to secure networks or use a virtual private network (VPN) for added protection.

How to Prevent It

Wi-Fi networks must be secured with robust passwords and encryption mechanisms, such WPA2 or WPA3, in order to counteract this danger. A further degree of security may be added by avoiding public Wi-Fi networks for important transactions and utilizing virtual private networks (VPNs), which guarantee that data is encrypted and hidden from prying eyes. Personal information and sensitive data may be protected against potential interception by hackers by being watchful and cautious about the Wi-Fi networks used.

Weak Passwords & fake password reset links

Weak passwords constitute a serious security concern because hackers will try to use them to access accounts without authorization. These passwords are frequently brief, straightforward, or readily guessed, which makes them vulnerable to brute force assaults, in which hackers repeatedly try different combinations until the right one is discovered. Further weakening security is the use of obvious terms, dates of birth, or other readily available personal information as passwords.

Scammers will also send you links posing as familiar accounts you may use or organizations you've interacted with or that sound official, such as businesses, government organizations and trusted service providers. The emails will look like big brands and will often threaten to discontinue your service if you don't take action and they will include a link to ask you to reset your password right away.

How to Prevent It

People should choose strong passwords that mix upper- and lowercase letters, digits, and special characters to strengthen defenses against such assaults. Security can also be improved by often changing passwords and avoiding using the same one for several different accounts. By requiring a second verification step in addition to a password, two-factor authentication (2FA) offers an extra layer of security or by using an authenticator app. Users may defend their online accounts against unauthorized access and prevent sensitive information from getting into the wrong hands by adopting strong password practices.

For fake password resets:

Never give passwords or authentication codes to callers.
Only reset your password if you initiated the reset. Companies typically won't email you links to reset your password without you requesting it. When in doubt, go directly to the website, not through the email or text link, and reset your password there.
Look carefully at the email address of the sender. Make sure it's spelled correctly. Mouse over the email to make sure the address that pops up is the same as the address you see in the sender field.

Brute Force Attacks

Hackers use brute force attacks to repeatedly test different password combinations until they find the one that gives them access to a system or account. This technique makes use of automated software that quickly creates and tests a variety of passwords, taking advantage of flaws in passwords that are weak or inadequately secured. Brute force assaults can take a while to complete, but they finally succeed in accessing accounts with easy or obvious passwords.

How to Prevent It

Users should always use strong and complicated passwords that combine capital and lowercase letters, digits, and special characters to reduce the danger of falling victim to such assaults. By temporarily preventing access after a certain number of unsuccessful login attempts, account lockout rules can help counter brute force assaults.

Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) Attacks

Attacks known as "man-in-the-middle" (MITM) include online criminals listening in on or changing the data being communicated between two parties. Hackers use this advanced technique to covertly place themselves between the sender and receiver, thereby acting as a silent middleman. Without either side being aware of the intrusion, they can intercept sensitive information including login passwords, financial information, or private communications. To carry out their nefarious deeds, MITM attackers may take advantage of holes in unprotected public Wi-Fi networks or infiltrate routers.

How to Prevent It

Individuals and organizations should utilize secure communication methods, such as encrypted webpages (HTTPS), virtual private networks (VPNs), or secure messaging applications, to protect sensitive information, including credit card details or bank account information, from MITM assaults. Identification and prevention of MITM attacks also depend heavily on checking digital certificates and being watchful for strange activities during online transactions. Users may successfully safeguard their data, financial transactions, and personal information from unauthorized eavesdropping and modification by attackers by emphasizing secure connection techniques and staying vigilant.

SQL Injection

A common hacking method that targets online applications with lax security is SQL Injection. In this attack, malicious SQL (Structured Query Language) code is inserted by taking advantage of flaws in input fields or improperly written database queries. They are able to alter the application's database, obtain unauthorized access to private data, or issue unauthorized instructions by doing this. Attacks using SQL Injection can have dire repercussions, giving attackers access to view, alter, or delete data, steal user credentials, or even take over the entire application.

How to Prevent It

In online application development, comprehensive input validation and parameterized queries are required to prevent SQL Injection. SQL Injection attempts can be successfully thwarted by using security measures including input filtering, utilizing prepared statements, and restricting database rights. Developers may defend against unauthorized database access and protect sensitive data from being used by malevolent hackers by enhancing the security of their online applications.

Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)

Web applications and their users are the subject of the malicious assault known as cross-site scripting (XSS). Malicious scripts are injected into websites during an XSS attack, which is subsequently accessed by other users of the same application. These scripts have the ability to steal private information from unaware users, such as login credentials or personal information, or carry out unauthorized tasks on their behalf. As they directly undermine the confidence and security of websites, XSS assaults may be especially hazardous because they put users at risk of identity theft or financial fraud.

How to Prevent It

Web developers must apply adequate input validation and output encoding to guarantee that user-generated content does not run malicious scripts on the web pages in order to prevent XSS attacks. To prevent being a victim of possible XSS vulnerabilities, web application users should take caution while clicking links or entering personal information on websites. Developers and users may successfully fend off XSS attacks and protect against unauthorized script injections by following secure coding best practices and upholding user awareness.

Zero-Day Exploits

Zero-Day Exploits are sophisticated cyberattacks that rely on previously unknown software flaws. Since the program creators are unaware of these flaws, there is no time to produce and distribute updates before hackers may take advantage of them. Attackers have a big edge thanks to zero-day exploits since they can get into systems, steal confidential information, or jeopardize security without being noticed. These vulnerabilities are frequently used by cybercriminals to install malware on devices, get into networks without authorization, or launch specialized attacks.

How to Prevent It

It is essential for software developers and security professionals to proactively discover and resolve such vulnerabilities through routine security audits and testing in order to safeguard against Zero-Day Exploits. Additionally, users should keep their security software up to date and immediately apply patches when updates are made available since these upgrades frequently cure vulnerabilities that have just been found. Individuals and organizations may lessen the danger presented by Zero-Day Exploits and strengthen their overall cybersecurity defenses by being watchful and proactive.

Letter from Domain Listings! Important!

There is a scam going around where phony letters are sent out and pretend to offer services for domain or directory listing and website visibility. These letters sometimes take the form of official invoices and demand payment for services that the recipients neither requested nor need. Unwary website owners run the risk of falling for this scam and having their financial and personal information compromised. These dishonest letters aim to deceive recipients into paying for phony services for their website, which might result in loss of money or possibly identity theft.

How to Prevent It

It's critical to remain watchful against these frauds as we concentrate on stopping internet hacking attempts and confirm the veracity of any offer or solicitation before responding. Do not pay these invoices, but first always double-check the sender's credibility and do not provide any sensitive information unless you are certain of the authenticity of the request.

Conclusion

Unfortunately, there are many ways that hackers exploit weaknesses and prey on people and organizations in the quickly connecting internet world in this examination of online security. However we can strengthen our digital defenses by putting in place strong security systems and knowing the techniques used against us. We can defend our digital assets and prevent sensitive information from getting into the wrong hands if we work together to raise awareness about cybersecurity.

Knowing what to look out for and being ready greatly minimizes the possibility of being a victim of hacking efforts, promoting a safer and more secure digital ecosystem for everybody.

The top 4 ways to improve your website content right now for higher search engine ranking

Wed, 02 Aug 2023 14:27:40 GMT

Did you know that the written content you use throughout your website can actually improve your search engine optimization?

It's true!

In fact, quality content is a top ranking factor in all search engine results. So everything you write about your business should not only be compelling and engaging - but it should also be optimized for effective SEO, too.

With our simple SEO-friendly content strategies, your website content can be multi-purpose ! From optimizing existing content to creating new content specifically tailored for search engine optimization, we'll walk you through 4 easy to follow strategies you can use right now to get your content to work for you and to get more organic traffic to your website.

Here are 4 of the top tips for creating content that will show up in search engines and get results for your business:

1. Nail down your top keywords.

Do you know what the top target keywords are that you need to use to reflect how your customers and target audiences are searching for your type of business? Knowing the right keywords for your business is essential and will be the building block for your SEO content, so it's an important first step to actually find out what they are and then use them.

Keywords can also clue you in to what type of content you should be writing about that will be informative and engaging to people searching for your category of business.

My pro-tip: check your keyword list against what you have on your website - its a good way to tell if you're missing any important content.

So... how do you figure out your top keywords? If you don't have the budget to pay for keyword research from an SEO expert, no worries! You can do your own keyword research. There are plenty of free keyword research tools you can use to help and be sure to check out our blog post on DIY keyword research for a step-by-step guide.

2. Optimize existing content with our content checklist cheat sheet.

If you're not sure what optimization is or how to do it, that's okay! Content optimization is just a fancy term for making sure content is written in a way that it can reach the largest possible target audience.

You can follow our content optimization checklist below to easily optimize your content (without having to know what optimization means ��):

Add top keywords into the headers, meta tags, titles and description for each page of content you have and throughout body paragraphs as well.
Make sure you have relevant content by comparing and contrasting with your keyword list with the sections of content or pages you have. You should be looking for any missing content about a key aspect or service in your line of business.
Avoid 'keyword stuffing' - which is a negative ranking factor -yup it will actually detract from your search engine result page - or SERP - standing! Keyword stuffing is the repeated and often visible, obvious use of the same keyword phrases again and again in content. This is obvious because it's just poorly written content - keywords must be used in context and according to relevance on each page.

*Learn more about keyword stuffing here .
Be sure to include your location where applicable (in headers, places throughout your body content about your services, etc) so your content shows up in local search.

Ex: Website designer located in Franklin, Massachusetts.
If there are pages that don't have much text, add more content to them. Websites with sparse content don't perform as well in SERPs (search engine result pages).

My pro-tip : the key here is not to just add more content, but also high - quality content. You can also add images, too!
Don't forget to optimize product descriptions! Make sure all of your product and services have detailed descriptions with relevant keywords.
Proofread all of your content and then proofread it again! Read it out loud to ensure your content makes sense & it flows well. Make sure there are no spelling or grammar errors and that it's simple and easy for website visitors to understand more about your business. If you need help, ask a trusted friend, family member or local content writer.

3. Consider using a blog for new content creation.

Creating new blog articles with fresh content specifically tailored for search engine optimization is an effective (and dare I say, fun!) way to improve your website's SEO. So you should definitely consider creating regular blog posts on topics related to your industry - like problems your customers need to solve, trending topics or educational resources.

Search engines like to see websites that update their content often and this is a great way to stay on top of that, provide value to your customers and establish your subject matter authority. As always, make sure you use relevant keywords throughout the text and in meta tags such as page titles and descriptions for all blog pages.

Most quality website builders should have an easy to use and maintain blog feature (LBF's does - thank you Duda !) that you can activate and use to publish your blog articles, so hopefully it shouldn't be too much of a lift to get going.

4. Leverage your social media profiles & have fun with it!

Posting on social media is one of the best ways to share entertaining & informative content and link back to your website or blog so your content is seen by a wider audience. It's also another way to create social proof for your business online - which is really important evidence for how customers make buying decisions online these days.

You can use images (my favorite way to make fun images is canva ) combined with captions to create content specifically for social media and share it on platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and Google Business. Yup you guessed it - make sure you use relevant keywords and hashtags in your posts to attract more visitors to your website throughout all of your social media as well.

My pro-tip: Use linktree (it's free) in all of your social media profiles for quick links back to your website & blog content.

*Bonus! Use paid ads if you can: If you have the budget for it, consider leveraging paid advertising such as Google Ads or Facebook Ads. These can be targeted to specific keywords and audiences, so you can get your content in front of the right people.

I'll let you in on another secret- SEO content doesn't need to be boring!

My best advice? Make sure your content reflects your unique perspective, has a clear, consistent voice and speaks to the customers you're looking to attract. Using keywords and optimizing for SEO doesn't need to make your content dry and boring or repetitive - it can be as informative or fun as you make it. And it really works!

Do you feel like maybe you're not the best writer, that you don't have the time or you don't even know where to start to improve your website's content?

Local Business First can help! Whether you don't have the time or feel like your writing chops are up to par, our team of professional content writers can help you take your content to the next level.

Learn how setup Google Analytics 4 (GA4) for your website.

olympia@localbizfirst.com (Olympia Caswell) — Wed, 28 Jun 2023 04:26:01 GMT

Installing Google Analytics 4

What is Google Analytics?

Google Analytics is a web analytics tool developed by Google that helps website owners and marketers track and analyze various aspects of their website's performance. It provides valuable insights and data about website traffic, user behavior, and other important metrics that can be used to make informed decisions and optimize the website's performance.

By implementing a small piece of tracking code on your website, you can collect data about visitors, such as the number of visitors, their geographic location, the source of traffic, for example: search engines or social media platforms, the devices used to access the website, and the actions performed on the site like views, clicks, conversions.

If you want to use Google Analytics with your Duda website in order to get these important stats, you have to create or update your Google Analytics account.

What is Universal Analytics?

Universal Analytics is a version of Google Analytics that was introduced by Google in 2012. It is an enhanced tracking system designed to provide more accurate and comprehensive data analysis compared to the traditional Google Analytics.

What is Google Analytics 4?

In October 2020, Google announced the introduction of Google Analytics 4 (GA4) as the future standard. GA4 is designed to provide even more advanced tracking capabilities and a stronger focus on cross-platform and cross-device tracking.

How To Install a Brand-new Google Analytics Property

To create a new Google Analytics 4 property, follow these step-by-step instructions:

Step 1: Sign into Google Analytics

Go to the Google Analytics website (analytics.google.com) and sign in with your Google account. If you don't have a Google Analytics account, create one by clicking on the "Create account", then follow the prompts.

Step 2: Create the Google Analytics Account

Once signed in, click on the "Admin" button in the lower-left corner of the screen.
In the "Account" column, click on the drop-down menu and select "Create Account."
Enter an account name for your Google Analytics property. This can be the name of your website or business.
Click on the "Next" button.

Note: if you are accessing Google analytics for the first time the analytics account creatin starts right away.

Step 3: Setup the Analytics Property

Provide a name for your property and other details

Choose the Business Objectives (Generate Leads, Drive Online Sales, Raise Brand Awareness, Examine User Behavior, Get Baseline Reports)

Choose a platform: Web Androis App, IOS App

Setup the Data Stream Name

Enter the website URL and a Stream Name, and make sure the "Enhanced Measurement" is on, then click Next.

Get the Measurement ID

On the next screen, you will find the Measurement ID. Copy this ID as you will need it to set up tracking on your website. Make sure it is ON.

Setup your Google Analytics measurement ID into the Duda platform

Sign in to your website (Duda) account.
On the main menu, click Settings.
On the call-out menu, select “Google Tools”.
Enter your Google tag ID into the “Google Analytics” box.

Note: Google can automatically integrate the tag into your website. Follow the procedure in this link .

You have to Republish your website and wait a few hours for the new code to work.

Add a Google Analytics 4 property to a site that already has Universal Analytics

The Google Analytics 4 Property Setup Assistant tool creates a new GA4 property that collects data alongside your existing Universal Analytics property.

Sign into Google Analytics

Go to the Google Analytics website (analytics.google.com) and sign in with your Google account. If you aready have a Universal Analytics account, Google will show you the following screen to start the setup for GA4.

Create GA4 Property & Data Stream

Follow the tutorial until you get to the "Go to the Setup Assistant", then click "Get Started", then follow the prompts.

Your Analytics GA4 property should have been created properly along with a data stream for collecting data from your website.

To get most of the Google analytics, there are a variety of settings you can configure.

Set Up Data Streams: In GA4, data streams are used to collect data from different sources. You'll need to create data streams for your website and any other digital properties you want to track. Follow the instructions provided by Google to set up these data streams correctly.
Enable Data Collection: Review the default event and parameter settings in your GA4 property. Ensure that the events and parameters align with your tracking requirements. Consider customizing them to suit your specific analytics needs.
Configure Enhanced Measurement : GA4 provides enhanced measurement capabilities, which can automatically track certain user interactions without requiring additional code implementation. Enable and configure enhanced measurement settings according to your preferences.
Create Custom Events: If you have custom events in your Universal Analytics implementation, you'll need to recreate them in GA4. Analyze the events you currently track and replicate them in the GA4 property using the appropriate event parameters.
Implement Conversions: If you have conversion tracking in place with Universal Analytics, you'll need to set up conversion tracking in GA4 as well. Identify the conversions you want to track, such as form submissions or purchases, and configure them in GA4 using the recommended methods.
Configure Data Import and Integrations: If you have any data import or integrations set up in Universal Analytics, such as importing offline data or connecting other platforms, review the available options in GA4 to replicate those configurations.
Plan for Data Continuity: When transitioning to GA4, it's essential to ensure that you have a clear plan for data continuity. Consider keeping the Universal Analytics tracking code alongside the GA4 code temporarily to gather data in both systems. This will allow you to compare and validate the data during the transition period.
Migrate Historical Data (Optional) : If you wish to import historical data from your Universal Analytics property to GA4, Google provides a Data Import feature. Follow the instructions provided by Google to migrate the historical data, if desired.

Data Stream is Setup

Note the website URL, Stream Name and Enhanced Measurement settings. Copy the "Measurement ID".

Setup your GA4 measurement ID into the Duda platform

Sign in to your website (Duda) account.
On the main menu, click Settings.
On the call-out menu, select “Google Tools”.
Enter your Google tag ID into the “Google Tools” box.

Note: Google can automatically integrate the tag into your website. Follow the procedure in this link .

You have to Republish your website and wait a few hours for the new code to work.

As always, please send us a message. We are glad to assist you in any, way possible.

What is User Experience Web Design

Wed, 28 Jun 2023 02:15:26 GMT

Understanding User Experience in Web Design

Creating websites with user experience (UX) in mind is crucial for businesses to meet their customers' needs effectively.

What Is User Experience Design (UX Design)?

For a website, users can be current customers or potential customers who visit your website and need clear direction on what action steps they should take that could eventually lead to a sale.

Essentially, good UX design should make it easy for customers to understand your business and offerings when they land on your site, navigate your site and make decisions!

Fundamental principles of UX web design

UX web design follows several guiding principles to create websites that prioritize user satisfaction, engagement, and usability. These principles include:

User-Centered Design: Place the needs, goals, and preferences of the users at the forefront of the design process. Understand user behaviors, motivations, and pain points to create a design that caters to their requirements.

*User Centered Design should be the foundational principle and goal for every website!
Clear and Consistent Navigation: Ensure that the website's navigation is intuitive, easy to understand, and consistent across all pages. Users should be able to locate information and navigate through the site without confusion or frustration.
Visual Hierarchy: Establish a clear visual hierarchy that guides users' attention and prioritizes important content. Use size, color, typography, and placement to emphasize key elements and provide a smooth scanning experience.
Responsive and Mobile-Friendly Design: Design websites that are responsive and adapt well to different devices and screen sizes. Users should have a seamless experience regardless of whether they access the site on a desktop, tablet, or mobile phone.
Consistency and Familiarity: Maintain consistency in visual elements, terminology, and interactions throughout the website. Consistent design patterns enhance usability and help users navigate and interact with the site more comfortably.
Simplicity: Strive for simplicity in design, eliminating unnecessary elements and reducing clutter. A clean and minimalistic interface can enhance focus, clarity, and ease of use.
Readability and Legibility: Ensure that text content is easy to read with appropriate font sizes, line spacing, and contrast. Use readable fonts and avoid excessive use of decorative or complex typography.
Fast Loading Speed: Optimize the website's performance to load quickly and efficiently. Users tend to abandon slow-loading sites, so optimize images, minimize code, and leverage caching techniques to enhance speed.
Accessibility: Design websites with accessibility in mind, ensuring that users with disabilities can access and use the site. Consider factors like color contrast, screen reader compatibility, keyboard navigation, and alternative text for images.
Feedback and Error Handling: Provide clear and timely feedback to users regarding their actions. Inform them of errors, provide helpful error messages, and guide them towards resolving issues without frustration.
Testing and Iteration: Regularly test the website with real users to gather feedback, identify pain points, and iterate on the design. Continuously improving the user experience through iterations is essential for creating a successful website.

Stages of UX design process

While every website is different, the UX design process for a website typically involves similar stages to create a user-centered and effective design.

The following steps are a good starting point when embarking on a UX design project.

1. Understand your user's pain points: Empathy plays a crucial role in UX design, and understanding the user's behavior is essential. User interviews are one of the best ways to understand the audience and gather feedback in real-time. Online surveys are also a useful tool to gather feedback from a more extensive audience.

2. Create user personas: User personas are semi-fictional representations of ideal customers based on data and research. They help tailor products, services, content, and messaging to meet customers' specific needs.

3. Map out user journeys: User journey mapping is crucial to understanding how different users interact with a product or website. Each user is unique, which means they may interact with your site in different ways to achieve the same goal.

4. Create website wireframes: Website wireframes help map out product or website layout and main features. Wireframes can help identify potential problems that hinder user goals before introducing design elements.

5. Start prototyping: Prototyping is the final draft of a product before coding and includes font, images, icons, colors, and user interaction. Prototypes undergo user testing to uncover issues and may require many iterations.

UX deliverables for website design

User Research Documentation includes research findings, user personas, user journey maps, and any other documentation that captures insights about the target users, their needs, behaviors, and motivations. Some examples of this are:

Wireframes: Wireframes are low-fidelity visual representations that outline the structure, layout, and content placement of web pages. They focus on the hierarchy of elements and user flow without including detailed visual design.
Interactive Prototypes: Prototypes are interactive models of the website that simulate user interactions and provide a sense of the overall user experience. They can be high-fidelity (with detailed visuals and interactions) or low-fidelity (basic functionality without much visual polish).
Information Architecture: This includes site maps, navigation structures, and content organization frameworks that define how information is structured and accessed on the website.
Visual Design Mockups: Visual design mockups showcase the visual aesthetics and styling of the website. They include typography, color schemes, imagery, and other graphical elements that contribute to the overall visual appeal.
Design Style Guide or UI Pattern Library: A style guide or pattern library documents the visual and interaction design guidelines for the website. It provides consistency in design elements, such as buttons, forms, icons, and other UI components, across different pages and sections.
Usability Testing Reports: These reports document the findings and insights from usability testing sessions conducted with users. They highlight usability issues, user feedback, and recommendations for improvements.
Accessibility Guidelines: Documentation that outlines the accessibility considerations and guidelines implemented in the design, ensuring that the website is accessible to users with disabilities.
Content Strategy: A content strategy outlines the approach for creating, organizing, and presenting content on the website. It includes content guidelines, voice and tone recommendations, and content requirements.
Design Specifications: Detailed design specifications provide instructions and guidelines for developers on how to implement the design, including dimensions, spacing, interaction behaviors, and other technical details.

In conclusion, UX design is an essential aspect of creating successful and user-friendly products and websites that make it easy for customers to navigate your website and make decisions.

By following the UX design principles and process, conducting thorough user research, running usability tests, and using the right tools, you can enhance the user experience and grow your business.

How to Influence the Google Local Justifications

Tue, 09 May 2023 11:36:25 GMT

What are Google justifications?

Are you trying to increase visibility for your business in local search results? If so, it's important that you understand how Google justifications can help. To assist users in understanding why a business is appearing in response to their search query, Google displays brief text snippets known as justifications within the local pack.

Google justifications explain why a business is appearing in response to a user's search query. They provide additional information about the business, like "In stock," "Sold here," or "Open 24 hours." They're like little breadcrumbs of trust, leading potential customers to your business.

These justifications come in different types and the specific type highlighted in the local pack is determined by the user's search query.

Justification come from a variety of sources including websites, reviews, posts, menus, services and other places.

Types of Google Justifications and How to Influence Them

Types of Google justifications can provide valuable insights into your online presence and how it impacts your search ranking. Here are the main types, along with examples and tips:

Website : Website mentions or justifications show content directly from your website, indicating what influenced the ranking for a specific search phrase. For example, if your website mentions "best Italian restaurant," Google might show this as a justification.

How to Influence: Place keywords prominently on your webpages. Include additional mentions and variations of the keyword in the navigation, internal links pointing to the target page, and throughout the main content of the your service page.
Reviews : Reviews justifications are pulled from Google reviews for your business. They can be influenced by reviewers using specific keywords in their reviews.

How to Influence : Actively manage your Google reviews to avoid negative justifications and maintain a positive brand image. Ask your clients for specifics on the services and products they received.
Sold Here : Sold here justification shows that a product is available at your location. It's indicated by a checkmark and cannot be influenced.
Service : Service justifications use a checkmark icon and are pulled from your Google Business Page's services.

How to Influence : Using the Services section of Google My Business, add each target keyword as a service, and add a supporting description for each service. Ensure your service descriptions are clear and avoid potential misinterpretations.
Menu : Menu Justifications are specific for restaurants showing menu information from your Google Business Profile. It can attract new customers looking for specific dishes.

How to Influence : Keep your menu information updated to attract customers searching for specific items.
Post : These justifications pull keywords from your Google posts. They are updated as new posts are published and can overwrite other justifications.

How to Influence : Focus each post on one main service or product to increase the chances of appearing in this type of justification.

Conclusion

By implementing these suggestions, you may affect Google's local justifications and raise the online exposure of your company. To stay competitive, it's crucial to continuously evaluate and improve your web presence because Google's local search results are always changing.

Remember, justifications are not a replacement for a well-optimized website or Google Business Profile. They are an additional layer of information to support search results. Focus on providing relevant and high-quality content, strong onsite SEO, and following local SEO best practices to improve your online presence and search rankings.

How to Improve Local SEO for Your Business in 2023!

olympia@localbizfirst.com (Olympia Caswell) — Wed, 03 May 2023 01:41:56 GMT

13 Steps to Improve Local SEO in 2023

As more people turn to the internet to find local businesses, optimizing your online presence for local search has become increasingly important. One of the most useful tools for achieving this is Local Search Engine Optimization (Local SEO), which involves optimizing your website and online listings to rank higher in local search results. By implementing effective Local SEO strategies, you can increase your visibility and drive more traffic, leads, and sales for your business.

To achieve the best possible Local SEO ranking and attract new customers, there are simple steps you can take. In this guide, we'll cover everything you need to know to improve your Local SEO, from optimizing your website and online listings to using local keywords, building backlinks, and leveraging customer reviews.

By following these strategies, you can establish a strong online presence and effectively advertise your business to potential local customers.

Understanding Local SEO

The first step in optimizing for local search is understanding how it works. Local search is a way for people to find businesses in their local area when they search on Google or other search engines. The search engines use various factors to determine which businesses to show in the search results, including the user’s location , the relevance of the business to the search query, and the business’s prominence and online reputation .

1. Figure Out the Best Relevant Keywords for Your Local Business

To achieve the best possible local SEO ranking, it is crucial to use local keywords in your website content and meta tags. Local keywords should include the name of your city, town, or region to help improve your local rankings. However, it's important not to overuse keywords, as this can harm your rankings.

To develop an effective content strategy, spending enough time on keyword research is essential. This research can help you identify your competition, target keywords that are suitable for your industry, and find the keywords with the highest search volume. Incorporating these keywords into your website's content and meta tags can help boost your rankings in local search results.

Keyword Research Tools

There are many tools you can use to do keyword research, including the following free tools:

Google Keyword Planner is an excellent tool for keyword research, but there is a catch. In order to use the tool, you need to have a Google Ads account. Read our previously published blog learn how to do keyword research and how to optimize your blog or web page.

Manual Keyword Research

2. Optimize your Google Business Profile

To get noticed by Google and potential customers, it's important for local businesses to set up and optimize their Google Business profile (formerly known as Google My Business or GMB). This free tool from Google helps users find local businesses through Google Maps and is one of the first things users see when searching for a company on Google. GMB signals such as proximity, contact information, categories, and updated content are used by search algorithms to analyze and determine where your business is shown to people in your area. Click this link to get started!

To ensure your business is listed, verified, and managed correctly on Google, it's crucial to set up and optimize your GMB listing. This involves providing accurate information about your business, including your name, phone number, location, descriptions, photos, and business hours. Additionally, GMB profiles include Q&A sections, which allow potential customers to ask questions that you, as the business owner or representative, can answer.

Optimizing your GMB profile is also a critical component of local SEO. By regularly updating your listing with fresh content, encouraging customer reviews, and ensuring accurate information, you can improve your rankings in local search results. Overall, GMB is an essential part of any local SEO campaign and should be prioritized as part of your local search strategy. Read our blog on how to optimize your GMB profile .

Here’s how to optimize your GMB listing:

Claim and verify your listing
Fill out all the information, including your business name, address, phone number, and hours of operation
Choose the most relevant categories for your business
Add photos and videos
Post like you post on Facebook ot other sociaa media
Encourage customers to leave reviews

3. Create & Optimize Your Yelp Listing

Your Yelp local listing is important because Yelp is one of the most important consumer review site for many types of businesses and it currently receives high priority from the Google search engine. Some of the voice search assistants including Siri are using data and online reviews from Yelp as well.

Many small business owners do not approve of Yelp's algorithms. However, according to 2020 updated statistics : "Yelp averages more than 178 million unique visitors every month across its mobile, desktop, and app versions. It also generates 28 million monthly mobile app unique users. " Instead of fighting Yelp, join in and encourage your clients to write reviews by having a direct Yelp link on your website.

Here’s how to optimize your Yelp listing:

Claim your business on Yelp by creating an account
Verify your business ownership by providing basic information, such as your business name, address, and phone number.
Complete your business profile by adding photos, a detailed description, and information about your business hours, services, and products.
Encourage customers to leave reviews by adding a Yelp badge or link to your website and social media profiles, and by providing excellent customer service.
Respond promptly and professionally to both good and negative client feedback.
Regularly check and update your company's contact information, such as your address, phone number, and website address.
Include relevant keywords in your business name, description, and categories.

4. Create & Optimize Your Bing Places Business Listing

Bing Places for Business is a free Bing service that enables businesses to add their listings to Bing. Add your local business here and make sure customers always find the right information about your business.

If you already have a Google My Business account you can import the data from it into Bing or you can add you business manually.

Bing will use this listings to show your listings to people searching the Bing search engine or Bing maps. According to Wordstream : "126 million unique US users performed 6 billion searches on the Bing network in March 2019, according to ComScore data. Today, Bing controls 36% of the US desktop search market." So, it is imperative that you have your business listed with Bing Places.

Here’s how to optimize your Bing listing:

Go to the Bing Places website and sign in using your Microsoft account or create a new account.
Click "Add New Business" and enter your business name, address, and phone number (NAP).
Complete your business profile by adding photos, videos, business hours, and a detailed description of your products or services.
Select categories that are pertinent to and truly reflect your company.
Add your website URL, social media profiles, and any other relevant information about your business.
Encourage customers to leave reviews.
Include relevant keywords in your business name, description, and categories.

5. Optimize for Voice Search

With the continued rise in popularity of speech-enabled devices like smartphones, smart speakers, and virtual assistants, improving local SEO for voice search is becoming more and more crucial.

Users often use voice search to ask natural language questions in a conversational tone, and search engines frequently give preference to relevant, local results that are correct. Therefore, when customers ask for suggestions or information about businesses in their region, those who optimise for local SEO are more likely to show up in the voice search results.

Some tips on how you can optimize for voice search:

1. Claim, Complete & Optimize Google My Business (GMB) listing

Make sure you claim Apple Connect in addition to Google my Business, Yelp, and Bing Places as well as submit your website to the main Search Engines, Google, and Bing.

2. Encourage Customers to Review your Business

Send a Google direct link to your clients to let them know you value them and would love to hear from them. They only need to type their remarks and click "send."

3. Submit to Directories Feeding Voice Assistants

Voice assistants like Alexa, Siri, Google Assistant and Cortana rely on information and content from local directories or citations, which are mentions of your information on the web.

Make sure you are prepared for short windows of opportunities or micro-moments - as Google calls them, where a searcher is ready to try, buy or commit. Google defines these micro-moments as the I-want-to-go, I-want-to-do, and I-want-to-buy moments. Remember to use conversational words and are longer in your content and blogs, too! For more details on voice search read "3 tips to improve local SEO for voice search" blog.

6: Optimize Your Website for Local SEO

When analyzing your website for local rankings, various on-page factors are considered. One of the most important factors is the use of relevant keywords strategically placed in your page titles, content, and throughout your website. This helps search engines identify the relevance of your site to specific areas and industries.

Additionally, it is essential to include vital details such as name, address, and phone number (NAP) on your pages, as Google uses this information to determine proximity details for your rankings.

Another crucial on-page factor for local SEO is mobile-friendliness. In 2023, 30% of all Google mobile searches will be related to location, making it crucial to have a website that is easily accessible and fast on mobile devices. Optimizing your pages for local search can make it easier for potential customers to find your business when they are looking for products or services nearby.

Overall, on-page factors play a significant role in determining your local search rankings, and optimizing your website for them can help your business stand out from the competition.

In summary do this to optimize your page for local search:

Include your city and state in your website’s url title tag and meta description
Create local content, such as blog posts about local events or news
Make sure your website is mobile-friendly
Use local schema markup to provide search engines with more information about your business, such as your address and phone number

7. Build Additional Business Listings

Today, online directories and citations have replaced the traditional Yellow Pages. Local citations are an effective way of ensuring consistent information about a business is available online and acquiring local backlinks from reputable and authoritative websites. Directories and citations are used by searchers to find products, services, and contact details, while search engines rely on them to confirm critical business information.

Business citations are online references to a company's name, address, and phone number (NAP) on different websites and business directories like Yelp, the Yellow Pages, and Google My Business. Additional information about the company, such as its website address, operating hours, and client testimonials, may also be included in these mentions.

In summary do this to build citations for local search:

Create a list of local directories, review sites, and other relevant websites where you can submit your business information.
Ensure that your business NAP (Name, Address, Phone number) is consistent across all directories and review sites.
Submit your business information to high-authority directories such as Google My Business, Yelp, and Bing Places for Business.
Claim and verify your business listings on major directories and review sites to gain more control over your business information.
Monitor and update your business information regularly, especially when you move to a new location or change your phone number.
Use tools such as Moz Local, Neustar/Localeze, Uberall or Yext to manage your business listings and monitor your local SEO performance.

Business citations are a key factor in local SEO, as they help search engines verify the accuracy and legitimacy of a business's NAP information, and also indicate to search engines that the business is active and engaged within the local community.

8. Get More Reviews

Positive online reviews are crucial for a business's success in local SEO. Customers often rely on online reviews to assess a business's trustworthiness and legitimacy before making a purchase. Positive reviews not only impact potential customers' decision-making process but also enhance local search ranking factors in 2023. The total number, frequency, diversity, and quality of reviews generated for the business are critical ranking signals that Google considers.

Encouraging satisfied customers to leave positive reviews and ratings on platforms such as Google Maps, Yelp, Glassdoor, and Trip Advisor is a crucial part of a robust local SEO strategy.

Here are some ways to get some genuine reviews:

Have a “Review Us” button to major review sites in the footer of your website
Asking personally for feedback or reviews at the end of a transaction or performed service
Provide Opt-in email subscription at the time of service and request feedback shortly after

By having more positive reviews, businesses can rank higher in local search results, which contributes to their success. Reviews have become such a hot commodity among businesses that they allow them to achieve more space on the results page. A five-star rating and a long list of positive reviews from satisfied customers can make a business stand out from lower ranked competitors.

To get more reviews, businesses should make it a habit to ask their clients or customers to write detailed reviews after a particular job or service. Direct links to review sites, including GMB, should be provided to make the process easy for them. As businesses accumulate more positive reviews, their reputation and space on the results page grow, building their reputation within their local community.

9. Establish Local High-Quality Links

References and links from other well-established businesses bring huge value when it comes to Google's algorithms.

Some good ways to get these references include:

List your business on different online directories including your local Chamber of Commerce and Better Business Bureau .
Collaborate with bigger companies/influencers so that they can link back to you.
Use your community relationships as a means to establish credibility with regards to the quality of your product or services.
Do research on other companies to see what kind of links they have to see if there's a chance you can get those same links, too.

As you can see, not all links are creating equal. Focus your time and effort on organization with a high SEO link authority like your local Chamber of Commerce, Better Business Bureau and local community organizations and charities.

10. Post Regularly on Your GMB page, Facebook, and Other Social Media Platforms

Another good strategy is to post regularly on the many social media resources you have at your disposal. This will show potential customers how active you are in your community, and that you care about building personal trust with your customers.

Post regularly on GMB, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram by using blog posts, social media updates, advertisements, and announcements about anything new that’s happening with your business. And always remember to add hashtags! Get the most-used hashtags here .

How to Create Images for Posts

While it might seem like a daunting task to either find the right photos or edit your photos for your posts, don't worry we have the solutions for you!

One easy to use site that might be of interest to you is a website called Can va. Canva is a simple to use website that allows you to design photos and videos for your website or any other thing you might need them for. It's as simple as creating an account, selecting the design size or type, finding a photo or uploading your own, and resizing it to fit your needs. Another good website to use if you are in need of photos is Pexel , which allows you to find free stock photos for you to use. You can even find a picture on Pexels, and then resize it on Canva!

One thing to note about images used in posting: It's more worthwhile to use professional photos taken in your business, rather than random photos you might take on your phone or camera. While they are more expensive, they definitely help a lot!

How to Find Out the Right Hashtags and How to Use Them

While using whatever hashtags may come to mind may be the most simple course of action, finding and using the correct hashtags can be a great benefit for your posts, whether it be on Instagram or Twitter.

So how can I go about finding out which hashtags to use? Here are some tips:

Identify your target audience and the topics that are relevant to them.
Use social media listening tools such as Hootsuite, Hashtag Finde r, Google Trends , Sprout Social, or BuzzSumo to monitor hashtags that are popular in your industry.
Research your competitors' social media accounts to see what hashtags they are using.
Use Instagram's search function to find related hashtags that are frequently used by your target audience.
Avoid using irrelevant or overused hashtags, as this can harm your credibility and reach.

With these simple tips and sites you are well on your way to the top of the search list!

11. Create a Web Page for Each Product and Service

Though it seems easier and more efficient to list all of your products and services on one page, it actually does you more harm than good. Because search engines don’t distinguish among various brands specific to one field, having too much information can actually cause you to drop in their search engine rankings.

Furthermore, some businesses that have various locations but offer only one type of service can use location as the focal point for each page of their website. For example, if you run a pizza delivery service with locations in California, New York, and Massachusetts, then you would be encouraged to label each page of the website with the name of the specific business location.

Most of these Local SEO improvement strategies are easy to implement. Check our blogs for step-by-step procedures on the Local Business First website.

12. Create a Local Content Marketing Strategy

Creating and sharing locally relevant content can have a positive impact on your local search rankings. Customers enjoy connecting with brands on topics that are relevant to their community. Search engines prioritize websites that provide high-quality content to users, making local content an effective way to improve local search rankings.

Local content encompasses a wide range of materials, such as blog posts, news articles, videos, graphics, and event announcements that relate to a specific area. By including relevant phrases and location-based terms in your content, you can attract both users and search engines, leading to improved local visibility for your business.

Use these for a great strategy for content marketing:

Blog posts about local events or news
Guides to local attractions or neighborhoods
Participation in local fairs and fundraisers
Interviews with local business owners or community leaders
Reviews of other local businesses

13. Send Out Personalized Newsletters to Your Local Clients

The primary goal of newsletters for businesses is to maintain relationships with your existing customers and clients. Newsletters aren’t intended to generate new clients right away! A newsletter will bring repeat customers to your business, as well as increase your brand recognition. You can still attract potential clients with your newsletter, but not directly. Let's say you offer a download of useful tips on your website and you require an email subscription for that download. Sending personalized monthly newsletter to your subscribers, could generate leads and ultimately new clients.

Conclusion

Optimizing for local search can be a game-changer for your business. By following the tips outlined in this guide, you can improve your local SEO and attract more local customers.

Remember to keep your information consistent across all platforms, respond to reviews, and provide high-quality and engaging content that incorporates local keywords. With more and more consumers turning to the internet to find local businesses, it's essential to take advantage of all the tools available to ensure that your business is visible and accessible to potential customers.

By optimizing for local search, you can increase your online presence and establish your business as a trusted and reliable local resource.

How to Improve your site's ranking using SEO

Thu, 20 Apr 2023 01:11:10 GMT

Improving website ranking with SEO

Improving your website's ranking using Search Engine Optimization (SEO) involves a combination of on-page, off-page, and technical optimization tactics. This SEO strategy will help improve the visibility and ranking of a website on search engine results pages (SERPs).

On-page SEO: On-page SEO refers to the optimization of elements on a website that can be controlled by the website owner or webmaster. This includes optimizing content, HTML tags (title tags, meta descriptions, header tags), images, internal links, URL structure, and user experience. The main goal of on-page SEO is to make a website more relevant, useful, and easy to use for both users and search engines.
Off-page SEO: Off-page SEO refers to the optimization of factors outside of a website that can impact its ranking on search engine results pages. This includes link building, social media marketing, guest blogging, influencer marketing, and other tactics aimed at building the website's authority, credibility, and popularity. The main goal of off-page SEO is to increase the website's visibility, reputation, and trustworthiness in the eyes of search engines and users.
Technical SEO: Technical SEO refers to the optimization of technical elements on a website that can impact its crawlability, indexing, and ranking on search engine results pages. This includes optimizing website speed, mobile-friendliness, website architecture, website security, structured data, and other technical factors that impact the website's performance and user experience. The main goal of technical SEO is to ensure that a website is technically sound, easy to crawl, and user-friendly for both search engines and users.

On-page SEO

There are several tactics that you can use for on-page SEO .

Keyword research: Identifying the relevant keywords and keyword phrases to target is critical for optimizing your website's content. Use keyword research tools to find out which keywords are relevant to your business and have a high search volume.
Title tags: Use descriptive and relevant title tags that include your target keywords. Keep your title tags under 60 characters to ensure they appear fully in search engine results pages (SERPs).
Meta descriptions: Write meta descriptions that accurately describe the content of each page and include your target keywords and keyword phrases. Keep your meta descriptions under 160 characters.
Header tags: Use header tags (H1, H2, H3, etc.) to structure your content and make it easy to read. Include your target keywords in your headers.
Content optimization: Optimize your content by including your target keywords throughout the text, without cramming them which is otherwise known as keyword stuffing. Use variations of your target keywords and include them in subheadings, bullet points, and alt tags for images.
Internal linking: Link to other relevant pages on your website using descriptive anchor text. This helps search engines understand the hierarchy and structure of your website.
Image optimization: Optimize your images by using descriptive file names and alt tags that include your target keywords.
Mobile optimization: These days most people use their phones for online searches, so make sure the mobile version of your website is user-friendly. Ensure your website is mobile-friendly and loads quickly on mobile devices.

By implementing these tactics, you can optimize your website for search engines and improve your chances of ranking higher in search results for your target keywords.

Off-page SEO

Off-page optimization for SEO involves improving a website's visibility and reputation through activities outside of the website itself. Some of the most common tactics used for off-page optimization include:

Link building: This involves getting other websites to link back to your website. The quality and relevance of these links are important for SEO. High-quality external links from authoritative websites are more valuable than low-quality links from spammy or irrelevant websites.
Social media marketing: Social media can be used to build your brand, connect with your audience, and share your content. Sharing your content on social media can also help to increase its visibility and attract links back to your website.
Guest blogging: This involves writing blog posts for other websites in your niche or industry. This allows you to reach new audiences, build your brand, and get backlinks to your website.
Influencer marketing: This involves partnering with influencers in your industry or niche to promote your brand and content. This can help to increase your reach, build your authority, and attract links back to your website.
Online directories: Getting your website listed in online directories and business listings can help to improve your visibility and attract backlinks to your website.
Community engagement: Engaging with online communities related to your industry or niche can help to build relationships, increase your visibility, and attract links back to your website.

Technical SEO

There are several tactics that can be used for technical SEO, which involves optimizing the technical aspects of a website to improve its crawlability, indexability, and user experience. Some of the most common technical SEO tactics include:

Website speed optimization: A faster website provides a better user experience and can improve search engine rankings. This can be achieved through optimizing image sizes, minifying code, reducing server response and load time, and leveraging browser caching.
Mobile optimization: With more and more people using mobile devices to browse the internet, having a mobile-friendly website is essential. This can be achieved through responsive design, mobile-specific content, and optimizing website speed for mobile users.
SSL/HTTPS implementation: Using SSL/HTTPS encryption can help to secure your website and improve user trust. It can also improve search engine rankings as Google favors HTTPS websites.
Website architecture optimization: A well-organized website structure helps search engines understand the content and hierarchy of your website. This can be achieved by using clear and descriptive URLs, creating a sitemap, and optimizing internal linking.
Schema markup implementation: Schema markup is a structured data format that provides additional context to search engines about the content on your website. This can improve the visibility and click-through rates of your search engine listings.
Canonicalization: Canonicalization involves setting the preferred URL for your website and redirecting any duplicate content to the preferred URL. This helps to avoid duplicate content issues and improve search rankings.
Robot.txt and XML sitemap optimization: A well-optimized robots.txt file and XML sitemap can help search engines crawl and index your website more effectively.

By implementing these technical SEO tactics, you can improve the crawlability, indexability, and user experience of your website, which can lead to better search engine rankings and more traffic from potential customers to your website.

Organic vs Local Search Engine Optimization

Thu, 20 Apr 2023 01:09:47 GMT

What are the Three Types of Results in Google?

There are three types of Google search results: sponsored, local, and organic. We'll discuss the difference between them and the Search Engine optimization (SEO) tactics used to obtain results in each one as well.

Organic Results

These are the non-paid, natural search results that appear below the sponsored and local results on the search results page. They are determined by Google's algorithm and are based on the relevance and authority of the website's content, keywords, and backlinks. Organic results can include web pages, images, videos, and other types of content.

Organic SEO focuses on optimizing a website to improve its online presence and visibility in search engine results pages (SERPs) through various techniques such as keyword research, content creation, and link building. The goal is to rank higher in the online search results for relevant queries and attract more organic traffic to the site.

Local Results

These are search results that appear in the "Local Pack" or "Map Pack" section of the search results page. They include a map and a list of nearby businesses related to the search query, along with their address, phone number, ratings, and reviews. Local results are based on the user's location and are often shown for location-specific queries.

Local SEO , on the other hand, is a subset of organic SEO that focuses specifically on optimizing a website for local search results. It involves optimizing a website's content, keywords, and other on-page elements to improve its online visibility in local search results and attract more local customers. Local SEO also includes strategies such as claiming and optimizing a Google My Business listing, building local citations, and getting reviews.

How to optimize for organic search

Top 10 Organic SEO strategy tactics that can help improve a website's visibility in search engine results pages (SERPs):

Keyword research: Identifying and targeting relevant and high-traffic keywords in your content. Keyword research is crucial for organic SEO as it helps identify the words and phrases that potential customers are using to search for products or services.
On-page optimization: Optimizing page titles, meta descriptions, header tags, and other on-page elements for targeted keywords.
Content creation: Creating high-quality and relevant content that engages users and encourages backlinks.
Link building: Acquiring high-quality backlinks from authoritative and relevant websites.
Mobile optimization: Ensuring that the website is optimized for mobile devices for better user online experience and search engine rankings.
Page speed optimization: Optimizing the website's page speed for faster load times and improved user experience.
User experience (UX) optimization: Improving the overall user experience of the website, including navigation, accessibility, and readability. These metrics are used by search engines like Google as indicators of user involvement and happiness, which can affect search results.
Schema markup: Adding structured data markup to the website to help search engines better understand the content and improve search results.
Local SEO optimization: Optimizing the website for local search results, including Google My Business listings and local citations.
Analytics and tracking: Tracking and analyzing website performance metrics and making data-driven decisions for optimization.

How to optimize for local search

Top 10 local SEO tactics that can help improve a website's visibility in local search results:

Google My Business (GMB) optimization: Claiming and optimizing a Google My Business listing with accurate and up-to-date information, including business name, address, phone number, website, and hours of operation.
Local keyword research: Identifying and targeting relevant and location-specific keywords in your content.
On-page optimization for local search: Optimizing page titles, meta descriptions, header tags, and other on-page elements for targeted local keywords.
Local content creation: Creating high-quality and relevant content that focuses on local topics and events.
Local link building: Acquiring high-quality backlinks from authoritative and relevant local websites.
Online directories and citations: Building local citations on online directories and review sites, including Yelp, Yellow Pages, and TripAdvisor.
Online reviews: Encouraging and managing online reviews on Google, Yelp, and other relevant review sites.
Location-specific social media: Creating and managing social media profiles for the business that are location-specific.
Local outreach: Reach out to local businesses, organizations, and events for collaboration opportunities and backlinks.
Analytics and tracking: Tracking and analyzing website performance metrics for local search and making data-driven decisions for optimization.

In conclusion, for companies of all sizes, local and organic SEO are essential elements of a holistic digital marketing plan. Businesses must improve their websites and online listings to show up in search results when potential consumers search for relevant keywords given the growing significance of online presence and search engines in customers' decision-making processes. Businesses may raise their exposure, get more potential customers and foot traffic to their websites, and eventually boost their income by concentrating on local and organic SEO.

Does Google My Business Optimization Affect Local Search?

Mon, 03 Apr 2023 16:30:27 GMT

7 Google My Business Optimization Tips to Improve Local Ranking for your Business

When someone searches for your business near their location, they will find local results across the Google search platform including Google Search and Google Maps. Both of these apps are setup in Google my Business (GMB) listing.

60% of Americans use smartphones to search for local products and services, and 92% of searchers pick businesses on the first page of local search results . And that number only continues to grow.

According to research done by BrightEdge, 53% of all website traffic comes from organic searches , so improving your search ranking is incredibly important. Having a Google my Business listing is paramount in today's data-driven age, as is advertising to potential customers with improved Google search listings and business profiles.

How does Google Determine Local Rankings?

According to Google local results are primarily based on three factors: relevance , distance , and prominence . Here is how Google defines these three terms:

“ Relevance refers to how well a local Business Profile matches what someone is searching for.”

“ Distance considers how far each potential search result is from the location term used in a search”

“ Prominence refers to how well known a business is… Prominence is also based on information that Google has about a business, from across the web, like links, articles, and directories. Google review count and review score factor into local search ranking. More reviews and positive ratings can improve your business' local ranking.”

Here is what you can do to help clients find YOUR business and improve your local ranking on Google.

1. Complete your Google My Business Listing

Claim and Verify Your Google Listing

The first step you need to take as a business owner is to claim your business on Google My Business. Navigate to the GMB web page and click on the manage my business button. First, type in the name of your business. If it appears in the pull-down list, select it; if it does not, then type in its full name and move to the next page.

Press finish, and voila, you have claimed your business!

Next you need to verify your GMB location.

It is not surprising that Google My Business is one of the most important listings for your local business, and because of that, it’s important that you claim and verify your listings.

Type https://business.google.com in the browser address or check to see if your business is verified here.

If it is not, there are several ways to get verified - most of the time Google will ask for a postcard. Learn how to get verified by Google here.

Complete Your Business Profile for Better Visibility

Simply claiming your business is not enough for your customers to get the information they need, however.

Go to your Info Tab in Google My Business and enter as much information as possible. Some of the information you may have already entered when you claimed your business, so fill in what may be missing.

Category
Physical address
Service areas
Business hours
Phone number
Business description
Post updates, offers & events
Add Photos & videos
Manage and respond to reviews
Add Custom url
Add attributes
Link to booking appointments
List Products you offer
List Services you offer
Whether or not you accept Google assistant calls

Making sure your information is up to date and reliable is incredibly important. Business Categories are the most important! This is what an optimized profile looks like:

Up-to-date info is essential to aiding Google in matching your business to customer searches, which is critical in improving one’s search ranking as well as customer retention and engagement.

2. Post on GMB Like You Do on Facebook and Other Social Media

Google allows you to post on your business page similar to the way you do on Facebook or on any other social media platform, and they make it just as easy to spread your business profiles around the internet.

There are four different kinds of posts you may utilize:

What's New - allows you to give your customers insight on what is going on currently in your business
Events - this type of post lets customers know about any events you're hosting or holding in the future
Offers - lets people know about current special offers or discounts or ones you're planning for the near future
Products - this post allows customers to look at your products without having to go on your official website. They can buy them directly from here as well.

Posting in Google My Business is as easy as clicking on the “Post” tab in the web page, and utilizing this feature for news, sales and updates. These social posts will show up in your Google My Business profile when people search for your website on Google.

Although slightly more time consuming than just adding information to a tab, according to many research studies, Google My Business posts are one of the largest contributions to local search engine optimization. Setting up a good content strategy and continually posting, although tedious at times, is an excellent way to stay on top of the competition. According to a study published by Moz 59.60% of businesses that rank in the top 20 have posted on their Google My Business profile.

As you can see, posts do help improve local SEO and ranking.

3. Manage and Respond to Google Reviews

Business reviews can really help your business gain more traction, positive reviews increasing the likelihood that potential customers will choose you over a competitor. According to a survey done by BrightLocal, 91% of consumers state that a positive business review makes a big impact on them and 82% of consumers read online reviews for local businesses. Reviews are tantamount for customers finding your business online.

Very often, however, people may forget to leave a review or may not want to spend a lot of time and effort finding out how to do it. Sending your clients a Google direct link removes any extra work and reminds them that you would really love and appreciate their feedback. All they have to do is write it and hit the Send button!

It is possible to send your client a direct link to write a review in Google!

If you're not sure how to send a Google direct link, follow the steps below:

Go to this page: https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/javascript/examples/places-placeid-finder
Enter the name of the place in the address field
Copy the code: xxxxxxxxxx
Replace the code in the following: https://search.google.com/local/writereview?placeid=xxxxxxxxxx
Send link to your client

While you might be afraid of the potential of a negative review, the benefits of customer reviews cannot be underestimated. Review signals are a huge ranking factor, and should not be ignored.

While having good reviews is important, having a high review count is better for SEO rankings than a smaller quantity with a higher overall score.

4. Add Photos and Videos to GMB

People like to not only read about what's going on with your business but also to see examples of your products, services, team members, and the inside of your business. Google has published a detailed guide to uploading business-specific photos to your GMB listing.

Google's own study shows that businesses that have photos get 42% more requests for directions and 35% more clicks to the company website.

What kind of pictures are good for GMB posting?

Google recommends the following images: exterior, interior and common areas photos, as well as product photos & team photos. Interior and exterior photos are an excellent way to show customers what your business looks like - inside and out. Product photos are a great way to show what products or services your business can provide. Photos which depict work and common area are excellent to showcase the atmosphere that you provide in your business should it be relevant.

And finally, team photos are a great way to introduce the members of your team and also the general work environment.

It is important to upload high quality images for your business, and to contact a professional photograph er if necessary. Another tip is to keep an eye on user-generated photos, as you are not the only one who can add photos to your listing! While having customers add photos can be a daunting prospect, this study by Comscore shows that user-generated photos and content attracts up to 30% more engagement than similar postings made by the brand.

Photos are an excellent way to showcase and humanize your business to any prospective customer who may be searching for your type of business in the Google search engine. Photos have a strong effect on helping users find your business, both quality and quantity of photos.

According to a BrightLocal, businesses with over 100 photos received 1038% more direct searches than the average business, and businesses with only a single photo received 71% fewer. Not only that, but businesses with more than 100 photos received 1065% more website clicks than the average business, and those with just one received 65% less.

Adding high quality photos, and monitoring and encouraging user generated photos is an important way to improve site and business traffic, and as such one should not neglect photos. People love images and videos!

Should You Geotag Photos to Rank Higher in Local Search?

Geo-tagging is adding a location to a picture, which will allow your customers to know where the photo was taken.

One of the lesser utilized tools for images to be uploaded to Google My Business is the Geo-Tag tool. Sometimes devices automatically geo-tag photos, but many do not. Check if your photos are automatically geo-tagged, as this can help customers determine the business location with a pin on Google Maps.

If not, follow the steps below to add a location to your picture:

Go to https://tool.geoimgr.com
Upload your JPG image
If the photo is already geo-tagged, the location will show up on the map
If not, or if you want to change the location, then use the marker to set a location, or enter latitude and longitude coordinates
Hit the button Write EXIIF tags
Download the geo-tagged image
Upload to Google My Business

Experts disagree on the benefit of geo-tagged images. So if you don't have time to tag your images manually, no worries. Most smart phones geo-tag photos by default. It is more important that you upload images, regardless of whether they’re geo-tagged.

5. Answer Questions from Users

Each Google My Business page has a place where customers or potential customers can ask you questions. These will be displayed on your profile so others may see the answers as well. Make sure to thoroughly answer these questions. If people get the information they need, they're more likely to become customers.

If your Q&A section is still empty, do not fret! It is possible to post potential questions such as, "Which holidays are we open on?" or "What is your physical address?" and any others that you think customers might be interested in seeing the answers to.

Although it is important to monitor and answer questions as they come, posting a few questions and answering them yourself is a great way to get that section off the ground.

6. Create Your Own Services

Google lets businesses add a custom list of services to Google My Business listings!

The Google search engine believes having standardized job types will make it easier for customers to find the services they need, and adding a list of service types will generate more relevant leads for local businesses.

Google My Business will provide a selection of suggested types of services to choose from, for example, for services to add, for a roofing company one may see “Roof Installation, “Roof Repair" or “Vinyl Siding.”

For a doctor's office you might want to add the following services "gut health" or "functional nutrition".

Take advantage of this great GMB feature as it will help connect you to your potential clients who are looking for specific services you offer!

In addition, this list is used in Google justifications. Justifications are little snippets that Google shows in the snack pack or local pack to help “justify” the reason the business is ranking high.

7. Add Custom Attributes

Google My Business allows you to add special attributes through your business dashboard. These attributes include “identifies as women-led,” and “identifies as black-owned.” These attributes appear as part of your business information in a google search and can help set you apart from the competition.

Do custom attribute help with Local SEO?

Custom attributes fall under the personalization category of local SEO rankings. Custom attributes are an excellent way to highlight diversity and inclusivity for your business. Not only to highlight diversity, attributes are useful in showing the services and amenities that your business offers. Attributes are an excellent way to highlight what your business offers specifically, and the more detailed the attributes that you can add to your business, the more it helps improve your local search rankings.

Conclusion

The Google local listing is one of the most important local listings you can claim and optimize for free!!! As you can see optimizing your business GMB listing will improve your online presence and will plays a role in the larger SEO strategy.

Go to www.google.com/busines s and start optimizing your business listing and improve your local search ranking. As always, let us know if you need any help.

How to use Free Version of Loom

Sat, 01 Apr 2023 16:29:11 GMT

Using Loom for Tech Support Issues

Effective communication is vital, and we're eager to use any tools and technologies that make it simpler and more effective! Loom is a versatile screen recording tool that works with almost any platform to simultaneously record your desktop screen while using your camera and microphone. We'll focus on how to use the free version of Loom effectively.

At Local Business First, we rely on Loom's screen recording and screenshot features to assist our clients promptly and effortlessly with any website support issues they may have.

Use Case: If you submit a support ticket requiring technical assistance, we recommend quickly recording your issue using Loom. This allows our expert website builder to see what you're experiencing and respond accordingly.

Getting Started with Loom Checklist

Install Loom
Create your Loom Account
Select your video recording settings
Record your video
Advanced: edit your video if needed
Share your video
Using Loom for screenshots

How to Install Loom

Ther are two ways to use Loom for screen recording and screenshots: Google Chrome Extension and the Desktop version.

1. Installing the Loom Chrome Extension

Visit the Chrome store here and and install the Chrome extension.

2. Installing Loom on Your Desktop

If the Chrome browser is not available, visit the Loom website to install Loom on your Mac or PC.

Follow the installation instructions provided and start the app.

Create a Loom Account

Open the Loom app after installation or click the Loom symbol in the upper right corner of your browser. When granting access for the first time, select "One-Click Access" from the popup that comes on the screen and just grant what is necessary.

Select Video Recording Settings

Before you start recording, you will be prompted to choose what you want to share: Full Screen, Window, Current Tab, or Camera Only.

Screen and Camera : Use this option to show information on the screen while keeping your face visible.
Screen Only: Record your screen along with your voice audio.
Camera Only: Capture video and audio without recording your screen.

Record the Video

Once you've selected the appropriate settings, start recording. A 3-second timer will appear before recording begins. When you are done recording, rename and share your video.

If you need more help creating your first video click here .

Advanced: Edit Your Video (if needed):

While recording, you can utilize Loom's sketching tools and markers directly on your screen to call attention to certain aspects. You may also pause the recording at any time if you need to think or if you are being interrupted.
You can also change the settings of the camera bubble size during the recording by making it bigger or smaller or even removing it completely.
By selecting the red stop button, you will stop recording. Direct access to Loom's website for editing will be provided.

Share Your Video

Now that you've finished recording your video, you can now share it!

Watch this brief video on how to share your videos with Loom and follow along with the steps below:

First, click Share which is located above your video. This will produce a menu where you can type in the names or email addresses of those you wish to share with, you can also import these contacts from Google. If you have a group already, you may simply choose the group name.
Copy Link provides you the option of sharing a video link alone.
The Embed option will let you to embed your video into another program.
The Social tab allows you to distribute your video through Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, or Gmail.

After stopping the recording, you can give your recording a name, then Share it by typing an email.

How to Use Loom for Screenshots

Loom also offers a convenient way to capture screenshots. Each screenshot comes with a shareable URL to allow you to quickly and easily share it with the rest of your team and external parties. You can find your screenshots in the Screenshot tab of your Loom Library.

To take a screenshot either use cmd + shift + 1 (Mac) or ctrl + shift + 1 (Windows) or use the "Start Capture" button which is located under the Screenshot tab.

For a custom size use ctrl + shift + 2 (Windows) or cmd + shift + 2 (Mac).
Your screenshot will be opened in a new tab with a shareable link.
After stopping the recording, you can give your recording a name, then share it by typing an email.

You can find more details on how to create Loom videos and screenshots on the Loom on PC , and on the Loom on Mac as well.

DIY Keyword Research

Fri, 17 Mar 2023 19:33:11 GMT

Learn How to Do Your Own Keyword Research

Are you a local business owner who has been wondering how to improve traffic to your website without breaking the bank? You know you need to get found online, but hiring someone to do your SEO might be out of budget. It can be confusing and daunting to even know where to start if you’re a solopreneur or have a small team.

Even though it can take years of work to become an expert at SEO, don’t let that discourage you - you don’t need to hire a consultant to start your own SEO strategy, either! Every business owner can learn the basics and be empowered to do keyword research for their own business and industry.

We’ll walk you through the foundations of DIY Keyword research so you can feel confident doing this for your own business and start to see real results in your search engine rankings!

What is SEO and Keyword Research?

Search engine optimization or SEO is a set of practices designed to make sure your website appears in search engine results. influences its position in organic search results. Organic search results are unpaid links on search engine pages and every business should have an online marketing strategy that uses business or industry specific keywords

Why is Keyword Research Essential for all Business Owners?

In our modern world, most people regardless of age use Google to look for information about anything. That’s why as a business owner, improving your online presence is a very effective and compelling strategy to draw in more organic traffic to your website. Choosing the right audience to target and the way they use search terms is a must when it comes to SEO and it can be done through keyword research tools!

For beginners, keyword research means finding the right keywords to incorporate in strategic places throughout the website for your business. For example, you have a cake business. When people search for the term “cake”, there will be so many cake stores/ makers that will show up. If you haven’t added keywords to your website, yours might not be one of those names that will show on the first page.

But when you choose and use the right keyword for your business, it gives you a higher chance to be on the first page of search results. It is like using a specific phrase that describes your services or your products with the location your business caters to. “Pool maintenance gold coast” or “pool cleaning experts gold coast” – getting specific with your services and locations means fewer competitors, fewer results to show and a higher chance of getting visibility for your website.

As a vital part of good SEO, you should work to establish a solid keyword research plan and implement the keyword ideas you discover. If you don’t know where to start, start here: make a list of important, relevant topics based on the services offered by your business.

If you’ve never developed a keyword research strategy before - that’s okay! It’s not as scary as it sounds. We’ll walk you through the three primary aspects of keyword research below.

Things to Pay Attention to When Doing Keyword Research

There are three important terms you’ll need to know when doing keyword research for your business: Volume, Relevance and Authority.

Volume

A large search quantity reveals numerous people are searching with this particular search query. You may rise to the top spot on the primary page for a special keyword, but if no one ever looks for it, it will not create visits to your site. MSV (monthly search volume ), which measures how frequently a term is looked at monthly across all audiences, is used to compute quantity.

A fundamental rule of thumb when selecting keywords is that searches over 20 times per month should be taken into account for SEO.

Relevance

Google evaluates content for importance. This is when the concept of search purpose emerges. Your content will only be indexed for a keyword if it meets the searchers' expectations and is the best available resource for the query. Google is not going to prioritize your content over your competitors if it has lower value and less information.

Authority

Websites that Google recognizes as trustworthy are given more importance. This means that you must use every effort to establish yourself as an authoritative source by enhancing your website with educational, helpful material and advertising it to get social signals and backlinks. If you do not have the distinction of being seen as an influence in the subject or if the search engine results pages for a keyword have numerous authoritative sites that you cannot contend with, then it is unlikely that your content will make it to a high-ranking position.

Keywords vs. Topics

What is the difference between keywords and topics? Aren't they the same? There’s a slight, yet important difference.

Topics consist of related and highly relevant keywords. For example, a topic could be on medical devices or recipes. While keywords are words or keyword phrases that web searchers or potential customers are using to get to your website. It is sometimes composed of 2-3 seed keywords, which are then called long-tail keywords.

Long-Tail Keywords or Keyword Phrases

The majority of terms which bring you website traffic and transactions will often be particular or long-tail keywords. The head (standard) phrases usually are brief, most of the time from 0 to 26 characters. These long-tail keywords consist of two, three or more words. For instance, " paint party " could be a head term. Those searches often acquire a great deal of organic traffic, but not necessarily traffic that will convert into actual website clicks as they are particularly competitive keywords and cover very broad topics. Long-tail keywords are lengthier and are a more explicit variation of the primary terminology with a stronger financial plan. For example, " online corporate painting party ". You are more likely to bring in people to your website with these types of keywords and therefore are the terms we like to use most.

To find long-tail keywords, go through each keyword and discover beneficial keyword phrases that will be effortless to rank for, will produce direct traffic and aid us in increasing our main keyword through the ranks, and provide general authority and applicability to our website.

How are Keywords and Keyword Phrases Used

Once you have a group of keywords that'll aid you to concentrate on the right subjects for your company and secure your gains in both the short term and long term. Now it's time to build your content concepts and craft your website pages around those keywords. Incorporate them into different areas of your website such as:

Page url

URL stands for Uniform Resource Locator. URL is simply the address of an individual resource over the internet.

Page headings

A heading is a headline or title that breaks up the content on a page and categorizes the material into smaller parts so that it is simple both for visitors and search engines to explore and comprehend.

SEO title tag

A title tag is an element for a website that indicates the name of a web page. They are the clickable links from Google's search results that direct to your web page.

SEO description tag

Description tags are unseen tags that supply info about your page to search engines and website guests. They render it simpler for search engines to recognize what your content is related to, and thus are critical for SEO.

Content through the page/article, especially the first 200 words

Placing keywords throughout the content of your page, article, or blog post is very important for your SEO. By optimizing the words on your website, you can ensure that search engines like Google will include your website in their search results.

Focus especially on the first 200 words of your page as Google looks more heavily on the beginning content.

Image alt tags

Alt text is the written content that substitutes an image on a webpage if it fails to display on a user's monitor. This content helps screen-reading software pinpoint pictures for visually impaired readers and allows search engines to investigate and rank your website.

Anchor links text

Internal links help search engines understand the structure of your website. Search engines can better understand your (internal) links thanks to the link's content, which provides them with additional context. Google reads the link text when you connect to other material to determine the topic of the linked page.

As well as providing context, the anchor text explains the purpose of a link and directs users to where it leads.

FAQs

A website's FAQ (commonly asked questions) page is a location where you can answer your most frequently asked questions about your business.

How to Do Keyword Research Using Free Tools

There are many generators and research tools that are free and can help you level up your keyword research process! Below we've listed some of the best free keyword research tools:

Manual Search

The first free tool you can use to find keywords for your business is actually just yourself and Google!

Create a keyword list!

Ask your clients about how they found you, and what did they search for? Take those words and phrases and copy them to your list.
In the Google search box, start typing and Goog le will suggest keywords to you.
If you are a local business, copy the Google Business Profile category. See Painting Studio category below.

Plug these keywords and others you can think of into Google.
Copy all the keywords from the title and description of the first page from the top search results. See Zoom Virtual Paint Parties, Online Paint Party, Paint Kits below.

Also copy the keywords fro m the "Related Searches" section.

Google Search Console

The Google Search Console platform is easy to set up, so getting started is very simple if you are new to website tracking. It is a really effective tool and it is a must-have for every website owner. It provides the list of keywords that are most relevant to your industry and to your location and lets you see the competition level for each search term. It also included the latest Google Trends.

The first step is to create an account on GSC and add your website to it.

You will be given a code to verify your ownership. This code needs to be added to your site html. Once done, you should be able to monitor your website traffic for a certain amount of time.

Let’s now skip to the good part.. There will be an option for you to see the keywords your page currently ranks for. By default, Search Console will show phrases that have received the most audience or clicks. Hence, your list of keywords should circle around the words that you will see on your Search Console.

IMforSMB Bulk Keyword Generator (Trades Only)

This is a local SEO keyword tool that automatically generates local keyword lists by industry and lists the most popular keywords for your business. You will only need to select a business type and city, and the tool will automatically generate all local keywords for your business type, based on your input, that potential customers might use to search and find you.

Ubersuggest (shows only 20 keywords for free version)

Ubersuggest is a super powerful SEO tool owned by Neil Patel that will let you see the keywords' monthly search volume, CPC & competitive analysis. This tool offers a very wide and decent database of keywords that is very much useful for your site. It gives keyword ideas and suggestions that are very reliable and it will help you identify which ones will work for your site.

Traffic Overview in Ubersuggest shows the following metrics:

Organic monthly traffic: This is the estimated number of visitors the website receives from search engines every month.
Organic monthly keywords: This is the number of keywords the website ranks for in the top 100 search results on Google.
Traffic value: This is an estimate of how much the organic traffic to the website is worth, based on the cost of running paid ads for the same keywords.
Top pages: This section lists the pages on the website that receive the most organic search traffic.
Top SEO pages: This section lists the pages on the website that have the highest search engine optimization (SEO) scores, based on factors such as keyword usage, backlinks, and page speed.

Traffic Overview

Keywords

Backlinks

Top Pages

SEOptimer

SEOoptimer is another online tool that provides a comprehensive analysis of a website's search engine optimization (SEO) performance. It evaluates on-page factors such as content quality, keyword usage, and meta tags, as well as off-page factors such as backlinks, social media presence, and domain authority.

Some important features include:

Website analysis: This feature analyzes various on-page and off-page factors of a website to identify areas for improvement.
Keyword analysis: This feature analyzes a website's use of keywords and provides suggestions for optimizing them for search engines.
Competitor analysis: This feature compares a website's SEO performance to that of its competitors, highlighting areas where the website can improve its ranking.
Backlink analysis: This feature analyzes a website's backlinks and provides suggestions for improving its link profile.
Social media analysis: This feature analyzes a website's social media presence and provides suggestions for improving its social media strategy.

WordStream Free Keyword Tool

WordStream is an awesome alternative to Google's Keyword Planner. The tool gives you a list of relevant keywords related to what you have searched.

Also, it has a cool feature where it gives additional information like the estimated CPS and competition level for each search term and also gives ideal keyword results tailored to your industry and country. And more importantly, you can have the results emailed to you.

Bruce Clay Free Research Tool: KSP Keyword Research

KSP Keyword Research Tool is, no doubt, one of the best and most useful tools when it comes to doing a keyword search. It is very easy to navigate, you just need to input your keyword, just like the other free tools in our list.

Free Keyword Tool

Keyword Tool's keyword suggestions will be generated based on a Google domain and language that you inputted upon searching. It is one of the most widely used and best defined as an alternative to Google Keyword Planner.

AnswerthePublic

From a quick search, Answer the Public produces useful phrases and questions people are asking about the keyword you want to use. This keyword generator will automatically generate instant, raw search insights, direct from how your customers think and search. And you will immediately see a very long list of long-tail key phrases to choose from.

Google Trends

Google Trends is a helpful search trends tool that displays the frequency of a certain search phrase in relation to the overall volume of searches made on the website over a specified time period. It offers geographical statistics on search engine users as well as keyword-related data such as the search volume index.

You can type a search word into the tool's search box at the top to see how the volume of searches for that term has changed over time and in other places.

You can also just see what is currently trending throughout the world overall. For more precise information, alter the region, period of time, category or industry, and search engine.

How to Optimize Location Pages

Thu, 02 Mar 2023 02:11:28 GMT

How to Optimize Location Pages for Local SEO

If you run a business with multiple physical locations, or you provide services to customers in specific geographical areas, making your location pages local SEO-friendly can increase your website's exposure online and bring in more relevant visitors. You may improve your chances of showing up in the top search engine results for location-based inquiries by optimizing these sites using local SEO strategies. This tutorial will go through the most effective methods for improving location pages for local search engine optimization and increased online presence.

What is a location page?

In the context of SEO, a location page is a web page on a website that provides information about a business's physical location(s). It typically includes the business's name, address, phone number (NAP), business hours, and other relevant information, such as directions, parking information, and nearby landmarks.

Location pages are particularly important for businesses with multiple physical locations, as they help customers find the location nearest to them when searching for products or services. By optimizing location pages for local search engine optimization, businesses can increase their visibility in local search results and attract more local customers.

Location pages can also include unique content, such as information about the history of the business or details about local events and promotions. This helps to make the location-specific page more valuable to both customers and search engines and can improve the overall user experience.

Location pages SEO

Creating location pages for a service area can be an effective Local SEO strategy for businesses that serve multiple locations. Here are some tips for creating and optimizing location pages:

Include relevant and specific information: Make sure to include your business name, physical address, phone number (NAP), email address, social media profiles, Google Business profile category, business hours, and any other important details like parking availability, accessibility, etc.
Use location-specific keywords: Use location-specific keywords in your page titles, headings, content, and meta descriptions. This will help search engines understand that your page is relevant to local searches.
Add Google Maps: Embed a Google Map of your business location on your location page to make it easy for customers to find you.
Create unique content: Avoid duplicating content across multiple location pages. Instead, create unique and quality content for each location page that is relevant to the specific location to stand out from nearby businesses.
Include geographically targeted content: Add images, videos and location-specific testimonials and FAQs.
Get local backlinks: Build local backlinks to your location pages from other relevant and authoritative websites in your local area. This can help improve your local search visibility and drive more traffic to your site.
Include local business schema: Local businesses should add local business schema to any page of content that is associated with their location or area. This encompasses everything from store locations and contact information to product descriptions, special offers, hours of operation, unique services, images, restaurant menu items, and more. More on local schema here.
Encourage customer reviews: Encourage your customers to leave positive reviews on your location pages. This can help improve your search rankings and also provide valuable social proof to potential customers.
Optimize for mobile: Make sure your location pages are mobile-friendly, as many people use their mobile devices to search for local businesses.

By following these tips, you can help optimize your location pages for local SEO and improve your chances of ranking higher in local search results.

6 Reasons Local Reviews Matter for Your Business

Fri, 30 Sep 2022 15:07:33 GMT

6 Reasons Local Reviews Matter

Gone are the days where you’re left to rely on your neighbor's suggestion on where to get your car fixed or your friend to tell you which hairdresser they’d suggest.

Today, consumers look to internet customer reviews for guidance on almost everything. The internet has brought us the ability to both search for a company and read their reviews - all in a matter of seconds. It’s highly likely, in fact, that a person will google the restaurant they’re planning on eating at before ever setting foot inside.

Small companies tend to have a love-hate relationship with on-line reviews. On the one hand, positive evaluations help a business get noticed, to the degree that it’s become necessary for businesses’ marketing plans to prioritize gathering reviews. Indeed, good reviews are powerful and from a business perspective, pack a lot of punch. Negative reviews, by contrast, can scare away potential customers.

Regardless of their opinions about them, online reviews end up as mostly a win-win for most businesses. On average, there are far more positive than negative reviews, most customers happy to report their favorable experiences. The contribution these make to business is undeniable.

How does Google determine your local search rank?

The improvement in local SEO (Search Engine Optimization) ranking is probably the main advantage of raising your company's presence on online review sites. Google has a few different elements that affect how well a company does in local searches.

Relevancy. One of the first things Google takes into account is how relevant your business is to the person’s search query. Google wants to give the searcher the results that most closely match with their question.

Proximity. Another element is the closeness of the searcher to your establishment. This is the next consideration used by search engines. Although distance is something you can’t control, you can still make an effort to ensure that your website and company listings are optimized for local search. Spend some time making sure your name, address, and phone number are the same on all of your listings and on every page of your website.

Prominence. The final factor that helps determine a business’ local search ranking is prominence. This is where online business reviews come into play. When it comes to local SEO, prominence refers to things like how well-known your business is in the offline world and the amount of information that exists about your business across the web, particularly in the form of links back to your site and online business reviews. Additionally, it also helps if you’re interacting and responding to online reviews – both positive and negative ones.

Here are a few reasons why local reviews are so important for your business:

1. You can be found easily online

It won't take you long to uncover reviews of a company when you search for it; in fact, they'll usually be among the first results you encounter. When deciding which companies to return in local searches, Google considers the review ratings from a variety of websites. Online reviews and certain keywords actually have the biggest impact on local search engine exposure.

2. Builds trust with your customers

Owning a small business means that you’re able to connect with your customers on a much more personal level than are larger corporations. You are not only serving the community, but you’re also a part of it.

Any successful business needs to have trust with its customers and reviews provide an excellent opportunity to do this. Customers can be more confident that your company delivers on its promises if they see you engage with reviews and utilize them to enhance your business. When potential customers see positive reviews, they’re assured that your company has value and is trustworthy.

3. Gives your business a good reputation

Reviewers do not earn anything from leaving feedback, they only wish to relate their encounter, whether it was positive or negative. People will pay attention to these reviews. In fact, buyers place the same amount of faith in internet evaluations as they do personal recommendations.

It’s fair to say that people rely on these reviews when making a purchasing decision, and if your reviews are positive, then your business will earn a lot of credibility with customers.

4. Makes your customers more likely to purchase or book an appointment

Most customers investigate before investing money or time at your small business. Reading about someone else's experience at a company before you try it out yourself provides a certain amount of confidence. It follows that online reviews have an impact on most shoppers. People read evaluations from rival businesses and consider them when making decisions about what to purchase, where to dine, or even where to seek employment.

Consider this hypothetical situation: you ask your best friend or siblings for advice on where to have your car fixed, as you need a new place. You are choosing between two auto shops, but your friend only recommended one of them. Which one are you going to pick?

The easier it is for consumers to decide to try your services, the better your company's internet reputation is. Few customers are ready to chance doing business with a company that has few, or largely negative, ratings.

5. Shows that you care

What other people say about your business is not the only thing that matters for your online presence, however. People are listening to the opinions and criticism of others, but they also want to see how you manage it. Your company should be making it a priority to respond to evaluations even if they are not favorable. Most customers believe that a company cares more about its customers if that company has many reviews and is responsive to its reviewers.

6. Gives you important feedback

Customer evaluations have the potential to teach you a lot. What aspects of your company do clients adore, which do they most dislike? Reviewing your performance helps you accomplish more of the positive and diminish the negative.

See if your negative reviews are consistent in the issues they discuss - customers having difficulty contacting you, incorrect business hours cited, slow service, etcetera. It’s better to fix the problem while it’s still relatively small and before it becomes a major issue and risks damaging your business permanently.

Conclusion

The benefit from online reviews to both consumers and companies cannot be understated. Every point of the customer journey is impacted - from recognition of the product/service, to deliberation and onward to purchase.

Online reviews assist businesses to enhance their exposure by boosting local SEO, impact purchase decisions by helping to develop trust with clients, and ultimately help improve the business by highlighting possible problems in real time.

Online reviews are important and might be the difference between you and your rival. So, encourage them among your customers, and if they’re negative, don't be afraid of the feedback.

Facebook Business Page Optimization Tips

Mon, 25 Jul 2022 21:24:47 GMT

Why Facebook Page Optimization is Important for Your Business

With over 2 billion active users worldwide, Facebook is the biggest social media platform to date. Almost every individual and business has their own Facebook page - so what does that mean for you as a business owner?

It means that you can leverage your own page as a business tool. Your Facebook page can help you tap into the unlimited potential of the platform when it comes to reaching and attracting the right customers!

So how do you make sure your profile is working for you and not against you? Facebook business page optimization is an extremely valuable strategy when it comes to driving traffic to your website, reaching your target audience and converting your visitors into actual customers.

If you're wondering how optimizing your facebook business page can be a part of your current social media marketing strategy, we've outlined some simple steps you can take to make sure your profile is set up for success!

Getting Started with the Basics

The first phase of set up includes; setting up your page, adding your logo or headshot, cover photo, user name & URL, headline, call to action button and about us section.

Let’s start with the first step, do you have a Facebook business page? If you don't start here; set up your page and begin to optimize key aspects!

If you already have a business page, you can still follow along with this list to make sure you're off to the right start. The beautiful thing about Facebook is you can always go back and edit your page when you need to.

Fundamentals of Creating an Optimized Page

Navigate directly to the “Create a Facebook Page” to create your business page. Once you've created your page, choose the correct type of page template (what template you choose is dependent on your business type / services offered) in "settings." From there, fill out the page description field and update your page categories under "Edit Info."

Add your best profile picture & cover image: Use facebook's image size guidelines and choose a high quality, professional photo or logo that best represents your business or brand.

*Pro - Tip: At Local Business First, we use Canva to easily size and design social media images!

Create a custom user name and claim your vanity URL for your page: Create a custom user name in "settings" to stand out and be more easily found.

Did you know? Custom URLs are heavily weighted by search engines algorithms, so include you brand name. If your main brand name alone is already claimed, add a keyword to your brand name when you edit your Facebook Page URL.

Ex: https://www.facebook.com/localbusiness1st

Add a compelling headline: A strong headline can attract attention and keep users engaged. It is the first chance you have to be clear on what your business is and what you have to offer. You can make it as cheeky or matter of fact as you'd like!

Edit your 'Call to Action' button: There are now expanded options for your call to action button. You can choose from categories like Booking, Shopping, Learning More and Getting In Touch. From your Business Manager you can simply click the "Edit" icon on your existing 'Call To Action' button and Facebook will guide you through the process based on your business goals.

When you've set everything up, optimize all of your business information.

The second phase of setting up an optimized Facebook Business page is updating all of the relevant information. You'd be surprised to see how many business owners create a Facebook page and leave it incomplete.

Ensure all of your information is accurate: This one is self explanatory! Ensuring your information is accurate will allow your customers and search engines to find you more easily. Basic things like accurate business hours and business type go a long way.

Use keywords throughout your page: Beyond accurate information, keywords are the bread and butter of making sure your Facebook page is optimized.

When optimizing any information or content used on your Facebook, you should create content around high-performing keywords that will help you rank higher on search engine result pages (SERPs). You should also use them in all relevant places, including your title tags, descriptions, headings, URLs, and body copy. If you're not sure what keywords to target, start with those related to your product or service!

Utilize your "About Us" to resonate with potential customers: Not only is the "About Us" section one of the most important places to tell customers more about what you offer but also to use SEO keywords. High quality content here is key so put some thought and effort into what you want to share.

Add page tabs to promote your products and services: Use tabs to further customize your page and display your content in your unique brand voice. You can add tabs in "settings" on the left hand side of the page menu and follow the prompts. You can also use these to link your other social media pages for maximum exposure!

Utilize locations pages: If you have multiple locations, this feature allows you to manage your different geographical storefronts through your main page. Manage this underneath the home page in the left hand navigation by clicking on "Locations."

Next Level Optimization: Finish setting up your page with more advanced features for maximum customer engagement.

Once you've completed your set up and basic optimization, go one step further and start using your page to your advantage.

User experience at this phase is important, especially if you are guiding customers to actions like engaging with your business by signing up for an email list, visiting your website or other social media pages or reaching out to you for a consultation.

This next set of optimization tasks will up-level how you use your page as a business owner and go a long way when it comes to engaging your page visitors and grabbing the attention of potential customers.

Enable reviews & ask your customers for them: Another thing to consider is using online reviews and ratings as social proof to customers looking to make a decision. These posts will help establish your reputation as a trustworthy company and make great content to share!

Facebook messenger & automated responses: Facebook Messenger has approximately 700 million monthly active users. 80% of them open and send messages, so it's important to be accessible to your customers via this Facebook feature.

One way to easily open the lines of communication is setting up automated responses. You can customize your automated response by going to "Inbox" and clicking "automated responses" in the left hand column tab. You can edit this message to say whatever you'd like as an instant follow up for customer inquiries to set expectations or guide them to next steps.

Pin your important posts to the top of the page & make FAQs available to your customers: You can use the pin feature whenever you post to make sure customers see important updates, posts or FAQ information at the top of your page and don't have to scroll looking for what they need to read first. If you don't know what content to pin, do research on your high-intent customers' paint points to try and answer their questions right off the bat about your business.

Link your Facebook on other sites or in other content: This is called back linking and the more your page is linked on other sites or content, the more it gives you a higher ranking in search engines like google. One place you can link your Facebook to get going on this is in a blog post or on your own website.

Use Facebook stories to share more about your products & services: Facebook stories are an interactive way to share your content, products and services and remind customers to visit your page and click on your call to action!

*Pro - Tip: Respond to customer comments & reviews for more engagement!

Conclusion

Congratulations, you've successfully set up and optimized your Facebook business page! That is a huge first step to getting your business found online, getting new customers and engaging the ones you already have. Now what?

Keeping your Facebook page relevant is an ongoing effort. Keep in mind social media branding doesn’t end once you create a Facebook business page! Continued social media optimization efforts are vital because what you put in you will get out. How much you use your page is a big factor in determining the level of your business' interactions with customers and ultimately, increased online success.

From here, start to manage your page and posting schedule in the business suite. Keep asking for reviews, sharing your profile and linking back to it, adding relevant content to your posts and stories and remember - use keywords in everything you do.

2022 Social Media Image Size Cheat Sheet

olympia@localbizfirst.com (Olympia Caswell) — Wed, 18 May 2022 19:42:01 GMT

2022 Social Media Image Dimension

Social Media visuals are really a necessity for not only personal profiles but also your business these days because they help you to get your message across to your audience and customers in an effective manner. Not only do social media visuals make it easier to communicate, but being active on any social media platform also creates a social network critical to yielding a positive impact and return to business owners.

In the most recent years where everything seems to be evolving and increasingly virtual, visual entertainment has become one of the major touch points through which customers can come to know more about a business, grow in trust for brands and interact with their offerings. Quality images or postings, whether as photographs, illustrations, or recordings is in many cases the most common and effective way to grab an audience's attention.

When posting for your business, a rule of thumb to always follow is that your images should be attractive and appealing. An easy way to ensure your posting expert looking visual content is to check that images you're using on socia l media platforms have the right size, resolution, color, and quality.

Fortunately, there are a wide range of photo editor apps and software that are available to use on the market that resize, crop, rotate, add text, etc to your images. The only downside to doing this yourself is that it's not always possible to navigate free tools easily, edit without frustration and know the correct dimensions to use.

To guide you in the process of posting like a pro, Local Business First has put together an up-to-date resource for social media image sizes for 2022.

See below:

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

GMB

Youtube

Snapchat

1. Facebook

Facebook is still the world's most used and famous social media platform and is now being used by most businesses for marketing and promotions. It's a "social media" platform that has a large community of users so clients or business owners are encouraged to try not to be excessive with business or product-driven focus when it comes to their postings. Business users should always try to convey the human side of their images or posts and utilize the current guidelines for the ideal Facebook post.

Recommended Facebook image sizes for 2022:

Facebook has updated its profile picture guidelines, which now state that all users must upload a photo with a minimum width of 1080 pixels and height of 612 pixels. Facebook also recommends that you use square images rather than rectangular ones.

It’s important to note that if you want to optimize your business’s Facebook page and your social media presence, then it’s crucial to make sure you post content regularly and use the correct image sizes following the latest guidelines:

Facebook profile picture size: The profile picture you have chosen will appear on your timeline every time you post or comment on a post/other walls. This also applies when you are searched and will be the first thing another individual sees so it's important it represents yourself or your brand.
180 x 180

Facebook cover photo size: The cover photo is set behind your profile picture. It is bigger, so it gives a little more leeway to be creative. Where a profile picture maybe a photo of yourself, the cover photo could potentially be your brand logo or something directly doing with your brand.
820 x 312

Facebook link image size: A shared image is one of the most common forms of sharing on Facebook. These images will appear on your timeline and will show up in most of your followers’ News Feeds. It’s unlikely that everyone will see your post. However, the more people who engage with your post, the more likely the rest of your followers will see that activity.
1200 x 630

Facebook event image size: Facebook Events capture the attention of other users because they alert the audience. Reminders are sent to those individuals, so make sure the Event Cover Photo fits the recommended pixels mentioned above.
1920 x 1005

Facebook video size: You can also upload a clip or a whole video promoting your business on this platform.
Video Size: 1280 x 720
Maximum Facebook Video Length: 240 minutes

Facebook Ads image/video Size: Your ads can now also be seen on Facebook.
Ad Image: 1200 x 628
Ad Video: 1080 x 1350 (ratio 4:5), at least 1080 x 1080, ratios from 16:9 to 9:16 are also supported

Facebook Story Ad Size: You can take, create and share photos, videos, and/or posts that will only be visible for 24 hours to your audience.
1080 x 1920

Facebook Reels: Is a new feature that is consisted of inspiring short videos consisting of music, audio, AR effects, text overlays, and more. You can post this on your facebook story or facebook profile.
1080×1350 (ration 4:5)

2. Instagram

If you're looking to grow your brand awareness, then Instagram is definitely worth considering. With over 1 billion monthly active users, there are plenty of potential customers out there waiting to hear about what you sell, making Instagram is a great place to promote your products and services.

You may want to consider creating a separate business account specifically for Instagram. That way, you can focus on building up your audience without having to worry about other platforms.

One way to get customers' attention is to make sure that your photos are clear and recognizable to search and be seen when it pops up on the explore page. It's important to remember that Instagram doesn't offer the same kind of flexibility as other social networks like Facebook.

It is very important that you keep your posts consistent across different platforms, so while you may be able to adjust the size of your Facebook posts, you won't be able to do the same with Instagram. For example, if you want to upload an image on Instagram, then it needs to be between 320px X 480px in size. If you don't follow these instructions, then your images won't appear properly on the app.

You can create stunning images custom for Instagram using various apps and websites, however you need to know the exact dimensions required before uploading them.

Below you'll find Instagram post dimensions for 2022:

Instagram post: When those who follow you scroll past what you have posted, they will see your image. Something to note, Instagram has a higher resolution when a photo is taken in the application. So if you decide to upload the image on another device, the resolution will be much lower.
1080 x 1080 px (1:1 ratio)

Instagram profile picture size: Make sure that your photo is clear and recognizable for users to search and be seen when it pops up on the explore page.
360 x 360 px

Instagram story: Instagram stories are the most popular source of information and visuals. Both Videos and images can appear on them. The posts uploaded to your story will only last for 24 hours.
1080 x 1920 px (9:16 ratio)

Here are other posting features for Instagram:

Instagram landscape photo: 1080 x 608 px (1.91:1 ratio)
Instagram portrait: 1080 x 1350 px (4:5 ratio)
Instagram ad (single image or carousel): 1080 x 1080 px
IGTV cover photo: 420 x 654 (1:1.55 ratio)
IGTV and Reel video: 1080 x 1920 px (9:16 aspect ratio)

3. Twitter

Twitter is known for hashtags, pinned tweets and twitter users fitting their posts into a finite number of characters, but there are many ways you can leverage this platform to increase your visibility online.

The best place to start is using hashtags. It is an undeniable fact that hashtags help improve your reach, so having the most searched hashtags handy is a must. By adding them to your Tweet, you make it easier for people to search for related content. What makes hashtags even more effective is by using the right Twitter image size for their specific purposes.

The following table lists Twitter image sizes for 2022:

Twitter profile photos sizes: Much like Facebook, your Twitter profile picture defines you and your business. It is best to have this be the highest quality because it will be seen on your page, news feed, and among those who follow you.
400 x 400 (recommended)

Twitter header photos size: Just like Facebook, this is set behind your profile photo. It should accomplish the same idea as if it was your Facebook header. Be creative!
1500 x 500 pixels (recommended)

Twitter news feed photos size: In any tweet, you can attach a photo or video. Uploaded photos will show in your followers’ feeds and in their followers if it is retweeted. Twitter may collapse your photo into a smaller version to fit the stream. Make sure it displays the portion of the photo you want them to see. All of the photos will be visible if the image is clicked on.
1600 x 900 pixels (recommended)

Twitter image sizes for ads: You can also post ads here. Create an image with the right dimensions and get ready to sell!

Single and multi-image tweets for ads:
Minimum Size: 600 x 335 pixels, but use larger images for the best results.

Website card image:
800 x 418 pixels for 1.91:1 aspect ratio.
800 x 800 for 1:1 aspect ratio.\
Maximum file size of 20MB.

App card image:
800 x 800 pixels for 1:1 aspect ratio.
800 x 418 pixels for 1.91:1 aspect ratio.
Maximum file size of 3MB.

Carousels:
800 x 800 pixels for 1:1 aspect ratio.
800 x 418 pixels for 1.91:1 aspect ratio.
Maximum file size of 20MB for 2-6 image cards.

Direct Message card:
800 x 418 pixels for 1.91:1 aspect ratio.
Maximum file size of 3MB.

Conversation card:
800 x 418 pixels for 1.91:1 aspect ratio.
Maximum file size of 3MB.

4. Google Business Profile

Google Business is another platform that helps businesses to manage their online presence across Google SERPs (search engine results page). The good thing about this platform is that it allows users to add multiple services such as YouTube, Gmail, Blogger, etc to their profiles.

Google has a set of guidelines when it comes to creating a Google Business account which includes:

Your address should be accurate and up-to-date.
Make sure your phone number is correct.
Add a map with your location.
Include your website URL.
Provide information about your business hours.
Be consistent with your name, logo, and other branding elements.

In addition to these guidelines that keep your business info up to date, it is also really important to post about your business on your GMB profile from time to time. And again, just like any other platform or tool, there is also a list of image size guidelines.

Proﬁle Photo: Your profile photo is used to identify your business when you reply to a review or post a photo.
Recommended: 250 x 250
Minimum: 120 x 120.
Aspect Ratio: 1:1

Cover Photo: Your cover photo is your preferred photo to be displayed on your listing in google search and google maps.
Recommended: 1080 x 608
Minimum: 480 x 270

Google Posts: With Google My Business posts you can publish your offers, events, products, and services directly to Google Search and maps.
Recommended: 1200 x 900.
Minimum: 400 x 300.
Aspect Ratio: 4:3.
SERP Display: 230 x 130.
Desktop Display: 404 x 303

5. Linkedin

LinkedIn is another platform that is really helpful for businesses. This is the world’s premier business network, making it very ideal and useful for business owners. Although LinkedIn is traditionally about words and text posts, it is still very important to post images to deliver the brand you want to convey to your target audience or potential customers. LinkedIn Post can be just as dynamic and interactive f your target audience

LinkedIn Company Pages are similar to Facebook pages. They allow companies to create a page where they can share updates, news, events, and much more. Like the other social media platforms, it is necessary to post images that meet LinkedIn posting guidelines.

Here is the list of the recommended LinkedIn image sizes for 2022:

LinkedIn company logo size: An Individual will come to your profile for some quick information, so having a prominent image that represents you and your brand is essential.
300 x 300

LinkedIn cover image size: Choose a cover photo that will accent your profile and represent your business or brand. The image appears much larger than your profile photo and will really stand out on your profile.
1128 x 191

LinkedIn Business Banner image: Since this image is located on your homepage, it’s likely the visitor is actively searching for your brand. Use this as an opportunity to grab their attention with a great image.
646 x 220

LinkedIn image sizes for blog post link images: This size works for LinkedIn posts that share a photo or a link with an image. This could either be in a blog post or an article. If you’re only sharing a photo, you have a bit more room for the exact size if you prefer.
1200 x 627

6. Youtube

Youtube is the top video platform for business marketing. It is home to billions of daily users worldwide and drives millions of profile visits, making it a great platform for small businesses looking to market with video content. It's important to have your own Youtube account for your business, display updated information and use images that suit the requirements of this platform.

Here's a list of the Youtube image sizes for 2022:

YouTube profile photo size: YouTube profile picture size matters so set yours to the following dimensions:
800 x 800

YouTube Channel cover picture: This is considered your channel branding so it is important to have something that represents your business as your cover picture.
2560 x 1440 (desktop) and 1546 x 423 (smartphones)

YouTube photo thumbnail size: This is the preview or a snapshot of what your audience can see before clicking on your video.
1280 x 720

YouTube Standard video size: This is the most important of all when you already have your own Youtube Account - your videos.
The minimum dimension: 426 x 240.
maximum dimension: 3840 x 2160
aspect ratio: 16:9

7. Snapchat

If you want to connect to a younger demographic and tap into a different social media network, Snapchat is the place to be.

The Snapchat app was designed to be casual and fun, making it the an ideal tool to show the authentic, not picture-perfect side of you or your business. This platform enables users and businesses to tell stories through photo and video using fun filters and enticing content that disappears after a day of being live.

To effectively use this app in promoting your business, you’ll need to create an official Business account.

Here are the Snapchat image sizes that you need to use for 2022:

Shared images: 1080 x 1920

Geofilters: 1080 x 1920

Stories:
1080 x 1920;
maximum file size 34 MB;
duration: 10 seconds or less

8. Pinterest

Pinterest is another visual social platform that can be used for business. This app lets users can create and share pins, create lifestyle boards, and of course, shop.

If you’re not using Pinterest to market and promote your products or services online, you’re definitely missing out. Many users have bought a product because they saw it on this site/app, and it is indeed a great opportunity to reach customers.

Just like Snapchat, it will be optimal to sign up for a business account. This version is free, but it gives you access to sales-minded features such as analytics so you can easily see how your uploads or posts are doing.

Pinterest image sizes for Pins this 2022:

Pinterest profile photo image size:
Recommended: 280 x 280
Minimum: 165 x 165
Aspect Ratio: 1:1
Desktop Display: 188 x 188

Pin Image Size

Standard Pin:
Recommended: 1000 x 1500
Minimum: 600 wide
Aspect Ratio: 2:3
Desktop Display: 236 x auto

Giraffe Pin:
Recommended: 1000 x 2100
Minimum: 564 x 1148
Aspect Ratio: 1:2:1
Desktop Display: 236 x auto

Conclusion

When marketing your business through social media, make sure you consider the entire social media landscape and what platforms your target audience or buyers are using.

Choose the platforms that not only fit your business needs but will also engage the audience you want to reach. It's smarter to pick a few from these social media networks and do them well rather than use all of them but get inconsistent in the long run.

The right social media marketing can amplify your visibility, sales and take your business to the next level. Make sure you do your research, follow the correct dimensions for each platform as well as specific posting guidelines and most importantly: have fun while creating a marketing strategy and content for your business!

7 Free SEO Tools to Help with your Keyword Research

olympia@localbizfirst.com (Olympia Caswell) — Mon, 28 Feb 2022 20:43:09 GMT

Free keyword research tools to help with your research for SEO

Keyword research is the most common way of finding the catchphrases your target market utilizes when doing any web search. When it comes to getting your business found online, this process is very significant as it is the initial phase in analyzing the audience for arranging and planning the search engine optimization that your website needs. Every business that has a site and carries on its marketing strategy online requires business-specific terms or keywords.

Finding and concentrating on search terms that web searchers type into search engines while looking for items, products or services is generally what Keyword Search means and what Keyword Research tools are for.

Why is keyword research important?

In this modern world of today, most people regardless of age use Google to acquire information about anything. Hence, as a business or website owner, improving your online presence is a very effective and compelling strategy to draw in more organic traffic to your site. That is when you will realize that choosing the right search terms to target and appropriate keyword research tools to use is a must when it comes to SEO.

For beginners, keyword research is the act of choosing the right keywords to target for your business. For example, you have a cake business. When people search for the term “cake”, there will be so many cake stores/ makers that will show up. Reality check, yours might not be one of those names that will show on the first page.

But when you choose and use the right keyword for your business, it gives you a higher chance to be on the first page of search results. It is like using a specific phrase that describes your services or your products with the location your business caters to. “Pool maintenance gold coast” or “pool cleaning experts gold coast” – fewer competitors, fewer results to show, the higher chance of getting visible for you.

Targeting the perfect keywords on your websites is a very vital part of SEO, needless to say. The main part of site improvement is establishing a good keyword research plan and working on great keyword ideas. It is important to make a list of important, relevant topics based on what you know about your business. You should know the best way to track down the right words to use and optimize your SEO approach.

Keywords vs Topics

Some may wonder, what is the difference between keywords and topics? Aren't they just the same? That may be right. But when you dig a bit deeper about these two, you will know.

Topics consist of related and highly-relevant keywords. While keywords are words or keyword phrases that web searchers or potential customers are using to get to your website. It is sometimes composed of 2-3 seed keywords, which are then called Long-tail keywords.

There are many generators and research tools that can help you level up your keyword research process. Here are some:

Google Search Console

The first step is to create an account on GSC and add your website to it.

You will be given a code to verify your ownership. This code needs to be added to your site html. Once done, you should be able to monitor your website traffic for a certain amount of time.

IMforSMB Bulk Keyword Generator (Trades Only)

This is a local SEO keyword tool that automatically generates local keyword lists by industry. You will only need to select a business type and city, and the tool will automatically generate all local keywords for your business type, based on your input, that potential customers might use to search and find you.

And here are your keywords:

IMforSMB Bulk Keyword Generator knows the most popular keyword for your business, hence, very ideal to use when doing keyword research.

Ubersuggest (shows only 20 for FREE version)

This is a super powerful SEO tool owned by Neil Patel that will let you see the keywords' monthly search volume, CPC & competitive analysis. This tool offers a very wide and decent database of keywords that is very much useful for your site. It gives keyword ideas and suggestions that are very reliable and it will help you identify which ones will work for your site.

You just need to enter your keyword here:

And the keyword phrases will follow here, with more details about the Volume and CPC of each suggestions:

There is also an option for your to download these results on csv.

WordStream Free Keyword Tool

This is one awesome alternative to Google's Keyword Planner. The tool gives you a list of relevant keywords related to what you have searched.

And more importantly, you can have the results emailed to you.

Bruce Clay Free Research Tool

And in an instant, here are the results:

Free Keyword Tool

As easy as that, you will have a list of the most relevant key phrases you can use for your business:

AnswerThePublic

From a quick search, Answer the Public produces useful phrases and questions people are asking around the keyword you want to use. This keyword generator will automatically generate instant, raw search insights, direct from how your customers think and search.

And you will immediately see a very long list of long-tail key phrases to choose from:

By exploring the web and choosing the most fitting objective keywords with the help of these free Keyword Research Tools, you set out the freedom to rank well in search engines. Appearing on the first page of Google SERP directs people to your site, and thus, permits you to promote your business and services effectively.

As a beginner in this aspect of the internet, these tools help you and the audience know more about your business. What are you selling? What services do you offer? For a site owner and a business owner like you, it is important to identify the right terms or real keywords that customers should use so they would be able to find your website. And Keyword Research can help you with it and assist you even more in understanding your business.

It is just the starting point for any digital marketing strategy, and it is an ongoing process. You should regularly check if the keywords you had the first day are still working for your website, check if they are still high-volume keywords, and some rank tracking might help as well. And yes, after extensive keyword research, some deep dive on the CPCs or a keyword's monthly search volume, it is now time to start formulating your content ideas and create your site pages that are focused on those keywords. Combined with other SEO and content strategy on your blog posts or social shares, there is no doubt that you'll be on the first page of Google if you did your Keyword Research the right way and with the right tool.

How to Create Images in Canva for FREE

Fri, 25 Feb 2022 20:37:25 GMT

How to Influence the Google Local Justifications

Canva is a graphic design tool that is really helpful in making postcards, invitations, business cards, logos, Instagram posts, and online announcements for personal or professional use. The tool is free and it has a wide array of features that allows users without extensive photo editing knowledge or experience to edit graphics/images easily. For additional features, Canva offers a paid version for $12.99/month.

The benefits of using Canva

Using effective graphics undeniably plays a big role in how your product or service is perceived - it introduces you and your brand to potential customers.

The more people that see your brand in different places where they are spending their leisure time online - Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, or any other social media platform - the higher probability that they will recognize it the next time they’re looking to buy something related to what you are selling. So social media graphics should make an impact.

Using an eye-catching image will improve your social media presence and help users to recognize your brand.

And the most efficient tool to use for this? Canva.

Canva has a simple drag and drop interface, which makes customizing thousands of templates simple, fast, and easy. Here are some benefits for using Canva:

Create images for social media (pre-sized) and custom images for your website
Use beautiful templates with lots of different sizes, shapes and color schemes, even create your own templates from scratch.
Have access to thousands of free stock images, icons, and fonts (or very low price for premium images). Here are some free image download sites if you need additional images:
Pexels.com
Unsplash.com
Pixabay.com
Freeimages.com

How do I install Canva?

Just head over to canva.com and click the Sign Up Button. Simple as that! No download or credit card needed!

What can I design in Canva?

You can design pretty much anything in Canva. The Canva library contains many design elements such as icons, photos, and templates - the combinations are endless! You can easily create custom templates, images, infographics and other visual content including:

Social media posts
Optimized Images for web
Logos
Posters
Infographics
Brochures
Certificates
Newsletters
Invitations
Business cards
And much more endless choices!

How to use Canva step by step

The great thing about Canva is that anyone can be a graphic designer, even without experience! Getting started is quick and easy.

You can explore and start using Canva templates in a few ways:

Start by typing keywords in the search bar or you can select from the menus at the top
By clicking templates at the top

The top menu has several tabs:

Templates - Browse by document themes
Explore - Look at Photos, Icons, Print products and Apps
Learn - This is the design school where you learn how to use Canva

On the right are the links to Home , Recent Designs , Shared with You , Invite Member s and more.

Note: Some features are available only for paid accounts.

Let’s explore Canva!

Go to Templates then select a blank template.

This is where you design your graphics. This is called the Editor . The Side Panel is where you can find all the things you can click or add to your page.

Templates – In the templates tab there are thousands of templates you can pick to get you started
Upload – Here you upload your own photos and videos.
Photos – Here you can browse millions of photos to download. Type in a keyword like ‘dog’ You can add ‘+” and another keyword like ‘brown’
Elements - Here you will find illustrations, shapes, animated stickers charts and graphics and so on.
Videos – Here you find videos you can use.

Click on a Template, then start customizing it. The templates that have a little crown graphic on them are not FREE.

Note: If you select a template that has an image with a Canva watermark on it, you an remove it and upload your own image.

Click on a text object, and the tool bar will appear at the top. Here you can modify styles, alignment, add effects and position objects. Type in your own text, change font size, color, alignment and spacing. Here are the options on the text tool bar:

Fonts - You can search by category or style. You can select ‘serif’ or ‘script’.

Color - To change color, select an object, then the colored square above. Change to any color you want using the spectrum tool. If you are after a specific color, you can paste a Hex code.

Position Button – Layer and align objects on your page.

Replace Image – Just drag and drop over another.

Undo Action – Just click the undo button if you make a mistake or you want to revert to the previous step.

Animate – Click the Animate in the top tool bar, then select animate style.

Next, let's change the background color. Click on the brown background color and then click on the color block at the top. Here you will see that Canva created a color scheme based on the selected image. (See Created from logo section)

In this tutorial we are going to make some the following quick graphics:

Blog Graphic
Facebook Post Image
Banner or Header Images for a website

1. Create a Blog Graphic

Log in to your account (Watch the short video to see how easy it is to customize a blog graphic.)
Click 'Create a Design' button in the top right-hand corner as shown below:

Search using the keyword 'blog', then select 'Blog Graphic' as shown below:
Click to select a template on the left. In this example we are looking for a 'dog' template.
Update the template with your own text and photos as needed.
Note: (If your template has a Canva watermark, just click on the image and 'Detach Image', upload and replace the image)
Give your blog image a name. Canva will default to the name ‘untitled’. (It is difficult to recognize the files on your computer that all named 'untitled')

Before

After

Download the image, by clicking on the download button as shown below. More download options are available by clicking the ••• button in the corner, so look for the option that best fits your needs. Canva offers many file formats including high quality print file formats, PDFs, etc.

Now we have changed the template (which had a paid image associated with it) and made it our own, for free. You got this!

2. Create a Facebook Post Image

Log in to your account (Watch this short video to see how easy it is to create a Facebook Post.)
Click 'Create a Design' button in the top right-hand corner as shown below:

Click to select a template on the left. In this example we selected the 'Hello Monday' template.
Customize the template with your own text and images.
To change the background color, click Background on the top left and select a new background, which can be a plain color or an image.
Edit the text, colors and fonts as desired.
Give your Facebook post a name
Download image by selecting the PNG format.

And voila! You have a Facebook post which you can download or publish straight to your Facebook Page by connecting Canva with your social media accounts.

3. Create images for your website

Login your account Extra: (Watch this short video on creating custom size images in Canva)
Click the 'Create a design' button in the top right-hand corner, then click select 'custom size'.

Typical images for a websites have the following dimensions:

Banner / Header Image

1920px X 630px or 1920px X 1200px (width is more important than height)

Social Media Share Image:

1200px X 630px

Other Website Images:

450px X 450px

600px X 800px

800px X 600px

Upload then drag and drop your image onto the canvas.
Rename your image. Naming your file is very important for search engine optimization purposes. If possible, use a keyword when naming your file. For example, I named my file: about-business-coaching so I know that this header image is for the about page, and incorporates an important keyword.
Save image as jpg - this is very important for websites, as large images will slow down your site, therefore impacting the performance in a negative way.
Download image by selecting the JPG format.

In a similar way, you can create different size images for your website. Just remember to download them as JPGs.

Conclusion

As you can see, Canva is a great tool to create great graphics without having experience in the graphic design field. While graphic designers still play a great role in designing professional logos, brochures and other marketing materials, Canva can be a great free tool for creating social media graphics for a startup with limited budget. The official Canva site offers many useful tutorials .

If you still need help creating graphics, building websites and getting found online let us know!

Google My Business is Changing Name - Again!

Fri, 12 Nov 2021 19:08:57 GMT

Google My Business is Rebranding

Did you know that Google is actually renaming their Google My Business app to Google Business Profile? At this point you may be curious as to why they are making this change. In essence, Google is making a genuine effort to move away from the Google My Business application for small, single location operations. In essence, they are trying to make it easier for single location businesses by keeping the business profile management features all within Google Search and Google Maps. The ultimate goal is to streamline the process for their end users.

The new name for Google My Business

Moving forward, Google My Business will now be known as Google Business Profile . According to Google, the reason for the name change is to keep things as simple as possible. In fact, Google plans to retire the Google My Business app entirely at some point in 2022. The exact date or even a closer time-frame has yet to be announced. However, it is coming sooner rather than later and you need to be aware of that fact. It always pays to be prepared for such things so that you don’t get caught out in the rain without an umbrella and or raincoat.

Why is Google changing this?

The new name will keep things simple
Google My Business will be retired at some point in 2022
Google My Business will be re-branded as Google Business Profile

The old names of Google My Business

This is not the first time that Google has renamed the product. Google Business Profile is the most recent name in a long list of names. For example, prior to Google My Business the application was named Google Places, and Google + Local prior to that name. It certainly goes without saying that Google’s local business management tool has undergone multiple re-branding efforts in recent years. Times change and Google knows exactly how important it is to change with them. Keeping users/searchers happy has always been Google’s goal. That is one of the many reasons why the company is the most popular search engine on the planet.

Did you know?

This isn’t the first name change for Google My Business
Google My Business was once called Google Places
Prior to that that it was called Google Local +

How will the name change affect you and your business?

So, what is the bottom line? What does it really mean that Google is getting rid of the Google My Business name? First and foremost, Google is highly encouraging individual businesses to manage their single business listings directly on either Google Search or Google Maps. This can be accomplished through the mobile applications or directly in the web based interface. So, how will that directly affect small business owners, operators, and managers?

The bottom line is that Google wants you to move away from managing your business listing and information in the outgoing Google My Business application. Instead, Google wants you to manage your single business listings and information in Google Search and Google Maps. It’s as simple as that.

Just search for your business on Google while you are logged in as the GMB admin and you will see the panel below:

What should larger businesses and SEO managers expect?

Google has recently stated that the current Google My Business application/new Google Business Profile will transition to a phase that will mainly support larger type businesses that have multiple locations. This will take the form of Google Business Profile Manager. In essence, Google will start redirecting businesses to the new platform directly from the Google My Business link. In addition, the Google My Business online interface will be re-branded to reflect the upcoming changes.

You will still continue to utilize an interface that will look similar to Google My Business if you manage numerous locations for your organization. The same holds true if you own, operate, or manage a local marketing or SEO company that manages multiple businesses. The new web based interface is called Google Business Profile Manager. Please keep in mind that during the upcoming months there will be multiple changes and updates to Google Business Profile Manager. It’s important to remain patient.

Important notes:

Google Business Profile is for business with multiple locations
Google Business Profile is for businesses that manage multiple profiles
Google Business Profile will be similar to the old Google My Business but on a larger scale.

New Google Business Profile features

The soon to be former Google My Business will not only be undergoing a name change and a change in who can utilize the application, it will also be adding some interesting new features. These new features include....

The ability to both claim and verify your Google Business Profile directly through Google Search and Google Maps
You will now have the ability to keep track of customer or client phone calls directly Google Search and Google Maps including the call history
Your customers/clients will have the ability to get in touch with you in real time directly from your Business profile on Google. That way you’ll be able to attract more customers/clients to your business, tell your story in a unique way, and even answer their questions without any delays.

Google Business Profile will make managing your business a breeze

Google has historically updated their user interface in order to make things nice and simple for their users. That same will hold true with the new Google Business Profile. You will now have the option to search for your business name in either Google Search or Google Maps. You can also conduct a search for “my business” in Google Search in order to check to see if you’ve already claimed and verified your business. If not, read this blog then claim and optimize your Google Business Profile. Please let us know if you need help.

How to Promote and Share Your Blogs Online

Thu, 14 Oct 2021 20:37:21 GMT

5 Ways to Share Your Content with Your Target Audience!

Creating content on a regular basis for your customers and visitors to enjoy can be a difficult task for anyone, especially if you also need to run your business. Writing and maintaining a blog is a lot of work for anyone, and not only that, but you want it to reach as many people as possible, and to bring in as many customers as possible.

So how do you do this you might ask? How do you reach the largest amount of people with your blog?

Running and operating a blog is a lot like a business. It requires attention and time in order to get a good return out of it. Like a business, a blog needs to be marketed, and word of it spread around. If you didn't do any marketing for your business, you wouldn't expect anyone to know about it and for you wouldn't expect customers to flock to you, and it's the same way with a blog. Just like a business, you are going to need to spread the word with an amazing blog promotion strategy!

1. Email Marketing

One of the most important ways to get your blog out there is to get familiar with email marketing. Putting your time and effort into emailing your customers and subscribers is one of the best forms of marketing, with email offering an almost 4200% return on investment .

Finding people to email with your blog posts is something that takes time. You don't start a business and have thousands of people on an email list automatically, it requires work and time like most other things.

Having a sign-up and subscribe button on your website is critical for building up a mailing list, people who have shown interest in your business and what you have to offer, and voluntarily put themselves down to be emailed. Once you've started building your list, send them emails with your blog posts and your newsletters, but not only that, asking them to comment and share also goes a long way. If people like you and your business, they will tell others!

It isn't only your own list that you should try to market to though. Having friends and other colleagues in the business is huge for marketing, especially email. If you know other business owners in your area, ask them to use their list to email subscribers and contacts about you. Most people won't do this out of the goodness of their hearts though, so expect to return the favor!

Build an Email List and Use It

Users who have downloaded your app can receive special offers in a specific location. New customers may receive information about your store when they enter a specific block of the city or town they are in. The opportunities are endless for your geofencing campaign, only limited by one's own creativity.

2. Social Media Marketing

The next form of marketing that you should 100% be doing is marketing through social media. Despite email's being more effective, that doesn't mean you should be slacking on your social media posting. About 54% of customers use social media to browse for products and services, so taking your time and creating quality posts should definitely be important to you.

While the target audience of social media platforms can be quite varied, it doesn't mean you can't reach everyone!

Just like having a good email marketing strategy, finding and using a social media strategy that's right for you will go a long way towards reaching potential customers.

Mainstream Social Media

While this may seem obvious, maintaining and actively utilizing mainstream social media is a great way to promote your blogs.

Utilize social media posts on sites like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter in order to promote your blogs and your awesome content. Tailor and optimize your posts so that you can reach a wider audience, and use them to push not only your business, but especially your blog.

Asking your customers and subscribers to share your posts on all social media platforms is also a huge way to reach more people, especially if they're also on your mailing list!

Definitely take advantage of tools that let you set up content creation calendars and tailor your posts for your business and needs. Platforms such as Buffer or Hootsuite let you set up all of your social media accounts under one streamlined tool, giving you a chance to customize and improve upon your content marketing.

Communities

Another great way to spread your content is to post in forums and groups found among most social media sites. These online communities give you a chance to not only build a relationship with people in your community and niche, but to market your blog and business at the same time.

These communities and forums give you a chance to share content and comment on other people's posts. Becoming known and trusted within these different communities can be a great source of traffic to your site and blog once you become established! Finding a local Facebook group or Pinterest group is an excellent way to connect with locals and those interested in your specific niche or type of business.

Not only is participating in these communities a great way to promote yourself, but also a great way to generate new content ideas and find information to help you create more awesome content!

3. Content Leverage

If you only attempt to reach the people that you know, you are missing out on a huge percentage of potential customers. Leveraging your content out to other sites, while it might seem counterintuitive, is a great way to reach the larger blogging community.

Aggregate Your Content

Blog aggregators collect all of your blogs and content that you have created and compile it into a singular location that is easy to find. Blog aggregator sites have are required to link back to your site and your blog, so getting your blog content into the hands of more people is incredibly easy, and not only that, your blogs are all in one place for visitors to enjoy.

Here's a list of some blog aggregator sites to get you started:

Blogorama - It's as easy as creating an account and submitting your blogs to the site, and topics are numerous and easy to find. To post on Blogorama, simply sign up for a free account, an email will be sent in order to confirm the creation. Once you've created your account, simply click on the Add New Listing button and fill out the information. If you're blog gets approved it will be added to the site!
Flipboard - A great aggregator that allows users to create a feed based on their interests to display relevant content to them. Submitting personal content is super easy for any type of content. To start using Flipboard to generate traffic, create an free account on their websites and select the type of content you'd like to see. After that click the Compose Flip button in the top right hand corner of the screen. Here you can add the url of your blog and a comment if you'd like. You can also potentially add a Flipboard button to your blogs so that other people can share them as well.

Content Syndication

Outbrain describes content syndication as, "web-based content is re-published by a third party website." Syndicating your partner is a great way to get exposure to larger audiences, ones that you might not be able to reach.

Using a social platform such as LinkedIn to republish your posts, you are able to reach far more potential customers. You don't need to republish your entire blog post on these sites, but instead can opt to give your blog URL or link back to your website after only putting in a teaser of your blog.

Other websites to syndicate your content with include:

Reddit - A great place to find likeminded communities and to share content. Start out by creating your free account. After that search for different "subreddits", or smaller forum-like communities, that define your business or interests. Having your blog in your bio that others can view is great, and posting your content to these communities is a good start. Most subreddits have rules against posting links, so finding a good balance between posting and commenting is important!
Facebook - As mentioned above, finding good Facebook groups and communities is important. Publishing parts or most of your blog is a good idea, and potentially linking your blog as well.
Quora - Start by making a free Quora account. Finding questions and discussions relevant to your topic and blog and republishing some or all of the blog is a great way to build rapport in the community. Simply republishing your blog's as well can go a long way!
Scoop.It - Scoop.It may look intimidating at first, but it's quite easy don't worry! Creating your account is free and easy. Add in your interests and specialties next. After you've done that, creat your own Scoop page with the topic of your choice or blog. After that you can choose to upload your own documents or links, as well as link back to your Scoop.It page if you want!

4. Building Relationships

Marketing can be a difficult process, to allowing other people to help you, and in turn you help them, is an excellent way to get your blog out there and reach a larger audience. Building relationships with influencers and other people in your field, and having them post your relevant blogs is an excellent way to build rapport with the community.

Utilize Influencers

Finding and building relations with various influencers and experts in your field should be a top priority. It unfortunately isn't as simple as messaging someone and asking them to share content created by you, but it doesn't have to be hard either.

One of the best ways to get someone to contribute to your blog or post is to interview them. Interviewing people who are knowledgeable in the field, or even other bloggers, can get their loyal audience to read your blog. Many people who are interviewed for a piece of content will share, repost, or comment on your blog, giving you a much wider outreach than you had before.

Another way to use influencers is to have them in your blog in some form or another. Asking them to either contribute to a blog you've written or are writing, or acknowledging and using their work for your blog is a great form of influencer marketing. You get to use them and their name brand in your work, and they get free marketing, it's a win-win for both parties.

Commenting

Commenting on popular blogs or blogs that are big in your field is an excellent way to start building relationships with both the blog owners and the audience that they have.

Commenting on blog posts gives you a chance to showcase your knowledge and expertise, as well as interact with potential customers and clients.

Not only do you get a chance to interact with other people's blog content and the writer's, but they may give a chance to guest blog or help with a blog they have in the future!

Guest blogging

This gives us a chance to touch on the last form of relationship marketing you can have, and that is guest blogging.

Once you have built relationships with people in your field and influential bloggers, you will more than likely get a chance to guest blog for them.

This gives you exposure not only for yourself and your blog, but helps them out as well, giving them quality content and exposure. This piece of content is tied back to you, and not only builds the relationship, but reaches their audience as well. If you get a chance to guest blog, take it!

5. Building Relationships

The last up in the list is any kind of paid marketing that you can do. While it can be expensive, it is definitely worthwhile to consider investing in this kind of marketing, not just for your blog, but your business and website as well.

Social Media

Social media marketing is nothing new, but alongside posting and keeping your social media accounts up-to-date, you can utilize ads. The following sites are usually the best use of your money, but it is worth it for you to look into where your targeted audience resides:

Facebook Ads
Instagram Ads
Pinterest Pins
Twitter Ads
LinkedIn Ads

While more exist, these are the top ones, and they are the ones with the highest click-through-rate and social platforms you should be promoting.

PPC Advertising

PPC or Pay-Per-Click advertising, is paying search engines to display your website or blog on the top of certain kinds of searches. You pay these search engines every time someone clicks on the ad, hence the term pay-per-click.

While this form of advertising can be more expensive, it will definitely boost your organic traffic, so using it can be a big help and provide you with a steady stream of consumers.

Conclusion

While there's no silver bullet for advertising, there are many different blog promotion tactics that may work for you, it just comes to putting in the time and effort to see results. No one is going to to go from 1 blog viewer to 1 million overnight, but using all the tools you have to your advantage is a surefire way to increase your engagement rate.

What is Geofencing? And Who Can Benefit from this Marketing Strategy?

Mon, 04 Oct 2021 19:16:49 GMT

Benefits of Geofencing for Small Businesses

As technology advances and evolves, marketing strategies adapt to fit the times. With 85% of the U.S. population having a smartphone in 2021, digital marketing campaigns are becoming increasingly important to hit one's target audience, and as such new forms of advertising are becoming progressively more important. New forms of marketing to draw in potential customers are the way of the future for any business, and in that sense geofencing technology is paving the way forward.

What is Geofencing?

Not to be confused with geo-targeting, another form of location-based marketing which targets a particular zip code or area, geofencing uses both GPS and IP addresses technology to track both prospective customers and existing customers within a certain area that the business creates.

When using geofencing marketing, one will create a virtual boundary around any location that one would want, whether that is your own business, a competitor, or separate area completely, that all depends on the geofencing strategy. These virtual boundaries are set, and then whenever anyone with location services turned on, or with your app downloaded, set's foot in that area, they can be sent either push notifications, promotional offers, or even just used to display ads on their mobile device. Not to be confused with beacon technology, which requires you to place beacons in physical locations, geofencing utilizes a digital boundary through tracking technology.

How is Geofencing Better than Other Forms of Online Marketing?

There is a wide range of online marketing strategies that you can use for your business, so why should you invest in geofencing?

Personalization and User Experience

Geofencing is powerful tool to use for personalizing each potential and existing customer experience. Different forms of advertising campaigns can be pushed out using geofencing, all targeting a different array of customers. Users who have downloaded your app can receive special offers in a specific location. New customers may receive information about your store when they enter a specific block of the city or town they are in. The opportunities are endless for your geofencing campaign, only limited by one's own creativity.

Reliability With Location Services

Due to the fact that geofencing is based on location services and people who have it enabled, the odds of geofencing notifications actually being seen by customers is much higher than relying on billboards or physical advertisements for a business. Using marketing messages based on location in regards to your stores, competitor's locations and other variables, geofencing is one of the best forms of mobile marketing to drive up foot traffic to your business.

Great Return on Investment

According to a survey from February 2021, 50% of respondents stated that they spent 5 to 6 hours on their phone , and another 22% stated that they spent 3 to 4 hours. People are spending a lot of time on their phones already, mobile marketing is a premier marketing strategy of the future. As with reliability, there is no guarantee that people will see physical advertisements, but a geofencing notification will be seen by far more people. Tracking marketing data and information gathered from your geofencing, one can get a fantastic ROI.

How is Geofencing Useful for Your Business?

Geofencing is an incredibly cost-effective marketing strategy for any business looking to draw in potential customers, promote audience engagement, or keep current customer retention high. Geofencing is an excellent way to promote and create new marketing strategies for mobile users.

Examples of Geofencing

For example, a coffee shop may use geofencing to ping anyone within a 3-mile vicinity of the shop at lunchtime with a mobile coupon, enticing customers to come to their business location. Or perhaps a clothing store looks at the purchase history of anyone with the app who enters one of their retail stores, and uses that information to offer app users a discount coupon based on what they like. No matter what type of business you are, or what type of campaign you want to run, geofencing is the premier form of online advertising in today's day and age.

Is Geofencing Effective for a Small Business?

The marketing and advertising budget for many small businesses is not very large, yet in order for a business to grow, it requires some form of marketing in order to reach potential customers. While using a marketing or advertising agency for geofencing is an option, small businesses can opt to create their own marketing channels for geofencing, allowing smaller businesses to compete at an incredibly affordable price.

Geofencing technology is fairly simple to set up yourself, and there are quite a few guides, such as the one from Zipline , to help you set it up yourself if you would like to do self-service. While it may be easy to set up, the cost of geofence marketing is not incredibly high, especially as a small business. Thumbvista estimates geofence cost in terms of costs-per-impression, with their pricing being about $4-$14 CPI. The larger the scale of your marketing, the more expensive it will be for a geofencing or marketing company to advertise for you. Although it is an additional marketing cost, geofencing is a great way to improve click-through rate on your ads!

Geofencing Platforms for Small Businesses

Reachlocal

From everything to SEO optimization to Geofencing Marketing Campaigns, Reachlocal is a fairly affordable marketing service for both small and large businesses alike.

Simpli.fi

A tool for marketing, accounting, media management and more, Simpli.fi gives you the tools to to implement your digital advertising strategy and increase your online presence.

Phunware

Another online marketing tool that aims to engage customers and promote customer engagement with your business.

Geofencing, Marketing of the Future?

Geofencing is just one digital marketing strategy in an increasingly digital age, so the question is: is it worth it as a small business?

According to USA Today, the average person is exposed to anywhere between 3,000 to 5,000 ads every single day , so what makes geofencing ads stand out from all the others? Not only are they extremely cost effective for every type of business, but they can be personalized for each and every user, are useful to drive customers away from competitors and towards you, and only interact with customers within a reasonable distance of your services.

Geofencing an excellent way to prioritize marketing towards your customers, but is a tool that any business owner should be aware of!

10 Tips To Optimize Your YouTube Videos

Fri, 16 Jul 2021 16:17:24 GMT

How To Optimize YouTube Videos and Channels

Do you utilize videos to market your products, services, or even yourself? If so, are you posting your videos to YouTube? A great deal of people doesn’t realize this, but YouTube is the second largest search engine on the planet trailing only Google in popularity. That means there are a lot of eyes on YouTube. And you need as many of those eyes as possible viewing your videos instead of your competitors’ videos. That said, you can’t just upload your videos and expect good results. Just like searching on Google, your videos need to rank high in YouTube searches in order to actually be seen.

For example, your website simply won’t show up on the first page of a Google search unless your website is properly optimized. The same holds true with YouTube and your videos. That means in order for your videos to rank higher on YouTube searches you need to optimize those videos. The million-dollar question is how do you properly optimize your videos so that they can be seen on YouTube? There are in fact a few ways. So, without further ado, here are ten (10) things you must do to optimize your videos for YouTube searches:

Research The Keywords That Will Appear in Your Video
Rename The Video File Using a Target Keyword
Optimize The Titles of The Video
Create A Solid Video Description
Tag Your Video with Popular Keywords That Relate to Your Topic
Categorize Your Videos
Establish a Custom Thumbnail
Utilize An SRT File When Adding Subtitles and Closed Captions
Create A Transcript File for Each Video
Add Cards and End Screens

1. Research the Keywords That Will Appear in Your Video and Improve Your YouTube SEO

Having your videos rank high on YouTube follows the same basic principle as having your website rank high on Google. That means you need to include the proper keywords in your video much like you would within your web pages and blog articles. In fact, the keyword research that you conduct for your YouTube videos should be the basis of your video topics. One of the most important keyword research tools is Google analytics. Here is top 7 list list of SEO research tools you can use. all of them have some sort of a free version, but to get the most out of these tools, a subscription is required.

Google Trends

Google Trends is a free tool that provides data and graphs on the popularity of specific search terms used on Google. You can find out what topics and subtopics are recently trending.

Ubersuggest Keyword Tool

Ubersuggest keyword discovery tool helps you find profitable SEO keywords including the number of buyers searching these keywords, search volume that has been changing over time, easy-to-rank-for keywords and other metrics like these. There is a free version and subscriptions start at $29/month.

Bruce Clay's SEO Tool Set

SEO Tool Set offers powerful SEO tools for Organic search engine optimization. They offer a free 7-day trial! After the trial, the cost is $ $24.95/month.

Semrush Keyword Magic Tool

Semrush offers is a 7 days FREE trial After the free trial period ends, you will be automatically charged the monthly subscription fee. You can cancel your subscription and request a refund within 7 days after your trial expires. After the trial the cost is $119.95 - $229.95 monthly

AnswerThePublic

Answer the Public is a keyword tool that visualizes search questions and suggested autocomplete searches in an image called a search cloud. There is a free version - subscriptions start at $79/month.

Keyword Tool Dominator (KTD)

KTD is a free Keyword Tool & Keyword Research Tool for Amazon, Bing search, Google, YouTube and other search engines. There is a free version - subscriptions start at $49.99/month.

Ahrefs Keyword Explorer

Ahrefs Explorer helps you discover thousands of great keyword ideas, analyze their ranking difficulty and calculate their traffic potential. There is a free version - subscriptions start at $99/month.

Use the keywords you researched to improve your YouTube SEO for the following:

Video title
Video description
Video file name
Video tags

2. Rename the Video File Using a Target Keyword

Did you know that YouTube actually reads the file name of your video and code of the video in order to get a good idea of what it’s about whenever you upload a video? That means you need to rename the given file name to something that is more specific such as the target keyword. In essence, YouTube better understands the topic of your video based on the keywords in its file name.

3. Optimize the Titles of The Video

You can actually help your videos to rank higher on YouTube by utilizing keywords into the title of the video. In essence, the title is the first thing that YouTube viewers will see, and can very well determine if they will click on your video or not. That means you need to ensure that your video title is a clean and clear as possible. Your goal should be to have your target audience know exactly what they can expect by viewing your video. In addition, you should keep the video title to a maximum of seven (7) characters so that it won’t get cut off in the search results.

4. Create A Solid Video Description

The video description is an incredibly important piece to the YouTube ranking puzzle. You need to capture the attention of your target audience quickly since YouTube only displays the first three (3) lines of the video description. The viewer needs to click on the “Show More Button” in order to see the remainder of your video description. That means you must include the most important aspects of your video immediately such as the main keyword and or keyword phrases. In addition, a well-written video description may help your video to show up on the YouTube sidebar, which typically leads to more views.

5. Tag Your Video with Popular Keywords That Relate to Your Topic

In order to rank higher on YouTube, it’s important to use tags on your videos that inform both the viewing audience and YouTube exactly what your video is about.

It helps YouTube associate your video with similar content
It enables more people to see your video

However, it’s not a good idea to tag anything that does not directly related to your video because YouTube will view this action as keyword stuffing, which is frowned upon.

6. Categorize Your Videos

Choosing a video category can go a long way in helping your video end up on play lists that include similar content. This, of course, can help increase the viewership of your videos. It’s important to choose a category for each of your YouTube video uploads. Obviously, you should choose a category that fits best with your specific video. It will also help YouTube to understand exactly what your video content includes. It will also go a long way in having your video appear in the YouTube related video recommendations section.

7. Create A Custom Thumbnail

Did you know that the thumbnail is something that your target audience will see prior to clicking on your YouTube video? In essence, the thumbnail provides your target audience with a good idea of what the video will contain. In addition, YouTube creates a thumbnail for each and every video that you upload. However, you should always customize and upload your own thumbnail image in order to stand out from the crowd.

8. Utilize an SRT File When Adding Subtitles and Closed Captions

Although YouTube automatically assigns captions to your videos, they are not always accurate. Often times they include words that your target audience simply will not understand. This can actually hurt your video ranking on YouTube. That is why you should always use your own system in order to improve accessibility and reduce errors. An SRT file is perfect for adding both subtitles and closed captions. So, what exactly is an SRT file?

An SRT file is formally known as a SubRip or Subtitle file
An SRT file is actually a plain-text file
An SRT file contains vital information that is needed to create subtitle and closed captions.

9. Create A Transcript File for Each Video

In the current day, adding a transcript file to each of your videos is necessary even beyond the aspects of search engine optimization. In essence, transcripts open up your content to a wider target audience that may not be able to actually watch and or listen to your videos. This could be due to a disability, or an audience that does not speak English as a primary language. In addition, and for search engine optimization purposes, YouTube looks favorably on videos that include a transcript file, so it may very well help your videos rank higher on YouTube.

10. Add Cards and End Screens

Do you know what cards and end screens are? They are actually small notifications that appear in both the middle of your videos and end of your videos. The purpose of cards and end screens is to help you promote your products, services, and or brand. The cards show up in the middle of the video and the end screens appear when your video ends. Both cards and end screens are effective at sending your target audience to other videos or to direct them to your website. The bottom line is that cards and end screens will go a long way in increasing your channel’s overall viewer ship if utilized properly.

In conclusion, in order for your target audience to actually find and view your YouTube videos, you need to ensure that they are optimized for search engines to the best of your ability. One important tool to use for evaluating and measuring the success of your marketing efforts is You Tube Analytics. YouTube Analytics lets you monitor the performance of your videos and channel with up-to-date metrics and reports. including views, traffic sources, demographics and more. Learn more about using YouTube Analytics here! It is a very useful tool.

We hope this article will help you optimize your YouTube videos or channel. For more DIY helpful videos, make sure to visit Local Business First blog page .

Creative and Resourceful During Challenging Times

Thu, 08 Jul 2021 22:54:33 GMT

Local Business First Supports Small Businesses During the Pandemic

When Laura O’Callaghan from the Milford Chamber of Commerce asked business owners in the Central Massachusetts area how they pivoted and adjusted to the new normal during the COVID-19 pandemic, I took a few minutes to reflect on this question myself.

As a new business owner, I found myself on the brink of failure when the pandemic hit - not because I didn’t have enough websites to create, but because my clients simply could not afford to pay me. So, what to do? I put my own business on hold for several months and started giving a lending hand to my existing clients. To continue helping my community, I would like to share the list of simple ways that Local Business First was able to contribute to the struggling small business during the COVID-19 pandemic.

I am grateful for the tools I had available to me (thank you DUDA!) and thank you MACC for being a great resource, even during tough times!

1. Add Online Tools

While our top concern was health and safety of our clients, teammates, customer's and their families, we were also well aware of the potential economic impact of the pandemic on their businesses. To help raise awareness and drive traffic to our client’s businesses, we contacted our entire client base to ask if we could add announcements, online scheduling & payments, help setup and send newsletters, and so on. Together with the help of several college students, we were able to help dozens of local businesses drive traffic to our client’s websites and improve their digital footprint.

2. Update, Redesign & Improve Local Online Presence

Search Engine Optimization quickly became a priority for many of my clients. While nearly all of them had products they could easily sell, they needed a way for clients to find them online. To improve local online presence, our clients would have to inform their customer base on product availability, delivery options, and contactless payments, and so on.

3. Create Online Events

MACC is one of my largest clients. Because of the pandemic, they were not able to hold their local events, which are typically the main source of funding for the Chamber. Not only were they faced with the obstacle of finding a new method of fundraising, but they also had to find new ways to continue supporting the local businesses that they represent.

To help during these difficult and unusual times, Local Business First assisted the Chamber team by creating a page where our members and community could find ample resources to handle the crisis. We helped create a resource center on our website which including:

A Back-to-Business resource page
An SBA Grants and Loans resources page
A listing containing all the local businesses that offered post pandemic/shut-down Gift Cards
Webinar educational series
A page where those laid-off and job-hunting can upload their resume
A school update page
A member discount page

In addition, we were able to hold several important events online such as the Honors Scholars Night and the Annual Auction.

We also helped improve SEO for virtual events for another local business: Canvas n Cup. They quickly adapted to Zoom paint parties and were able to provide a unique and creative virtual outlet for many people and corporations during the pandemic. The team at Canvas n Cup also created several free videos for everyone stuck at home to enjoy!

4. Create Free or Low-Cost Websites for Local Business Owners

With the help of local college students, we were able to help many local businesses create new and improved websites for very little cost. Duda, the website builder we use, kindly provided resources to help all kinds of businesses communicate COVID-19 updates to their intended audiences. Duda wanted to make sure there were as little roadblocks as possible to opening these critical lines of communication, and generously offered free annual sites for existing customers, and free Basic Annual Plans for new customers who were building informational sites related to COVID-19.

Duda also offered numerous sales and free resources for our clients, including: 50% OFF webhosting, Free E-commerce and Scheduling apps, and so much more. I truly feel lucky to have used this platform during the pandemic. Duda offered all necessary tools needed to be able to assist my clients at a very low cost.

5. Generosity and Kindness is Coming Back to Us

“Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days” is a Bible verse which means to give generously without worrying about what you will gain from it or what the people will do with what you give them – which is a proverb that I live by.

With 2020 in the rear view mirror, 2021 is ringing lots of opportunities for growth and success, and I cannot wait to continue serving my community in new and exciting ways.

Why Real Estate Agents Need Their Own Website

Wed, 02 Jun 2021 14:45:38 GMT

Top 7 Reasons Why Real Estate Agents Need Their Own Website

Real estate agents basically work for themselves since it’s not a job that comes with a base salary. However, you need to work under the license of a real estate broker unless you have a broker’s license of your own. That means the vast majority of real estate agents end up working for real estate companies who control the various aspects of the business. That includes the company website. Although you may have a short profile listed on the company website you certainly have zero control over it. However, it’s necessary for real estate agents to have a strong online presence in the current digital climate.

If you take a good look at your company website it promotes the business itself, but does it really promote the individual real estate agents who work with the agency? The answer is typically a resounding no. The bottom line is that you need your own individual website in order to take a proactive approach to promoting yourself. If you rely on your broker to generate leads for you than you’re missing out big time. Yet only 26% of real estate agents report that they have their own website according to the National Association of Realtors. That presents a great opportunity for you to truly stand out in a highly competitive industry.

1. Build Brand Awareness And An Online Presence

It goes without saying that nearly all consumers now turn to the Internet when searching for products, services, and information. This holds especially true in real estate. That means your potential buyers and sellers are searching online before they even think about picking up a phone or sending an email. Your own real estate agent website will go a long way in helping you build personal brand awareness. You simply cannot rely on your company’s website to help you build an online presence.

That’s something that you need to take into your own hands and have complete control of. The bottom line is that real estate agents who have their own website end up with more business.

Potential real estate buyers and sellers are online
Potential real estate buyers and seller conduct business with people and brands that they recognize
Potential real estate buyers and sellers conduct business with people who have an online presence

2. Demonstrate Authority And Credibility

Did you know that real estate agents who have their own website are able to quickly establish themselves as industry experts? People want to do business with professionals who appear to be at the top of their game. In essence, being an expert in your field builds credibility. It shows prospective buyers and sellers that you know what you’re doing and will help them through the entire real estate buying or selling process from start to finish. The bottom line is that authority builds credibility and credibility builds trust.

Buying or selling a home may be the biggest transaction that your prospective client ever takes part in. It’s not something that they’ll take lightly. That means the buyer or seller needs to trust you, otherwise they will quickly move on to another real estate agent. You can’t afford to lose business just because you don’t have your own website.

3. Qualify Your Traffic

Let’s face it. In order to succeed in the real estate industry you either need to be a good marketer or be incredibly lucky. When it comes to marketing, the biggest factor that separates the amateurs from the professionals is having the ability to identify qualified keywords and traffic. The real estate brokerage firm that you work with may be good at that or they may not be good at that. The bottom line is that you should have control over the matter. The only way to do that is by having your own website.

In essence, when you have the ability to qualify your traffic you can reach the people who are looking for the type of information that your website provides. You can also measure these website visitors based on the interaction metrics. The bottom line is that your potential clients will be far more likely to click and convert.

4. Become An Educational Resource

Once again, buying or selling real estate may very well be the largest and most important transaction that a person will make in their lifetime. That means they are highly likely to conduct a ton of research before making any decisions. Since the vast majority of people conduct research online these days it’s important that you have an informative real estate website of your own. That way you can become an education resource for people who are interested in buying or selling real estate.

In essence, it goes hand in hand with demonstrating your authority and credibility. Building trust with your potential clients is key in the real estate industry.

Real estate agents who educate buyers and sellers online are viewed as industry experts
Real estate agents who educate buyers and sellers online are providing a value added service
Real estate agents who educate buyers and sellers online quickly build trust

5. Engage With Prospective Clients

If a potential real estate buyer or seller in your area is searching for a real estate agent to work with, wouldn’t you rather have them engage directly with you as opposed to having them contact your company website? In essence, if they contact the company website first you may or may not receive the lead. It could easily be assigned to another real estate agent in the office. In addition, if you have your own website it will provide you with an opportunity to be the face of the business.

Generally speaking, people would rather engage with another person as opposed to a company logo. Having your own website also provides you with the opportunity to keep potential clients on your website. In essence, you control the content. The longer a potential client engages with the content the higher the chances that they will convent into a lead.

6. Generate And Convert Quality Leads

Successful real estate agents take it upon themselves to both generate and convert leads. If you rely on the broker to supply you with quality leads you may very well end up going broke. Even if the office is busy and leads are pouring in you never know when that will start to dry up. That means you need to rely on yourself to produce leads that you can turn into deals. The best way to generate leads on your own is by having a Search Engine Optimized website.

If the leads in the office ever disappear you can still count on yourself to generate and convert quality leads. In addition, real estate agents who have their own website can take it with them when they switch to another company. That way you are the brand instead of the real estate company.

7. Network/Promote Your Services With Blog Articles

Last but certainly not least, having your own branded website provides you with the ability to network and promote your services through blog articles. In essence, blog articles are the heart and sole of written content marketing. You should publish articles to the blog section of your website on a regular basis. It will go a long way in helping your website appear on the fist page of Google and the other major search engines. Blog articles are also a great tool to promote yourself and your services.

You should also publish the blog articles across your social media channels. Industry experts suggest publishing blog articles at least once or twice per week if possible.

In conclusion, it doesn’t take much to separate the successful real estate agents from the ones who are struggling. Having your own personal website can go a long way in helping you thrive as a real estate professional. We can help. Please contact Local Business First today for more information. We are here to help you create an amazing personal website to market your real estate business.

We look forward to working with you. Our platform has the best tools for IDX Real Estate platform integration!

3 Useful Features Every Website Should Have!

Wed, 16 Dec 2020 19:24:45 GMT

Website features & widgets you should be using right now!

Here are some features you should consider adding to your website if you haven't done so already! If you are one of our website customers, these tools are available and free to use!

1. Create a COVID-19 Response Webpage

Let your customers know what the safety precautions your employees are taking in the current pandemic situation. A banner or popup can explain what rules they must follow when on the premises of your business. For example, social distancing and sanitizing precautions, or limiting the number of people allowed inside at one time. Advance notice of these rules will help customers know before they even visit that you’re taking all the necessary precautions and that you care about their safety.

This video provides a step-by-step tutorial on how to add additional pages to your site. Here is a sample of a COVID-19 Response Page . The content is very simple, and includes all of the necessary information that your potential customers would need to know about your business’s response to the pandemic.

2. Create a Promotional Popup

As the holidays are upon us, a popup is very useful for increasing sales. If you are offering any specials or holiday promotions, this should be advertised all over your site! A popup is a great way to draw your customers attention - in a way they can’t miss.

For example, Softhand Threading & Spa is offering 40% off all facials and waxing for a limited time for the holidays. As you can see, this discount is clearly displayed on a popup automatically on the home page. Watch this video to learn how to create a website personalization (such as a popup).

3. Setup online payments

In today’s climate, ecommerce is more important than ever. With our platform, you can set up an ecommerce store for free which can include up to 10 different products when Paypal or Stripe is used. This is simple to set up – contact me for more details!

An example of an ecommerce store that uses this platform is the Milford Area Chamber of Commerce . The simple checkout process makes it easy for customers to purchase products or services right on your website.

P lease reach out to me for more information on any of these additional website features and widgets!

3 Tips to Improve Local SEO for Voice Search

Thu, 12 Nov 2020 19:37:43 GMT

Ranking high on local search results means everything for customers who are trying to find you online. Claiming and optimizing your Google listing, encouraging reviews, and optimizing for voice search are some simple, effective ways to rank higher on search engines.

1. Claim, Complete & Optimize Google My Business (GMB) listing

Go to https://www.google.com/business and click on the Manage My Business button. Then, follow the below guidelines:

Create a Google My Business account and claim your listing
Include your logo, hours of operation, acceptable payment methods, the product or service you sell, images, and videos
Google will allow you to post on your business page similar to the way you do on Facebook or any other social media platform. There are a variety of postings to choose from:

COVID-19 Updates
What’s New : Allows you to give your customers insight on the current goings-on in your business
Events : This type of post lets customers know about any events you’re hosting or will hold in the future
Offers : Help advertise current special offers or discounts, or promote ones you’re planning
Products : This type of post allows customers to look at and even purchase your products without having to go on your official website
Q&As : Allows Google to gather more information about local businesses which may not be immediately obvious from your website. It also helps Google understand common questions that your potential clients ask about your products and services. It’s always a good idea to use this section to add more keywords!

2. Encourage Customers to Review your Business

This is a simple way to improve local SEO, so make the as simple as possible for your clients! Send your clients a Google direct link reminding them that you’d love and appreciate their feedback. All they will have to do is write their comments and hit 'send.'

Some examples of direct links to reviews made specifically for Local Business First are below:

Facebook Review

To get a Facebook direct link review, go to your Facebook business page, then click on the Review tab and copy the link: https://www.facebook.com/localbusiness1st/reviews

Google Review

You can share your short URL with customer s from your Business Profile dashboard with your clients . Click here to learn how.

Click this link: https://developers.google.com/places/web-service/place-id finder, and enter the name of your business in the address field. Copy and replace the Place ID in the following: https://search.google.com/local/writereview?placeid= ChIJZTd1zz1v5IkRUFIjt_bPnEg

Yelp Review

To get a Yelp direct link review, go to your Yelp business listings, then click on the Review button and copy the link: https://www.yelp.com/writeareview/biz/knEkxwjaRgfjAfb8Mf_9BA

3. Submit to Directories Feeding Voice Assistants

According to Search Engine Land an estimated 22 percent of people search for local content and information.

Voice assistants like Alexa, Siri, Google and Cortana rely on information and content from local directories or citations, which are mentions of your information on the web. Make sure you claim Google my Business, Yelp, Bing Places, and Apple Connect as well as submit your website to the main Search Engines, Google , and Bing. And remember to use conversational words and are longer in your content and blogs and blogs, too!

The four major virtual assistants get their local data as follows:

A high percentage of local website traffic comes from your GMB listings, Bing Places, and Yelp. By completing and optimizing your listing on these local directories, you’ll increase your chances of appearing on the first page of local results.

If all of this overwhelms you, no worries, just call us! We’re happy to walk you through these steps or even do them for you!

Create Your Website Using Duda Website Builder

Mon, 05 Oct 2020 00:40:52 GMT

Types of Websites Local Business First Offers

Different types of websites require varying amounts of guidance from professional web developers. We offer several options!

Custom Websites require the web developer to basically start from scratch and build a brand-new website that can be personalized as much as needed - the possibilities are endless!

Our “Done with You” Websites begin with a template, but are then customized by a professional to fit your specific needs. With this type of site, you work together with a web developer to make the site that is right for you.

And DIY, or Do-It-Yourself Websites use templates as the framework for the site, and all the user needs to do is fill in their content. This type of website requires the least amount of guidance from a professional web designer, making it the most cost effective option. They are easy to make and fast to update, making them perfect for small businesses or individuals. And, with the proper tools, they can be built in one day!

See some of our case studies and see how we helped local business with their online presence.

What Website Builder platform is right for you?

There are several different tools out there that can be used to create DIY websites, including Squarespace, Wix, and Duda. There are positives and negatives to each platform, but their goal is to be user friendly and allow the user to update their website all on their own.

Squarespace is great for photographers or bloggers, as it comes with many portfolio style templates. It is simple and easy to use, but very limited on its features. Squarespace only has basic SEO (Search engine optimization) resources, and they are not very robust and can be cumbersome to set up. It has limited customization and flexibility, with set templates and sections that cannot be changed. The simplicity of this platform makes it intuitive and accessible to users with little knowledge of web development or coding.

Wix is similar to Squarespace in its straightforward interface and drag and drop capabilities. But it has the same limitations with SEO and customization of widgets. Squarespace and Wix charge additional for advanced features and apps, bringing the cost considerably higher than initially advertised.

DUDA offers significantly more features than Squarespace or Wix, without bringing down the ease of use. Drag and drop widgets make the builder very intuitive, and it makes additional features like membership, event registration, real estate listings easy and less expensive to incorporate into any site. Duda also has robust, built-in SEO tools which is aligned with Google's recommended practices. It also offers eCommerce widgets that are easy to set up and compatible with a large number of payment processors, and even have product fields optimized for SEO.

At Local Business First, there is no charge until the site is published , so there is no pressure.

If for some reason you are changing your mind about creating your site on our platform, the site is automatically deleted after 3 months.

So let’s build a website using the Duda platform.

3 Steps to Building Your Website in a Day

1. Get business information ready

To start building your website, the first thing you need to do is get all of your business information ready. This information will be used throughout your site, and is essential for SEO and other things. Gathering this information prior to beginning your website will make your life a lot easier - all you will have to do is copy and paste it! You will need to gather the following:

● Business Name

● Business Email

● Business Hours

● Business Contact Number

● Business Address

● Business Sector/Category

● Business Tagline

● Region, Town services are rendered

2. Get website content ready

Next, you will need the actual content that will go in the body of the site. You will need to decide on the structure of your pages, too, and this varies depending on your specific business needs. But no matter what structure you decide, each page will need its own content - both text and photos. The following is a breakdown of a sample page structure and what content is needed on each page:

Home Page

Logo
Mission Statement/Main Services and Tagline
Description on products and services
Social Media Links
Call to action

About

Write a short description about how you started / about you
A photo

Service Page 1

Service title
Service Description

Service Page 2

Service title
Service Description

Service Page 3

Service title
Service Description

Testimonials

Get some testimonials from your clients, Facebook or Google pages. This page is not necessary but helpful for your client or customers.

Keyword Research

One of the things that will need on every page is keywords . These are important words that help your site get found on Google and other search engines. First you need to learn what keywords other people commonly search for, then incorporate those words into your content throughout your site. To learn more about keywords and how to find yours, check out our blog, especially the section on keyword research: 10 Steps for Optimizing Your Blog Post .

3. Build Your Website

Now you are ready to start actually building your website! This is the most time consuming piece, but can be much quicker if you have all of your information and content ready to go. We have broken up this process into 8 easy steps:

Template Selection - Click to Watch the Template Selection Video

The first step is to select your template from Duda’s large template library. This template will act as the framework for your site, all you need to do is customize it however you want! When selecting your template, don’t worry too much about the colors/fonts, as those can all be changed easily. Focus more on a layout that would display your content most effectively.

Upload Business Information

The next step is to enter your business information in the Content Library. Remember all that info that you gathered earlier? This is when you will use it! Duda will walk you through how to enter all of your business information in the right places.

Build the Header - Watch video on Creating a Website Header

Web pages typically consist of 3 main pieces - the header, footer, and the body. The header is the strip across the top of each page that includes your logo and menu for navigation of your website.

Using whatever template you chose, you can now begin to customize the headers by replacing the template logo with your own, changing the color and design, adding buttons, etc.

Build the Footer - Watch video on Creating a Website Footer

Once you have completed the header, then you can move on to the footer. Footers typically contain fine print, copyrights, quick links, and common information about your site.

It could include information like your address, phone number, and social media links. This will be exactly the same on each page, and it helps the usability of your website. It could also include a contact form so users can get in touch with you on any page. Go ahead and add whatever widgets you think would be useful!

Build Content Using Free Widgets - Watch video on Building Content

Next, you can move on to the body of each page. The body is where all of the content goes, and the content should be different on every individual page. Starting with your template, copy and paste the content that you have written into the different widgets.

You can then click and drag text boxes, photo galleries, buttons, and other widgets, anywhere on the page. The website is really starting to take shape now!

Optimize Your Webpages- Watch video on Optimizing Web Pages for SEO

The next step is one of the most important - optimizing your website for search engines. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the process of improving the visibility of a website in a search engine’s unpaid search results. This is often called “natural” or “organic” traffic. While SEO can be a very complex and intricate process, Duda has great built-in tools to help guide inexperienced users and simplify the task. Under settings, there is an SEO tab that gives you options to fill out the Title, description, and keywords for your entire website. What you enter here is what will appear in the results in Google. Then on each page, you can go to page settings and fill out the same things, title, description, and keywords for each individual page.

You can also add an image that will appear as a preview for the page in social media. Duda provides guidelines and best practices for each of these steps to make sure you are on the right track.

Publish Your Website - Watch video on Publishing Website

Now that you are done building your website, the last thing you need to do is publish it! Even though you are done building the content, there are a few steps you still need to take before the website actually becomes live. In settings, you can upload a favicon, social networking images, and home screen icons for continuity and branding. You also will need to change your site URL - the domain name visitors will see when visiting your site. If you don’t change the URL, Duda will automatically display a long, ugly domain name. Once you click publish, Duda will ask about your URL and domain, and guide you through the process of customizing them. It will also be time to set up your monthly payments. After you have published your site, you will still be able to go back and edit and update anything!

And that’s all there is to it! Simple websites built on Duda through the Local Business First Agency can take only a few hours to complete. Take advantage of all our blogs and videos to help you create an awesome online presence.

With the right tools, anyone can be a web developer!

How to Make Your Website Accessible

Fri, 05 Jun 2020 15:09:57 GMT

Web Accessibility For Everyone

Fifteen percent of the global population lives with some type of disability. This includes over 41 million in US alone where 2 out of 3 people is using some form of accessibility tool, such as:

Screen magnifies for someone with low vision
Screen readers and/or braille output for the blind
Eye pointing devices for those with limited mobility
Speech recognition devices for those with learning disabilities
Alternative keyboards for those with special needs

What is ADA Compliance?

ADA compliance refers to meeting the standards set by the Americans with Disabilities Act Standards for Accessible Design . This act includes accessibility for websites.

What is Web Accessibility?

It is the process of making your website usable for people with disability and helping people who use assistive technology engage with web content. Click to learn Web Accessibility 101 !

Who needs to comply?

If you are a government agency, have more than 15 employees, or your company operates for the public’s benefit – you need to be compliant. Digital accessibility is a legal requirement and the lawsuits are on the rise.

How can you comply?

You can start taking steps to create a compliant website. Is it perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust? A more accessible website brings more traffic and in turn helps grow your business. Here are some specific steps:

1. Use Readable fonts. Some fonts are easier to read than others. Some of the easiest to read are Poppins, Open Sans and Roboto.

2. Use Aft Text for images. Alt text (alternative text) is a word or phrase that can be inserted as an attribute in the code to tell website viewers the nature or contents of an image. The alt tag is used by screen readers, which are browsers used by blind and visually impaired people. These screen readers tell them what is on the image by reading the alt tag.

3. Choose appropriate graphics for your website. Make sure they are informative, have descriptive captions and can be read aloud for those who are visually impaired.

4. Make your website navigable by keyword alone. Some users are not able to use touch screens or other pointing devices.

5. Use Free tools such as Lighthouse to look at text size, color contrast, image alt text, etc. Use the Lighthouse report to fix the compliance website issues.

You can also hire an agency for a professional audit assessment. They can implement a plan for making your website ADA compliant such as Audioeye.

Audioeye is a leading software solution delivering great web accessibility and is available through the Duda website building platform.

Some of personalization tools included in Audioeye are:

Adjusting color contrast
Changing a site’s font or font size
Using buttons instead of text links
Disabling animations and more...

Checkout our site to see this in action and call us today to help you implement web accessibility!

Google My Business Changes Due to COVID-19

Tue, 19 May 2020 14:58:03 GMT

Google My Business Changes Due to COVID-19

During these unprecedented times, small businesses have had to adapt to a new way of doing things at the same time that actions are being taken to slow the spread of Covid-19.

Businesses are making changes like to their hours, shifting to remote work, delivering products, and offering their services via an online channel instead. Google has recognized the modifications businesses have had to make and has updated the Google My Business feature in order to comply with these changes. Below are five updates to GMB:

1. Google My Business Q&A

The Question and Answer section of GMB had previously been completely removed from some businesses, but Google has now begun gradually returning it by country and business category. Users can now post their questions and have them answered and visible to the public.

2. Backdating Reviews

Google has begun to delay the publication of user reviews. Users are still able to write reviews, but those reviews may not be immediately available for viewing.

3. Temporarily Closed Option

Google My Business has added an option to declare your business “temporarily closed.” Unfortunately, this may mean that since Google assigns higher priority to open businesses, your business may decrease in ranking. It has not been established whether or not choosing this option will affect the ranking once your business opens again. It is important that you keep your customers updated on what is going on so this button is a good option if you are in this position.

4. Health-Related Businesses Prioritized

Google has placed increased importance on health-related businesses when it comes to verifying, adding, and claiming listings. This doesn’t mean that if your business is non health-related that you won’t be able to use these functions, but it does mean it may take longer than usual. These delays also apply to editing such business information as special hours, business descriptions and attributes, and open and closed states.

5. Takeout/Delivery Titles

Until restrictions are loosened, restaurants are unable to have their doors open to dine-in customers, so many have opted to offer takeout and delivery. In the past, Google has had strict rules on whether or not a restaurant is allowed to put “takeout/delivery” in their name. Now though, Google has allowed restaurants to add this title to their names so that users can easily see that this option is available to them.

Here at Local Business First we want to keep you updated on the latest on any changes or additions that could affect SEO and your business listing. If you have any questions about how you could stay optimized and your clients finding both you and your services and business, feel free to contact us!

Local Business Website Support During Covid-19

Fri, 01 May 2020 19:07:00 GMT

7 Ways Our Website Builder Platform is Helping Agencies & Local Businesses During the Covid-19 Crisis!

Have you heard of Duda? Duda is a company operating in the same space as Squarespace and Wix but catering to small agencies like mine which support local small businesses like yours.

Just as Covid-19 has affected many facets of life both inside and outside of the home, it’s also disrupted small business in countless ways. With the focus of many workplaces and institutions moving online during the outbreak, it’s been hard to know how exactly to move you and your business forward.

Small business owners, even while comfortable operating from the confines of their homes, may be less sure than ever of how to reach their customer-base and negotiate the ever-changing regulations and restrictions.

During the Covid-19 crisis, Duda has been helping agencies and small businesses succeed through their special offers, new tools, workshops, and more.

Here are a few new tools and services they’ve offered to support agencies in the last couple of months, so that we can in turn support you, our clients.

1. Free Annual Sites for COVID-19 Informational Websites

Duda is offering free annual sites for anyone building an informational website specifically dedicated to Covid-19. Information and knowledge are vital during this time, and websites dedicated to spreading these materials are of the utmost importance. With this special offer, Duda will help not only our customers, but whole communities as they navigate a very difficult season.

2. Zoom Widget Website Integration

Duda has a new Zoom widget available, which is an additional tool to aid you when creating and editing your site and is available to help integrate the program into your website. The widget makes it easy to bridge a potential communication gap between you and your customers so that talking with them – and their talking with you - is as easy as a click of their fingers.

3. New Website Templates - Online Classes & Recruitment Agency

With schools and universities shut down during the pandemic crisis, all are turning to online courses. For many new to it. online teaching and learning is a strange and stressful world, so Duda is providing new templates for website building specific to the task. Brand new templates geared for online learning and teaching have been added in order to make this strange new method of schooling as painless and easy as possible!

4. Enabling Site Comments to Share Feedback

Site Comments is a feature that allows you to share feedback on your website with both your team and your clients right inside the Duda editor. With social distancing in place, seamless methods of communicating are critical, so the ability to do so within the body of your own website is an incredible asset. In order to help their clients, Duda has enabled the Site Comments feature for three months!

5. Added Personalization Popups and Announcements

Personalization tools allows the customization of content based on device-type, # of visits to the site, or location to create a very individualized experience for your site visitors. 80% of shoppers are more likely to buy from a company that offers personalized experiences on their websites. Duda offers the best personalization tools of any site builders out there.

6. Free Ecommerce Plan

Duda also offers a free eCommerce plan which includes gift cards, curbside pickup scheduling, 500 different products, and much more. With quarantine still enforced by many states, now is the best time to expand your business for eCommerce, and Duda is right there to help you! This special eCommerce plan isn’t just for new websites however; you can integrate it into your existing website at any time. Make ordering or attaining your product or service easy for your customers at this vulnerable time, expanding and growing in the process.

7. Online Workshops & Other COVID-19 Resources

In addition to some amazing offers and tools, Duda is also hosting some very helpful online workshops. The workshops are all free and available through their website and cover a variety of topics - from Online Businesses and Covid-19 to Navigating Covid-19 Federal Aid Programs, with more to come! Now is the chance to get caught up on how the virus affects you and your business, and how to navigate and stay connected with your customers.

With access to incredible tools, workshops, and offers, Duda has been striving to keep their clients updated during this time and to help both you and your business navigate social distancing and online consumerism. Whether it’s the new Zoom widget to provide a clear line of communication via your website, or their workshop on Online Businesses during Covid-19, Duda has something available for every business owner.

To take advantage of these tools and resources contact Local Business First Today!

7 Ways to Improve Online Presence Amidst Crisis

Mon, 06 Apr 2020 12:55:25 GMT

Build your business through improving online presence

The coronavirus pandemic has undoubtedly sparked fear and uncertainly throughout the country. Unfortunately, many business owners have had to drastically change their day-to-day business to adapt to new social-distancing protocols, adding more apprehension to the economic fall outs of the virus. We at Local Business First are dedicated to helping your business succeed during this unprecedented time, and would like to offer 7 quick tips for how you can help your online presence and business during this time.

1. Offer Your Customers E-Gift Cards

These are unprecedented times. Most restaurants and bars are take-out-only, corporate offices are closed and working remotely, and almost all non-essential businesses have closed their doors. Unfortunately, as foot traffic has come to a screeching halt, cash-flow likely has as well. A great way to combat this sudden change is by offering gift cards and E-certificates online for future customers to purchase now and use later. This will allow you to actively generate revenue in the interim until you are able to re-open your doors. Here are two pages we updated for our clients: Massage Therapy Business , Local Businesses Gift Cards Offerings.

2. Utilize your Newsletter and Email Blasts

Now more than ever, it is important to stay in constant communication with your customers so that they can remain updated on adjusted hours, policies, and services. First and foremost, we advise you’ll need to put your list of contacts together. Take advantage of this time to finally collate your pile of business cards, LinkedIn connections, former customers, and so on to make a master-database of contacts.

As things continue to change reach out to these contacts regularly to keep them up to date on evolving changes or new services. Better yet, now might be the time for you to start implementing a monthly or quarterly newsletter. Or if you already have an e-newsletter, perhaps this is your chance to give it a little facelift! Many of our affiliates offer a discount at this time and some email marketing platforms are absolutely free. Email us if you need help selecting an email marketing platform.

3. Offer Online Appointment Scheduling & Meetings

Take advantage of the incredible technology that we have in today’s age by encouraging your customers to make online appointments or calls in lieu of face to face meetings. Applications like Zoom and Skype easily allow you to host virtual meetings with multiple users. If you think that an online scheduling application will be helpful for your business, make this a focal point in your website. Either put a “Schedule Appointment” button in your header or on each page so that users are consistently encouraged to click and engage with you. Some of the free online scheduling application include Calendly and Setmore.

4. Optimize Your Web Pages & Blogs

Now might be the time to put some extra effort into finally optimizing your website’s Search Engine Optimization (SEO). SEO is constantly changing, and should be something that you keep up with regularly to ensure that your website is among the top results after a web search. In fact, Google ranks each and every page of a website to determine the top hits, so it is important for you to go through and ensure that each page is optimized accordingly. Read our blog: Ten Steps for Optimizing Your Blog Post for SEO .

5. Optimize Your Google My Business listing.

When it comes to local search, Google and other search engines use the following criteria for ranking: prominence, distance, and relevance - in that order! Optimizing Google My Business (GMB) and other local listings is crucial to coming up first in local searches! Review your Google listing today by following this short blog: How to Optimize Your Google Business Listing.

6. Create Inbound Links Through Quality Content

You’ve probably heard how important backlinks are for SEO. Getting quality inbound links take a lot of effort and time. One of best way to earn quality links is through creating great content. Check out our blog: How to Create Website Inbound Links.

7. Create New, Revamp or Update Your Website

This slow economic time could be an excellent opportunity for you as a small business owner to either to create, touch-up or totally transform your website to make sure that you make an excellent impression for first-time visitors or potential clients. COVID-related content is of extreme importance.

Google recommends the following when updating a website:

Use simple brief language
Clearly tell customers how they can make a purchase
Communicate possible wait times or delays at this time.
Share an updated return or cancellation policy.
Communicate COVID-19 precautionary measures clearly

Use this time to take a good, hard look at your website. Is the layout modern and user-friendly? How well does it deliver your key messages, services, or products to viewers? Does it have all of the features that you want (i.e. an online store, blog, online scheduling)? If you’re not happy with the answers to any of these questions, it may be time to make some changes to your website!

We can create a custom website for you, we can do with with you or you can create your own website !

10 steps for Optimizing Your Instagram Profile

Sun, 22 Mar 2020 01:01:07 GMT

How to Optimize your Business Instagram profile for SEO

In the buzzing world of social media, using your Instagram platform as a marketing tool to attract potential clients, engage with existing customers, and promote your products is extremely important.
But how can you successfully make a strong impression on your Instagram profile?
What kind of content should you post to make sure your personality shines through?
This blog will act as a step-by-step checklist to make sure you get yourself and your business noticed on Instagram.

1. Upload a Profile Picture that Showcases your Business & Branding

Your profile picture is the first thing that people see when they search for you or visit your Instagram page. That being said, you need to choose your profile picture very wisely! For most businesses, we recommend that you choose a high-quality version of your company’s logo for your profile picture. On the other hand, if you’re an influencer or blogger, it may be better to choose a professional picture of yourself that will show your potential clients who you are and what you’re all about.

2. Include Keywords in Your Bio

Your Instagram bio is perhaps the most significant way to make a good first impression for potential clients and followers. A good Instagram bio should highlight the services and/or products available to your target market in a short blurb that’s jam-packed with keywords. Your bio should be short and succinct, providing readers with a clear understanding of what your page is all about - in 150 characters or less!

3. Add Links to Your Blog, Website, or Newest Offer in your Bio

Including links to external sites within the Instagram platform is fairly difficult - after all, Instagram wants its users to stay in their app as long as possible! Instagram does, however, allow verified users with over 10,000 followers to post links within their Stories, allowing viewers to “swipe up” to drive traffic to other domains. As wonderful as this tool is for large accounts, it is unfortunately not as helpful for smaller users and accounts. If you have less than 10,000 followers, your only option to organically drive traffic to your website or external domain is to include a link in your bio. Be sure to update links for special sales, new blogs, or promotions in your bio as well!
One very important thing to note here is to make sure that you’re linking to mobile-optimized (or responsive) websites! As the vast majority of people use Instagram on their mobile devices exclusively, you need to make sure that you’re leading them to phone-friendly websites.

4. Add Some Personality & Life to your Bio

After you cover the fundamentals listed above, you have the liberty to add some personality to your bio and really make it stand out. Remember that your bio is restricted to 150 characters or less, so you’ll need to put extra thought into how you incorporate these elements. Incorporating line breaks, Emojis, fun fonts, and inspirational (short) quotes are all great ways to add a little bit of life into your bio!

5. Make Sure You’re Setup as a Business Account

Instagram has special account settings for business owners – so be sure to utilize the Business Account feature within the app. To do this, open the app, go to settings, and scroll down to Switch to Business Account. Once switched over, you have the option to add relevant business information such as: business address, phone number, and store hours. The Instagram Business Account features also allow you to learn more about your followers and get real-time metrics on how your stories & posts perform.
It is also important for your Business Account to be listed as the correct category type to attract potential followers and clients. To change this, click “edit profile” on your page. Then, scroll down until you see the category section and pick the category that most closely aligns with your business.

6. Build a Content Calendar

One of Instagram’s best qualities is its simplicity. Unlike other social media platforms, Instagram has only one media to share information: through pictures & videos. You can easily view an entire account history by scrolling through their photo grid. You should use this simplicity to your advantage and make a content calendar to create a sequence of cohesive posting content. Do you want to post once a week? Twice a month? Once a day? Are your posts part of a long-term social media campaign? This will help you create a profile that puts forth a comprehensible brand narrative.
There are several free tools for assisting in post-planning. Our personal favorite is Tailwind. This easy-to-use app aids in scheduling posts and campaigns and even sends reminders for when it’s time to post!

7. Turn Your Notifications On

This seems like an obvious tool, but it is extremely important to make sure that your notifications are turned on. This allows you and your team to be in a position to respond to direct messages quickly and engage with your target audience at a moment’s notice. Showing your Instagram followers that you are always available is an excellent way to build brand rapport and increase engagement.

8. Include Hashtags in Every Post

Hashtags are incredibly important to help categorize your content for your viewers. Hashtags link your post to others that include the same topics, which allows users to easily interact with other posts on the same subject matter. Technically, you can use up to 30 hashtags in a single Instagram post. However, many marketers and users say that using too many hashtags can make a post look like spam as opposed to real, quality content. Some experts say to use 6 hashtags, while others say that 11 is best for user engagement.
There are several tricks to finding the best hashtags to include in your posts. We recommend first looking at competitor posts on similar subject matter to get a feel for what’s already being done. You can also use apps such as Hashtag Expert for IG to do further research to identify the best hashtags for your market.

9. Remember that Quality is Always Better than Quantity

It’s easy to think that the more followers an account has, the more credible it is. But his is not always true. Follow accounts that overlap well with your business, and start interacting with their posts. By genuinely interacting with their posts and pages, you increase the likelihood of them following you back and open up the possibility for more meaningful communication.

10. Engage!

Find the perfect captions, create awesome images that tell a story, run contests and campaigns - engage!

Ten Reasons Why a Local Business Needs a Website

Tue, 12 Nov 2019 21:32:49 GMT

In today’s modern world, it is impossible to argue the fact that everything about anything can easily be found online. After all, the internet has a much further and wider reach than any other form of advertising. But how can you as a small business owner utilize the power of the internet for your advantage? You may have asked yourself how important it really is for your company to be visible online – after all, entrepreneurs have been running successful businesses for generations without the internet!

To help you navigate through these questions, we have put together a list of ten reasons as to why maintaining a state-of-the-art website is a must in today’s digital world:

1. Because it Will Help You Gain More Credibility and Proof of Legitimacy

True or False: a website is usually the first stop for a prospective customer. The answer is easy – true! Would you trust a business that didn’t have a website? If you don’t have a website, where would your customers go when seeking information about you? Having a website demonstrates to potential customers that you are running a legitimate and credible business.

2. Because it is a Great Way to Showcase Your Products and Services

No matter what type of business you are running, your website will be a great place to showcase your work and your brand – as well as to demonstrate your skills or products. Either way, a website is a great tool to let potential customers know what you are all about, and why they should become returning.

3. Because it Will Keep Your Customers Informed

Keeping your customers updated and informed about your business is required in order to retain their business. If you don’t have your own website, you are missing half of your life. That is the real deal here. Everything now is online. Customers buy products online, fresh graduates seek jobs online, students get their lessons online and people find friends online. In example, if you are a butcher then the customer types in butcher in google, all businesses with the same target keywords will show. That is where SEO comes in.

4. Because it is Always Accessible to Your Customers

With the internet’s ease of access, reaching a multitude of people is easier than ever before. People always have their phones with them, checking their social media accounts and browsing through different search engines. If you have your own website, with just a few clicks, people will find your business, and have immediate access to your products or information.

5. Because it Enables You to Target a Wider Audience

Properly optimized websites help you achieve a prominent online presence. In a world where any user can use their phone to quickly search for local businesses, it is of utmost importance for your business to be the first on their screen!

6. Because it Helps Improve Your Customer Service

When you offer good customer service, it helps you win new business and of course, keep your existing clients. Your site should also be easy to navigate so that clients can find the information they need quickly and efficiently. Happy clients = happy business owners!

7. Because it Will Help Your Customers get Educated about Your Brand

Websites help get the word out. Your website can provide your customers with knowledge and insights that will help them understand your products and how they might be of value to them. When people know and understand a business (i.e. its services, products, features, capabilities, and limitations), it will give them realistic expectations on what they can achieve with the product.

8. Because it Helps You Achieve Your Business’ Goals

What are your business’ goals? To increase sales? Customer conversion? Improve interaction with existing and potential customers? These are just three of the hundreds of business goals that any entrepreneur would want to achieve. So, why not get on the good side of your clients by putting forth a good website?

9. Because Your Competitors Have their Own Websites

One of the most fundamental rules for building your business is to know your competition. You need to understand your competitors so that you can stand out. Always keep in mind that if you’re not staying competitive, you’re giving potential clients a reason to buy from another brand. The math here is simple – if your competitor has a good website, so should you!

10. Because it’s the Best Way to Promote Your Products and Make Sales

Whether you’re a small business, or you’ve been around for several years, getting more sales over the line will benefit your company. As we all know, a website is a great way to boost sales quickly and easily through ecommerce. In a world that is trending towards online ordering and next-day delivery, having a website with the option for online-ordering is an excellent asset!

Let our expert team at Local Business First create a state of the art, mobile friendly website for you!

How to Optimize Your Business Facebook Page

Mon, 02 Sep 2019 18:56:37 GMT

Optimize Your Local Business Facebook Page in 5 Easy Steps

To get the most out of your Facebook marketing, it is crucial to optimize your page by inserting keywords to improve the chances of search engines finding you. Let’s be honest - when was the last time you scrolled through more than the first (or even more unlikely) second page of Google search results? To reach the largest number of people your page needs to appear as one of the first few search results, or it could get lost in the clutter. There are several simple and easy ways to help your Facebook business page climb the search engine ladder.

1. Add a Captivating Facebook Cover Image

They say a picture is worth a thousand words! The first thing many people see when they click onto any web page is a photo that catches their eye. Canva is a FREE online tool that will help.

2. Optimize the Sections in the About Tab by Using Keywords Strategically

Keywords are words that search engines look for on your website because users are frequently using them to search. These words can be related to your services, products, or other aspects of your business. Knowing what other people are searching for gives you insight on what kinds of content to put on your page, and how to reach more viewers. Basic keyword research is easy (and free) and can drastically improve your Facebook page’s search engine optimization.

Once you have found the keywords that you would like to include on your website, add them to the About tab of your Facebook page. They should not be given as a list of random words, but rather woven into your existing content. Sprinkle your keywords throughout the text, and try to keep it subtle. You want the information to flow naturally not make it obvious that you are forcing specific words into your website.

3. Showcase Your Services in the Services Tabs

Although this tab is not included with the default tabs that come with a Facebook business page, this tab is very important. For a step-by-step on how to add this tab to your page, click here.
Once you have created this tab, add the different services that your company offers. List them all, and don’t leave any out. This way, when people are searching for specific services online, your website will be listed for that specific service.

4. Add Mailchimp / Constant Contact Subscribe Tab in Facebook

Another way to optimize your Facebook business page is by adding a sign-up form. This way, potential customers have a place to leave their contact information, continuing the conversation between the two of you. The best way to do this is by linking an existing Mailchimp or Constant Contact account to your Facebook page. This way, all of your customer information will be sent to the same place automatically, without requiring any additional steps.

5. Enable Facebook Post Targeting Option

To do this, click on “Settings,” then “General” on the left sidebar. Edit the section titled “Audience Optimization for Posts,” and check the box labeled “Allow preferred audience selection and the ability to restrict the audience of your posts.” Then click “Save Changes.”
Before publishing a post, click “restricted audience” and select the age and location of the audience you want to target, then hit save.
If someone shares the post, only people in the audience you choose for the post will be able to see it. And that’s it! Now you are able to target specific demographics for your Facebook posts. Be sure to check the analytics to be sure you are targeting the right audience.