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  • What Business Owners Might Not Know About SEO & Web Design

    What Business Owners Might Not Know About SEO & Web Design

    SEO is an important part of building your business. Understanding search engine optimization is critical for business owners.

    If you are a small business owner, you’re likely wearing many different hats as you work to build your company. You’ve probably researched “web design” in an effort to get online and advertise your services or products.

    Many small business owners are lured in by ads and companies promising that you can build your own website for free or nearly free, only to find that indeed, you get what you pay for.

    The reality is that while creating a website may seem simple, actually getting people to visit your site and ranking in search engines is much more complicated. Even if you have a great looking site, if potential customers aren’t using it, it’s not doing you any good.

    You’ve probably heard of search engine optimization (SEO) and the importance of understanding it and incorporating it into your website design.

    Here are some key points that every small business owner should know about SEO and web design:

    You Must Choose Your Words Carefully

    While images and fonts are important to overall website design, the words (copy) that you use on your site play a critical role in SEO. You must plan for each page to have clear, concise and compelling copy on every page of your website.

    In addition to great copy on your pages, you also need to make sure that you are adding relevant keywords to each post that is added to your page. SEO titles and meta descriptions should always include the appropriate key-word phrases in order to attain great search results.

    URLs matter in the world of SEO. Make sure yours contains your domain name as well as keywords in each URL. This will maximize your search engine results.

    Having a skilled content or copy writer is often the most effective way to boost your SEO results.

    Good Things Take Time

    Be wary of SEO services that offer you immediate results. The truth is that building your SEO takes time and effort and cannot be done overnight. Having a realistic expectation of how long it takes SEO to work is crucial to your business planning.

    By creating a dedicated content calendar and updating your website regularly with blog posts, you will be consistently submitting to search engines and your SEO results will grow over time.

    A good rule of thumb is that you need eight to twelve months of a dedicated SEO plan and content creation to get you increased SEO traffic and more importantly, results. Remember, if you are getting website visitors, but not converting customers, your SEO isn’t working for you.

    SEO can be confusing to understand and time consuming. Many design firms and social media professionals offer SEO optimization services that drill down into the details of what your particular business needs in order to get good SEO results and can study the results to assure you are getting the SEO that you need to grow your business.

  • How Google’s Newest Search Algorithm Could Affect Your Business

    How Google’s Newest Search Algorithm Could Affect Your Business

    Google’s appropriately named “Hawk” is the latest SEO algorithm that is bound to crawl websites soon and rank it based on the expected standards of the algorithm. While Google doesn’t get too specific with what to expect when they change algorithms, a major component is to ensure that two similar small businesses within a small area are visible in a given search.

    Google is also looking to eliminate listings that use the same address to get in an attempt to climb up the rankings. This can still be problematic if two similar businesses are in the same building or office park, but is still considered better for small businesses. In the end, these changes mean that businesses close to another won’t be able to bump one another out of the rankings so that one is completely missed when conducting a local search.

    Google has also provided updates that give the user more accurate searches that meet their criteria when looking for local listings. This may prove as a better use for longtail keywords, as they could prove to bring in good leads for a reasonable price.

    With a new algorithm, there are always changes and adjustments that have to be made in order to keep a good SERP ranking, or attain a better one. Here are some tips for your business to rise among the local rankings now that Hawk has been implemented.

    List with Google My Business

    In order to learn more about your business, Google’s search algorithms always crawl your listing in order to attain the information about your business. You need to make sure your address and contact information is completely up to date on Google My Business so you don’t get penalized or miss out on customers for having the wrong information.

    Search relevant keywords for your business

    Looking at all of the search terms relevant to your business show up, and gives you an idea of potential filters that could be harming your results. This is another way to make sure that your information is up to date. Also, it gives you a chance to find opportunities both hidden and not. Where could you be doing better?

    Be extra thorough

    SEO in itself is continual website maintenance, with tasks both big and small that need to completed in order to drive traffic to your site. You need to make sure all of the mundane details of standard SEO work are taken care of.  Make sure that your article titles and content are properly optimized for the keywords that you’d like to rank for, and that the meta tags and meta descriptions are optimized as well. The smallest discrepancy in your SEO could impact your rankings, and you must continually be on top of these things in order to stay relevant.

    As you may have surmised by now, SEO is a continual effort that needs constant attention in order to yield the best results. If you don’t have the resources to maintain an SEO effort in house, you can hire an experienced company to help you climb the rankings and to get customers in front of you.

  • 4 Content Strategy Tips to Effectively Market Your Business

    4 Content Strategy Tips to Effectively Market Your Business

    A focused and unrelenting PPC and SEO effort accompanied by a responsively designed website and/or mobile app will do tremendous things to drive traffic and conversions for your business. However, if you really want to distinguish your site from the competition to drive even more conversions, you can do so through an effective content strategy. Here are some things your business can do to become a content powerhouse that can bring in business like never before.

    Spice it up

    There’s enough run-of-the-mill content out there. You have to make the most of your content to draw in customers. Two big components of your content web copy and social media. The two pivotal objectives of your content should be to inspire a buying decision while ensuring that the content gives the customer a clear understanding of your product and/or services. Take a look at your competition and see how they use their content to drive conversions and find a way to improve upon their tactics for your own content.

    Be Specific

    In order to drive conversions, you need a pinpoint strategy to land that target market with your content. Find a niche that works for your business in terms of product offerings and how you go about sharing them. Is there a particular platform (on social media for instance) that works well for your products or service offerings?

    Put the effort in

    It takes a long time to truly notice how an effective content strategy will change your business. When you commit to a new content strategy, you have to give it time to succeed. If you feel you’re not getting the conversions you’d expected, look within. Are you spending any money to promote your content to get it in front of the right people? Your content can be optimal, but it needs to be seen by the people who are the most inspired to make an informed decision.

    Use multiple channels

    In this day and age, there are a lot of ways to showcase the use of your product, or display the knowledge you have when offering a service. You can do things such as keep an update YouTube or Instagram feed to show the superiority of your product or show your knowledge while demonstrating the value of your product in a visually appealing way. Doing this will help you reach more customers and target these people based on their viewing/reading preferences. 

    When forming a content strategy, it’s important to know that it has to be all encompassing. Content goes far beyond simple web copy and a blog post here and there. Content is all about customer outreach, establishing the meaning behind your words, and making your visual content come alive. If your company needs a content overhaul, it’s time to get in touch with an experienced company that can come up with a strategy that makes sense for your business.

  • 4 Essential Tips For Improving The UX of your Application

    4 Essential Tips For Improving The UX of your Application

    Creating an effective mobile experience is a bigger challenge for designers. There’s not as much room to convey your product features or brand message as a regular site. You have to deal with decreasing attention spans, and you have more limitations in how you control the interface. Despite the obstacles in the way of the designer, you can prevail by delivering the best experience to your users. Here are some tips on how to give the user what they’re looking for.

    Let users figure it out

    A lot of companies set out to make sure that the user has a clear understanding of the functionality of mobile site or app by providing tutorials. With a rising need of instant gratification, it’s best to let your users get started before they become disinterested. Provide light guidance to help them get started, but mostly rely on the functionality and responsiveness of your design so that users can accomplish what they set out to do. If there’s considerable confusion regarding the interface, you’ll have to make changes.

    Gather user data

    While it might seem helpful to emulate similar features and experiences delivered to the user on other mobile sites and apps, you should first seek the opinions of your users before you make changes. You might think you’re improving your site, but your users, whose opinions matter the most, might see it differently. Look for what your users want improved by gathering as much qualitative data as possible.

    Impress users before conversions

    Making a customer conversion easy is one thing, but in order to really inspire buying behavior, you have to impress the user that conveys the message of your site or showcases your products in a very unique way. A responsive, superiorly designed site will make users become frequent users and repeat customers. Establishing good retention will set you up for success for years to come.

    Make it responsive

    We talked about how advancements in technology have resulted in diminishing attention spans. This particularly rings true with mobile users. People expect apps to be as fast or even faster than a full website. If your app is constantly unreliable, your users won’t come back.

    You get out of your app what you put into it. Take these tips into account and get to work, or hire an experienced web design company that can design and develop an app that drives conversions again and again.

  • 5 Costly Yet Common Google Adwords PPC Mistakes

    5 Costly Yet Common Google Adwords PPC Mistakes

    Google Adwords pay-per-click (PPC) campaigns must be composed using the right strategy. Marketers must take into consideration everything from the finding the right keywords to using the appropriate content to match it. If done correctly, your return on investment (ROI) from PPC can be massive. For example, you could end up paying $3 for a single click and end up generating $300 in revenue from that particular consumer. However, if you are not thorough during every step of the way when establishing your campaign, it can be easy to drain your budget without generating leads or sales. Here are five common reasons why you are losing money on your Google Adwords campaign.

    You are focusing on the wrong things

    The number one factor you should be focusing on when launching your advertisements is sales and profit, not the number of visits to your site. When your ad drives a lot of clicks, the cost of each click goes up. If your site is not converting, then you will find yourself losing money quickly. We recommend bidding on keywords that are not as competitive but still inspire buying habits.

    Keywords and content do not match

    When you prepare your content for the ad, the content must be consistent with the keywords that you bid on. When Google assesses your ad, it gives it a quality score. The higher the score, the less you will have to spend on bids. If you hastily create your ads, you will get charged more per click for having a lower score. Conversely, ads with poor content are not going to convert, which will cost you more money.

    You do not use proper keyword matching

    Google supplies you with a broad matching program in its keyword planner. This tool will give you an idea on what keywords to pursue, but you should not trust it completely. Dig a little deeper to come up with more conclusive data to match the buyer’s intention. If you take a very limited approach to your keyword research, you could lose a lot of money. Google has more specific features to help you learn more about the buying intention of your audience, including its Exact Match, Phrase Match, and Negative Keywords options.

    You leave your bidding strategy unmanaged

    Starting an Adwords campaign without any strategic planning will probably get you nowhere. Not only should you plan extensively before you launch a campaign; you should constantly manage your process and make sure that you are not spending too much. It is helpful to monitor what keywords are driving the most profitable sales and comparing them to what keywords are driving the most visitors. It is all about finding the customers who are the most likely to convert.

    You leave your campaign unsupervised

    There are ways to improve upon your campaigns after they have launched. You do not have to stick to your original terms. You can make your ad target a specific region. This may cost more money immediately, but if changing your radius leads into more conversions, it will be well worth it. If you end up spending more money than you planned, make sure it was intentional. Do not simply let your funds drain away through ineffective marketing.

    There you have it! Make sure you implement the right strategy and pay close attention to the progress of your campaign. It takes a lot of work to run a successful PPC campaign, but if managed correctly, you might see a massive generation in revenue. If you are intrigued by the prospect of lead generation and higher conversion rates through PPC, contact DigitalParc and learn about our PPC advertising solutions. We have been selected as one of the Top PPC Management Agencies In Minnesota by DesignRush.

  • Sharing Publishers’ Direct URLs Is Now Easier With Updated AMP Display

    Sharing Publishers’ Direct URLs Is Now Easier With Updated AMP Display

    Google announced this week that mobile users will now have an easier time sharing URLs that lead to the original publishers’ sites. Presently, AMP content keeps users connected to Google instead of directing them towards publishers URLs. Regular content, however, links users to the original publication URL. As a result, mobile users try to share AMP content using a Google URL instead of the actual original source. Google now promises, however, that sharing publishers’ direct URLs is now easier with updated AMP display coming in early 2017. But what will the changes bring? (more…)

  • Moz Local Is Now Utilizing Yelp Listing Management For Data and Content

    Moz Local Is Now Utilizing Yelp Listing Management For Data and Content

    Moz just announced a new partnership with Yelp. Several new features have come from the deal, but the main one is that Moz Local is now utilizing Yelp Listing Management for data and content. Basically, businesses can claim and manage Yelp listings entirely from within Moz Local, which also provides verification. No more call-back phone calls for verification with Yelp! The new partnership makes all of that obsolete. So what other benefits have come with the new deal, and how can you benefit? (more…)

  • How Biased Habits Affect PPC Performance

    How Biased Habits Affect PPC Performance

    Management is a craft that is both universal, and unique. Managers must make decisions that protect their business and drive revenue. That said, one style of management is not necessarily better than any other. Unless, of course, the latter method simply doesn’t work. Regardless of how managers operate individually, experience teaches them how to make critical decisions that affect the long-term and day-to-day activities of their business. PPC management and online marketing is no exception. PPC and SEO managers work non-stop to keep their websites relevant and well ranked. That said, you’d be hard pressed to find a group of online marketing managers that do everything exactly the same. Like every other management position, they bring their own personal biases to the table. But can those biases have a negative impact when optimizing your website? Columnist Ben Middleton points out how biased habits affect PPC performance. (more…)

  • How Google’s New Possum Affects Local Search Results

    How Google’s New Possum Affects Local Search Results

    A recent Google algorithm update called “Possum” is having a big affect on local search engine results. Google has always awarded higher SERP listings to businesses within close proximity to a searcher’s location. Possum is now awarding ranking points to businesses, based not only on location, but on content as well. In other words, businesses can no longer dominate SERP listings based just on domain strength. Possum now places a greater impact on optimized data and relevant content. Let’s find out more about how Possum affects local search results and how you can stay ahead of the competition.

    How Possum Affects Local Search Results

    Old Search Results

    Before Possum, a resident searching for local hair salons was still likely to find brands like Aveda dominating the results. Although proximity was still a ranking factor, these businesses also ranked higher because of brand recognition and domain strength. Now, however, Google is taking steps to make it harder for brand names to dominate local search results. Unless a brand (like Great Clips in this case) has data and content so perfectly optimized that it outranks all other listings by a wide margin, Google now delegates more listings to other local sites based on location and the usual ranking parameters.

    Impact on Competition

    Possum also affects search results for businesses in similar industries that are clustered together in one area. For example, someone searching for ‘Chinese restaurants’ will have plenty of results show up in Chinatown. But what if you’re not located anywhere near Chinatown? Possum now filters results based on business locations and also on your own location. In other words, your (the searcher’s) physical location is now more important than it ever has been before when filtering local results.

    Getting Ahead

    Possum has made data and content optimization even more crucial than ever for local businesses. These are key assets you can use to make your brand awareness more prominent in local “near-me” searches. Make sure the information on your site, including your business information, is accurate. In addition, check that your business information is also correct on directory and other websites that list your company. You should also optimize text copy and images on your website for the best local results.

    ➤ ➤ Click here to learn about the search engine optimization services offered by DigitalParc

  • How ‘Sustainable Competitive Advantages’ Can Help Your Digital Marketing Campaigns

    How ‘Sustainable Competitive Advantages’ Can Help Your Digital Marketing Campaigns

    Many businesses shy away from investing in long-term marketing campaigns. It’s easy to understand why: they cost a lot and they take time to work. It maybe just that reason, however, that makes them a great investment for any business. SEO consultant Eric Enge explains in a recent article just how investing in long-term campaigns is an excellent strategy for gaining sustainable competitive advantages for your business.

    Sustainable Competitive Advantages in Digital Marketing

    What would your turnaround be if you focused your efforts on a strategy your competitors weren’t willing to invest in? A lot of companies all employ the same strategies when it comes to marketing. Therefore it can be difficult to gain a competitive edge over your competition. In addition to gaining a competitive edge, you must also maintain that edge, which is where we come to sustainable competitive advantages. The idea is to have an advantage over your competition that you can maintain without them catching up quickly. So how do you build sustainability?

    Become an Authority

    Try to create copy and content on your site that your competitors will want to reference, or link to. The more websites link to your own, the more visibility you achieve online. As you continue to gain visibility with referenced articles and links, your competitive edge will grow. If you stay on top of this, you can potentially expand your competitive gap from a matter of days or months to a matter of years instead.

    Superior Content

    You can gain superior content on your site by getting reviews from users on sites like Amazon, TripAdvisor, and other local and national directories. Investing in excellent content, however, has been a long standing component of SEO. Be careful, however, not to simply re-purpose your existing content. Look for original content like users providing feedback on how they use the product, or expert opinions from a relevant field. This will take a lot of time and effort, but it can be a great advantage if your competition doesn’t take the time to do the same.

    Social Media Presence

    Facebook is, at this point, pretty saturated with both local and nationwide businesses. Trying to develop dominance in your industry through Facebook is therefore very difficult. However, you can still take advantage of up-and-coming social platforms. Just like Instagram and Pinterest have gained major momentum in the last few years, new social media sites and apps are constantly in development. If you can get in with these sites early, you can gain a huge advantage over your competition.

    Build Your User Experience

    Many companies fail to invest enough effort in their user experience. Having a user-friendly site, however, can be a major factor in how gaining and keeping new users. Remember to optimize your site for simplicity, speed, and a positive mobile experience. Functional mobile sites are essential in today’s on-the-go world, so investing more time and energy into your mobile site is well worth the effort.

    Develop A Loyal Following with your Target Audience

    It’s extremely important that you build a lasting relationship with your target audience. Build a reputation for your company that resonates with your intended users. This will help you create what some might call your ‘brand’. Maintaining a positive relationship with your target audience with engaging and new content will help you maintain a strong following that will only continue to grow.

    ➤ Click here if you are in need of a Minneapolis SEO Consultant