Just a few days ago, I found an unbelievable steal on a 2014 Chrysler 300 for my parents. They had been looking for a newer sedan for quite some time now and they absolutely fell in love with the 300’s tough-looking stance and superior luxury. So when I saw that a sexy black 2014 model with 40,000 miles was just reduced to $19,000 in Charlotte, I convinced them to make the hour and a half drive north to claim it as their own.
We did end up buying the vehicle and it is an amazing sporty sedan, but at the same time it also set off a series of events that left me a little puzzled. For example-
The receptionist struggled to email me additional information that the company forgot to post online.
The “Internet Manager” at the dealership had no idea how to add details to the company’s online ads.
The General Manager believed that stock content from the auto manufacturers would rank better in the search engines.
This dealership’s website was not responsive…despite paying over $20k a month for “website optimization.”
The sales representative could not perform a basic Google search to find the vehicle’s factory warranty information.
The dealership printed out 20+ page binders on every used vehicle on the lot…which amounted to more reading material than the average small-town library has.
Now, this was a major dealership in Charlotte that sells 100+ new and used vehicles per month. And while most of their leads originate through their website, it was almost like they were fighting against technology every step of the way. It took every bit of patience I had to refrain from pulling the sales manager aside and asking for a straight commission job on the spot.
So let me get straight to the point.
If you have the mindset like the car dealership I just mentioned, you are literally going out of your way to ignore your customers. Because like it or not, they are searching the internet daily for things to buy and they are only going to wait on you to catch up to modern times for so long. Eventually they will discover a better solution and forget about you entirely- and it makes absolutely no difference how great your products or services are.
And just to be perfectly clear, I’m not just talking about optimizing your website- this is about technology in general. For example-
If you’re not answering emails and social media messages quickly, then you’re telling your customers that they are not important.
If your website does not answer a consumer’s most important questions, then you’re saying that you don’t care if they buy from you or not.
If you have not bothered to focus on your local presence online, then you’re saying that smartphone users should go shop somewhere else.
If your website does not offer a unique value proposition, then you’re telling the world that there is nothing special about you at all.
I could go on and on here…but hopefully you get my point. Your decision to not fully optimize your online presence and embrace technology says a whole lot more about your company than you realize, and your potential customers are definitely taking notice. So stop ignoring the people that you’re working so hard to find in the first place- it’s time to get your priorities straight and make your website stand out.
It’s no secret that search engine optimization has changed drastically over the years as Google continuously adapts to reward the most helpful websites with coveted first page rankings. And for the average small business owner or entrepreneur that’s on the outside looking in, it can seem like executing the perfect SEO strategy is nearly impossib
What if I told you, however, that everything you need to know about search optimization is summarized in the very first sentence on this page?
Go ahead and look again if you don’t believe me- I’ll sit here and wait while you do it.
The websites that go out of their way to help their customers the most are the ones that SHOULD rank at the tops of the search engines. That was the goal in 1991 and it’s still the goal today. The only thing that’s really changed is that Google and Bing have become much better at detecting unsavory tactics that allow websites to artificially rank, but the goal still remains exactly the same.
So as we work through this guide together, I want you to remember one universal truth that can guarantee your excellent search placement for the next fifty years- the site with the best content should always win.
That means that as long as you’re making serious efforts to bolster your customer’s online experience, you will remain in favor with the search engines and continuously see improved results. It really is that simple.
Since this is an official SEO Strategy Guide, however, then you’ll probably want a little more detail than that to work with. So let’s get down to some key points of interest for your search optimization strategy.
Core Content is Everything in SEO
Old-school search optimization depended largely on stuffing keywords, cranking out tremendous amounts of content and getting any form of backlinks to your website.
The Internet back then was like the Wild West; everything was available for the taking if you didn’t mind being called an outlaw. And that’s why quality was almost an afterthought over the past two decades, the search engines did not have a strong enough algorithm in place to properly identify what we now call spam.
I won’t lie to you- some of those tactics still perform well with the major search engines these days. You can still take a few shortcuts building backlinks and almost any form of traffic is still considered a positive signal, even if it comes from spammy sources that have no interest at all with your brand. These black hat methods are becoming harder and harder to execute properly though, and there’s one crucial thing you have to remember about being an outlaw-
Outlaws eventually end up dead or in jail. So stop trying to be an SEO outlaw, even if think you’re the quickest draw in the West.
DO create informative content to educate your customers
DO update your FAQ and core information pages
DO commit to a weekly blog about your industry
DO share your blogs on social channels to increase engagement
Do focus on a quality over quantity approach
Do update or remove poorly written pages
Do post content that leads to additional actions (read more, call, opt-in, etc.)
So when it comes to content for your website, don’t even think about taking shortcuts in 2016 and beyond. Everything you post should engage your audience and help them learn a little bit more about your brand. That means you should be getting down to the nitty-gritty and sharing precise details about anything and everything your customers have questions about, and it should be written in a way that just makes sense.
Take Mobile Seriously
Let’s talk about backlink building as a search optimization method for a moment…and I’ll start with an obligatory, “Ladies and gentlemen, please make sure your seat backs and tray tables are in their full upright position. We are about to experience some severe turbulence.”
Over the past few years, creating a solid backlink profile has become increasingly difficult. Let’s just look at what Google tells you not to do-
DO NOT guest post on websites with questionable ethics
DO NOT leave random comments with your link in it
DO NOT buy backlinks under any circumstance
DO NOT swap backlinks with other websites
DO NOT associate yourself with any spammy site
DO NOT use the same anchor text across most of your links
That’s where we reach the turbulence part of this journey, because chances are pretty darn good that you’ve violated some or all of those guidelines over the past few years. If that’s the case, then we strongly recommend that you disavow your less-than-reputable backlinks since your website is likely facing penalties because of it.
With that said, link building strategies have not changed much over the past year other than to avoid the ComLuv’s of the world that Google has clearly blacklisted. In fact, you should probably forget about any form of guest blogging where you’re permitted to insert a backlink straight to your website, unless it’s in an author bio. There are still tens of thousands of quality content sites to write for out there as well- just use a little more caution this time around.
Social media is still a powerful way to receive natural backlinks as well, and Google vastly prefers this approach since others are choosing to talk about you on their own sites. Other solid opportunities for gaining backlinks are creating highly-sharable content like infographics or case studies, utilizing directories within your niche, press releases and blogging about authorities within your industry.
One more word on backlinks before we move on. Remember that your profile does not need dozens of backlinks to every possible page in order to achieve solid overall rankings; this is the old-school formula for grey hat SEO and it is completely unnecessary. The search engines would rather see a handful of natural high authority links to your domain over thousands of weaker ones, so make sure your focus remains on quality partnerships.
Build Better Backlnks
Let’s talk about backlink building as a search optimization method for a moment…and I’ll start with an obligatory, “Ladies and gentlemen, please make sure your seat backs and tray tables are in their full upright position. We are about to experience some severe turbulence.”
Over the past few years, creating a solid backlink profile has become increasingly difficult. Let’s just look at what Google tells you not to do-
DO NOT guest post on websites with questionable ethics
DO NOT leave random comments with your link in it
DO NOT buy backlinks under any circumstance
DO NOT swap backlinks with other websites
DO NOT associate yourself with any spammy site
DO NOT use the same anchor text across most of your links
That’s where we reach the turbulence part of this journey, because chances are pretty darn good that you’ve violated some or all of those guidelines over the past few years. If that’s the case, then we strongly recommend that you disavow your less-than-reputable backlinks since your website is likely facing penalties because of it.
With that said, link building strategies have not changed much over the past year other than to avoid the ComLuv’s of the world that Google has clearly blacklisted. In fact, you should probably forget about any form of guest blogging where you’re permitted to insert a backlink straight to your website, unless it’s in an author bio. There are still tens of thousands of quality content sites to write for out there as well- just use a little more caution this time around.
Social media is still a powerful way to receive natural backlinks as well, and Google vastly prefers this approach since others are choosing to talk about you on their own sites. Other solid opportunities for gaining backlinks are creating highly-sharable content like infographics or case studies, utilizing directories within your niche, press releases and blogging about authorities within your industry.
One more word on backlinks before we move on. Remember that your profile does not need dozens of backlinks to every possible page in order to achieve solid overall rankings; this is the old-school formula for grey hat SEO and it is completely unnecessary. The search engines would rather see a handful of natural high authority links to your domain over thousands of weaker ones, so make sure your focus remains on quality partnerships.
Local Search is Massive
Here’s a statistic worth remembering- almost 80% of all mobile searches in the United States directly lead to a purchase. Since almost 73% of those purchases occur in local brick and mortar stores, local search optimization (AKA Google Maps) should definitely become one of the most important parts of your overall SEO strategy in 2017 and beyond.
How do you optimize for the local search engines?
Create/verify your listings with all the major search engines
Complete the certification process to show that it’s your business
Complete your profile 100% (photos, categories, descriptions, etc.)
List a local contact phone number in your profile
Repeat this process on major directories (Yellow Pages, Yelp, etc.)
Ask your best customers for honest reviews/ratings
Build backlinks from social and authority sites
Focus on your main website’s core engagement levels
Essentially, Google and Bing want to see you treat your local search profiles exactly like you would your own website, so remember that the little things really do matter in this instance. Also, make sure that each of your local search profiles uses 100% unique content for the spiders to crawl, but all of the other information should be exactly the same. In other words, do not list different addresses, phone numbers and other information that the search engines could see as a conflict, and avoid toll free numbers altogether since they signal that you’re probably not seeking local business clients.
Monetization & Lead Generation
Quick question- why are you worried about your website’s SEO in the first place? And before you answer, let me point you right back to the very first sentence on this page once again. Because the answer you’re looking for should not be, “So I can make lots of money.”
Honestly, Google could care less if you are making income through your website or not.
Their only worry is that your site’s content makes visitors happy, and it is a huge red flag for the search engine giant if they see just a few paragraphs of text and a dozen or more ads. Without even looking at anything else, they know right off the bat what your real intentions are.
DO use appealing calls to action in contact forms
DO ask users to visit your social sites
DO monetize your pages in natural, logical ways
DO offer freebies and giveaways to generate leads
DO NOT lose focus on making great content the top priority
Now, that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t use ad banners and email captures on your website; just don’t do it in a way that would make people question your motives. Remember, this is not so much about the amount of advertising, but about how much actual content there is to balance it out.
So don’t be that guy who posts 12 flashing ad banners per page- not even John Chow does that anymore…and you’re no John Chow. That is, unless you are actually John Chow and you just happen to be reading my blog. If that’s the case, then I guess this last section doesn’t fully apply to you.
But for everyone that’s not named John Chow, then you may want to reconsider limiting your ad-space and focusing on your actual visitors instead.
Back-End Optimizations
Even though you probably have a web developer that handles the heavy lifting when it comes to the back-end of your website, there are several minor issues that could cause you to lose appeal to the search engines.
I won’t dwell here though, just scan through this list of miscellaneous items that could be harming your search ranking-
Slow loading times/not enough bandwidth
Poor navigational structures
Missing pages that do not properly redirect
Broken inbound and outbound backlinks
Images not properly labeled
Missing H1 (main title) tags
Lack of meta keywords & descriptions
Plugin conflicts that affect functionality
Suspicious redirects (possibly by hackers)
So if you see any of these issues, contact your system administrator and tell him that he stinks at his job. Then call me to fix the issues and we can make fun of that other guy together!
Keyword Research
You may have heard some of the experts mention that keywords are officially dead, and to some degree they are absolutely correct.
You should no longer be focused on things like keyword density or packing in as many combinations of key-phrases as you can in any given page. This is no longer a valid tactic since the search engines have made it abundantly clear that they are more focused on your visitor’s engagement levels.
At the same time, keywords certainly do still matter, so let’s go straight to our bullet points-
DO mention on at least one primary keyword on each page
DO use keyword software to find popular phrases with low competition
DO hyperlink your targeted keyword to other parts of your website
DO hyperlink your targeted keyword to authority sites within your niche
DO include your targeted keyword in the title, meta title, and description
DO NOT repeat keywords just for ranking purposes
DO NOT ever use a keyword unless it fits naturally within the text
DO NOT forget that quality and engagement are the most important factors
To prove that, let’s do a little experiment and talk about our famous SEO Keyword Spatula, which is something that I just completely made up for testing purposes. It does sound like a pretty cool product name though and since I bolded it, the search spiders will likely see it as being important. Notice that we’re not actually keyword stuffing though, since the phrase is only being used twice total.
If you take peek in AdWords, the phrase “SEO keyword spatula” has zero natural competition (as expected) but it is also somewhat related to almost 600,000 similar monthly searches containing both “SEO” and “keyword” within the phrase. And if our little experiment here works, then I should have the #1 ranking not only for the worthless phrase I just made up, but also have the opportunity for getting noticed in dozens of similar search terms that people are actively searching for.
Does that make sense? It’s sort of a backdoor ninja approach to capturing the easy stuff and possibly getting noticed in the ultra-competitive niches as well.
You should be doing the exact same thing with all of those long-tail keywords within your niche that others are not actively targeting. And the long-term benefits of consistently searching for and using new long-tail keyphrases within your website copy can pay serious cumulative rewards.
Video Marketing is Huge
Many people are on the fence about video marketing since Google cannot actively see the content contained within your embedded multimedia players. Hopefully by now you’re not going to make me refer you back to the very first sentence again though; modern SEO is not about what Google sees.
It is about how your visitors react to the core content on your domain. And if a video captures their attention while they’re visiting you, then Google doesn’t have to understand what they’re watching. It helps you anyway.
DO use videos to explain core products and services
DO share videos on social sites
DO share other videos on your site that resonate with viewers
DO keep the majority of your videos under two minutes
DO focus on lighting and sound quality
DO NOT hesitate to shoot simple, first person videos with a smartphone
Here is another incredibly important piece of the puzzle for video though– the most influential video hosting website on the planet is owned by Google. So not only does video marketing get the benefit of its very own search stream for consumers, but Google also prioritizes YouTube videos within both the natural and the video types of searches as well. So you literally get three streams of exposure by posting one video on YouTube and embedding it into your website…and your customers will love you for it.
What does a homeless young Korean man in a singing competition have to do with SEO and video marketing? It’s almost impossible not to be moved by his amazing journey…and that is engagement at its very finest. However, if your videos happen to answer the specific questions that your website’s visitors are contemplating, then it is an extremely powerful sales technique as well.
So while video marketing is not a core SEO factor all by itself, the engagement that it creates certainly matters.
Boosting On-Page Metrics
Throughout this guide so far, we’ve talked about the term “engagement” in almost every single section. It is certainly one of those buzzwords that are tossed around frequently by experts, but it hardly ever seems to get properly defined either. So let’s define it now by search engine standards.
Customer engagement refers to any positive action that is taken by a user on a website.
Any when I say “any positive action”, that’s exactly what I mean. Think about this for a moment- the average smartphone user visits a website and qualifies it in the mind in a mere three seconds. So if you manage to tick over to that four second mark, it’s a positive.
Not a good one, mind you, but still a plus in your favor nonetheless.
And your entire job as a website owner is to create more and more of those positive experiences so the search engines know that people are finding good stuff there. This can include any combination of the following-
Visiting multiple pages
Clicking on a backlink
Filling out a contact form
Leaving a comment
Sharing on social media
Watching a video
Downloading a file/app
Users revisiting to your website
Opting in for email alerts
Giving likes, +1’s or other nods
If you look in your Google Analytics account, the search giant has been tracking these types of metrics for years now, so it only makes sense that you should keep up with these key metrics as well. Every chance you get to create additional engagement helps your website overall, so know that your on-page metrics are as important as ever in the eyes of the search engines.
If you’re wondering how to boost your on-page statistics, just try to make each page as pleasant of an experience as possible for your visitors. Here are just a few techniques to do that-
DO focus on using only top notch writers
DO keep your navigation simple
DO add lots of visual elements to your website
DO incorporate video, charts, and infographs
DO use bullet points and subtitles to break up text
DO use bold and italics to make key points stand out
DO link internally so users have easy access to more content
Focusing on the Consumer
If you haven’t realized it by now, search engine optimization is all about the consumer. The more you go out of your way to provide great information and make your visitors happy, the more Yahoo, Google and Bing will reward you with a boost in natural rankings. And even though some of the things I’ve shared so far may seem super technical and difficult to implement, I’ll tell you one more time to read the first sentence of this article- that’s close to 85% of today’s SEO right there.
As long as you’re putting forth a genuine effort to become more helpful online than all of your competition, then you will eventually outrank them…even if it’s purely by dumb luck.
So let’s recap real fast with the highlights-
Write great content.
Optimize for mobile users.
Focus on quality backlinks.
Use local to your advantage.
Don’t be that guy with too many ads.
Make sure your website loads smoothly.
Continue to focus on keywords.
Post a few videos on your site.
Use smart page layouts to increase engagement.
Always focus on pleasing your consumers.
That’s not so hard, is it?
If you have any questions about modern search optimization or want to point out a tip or two that I missed, please feel free to reach out through my contact form or leave a comment below. I’m here to help.
In case you haven’t heard the news yet, Google has recently announced on its Webmaster blog that it is going to start rewarding websites that are designed with HTML5 and responsive layouts to better serve the growing smartphone communities across the globe. Experts are predicting that this will have a serious impact on existing businesses that have not updated to the latest responsive technology and their sites are expected to take huge penalties within the search rankings.
So what does the Google Update mean for local Upstate businesses in Spartanburg and Greenville? Really, it all depends on how you’re currently using your website and where its traffic comes from. If most of its visitors are existing clients that you’ve directed there on your business cards and flyers, then you can probably continue with your website as-is over the near future…as long as you realize that your natural search engine rankings will likely drop quickly.
For newer Upstate businesses, this announcement also serves as a golden opportunity to seize a large portion of market share from others not taking action. Off the top of my head, businesses like local insurance firms, used car dealerships and entertainment venues are going to get hit the hardest since they rely on that natural traffic to generate new leads. Those who act quickly will likely see their search rankings sour in popularity on the 21st since the competition will essentially become invisible and not indexed for smartphones at all.
What Do I Need to Do?
Honestly, that’s a tough question to answer without seeing your existing website firsthand. In most cases, your site can be converted to a responsive website and keep the exact same layout, appearance and feel. Others may be more interested in launching a simple mobile site, which means that your business will have one destination for desktop users and another one for mobile devices. Since Google can distinguish between the two types, it’s okay to have both at once.
The best move, however, is to take full advantage of this opportunity and have a completely new website designed from scratch with a sleek new look, faster loading times and 100% optimized content to guarantee you the best possible chances of being found. We will be more than happy to discuss how to proceed with you though; simply reach out to us and we will have a look.
When Do I Need to Act?
Google has announced that the latest algorithm update will be taken live on April 21st, 2015. And almost immediately, the search engines will begin to shift by showing favoritism towards responsive websites. While the ranking adjustments normally take a few days to normalize, the effects will be felt within the first few hours.
So my advice is for you to take action now…right away…and contact us to see how we can get your site responsive ready before April 21st. We ask customers to reach out via email so we can do a full analysis on your website before considering any type of commitment, because we went to prove to you now and in the future that nobody knows search optimization in Spartanburg like Web Synergy.
If you have any questions then please reach out to us immediately. Time really is of the essence here and we’d hate to see you heavily penalized for not acting fast enough.
Just the other day, I was called to a local used car dealership to help them understand why their site wasn’t receiving nearly as much natural traffic as it did a few years ago. And before I even arrived there, the problem was evident…the website was being completely neglected.
Now, don’t think I’m speaking poorly of this client because it really wasn’t his fault. He did what most Upstate businesses do when it comes to maintaining their websites- absolutely nothing. He simply assumed that everything would run on autopilot and customers would continue to show up at his doorstep. Only that’s not how it works.
For example, let’s talk about web design in Spartanburg. For as long as I can remember, a company called Upstate Web help the top ranking because the owner was actively updating his site, guiding customers there and making his domain more visible. Just a few years ago, however, that business closed due to the owner’s health and his website has been in a steady free fall in popularity ever since.
Websites are Just Like Businesses
Why?
Because Google and the other search engines look at your website exactly that same way that you and I look at brick and mortar businesses. If we see a store with lots of people coming and going, for example, then we assume that they must have great prices or awesome service. When we see an empty parking lot in front of a business, however, then we assume that times are not good for that company.
To make your website more popular, it is 100% essential to-
Add new content frequently
Providing great information about your business
Have a steady stream of new and returning visitors
Create reasons for other websites to talk about you
Have visitors leaving comments and clicking on links
Offering a good blend of writing, photos and videos
And if you think about it, you ask your employees to do the exact same kinds of things inside your business. They learn about your products, explain things to customers and happily show people around if they need help. If you’re reputable, then other businesses are likely sending you foot traffic as well…and the search engines work exactly the same way.
How to Boost Your Web Traffic
If you want a natural boost in the search engines, then the easiest way to accomplish that goal is to update your website. Anything from blogs to product pages to a good old FAQ will help potential customers better understand how you conduct business, and it also signals to the search engines that you’re serious about achieving success online.
So every time you post something new that consumers seem to enjoy, it gives a little boost in the rankings for the topic that is discussed. Over time, this has a big cumulative effect that launches you straight to the top of the search engines. And once ideal customers begin to find you and appreciate your efforts, it separates you from the competition and everything changes.
If you need help making your web content stand out or you’d simply like an explanation about why you’re not receiving as much web traffic as in the past, please feel free to contact me for a site evaluation. In the meantime, just start thinking about what kinds of content that your customers would appreciate knowing before they contact you in person…and that will grant you a big head-start towards fixing the problem.
Have you ever pulled up a website from your tablet or smartphone and growled in frustration when you couldn’t seem to click on those teeny, tiny buttons? Or how about those domains that would look great on a 27 inch PC monitor, but on your digital device it’s just a sea of never-ending background color. Yeah, those sites suck for us living in the 21st century.
That’s where responsive website design comes into play. It is the new standard of HTML (known as HTML5) that allows web developers to develop platforms for a number of different devices simultaneously within the same code. In English, that means that no matter what size your viewing screen is, the layout is optimized for you to interact with the website.
How does Responsive Web Design Work
So how does it work? Without getting too technical, HTML5 checks the device that it’s being displayed on before generating an image, and then it scales the content down for the best possible resolution. As you can see in the example provided above, the actual content areas will shrink, stretch or appear in a completely different area in order to present the best possible layout on any device, which benefits you, the end-user, and anyone else who may access this webpage.
When is Responsive Design a Bad Idea?
Then again, there’s no sense in changing something that isn’t broken in the first place. So whenever a potential customer asks about the drawbacks of responsive website design, we tell them that if their site is already converting well, then they should leave it alone. Responsive design is slower than a traditional web layout, and it can become significantly slower on a busy domain like eBay or any big company with lots of users. In these situations, it would probably be better to have a mobile website designed instead, which is a stripped-down version of your regular site that’s optimized for smartphones.
Do Businesses Need a Responsive Website?
As we mentioned earlier, that can sometimes be a tough question to answer. For big business, a mobile site is almost always a better answer, although responsive layouts are probably better for lead generation sites with mostly static pages. In any case, businesses need to market where their customers are and almost 90% of the US population is now accessing the web from a smartphone at least six times per day.
Think about it this way. If a consumer performs a web search from their smartphone for something like, “BBQ in Greenville” or “Web Design Spartanburg, SC”, they are not looking for general information. These are people that are 70-80% of the way through making a purchase decision and they are using the Internet to make a commitment. If your main competitor’s website is responsive (or mobile) and yours is not, then there’s a good chance that we all know where that shopper is going to end up.
At Upstate Synergy, we build beautiful responsive websites for Spartanburg businesses because it is a great way to keep our local area consumers happy. For more information on having a responsive website built or to learn how to vault to the top of Google, please feel free to contact us at your earliest convenience. While few things in life are ever free, we are always happy to educate our potential clients in how they can generate more revenue.
Far too often, Upstate business owners place far too much emphasis on website design instead of what the site actually does for them. Because just like every other aspect of your company, a website is a powerful tool that can either drive in new business or drive it away. Don’t get us wrong, a good looking website is very important to impress new customers, but ultimately they care far more about its functionality and the available information. Here are a few more tips to keep in mind-
Fast Loading Times
Three seconds. That’s how long you have to grab the average consumer’s attention from the very instant that they click on your link. If your website is hosted on a slow server that takes a few seconds to load, then you’d better have the Holy Grail of homepages to convince them to stay. Google, the king of all search engines, recognizes this trend as well and they reward websites that load quickly. Optimizing a website for all of today’s digital devices is a win/win scenario.
Complete Search Optimization
If you think SEO stands for “Southeastern Oregon” or anything other than “Search Engine Optimization”, then your website is probably in trouble. From proper page formatting to building backlinks to adhering to the dozens of other requests made by Google and Bing, this is the only way for new customers to find you online without paid results. For now, we’ll spare you the technical details, but know that these are steps that have to be taken if you have a realistic expectation of a good return on your investment.
Lots of Fresh Content
Since recent studies have shown that upwards of 82% of all Americans price-check from their smartphones before visiting a retail store, having a search optimized website is absolutely crucial for your success. While we won’t go too much into technical detail, every successful website has to have a steady stream of content talking about their business to achieve proper search results. In fact, even sponsored campaigns are now taking your site’s optimization levels into consideration, so there is simply no substitute for frequent updates.
Other Reasons to Get Involved
Then again, a successful website has a lot more than just words on a page- it gives consumers a reason to stick around and/or visit more often. That’s why so many sites these days have social media contests, news clips, games and hundreds of other unique features…they want you to stick around. Not only does it help their site optimization efforts, but it also creates a company sub-culture that your customers become a part of.
