Improve Your Local SEO via Content Marketing

Published on: 11 April 2017 Last Updated on: 04 September 2024
SEO

In 2016, a local business in Lethbridge, Alberta, won the viral lottery when a raving Facebook post drew in customers in flocks. Whitby’s Fish and Chips shop was struggling for months due to poor location and expensive marketing.

Owner John McMillan, who had been unable to pay himself a salary, shared his plight with a first-time customer Colin Ross. The meeting changed Whitbie’s destiny. Ross posted a Facebook review promoting the shop and urging the close-knit Canadian community to help out McMillan by trying the sumptuous items on Whitbie’s menu.

The post went viral and sent people lining up from opening to well past closing time. According to a local news report, about 400 people visited the shop the day after Ross’s post, and 500 more lined up the next day.

The power of digital marketing

Digital Marketing

The viral post about Whitbie’s is a dream come true for any business. Not only did it provide the local shop exposure in local and international news outlets, but most importantly, it brought in real customers. Whitbie’s social media success is one of the products of digital marketing.

Digital marketing is simply the promotion of products and services via digital technologies such as the Internet, mobile phones, and display advertising. One of the most popular digital marketing tools is social media where roughly a third of the global population actively interact.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a set of techniques that helps businesses and publishers maximize digital marketing in reaching out to their target audience. Essentially, its main goal is to rank high in search results pages.

Google uses 200 signals in ranking webpages including keywords, the freshness of content, and region. It’s the job of a digital marketing agency to apply effective and ethical SEO strategies to sustain a business’ top ranking in major search engines.

Local SEO and citation consistency

If SEO is macro, local SEO is micro. Local SEO “allows local businesses to promote their services to local customers at exactly the time they’re looking for your type of business.” This set of processes aims to target real customers in a geographical location. Aside from search engines, local SEO uses online directories such as Yelp, Qype, and TouchLocal.

Local SEO

The core of local SEO is information. Your citation or NAP (name, address and phone number) must be updated and consistent in all webpages and online directories. Inconsistency can adversely affect your ranking in organic search results.

Try searching for your business in search engines. You’ll see which webpages still reflect your previous address or old phones. “The citation consistency of your business across the web helps search engines decide where you are geographically relevant for various local search queries,” wrote Sinclaire Dickinson, content strategist at Wired SEO.

Read also: Methods Of Optimizing Local SEO That Is Essential For Small Business

The 3-pack challenge

Recently, SEO experts received news that would make their jobs a little more challenging. Google updated its search results to show three local businesses instead of seven. The business listings were also redesigned to suit the mobile user interface.

According to Google, the update “provides people with more than relevant information, including photos, review, and prices, for searches that have multiple results for a given location.” The challenge lies in how to make into the first three results in the world’s most powerful search engine.

Read also: Avoid These 5 Mistakes Before Starting An SEO

Content strategies for your business

Content marketing

Google’s ranking factors serve as a compass leading the best digital marketing tactics. Ross’ viral Facebook on Whitbie’s Fish and Chips shop has the formula every digital marketer aims to master: a unique content too appealing to influence action.

Ross’ own reputation as an influencer within his own circle was also key. Content is one of the most important signals Google use in ranking webpages. In creating an article or video for your business, use Google’s content-related ranking signals as your guide.

Your content must not only be original, but it should also provide value and unique insights. This increases demand for journalistic materials supported by data and written by experts. Create useful content for your target audience.

Food brands are making 30-second cooking videos sharing how their products can be incorporated in easy-to-make meals. Regularly update your webpages and social media pages as Google takes note of the recency of content updates especially for time-sensitive searches.

Read also: Social Media Marketing Role In Technology

Don’ts in content marketing

Do you need to hire an SEO expert or a digital marketing agency? Google warns that choosing an SEO expert partner is critical for your business as it can either improve your site or risk damage to your site and reputation. “Make sure to research the potential advantages as well as the damage that an irresponsible SEO can do to your site.”

Some of the techniques that you or your SEO expert should avoid is producing duplicate materials on the same site, spinning words to create “new” content, and posting misleading information. Google advises to watch out for rogue SEOs that own shadow domains, place links to their other clients on doorway pages, and offer to sell keywords in the address bar.

Shadow domains direct users to the website through deceptive redirects. Attaining a number 1 ranking on Google is not guaranteed. If your SEO promises a top spot, it’s likely that it’s a scam.

Some content marketing tips from experts

Today, consumers would check online reviews, blogs, and other online information before making a purchase. One tip to boost your local SEO is to submit guest posts on local websites. This will expose your business and offerings, and earn you valuable backlinks. Backlinks are ranking factors.

You should also make use of relevant local keywords. An SEO expert can help you determine the right keywords that will attract local searchers.

Produce content relevant to your local audience. One of the most popular blog posts is how-to’s or “Top 10” lists related to a certain industry. Adding high-quality photos can also help.

A viral post can only come once in a lifetime. Instead of aspiring for something that will be shared everywhere, work for content that will place you on top of search engines and attract real customers within your region of operation. Maximize local SEO. Create useful and appealing content. Reach out to people who will bring value to your business.

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

View all posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related

Essential Ecommerce SEO Techniques to Drive Traffic and Increase Sales

Essential Ecommerce SEO Techniques to Drive Traffic and Increase Sales

Modern firms work differently due to e-commerce. SEO has several benefits, whether you run a little online business or a vast market. Keyword research matters. Today, with fierce competition and high customer expectations, SEO is crucial to success. E-commerce companies must increase search engine rankings to attract targeted visitors and turn them into loyal consumers. One must understand advanced e-commerce platform-specific optimization methods to reach these goals. This article covers the most crucial SEO tactics for internet businesses. Online success requires content development and product page optimization. Whatever your SEO for e-commerce websites experience, SEO helps you succeed long-term. Optimize Product Pages with Rich, Detailed Descriptions The SEO for e-commerce websites recommends improving product pages first. These pages are the most essential parts of any e-commerce website since they connect customers with the site. Search engines will be able to rank your sites without customer-friendly product data. However, more than providing a product's name and price is required. Creating captivating, comprehensive product descriptions with all the necessary information and the most important keywords is vital. Consider the search terms people might use to find your items and include them in the description. Remember to add high-quality videos, photos, and alternate language to help shoppers locate your items in search results. Provide extra information on your product page to boost search engine credibility. This will increase its chances of rising. It would help to consider the person's feelings while using phrases. Break up your lengthy statements into parts about the product's features, benefits, and uses to make them easier to read. Buyers who are just exploring your website should be able to quickly get the answers they need to understand how significant your product is. Increase product page exposure in search engines and the possibility that clients will buy owing to your successful improvements. Implement Effective Keyword Research Any search engine optimization approach must include keyword research, whether for a new SEO Service for Startups or an existing e-commerce firm. Keyword analysis shows your potential buyers' search keywords for similar products. Knowing this helps you create content, build pages that satisfy user goals, and attract qualified website visitors. Companies need to go beyond popular search keywords. In competitive e-commerce, long-tail or speciality keywords may help rank better. Specific keywords to your product or service have greater response rates. Overrunning shoes, go best running shoes for marathon training and lightweight running shoes for women. Try searching for running shoes. These parameters will attract serious customers who are ready to buy. Track phrase success throughout time using Google Keyword Planner, Ahrefs, and SEMrush as well. Watch your keyword approach and get better to rank highly on search engines and keep ahead of the competitors. Improve Site Speed and Mobile Optimization Slow-loading websites hurt SEO and user experience. Google recommends websites load in under three seconds to reduce site abandonment and sales loss. Online commerce websites need it most. Use Google PageSpeed Insights or GTmetrix to test and optimize your website's speed. These tools show you how to use browser caching, compress pictures, and minify CSS and JavaScript. Particularly for global customers, speed up server replies with a CDN. Faster load speeds and improved user experiences will be seen by consumers in many different locations. As part of mobile SEO, your e-commerce website needs to be excellent on mobile devices. Results of search engine optimization depend on mobile optimization as Google ranks mobile devices first. To ensure your website runs as it should, experts advise testing it on different devices and screen sizes. Mobile shopping is becoming more and more common; hence, having a mobile-optimized website helps with SEO and generates more income by simplifying and convenience of purchase. Leverage User-Generated Content E-commerce sites with UGC sometimes disregard a good SEO strategy. Feedback, ratings, and testimonials can help shoppers choose your store. UGC helps search engines evaluate your website and boost its credibility. Customer reviews generally include product-related keywords, which can boost SEO. Emails follow-ups or discounts on next purchases might inspire comments. To improve UGC, put consumer photographs or social network feeds on product sites. You could also find consumer photos. Visitors will get some practical skills in using your goods. Always reply to reviews, favourable or bad. Talking to clients shows you care about their experience. This may help you build stronger relationships and get more comments. Positive customer feedback boosts SEO and revenue, making it vital for online businesses. Optimize Your Ecommerce Site Architecture Your subcategories and product lines should reflect the customer look. This approach makes search engines and users easily navigate your website. Users with breadcrumb navigation may see their path across your website. This improves user experience and SEO by means of the better arrangement of the website. Check your URLs for clarity, simplicity, and cleanliness. Divide words with hyphens rather than long runs of numbers or other characters. Connect the relevant blog entries, items, and groups from your website. This will enable search engines to accurately scan more pages and let consumers surf your website more completely. Focus on High-Quality Content Marketing  Content marketing fuels SEO for e-commerce websites. Good, helpful material may improve search engine results, website traffic, and brand power. Blogs, manuals, and educational resources are equally vital for long-tail keyword ranking and e-commerce site leadership as product pages. Write excellent blog entries before you begin selling. Reducing trash, green living and do-it-yourself projects with green materials are all worthwhile topics. People may pick what to buy with the use of case studies, buyer's guides, and how-to videos. Because it increases revenues and attracts targeted visitors, SEO is beneficial. Remember to consider photographs' influence. Infographics, movies, and interactive components will keep people on your website longer, which tells search engines that your content is important. You may boost your results by encouraging more people to share and link to your content. Conclusion These key SEO strategies will increase free website traffic, customer satisfaction, and income. Make sure that user and search engine needs are met on product pages, keyword research, website speed, and user-generated content. SEO is a continuous process requiring constant monitoring and improvement. Webomaze’s SEO Service for Startups might offer knowledge and tools enabling newly founded companies to use these ideas. These recommended practices might improve search engine results and give consumers a better purchasing experience that leads to return-oriented behaviour. These strategies increase the traffic and sales of online retail stores. Read More: How To Get More Traffic For Your Small Business With Affordable SEO? Why Should You Consider Hiring An SEO Audit Service For Your Website?

READ MOREDetails
Search Engine Optimization

Utilizing Search Engine Optimization (SEO) for Boosting Web Traffic

In the vast, intricate web of digital connectivity, a robust tool stands tall, lighting the path to your online business like a towering lighthouse: Search Engine Optimization (SEO). SEO is a potent arsenal of strategies, meticulously designed to heighten your website's visibility on the crowded stage of search engine results. The link between SEO and an uptick in web traffic is not only evident but also compelling, making SEO an indispensable player in your digital marketing strategy. This article's mission is to navigate you through the intricacies of leveraging SEO for a tangible increase in web traffic. Grasping the Fundamentals of SEO SEO is all about ornamenting your website with certain features that make it more 'attractive' and 'approachable' to the eyes of search engines. Giants like Google deploy complex algorithms to scan, index, and assign ranks to web pages. Factors such as keywords, meta tags, and backlinks significantly sway these rankings. SEO is often viewed through the lens of two categories - on-page and off-page SEO, each with its unique set of tactics and benefits. The Critical Role of Keyword Research Forging a triumphant SEO strategy is deeply rooted in the bedrock of effective keyword research. Keywords serve as the compass guiding users through the vast ocean of information when they input these phrases into search engines. By intricately weaving these keywords into your content tapestry, your site becomes more relevant and stands a greater chance of clinching a higher position in search results. Tools like the Google Keyword Planner and a reliable traffic checker tool are your loyal allies in this quest, providing invaluable assistance in the identification of keywords that resonate with your specific business domain. Moreover, long-tail keywords, which are lengthier and more targeted phrases, can be your secret weapon in attracting a more precisely targeted audience, a strategy further complemented by insights from the traffic checker tool like pr-cy.io checker. The Reign of High-Quality Content In the kingdom of SEO, content is, without a doubt, the reigning monarch. Exceptional, unique, and valuable content serves as a magnet for your audience and is favored by search engines. A well-crafted piece of content, smartly festooned with keywords, headings, and images, can skyrocket your SEO efforts. Regularly refreshing your content and dishing out new blog posts can secure audience engagement, fostering a sense of loyalty and leading to increased repeat visits. Mastery of On-Page SEO Techniques On-page SEO involves a series of tweaks and adjustments on your website to enhance its appeal to search engine algorithms. Elements such as meta tags, URL structure, and internal linking have starring roles. In this fast-paced mobile age, ensuring your website is mobile-friendly and speedy to load is non-negotiable. Moreover, optimizing multimedia elements like images is crucial to prevent them from becoming speed bumps that slow down your site and hamper the user experience. Implementing Off-Page SEO Techniques Off-page SEO takes the game beyond the confines of your website, incorporating actions that can influence your site's ranking. Backlinks, or external links from other websites to yours, are a significant driver of your site's perceived authority and ranking. Social media might not directly influence your SEO, but it can propel your website's exposure, potentially leading to a surge in traffic and backlinks. Other off-page SEO strategies, like guest blogging and influencer marketing, can enhance your website's visibility, bolstering your reputation and SEO efforts. The Intersection of User Experience (UX) and SEO UX has now earned a spot in Google's ranking algorithm. Aspects such as seamless navigation, swift load speed, and mobile optimization can significantly level up UX. By delivering a first-class UX, you can elevate your SEO standing and enhance the chances of users spending more time exploring our site, thereby boosting traffic. Harnessing the Power of Analytics in SEO SEO isn't a one-and-done deal; it's akin to a living organism that needs constant monitoring and fine-tuning. Leveraging analytical tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console is crucial to glean insights into your site's performance and gauge the effectiveness of your SEO tactics. These tools provide data-driven insights that can steer you toward optimizing your SEO strategies for peak performance. Keeping Pace with the Evolving SEO Trends The SEO landscape is as dynamic as the digital world it inhabits. Staying in step with the latest SEO trends, such as the rising tide of voice search and the shift towards mobile-first indexing, is essential to safeguard your website's visibility and ranking. Regularly tuning into reputable SEO blogs, participating in webinars, and attending workshops can help you stay ahead of the curve. The Grand Finale As the curtain falls, it's clear that SEO is a formidable weapon in the arsenal of any digital marketer seeking to drive growth in website traffic. From in-depth keyword research to crafting high-quality, optimized content, from the astute application of on-page and off-page SEO techniques to enhancing user experience, every step in this guide contributes to the overarching goal of bolstering your website's visibility. Monitoring your site's performance via analytics tools and staying updated with the latest SEO trends is equally vital. Remember, SEO isn't a magic wand that delivers instant results. It's more of a marathon than a sprint, demanding consistent efforts and patience. By diligently implementing these strategies, you'll not only elevate your website's visibility in search engine rankings but also witness a surge in web traffic, leading to an amplified online presence and business growth. Additional: How To Get A Trusted SEO Company In 2023? Why Is An SEO Services Company Better Than Others? How To Get More Traffic For Your Small Business With Affordable SEO

READ MOREDetails
Seo Auditing

5 Services Including Seo Auditing That You Should Know!

Running an SEO audit is essential, and it will flag any issue which your website has. Low speed and security issues are the two main types of issues you can face. An SEO Auditing service is an in-depth evaluation, and one can analyze the strengths and weaknesses of any website from a technical and a marketing perspective. SEO auditing is the first step toward creating an implementation plan that will have measurable and long-lasting results. Following are the five services, including the SEO Auditing service, that you should know- 1. Technical SEO auditing service. The technical SEO auditing service is the one that helps optimize each webpage of your site for performing better in the organic search. Your site is a blueprint of your services and a complex web page network. Thus, the webpages should follow Google guidelines to help you improve the overall performance in the search. An SEO audit uses tools such as Google Search Console to find notifications, updates, and errors on your on-page SEO. 2. Keyword research services. The process in which the user researches popular search terms people type into search engines is called keyword research. A keyword is a shorter set of words that SEO incorporates into your site to lure visitors. Targeting the right kind of keywords is very important. When you target the right keywords, it improves on-page optimization and also ensures that your content is aligned with the goals you have set for SEO. The keyword research services will highlight the company, competitors, and target audience.  3. On-page SEO services. On-page SEO is a thorough process of optimizing the website pages to improve ranking and user experience. The on-page SEO focuses on the website features you can control. One should always stay updated with all the latest and best practices for maximizing your visibility in search. It is very crucial to identify and correct the on-page factors as they will have a very significant and positive impact on your rankings. 4. Penalty recovery services. When your website does not follow the search engine guidelines, website penalties do tend to occur. Penalty recovery services are a very important aspect of SEO Auditing services. Penalties happen for two main reasons- flagging your site in the process and because the search engine updated its algorithm. The backlink auditing services have the authority to determine the root cause of the penalty and find a remedy to get your website back on track. The links prove to be a very significant ranking factor, and when you receive a penalty, it can lead to a sudden and drastic drop in the organic search rankings. The SEO auditing service team will identify the low-quality links which come to your site. 5. Traffic loss assessment and recovery services. When you encounter any kind of penalty, algorithm update, or technical issue, the SEO auditing service team will get to the main cause of the issue, and thus, you will win back the traffic you deserve; the service team checks the usability of the site and also sends a report based on the findings. Read Also: The Best WordPress Plugins For Marketers Why Is An SEO Services Company Better Than Others? Utilizing Search Engine Optimization (SEO) for Boosting Web Traffic

READ MOREDetails