What Is Search Engine Optimization?

Solutions by Design

A well-structured Search Engine Optimization program serves as the compass guiding businesses through the vastness of the internet, ensuring visibility, credibility, and sustained digital success.

At the core of a compelling SEO program is the ability to boost visibility. When potential customers search for products or services relevant to your business, a robust SEO strategy ensures that your website appears prominently in search engine results. The coveted top positions on search engine results pages become the gateway to attracting organic traffic. A well-optimized website is more likely to capture the attention of users actively seeking information, products, or services related to your industry.

A strong SEO program empowers businesses to outshine competitors in search rankings, ensuring that your brand is front and center when users initiate relevant searches. Being visible establishes your brand as an industry authority and contributes to building a credible online presence.

While attracting a large volume of traffic is a goal, a good SEO program emphasizes the importance of driving targeted traffic. The strategy is designed to connect with users actively searching for the products or services you offer. By optimizing for relevant keywords and understanding user intent, your website becomes a destination for those genuinely interested in what your business provides. Quality traffic increases the likelihood of conversion, turning website visitors into customers or clients.

However, SEO isn't solely about pleasing search engines; it's about creating an optimal experience for users. A website that is well-optimized for search engines tends to be more user-friendly. Faster load times, clear navigation, and relevant content contribute to an enhanced user experience. User satisfaction is not only a ranking factor for search engines but also a critical component in building trust and encouraging repeat visits.

Higher search rankings signal credibility. Users often trust websites that appear at the top of search results, considering them more reliable and authoritative. A good SEO program contributes to the establishment of trust and credibility among your audience.

From boosting visibility and staying ahead of the competition to driving targeted traffic and enhancing user experience, each aspect of SEO contributes to the holistic growth of a business in the online realm. A robust SEO program is an indispensable tool for thriving in the competitive world of online visibility.

If your website is in need of a well-structured Search Engine Optimization Program, give Solutions by Design a call today. Our services are focused on best establishing your website structure and content so that you can meet your customers online at the right time, the right place, and in the right context. With several packages to choose from, we can ensure you’ll find a package that meets your specific needs within your specific budget.

 

Unleash the Power of Search Engine Optimization

Solutions by Design

In today's digital landscape, having a strong online presence is crucial for the success of any business. With millions of websites vying for attention, search engine optimization (SEO) has emerged as a pivotal tool to enhance visibility and increase organic traffic. By implementing effective SEO strategies, businesses can rise above the noise and establish a competitive edge.

One of the primary goals of SEO is to improve your website's visibility on search engine result pages, like Google. When users search for keywords or phrases related to your business, you want your website to appear prominently. By optimizing your website's content, structure, and technical elements, you increase its chances of ranking higher in search engine results.

Higher rankings mean more visibility, and more visibility leads to increased organic traffic. Organic traffic refers to the visitors who land on your website through unpaid, natural search results. These users are actively searching for products, services, or information relevant to your business, making them highly valuable prospects. By leveraging Solutions by Design’s SEO techniques, you can attract a steady stream of targeted organic traffic, effectively reaching your desired audience and increasing the likelihood of converting them into customers.

When your website appears at the top of search engine results, it instills a sense of authority and trustworthiness in the eyes of users. Most people perceive top-ranking websites as reliable and reputable sources of information or solutions to their needs. By optimizing your website's content with high-quality and relevant information, search engines recognize your website as an authoritative source within your industry. Additionally, by implementing user-friendly navigation, mobile responsiveness, and fast page load times, you enhance the overall user experience, further reinforcing your credibility and trustworthiness.

A seamless and positive user experience is paramount for any business website. Our SEO techniques help optimize various elements that contribute to a great user experience, including website speed, mobile responsiveness, and easy navigation. These factors not only enhance user satisfaction but also reduce bounce rates and improve dwell time, leading to improved search rankings.

Additionally, SEO by Solutions by Design ensures that your website is structured in a way that search engines can easily crawl and understand its content. By organizing your website's pages, meta tags, headings, and URLs effectively, our team provides search engines with the necessary signals to index and rank your website accurately.

Implementing a robust SEO strategy gives you a significant advantage over your competitors. By optimizing your website and staying up to date with the latest SEO trends, Solutions by Design can help your website outperform your competition.

Furthermore, by conducting thorough keyword research and monitoring industry trends, we can help you identify new opportunities and target niche markets that your competitors might have overlooked. By consistently adapting and refining our SEO approach, we stay ahead of the curve to ensure your business remains visible and relevant.

Search engine optimization is a necessity for any business seeking online success. Contact Solutions by Design today to learn more about the SEO Packages we have to offer. And remember… Everything we do at Solutions by Design is custom designed and developed with your company in mind. Search Engine Optimization is not a “What works for one, works for all” sort of thing and we pride ourselves on No Canned Content…ever.

How To Get More Reviews on Google

Solutions by Design

At Solutions by Design, one of the many services we offer to our clients is Search Engine Optimization and Social Media Management. In all of our years doing this, we can’t tell you how many times we’ve been asked “How can my business get more reviews on Google?”

Google Reviews are one of the most important aspects of online marketing for businesses of all types, and why you should put more effort into getting them.

Let’s think about it…when you are looking for a product or service in your area, what’s the first thing you do? If you are like most people, you probably go to your computer and do a quick Google search. According to Forbes “More than 60% of customers check Google reviews online before they visit a business.”

The popularity of Google as a search engine means that Google reviews are more widely read. Getting positive reviews from your customers on Google is important because:

• People are more likely to visit your website or your business if they see good reviews.

• If Google sees that you have good reviews, your website will be ranked higher in search engine results because Google can see you are popular and offer customers an enjoyable experience.

• Good reviews improve brand trust. People trust Google, so they trust reviews found on Google.

How Can You Gain More Positive Reviews on Google?

1. Ask for Reviews From Happy Customers – It’s a good idea to ask for a review just after someone has had an excellent experience.

2. Explain to Customers How to Leave a Review - Some customers won’t know how to leave a review so it’s worth explaining the process to them.

3. Include Links to Your Google My Business Page on Your Website – Encourage customers who visit your website to click on the Reviews link and write a review of their experience with you.

4. Share a Google Review Link - To make it easier for customers to leave a review, send them a link to your Google business page.

5. Thank Customers for Leaving a Review - Thanking a customer for a good review shows that you care what customers think about you and are grateful for their business.

We all want tons and tons of amazing reviews on Google, but the most important thing you can do is… As tempting as it may be, NEVER buy reviews. It’s all about authenticity and search engines and SEO algorithms, can recognize reviews and determine which ones are authentic. Do not fall into the trap of buying reviews, as this can cause serious consequences such as your business being fined or your Google account being shut down. Not to mention, it is also illegal according to the Federal Trade Commission.

Google Reviews are a big deciding factor for potential customers and by leveraging this simple tool, your business can benefit greatly. Need help getting positive reviews for your business? Contact us for more information at info@solutionsbydesign.com.

 

Are You Creating Engaging Content?

Solutions by Design

Social media engagement is an important metric to consider when building your brand. While it is important to increase the size of your audience, it is just as (if not more) important to increase your engagement. When you engage with your audience on social media you can turn some of your followers from fans into clients. The time you devote to building relationships through social media engagement can lead to an increase in client loyalty and higher positive reviews. Social media engagement is not just about looking popular…it’s about making meaningful connections with current and future clients, which will boost your brand online.

First off…what is social media engagement?

“Social media engagement is an umbrella term for actions that reflect and measure how much your audience interacts with your content.Social media engagement can include likes, comments, and shares, but varies by platform.”

Activity and engagement are crucial when trying to build a positive brand experience. Social media engagement is measured by a range of metrics that could include the following:

• Shares 
• Comments 
• Likes 
• Follows 
• Mentions 
• Click-throughs

When potential clients engage with your posts, you’re presented with an opportunity to get to know those clients and build relationships with them. By helping your clients when they’re in need, offers a one-of-a-kind customer experience that they may not get from your competitors.

OK…great. But how can you increase your engagement?

1. Share Engaging Content - Creating unique and relevant social media content is great for attracting new followers and it also keeps existing followers engaged. When creating content for your social media channels, follow the 80/20 rule where 80% of your social media posts either educate, entertain,or help followers solve a problem, while the remaining 20% directly promotes your business. This will help you focus on creating quality content your clients like. Keep in mind…if you’re just talking about how great your brand is, or what you have for sale, it’s going to be harder for your clients to connect and stay engaged.

2. Run Social Media Contests - Hosting a social media contest or giveaway will get people talking and interacting! Social media contests should be designed to entice your audience with a prize and push them to engage with your content by following, liking, sharing, or commenting.

3. Ask questions - When you post questions as content, you can get your audience to engage more with your business. Asking questions is one of the best social media engagement strategies for getting people to participate. Try encouraging your audience to post photos of your products or results from your services. Invite them to tag your business in the picture. When you find their posts, ask permission to post them on your social profile, and once granted, schedule the content to post on your page. User-generated content is a great way to improve social media engagement, which can lead to word-of-mouth recommendations.

That said…social media is a full time Job.

To make Social Media work for you, it’s not enough to create engagement…but to stay engaged.

If your Social Media engagement is slipping, it might have something to do with your post frequency. Potential clients use social media at all different times of the day. Some are online throughout the day, while others may only check it in the early morning or evening. If you’re business is randomly publishing a few posts each day, there’s a good chance some of your audience will miss them. By the time consumers check their feed, your content could be buried.

Did you know…

• As of 2022, there are 4.9 billion active internet users worldwide.

• There are roughly 500,000 new internet users every single day.

• There are 4.74 billion social media users around the world in October 2022, equating to 59.3 percent of the total global population.
  

• 80% of consumers making buying decisions based on a friend's social media post. 

If you need help or ideas on how to create more engagement with your social media posts, contact Solutions by Design. Our team has the experience, along with proper knowledge and planning to assess the effectiveness and the impact of your Social Media Marketing.

SEO: What are Toxic Backlinks?

Solutions By Design

Optimizing websites to rank high on search engines requires strategies that meet the individual needs of a website. One of those strategies is acquiring quality backlinks.

What are Backlinks? Backlinks are when another website links to yours. They can often be referred to as “external backlinks” or “inbound links.”  These links all are part of how search engines, such as Google ranks your website. These quality backlinks can come from websites that point to your service or content. Think of them as positive referrals that essentially give your website authority and legitimacy, in the eyes of Google.

Toxic backlinks are quite the opposite and are links that will overall negatively affect your rankings.

Google’s view on how toxic backlinks negatively impact your site, is pretty straight forward. “Any links intended to manipulate PageRank or a site's ranking in Google search results may be considered part of a link scheme and a violation of Google’s Webmaster Guidelines. This includes any behavior that manipulates links to your site or outgoing links from your site.”

These are a few reasons why Google will decrease your ranking with negative /low-quality backlinks. 

• Buying or selling links. This includes exchanging money for links, or posts that contain links; exchanging goods or services for links, or sending someone a “free” product in exchange for them writing about it and including a link
• Excessive link exchanges ("Link to me and I'll link to you") or partner pages exclusively for the sake of cross-linking
• Using automated programs or services to create links to your site

Where do Toxic Backlinks Come From? A link that is pointing to your website can come from a variety of places, which can be categorized as toxic. Often these links have no connection to what you offer, your services or industry. They can come from:

• Spam websites 
• Un-indexed Google websites
• Websites containing viruses 
• Payday loan websites

A simple way to view if you have toxic backlinks is to review all the backlinks to your website and determine where they are coming from and their credibility.

How Do I Remove Toxic Backlinks? You should try to remove toxic backlinks by deleting them and asking the site owner to remove them. Because most of the sites are spam websites, the most effective way to remove toxic backlinks is to use the Disavow Tool from Google. This can be done by identifying toxic backlinks and uploading a list to the Disavow tool. You can find the complete steps here. 

Backlinks are sure to reappear over time from new websites, which is why constantly monitoring your website is important. Think of backlinks as positive referrals and credibility to your website, such as when someone refers you to their favorite place. Backlinks ultimately help your website rank well on the search engine results pages. Solutions by Design offers various SEO packages to help your website rank high and attract new customers. We monitor backlinks through a backlink audit to ensure Google and other search engines are ranking your website correctly and efficiently. Learn more about our SEO services and contact us for more questions. 

3 Important SEO Insights Our SEO Reports Feature

Solutions By Design

What was the last business you “googled” (or searched on a search engine)? Search engines are always changing and are constantly being updated daily, which means search engine optimization should always be worked on as an evolving process. Search engines use algorithms that are tweaked and at times changed completely by search engines such as Bing, Yahoo, and Google.

Our Search Engine Optimization services are focused on best establishing your website structure, content and set-up,  so that you can meet your customers online, at the right time, the right place, and in the right context. Our approach to an SEO strategy is unique and customized to each client, understanding all aspects of their business and target audience.

There are various important metrics we measure in SEO. We inform our audience by being transparent with their metrics and bring action plans to every approach to SEO. Through our customized monthly SEO reports, we offer an in-depth analysis of their website, their traffic, their keyword campaigns and many more data to help drive their goals. We believe these 3 important SEO insights are essential in guiding decisions on marketing goals.

1. Web Analytics
Website analytics are important to understand where your website traffic is coming from. Our reports show a breakdown of which traffic is coming from a mobile device versus a desktop. These website analytics show the location of your traffic based on city, the percentage of user acquisition, such as new users vs returning users to your website and the behavior of your audience such as bounce rate, how fast they are leaving your website. 

2. Keyword Campaign Rankings 
Keywords are the core of an effective SEO strategy. Placing keywords in the right place that allows the search engines to optimize rankings is a key component to improving your page rank on search engines. Our reports show a breakdown of your keyword campaigns, the keywords we are tracking for an SEO strategy. This shows the position of your rankings over time, allowing the client to see their growth.

3. Social Interaction
Many factors tie into an SEO strategy, one being social media. Social media is an easy way to engage with your online customers and reach potential customers. Our customized SEO reports show a breakdown of where your social media traffic is coming from and from what social media platform brought in traffic. From there, the client can see how many sessions that social platforms brought, along with how many page views on your website.

The way search engines such as Google, Yahoo, Bing, and others rank websites are always changing. Their algorithm goes through constant updates, which means search engine optimization should always be worked on as an evolving process. Our approach to an SEO strategy is unique to each client. Solutions by Design offers various SEO packages to help your website rank high and attract new customers, so you can do what you do best. Learn more about our SEO services and contact us for more questions.

SEO: Google’s Core September Update

Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of increasing the online visibility of your website in a web search engine’s unpaid results— referred to as “natural”, “organic”, or “earned” results.

SEO may target different kinds of search, including image search, video search, academic search, news search, and industry-specific vertical search engines. Search engine optimization is something that is always changing with updates by search engines and should be worked on and monitored.

Google is the king of search engines. “Google has dominated the search engine market, maintaining an 88.47 percent market share as of April 2019.” 3.5 billion Google searches are made every day and the number only seems to be increasing every year. Google releases a few core updates to its algorithm, which impacts the way websites are ranked and how the search engine works.

“What is a Google core update? A Google core update is when Google adjusts its core search ranking algorithm with the goal of returning more relevant and useful search results to the searcher.” According to Google, “Each day, Google usually releases one or more changes designed to improve our search results. Most aren’t noticeable but help us incrementally continue to improve.”

Later today, we are releasing a broad core algorithm update, as we do several times per year. It is called the September 2019 Core Update. Our guidance about such updates remains as we’ve covered before. Please see this blog for more about that: https://t.co/e5ZQUAlt0G

— Google SearchLiaison (@searchliaison) September 24, 2019

With each update Solutions by Design analyzes what impacts this has on each client. Google’s core updates come a few a year, however, the impacts can lead to a decline in rankings, a spike for others, emphasizes backlinks or content, while some updates don’t impact others at all.

What is in this update? 

A Change in Rankings: 

With any update, search results change for each website. The website may see a spike in ranking higher for their keywords, while others see a drop in their ranking positions. Updates also impact click-through rates, which lead to a decline in website traffic.

In 2018 alone, Google made over 3,200 changes to its algorithms. However, core updates affecting search algorithm changes happen only a few times a year, with Google announcing the update and what it means for websites.

This September update affected the health and finance industry more than any other website. “Whenever Google updates its search ranking algorithms it means that your site can do better or worse in the search results.” Understanding when Google does these core updates allows us to understand when something has changed on websites such as traffic and where we can improve upon for better rankings. Always optimizing SEO is essential, especially as Google changes its algorithm.

What Can We Do? 

As an SEO company, Solutions by Design is always tracking changes in SEO and how to get our clients to rank as high as possible organically. If SEO rankings have been impacted, it does not mean that your website has been punished in any way possible by Google. According to Google, “There’s nothing wrong with pages that may perform less well in a core update. They haven’t violated our webmaster guidelines nor been subjected to a manual or algorithmic action. In fact, there’s nothing in a core update that targets specific pages or sites. Instead, the changes are about improving how our systems assess content overall.”

Google reminds us of what is rewarded and the best way to ensure search engine optimization is at its best for all websites. Focusing on content and websites that offer great quality content is what is rewarded in search engines. Here are recommendations on what to ask when creating content for your website, straight from the search engine source itself, Google.

Content and Quality: 

• Does the content provide original information, reporting, research or analysis? 
• Does the headline and/or page title provide a descriptive, helpful summary of the content?
• Is this the sort of page you’d want to bookmark, share with a friend, or recommend?
• Would you expect to see this content in or referenced by a printed magazine, encyclopedia or book?

Presentation and Production Questions: 

• Was the content produced well, or does it appear sloppy or hastily produced?
• Does the content have an excessive amount of ads that distract from or interfere with the main content?
• Does content display well for mobile devices when viewed on them?

Expertise Questions

• Is the website source trustworthy?
• Is this content written by an expert or enthusiast who demonstrably knows the topic well?
• Is the content free from easily-verified factual errors?

Comparative Questions:

• Does the content seem to be serving the genuine interests of visitors to the site or does it seem to exist solely by someone attempting to guess what might rank well in search engines? 

As an SEO company, Solutions by Design is always tracking changes in SEO and how to get our clients to rank as high as possible organically. Real SEO is worked on every month: adding, changing, linking, and enhancing so we get you results that are tough to achieve. Contact us for more information on how to get your website ranking in your communities.

Sources: https://webmasters.googleblog.com/2019/08/core-updates.html

All About Google Reviews

Reading reviews on a page, a business or a product are ingrained into our mind before clicking the purchase button. Whether it is Yelp, Facebook, product reviews, Google or the various review sites, each plays a large part in our decisions when it comes to doing business. For a potential customer, a review can be the deciding factor for trusting you.

We know the importance and value of a positive review and a positive reputation. There is no doubt that Google Reviews is the overall leader in reviews in large part because of Google being the main search engine and when people search in maps.

Google Reviews are reviews and ratings out of 5 stars left by Google users that appear with your business listing, on Google Maps and when someone searches for you on Google. This instant feedback from your customers is influential in helping others decide to do business with you.

Negative reviews will affect your business and how others see your customer's services, product or services overall. It can greatly affect your SEO and listings on Google Maps. This can have a similar effect if you lack any reviews at all.

Google Reviews is a great easy way to gain trust with customers and potential customers also. By responding to Google Reviews, it shows you value both the customer feedback and criticism, taking in their responses seriously. It also provides value to your SEO strategy with an increase in visibility and rankings.

If you want to get started on Google Reviews, you first should create a Google My Business listing. A Google My Business listing is the listing that pops up when you search for a specific service in your area. This shows up regardless if you customize the listing or not. Google My Business allows you to customize your listing with all the right information from business hours to a description of your business, to photos for potential customers to view. Google My Business is your first interaction many people will see. Just like Google Reviews, a lack of photos, business hours and overall engagement will affect your business negatively.


How to Make a Google Review? 

• The first step in adding a Google Review to a business is to sign in to a Google account.
• Google and click on the business location location 
• Click "Write Reviews" which is near the bottom of the business’s listing 
• Rate and leave a review 
• Click Post 

Google Reviews are a big deciding factor for potential customers and by leveraging this simple tool, your business can benefit greatly. Need help with social media or some tips, contact us for more information at info@solutionsbydesign.com.  

Google Local 3 Pack Matters

If you’re searching for anything, chances are you are going to Google it (search on Google). Searching for the best information fast is critical for someone searching for a need or service. Let’s say we are searching for a specific business. Google wants to provide the information that is most relevant to you, depending on geographical location, prominence, and relevance, Google will determine which local business listings will be displayed. These listings are at the top of the page in a special list accompanied by a map. This is called the “Local 3 Pack” - because Google displays the top 3 results.

According to Google, “Local results appear for people who search for businesses and places near their location.” Let’s say we are searching for a “Veterinarian,” Google will display the top 3 local businesses, based on my geographical location, prominence, and relevance.

There is no denying the top spot on Google is the desired spot for all businesses with an online presence. Only 3 businesses are displayed at the top of the first page on Google, leading to an increase in competition. Google only shows the name of the street where your business is located, with a description of your services. As a user searching for information, you have to click to get the full address, phone number, and reviews.

The top 3 results are local, meaning you will get different results based on your physical location and depending on your search terms.

Through the Local 3 Pack from Google, local businesses have the opportunity for more exposure. Especially with ‘Map View’ you get an overview of most of the local businesses, which expands to a list, leading to more exposure.

How does Google Determine Local Ranking? 

According to Google, “local results are based primarily on relevance, distance, and prominence. These factors are combined to help find the best match for your search. For example, Google algorithms might decide that a business that's farther away from your location is more likely to have what you're looking for than a closer business, and therefore rank it higher in local results.”

Filling out your Google My Business page correctly and constantly update all the information is the first step in ensuring your business is being ranked properly. Adding detailed business information such as business hours, description, address and phone number and photos, will help Google match your business to those searching for your services.

Of course, the distance will impact your search results, showing the local business closest to your location or search terms. Prominence is a determining factor in search results, telling Google how well a business is known. Google gathers this information about a business from various places such as links, articles, websites, and directories. This is where an effective SEO strategy comes in.

It is important to note that you can not pay for a better ranking on Google. According to Google, “There's no way to request or pay for a better local ranking on Google. We do our best to keep the details of the search algorithm confidential to make the ranking system as fair as possible for everyone.”

The Google Local 3 Pack has allowed businesses to reach an audience and become more discoverable. Local businesses have the opportunity for more exposure. Be sure to ensure your business or practice is optimized as best as possible. Searching for help on SEO or social media? Contact us for a customized package that is the perfect fit for you. 

What is SEO Doing for Your Website?

It seems like every time you turn around there is another company out there specializing in SEO. And we’re sure you have received several calls and emails from some unknown telemarketer telling you that they have reviewed your website and you don’t show up on the first page on Google for your keywords. While you know that this is just a sales tactic, it does make you think (if even for just a minute).

“What is my SEO Company doing for my website?”

While there are many reputable businesses out there that are legitimately doing a great job in helping their clients achieve high search rankings, there is also a number of companies using questionable practices to achieve SEO goals.

Questions to ask:

• Is your website mobile friendly?
• Is your website code being updated to make your website easily read by search engines?
• What is your list of keywords and why were they chosen for your website?
• Does your current SEO company provide you with access to reports in real time anytime you want?

Not getting the answers you want? Give Solutions By Design a call. Our SEO Specialist can help clear things up. Even if you aren’t a current Solutions By Design client, we will run a complimentary audit of your website and provide you with a detailed report on how your site is ranking and if your rankings can be improved.

Contact us for a free SEO audit today.

SEO Rankings: Local Citations

Why are local citations important for your business?

Citations in SEO are a key factor in improving your local search results. Citations help search engines, like Google and Bing, verify that your business exists. Search engines identify that your business was mentioned through the presence of your NAP info (Name, Address, Phone, Number) and you get credit for this mention. The more mentions of your business on the internet, the more prominent your business appears to these search engines, and this will help with your local rankings.

When multiple credible sources have the same accurate information about your business, it signals the search engines that your business is legitimate. Listing your business helps your website create authority, establish trust online, and will improve your website’s ability to rank higher in local search results.

It’s no secret that the websites that are constantly ranking in Google’s top local pack have relevant and powerful citations consistent across the internet. Which is why we feel citations are so important. Citations can be a powerful way to ensure you are more visible and get found for locally driven search queries.

While SEO is easy to learn, it’s tough to master. The rules for SEO keep changing. What worked a year or two ago can actually be a huge mistake in marketing today.

Want to learn more about citation building and how our experts can help increase your websites rankings? Give us a call today. We offer several SEO and Social Media Packages to fit the needs and goals of your business.

Google is Killing Off Instant Search

Introduced in 2010, Google’s “Instant Search” feature was touted as “the future of search”, allowing users to save precious seconds by loading results dynamically as they typed. It also became a source of amusement as Google struggled to eliminate results from “search spammers” who used bots to force humorous results that people saw when they typed. Google was able to overcome that and other issues, and Instant Search became a hit with users.

Google has recently announced that it is getting rid of Instant Search. The reason? It’s because most of us now use mobile devices to search, and since Instant Search was never introduced on mobile, Google wants to keep a unified search experience across all platforms. With mobile voice assistants becoming more popular, Google just doesn’t see the need to keep maintaining its Instant Search feature.

No longer will you be able to go to Google on your desktop PC and type in something like this and get instant results:

Some users may miss this feature because it does save time and eliminates spelling errors, but the future is mobile. At Solutions By Design, we can help you help you reach your goals and increase your search engine optimization. Visit our website or give us a call for more information. 800-888-4084.

Myths & Facts About SEO

Every day businesses across the country are flooded with telemarketing calls from various website and SEO companies. You’ve probably received a few of these calls in the recent past. Almost all of them claim to have discovered “serious issues” with your website that “affects SEO and rankings.” Of course, they will be happy to email over their report and if you sign up with them they will “fix” these "serious" issues.

The reports they send to you often appear troubling. “Issues” are dramatically described and highlighted, leading you to believe that your current SEO efforts, if you have any, are not working properly or inefficient. If you have an SEO company on retainer, you will begin to question their methods and expertise; and your doubts are what these companies are counting on.

If you look closely at these reports, many of them contain “issues” that are simply SEO myths that have persisted for a long time. Many of the “issues” have absolutely NO EFFECT on rankings, or at one time used to be factors but are no longer regarded as important. We will explain a few of these myths below in order to educate you on the tactics employed by less-than-reputable companies.

Myth: Your site must be submitted to hundreds of search engines and directory listings to get noticed.
Fact: Search engines will always find your website if at least one other website links to it. Submitting your website to “hundreds” of online directories and search engines is a waste of time, and in some cases, may hurt your rankings if your site is linked from questionable sources.

Myth: Having META tags will help your rankings.
Fact: The vast majority of search engines ignore META keyword, description, author, and robots tags, for obvious reasons. These tags have been abused in the past by webmasters looking to “game the system.” Search engines have ignored them for years.

Myth: You must have hundreds of “inbound links” to rank high.
Fact: Search engines place more importance on the quality of the inbound links rather than the quantity. Having a few inbound links from highly recognized and respected sources are much better than having numerous links from low-quality sources.

Myth: Your site must have a high "PageRank" in order to rank higher in the search results.
Fact: PageRank is just one factor Google uses in figuring out how to rank pages. A site with a low PageRank will show up higher in the search results if Google thinks it's more relevant.

Myth: Proper SEO will give your site permanent top rankings.
Fact: There is no such thing as permanent rankings. Search engine algorithms change all the time and rankings fluctuate as a result. New websites are constantly appearing, challenging the existing websites for rankings. Even the smallest tweak to the contents of your website may have a dramatic effect on rankings. As we’ve seen all too clearly here at Solutions by Design, customer reviews have a serious impact on local rankings.

Myth: You must have your targeted keywords in the IMG ALT tag and a link’s Title tag.
Fact: Like the META tags, these have been greatly abused in the past and search engines largely ignore them. It’s best just to place an exact description of the image or link into these tags to help the search engines identify them.

Myth: It’s important for your rankings to update your home page frequently.
Fact: Unless your home page is a blog with daily posts, static content containing your targeted keywords is just fine. There are plenty of “stale” sites with top rankings.

Myth: H1 tags are a crucial part of SEO and rankings.
Fact: There is little correlation between H1 tags and rankings. H1 tags play an important role and should be used primarily for accessibility and usability, but they have little effect on rankings.

Myth: Your site must have a specific “keyword density” in order to rank high.
Fact: As long as your site contains your targeted keywords in an easy-to-read and engaging format, search engines will be able to identify and index it. Trying to achieve an arbitrary keyword density percentage is both a waste of time and a pain for your customers to read.

There are many more myths that SEO companies still try to peddle in order to get your business, and it’s important for you to do your research and consult with people you trust before signing on with them. If they try to make the case for one of these SEO myths then they are not the company for you. If you have any questions or concerns about a company that is contacting you about these myths, feel free to give Solutions by Design a call and ask for our SEO department. Call 800-888-4084.

Proximity Is Now A Top Ranking Factor In Local Search

Many of our SEO clients have heard us tell them that when it comes to local searches it’s all about location and relevance. This subject usually arises when a client calls or emails because their business isn’t showing up in the “local pack” search results. (The “local pack” is the portion near the top of the search results that shows a map with up to three local businesses). They often wonder why a new business with no reviews is showing up on the map and listings and they aren’t.

The local pack has generated a lot of discussion recently as SEO experts try to figure out how Google arrives at their results. It doesn’t appear to be based on reviews since some of the listings won’t show any. It also doesn’t appear to be the age of the business. After careful analysis, it now appears that proximity is the top factor in this determination. Since more people now search on their mobile phones than on computers, Google places more importance on providing them with relevant, location-based results.

Let’s say that you’re out shopping and it’s getting close to noon. You’re hungry and in the mood for Mexican food, so you do a quick search on your phone for “Mexican restaurants”. The results you get will show the local pack with a map and up to three listings. You’ll notice that they are the closest Mexican restaurants based on your current location. In the meantime, your spouse is on the other side of town and uses their phone to search for Mexican restaurants. Their local pack results will show the restaurants closest to them.

What does this mean for your business? It can be a bit frustrating to know that someone across town is searching for a business and your competitors are showing up instead of you. Your business may be listed on the first page, below the local pack, but many people will naturally gravitate towards the local pack before scanning the page for more results. No amount of SEO work will force your business to show up in the local pack regardless of where the searcher is located.

Although Google includes a link in the local pack for “more results”, that’s little consolation to a business that’s hoping their SEO efforts are paying off. They may be at the very top of the organic listings, right below the local pack, but they want to get noticed right away. Unfortunately, in a mobile-centric environment, it’s all about proximity now, and it looks like it will be that way for at least the near future.

Google’s War Against Pop-Ups

Last month Google announced that they would begin penalizing websites that display content-blocking pop-ups. These are called “interstitial ads,” you can find these all over the Internet as you try to browse certain websites. This is how they work: you navigate to an article that you want to read and as you are just starting with the first paragraph, a pop-up appears that blocks the content. These pop-ups usually want you to sign up for their newsletter, purchase a subscription, or will display an advertisement for a product or service.

Sometimes it is hard to find the button to close the pop-up, and some even prevent you from closing the pop-up unless you click through the advertisement. These pop-ups are irritating and Google is making sure that websites with these types of ads don’t make it into their search results. Google’s focus is on the user's website experience, especially when it relates to mobile browsing, and this type of advertising interferes with that experience.

What does this mean for our clients? We have always advised against adding pop-up advertising for our clients and will continue to do so. There are much better and less annoying ways to get your message to your visitors. Now that Google will start penalizing websites that utilize pop-up advertising, you can’t afford to choose this option in the future.  

If you have a website with interstitial ads, contact Solutions by Design to discuss updating your site. We have a full in-house staff of graphic designers, web developers, programmers, and more, as well as specialize in custom websites.  Also, we don't use templates and have over 30 years of experience assisting clients all over the world with maintaining branding, web presence, and our clients have top rankings on Google. Call us today 800-888-4084.  

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Rank Before Your Competitors! Tips For Effective Local SEO

The majority of businesses provide goods or services locally, meaning their customer base is confined to a certain geographical area. For example, an orthodontist or a veterinarian provide their services to a city, county, or region where their client base is within easy driving distance.

So for these businesses, all of their SEO efforts should be tuned to providing local results. But what are some of the ways in which a business can effectively target the local market and get the highest possible rankings?

Optimize your “Google My Business” page

Some of our SEO clients prefer that we handle the setup and maintenance of their Google My Business page. This is Google’s portal for local businesses to provide important information such as location, hours, business category, etc. Having an optimized Google My Business page is essential for your local SEO efforts.

But by far, most of our SEO clients control their own Google My Business page. For those of you that do, here are some tips for properly maintaining your page:

• Add a business address that is consistent with local directories as well as your website 
• Select the correct category for your business 
• Add a local business phone number to your listing 
• Add a unique business description, and include links to your other social media pages 
• Add your business hours 
• Upload a high-resolution cover photo and profile image 
• Upload as many photos (and videos) as possible 

Ask your customers for reviews

Having positive reviews builds trust in your business and gives your customers confidence. It also helps a great deal in how your business is ranked locally with your competitors. There’s no such thing as too many positive reviews.

Some SEO clients offer incentives for customers to leave reviews, which can certainly be effective, but there are other ways in which you can encourage your customers. Remember, it is best to capture reviews as soon as possible from your customers because they are more likely to respond favorably to your request rather than six months down the road.

• A simple hand-out or email that lists various review sites, and asks them to choose one or more 
• A place on your website that captures their attention and provides links to the various review sites 
• An occasional posting on social media that asks customers to leave a review, along with links to top review sites 
• Train your staff to routinely ask your customers for reviews 

There are many more tips for local SEO. The important thing to remember is that you put in the time and effort for the best results. If you are interested in improving your local SEO rankings, now is the time to do it. Your competitors are. The longer you wait the harder it will be to catch up to them. Contact Solutions By Design today to get started, call 800-888-4084.

Look for us at The Forum 2016!

 



 

Look for Solutions By Design this week at The Forum 2016 in Ranco Palos Verdes, CA! Stop by booth #11 to learn more about our latest products such as Checkin4Charity.com, and learn more about our current promotions. We can't wait to see you there!

 

SBD New Product Launch - Checkin4Charity.com

Solutions By Design has created another solution to enhance your social media strategy.  Are you ready to connect with thousands of potential local customers each month?  Interested in expanding your brand online while making a difference in the world? Then you need this new innovative social media tool we’ve created, Checkin4Charity.com.

What is Checkin4Charity.com?

Checkin4charity.com is a very low cost and innovative social media tool that will greatly and instantly expand your social presence on the internet, while allowing your customers to help make a difference.  By providing digital signage in your office, blasters to your customer base, and information on your website….your patients will “Check-in” at your business and reach thousands…mostly local potential customers per month.

How does it work?

We have established relationships and committed donations to 12 charities, one per month.  Your customers see the “call to action” notifying them that for every Check-in at your business, we will make a donation to the charity of the month.  The provided digital display and your website give an up to date accumulative, by charity total donations by our program.  The digital display slides month to month showing your customers how they are helping to make a difference in the world when they check in at your business. Your patients see the total accumulative donations raised by ALL Checkin4charity.com participants worldwide.

For Montage Users, we will also provide a Banner Ad to build awareness and participation.

You can choose from 5 levels of participation.  Each is based upon the volume of participation by your customers.

Also, you will receive a monthly Certificate of Appreciation from Checkin4charity.com showing the results of donations generated by your customers check-ins.

Call 1-800-888-4084 TODAY!  (Website still in development)