Search Engine Optimization Archives - Page 3 of 14

April 28, 2023 by David Henderson

Getting eyes on your web pages is the first step toward a sale. Keyword research helps companies find the correct phrases to make that happen. In fact, utilizing keyword research strategies can significantly boost your website metrics. To get the most out of your efforts, it’s essential to understand how the research works and the best way to measure results.

Role of Keywords in Search Engine Ranking

Search engines aim to connect users with the best answers to their questions. To achieve this, algorithms crawl webpage content and index keywords. When a query contains those words, the search engine generates a list of applicable links with the most relevant at the top.

Businesses can influence these results by including the right keywords in their website content. Landing pages, blogs and even social media posts can increase search engine results page rankings, boosting the likelihood of users visiting your site. Most users don’t scroll beyond the first results page; if your company doesn’t appear near the top of a SERP, it’s practically invisible.

Of course, being first on a results page won’t do you any good if your site doesn’t offer what the querent needs. SEO and keyword research helps you target individuals who actually want your goods and services, ensuring you see returns for your marketing.

Importance of SEO Keyword Research

Keywords vary in impact and target audience, which is why keyword research is important for concrete results. A poorly chosen phrase may bring thousands of new website visitors while increasing the bounce rate as those users immediately leave. Keywords can’t just be popular in your industry — they must connect consumer needs to your solutions.

There’s no one-size-fits-all way to target a particular audience, especially when algorithms update frequently and under the radar. Instead, businesses must create an ongoing research, measurement and optimization process to stay adaptable in an ever-shifting online environment.

Keyword Research Tips

One of the most important things you can do is stay on top of SEO news. Marketing experts closely monitor Google announcements and SERP trends to anticipate changes; if you’re not on the ball, your rankings will drop. By the same token, responding quickly can catapult you into the top spot as competitors regroup. Understanding the landscape will shape your research approach.

Which strategies you use also depends on your goals. For example, to increase local traffic, you should research keywords that utilize the location. Brainstorm words closely associated with your area, such as the city, county or neighbourhood name, and see which generate high results.

You can also experiment with the following:

Utilizing social media trending topics associated with your products or services
Varying keyword length
Targeting different stages of the sales funnel
Trying variations of Google search bar suggestions

Another great technique is competitor analysis. What are other businesses in the space doing, and how effective is it? This approach highlights what works for your industry and the gaps you can exploit.

There are also a variety of tools available — Google’s Keyword Planner is even free. This resource uses the search engine’s knowledge to generate lists of potential keywords, giving you a great place to start.

Keyword Incorporation in Website Content

Of course, how you use keywords matters as much as the phrases you choose. Algorithms assign a lower value to “stuffed” web pages and a higher value to content that incorporates keywords naturally. In fact, Google has said that quality content is the number one criterion for SERP ranking.

To create high-quality content, limit the number of keywords and use them strategically. Headings are excellent placement, as are the first and last paragraphs. Strongly tie the keywords to your own business and, above all, keep your audience in mind.

You should also continually analyze SERP performance. Doing so lets you immediately detect when a strategy no longer works. You can find tools to measure bounce rate, click-through rate and other metrics that gauge the effectiveness of your SEO strategy.

Finally, don’t hesitate to hire professionals to manage your SEO. Keeping up with research, implementation and analysis is a full-time job and can be especially time-consuming for small businesses without a designated marketing department. Unwired Web Solutions handles everything necessary to optimize your website for search engine queries. For more information, visit our website or give us a call today.

April 21, 2023 by David Henderson

Search engine optimization is an ongoing process as algorithms update, links break and new technology enters the market. A website SEO audit helps you identify these issues early through a structured, data-driven analysis. Ideally, you should perform an audit at least twice a year, though fast-paced industries may need up to four.

What if you’re a small business without a dedicated marketing department? Should you still allocate the resources toward such a big project? Honestly, the return on investment is worth the effort, especially when your competitors prioritize SEO. If you’re unsure where to start, plenty of tips, tricks and marketing firms are available to help. In fact, this guide is an excellent place to start.

The Importance of Website SEO Audits

As the criteria for search engine results page rankings change, so too must your optimization efforts. SEO audits look at your website’s keyword choice and placement, content topics and other factors to determine their effectiveness. Once you’ve identified areas of weakness, you can update webpages to boost SERP rankings.

A thorough audit also shows what’s working. For instance, if a particular page has a high click-through and low bounce rate, it’s doing something right. Analysis helps you understand what’s pulling views so you can apply those techniques to other pages.

SEO Audit Tools and Techniques

Learning how to do SEO audit work can be intimidating initially, but tools streamline the process. In fact, many perform the hard work of gathering and comparing data — all you have to do is set parameters and interpret the findings.

Of course, with so many options on the market, it’s a task in itself to find the right one. Hiring a marketing firm to conduct your audit allows you to bypass this step. These companies already have a wealth of tools and stay on the cutting edge of SEO technology. They also have the experience to interpret reports quickly and make recommendations.

What do the best SEO audit tools do? First and foremost, they deliver information in an easily digestible format, such as graphics, for easy comparison. Their accuracy is also paramount, as businesses base their strategies on the data. Finally, they sync with Google Analytics to provide a comprehensive, real-time look at how your efforts fare across the internet.

Areas To Focus on During Audits

Once you have the right tools, it’s time to tackle the auditing checklist. Since every website seeks to appeal to the same algorithms, how to perform an SEO audit doesn’t vary much between businesses. No matter your industry or size, you should check the following:

Keyword research
Site architecture
User experience
Technical errors
Backlink profile

As mentioned, analyzing keywords helps you identify phrases that no longer boost your SERP rankings. Their success is supported by site architecture, which impacts the webpage crawlability. Algorithms crawl pages in search of keywords; prioritizing crawlability ensures that your SEO actually counts.

The site architecture also impacts the user experience, affecting how visitors navigate. The audit will further evaluate the following UX factors:

Visual appeal
Consistency
Responsiveness

As you consider UX, remember to gauge mobile compatibility. The majority of consumers research products on their mobile devices, so your site must accommodate them. That means adjusting to mobile dimensions and avoiding unsupported programs.

Your website’s functionality also impacts the customer experience. For example, long load times prompt visitors to look for products elsewhere. Broken links can make your site seem unprofessional and frustrate consumers, leading to a poor perception of your business. Finally, compounding technical errors can drop your SERP rankings.

Backlink profiles are an essential aspect of SEO for several reasons. First, they’re a signal to algorithms that your content is high-quality. Second, they direct traffic to your website through third-party websites. An audit identifies broken links, allowing you to adjust your strategy to build a more robust backlink profile.

Keeping your website optimized takes knowledge, the appropriate tools and time. If you’re stretched thin in any of these areas, the experts at Unwired Web Solutions can pick up the slack. In addition to performing SEO audits, we offer social media marketing, web design and content marketing services. No matter the scope of your enterprise, we can help you increase your online influence. To learn more, contact us by phone or request a quote online.

February 24, 2023 by David Henderson

Google updates its features constantly, and this time, the local search feature has some new updates for 2023. If your company relies on previous versions of Google’s local search, it’s time to refresh your approach. Unwired Web Solutions offers businesses options with local search engine optimization. We help companies improve their search engine performance. Here’s what you need to know about the updates for local search engine strategies in 2023.

Revamped Merchant Experience

Starting off, there’s a completely redesigned merchant dashboard for local businesses on Google. The Google Business Profile Manager interface is out and the “New Merchant Experience” is the new standard. The new interface uses a SERP-style dashboard to manage local SEO strategy tasks. Now, users must make updates to their businesses via the search engine results page or the Maps app.

Hear About This Place

Next, Google now has a new feature on local business listings in Google Maps and the search engine results, a “hear about this place” button. Under the listing’s business profile, some users may spot a button icon with an audio symbol and the text, “hear about this place.”

So far, the “hear about this place” button only appears to be present in some regions of the United States. The update appeared in October 2022, and SEO experts aren’t sure when and if this feature will be introduced to all areas and users. When you click on the audio button, you’ll hear the name of the business and other details read aloud.

Customer Reviews

Another new change in Google’s local SEO features is in the way Google displays customer reviews for a business profile page. Customer reviews and ratings are an essential element to a local company’s recipe for success.

Now, Google may start to display reviews by the percentage of positive to negative reviews in a graphic. Currently, users have to click on filtering results to get a percentage bar to show up in the reviews tab, so it only displays when users look more carefully at the specifics of a business.

Engagement Clarification

Google has also quietly updated its policies for local businesses regarding customer engagement and reviews. Language is now in its Webmaster Guidelines strictly prohibiting a business from influencing its customers from writing positive or negative reviews.

This means businesses should not ask customers to leave positive Google reviews on their business page, and they shouldn’t discourage negative reviews. Additionally, software that manipulates customer reviews shouldn’t be part of a local SEO marketing plan. The reviews should be an accurate snapshot of customer feedback about a business.

Restaurant Changes

Local restaurants that use SEO strategies from Google also have a change to their business profile pages that may help them bring in more foot traffic. Businesses can select the preferred menu that will display on the business profile instead of having Google gather multiple menus from different sources.

Soon, users may also have a new option to search for specific restaurant dishes instead of general cuisine. Restaurants that offer that individual dish, such as Kung Pao chicken, will be part of the photo results page in the search engine listings.

Local Search Engine Optimization To Promote Your Business

Local search engine strategies are a crucial part of making your business more successful. If you want more customers in your store, you have to master the local SEO Canada listings for your neighborhood. We assist local businesses with Google’s search engine tools. Navigating each update can be a challenge, but we understand the ins and outs of each new change.

There are a lot of moving parts in search engine optimization for local businesses. Unwired Web Solutions helps companies boost their search engine performance and increase customer engagement.

February 20, 2023 by David Henderson

Boosting your company’s website in search engine results requires creative thinking and a high level of understanding of Google’s powerful SEO tools. One of the most effective ways you can increase your organization’s visibility on search engine results is by mastering featured snippets on Google. The team at Unwired Web Solutions provides proven strategies to help you get closer to the top of the search engine listings, including using SEO featured snippets. Here is why snippets are a vital part of any SEO strategy.

What Are SEO Snippets?

SEO snippets started being used on Google’s search engine results page in 2014, and they continue to help drive more traffic to specific websites. The snippet is the box of text that appears at the top of a search engine query results page. Featured snippets lift text from a relevant page or article and present it in an “answer box” format at the top of the page, even before the first web page listing from the search.

Featured Snippets Results

Google search snippets usually feature the first few lines of text from a page or article, along with relevant images that answer the question in the search query. Depending on what was typed in the search box, the featured snippet may be presented in a variety of ways.

Some snippets are simply definitions of the term along with images. A snippet may also be shown as a table, especially if there is numerical information. Ranked or unranked lists may also be used in the featured snippet spot.

Research Keywords and Questions

So if you want to learn how to get featured snippets, there are some specific steps your team can do with your marketing campaign. Featured snippets are most often seen when there is a specific question asked in the search engine box.

Our team starts with researching keywords and essential questions related to the keyword when aiming for a featured snippet spot. We don’t just use the traditional search query methods when looking for information; we also go offline and delve deeper into the topic or question by asking real individuals.

Create High-Quality Answers

Once you have the right questions and keywords being used, you can then move on to developing high-quality answers that are thorough and engaging to users. Our approach develops answers into compelling content that fully answers multiple questions related to the keyword.

A comprehensive answer also needs to be concise and not overly wordy in order to make it to that coveted featured snippet spot. Additionally, content needs to be accurate and well-written in order to make an impact on Google’s algorithm.

Organize and Add Images

The last big part of getting on featured snippets is to have a well-organized article or page of content and memorable photos. Google knows that readers prefer content that is easier to digest, so organizational text features, such as subheadings, bullets, lists, bold print and other details, help make content rank higher.

Your images also matter when it comes to featured snippets. Your content has a higher chance of being chosen for snippets if you have original, high-quality images that are professional and clear.

The Power of SEO Featured Snippets

When you put all of these tactics together to create great content, you may also get featured in the Google snippet spot. Developing strong content that is optimized for snippets isn’t something to tackle on your own. Instead, you should look to the experts in SEO and featured snippets, Unwired Web Solutions.

Looking to give your web pages a boost and get a spot as a featured snippet? Your content may need a makeover to be SEO optimized as the top-quality piece that answers web users’ questions. Learn how content optimization with Unwired Web Solutions could work for you.

February 16, 2023 by David Henderson

A social media strategy relies on several components, including goal-setting, audience identification, and content creation. Doing any one of these things well does not necessarily equate to marketing success. No, a successful social media campaign must successfully implement all components of a strategy and balance those against realistic outcomes.

Unwired Web Solutions is a digital marketing firm. With experience in web design and content creation, the service is beneficial to novice and experienced business owners.

5 Steps To Create a Social Media Strategy

Social media marketing relies on several techniques to achieve profitability or other advertisement objectives, like brand awareness. As with any marketing effort, it is a multi-faceted approach to consumer outreach and engagement.

Unwired Web Solutions is no stranger to social media campaigns, and it aims to help business owners and entrepreneurs through its service offerings and team experience. The fundamentals of a social media effort include five manageable steps.

1. Set Achievable and Realistic Goals

Too many business owners expect rapid results from marketing efforts. Most campaigns take time and testing before resulting in worthwhile profits.

When working with your digital marketing partner to create your first social media campaign, settle your expectations. What do you want to achieve? Maybe you want to hit your first 100 followers; that is a reasonable goal, especially for a small business with no existing social media presence.

The goals will vary based on business size and experience. A digital marketing partner like Unwired Web Solutions can help you create a realistic plan.

2. Identify Your Target Audience

Every effective social media strategy requires an audience. You want to research your specific consumer. It is not enough to say your audience is women; you need to get specific. For example, your target market is middle-class married women between the ages of 25 and 35 with children and a white-collar finance career. The more specific, the better.

A research partner can help. Unwired Web Solutions has experience with audience research and consumer analysis; the company can provide in-depth analysis of your target demographic.

3. Create a Content Strategy

Never post social media content on a whim; always think everything through. Companies get into a lot of trouble when they decide to wing it, resulting in significant consumer backlash.

Content strategy is a plan for content creation. It involves a development schedule and platforms you want to use. A digital marketing service can help you analyze your best options for social media campaigns and efforts.

4. Optimize Your Posts

Search Engine Optimization is not only for websites, pages, and blog posts. Social media channels and profiles can be optimized to improve visibility and perceived authority. For example, an optimized profile will include the business name, contact information, operating hours, and anything else your customers would want to know. You can also use keywords in profiles to improve SEO listings. Finally, you should use hi-res images.

Optimizing social media posts takes work, but it is well worth the effort, especially when your content starts ranking higher with users. Unwired Web Solutions can help your business create optimized content across various media channels, including social media platforms.

5. Measure and Analyze Success

As with everything in digital marketing, you need to check the data of your social media accounts and campaign efforts. Analytics is the only way to know if your efforts are worthwhile or if you need to tweak something to improve its performance.

Contact Unwired Web Solutions for Guidance

Are you looking for partners in social media marketing in Canada? Unwired Web Solutions is a leading digital marketing agency in the region. Contact the UWS team to discuss your social media efforts and how they can help.