Your website and other online content needs to be optimized for local SEO searches.

10 Things You Simply Must Know About Local SEO Marketing

It is an undisputed fact that many people make their purchasing decisions from search engines’ recommendations. Search engines are constantly improving their algorithms to ensure that search results fit search queries accurately. This includes results that corresponds with the user’s location. If your business operates with a local area, getting the right visibility on search engines is crucial to your online marketing success.

Your website and other online content needs to be optimized for local SEO searches.
Your website and other online content needs to be optimized for local SEO searches.

10 Local SEO Marketing Tips for Entrepreneurs & Small Business Owners

Local SEO is a little trickier than the conventional SEO. Here are a ten points you must know about local SEO marketing:

1. Consistent and accurate directory listing is important

An important part of your local SEO is ensuring that you list your business on popular business directories. These listings require your business name, address, phone numbers, and your website. Also, you must ensure that your business infomation stays consistent and accurate across all the business directories. Search engines use these listings to ascertain the credibility of a business.

Examples of business directories are Google my business, Funnls local, Yelp, YP.com, Bing Places, Yahoo Local, Foursquare for Business, etc.

2. The right Local keywords matter

As a local business, you must target the keywords that best relate to your business within the local area. Using a keyword planner is an excellent way of getting the right keywords to target. If you don’t have a keyword planner, search for keywords related to your business on google. At the bottom, you’ll find related searches that you can optimize for your business’ local SEO.

3. Positive reviews are important

Positive reviews can improve your business’ ranking in search results. Often, most customers won’t leave a review unless you ask for it. Sites like Yelp, Angie’s list, Google my business, and even Facebook pages allow users to leave reviews after trying out your business.

4. Social media accounts are a must

Most of your potential customers are on social media, and may choose to use your business pages than going through your website. Ensure that you optimize your social media pages as a local business.

Mobile searches are generally for local businesses. Make sure yours is found by your local customers.
Mobile searches are generally for local businesses. Make sure yours is found by your local customers.

5. Local publications help too

Every location has regular publications that you can use to create awareness for your business. Build a relationship with the local media and bring information regarding your business to their notice.

6. Prioritize Responsiveness

Mobile responsiveness is an important part of SEO. Ensure that your website is responsive across a wide range of devices, and different browsers.

7. Optimize your store’s landing pages

Your landing pages are important part of your Local SEO. Ensure they are properly optimized and updated with relevant content and keywords.

8. Discuss your business in local forums

Join local forums and partake in conversations related to your business. Offer to answer queries and provide relevant/useful information.

Local SEO searches help your customers find you fast.
Local SEO searches help your customers find you fast.

9. Incorporate your location’s keywords into your website’s SEO

While setting up your website’s SEO, ensure you use keywords related to your location. This terms will help link your website to queries related to your business.

10. User-friendly store locator is important

Your store information is important to your customers. Make sure it’s easy to find.

Local SEO is important to your local business, and is certainly not an easy feat. Take time to review the points and incorporate them as part of your local SEO marketing techniques.

Need assistance building a local marketing strategy that will bring more traffic to your site and to your doors? Content Marketing Geek helps Las Vegas businesses thrive online. Contact Content Marketing Geek to find out how a better online presence can improve your overall sales.

Content Marketing vs Social Media Marketing: Why You Should Never Ditch Your Website

Content Marketing & How Your Website Can Help

The influx of social media platforms and new technologies may have caused websites to take a backseat in the content marketing strategy of many businesses. Creating reputable presence (with content) across different platforms, is crucial to the success of a company’s marketing, and is often termed distributed content approach.

But does this mean websites are no longer relevant in a marketer’s arsenal? Of course not. Although many have argued that the new age of social media should indicate a death sentence for websites, this not true. The nature of on-site and off-site content are different and their purposes are distinct too.

The content that your website publishes on its Instagram or Facebook page is different from what’s on published on your website, and should have different purposes. The different purpose is what makes your website important, if not necessary.

Video: What Content Should Go on My Website?

The following video was uploaded to YouTube by Butler Branding:

Website Design 101. There are 3 things every business should avoid, and 2 questions every business should ask when it comes to thinking about what content to put on your website. In this video, Sean discusses how to layout a professional website.

Topics covered in this video include:

  • Web Design Strategy
  • How to create a sitemap
  • How to create a website wireframe

 

4 Reasons to Never Ditch Your Website

The following are the reasons you should never ditch your website in your content marketing strategy.

1. Your Website Monetizes Your Content

You must have heard the phrase, “content is king” many times already. The more information you provide to your audience, the better your chances of earning their trust in your brand and your products/services.

Content, when properly optimized becomes a magnet for search engines and pulls traffic month after month. While the success of a social media content is judged by its number of shares and interaction, it has a somewhat short-term effect. Your website’s content continues to compound in views and ranks long after they have been published.

2. Your Website Helps Build Your Brand Identity

Building your brand identity is crucial and it is possible through consistency. With a properly organized website, you can use graphics and persuasive information to build and sustain your brand.

The core values, mission statement, and vision are crucial to earning your customer’s confidence. The algorithm for social media will continue to change, but your website and its content will remain a reliable go-to point for your core brand identity.

3. Your Website Is Your Virtual Store

The internet has turned to a reliable source for discovering new products and comparing prices. Your website is your virtual store which highlights the products and services you provide, along with information, reviews, and ‘sweet’ deals your customers need to make a decision.

Often, people are likely to make a purchase if they believe they are making an informed decision.

Of course you can do that on other platforms like Facebook and Instagram, and you should. But you’ll get more flexibility and maximize sale opportunities by selling on every platform possible, including your website.

4. Your Website Adds Credibility to Your Services & Products

When people wish to make a purchase, they are more likely to make a google search for the product. They hope to find a website that provides sufficient information.

Having a website gives consumer the impression that your brand is trustworthy, established, and legitimate. Think of your website as the one that vouches for you in the middle of a sale.

Your Brand’s Content Marketing Strategy

Adding your website to your content marketing strategy is integral to achieving success. Websites may grow old, but they never outlive their purposes. Your website’s purpose should be to bring value to the lives of your target customers.

Is your content marketing strategy working for you? If you need a strategy that brings more traffic to your site, gets you more valuable leads and click-throughs or improves your bounce rate, Content Marketing Geek can help.

We will evaluate your site and give you some free tips to improve your content marketing strategy. Get your Free Website Evaluation from Content Marketing Geek now. Click the link below for your free website evaluation today.

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You want your audience to find your content so interesting, that they simply MUST share it.

Blogging Tips: How Do Successful Blogs Create Engagement?

There are many varying factors that separate notably average blogs from the undeniably great websites that we find ourselves checking into every day. Is it outstanding writing and writers that make certain blogs must reads? Or, is it the interesting content that makes certain articles stand out over others?

Is Your Content Simply Average?

The honest truth is that while experienced, consistent writing and above average content is essential to build a successful blog, that is not always enough. The final key element that all successful blogs and websites share is their overall audience engagement.

Top blogs like BuzzFeed, Cracked and Barstool Sports have all perfected the art of pinpointing readers with relatable, engaging content that keeps their audiences coming back for more. This engagement has allowed such websites to build notable brands through the input of the audiences themselves.

A Perfect Example of Engaging Your Audience

Barstool Sports is a prime example of this as they have risen to internet stardom in recent years, and in a relatively quick period of time. However, they aren’t very new to the internet scene… In fact, Barstool Sports was publishing content as early as 2004.

You want your audience to find your content so interesting, that they simply MUST share it.
You want your audience to find your content so interesting, that they simply MUST share it.

Since then they have always maintained a loyal and engaged audience, Barstool was always valued by potential buyers. The website has an uncanny ability to make readers feel as if they are friends with the writers and office workers of the website.

This popular site delivers sports/pop culture commentary for the “every man” and it’s this relatable content that propels their ability to engage audiences. Sports Creator and Director of Content, Dave Portnoy is instrumental in his own site’s ability to generate readers and page views.

Senior Write Jerry Thornton is quoted as saying:

“He’s got a lot of ‘Masshole’ in him–guys here love breaking each other’s balls. He isn’t afraid to tell you that you suck while he’s being a friend to you. That’s Barstool: It’s honest and it’s funny, and that’s what people are looking for but don’t get elsewhere.”

The Art of Engaging with Employees Online

The company has created an environment within its structure that places spotlight on every day, run-of-the-mill office employees. Administrators provided articles and videos on the site with a lot of engagement due to the relatable nature of the content.

While barstool doesn’t have the most established writers on its site, its fans certainly know and love them for what they are. And, that just goes to show that engagement works in mysterious ways.

You must engage with your audience to keep them coming back to your blog for more.
You must engage with your audience to keep them coming back to your blog for more.

Relatable Content Helps Increase Engagement

While posting relatable content is definitely one way to increase engagement, you still need to give readers a reason to click on your website every day. You want your readers to feel the need to be engaged in your content… something that will keep them coming back for more.

BuzzFeed is a great example of a website that does this better than anyone else. They provide news that anyone who wants to feel up-to-date in pop culture absolutely has to know about. Not only do they provide that news that you need, they slickly seduce you into clicking on their articles through the clever use of social media.

You will see any article posted on BuzzFeed tweeted out… as well as shared to Instagram, Facebook and Reddit. This outreach not engages audience members, but makes them feel like they “should” be engaged if they aren’t already.

Need more relatable content for your website or blog? Content Marketing Geek can help. Click here for a Free Website Evaluation. We’ll let you know just what engaging content could do to improve your brand’s online image.

Or, check out our Online Marketing Packages to find out what we can do for you today.

Facebook had the right idea when it launched the FB targeted ads for businesses.

Online Marketing Drives the New Era of Sales… Are You Ready?

Marketing and Sales have been in separate lanes since the beginning of time.

With technology being changed rapidly, sales and marketing are forced to co-relate hence the gap between sales and marketing is decreasing vigorously. When the two functions come together, communication barriers are broken and ultimately if done correctly, revenues increase.

Sales vs. Marketing: What’s the Difference?

What is difference between marketing and sales?

  • Marketing may be defined as finding out what we don’t have.
  • Sales is all about selling what we have.

Social media has become the ultimate and legitimate way of promoting service and sales through finding a trending and common ground of popular topics, posts and interests.

Online marketing was solely designed to gain the interest and attention of potential customers, giving potential clients knowledge and incentives about a company and their products and or services through promotions and campaigns. Businesses populate leads through cycles to ensure that people keep coming back.

Getting the initial sale is important, but it is reflective of a good marketing team to keep people interested in what else the company has to offer. Marketing develops a relationship between a large customer base and the products and services the business sells.

Facebook had the right idea when it launched the FB targeted ads for businesses.
Facebook had the right idea when it launched the FB targeted ads for businesses.

What is Target Advertising?

Popular websites and apps have been created to give advertisers the utmost control in utilizing sophisticated methods for reaching out to a particular target-based audience. This is known as targeted advertising. These traits are normally focused on the consumer’s:

  • Values
  • Personality
  • Attitudes
  • Opinions
  • Lifestyles
  • Interests

Targeted Marketing: Follow the Facebook Lead

The “Godfather” of network marketing sites, Facebook.com, created by Mark Zukerberg, was launched in 2004. At that time, the concept of facebook.com was an ivy league college site that allowed visitors to compare students side-by-side choosing who was “hot or not.”

Ultimately, Zukerberg saw a profitable opportunity as the website started expanding on a worldwide basis. People from all over the world were able join the site with a valid email address and connect with family and friends within or across geographical areas.

Soon Zukerberg expanded and gave businesses the opportunity to reach their niche market and potential target audience through sharing, liking posting and tagging post, pictures and videos. Today, businesses are able to connect with clients and build new niches and target audiences through close communication via the click of a button.

Always interact first. Worry about selling later. Engage before you try to sell.
Always interact first. Worry about selling later. Engage before you try to sell.

Social Media Apps to Reach Target Audiences

There are several other sites and apps that copied the idea of Zukerberg as a means of reaching target audiences through social media advertising. Some of these popular social media sites and apps include:

Online Marketing is Your Key to Success

The reality is, Innovation is not slowing down. In order to stay relevant, businesses must change and adapt to the new Era of Technology, that is if they wish to keep sales increasing.

Innovation possess the power to provide an edge, being able to enter new markets deeper and faster. Online marketing gives businesses a forecast to provide unique needs to products or services, provide new features and add-ons. This ultimately builds customer loyalty and attracts new business!!!

Ready to generate more valuable sales leads? Looking for creative ways to increase your profits? Click here for a Free Website Evaluation from Content Marketing Geek.

Don’t have a website yet? We can help. And, we’ll help you stay within your budget. Check out our Starter Website Packages and start marketing your business online today!