Introduction:

Digital marketing and SEO are vital in helping home services companies increase their online visibility, attract qualified leads, and grow their businesses. With the ever-increasing competition in the digital landscape, it’s essential for these companies to implement effective strategies to stand out from the crowd.

This blog post will delve into the top ten digital marketing and SEO actions home services companies should take to boost their online presence and drive more conversions.

1. Develop a Strong Website:

A well-designed and user-friendly website is the foundation of your online presence. Ensure your website is visually appealing, easy to navigate, and mobile-friendly. Optimize your website’s structure and content using relevant keywords related to your home services. Create dedicated landing pages for each service you offer to improve your search engine rankings and provide a seamless user experience.

2. Optimize for Local Search:

Home services companies primarily serve customers in specific geographic areas. Therefore, optimizing your website for local search is crucial. Start by creating a Google My Business listing and providing accurate and up-to-date information about your business, including your address, phone number, and operating hours. Consistently update your business information on local directories and online review platforms. Incorporate location-specific keywords throughout your website to improve your local search rankings.

3. Build a Strong Content Strategy:

Developing a content strategy is essential for showcasing your expertise and attracting potential customers. Create informative and engaging blog posts, articles, and how-to guides that address common questions and problems your target audience may have. Incorporate relevant keywords naturally into your content to improve your search engine rankings. Additionally, consider diversifying your content with videos, infographics, and case studies to appeal to different learning preferences.

Also Read: What Googles New Algorithm Means For Your Websites Content

4. Leverage Social Media:

Social media platforms provide excellent opportunities for home services companies to engage with their target audience and promote their services. Identify the platforms that resonate most with your target markets, such as Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter, and create compelling profiles. Share valuable content, including tips, before-and-after photos, and customer testimonials. Actively respond to comments and messages to build relationships and establish trust with your audience.

Also Read: 10 ways your HVAC or any company can become a social media star

5. Run Targeted PPC Campaigns:

Pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, such as Google Ads, allows you to reach potential customers actively searching for home services. Conduct keyword research to identify high-intent keywords related to your offerings. Create targeted ad campaigns that lead users to relevant landing pages on your website. Monitor and optimize your campaigns regularly to maximize your return on investment (ROI) and ensure your ads appear to the right audience.

6. Focus On Customer Reviews:

Positive reviews can significantly impact your online reputation and influence potential customers’ decisions. Encourage satisfied customers to leave reviews on platforms such as Google My Business, Yelp, and Facebook. Respond promptly to positive and negative reviews to show that you value feedback and are committed to customer satisfaction. Display customer testimonials prominently on your website to build trust and credibility.

Also Read: The Power Of Online Reviews For Home Service SEO

7. Use Email Marketing:

Email marketing is an effective tool for staying in touch with past and current customers and nurturing leads. Build an email list by offering valuable content, exclusive discounts, or free consultations. Segment your email list based on customer preferences and purchase history to deliver targeted and personalized messages. Send regular newsletters, updates about new services, and special promotions to keep your audience engaged and encourage repeat business.

8. Create a Referral Program:

Word-of-mouth referrals are powerful for home services companies. Encourage your satisfied customers to refer friends, family, and colleagues to your services by implementing a referral program. Offer incentives such as discounts, cash rewards, or exclusive benefits for successful referrals. Make it easy for customers to share referral links or provide referral cards they can distribute.

9. Utilize Video Marketing:

Video marketing has become increasingly popular and can help home services companies showcase their expertise and build trust with potential customers. Create videos demonstrating your services, highlighting customer testimonials, or providing helpful DIY tips. Share these videos on your website, social media platforms, and video-sharing websites like YouTube. Optimize your videos with relevant keywords and compelling titles and descriptions.

10. Monitor and Analyze Data:

To continuously improve your digital marketing efforts, monitoring and analyzing data regularly is essential. Utilize analytics tools like Google Analytics to track website traffic, user behavior, and conversion rates. Identify trends, identify areas for improvement, and make data-driven decisions. Adjust your strategies based on the insights gained from your data analysis to optimize your digital marketing and SEO efforts.

Conclusion: Implementing these top ten digital marketing and SEO actions can significantly enhance home services companies’ online presence and success. By developing a strong website, optimizing for local search, creating valuable content, leveraging social media, running targeted PPC campaigns, focusing on customer reviews, using email marketing, creating a referral program, utilizing video marketing, and monitoring data, these companies can attract more qualified leads, build customer loyalty, and achieve long-term growth in the competitive digital landscape.

Ready to start using AI to boost your business? Get in touch with GoMarketing at 805-413-7893 or fill out our online form, and learn how we leverage artificial intelligence marketing to achieve your business goals.

The post Top 10 Digital Marketing and SEO Actions to Take for Home Services Companies appeared first on GoMarketing.

It’s that time of year again. Yep, you guessed it. Trend forecasting season is upon us!

As digital trends evolve, marketers must stay aware of the changes to quickly adapt to emerging technologies that help develop business, generate leads, improve relationships with existing customers, and gain a competitive advantage.

Are you keeping pace with the latest digital marketing trends to put your brand ahead of the competition? The future trends you used to guide your digital marketing strategy may now be outdated. So, where is digital marketing heading in 2023? Here’s where you should be focusing your marketing efforts in 2023.

Youth Centric Marketing Campaigns

Despite not being at their peak purchase power, the amounts spent by youth are higher than the other age groups. If a product assures them of its worth and offers a great experience, chances are that the millennials will buy it.

Interactive content that resonates with the audience’s mindset, problems, causes, and aspirations will likely foster a brand community and boost sales. Another and probably the most crucial factor about this age group is that almost all of them are tech-savvy. Hence, they are at ease with the changing technological scenario, and most of them own gadgets

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Here are some of the ways through which modern web marketing experts are connecting with the youth.

» Content is King

To market to Generation Z, creating eye-catching visual content is essential. Make it a point to always use bite-sized content, whether it’s in text, video, or image form. The quicker you can get your message across, the better.

Also, optimize your content for mobile viewing and interactions. Keep in mind that a massive percentage of Gen Z prefer using their smartphones over tablets, laptops, and desktops. Skip the lengthy, unnecessary introductions in your blog posts and videos and get straight to the point. Remember, you have less than ten seconds to convince the youth that your content is worth paying attention to!

Also Read: How to Write SEO-Friendly Blog Content

» User-Generated Video Dominates Social Media

One of social media’s top video marketing trends is user-generated content (UGC).

User-generated content involves real users of your product or service talking about it and its positive effects on their lives. Such videos can be, for example, a testimonial or a review of your product in its natural habitat. User-generated video content feels authentic to consumers, which helps it stand out through the seemingly endless digital noise.

A Stackla study found that consumers are 2.4 times more likely to find UGC more convincing than branded content, so keep this in mind when crafting your 2023 strategies. As more social platforms integrate new video features and focus on video-first algorithms, video marketing will become even more critical throughout 2023.

» Audiences Will Use a Variety of Platforms

Speaking of social platforms, channel diversification is one of the top video marketing trends to keep an eye on in 2023. Since users are scattered across the new social landscape, you should diversify your platform mix to reach audiences everywhere they gather.

Each media platform has a unique audience and targeting advantages, so focusing on several will be vital to growing and retaining your entire audience.

» Influencers Lead The Way

Influencer marketing is highly effective when marketing to Generation Z. The digitally-savvy generation relates more to influencers than traditional celebrities. Influencers know what their audience likes and share their expertise to help them decide what to buy. They can help significantly spread your message and increase sales in their target demographic.

Partner with influencers in your niche who support causes that align with your brand, products or services, and social interests.

» Social Media Shopping

The advent of social media has revolutionized how businesses interact with their audience and provided a medium for them to sell their goods and services. Integrating social media and e-commerce has opened doors for an online marketplace for customers from all levels of society to buy products and services that match their expectations.

Social media shopping is a popular social media trend that transcends various industries. Moreover, it is an effective way to make your products available to your customers while they interact and engage with them.

Focus On Customer Experience and Add Value By Being Human

» Amplify Beliefs and Values

Millennials and Generation Z are attuned to today’s political, environmental, and socio-economic issues. They greatly care about and act on these problems online and in real life and support brands that do so too. When spending money, the youth today prefer to take their business to socially responsible brands.

To market to the younger generation, communicate your core values and share how you contribute to improving society. You can further increase your chances of success by connecting your brand, services, and marketing to the causes you support.

» Authentic, Humanized Branded Content

Given recent happenings worldwide, almost everyone is seeking light relief in their everyday lives—including how they align with brands.

Creating digital content that offers an authentic, humanlike personality complete with honesty, humor, vulnerability, and everything else we seek in our personal relationships is an excellent way to build brand loyalty in 2023. An effective way to create these bonds is by featuring mascots or characters throughout your digital marketing, whether we’re speaking of video, email, or app designs.

Of course, these personas must feel authentic and relevant to your brand. A fun and friendly face your target market can relate to is a great way to create loyalty through digital marketing.

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Ultimate Guide To Home Services Marketing In 2023

» Consumers Will Demand Seamless Omnichannel Experiences

Home service consumers will demand seamless omnichannel experiences across their entire journey. To earn their trust, you’ll need to ensure they feel understood and valued every step of the way.

A staggering 83% of customers say they require a positive experience to stay loyal to a brand. If you fail to provide seamless consumer experiences, the stakes are high, as up to 82% of consumers would switch providers due to a bad experience.

Home services companies must embrace personalization across all channels to triumph over the competition in 2023. Focus on providing a seamless experience as prospective clients transition from online research to phone calls to in-person interactions.

» Online Reviews Are Critical

Did you know that 86% of people are willing to pay more for services from a company with higher ratings and reviews?

Sure, a trusted friend’s advice remains the most trusted source for choosing a service provider. However, the rise of review sites makes it more essential than ever for businesses to pay close attention to their online reputation. Positive reviews significantly increase your legitimacy and trust from potential customers shopping for a vendor.

Happy customers are an invaluable asset to utilize, especially when competing with other local home repair contractors. Reviews on sites like Yelp, Google, Facebook, and others can be a blessing and a curse, so managing your customer reviews and comments is vital.

» Email Marketing Remains A Powerful Tool

Why consider email marketing for your plumber digital marketing strategy when you can dance on TikTok and go viral?

Hold your jig: Email marketing remains a crucial marketing channel in 2023. However, like all channels, the best practices change often. Let’s look at the four most important 2023 email marketing trends, plus how you can implement them starting right now.

• Use Personalization – The fact is, personalization works! Use personalization in your email to drive open rate and engagement. This could be as simple as including the recipient’s first name in the subject line or contacting them on their birthday.
• Use Interactive Content – What’s the goal of email marketing? To get conversions, right? Consumers want interactive emails. Almost 60% of people report engaging with interactive email content.
• Use Artificial Intelligence – AI allows you to utilize advanced computer science techniques to get insights from big data and customers, helping you write email copy, clean up lists, optimize send times, and send automated newsletters.
• Look at Examples From Your Industry – Are you trying to set up a great email campaign as part of your HVAC digital marketing strategy for 2023? Look at successful ones that get replies within your industry!

Also Read: The Top 10 Digital Marketing Trends in 2021-2022

Wrapping Up!

Adjusting to the digital marketing trends for 2023 is essential for any business trying to remain relevant. However, balancing between trends is vital because once a trend becomes widespread, it frequently deviates its direction or disappears from the market entirely because of oversaturation.

When planning your digital marketing campaigns for 2023, remember to ask yourself: Will your content remain valuable if the current trends change? What will happen to my marketing should that happen?

» Take Your Homes Services Business To The Next Level With Our Marketing Services

Digital marketing for home services can make a big difference for your business. Our online marketing strategies at GoMarketing are ideal for home service contractors wishing to reach their target audience through search engines and social media.

Also Read: SEO Solutions for Home Services Companies

No matter the size of your business, you will benefit from our effective digital marketing solutions. At GoMarketing, we are here to help your business get the right results through a bespoke online marketing plan that incorporates tried and tested SEO tactics and emerging industry trends, such as video and niche researching. To learn more about how you can grow your home services business, contact our digital marketing agency in Thousand Oaks today by calling (805) 413-7893 or fill out our online form!

The post Digital Marketing Trends to Look Out for in 2023 appeared first on GoMarketing.

Are you a small or medium-sized business looking for new, cost-effective marketing initiatives to add to your current strategies and campaigns? Believe it or not, you don’t always have to increase your marketing expenses to expand your reach or exposure. Sometimes you just have to think outside the box. For over 15 years, GoMarketing has remained committed to online growth and reputation for businesses across all industry sectors–from home services digital marketing to healthcare and real estate. As a full-service digital marketing and advertising agency, we offer campaigns and initiatives that any small business can benefit from, including:

• SEO
• Local Marketing
• Social Media
• Link Building
• Content Marketing
• Pay-Per-Click
• Facebook Ads
• Press Releases + Earned Media
• Video Marketing
• Web Design + Development
• E-Commerce
• Software + Apps

If you’re a small business, learn SEO and new approaches you can take to maintain and even increase your brand awareness onscreen and off screen!

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Gear Up With Guerilla Marketing

Guerilla marketing is a form of advertising and brand exposure that seeks to surprise your target audience(s). Instead of requiring a big budget, the success of a guerilla marketing campaign will depend on the amount of creativity, imagination and originality that goes into it. The more creative the ideas your marketing team can generate, the more your business will stand apart from other local competitors and even bigger corporate entities. Here are some guerilla marketing ideas you can try for yourself:

• Create eye-catching art with chalk outside your brick-and-mortar store.
• Hit the pavement and ask potential customers to use your product by means of an undercover agent or someone standing outside your store.
• Organize a flash mob to generate crowd attention and promote awareness of your brand.

Expand Your Offerings (And Sources Of Income)

During a lull or slower season for your small business, promoting the same old services isn’t going to cut it. This is not a matter of the medium (i.e. your website or social media); it’s a matter of the focus of your content. If this is the case for your local brand, you should consider diversifying your offerings and sources of income.

Get Social

According to the Pew Research Center Report of Social Media Usage, over two-thirds of American adults use social media now in 2019, which is ten times more than just ten years ago.
Depending on your industry and niche, your business should post and interact on the social media platforms your target audience(s) uses the most, including but not limited to:

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram
• Pinterest
• Reddit
• LinkedIn
• Google Plus
• Snapchat.

Instead of creating an account on every single social media platform, we recommend choosing 1 – 3 to master and build your digital brand.

Bonus Tip: Social media platforms are also a great tool for researching trends when trying to appeal to new and existing target customers!

Consider Content Marketing

These days, people not only look for information on the internet but also products and services As a result, potential customers AND Google prioritize valuable content from businesses online. There are many ways to go about content marketing to increase your brand’s domain authority and exposure such as: blogs, videos, podcasts, infographics, and/or articles for third-party platforms. This last approach leverages your business as an expert while you benefit from the free web traffic.

Keep in mind that you don’t have to create all content in-house. Consider hiring freelance writers, graphic designers, local agencies, and/or personal assistants. You can also repurpose old content and give it a new spin to keep your business relevant.

Free Contests + Giveaways

It’s no secret that everyone loves free stuff. Be generous with your audience by setting up contests and giveaways that offer discounts or fun items. This opportunity helps your business in three ways: gaining goodwill, building brand awareness, and connecting with potential customers. Keep in mind that free giveaways don’t have to be costly. They can even incorporate valuable content as the reward (i.e. online ebooks, white papers, checklists, and etc.).

For physical gifts to give away, people tend to enjoy to small items such as balloons, smartphone wipes, key chains, fridge magnets, pens and notepads. Remember: you want to choose items that are easy to put your logo and branding on.

Partner Up With Local Businesses

If you’re a local business with a smaller marketing budget, it just makes sense to partner with other nearby businesses such as manufacturers, suppliers, vendors, and more. This is not only a win-win for both businesses by increasing exposure for each brand, it also adds proven credibility when another business recommends you. Some examples of savvy partnership ideas include:

• Exchange customer lists with a local business and offering commission for every sale they make on your behalf. Just make sure that you have verified permission from your customers to share their contact information!
• With direct mail, offer to share postage costs and include your flyer with the other businesses’ mail. If the other business has a physical retail space, ask to put your business cards in their customer waiting area–if applicable.
• Don’t be afraid to seek out partners within your existing customer base. You can jumpstart a referral rewards program where you reward your customers for referring friends, families, and acquaintances.

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Enhance Your Reputation With Earned Media

Ending up in the local news is another opportunity for free exposure and third-party validation. Here are some ideas for appealing to local news outlets and reporters looking for timely and relevant happenings that people want to read or hear about.

• Give back to the community in some way, and send out a press release a couple weeks before the event or donation to generate awareness. For example, some innovative hairdressers have offered free haircuts to the homeless in their locale.
• Sponsor an event by donating your products or services as giveaways or prizes–your business can even offer to host a contest or charitable event at your brick-and-mortar location.
• Nominate yourself for a business contest or award–even if you don’t win, you will gain exposure just for being a valid contender!

Smart + Savvy Email Campaigns

Emailing your customer base is a great way to stay in touch, send reminders, promote sales, and offer special coupons and savings. Be sure to leave a clipboard and pen out on your front desk to collect contact information at your physical location, and always remember to ask for emails on any online forms. Even though social media has become widespread for networking and sharing information, email still remains the most effective way to reach people online and maintain your customer base digitally.

Sending out the occasional newsletter or sale announcement keeps you fresh in people’s minds, making your products ever accessible. When customers receive a coupon delivered straight to their inbox, they’re likely to click through to the site and/or print the coupon for their next store visit. Plus, it doesn’t cost your business any physical resources or capital to send that email in the first place.

Bonus Tip: Create a unique, eye-catching email signature complete with a call-to-action (CTA) or click-through button to grab people’s attention. Your signature will show up on any email you send, even if you’re just sending an update, like announcing holiday hours or a reminder in regards to a new policy. Even if you’re not directly selling something in your email, that signature is a way to build brand visibility!

SEO For Success

As you probably know from your own experiences with Google, you’re more likely to click on (and buy from) the first few links on that first search engine results page (SERP). That’s why it’s important for your business to make it to the top search results and maintain a strong SEO strategy to keep that spot.

SEO stands for search engine optimization, and it is essential for any modern business’ successful digital marketing strategy. Good SEO tactics help increase your overall web traffic and visibility, which will translate to better lead generation and more sales. The first step in any SEO strategy involves researching the high-ranking keywords that your audience is searching for on platforms like Google, Yahoo, and Bing, and then incorporating them effectively into your web content and website (but avoid keyword stuffing). This approach allows search engine algorithms to prioritize your business’ URLs and content, slowly building your domain authority over time.

Whether your in-house marketing and/or executive team handles SEO strategy or you outsource it to an agency or consultant, it is a worthy long-term investment for your business that costs less than traditional advertising.

Boost Your Business With Google AdWords

Google is a great resource for small business owners. For any local business, we always recommend claiming your Google My Business Listing, so you can show up on the maps generated for searches made in your immediate area. In addition to gaining a verified listing with the largest search platform in the world, your business will also have access to Google Adwords via your business’ Google account. One of the biggest advantages of utilizing Google Adwords is that it allows businesses to set their own budget and pay as they go.

You’ve probably already seen Google Adwords in action–you just might not have realized it! Google advertisements include search result ads that rank #1 on a SERP, video and display ads (which typically appear in your sidebar and YouTube videos), and in-app ads (for mobile device users). If you use AdWords correctly, your business can increase visibility and awareness on desktops, laptops, and smartphones without overdoing it–or over-paying.

Additionally, Google AdWords offers its account users a library of resources that can help business owners and executives with choosing the best keywords visual layouts when just starting out. Once you’ve learned how to make the most effective ads for your business, Google AdWords will walk you through actually creating one and launching an official campaign!

Video Marketing

Second place to Google, YouTube is the next largest search platform in the U.S., making it a great way to reach new customers while maintaining your current audience and fan base. From how-to and product videos to behind-the-scenes footage, YouTube is a great tool for producing content that engages your audience.

Although a YouTube profile and account for any individual or business is free, you will want to create quality video content that is high-res and appealing to users ready to watch. As its own search platform, YouTube better promotes content that makes it easy for its algorithm to categorize, so your SEO strategy should incorporate YouTube’s guidelines for overall success with the fastest branch of digital marketing.

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Customer Review Management

Word-of-mouth advertising and social proof are alive and well in the Digital Age with online reviews and platforms dedicated to them such as Yelp. This corner of any business’ online presence is often neglected, but ensuring that your business has plenty of favorable reviews and ratings for others to see is a key tactic for any strong online presence.

That’s why we recommend that all small and local businesses claim their profile, add their location, upload pictures, and most importantly, respond to all reviews—both positive and negative. Remaining active on review sites will show any current and potential customers that you care deeply about customer service and that your business is proactive even when it makes mistakes.

Bonus Tip: Also, don’t be afraid to ask your customers to leave your reviews on Yelp or Facebook!

Trustworthy Is Key

These days, more people are using the internet to solve problems and find solutions. That’s why it’s important for your business to have the answers and share them via your website, online forums, or social media platforms. Not only does this build your own digital presence, it positions you as an expert that people can trust and turn to when they need it.

As part of your market research, try to figure out where exactly on the Web your customers like to ask questions and solve problems, which can be a Facebook group, Reddit, Quora, or an industry-specific online forum/community. A great way to subtly promote your business and increase your overall exposure and reach is to remain active on these platforms by answering specific questions and/or facilitating discussions.

Remember: Don’t spam online communities with heavy-handed business promotions. Providing valuable content is the way to establish and maintain trust among your digital audience(s). This way, they’ll remember to come to you with the next industry-specific question or dilemma they face!

Do you have any additional questions about how to better market or advertise your local business on a budget? Talk to our savvy marketing managers today about cost-effective digital marketing solutions that can help grow your business! Call GoMarketing at 805.413.7893.

The post The Guide To Marketing Your Small Business On A Budget appeared first on GoMarketing.

As your Southern California digital marketing and advertising experts, the GoMarketing team has worked with small and medium-sized businesses all over Ventura and Los Angeles County. One of the challenges many local businesses face today is remaining relevant via digital content and online presence. A couple of the most common questions our marketing managers receive from our clients include:

• In what ways can I truly make the most of my business’ slower season?
• How do I keep growing my business during lulls and slower markets?

More often than not, smaller businesses will want to pause their digital marketing services when cutting their expenses during a slower season. However, this short-term solution can do more harm than good for your SEO and overall online presence in the long run.

Rather than neglecting your digital marketing efforts, we have some savvy suggestions for your business, so you can keep growing amidst lulls and slower traffic. Read on to learn how to bolster your business all year round!

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Marketing For More Business Tomorrow

When your local business hits a wall during slower months and seasons, it may seem like SEO and web traffic aren’t reaping the returns you hoped it would. However, online exposure is critical for smaller brands such as yourself. When business plateaus, it’s time to double your efforts onscreen and off screen. Here’s how you can continue to boost your brand throughout the year–straight from the digital marketing experts at GoMarketing!

Expand Your Offerings (And Sources Of Income)

During a lull or slower season for your small business, promoting the same old services isn’t going to cut it. This is not a matter of the medium (i.e. your website or social media); it’s a matter of the focus of your content. If this is the case for your local brand, you should consider diversifying your offerings and sources of income.

Remember:

Cutting expenses too drastically during slower months may inhibit your business’ growth and ability to prepare for your busier and busiest seasons. Instead of simply reducing expenses, try thinking of new ideas to earn more income.

Allow your small business to expand even during the off-season with some new offering and earning opportunities such as these:

• Construction companies can add insulation to homes during the winter season.
• Accountants can help other businesses with their payroll or bookkeeping during their busier seasons.
• Retailers can sell beach-themed products or merch in preparation for summer.
• HVAC companies can offer preventative maintenance and preparation during the autumn and spring for months with more extreme temperatures.
• Property management companies can offer additional resources or merch at slower moving periods for rental markets such as autumn and winter.

Keep in mind that your business ought to test out newer services and offerings, so you can streamline the additional labor and resources these earning opportunities can require. While you should definitely generate new ideas for promoting your business and increasing your income during lulls, avoid overextending you and your staff when it comes to new products and services and untapped markets.

Work Smarter, Not Harder

When your small business encounters a lull, it is also a slower season for your local competitors. Reaching potential leads and customers while your competition is quiet can give your business an advantage that pays off during peak season. Even during slower months, don’t be afraid to start a conversation with your target audience on digital platforms. Consider the following campaigns that will sustain interest in your brand all year round:

• Exclusive pricing for social media followers and/or email contacts
• Sneak peeks at products, services, and/or promotions before your busy season
• Loyalty and rewards programs that will boost your cash flow for the rest of the year

Research Trends

After your peak season(s) is a great time and opportunity for your team to conduct market research that will prepare you for the upcoming year. These days, social media is an invaluable tool for remaining relevant when it comes to new trends and cultural shifts. From new devices and gadgets to the latest and greatest in entertainment, online channels are a resource for your business to stay aware and fresh.

Depending on the social media platforms your business is signed up with, here is a small guide for accessing more information about content, products, and services that are in high-demand through these public forums!

Twitter

Upon logging into Twitter, you’ll see a sidebar to the left labeled “Trends for You,” which is a curated channel for trending products and what people are talking about the most. For further research, simply type in different subjects related to your particular industry or niche such as “property management” or “A/C maintenance”, and you’ll be able to see what others are saying about these topics on Twitter.

Facebook

Undoubtedly the most popular social media platform, Facebook also includes a trending section accessible from the right sidebar of your dashboard. Due to this platform’s prevalence and focus on connecting people (rather than ideas), your business will be able to find popular pages or groups that will help your business better reach and appeal to target markets.

Pinterest

Relevant as ever, many people use their Pinterest profiles as a visual inspiration board to save products, services, and ideas that they love for themselves and friends. To use this channel as a research tool, just type in something that describes your brand offering to see what people are “pinning” and saving to their own profiled to get an idea about what is popular in your niche.

When in doubt, don’t be afraid to ask your audience about what type of content they want to see or what product/services are their most favorite. You can do this in the form of surveys or polls on Facebook or Instagram!

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Keep Your Home Services Businesses Operating All Year

Even in Southern California, business tends to slow down for home service enterprises during the colder months of autumn and winter. Give your small business a competitive edge by tapping into service offerings that accommodate wintertime demands. You might be surprised by how many cold(er) season services naturally coincide with your main offering(s).

If you’re a local home service company looking to stay relevant throughout autumn and winter, try the following ideas to increase exposure–and profits!

• Holiday Light Installation
• Building Interior Rehabilitation
• Home Energy Audits
• Adding Extra Insulation
• Additional Services That Help Reduce Utility Bills

Get Strategic About Your Digital Marketing

Rather than canceling or pausing your digital marketing efforts during a business slump, try spending more time on your strategy so that it is optimized for converting your ideal customer. This will increase the probability and occurrence of new and returning customers spending more on additional services, retaining them for future solutions, and generating positive reviews and referrals. In addition to implementing a rewards or loyalty program, consider highlighting products/services that are natural upsells.

Make Time For Trade Shows + Conferences

Let’s face it: during a slower month or season, you and your staff will have a bit more time on your hands. Consider further investing this free time into your business in the form of trade shows, which are wonderful opportunities for networking and referrals. Keep in mind that fellow exhibitors can serve as valuable inspiration for ideas and/or solutions that can help cut costs or make your business run more efficiently, leading to long-term cash flow improvements that reduce seasonal impact and fluctuations in the long run.

Set-Up Events And/Or Teach Seminars

Whether your business is product or service-based, your staff has valuable knowledge and first-hand experience that can help potential customers and position your brand as an industry expert. Engage your audience during slower months by providing answers to their burning questions via local classes or seminars. Keep in mind that setting up a teaching event can not only attract more exposure and work, it can also be an opportunity for revenue and profit.

If you’re a small business with a particular industry niche, consider the following ideas for increasing knowledge and brand awareness:

• Speaking at a local community college
• Holding classes for industry newcomers
• Creating events that educate consumers
• Facilitating classes for DIY (Do-It-Yourself) projects
• Hosting events for fellow industry professionals
• Throwing open houses or mixers for consumers, brokers or agents

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Join A Professional Group + Association

The benefits of reciprocity and fellowship that association memberships and partnerships offer can be invaluable in helping you gain new customers and spread brand awareness–not to mention enhancing your business’ reputation. Consider joining up with your city’s Chamber of Commerce and/or attending meetings or conferences held by national/regional industry groups for further networking opportunities!

Additional Off-Season Ideas

Need some smaller scale seasonal marketing ideas on-the-go? Here are some quick ideas for your business to try when it encounters a slow period or lull!

• Off-Season Specials
• Flash Sales
• One-Day Sales
• Limited Time Offers
• Upsells
• Rewards
• Loyalty Packages
• Early Bird Specials + Discounts
• Special Contests + Giveaways
• Referral + Rewards Programs
• Discount Coupons
• Gift Card Rewards
• Grow Online Reviews + Testimonials
• Special Events For Loyal Customers
• Sneak Previews
• Expand Geo-Target Markets
• Consumer To Corporate
• Partner Up With Local Businesses
• Low Or No-Cost Marketing
• Email Newsletters + Marketing

Do you have any additional questions about how to market your small business during slow months and seasons? Contact GoMarketing today with any inquiries or to learn more about our digital marketing and advertising solutions! Call us at 805.413.7893.

The post How To Market Your Small Business During Slower Seasons appeared first on GoMarketing.

Richard Uzelac states, “There is a new Google paid option in beta testing called the Google Guarantee, which will place your business, after it is qualified, above even the paid Google Adwords results of a search for your service offering(s) in your area. These new Google Guarantee Local Service Ads (LSA) will be at the top of page one in the Google search results, with additional LSAs linked just above the top three on page one of Google.” To learn more about how Google partners with businesses to get leads from Google My Business,

The Google Guarantee LSA tile will display a green badge next to a local service listing that undergoes an evaluation, and is approved by this optional advanced certification. Furthermore, businesses and local service providers that are Google Guaranteed will be displayed at the top of a SERP (with their verified badge)–placing them above organic search and paid results when a user searches for their services in their given target regions and areas. Only those businesses are approved for Google Guarantee who use AdWords advertising.

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What does Google Guarantee?

Google Guarantee offers consumer protection in up to $2,000 to Consumers that hire a Google Guaranteed provider that fails to do the job correctly. This new advanced certification, through the Google platform only, directly applies to businesses that require licensing, bonding, and insurance — which will largely impact small to medium-sized businesses in the local home services industry.

Although the process is more complex for business owners, the Google Guarantee remains a free certification tool for businesses to bolster their online reputation and showcase their commitment to quality service. While protecting online consumers and users, the Google Guarantee also aims to benefit businesses that go the extra mile for third-party validation by giving them search prominence and generating leads with higher conversion rates. Keep in mind that like Google’s Local Service Ads, the Google Guarantee remains cost-effective for home service businesses because the new platform charges by each paying job and customer earned through the program as opposed to pay-per-click.

While the Google Guarantee promises high-quality services for local consumers/users, it also ensures more business and leads for these local service providers.

What Business Can Sign up for the Google Guarantee?

The list is fluid right now, but at this time, most Home Services Providers Can Sign up, Including:

• Appliance repair
• Auto glass
• Car repair
• Carpet & Upholstery cleaning
• Electrician
• Estate lawyer
• Event planners
• Financial planners
• Garage door
• House cleaning
• HVAC
• Immigration Law
• Junk removal
• Lawn care
• Locksmith
• Moving
• Pest control
• Pet boarding
• Pet grooming
• Photographers
• Plumber
• Real estate
• Roofing
• Tree service
• Water damage services
• Window cleaning
• Window repair

Let’s learn more about the Google Guarantee, and what it means for HVAC, plumbers, and other home service businesses!

Google My Business To Local Service Ads + Google Guarantee, an Evolution

For over 20 years, Google has remained an innovative force to be reckoned with, changing how information is shared and how individuals and businesses use the internet. Arguably, Google is the reason that Search Engine Marketing (SEM) exists as we know it. As Google’s search platform has evolved and expanded, small businesses have had to incorporate SEO into their marketing strategies to stay relevant in the Digital Age. Let’s have a look at the trajectory of Google’s tools for local storefronts and businesses.

Google My Business

“In order to be listed on Google’s local search results pages and be given priority and search prominence, businesses must still undergo the step of verifying their address and phone number via a postcard with a code and an automated phone call with another separate code. Officially launched in 2014, Google My Business has remained a free tool for local businesses–creating an expansive directory via Google and helping businesses reach new and local audiences,” said Richard Uzelac

Local Service Ads

After establishing their very own ad platform, Google now provides what they call Local Service Ads, which is a targeted lead generation tool for service providers to promote their business via the search engine platform. To be listed as a local service provider, a business needs to follow simple steps:

• Sign up as a service provider
• Set a budget
• Launch Google Ads

Different from Google Ads, local service providers don’t pay per click, but pay for each job and lead generated from Google’s platform.

How Your HVAC Or Home Service Company Can Obtain The Google Guarantee

“As I mentioned earlier, the Google Guarantee is an advanced certification process that is closely tied to other business tools and offerings such as Google My Business and Local Service Ads. As a business owner or executive, completing the extra steps to secure the Google Guarantee for your service-based company will allow you to reap the rewards with higher returns from your digital marketing efforts as well as gain an edge on the stiff competition in your local region, said Richard Uzelac

Right now, the Google Guarantee is available in 17 cities (and counting daily) and is set to increase to 30 cities in the near future. Furthermore, the Google Guarantee is currently only furnished to HVAC, plumbing, electrician, and locksmith businesses within the home services industry but have the potential to expand to more sectors in time. If your a small or medium-sized business looking to stay on top of the latest in Google trends and innovations, you can earn the Google Guarantee by following these steps (if you’ve already verified your Google My Business listing, start at Step #2 ).

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Richard Uzelac’s Steps to Earn the Google Guarantee:

• 1. Create your business listing via Google My Business.
• 2. Select the “Advanced Verification” section of your Google My Business account.
• 3. Enter your business’ name, address, and phone number.
• 4. Select and confirm your business’ hours of operation.
• 5. Select your business’ target cities and locations.
• 6. Select and confirm all of the applicable services your business offers.
• 7. Enter your business’ license number.
• 8. After signing up for Local Service Ads, a Google representative will reach out to your business’ point of contact for further steps.
• 9. Complete the background checks Google requires via Pinkerton Consulting. All employees who are authorized to provide services at customer’s home will need to undergo the background check.
• 10. Submit copies of license and insurance documents to be kept on file by Google.

Home service business also ought to keep in mind that in order to sustain their Google Guarantee long-term, they must be prepared to re-verify their business every three months after the initial issuing of the verified badge.

With click-through rates between 30 and 50 percent, there is no doubt that top placement on a Google SERP not only generates increased web and foot traffic to your business but can also function to produce more leads and conversions for your HVAC or home service business. Already, the Google Guarantee has grown lead generation by 1,800% for selected businesses in beta testing. If you’re a home service business that depends on local exposure, then the Google Guarantee is for you. Boost your local brand’s reputation all while increasing leads and profits, so your team of technicians and service professionals can be booked all year round!

The Latest In Digital Marketing + Google Advertising For Local Home Service Businesses

As marketing and advertising become more and more digital, it’s crucial for small, local businesses, especially within the home services sector, to develop a reputable yet cutting-edge online presence that resonates with web and search engine users. When it comes to search engines, Google is undoubtedly the leader of the pack–having replaced phone books, directories, and maps much to our dismay (and convenience).

With consumers relying more on search engines and other online platforms, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) continues to evolve. One thing we can be certain about is that Google isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Thus, it is necessary for family-owned, service-based businesses to adapt to the latest developments within this digital climate.

Here are some recent 2019 statistics to help you understand why optimizing your digital marketing efforts and initiatives to Google’s latest parameters can be a huge pay-off for your company:

Richard Uzelac’s Helpful Recent Key Metrics Around Google Search:

• Each day, 3.5 billion Google searches are made.
• Google’s overall index is comprised of hundreds of billions of web pages–100,000,000 GB to be exact.
• The search volume for Google queries has been increasing by 10% every year.
• Each year, 16 to 20 percent of Google searches are completely brand new to the entire index, meaning they haven’t been searched before.
• 90% of desktop users choose Google as their search platform.
• Over one-third of product-related searches begin on Google.
• Over one-third of “near me” searches on desktops and tablets at home result in a storefront visit.
• Three out of five Google searches are completed on mobile devices (this figure has doubled over the last 5 years).
• Paid Google search results receive 65% of their clicks from mobile devices.
• About a third of all Google search queries are location-related.
• When it comes to organic search results on Google, 62% of desktop users click on them and 41% of mobile users click-through.
• On mobile devices, 50% of Google searches result in a store visit.

As demand and competition grows for Search Engine Marketing, it will be important for smaller, local businesses to stay ahead of the curve to earn that coveted first spot on a Google Search Engine Results Pages (SERP), whether paid or organically.

GoMarketing + The Google Guarantee

“For over 15 years, Southern California’s GoMarketing has worked closely with local and national small to medium-sized businesses as a full-service marketing agency. From website design and development to SEO services, GoMarketing specializes in creating and maintaining digital assets that increase web traffic and generate leads for companies throughout various industries–including HVAC and home services digital marketing. As a trusted Google Partner, GoMarketing stays up-to-date on all of the latest developments and tools available to business owners via Google, the world’s leading search engine platform. If you have any questions about the Google Guarantee or would like to learn more about our full suite of digital marketing and advertising services, contact me, Richard Uzelac, or our team of professionals directly by calling (805) 413-7893.”

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Why Plumbers Should Market Their Business Online

“At GoMarketing, we understand that for most home services businesses, especially plumbers, your solid customer base is within a 30 to 50 mile radius of your location(s).

It’s important for your marketing efforts to continue reaching new clients as well as reminding past customers about your affordable prices and valuable services.

When working with the same or similar target audience(s), your home services business will need to get creative with marketing strategies, messaging, and lead generation tactics.

Is your plumbing business experiencing a Midsummer slump when it comes to its marketing efforts?

GoMarketing suggests using digital marketing strategies to expand your business’ reach. Read on to learn more about some new online and offline lead generation ideas you can use to grow your plumbing business!” said Richard Uzelac

Online & Offline Marketing Tips & Tricks For Plumbers

Marketing experts and business professionals agree: small business owners, like plumbers, can better optimize their lead conversions and marketing ROI by combining both online and offline tactics.

Plumbers are no exception to this. No matter if your plumbing business is well-established, family-owned, and/or multi generational, your company will undoubtedly benefit from boosting traditional methods with some newer digital tactic.

With more and more consumers researching and discovering local businesses online, making your plumbing business easy-to-find and remember in the digital world is key for appealing to emerging markets and audiences.

Here are some surefire ways to attract new business, online and offline, in the Digital Age.

Build A Savvy Plumbing Website:

‘The baseline for any small business these days is a unique, easy-to-navigate website that offers a streamlined user-experience.

Not only does your plumbing business need a layout and design that makes sense, your web pages should also be optimized for all of the platforms that exist today–desktops, laptops, smartphones, and tablets.

Think of your website as an online reflection of your brand and values as well as the first step in building domain authority. Make sure images are high-res and all of your contact information is up-to-date and correct,” said Richard Uzelc

Sign Up With Local Directories:

The days of phone books and yellow pages are long gone. Local directories have gone digital, so your plumbing business ought to adapt accordingly. To maintain exposure online, your business ought to add its address, website, and contact information to the following popular directories:

• Google
• Bing
• Yahoo!
• Yelp
• Facebook
• Better Business Bureau
• Angie’s List
• LinkedIn
• Local.com

Also, keep in mind that the more directories your business is added to, the more domain authority you’re likely to receive.

At GoMarketing, we suggest having a team member or marketing manager refresh and verify all of your listings every few months–to make sure contact information is current and to keep your directory listings active.

Create A Downloadable DIY Guide:

“These days, content is king. Creating unique plumbing related content that answers your audience’s questions or helps them solve a problem establishes your business as a trusted professional and go-to expert.

For example, your plumbing company could create a helpful tutorial on how to change the flapper valve on a residential toilet.

DIY’ers will love it and contact your business for larger projects that require more in-depth expertise.

You might be wondering:

Won’t this lead to my plumbing business losing out on smaller jobs?

However, the brand authority and bigger and better service opportunities are priceless,” said Richard Uzelac, CEO of GoMarketing Inc.

Invest In SEO Services:

Search Engine Optimization involves all sorts of combined efforts and factors, among them include optimizing your web page title, meta tags and image alt tags according to your plumbing business’ relevant keywords.

Because SEO requires a multidimensional approach, it might be helpful to partner up with a local digital marketing agency that can take care of all the grunt work and provide helpful analytics and metrics in regards to your digital presence.

Stay Active On Social Media:

Now more than ever, it’s important for businesses to be available on social media platforms.

Posting regularly and interacting with your customers is the best way to demonstrate and grow your plumbing business’ social proof.

Consider sharing helpful videos and tutorials as well as promotions, coupons, and giveaways to keep your audience(s) engaged.

Claim Your Google My Business Listing:

The majority of customers are going to search for a plumbing company on Google and choose one of the top businesses in the local search results.

That’s why it’s so important that your plumbing business claims its Google My Business listing.

To do this, visit www.business.google.com, claim your listing, and verify all of your business’ information. This will ensure your plumbing company appears on Google Maps for any local searches in your area.

Create An Online Community:

Start a conversation with audiences on your digital and social media platforms. This creates a space in which customers, returning and potential, can continue learning about plumbing issues, your industry, and more.

Online users are drawn to opportunities for education and entertainment, so you ought to appeal to these human instincts and create a community in which your plumbing business is the source.

Paid Search Ads:

Any organic SEO strategy ought to incorporate paid digital advertising to boost overall web traffic and exposure.

Paid search ads are perfect for small business owners because they allow you to set your own budget and track metrics that allow you to see which type of content and campaigns perform best with your target demographics.

Network Within Your Industry:

Establish helpful contacts within the building, developing and contracting industries by attending conventions and networking with these industry professionals.

Keep records of the information for all of the contacts you establish from these events in an Excel sheet or CRM system and check-in with them every few months.

You never know when someone is going to need a new plumber or has a new venture they want to partner up with you for.

Get Google Certified:

On top of claiming your Google My Business listing, home service businesses now have the option to go the extra mile and get Google Certified, which would place your business’ listing above paid search results at the very top of a SERP.

This not only increases your plumbing business’ potential for exposure, leads, and conversions, it also enhances your credibility via third-party validation. To learn more about the process for getting Google Certified, click here.

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More Helpful Marketing Hacks For Plumbers

“The above marketing tips and tricks should act as a strong foundation for your plumbing company marketing strategies that remain active and ongoing all year round.

Here are some extra marketing hacks your business can try to increase its reach online and offline for more conversions and sales,” Richard Uzelac said.

• Come Up With Cross-Promotions
• Partner Up With A Local Home Improvement Contractor
• Share Helpful Blog Content
• Create Community Coupons
• Film A Demonstration Video
• Cloverleafing & Yard Signs
• Utilize Live Video Streaming
• Boost Online Reviews
• Build A Solid Reputation
• Optimize Service Pages
• Create Whitepapers
• Share Photos & Videos Of Works In Progress
• Join An HOA
• Market To Local Property Managers
• Build Brand Assets & Authority
• Launch A Referral Program
• Join Facebook Groups
• Create A Campaign That Honors & Supports Veterans
• Track Incoming Calls
• Create Geo-Target Web Pages For Smaller Surrounding Areas/Neighborhoods
• Market To Past Customers
• Partner Up With A Local Hardware Store
• Run Demos At Trade Or Home Shows
• Develop Strong Service Recovery

Since 2002, GoMarketing has been helping plumbing businesses reach a wider network within their local and surrounding areas by means of optimized digital assets and marketing strategies.

Our team of web developers and marketing managers have experience working with all sorts of businesses throughout the home services sector, including but not limited to:

• HVAC
• Plumbing
• House Painters
• Moving Companies
• Pest Control
• Electricians
• Flooring Companies
• Roofing Experts
• Solar Companies
• Window Installers
• Professional Cleaners & Housekeepers
• Landscaping Architects
• Remodelers
• Building Contractors
• Carpet Cleaners
• Real Estate Professionals
• Furniture Makers
• Pet Care Specialists
• Tree Care Specialists
• Closet & Storage Companies

If you’re a home services business owner looking to increase your digital marketing returns and grow your business online, don’t hesitate to contact us directly for a free initial consultation to start your custom marketing program at 805.413.7893.

Do you have any additional questions about how to market your local plumbing business more effectively and efficiently to increase your customer base and bottom line each year.

Contact our team of web developers and marketing professionals at GoMarketing today for a free initial consultation, so we can get started on your custom marketing plan. Call us at 805.413.7893.

About GoMarketing

Based out of Thousand Oaks, California, GoMarketing uses the following mission statement to deliver digital marketing results to their clients: “Understand. Engage. Succeed. Grow.”

Acting as digital marketing professionals within a wide range of industry sectors, the GoMarketing team specializes in SEO, content strategy, website design and development, and more–providing a full suite of marketing solutions that generate online leads and sales for businesses throughout the country.

For more information about their custom marketing plans, contact GoMarketing directly at 805.413.7893 or visit http://www.gomarketing.com.

About Richard Uzelac, CEO of GoMarketing
Founder of GoMarketing and RealtyTech Inc., Richard Uzelac is an Emmy award-winning graphics producer, former Director of Realtor.com, and sits on several boards of directors.

Richard Uzelac’s GoMarketing works with Corporations and Small Businesses to generate exposure, sales and improve online reputation.

Mr. Richard Uzelac is also available as a Technology Speaker, Seminar Provider and Business Consultant. For more information, contact Richard Uzelac at 805.413.7893.

The post Digital Marketing Guide For Plumbers by Richard Uzelac, CEO of GoMarketing Inc. appeared first on GoMarketing.

Search Engine Optimization

What is SEO and do you need it? Believe it or not, Search Engine Optimization is more important and necessary than ever in the year 2019. If you have a website and want it to work in your favor when it comes to brand exposure and lead generation, you’ll need to understand the actual meaning of SEO and all of the potential it can unlock for your business. Let’s quickly summarize the basic meaning first. SEO is the set of rules that you should follow to improve your website’s rankings on popular search engines.

SEO depends on many factors that increase your business’ domain authority and website quality by making it easy-to-navigate, faster, and most importantly, user-friendly. These days, SEO is more important than ever because the market is very competitive with businesses across all industries and scopes developing digital marketing strategies that streamline their online presence for online purchases.

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In the age of smartphone technology, search engines provide instant answers to billions of curious users, who turn to these algorithms for answers and solutions to any problem they are facing. Imagine, someone is looking for a recommendation or a place to buy a service or products that your business offers. You will only be able to help the user with a solution when they’re given the opportunity to visit your website via local or sponsored search results. This is where SEO comes in. With a solid SEO strategy, your website will show up on the first page of a search results page pertaining to specific keywords, and the chances of a user clicking your website and choosing your service/product will increase tenfold!

Still not convinced? Here are some reasons why Search Engine Optimization is important for your business:

1. The majority of internet users typically click on the first 5 suggestions that appear on SERPs (Search Engine Result Pages). With a proper SEO strategy, your website will be among the top 5 search results, increasing your business’ click-through and conversion rates.

2. Developing an SEO strategy over time helps build trust among your audience. The majority of internet users trust search engines like Google because they’re industry leaders. When your business’ website ranks high for the right keywords, a user will automatically trust your web page(s) over others that rank lower.

3. Although a great deal of SEO involves ranking for keywords and written content, another factor you shouldn’t forget about isi improving the usability and user-experience of your website. This means having clear page URLs, easy navigation, and appropriate metadata to appeal to search bots.

SEO + Blogging

Creating a blog that is optimized for both users and search engines is a tactic your business will need to adopt in order to stay ahead of the curve. Your business’ marketing team will need to understand the ever-changing rules and requirements pertaining to SEO over time, so that your brand’s online presence remains relevant as digital trends shift. However, despite what many people assume, SEO strategy is not a difficult process. As a business, there are many simple steps you can take to ensure the content you publish on a blog or website is SEO-friendly!

The details you ought to consider for your business’ blog content include the following: the click-ability of your post’s headline or title, the actual structure of blog content, subheadings, paragraph lengths, multimedia, and overall formatting. These elements play an important role in how your blog content will rank on Google and other search engines.

Writing SEO-Friendly Blog Content

The following are 10 steps your business ought to follow in order to ensure that all of your blog content is SEO-friendly. Let’s have a look!

1. Strategize Before Writing

When you spend some time thinking about blog topics to focus on and researching the questions your audience needs answers to, you’ll not only create more relevant and engaging content but also save time when it comes to the actual writing process!

Start off by reading and researching blogs and articles related to your industry, niche, and/or competitors. Make notes on what tactics and approaches work and which don’t. If possible, study the analytics of previous content your business has published that increased web traffic and engagement. Then, decide on topics you want to cover on your blog and set publishing deadlines in your calendar. Maintaining a consistent stream of content will boost your business’ SEO strategy and overall domain authority if kept up over time.

That’s why you’ll want your marketing team to create a publishing schedule at the beginning of each month–to plan your blog content accordingly. When it comes to sitting down andwriting content, make sure that the subject matter has been analyzed and keywords researched thoroughly. This will guarantee that your blog post receives higher ranking status, more web page visitors, and overall response and engagement-benefiting both your business and your audience.

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2. Plan The Blog Post’s Structure

Outlining your blog post’s structure is the second step. When you have a structure in place, you will be able to develop strategic call-to-actions and KPIs (Key Performance Indicators). The organization is key for on-page SEO as well as increasing lead conversions–or even just moving potential customers through the sales funnel at the early stages. When you split your blog post into multiple sections, the writing itself also becomes more manageable and efficient for you and/or your marketing team. Be sure to include many sub-sections, so readers aren’t intimidated by a wall of text!

3. Craft The Headline

The title or headline of your blog is more important than you think. Many bloggers consider it to be the first step. However, when you think about it, it’s easier to come up with a great headline only if you have a clear idea about your subject matter and intention. Creating a thumb-stopping, catchy headline is important for driving click-throughs and web traffic as part of your overall SEO strategy.

When crafting a clever, clickable title, keep in mind that your headline should never exceed the maximum length of 60 characters, and it should also include your blog’s primary keyword. Furthermore, blog title ought to offer a clear idea about the topic and make it sound intriguing to users.

4. Break-Up Paragraphs With Visuals Or Infographics

As mentioned before, you’ll need to make sure that your blog’s paragraphs are not too long, as it makes the reading process tasteless and boring. Keep in mind that a very large number of users read and browse on their mobile phones. Therefore, reading long paragraphs could be a strain on a smaller screen. Incorporating various visuals and design elements will also make your blog content more dynamic and fun to interact with!

5. Add Relevant Internal Links

Whenever you are writing a blog post, always try to associate it with another piece of published content. Internal linking is very effective and simple for boosting your overall SEO because they help search engines discover your website’s new pages. While crawling, search engine bots (also referred to as spiders) follow internal links and add them to their index if it doesn’t already exist. In addition to that, internal links also give search engines a better idea about page’s subject matter. When embed relevant internal links within your content, you can also decrease your website’s bounce rate by leading users to another web page, which only makes them stay on your site longer.

6. Use Relevant Keywords But Avoid Keyword Stuffing

Including the right keyword(s) in your blog will ensure that it’s relevant to readers and search engines alike. However, try to avoid overusing keywords, as search algorithms will recognize this and penalize your website’s ranking.

7. Optimize The Length Of Your Blog Post

It’s true that long-form content performs well according to Google’s latest SEO guidelines. This is because longer blog posts tend to offer more detailed answers that offer more expertise to readers. However, that doesn’t mean shorter blog posts won’t do well! When it comes to blog content, keep in mind that quality is always important than the quantity. If you develop blog content with your audience in mind, optimize it with keywords and internal links, and promote each new published post, your business will be sure to grow its blog’s reach online.

8. Develop Meta Titles And Descriptions

When it’s time to publish your blog(s), be sure to include appropriate metadata. Similar to the headline, the meta title should summarize the subject matter of the web page in 70 characters or less. Then be sure to apply a meta description to the blog’s URL. This is a summary of a web page that shows up on a SERP, giving users an idea about a particular search result without exceeding the maximum limit of 158 character. Google will prioritize your blog post if its meta description follows the character count and remains informative and interesting to engage search engine users.

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9. Optimize Other Media Elements

Images, infographics, statistics, videos, graphs, and etc. make blog posts more interactive and interesting. These media elements enhance content quality and boost SEO. However, Google has clearly stated that it’s hard to understand the actual context of a video or image while crawling pages. Therefore, you should use human-friendly alt text and optimized image file names, so algorithms can recognize this content and give it priority to search engines.

10. Keep Your Blog Posts Updated

The digital world remains fast-paced, so facts and statistics can change quite rapidly after new studies or data becomes available. A blog post will obviously remain on your website unless you remove it, so there’s a possibility that your blog post may show up in search results 2 or 3 years after it’s been published. However, if a user clicks on the link to your blog, the content should still make sense and stay relevant. Therefore, as part of your blog strategy, your business ought to make it a practice to update past blog content with new information and statistics.

In the year 2019, developing and maintaining a blog platform will be crucial to your business’ ongoing SEO success. Do you have any additional questions about how to create SEO-friendly blog content? Don’t hesitate to contact our team of professionals at GoMarketing to answer any and all questions concerning your digital marketing strategy: 805-413-7893!

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KISS – Keep it short and simple

Otherwise people get bored and may not read everything. This will be different if you are writing for a blog, but for a website it is important to keep it short and simple.

Use paragraphs

Headlines and other separators are very important to organize your content well. The paragraphs should not be too long and easily to read.

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Don’t use complicated words

… unless you are having a website where only specialists are having access to. People might not know your Jargon and get disappointed by not understanding what you want to say.

Talk to customers directly

This may sound weird, but people like being addressed by you as a company. If you are using the word you, it makes people feel comfortable with your brand.

Avoid Repetition

People don’t want to read the same content all over again, so just don’t use duplicated content.

Have you ever heard of those content writing tips?

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Any ranking changes seen from Penguin simply mean that Google now weighs areas of the website differently. At its core, the Penguin algorithm aims to eliminate web-spam and over-optimization. Sites that use black-hat SEO tactics will be penalized while sites with genuine content will be rewarded.

So how can you adjust to the different Google landscape?

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Strike the Perfect Keyword Balance

Finding the perfect equilibrium of keywords is essential to ensure a good standing with Google. Post too few keywords and you risk not being found; post too many and you are at risk for being flagged. An oversaturation of keywords will not only appear unnatural to your readers, but it will be flagged by Google as being over-optimized. Keep in mind that it is more important to write the keywords for the reader than to simply boost SEO.

Use Good Quality Links

It is now more important than ever to use good quality third-party links. One good strategy is using brand name links rather than keyword links; this includes accurate URLS as well. Not everyone will make the decision to use the same anchor text to link to your site. If your keyword is “yellow daisies,” try to get links with text like “daisies that are yellow,” “daisies” and “a variety of color of daisies.” Finally, utilizing non-descriptive links such as “click here” are excellent strategies for keeping your profile optimized and looking natural.

Good Content Can Never Hurt You

Know what to Avoid

Since Penguin is basically Google’s way to keep web spam in check and encourage sites to play by the rules, avoiding these tactics will help bypass Penguin:

The post The Penguin Paradigm: What Google’s New Algorithm Could Mean for Your Business appeared first on GoMarketing.

The change already is having a huge affect on search. For example, PCMag.com on March 3 reported that “traffic to some sites has plummeted 50 percent following Google’s ‘farmer’ algorithm change last Friday [Feb. 25], which was intended to weed out content farms from search results.”

For example, the PCMag.com article continued, “Theteacherscorner.net, a 13-year-old site with ‘several million monthly pageviews and thousands of pages of original content for K-12 educators’ said its traffic dropped by 40 percent and ad revenue by 50 percent. ‘This is a huge and devastating hit to the well-being of our website.’

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“Another webmaster from Healthhype.com said its site lost 50 percent of its U.S. traffic, even though its articles are original and apparently cost $100 to produce. Real estate page www.c21theharrelsongroup.com saw its placement for a ‘Myrtle Beach’ search go from a number 11 rank to the fourth page of results.”

Google’s response? According to the PCMag article, a “Google spokesman told PCMag that sites that believe they have been adversely impacted should ‘extensively evaluate their site quality.'” The Google rep also said, “‘[i]n particular, it’s important to note that low quality pages on one part of a site can impact the overall ranking of that site.'”

But what does it mean to you, the owner of a small business?

It means you should make sure your website is filled with quality content. Content that is engaging and well-written. Content that gives solid information. Keywords are still important, of course, but aiming for every single keyword your target market uses? Maybe not such a wise idea anymore (if it ever was).

As you build your website, aim for the narrow. That is, specialize. Become a go-to authority on your niche. Make sure your content adds value.
If you have other questions or concerns regarding the February algorithm change, give us a call here at GoiMarketing.com. We’d be happy to explain it to you in more detail and discuss how you can create a site — or fill your current one — with engaging, informative content. Contact us today!

The post What Google’s New Algorithm Means for Your Website’s Content appeared first on GoMarketing.