by admin | Apr 27, 2018 | SEO Audit
Why Your Website Needs an SEO Audit
Marketers face a category of challenges due to failure to fully comprehend the importance of technical SEO. The difficulty is primarily in understanding which strategies work, and which of those will have the greatest impact. Errors in your technical SEO could potentially lead to restricted rankings. Effective use of technical SEO audits could bring significant improvement to organic search engines.
If your current strategies aren’t producing obvious improvements, a technical SEO audit could help to address all the technical issues that have a negative impact on your rankings. It is essential to know which issues to address first and how to analyze the influence of technical SEO strategies.
A professional technical SEO audit will provide the necessary answers that identify existing technical issues and the necessary SEO tools to increase the flow of traffic. A professional audit serves as a navigation system that sends your site directly towards a consistent flow of traffic.
There is a difference between technical SEO and engagement SEO. The most effective engagement strategies are worthless without quality technical SEO practices. Allocations for SEO practices should be 80% engagement and 20% technical. Although the allocated percentage for engagement is significantly greater, technical applications must come first. They are the foundation for successful engagement.
When to Perform a Technical SEO Audit?
A technical audit should be performed annually and anytime a red flag appears. Google algorithm updates occur around the clock. There are no holidays or vacation days. Therefore, your site can’t afford to experience technical issues. Users are calling for an improvement in speed, quality, and accessibility. Google is answering the call by fine-tuning the factors that impact ranking. RankBrain is a learning program that monitors, tests and updates the majority of Google’s algorithm. Google makes the rules, tests the rules and changes the rules without notice. Consistently testing your strategy ensures that your site is consistently within the standards of Google updates.
Advantages of a Technical SEO Audit
Digital marketing strategies that are producing poorly can benefit greatly from a technical SEO audit, which will deliver:
- Microscopic View of Issues – An assessment of your SEO helps to identify issues with the website that need to be addressed. A list of strategies can be derived from the audit to help the site recuperate.
- Enhanced Revenue – Executing the items of correction identified by the audit will help the site to improve traffic, generate more accounts and successfully close those accounts. This is how SEO visibly enhances the revenue of the company.
- Increased Confidence – A website that is performing productively will increase the confidence of the owner. Implementing the suggestions of the technical audit permits the site to outperform the competition. Quality tech audits can keep you on top of search engine updates and confident that your strategies are working effectively.
A professional audit will identify indexation and crawl technical and coding issues. It is equivalent to an annual health exam, except it’s for your website. Once the technical audit has been performed and a strategy is implemented, the engagement SEO strategy should be assessed.
How Does an Audit Help New Websites?
New websites benefit from technical audits just as existing sites. The audit is sometimes more impactful because it starts off stronger than its competition. Website owners are given the tools to succeed in the market. There is a bird’s-eye view to show if the devised plan for the site is solid and effective. The question of whether you should implement a blog and social media strategy can be answered by results derived from the audit. A good online reputation is critical to the success of any business. SEO audits help to proactively manage a quality online reputation.
How Does an Audit Help Existing Websites?
The benefits of a professional audit are substantial. The owner of the site acquires a great deal of information that identifies the health condition of its online existence. The audit informs you if your site is at or below code and content level. Owners will discover if their inbound links are primed for developing site authority and how to improve lead conversions from visitors.
Simple audits are scary and technical audits can be intimidating to site owners. Sites will be up and down in performance levels but without proper tech audits, your site can be down in performance power without your knowledge. A broken website can’t be repaired if you can’t identify the location of the issue. Repairing the issue requires tools that can’t be googled or accessed via an app. It requires a professional and strategic SEO audit. If your website has not had an audit, hire Shannon at Virtual Surge to assist you with any roadblocks that may be preventing you from ranking on Google. Contact us today for a free video analysis!
This article was originally posted on Virtual Surge. April 2018
Photo Copyright: rawpixel / 123RF Stock Photo
by admin | Feb 19, 2018 | Online Advertising
Build Your Brand
Online shopping options are endless, which makes it relatively challenging for e-commerce businesses to stand out from the competition. Effective business branding is a necessary tool that helps create a memorable impression with customers who visit online stores. Branding would be the obvious go-to for online stores, as it helps in developing an identity that connects to the target audience. The misconception is that all it takes to create an effective brand is a platform of graphics and an appealing logo. This is an important step, but only a portion of what it takes. Effective branding for the business tells a story that flows and defines the integrity and strength of the company.
Activate Brand Identity
Brand identity is the foundation of a company and if the foundation is weak, the business will eventually fail. A recognizable and memorable brand is motivation to employees and a magnet for new clients. Positive brand creation increases traffic, which equates to sales growth. The objective of effective branding is to generate profit from the traffic that businesses receive, as the success of a business relies heavily on the strength and integrity of the branding.
Build Your Brand
The key to standing out from the competition is to know and successfully define your brand’s purpose. Pointing out a tangible goal contributes significantly to the recognition of the brand, which ensures that clients can relate to your image and the message it relays. Simplicity is important in the design of the logo and following basic steps helps tremendously. Utilize complimenting colors and if possible, contact a professional designer to assist in the selection of the color combination. The logo serves as a visual magnet for online shoppers. If the design is too passive, potential clients will not notice it, and if it’s too busy, it can deter them. Uniformity in brand design triggers an emotion to act in customers. Positive branding is a tool that connects your business to customers.
Connect with Customers
While brand design is the bridge that connects your business to its customers, it only keeps them connected if there is consistency. This means consistency in all areas of the design such as voice and tone in content that is presented on the site. The style of writing instantly connects with the image that your brand markets and it easily becomes what buyers expect. Make sure content flows properly and is relatable to the message that your brand portrays.
The strength and identity of your brand is a direct reflection of your business. For an e-commerce, it serves as the door that potential customers will either choose to open or pass by for the next business. Take the necessary steps and remember to apply the ABCs during the branding process and the change in the image of your business will be almost instant. The art of branding isn’t one that can be accomplished by reading a few books or tips online. Brand marketing professionals can make a difference in the longevity of your business.
by admin | Jan 3, 2018 | Uncategorized
The Truth About Social Media Marketing
You see it every day – log onto social media and businesses or entrepreneurs are utilizing the platform to market their brand. It’s one of the most brilliant marketing tools of a lifetime when done correctly. However, there are a few misconceptions about social media marketing and what it does for a brand.
- Every Social Media Marketing Company is the Same
BIG MYTH! Social media marketing is not the new kid on the block, but many social media managers are very new to the industry. The digital marketing platform is global and consistently rotating with new strategies, new presentation methods and of course, new talent. The ability to market effectively on social media is not an across-the-board talent. There is a lot to be learned and understood. Only knowledgeable and experienced SM marketing companies are successful in the industry and always bring something different and promising to the brands they promote.
- Social Media Marketing Firms Work Solely with Social Media
Many seasoned expert social media marketing firms are expanding their services to include inbound marketing. There is a significant need to show a positive ROI from the efforts put forth via social media. There must be continuous monitoring of traffic as it travels from the social platform to the website of the business. This is the best way to capitalize on conversions.
- Social Media Marketing Firms Instantly Increase Traffic
There is a great deal of work to be done when marketing via social media. It is one thing to run an effective social media campaign but what happens once they visit the website. To begin, there must be a genuine presentation on social media that encourages the target audience to take action. There is no magic potion that persuades viewers to click the link that connects them to a site. Social media marketing must be genuine in their approach and offer information that is a true representation of the brand or product. Too many marketing campaigns fail to do this, and the result is bad word-of-mouth from potential long-term customers.
- All Social Media Marketing Campaigns are Bogus
This is a misconception that has gained wings and taken flight in very little time. Social media is a global breeding ground for erroneous and forged brands. The number of these sites is increasing by the minute, which makes it more difficult for social media marketing firms to present themselves credible. Expert marketing managers will know the best strategies and techniques to apply to their campaigns. It is important to prove that brands and their promotions are credible in every sense of the word. While not all social media marketing campaigns are bogus, you may find some that are.
Social media platforms are global billboards that keep people connected to friends, family, and brands. It is the meeting place that promotes quality relationships of both a personal and business nature. When utilizing social media to promote your brand or business, acquire the expert knowledge of a skilled social media marketing firm or manager to experience genuine relationships with your target audience.
Originally posted on Virtual Surge 1/3/18
Photo Credit: Copyright: rawpixel / 123RF Stock Photo
by admin | Dec 21, 2017 | Recent News
The Honest Truth That Business Owners Should Know About SEO
An SEO’s Perspective
There are a few very important things that business owners need to know before they start using Search Engine Optimization for marketing and advertising. My name is Shannon McCraw, Owner of Virtual Surge and I would like to share my honest opinion with business owners. Listed below are important tips you should know:
SEO Takes Time
This is my most important message I relay to anyone who wants to use my services. It is going to take a MINIMUM of 6 months to start seeing good movement if you have a newer site or have never had SEO. In some cases, it can be longer and in others, shorter. It really depends on different factors which include the competitiveness of your market and your current marketing position. I make it a clear point to have this be known because I understand that it is hard to pay thousands of dollars per month with no immediate results. It is important to not get anxious or frustrated for at least the first six to seven months. Ask your SEO service provider about how long before they expect strong movement for your particular business.
You should also know that what your SEO company works on today may not be effective until 60 days from now. Google is in no rush to move sites to the top 3 positions. It takes time to build authority and to be recognized as an entity. In addition, too much SEO at once could cause a red flag leading to penalties.
No Cookie Cutter Pricing
There should be no package pricing. The cost of your monthly SEO is going to vary on a number of factors. Below is a list of factors taken into consideration when I quote a potential client:
- Do you want to rank nationally or locally?
- How many locations do you have?
- What is your niche?
- Have you had SEO before?
- How large is your site?
Here is an example – A single attorney is going to cost less to rank versus a law firm. A single attorney will most likely want to focus on one practice area for one or two local locations whereas a law firm may have many practice areas and may be statewide with many locations.
For budgeting purposes, some SEO’s may offer a standard or aggressive package. An aggressive package is going to cost more but may get you ranking a little faster. When shopping for SEO services, keep in mind that some will cut prices just to get clients and they will not have the funds needed for much-needed resources. If you are serious about your marketing strategy then you need to be willing to make a reasonable investment. This is one area you do not want to cut costs.
About Proof of Ability and References
I cannot speak for other SEO’s but I have had a few clients ask for specific data showing graphs and ranking data to prove my abilities. Due to the privacy of my clients, I can’t send out hard data. In addition, I have had people ask for references. Personally, I do not like to ask my clients to provide references. I only ask for reviews on Google and then will tell potential clients to check out my reviews. In addition, I offer to hop on a call and do a screen share showing some data to prove my abilities. Find an SEO who is willing to work with you to gain your trust in some way.
It Takes Time to See ROI
As mentioned before, SEO is a process and takes time. While you may start seeing results on the search engines, your ROI may take even longer. It depends on how much a lead is worth and what you are investing. If you want to use SEO services, you must have patience. However, it is okay to ask for an average time to see a return on your investment.
There Are No Guarantees
While I can assure most clients that I can most-likely get them ranked on page 1 of Google, I never make a guarantee. Google is in charge and has the full ability to figure out who gets ranked where. The work that I do can only influence how Google see’s your page. It isn’t just about getting links to your site. It is an SEO’s job to have Google see your site as the authority for your market.
SEO Can be a Sketchy Business
“If you think it is expensive to hire an expert, wait until you hire an amateur.”
I hate to admit that but it is, unfortunately, true on some occasions. I have had people come to me and tell me that their previous SEO service was worthless and a loss of investment. It is very easy for people to claim to be an SEO expert and then provide negative results. Make sure you ask potential SEO’s where they got their training and whether they belong to any SEO groups. In addition, ask them if they continually keep up with training. I invest thousands of dollars per year to belong to some of the top mastermind groups and my knowledge is unlike most. I share this with you because I hate to see businesses, especially smaller businesses lose their money to someone who claims to know the business. Do your homework and ask questions.
Originally Published by Shannon McCraw @ www.virtualsurge.com
Do you need help with your SEO? Contact me for a consultation or free video analysis.
by admin | Dec 15, 2017 | Recent News
The search algorithm of Google changes quite often. Because these changes aren’t always announced, it is very easy to not be aware of when they take place. It is up to those who rely on online marketing to remain alert and know when these changes take place, primarily by seeing that there has been an obvious change in the performance of your SEO, after the algorithm changes.
If you suddenly notice a few unexplainable shifts in the performance of your SEO, chances are the algorithms have changed. These changes can negatively impact the organic progression of your SEO strategies. To successfully manage your SEO performance, it is essential to remain apprised of the activity in the SEO industry.
Below are recent changes and the effects they could have on your SEO performance:
Fred
Not a hurricane, but very similar in impact, Fred caused severe turmoil in the SERPs. There was significant crashing of website rankings and a major shift in keyword rankings. Google eventually made it known that Fred targeted those sites with an abundance of ads but low-quality content. The primary goal of Google was to shadow the sites that were focused on generating money, instead of displaying good content.
If this impacted your site, you should:
- Clean up your links
- Improve the quality of content on your site
- Balance the number of targeted ads on your site
Mobile Interstitial Drawbacks
The ability to browse sites from a mobile device is a pleasure that is often interrupted by an intrusive amount of ads o the screen. This is a big deterrence to mobile visitors of websites. The ads have the potential to block the content unless you select to visit the advertiser’s page. Google has taken steps to penalize those sites that are plagued with annoying ads. In addition to obstructing the view of the intended content, the ads have the potential to cause the site to load slowly ad perform poorly, which has an adverse effect on search rankings. When visitors are bombarded with ads when visiting websites, Google will downgrade the site’s ranking.
What Google wants:
- Sites to value the visitor more than the need to throw unwanted ads at them
- Controlled advertising
- Users to have a quality experience when visiting websites
Webmasters should ensure that sites are adapting to the demands of Google. It is imperative that sites adequately respond to these demands, as Google is diminishing the SEO rankings of sites every day. There are proven methods available to attract your target audience. But this must be done while adhering to the guidelines as set forth by the search engine.
Quality SEO practices are only as strong as their counterparts. A quality approach is one that understands, studies, continuously educates and abides by the requirements of search engines. Failure to know and understand the changes of the algorithm could land you at the bottom of the search barrel, with very little chance to ever rise to the top.
