Tag: local seo

technical-seo

Technical SEO: How to Optimize Your Site in 2023

Posted on | by Agency Partner Interactive

Technical SEO involves optimizing a website’s technical elements and infrastructure, which helps your website to become more visible and increase its ranking on search engine results pages (SERPs). Optimizing a website’s technical aspects can improve its search engine visibility, ranking, and overall user experience. 

It’s important to understand that user experience plays an important role in determining the success of your website. Google’s algorithm is designed to prioritize websites that provide the best audience experience, so if you want to rank on SERP, you must ensure your site is user-friendly. 

Here are our 2023 SEO tips on how to optimize your site for a better user experience: 

Make Sure Your Site Is Mobile-Friendly 

With the increasing number of mobile users, ensuring your site is optimized for mobile devices is essential. Your website should be easy to navigate, with clear calls to action and a responsive design that adjusts to different screen sizes. 

Use responsive design 

A responsive design means that your website adjusts its layout design and content to fit the screen size of the device the user is viewing. It is essential for providing a good user experience on mobile devices with smaller screens than desktops. 

Optimize images for mobile 

Optimize your website’s images for mobile devices by compressing them to reduce file size. Use responsive images that adjust the size based on the mobile device they are being viewed on. Choose the right format for each image. 

Compressing images can be done using tools like TinyPNG or Optimizilla. Selecting the appropriate image format can depend on the image’s content, such as JPEG for photographs and PNG for graphics or illustrations.  

Simplify navigation for mobile users 

Navigation on mobile devices should be simple and easy to use. Consider using a hamburger menu icon to display your site’s main navigation menu. Use large, easy-to-click buttons for your calls-to-action, and ensure your navigation is accessible from all pages on your site. 

Consider a mobile-first design 

Mobile-first design means designing your website with the mobile user in mind before moving on to desktop users. This approach ensures that your website is optimized for the mobile user, who will likely make up a significant portion of your site’s traffic. 

Test your site on mobile devices 

Testing your site on various mobile devices is essential to ensure it’s optimized for all devices and screen sizes. You can use tools like Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test, Responsinator, or BrowserStack to test your site on various devices and screen sizes. 

Improve Page Load Times 

Slow-loading pages can frustrate users and negatively impact your search engine rankings. To improve page load times, consider reducing the size of your images and using a content delivery network (CDN) to serve your site’s assets. 

Use a content delivery network 

A Content Delivery Network (CDN) is a network of servers located worldwide that caches your website’s assets, such as images, CSS, and JavaScript files. When a user visits your website, the assets are served from the server closest to your location, which reduces loading times. 

Minimize HTTP requests 

CSS/JS files, image sprites, and browser caching can reduce HTTP requests, optimizing website performance and leading to faster page load times. Ultimately, it enhances the user experience. 

Simplify Navigation 

Your site’s navigation should be simple, making it easy for the audience to find the necessary information. Consider using clear labels and organizing your content into logical categories. 

Use clear labels 

To create precise and effective labels for your website’s navigation, use simple language and avoid technical or overly complex terminology. Be specific and use labels that accurately reflect the page’s content or section of the site.  

Organize content into logical categories 

Organizing your website’s content into logical categories can make it easier for users to find what they’re looking for. It can also improve the audience experience by reducing users’ time searching for information. 

Use visual navigation aids 

Visual navigation helps, such as icons, images, and dropdown menus, improves website navigation by helping users quickly identify content or sections.  

Provide search functionality 

Providing search functionality on your website can help audiences quickly find the information they’re looking for. Ensure your search bar is easy to find and prominently displayed on every site page. 

Use Descriptive, Keyword-Rich URLs 

Your site’s URLs should be descriptive and include relevant keywords. This helps with SEO and makes it easier for users to understand the content of the page they’re on. 

Use clear and descriptive URLs 

Improving URLs enhances user experience by making it easier to understand the page’s content. Effective URLs are clear and descriptive, using simple language, relevant information, and hyphens to separate words. Avoid technical terms or underscores, as they can be mistaken for spaces. 

Include relevant keywords in your URLs 

Including relevant keywords in your website’s URLs improves SEO. Research target keywords with tools like Google Keyword Planner or SEMrush, use them where it makes sense, and avoid keyword stuffing. Long-tail keywords are specific and compelling for improving niche ranking. Including relevant keywords in URLs enhances SEO and makes it easier for search engines and users to understand the page content. 

Keep your URLs short and simple 

Short and straightforward URLs are more accessible for users to remember and share. To achieve this, remove unnecessary words, aim for URLs 2-3 words in length, and avoid using parameters that can make URLs longer and harder to remember. Implementing these strategies can improve the user experience on your website by making it easier for users to remember and share URLs. 

Build Quality Backlinks  

Building quality backlinks establishes your website as a reputable and authoritative one in a specific niche and industry, which can help you earn the trust of your audience and improve your ranking on search engines.  

Here are the benefits of quality backlinks:  

Improved rankings on SERP 

Google gives importance the websites that are authoritative and trustworthy. Building your authority can improve your chances of ranking higher in search results. 

Increased traffic 

You will likely get more traffic to your website when you rank higher in search results which can lead to more revenue and conversions. 

Enhanced credibility and reputation 

When you establish your website as an authority within your industry, you become more credible in the eyes of your audience, which can lead to increased brand loyalty and positive word-of-mouth marketing. 

Create High-Quality Content 

The best way to improve audience experience is by providing high-quality content that meets the needs of your audience. Make sure your content is informative, engaging, and easy to read. 

Know your audience 

Understanding your audience is crucial to creating high-quality content that meets your audience’s needs. You can achieve this by conducting audience research using tools like Google Analytics, creating buyer personas representing your target audience, and surveying your audience to understand your interests and preferences.  

Use clear and concise language 

Using clear and concise language in your content makes it easier to read and understand. Use short, precise sentences and paragraphs, use active voice, and avoid terminology and technical terms that may be unfamiliar to your audience. 

Provide value 

Providing value is crucial to create high-quality content that resonates with your audience, which can be achieved by solving problems, offering unique insights or perspectives, and providing actionable tips or strategies your audience can implement. 

Use visuals 

Visuals such as images, videos, and infographics can enhance your content’s engagement and comprehension. Use visuals effectively, incorporate high-quality images that add value, use videos to simplify complex concepts and increase engagement, and use infographics to make complex information easy to understand.  

Edit and proofread your content 

To create high-quality content, editing and proofreading your work is essential. Check spelling and grammar-check tools like Grammarly or Hemingway to catch errors. Reading your content out loud can help identify awkward phrasing.  

The Final Word: Technical SEO Tips for 2023 

Search engine optimization (SEO) is optimizing your site to improve its visibility and competitiveness in search engine results pages (SERPs). This involves focusing on user experience (UX) by ensuring your site is mobile-friendly, simplifying navigation, improving page load times, and creating high-quality content. Technical SEO involves: 

  • Using descriptive, keyword-rich URLs 
  • Optimizing for featured snippets 
  • Leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning 
  • Prioritizing security and privacy 

Get Noticed with Dallas SEO Services 

If you want to improve your website’s search engine rankings, Agency Partner Interactive’s SEO guidance can help you navigate the complex optimization world and achieve long-term success. Our technical SEO techniques, local SEO, on-page SEO, and best SEO practices have helped numerous businesses increase website traffic by an unbelievable 200%.  

While this SEO guide is a great place to start, technical SEO is a long game. It takes an experienced team of SEO experts to continuously optimize, maintain, and grow your website’s visibility, rankings, and revenue. Our award-winning SEO agency has the skills and track record to ensure you reach and surpass your business goals.  

Ready to get started? Contact us today for your free consultation! 

ultimate-guide

The Ultimate Guide to Ranking Your Business

Posted on | by Agency Partner Interactive

Local SEO, or search engine optimization, is optimizing a website to rank higher on Google. This type of SEO is focused on increasing visibility and attracting customers from a specific geographic area. 

San Antonio has a rich cultural heritage and a booming economy, making it an attractive place for businesses to establish themselves. With so many companies vying for attention, investing in local SEO is essential to stand out and attract customers in the area. 

This article will explore the key strategies for ranking your website in San Antonio’s local search results. We’ll cover everything from researching local keywords to optimizing your website for local search, building local links, and tracking your progress. By the end of this article, you’ll better understand how to improve your local SEO and attract more customers in San Antonio. 

Researching Local Keywords 

To identify local keywords for San Antonio, it’s essential to consider what your customers might be searching for when looking for businesses in the area. This could include keywords related to your industry, location-based terms like “San Antonio,” “near me,” and specific neighborhoods or landmarks in the city. 

When researching keywords for local SEO, focusing on terms relevant to your business and having a high search volume in San Antonio is essential. Additionally, you’ll want to consider the intent behind each keyword and choose terms that indicate a high likelihood of a customer purchasing or visiting your business. 

Many keyword research tools are available to help you identify the best keywords for your local SEO services. Some popular options include Google’s Keyword Planner, Moz’s Keyword Explorer, Ahrefs, and SEMrush.  

These tools can help you find relevant keywords, assess their search volume and competition level, and identify related terms that could also be useful for your strategy. Conducting thorough keyword research ensures you’re targeting the most practical terms for your business in San Antonio. 

Creating Local Content 

When creating local content, you must focus on providing value to your customers while incorporating location-specific details that will help you rank higher in local search results. Some tips for creating high-quality local content include researching your audience, highlighting local events or landmarks, and incorporating local keywords naturally into your content. 

Several types of content can be effective for local SEO, including blog posts, videos, infographics, and local guides. By creating diverse content that speaks to your audience’s interests and needs, you can establish yourself as a valuable resource in the community and attract more customers to your business. 

Optimizing Your Website for Local Search 

Creating a Google My Business listing is one of the most critical steps in optimizing your website for local search. This free tool allows you to manage your business information and appear in Google’s local search results and Google Maps. 

Consistency is vital in local SEO, which applies to your business’s NAP (Name, Address, Phone number) information. Ensure your NAP is accurate and consistent across your website and other online directories. 

Creating location pages on your website can also help you rank higher in search results. These pages should include detailed information about your business’s location(s), testimonials, reviews, and other location-specific details. 

Another way to improve your website’s local SEO is by using schema markup to provide structured data to search engines which can help search engines understand the content on your website and display more relevant information to users in local search results. 

Building Local Links 

Local link building is an essential component of any local SEO strategy. Links from other local businesses or organizations can help improve your website’s authority and relevance in local search results and drive traffic to your website from other sources. 

Several local links can be effective for local SEO, including links from local directories, local news outlets, and other local businesses or organizations.  

Links from local bloggers or influencers can also help build awareness and credibility for your business in the community. 

Strategies for building local links include: 

  • Reaching out to other local businesses or organizations and offering to collaborate on content or events. 
  • Participating in local sponsorships or events 
  • Leveraging your existing relationships with customers or partners to secure links from their websites or social media profiles.  

Social Media for Local SEO 

Social media can improve your local SEO efforts by providing additional visibility for your business and helping you engage with your audience in San Antonio. By leveraging social media platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram, you can increase brand awareness, drive traffic to your website, and build relationships with local customers and influencers. 

Consider leveraging paid social media advertising to target local customers and drive conversions. To optimize your social media presence for local search, include location-specific details in your profiles and posts. Use relevant hashtags and participate in local conversations to improve your visibility and credibility in the community. 

Tracking Your Local SEO Progress 

Some tools are available to help you track your local SEO progress, including Google Analytics, Google Search Console, and local SEO tracking software like BrightLocal or Moz Local. These tools can help you monitor your website’s traffic, search engine rankings, and local visibility over time. 

Key metrics to monitor when tracking your local SEO progress include: 

  • Website traffic 
  • Click-through rates 
  • Search engine rankings for local keywords 
  • The number and quality of your local links 

To analyze and adjust your local SEO strategy, consider conducting regular audits of your website and local listings, analyzing your competitors’ local SEO efforts, and incorporating feedback from local customers or partners.  

Local SEO for San Antonio Businesses 

Local SEO is essential to any business’s digital marketing strategy in San Antonio. By researching local keywords, creating high-quality local content, optimizing your website for local search, building local links, and leveraging social media, you can improve your visibility and grow your business in the local market. 

Local SEO can be a complex and ever-changing field, but by staying current on the latest best practices and trends, you can stay ahead of the competition and achieve long-term success in the San Antonio market. 

If you want help with your local SEO strategy, consider partnering with a local digital marketing agency specializing in local search optimization. With their expertise and guidance, you can develop a comprehensive and effective local SEO plan that drives results for your business. 

An Award-Winning San Antonio SEO Agency 

We understand the importance of SEO ranking well in local search results, especially in a competitive market like San Antonio. We are experts in helping businesses improve their online visibility through customized digital marketing strategies tailored to their unique needs and goals. Our team of experts is well-versed in the latest trends and best SEO services and SEO tips.  

Agency Partner Interactive believes every business deserves a solid online presence and is committed to helping our clients achieve their goals. Whether you’re a small or a large company, we have the affordable SEO resources and expertise to help you rank 1 on Google SERPs in San Antonio and keep you there. 

Our clients see up to 430% increase in web traffic and a 113% increase in top 3 keyword rankings. Ready to start dominating the market? Get in touch with our digital marketing experts for a free proposal now! 

keyword-research

Ultimate Guide of Conduct Keyword Research for SEO in 2023.

Posted on | by Agency Partner Interactive

Keyword research is the process of identifying and analyzing popular search terms that people enter on Google. Keyword research helps businesses and website owners understand what their audience is searching for and what words and phrases they use to find information online. 

Keyword research is essential for SEO because it allows website owners to identify high-traffic keywords relevant to their business and optimize their content to rank higher on SERPs. 

The landscape of keyword research is constantly changing, especially in 2023. Google has been evolving its algorithms and search results to match user intent better and provide more personalized results. According to Backlinko, Google’s search algorithm is estimated to use over 200 ranking factors to determine search results, making it increasingly important to conduct thorough keyword research and SEO optimization. 

This means keyword research must focus more on user intent and context than the specific words used in a search query. Website owners need to consider not only the specific keywords they want to rank for but also the user’s intent and the context in which the search is being made to create content that aligns with both. Are you aware of the latest keyword research trends and techniques for SEO in 2023 

Types of Keywords to Target in 2023 

There are several types of keywords that website owners and marketers should target to improve their SEO and attract more organic traffic to their websites: 

Short-tail keywords  

These are short, generic keywords that are usually one or two words in length. They are broad and typically have a high search volume but are highly competitive. Examples of short-tail keywords include “shoes,” “holidays,” and “fitness.” 

Long-tail keywords 

These are more specific keyword phrases that are typically three or more words in length. According to SEMrush, long-tail keywords have become increasingly important in recent years, with over 70% of all searches conducted using long-tail keywords. 

They have lower search volumes than short-tail keywords but are often less competitive, making them easier to rank for. Examples of long-tail keywords include “best running shoes for women,” “family-friendly beach vacations,” and “yoga poses for beginners.” 

LSI (Latent Semantic Indexing) keywords 

LSI keywords can include synonyms, related phrases, and concepts. These keywords are semantically related to a main keyword and help Google understand the context of the content. For example, if the main keyword is “fitness,” related LSI keywords might include “exercise,” “health,” and “nutrition.” 

Geo-specific keywords 

These are keywords that target a specific geographic location. They can include city names, state names, or other location-specific terms. For example, “best pizza in New York City” or “plumber in Los Angeles.” Geo-specific keywords can help local businesses attract more traffic and improve their visibility in local search results. 

Voice search keywords 

These are keywords that are tailored for use in voice searches. With the development of voice assistants and smart speakers, more people are using voice search to find information online. Voice search keywords are often conversational and may include question phrases such as “how to,” “what is,” and “where can I find.” Examples include “What’s the weather like today,” “Best Thai restaurant near me,” and “How do I fix a leaky faucet.” 

Keyword Research Tools for 2023 

Here’s an overview of some of the most popular tools: 

Google keyword planner 

This free tool provided by Google allows you to research keywords and see their search volume and competition levels. You can also get ideas for new keywords based on a website or a specific topic. 

Ahrefs 

Ahrefs is a paid tool that comprehensively analyzes a website’s backlinks, organic search traffic, and keyword rankings. It also includes a keyword research tool to discover new opportunities and analyze your competitors’ strategies. 

SEMrush 

SEMrush is a paid tool with keyword research, competitor analysis, and site audit features. It lets you discover new keywords, track your rankings, and analyze your competitors’ strategies. 

Moz keyword explorer 

Moz Keyword Explorer is a paid tool that features keyword research and analysis. It allows you to discover new keywords, analyzes search volume and difficulty, and track your rankings. 

AnswerThePublic  

AnswerThePublic is a free tool that provides insights into people’s questions about a particular topic. It generates a visual map of related questions and topics based on a keyword or phrase. 

Easy Steps to Conduct Keyword Research in 2023 

Here are the steps to conduct effective keyword research in 2023: 

Determine your target audience 

Before conducting keyword research, it’s important to understand your target audience and their search behavior. Consider their demographics, interests, and search intent. This will help you identify the keywords they will use when searching for your products or services. 

Brainstorm keyword ideas 

Start with a list of relevant topics and brainstorm keyword ideas relevant to those topics. Use your knowledge of your target audience and their search behavior to develop potential keywords. 

Use keyword research tools 

Use keyword research tools like Ahrefs, Google Keyword Planner, SEMrush, or Moz Keyword Explorer to expand your list of potential keywords. These tools can provide additional keyword suggestions and insights into the search volume and competition levels. 

Analyze the competition and search intent 

Analyze the competition for your potential keywords by looking at their search engine rankings and the content they are producing. Also, consider the search intent behind each keyword. Are people looking for information, products, or services related to that keyword? This will help you better target your content to the needs of your audience. 

Prioritize keywords based on relevancy and search volume 

Once you have a list of your keywords, prioritize them based on their relevancy to your business and search volume. Focus on highly relevant keywords to your business and have a high search volume which will help you target the right audience and attract more traffic to your website. 

Best Practices for Keyword Research in 2023 

To conduct effective keyword research in 2023, it’s important to follow best practices that keep up with the ever-changing landscape of SEO. Here are some best practices for keyword research in 2023: 

  • Google algorithms are constantly updating to provide better search results to its users. Stay up to date with these updates and adjust your keyword strategy accordingly. 
  • Focusing on user intent is more important than just search volume. Google’s algorithms are becoming more advanced in understanding user intent. Hence, creating content that aligns with what the user is looking for is important, which means considering the context and purpose behind a search query and creating content that provides value to the user. 
  • Keyword research is an ongoing process. It’s important to regularly monitor and adjust your keyword strategy based on changes in search behavior and algorithm updates. Keep track of your keyword rankings, search volume, and competition levels, and adjust your strategy accordingly. 
  • In addition to short-tail and long-tail keywords, use various keyword types, such as LSI, geo-specific, and voice search, to target different search queries, which will help you engage a wider audience and improve your chances of ranking for various relevant keywords. 

To Sum Up: Ultimate Guide of Conduct Keyword Research for SEO in 2023 Updated 

Keyword research is crucial for SEO in 2023. It helps identify high-traffic keywords and align content with user intent, increasing visibility and driving organic traffic. Stay updated on Google’s algorithm updates, focus on user intent over search volume, monitor and adjust your keyword strategy, and use various keyword types. 

Brainstorm keyword ideas and use keyword research tools to expand and prioritize keywords based on relevancy and search volume. Monitor rankings and adjust your strategy to improve search engine visibility and drive traffic. 

Get Customized SEO Solutions for Your Business Today! 

At Agency Partner Interactive, we believe digital marketing is more than just a buzzword – it’s an important factor in any successful business SEO strategy. We provide services to help our clients achieve their online goals, like SEO keyword research, on-page SEO, social media, organic keywords, content creation, content marketing, and more, with low SEO costs. 

We have a proven record of delivering results that exceed expectations. Our 180+ clients have seen an average increase of 45% in organic traffic after implementing our local SEO on their websites. 

If you’re looking for a result-driven agency to help you achieve your aim, look no further than Agency Partner Interactive. Contact us today to schedule a free call to learn more about how we can help your business succeed online. 

SEO_for_Law_Firms

How to Take Advantage of Local SEO for Law Firms

Posted on | by devops
Expert Tips For How to Take Advantage of Local SEO for Law Firms

The legal field can be tricky to navigate, but with the help of localized SEO strategies, it doesn’t have to be. Local search engine optimization (SEO) is a process that helps law firms rank higher in organic searches for certain locations. It differs from traditional SEO because it focuses on specific geographic areas rather than keywords and phrases. While it may seem intimidating at first glance, local SEO is quite simple—and it can be an incredibly effective strategy for generating leads and new business opportunities for your firm! 

Understanding Local Lawyer SEO 

If you’ve never heard of local SEO, that’s okay. It’s a relatively new form of online marketing—and one that has the potential to be especially helpful for law firms. The basic idea behind local SEO is simple: it allows you to rank highly in Google searches when someone types in your city’s name or zip code while searching for legal services. Search query examples are “lawyers near me” or “Dallas law firms.” 

While this may sound similar to traditional paid advertising, there are some key differences. First, with paid ads (such as those on Google AdWords), you pay every time someone clicks on your ad and visits your website. With local SEO, there are no costs associated with each visit—as long as the person typing in their information correctly matches what they’re looking for. Second, paid ads tend to appear at the top of search results based on how much advertisers have spent; local SEO means appearing at the top simply because people want what you offer nearby! 

Start With Your Google My Business Listing 

Google My Business listings are essential for local SEO because they’re how you get your presence on Google Maps. 

Google My Business listings aren’t automatically created for you when you set up a business, so if you don’t already have one, create one here. 

Once you’ve filled out all the required fields and submitted your listing, it may take up to 30 days before your profile appears on Google Maps. In addition to creating a listing on Google Maps, make sure that any other platforms (like Facebook) where people might look up information about your law firm also display accurate information about its location(s). 

Work On Your Law Firm Website 

Your website is the most important tool to get new clients and keep existing ones. There are a lot of things you need to consider when developing your website, including: 

  • Content—What kind of content will be on your site? Is it helpful or just a bunch of legal jargon that no one can understand?
  • Design—Is your website intuitive and aligned with your brand image?
  • Usability—Are all your links and features accessible across all devices and browsers? 
  • Navigation—Can people find what they’re looking for quickly and easily?

Get Your Website Reviewed by a Professional 

One of the best things you can do for your law firm’s local SEO is to get a third party to review your website. You may have a local SEO specialist or a local law firm that you’re already familiar with, but hiring someone with experience in both industries might make sense. If none of those options fit the bill, consider working with an SEO agency, like Agency Partner Interactive. Getting a new perspective will help ensure your site is up-to-date and functional and that your website architecture is optimized, especially if you’re new to local search optimization or updating an older site. 

Use Geotags 

If you publish any social media content, ensure you include geotags. Geotagging is simply labeling your posts with the location of your firm. Doing so is a simple way to increase your brand awareness and let potential customers know where to find you. 

Geotags for videos are equally important. When someone shares a video on Facebook or YouTube (which both use Google Maps for location data), their audience can see where the video was shot if it was uploaded with appropriate tags. 

Ways to Incorporate Local SEO for Law Firms 

You can incorporate local SEO for your law firm in several different ways. Local SEO, or lawyer SEO that focuses on getting exposure for attorneys in front of their prospective clients in their primary business location(s), is a part of internet marketing that many firms overlook. 

Optimize Your Website 

This will help people find you when they’re searching online and ensure that you’re properly indexed on search engines like Google and Bing. Most importantly, it will improve your chances of ranking well on those searches when someone types in keywords related to what you do (e.g., “personal injury attorney” or “criminal defense lawyer”). 

Create Geotargeted Content 

People will be looking for your services nearby, no matter what industry or location you’re in. A way to target this market is by creating useful content related to your location and services. Some content topics can include: “How much does an average personal injury case cost?” or “Which attorneys specialize in green card cases?” By answering some of the most asked questions your audience searches, you can establish credibility and call them to action. After creating your content, post them on social media channels like Facebook or LinkedIn so they rank higher when people search for relevant terms.  

To summarize, if you want to appear in local search results, you must optimize your website and content.  

Agency Partner Interactive 

Local SEO benefits many businesses but offers key advantages for law firms. Potential clients will always search for lawyers to take on their cases, and ensuring you’re top of mind is essential for generating new leads. A successful strategy means optimizing your law firm website for local SEO and publishing any content with correct meta tags, descriptions, and geotargeted keywords. Whether you’re just getting started with local SEO or have an established practice, improving your outreach and visibility will help your firm stay agile and successful. The SEO experts at Agency Partner Interactive have worked extensively with law firms of all sectors and sizes. We can help you develop a data-driven local SEO strategy to accelerate growth and drive revenue. Schedule your free consultation today!

google_my_business

Why Your Google My Business Page Might Be Suspended

Posted on | by devops
Expert Tips For Google My Business Pages

Having a Google My Business (GMB) page is a must for local SEO, local optimization, and to help you rank locally on Google. These free profiles are now ubiquitous. All your competitors have them, and the most relevant profiles display at the top of Google search results when Google users are searching for your type of business in their specific area.

Because Google My Business is so important to local SEO and helping your rank locally on Google, it makes getting your GMB suspended all the more frustrating because GMB suspensions instantly decrease your business’s online visibility.

If you try to log onto Google My Business and see that your profile is suspended, you are likely wondering, “Why is my GMB suspended?” The first step to answering this question, and to getting your GMB reinstated, is to find out if you have a soft suspension or a hard suspension.

Why Is My GMB Suspended with a Soft Suspension?

While no business owner wants their Google My Business page suspended, if it’s going to happen, you want it to be a soft suspension. This is because with soft suspensions:

  • You still show up on Google search results, so you can still rank locally on Google.
  • Mobile searchers can still call your business by tapping your phone number.
  • You won’t suffer from the visibility issues associated with hard suspensions.

The most likely reasons for soft suspensions are quality issues. Examples of quality issues may be an incorrect address (which can happen if you abbreviate your street name type from “Road” to “Rd.” or use “Ste” instead of “Suite” to note your suite number), or if you have accidentally created duplicate pages for the same address.
Soft suspensions are generally easy to correct.

Why Is My GMB Suspended with a Hard Suspension?

When it comes to having your business rank locally on Google, hard GMB suspensions are much more serious. That’s because, with a hard suspension, your Google My Business page won’t display at all. And while you can rectify issues that caused hard suspensions and get your page reinstated by appealing to Google, after a hard suspension you’ll lose all photos and ratings that your customers have previously posted.

There are several reasons why you may receive a hard suspension. These include:

  • Having Account Issues

When you have a Google My Business page, you get to assign users who can access and edit your page. At a very minimum, your users should include you or your internal marketing person, and your digital marketing agency.

Sometimes, however, certain users can cause your page to be flagged and receive a hard suspension. This is especially true if a user who has permission to modify your page has a recent activity that Google considers spammy.

If you recently added a user to your page and your account was quickly hard suspended, immediately remove that user and file an appeal to Google. If you’re the only user on your page, go to https://www.localguidesconnect.com/.

If you see that your account is no longer a part of the “Local Guides” program on Google, then your account is the reason for the hard suspension.

  • Using a Rented Mailbox as Your Business Address

If your Google My Business page is going to list a business address, it has to be an actual address of a business.

Rented mailboxes, such as post office boxes, FedEx mailboxes, and UPS boxes aren’t eligible addresses for Google My Business. If you attempt to list one of these types of rented mailboxes as your business address, you can expect a hard suspension

  • Listing Service Areas if You Have a Physical Address or Vice Versa

Google recognizes that some businesses have physical addresses, while others don’t but instead are service area businesses. Google wants to help both types of businesses rank locally on Google. That’s why you have the option to either display your physical address or your service area. Listing both, however, looks spammy to Google and is a surefire way to get a hard suspension.

  • Google Algorithm Updates That Don’t Work in Your Favor

Unfortunately, sometimes Google algorithm changes affect your ability to rank locally on Google and cause hard suspensions. In this case, you need to contact your digital marketing agency, make sure your Google My Business page meets all appropriate criteria, and submit an appeal to Google.

How to Appeal a Soft or Hard GMB Suspension

Whether you’ve received a soft or hard Google My Business suspension, you can appeal the decision in attempts to improve local optimization and rank locally on Google once again. To do so, first, rectify any issue that you’ve identified that may be causing the issue. If you work with a digital marketing agency, reach out to them for help with this. Digital marketing agencies frequently manage Google My Business pages for their clients and are well-versed in how to fix issues that result in suspensions.

Once your profile is updated and accurate, go to the “learn more” button that appears in the red suspension box on your profile to submit your appeal.

Rank Locally on Google By Getting Our Professional Help with Your Google My Business Page

As a leading digital marketing agency that specializes in local SEO and local optimization, we help several of our customers rank locally on Google by managing and optimizing their Google My Business pages. Many of our clients turn to us for GMB help because they don’t have the internal resources to manage digital marketing, they’ve tried optimizing their Google My Business pages on their own but still don’t rank locally on Google, or they simply want to be working with the best of the best in order to have the highest Google rankings possible.

We can help you with your Google My Business page all year long and are ready to go into crisis mode if you receive a soft or hard suspension. To learn more about how we help you rank locally on Google and manage your local SEO efforts, reach out to us today. You can call us at (877) 682-2012 or fill out our online contact form.

Not big on reading? That’s okay. Watch “Why Your Google My Business Page Might Be Suspended” instead.

Using the power of Artificial Intelligence, we turned this blog into a video for you. Check it out below!

 

 

 

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What Addresses Can You Use on Google My Business Pages?

Posted on | by devops
Expert Tips For Google My Business Pages

Google My Business is a free Google listing  – with no paid upgrades – that Google encourages all businesses to use to its fullest to help them rank locally on Google. The goal of this free listing is to provide Google searchers with the best, most relevant local information when they are searching for businesses in a specific area, especially when they’re on mobile devices and using search terms such as “gas station near me.”

One of the most important aspects of having a Google My Business (GMB) page, aside from helping you rank locally on Google, is to make it easy for Google users to find you. This means that in order to show up in search results, you need to make sure your business address is entered accurately so customers can find you, and you can enhance your local SEO. And of course, this means you must understand address use for GMB.

But what address works for GMB? Continue reading to learn tips from Google itself on how to make sure web searchers can find you and so that you rank locally on Google.

Address Use for GMB When You Have a Physical Storefront

If you serve customers at a physical location, that’s great! You need to make sure that you accurately enter in all the details of your postal address, including your:

  • Street number
  • Street name
  • Street type (like Avenue, Drive, Road, etc.)
  • City name
  • State name
  • Zip Code
  • Suite, unit, or floor number

Entering all this information accurately on your Google My Business page both helps with local optimization and also allows Google to place a map marker on Google Maps at your exact location. This makes it easier for Google searchers, especially those who are on the go and searching on a mobile device, to find you and go to your business.

Examples of What Address Works for GMB

If your address is:
1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA, 94043

You want to enter that exactly on your Google My Business page. Even doing something that may seem harmless like abbreviating “Parkway” to “Pkwy” may make it harder for Google to accurately pinpoint your physical location and mark it on Google Maps. And you definitely don’t want to do that!

Address Use for GMB if You Are in a New Development or Rural Location

Sometimes, certain addresses are hard for Google Maps to find.  In these instances, Google Maps won’t accurately pinpoint your location, which could affect your ability for you to rank locally on Google or for customers to use Google Maps on their mobile devices to get directions to your storefront. This is especially true if your business is part of a brand new development that hasn’t yet been added to Google Maps, or if you are in a rural area.

If entering in your address as per the instructions listed above doesn’t accurately pinpoint your location on Google Maps, then you should include directional information like cross streets or nearby landmarks that Google Maps is able to accurately pinpoint. Doing so will help your location appear more clearly on Google Maps.

Address Use for GMB if You Have Multiple Locations

If your business has multiple locations, you should have Google My Business pages for each location to improve local SEO, enhance local optimization, and rank locally on Google for each of your business locations. You can manage your multiple locations by simply signing into your Google My Business Account.

Address Use for GMB if You Don’t Physically Serve Customers at a Location

Some businesses don’t serve customers at physical locations. Examples of these types of businesses include eCommerce sites, grocery delivery service providers, tutors who meet with students at community locations like local libraries, mobile notary publics, and more. This list really goes on and on.

Even if you don’t serve customers at a physical location, Google My Business still wants to list your business so that you can enhance local SEO and rank locally on Google. After all, Google is all about helping web searchers find the relevant information they want.

If you don’t serve customers at a physical location, then when you create your Google My Business page make sure to leave your business address blank and fill out the “Service Areas” field instead. Be thorough, and list all cities, towns, suburbs, etc. that you realistically service in order to best rank locally on Google and improve your local SEO and local optimization.

What Else Should You Include on Your Google My Business Page to Make it Easier for Customers to Find You?

Google My Business pages allow all businesses to add photos to their free profiles. You should definitely take advantage of this feature to, at the very minimum, add photos of the front of your business so that those who are searching for you on the go can easily spot your location from the street.

Make sure to keep these storefront photos current. If you paint your building, add window awnings or other architectural elements that change the appearance of your storefront, you want to update your business location photos so that customers don’t get confused by outdated images.

Get Help Ranking Locally on Google by Optimizing Your Google My Business Page

Because Google My Business pages are free profiles, they’re ubiquitous. Virtually all your competitors have one, and they’re using their best efforts to enhance local SEO and local optimization so they rank locally on Google. This means that having an updated, optimized Google My Business page is extremely important so that your GMB ranks higher than your competitors’ profiles.

As a digital marketing agency that specializes in local SEO, we help several customers every year optimize their Google My Business pages. If you’ve tried everything for local optimization but find you still don’t rank locally on Google, we can help. By using our SEO expertise and specialized SEO tools, we can find the best search terms to include on your Google My Business page to help you rank locally on Google.

For help with GMB, contact us today. You can reach us by calling (877) 682-2012 or filling out our online contact form.

Not big on reading? That’s okay. Watch “What Addresses Can You Use on Google My Business Pages?” instead.

Using the power of Artificial Intelligence, we turned this blog into a video for you. Check it out below!

 

 

 

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A Complete Guide to Local SEO for Small Businesses

Posted on | by devops
Expert Tips on Local SEO For Small Business

For small businesses, local search is crucial to reaching potential customers in their area. In fact, 80% of consumers use local search to find nearby businesses in 2023. If your website isn’t optimized for local search, you could be missing out on 4 out of 5 potential customers. 

Fortunately, optimizing your business for local search is a straightforward process. By taking the necessary steps to ensure your website appears in corresponding local searches, you can attract more customers and increase your business’s visibility. 

If you want to build a strong foundation for your business and achieve more online visibility from local searches, continue reading this guide for more tips and strategies! 

What Is Local SEO? 

Local SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is optimizing a website or online presence to improve its visibility in local search results. SEO for small businesses is focused on improving a business’s local online presence and making it easier for potential customers to find their physical location or services.  

If you’re a small business owner looking to improve your online presence and attract more customers, investing in effective SEO strategies is crucial. Optimizing your website and content for relevant keywords can increase your visibility on search engines and drive more organic traffic to your site, ultimately helping you grow your business.

Expert Tips on Local SEO for Small Businesses 

This year, 88% of all local searches result in the web user calling or visiting the business within 24 hours. This means that a strong local search strategy can have a significant impact on your business’s success. Here’s how to implement an effective local search strategy in 2023: 

Create a Google My Business Listing 

As of 2023, it’s still surprising, and concerning that only 44% of small businesses have claimed their Google My Business (GMB) listing. 

Considering that an average consumer will check local map listings to find a business near them, it would seem foolish to ignore setting up a listing.

That is how things currently are, but it doesn’t mean you have to neglect this very important process.

dentist

As you can see, the listing on the right of the image has all of the information that’s valuable to a potential customer.

People can use these listings to visit a website, receive directions, look at online reviews, and make a phone call. 

Creating a GMB listing is simple. Follow these steps to get the job done properly.

  1. Create a Google account or log in.
  2. Click here to visit Google My Business. 
  3. Fill out the required fields, such as your phone number, address, etc.
  4. Verify the information.
  5. Claim your listing and submit.

This is the most basic step in optimizing your business for local search. Your GMB listing is the gateway where unrefined prospects become loyal customers.

Leverage Effective Internal Linking Strategies

Backlinks are the crux of every internet marketing strategy. Though, internal links are just as important to boost your SEO ranking. Generally speaking, internal links are essential for the following reasons:

  • They support efficient website navigation
  • Streamlines website hierarchy and information architecture
  • Reinforces ranking power and page authority throughout your website

If you ever want to see a prime example of an effective internal linking strategy, visit a Wikipedia page. It’s not a coincidence that Wikipedia pages often rank highly in search engines.

They are highly-resourceful and have countless internal links to aid your comprehension and navigate to other useful pages. This increases the time you spent on Wikipedia, which lets search engines know that the site is valuable.

To the same effect, you should utilize sound internal link strategies to help your site rank sufficiently for local searches. 

Optimize all Metadata

Metadata is information that describes other data. This includes URLs, title tags, meta descriptions, and all the like. 
You see metadata every time you conduct any type of search. Just take a look at this standard search.
dentist

Do you see the headers indicating what each web page is about? 

This is metadata. 

Do you also see the descriptions below the headers? 

This is also metadata. 

It’s important to optimize the metadata of your entire website architecture to show up for local searches. The best way to do this is by adding high-volume keywords in the URL, title, header, meta description, and body. 

This will make sure that your website is found by consumers using the same high-volume keywords you’re including in your site’s metadata.

Add Location Pages to Your Website

As of 2023, local search remains a popular method for consumers to find local businesses. According to a survey conducted by BrightLocal, 86% of consumers reported using Google Maps to search for local businesses in the past year, while 72% used Google. 

If your business has multiple locations, it is essential to reflect this on your website to optimize your local search results. One effective way to do this is by creating separate location pages for each city or region where you do business.  

For instance, if you run a restaurant chain with Los Angeles and Beverly Hills locations, you should create separate pages for each site. However, it is essential to note that there are more effective strategies than simply duplicating the same page and changing the city names. Google’s algorithms are designed to detect duplicate content and may penalize your website for it.  

Instead, invest the time and effort into creating custom location pages that provide unique information for each city or region. This can include details about local events, nearby attractions, and special features of each location. By creating high-quality, customized location pages, you can improve your chances of ranking higher in local search results and attracting more customers to your business. 

Develop Stellar Local Content

If you want to attract local leads, then you’ll need to develop a consistent local content strategy. Ranking your local content isn’t as difficult due to the low amount of competition compared to worldwide search results.

Therefore, all you need is a great content writer and marketing team on your side to craft stellar local content. For example, if you run a law firm, you can write a post about how readers can select the best firm in your city.

Finally, you can add tons of local keywords. This will help your content rank high for local searches and provide a lot of value to your audience – that’s effectively killing two birds with one stone.

Make Sure Your Website is Mobile-Friendly

More than half of all online searches happen on a mobile device. If your website isn’t optimized for mobile devices, then you could be running potential customers off before they can even convert. 

A website doesn’t appear the same way on a computer as it does on a tablet. Therefore, you will have to ensure that your website has a fast and convenient mobile version. 

The important thing to realize here is that your desktop version should still provide the same features as your mobile version. It can be frustrating to be forced to use a computer just because the mobile version of a website stripped certain essential features. 

Here are some tips for ensuring your website is mobile-friendly 

  1. A responsive design automatically adapts your website’s layout to the screen size of the device being used, ensuring that your website looks great and is easy to use on any device.  
  2. Mobile users don’t want to sift through a cluttered website to find what they want. Ensure your website is clean, simple, and easy to navigate on a smaller screen.  
  3. Large images can slow down your website, especially on mobile devices. Optimize your ideas to ensure that they load quickly on all devices.  
  4. Some fonts may look great on a desktop but may be difficult to read on a mobile device. Use fonts that are easy to read on smaller screens.  
  5. Test your website on multiple devices to ensure it looks and functions correctly on each one.   

Boost Your Local Business with Our Expert Local SEO Services  

At Agency Partner Interactive, we offer custom digital marketing services for small businesses to increase local visibility, attract more customers, and generate more sales. Our team of experts is dedicated to helping you achieve your marketing goals through effective promotion strategies that align with your business objectives and budget.

One of the critical services we offer is local SEO for small businesses. Our Local SEO service is designed to help small businesses like yours achieve greater online visibility, increase website traffic, and attract more new customers. As a small business, you want to ensure that your website and online presence are optimized to attract local customers in your target area. Agency Partner Interactive can help you achieve that and more.  

Contact us today to learn how we can help your business grow through effective local search marketing!