data-science

The Role of Data Science in Enhancing SEO Performance

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) has evolved from a niche tactic to an essential strategy when it comes to digital marketing. As industries increasingly rely on data to make informed decisions, the bond between data science and SEO grows stronger. This article highlights how data science plays a big part in improving SEO performance.

What is Data Science?  

Data science is the study and practice of extracting knowledge and insights from vast amounts of information. It combines statistics, mathematics, and computer science techniques to analyze and interpret data to make informed decisions. In digital marketing, this means leveraging data to understand consumer behavior, optimize campaigns, and predict trends. By utilizing data science, marketers can tailor their strategies more effectively, ensuring more personalized and impactful outreach to their target audience.

The Intersection of Data Science and SEO 

Data science and SEO intertwine in the pursuit of understanding online user behavior. According to Hubspot, about 5.6 billion searches are conducted on Google every day. Given the immense daily search volume, data science sifts through this vast volume to identify patterns, such as popular search terms, user click behaviors, and website engagement metrics. These insights, in turn, guide SEO professionals in optimizing websites, creating relevant content and designing user-centric experiences to enhance a site’s visibility and ranking on the SERP (Search Engine Results Page). 

7 Pillars of Data Science On-Page SEO Optimization 

The power of data science extends to various on-page SEO elements, from analyzing user behavior to optimizing content presentation; let’s explore these enhancements in detail: 

1. Content recommendations 

Data science algorithms, especially those related to Machine Learning, can analyze search trends and user behavior. This enables recommending content topics that align with current user demands and emerging trends. 

2. Meta optimization 

By assessing which meta titles and descriptions get higher click-through rates across the web, data-driven insights can guide the refinement of these elements, ensuring they are both appealing and relevant to potential site visitors. 

3. Image optimization 

Data science can help understand the importance of visual content in search queries. This leads to better image indexing by ensuring images have accurate and descriptive alt texts, improving visibility in image searches. 

4. Content structure and depth 

We can discern the ideal content length and structure that resonate best with users through data analytics. For instance, specific topics benefit from long-form content due to their complexity, while others require concise, to-the-point explanations. 

5. Internal linking patterns 

Analyzing website user navigation patterns can help optimize internal links, ensuring users are directed to the most relevant and valuable content and reducing bounce rates. 

6. Semantic SEO 

With the rise of natural language processing, data science helps understand the context behind words. This can guide the content creation to align more naturally with how users phrase their queries, particularly in the age of voice search. 

7. User engagement metrics 

By studying metrics such as time on page, bounce rate, and scroll depth, data science provides insights into how engaging a page is. Such metrics can guide adjustments in content presentation and layout.

By focusing on these specific on-page elements with the backing of data science, websites stand a better chance of delivering content that’s both user-friendly and search engine optimized.

7 Ways Data Science Enhances Off-Page SEO 

While on-page SEO is crucial for website optimization, off-page SEO is equally pivotal in determining a website’s authority and relevance in the vast digital space.  

Data science brings precision and insight into this domain in various ways: 

1. Backlink analysis 

Through comprehensive data analysis, the quality, relevance, and authority of incoming links can be assessed. This helps in focusing link-building strategies on sources that carry significant weight in the eyes of search engines. 

2. Social signal analysis 

Social media‘s influence on search engine rankings must be noticed. Data science tools track and analyze brand mentions, shares, likes, and comments across platforms, offering insights into how social engagement correlates with site traffic and rankings. 

3. Brand sentiment analysis  

By leveraging natural language processing, data science can gauge public sentiment around a brand based on reviews, comments, and mentions. Positive emotions can enhance brand authority, while negative emotions can be addressed proactively. 

4. Competitor benchmarking  

By processing large datasets, data science can help identify where competitors gain backlinks, highlighting potential opportunities or industry-standard platforms. 

5. Influencer engagement 

Algorithms can identify key influencers in specific niches based on their reach, engagement, and relevance. Partnering with these influencers can drive quality traffic and backlinks. 

6. Content distribution strategy 

Data science can optimize content distribution across various channels, ensuring that content reaches target audiences effectively, be it through guest blogs, forums, or press releases. 

7. Local SEO and citations 

For businesses with a local focus, data analytics can pinpoint where a brand is cited across the web, ensuring consistency in name, address, and phone number, which is crucial for local search engine rankings. 

Using data science in off-page SEO initiatives ensures that efforts are targeted, efficient, and aligned with the evolving digital landscape. 

Harnessing Data Science Using Predictive Analytics in SEO 

By forecasting, data science can use predictive analytics as an advantage in the SEO landscape. Businesses can anticipate emerging trends by analyzing past and current search behaviors, ensuring a proactive approach. Recognizing data patterns can also hint at potential search engine algorithm shifts, enabling strategic adjustments in advance. 

The Challenges of Merging Data Science with SEO 

Despite the immense potential, integrating data science and SEO presents challenges. Over-reliance on data might lead to neglecting qualitative factors crucial to SEO, such as user experience and content quality. Furthermore, it’s essential to acknowledge that while data can guide, it can only partially automate SEO’s nuanced and multifaceted realm, where human intuition and expertise remain crucial. 

Agency Partner Interactive: Your Solution to Using Data Science and SEO 

Data science and SEO fusion promise a transformative impact on digital marketing. As technological advancements continue, the potential to leverage intricate data patterns for SEO grows exponentially. For businesses, adopting a data-driven approach can substantially elevate their SEO strategies, setting the stage for success in the digital domain.

At Agency Partner Interactive, we offer SEO services in Dallas. Our status as an award-winning SEO agency reinforces our skills in merging data science and SEO. One of our clients saw a 2K+ increase in organic users starting from 0 within 6 months of our targeted SEO strategy. We also helped them rank over 2.2K keywords organically within the same time period, giving them a fantastic ROI that increased month over month. 

Get in touch with us today and let’s start developing a winning data science SEO strategy for your brand! 

 

technical-seo

Technical SEO: How to Optimize Your Site in 2023

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! 

local-seo

How to Dominate Local Search Results in Austin and Boost Your Business

What’s up, Austin business owners! Looking for a way to get your business to the top of local search results in Austin? Being visible in local search results means more people will find your business when searching for your products or services, which can be a game changer in a competitive market. And let’s be honest, who doesn’t want more customers? 

You might be wondering, “What is Austin’s local SEO?” Don’t worry; we got you covered. Local SEO (search engine optimization) is optimizing your website and online presence to increase visibility in local search results. It’s a powerful tool for businesses that want to attract more customers and dominate their local market. It’s all about making it easier for people to find your business when searching for things in your local area. 

What Are Local Search Results? 

Local search refers to searching for products, services, or businesses within a specific geographic location. When someone performs a local search, the search engine’s algorithm considers the user’s location and displays relevant results based on that location. 

Local search differs from traditional SEO because it focuses on geography rather than general relevance. In other words, traditional SEO aims to optimize a website for specific keywords, regardless of where the searcher is located.  

Local SEO aims to optimize a website for Austin so that it appears in search results for users in Austin. For example, local search results will show nearby coffee shops if someone searches for a “coffee shop” in Austin. Or if the user types “Local SEO Agency Austin,” so local search will show results nearby within the region. 

Local search results often have unique features, such as a map showing the location of the business, customer reviews, and contact information. These features help users quickly find and evaluate businesses in their area. 

Steps to Dominate Local Search Results 

By taking these steps, you can dominate local search results in Austin and boost your business.  

  1. The first step to dominating local search results is to claim your Google My Business listing, which will help you appear in local search results when people search for businesses in Austin.
  2. Once you’ve claimed your Google My Business listing, make sure it’s optimized, which means filling out all the relevant information, including your business hours, phone number, and address.
  3. Having a strong website is crucial to dominating local search results. Make sure your website is mobile-friendly, has a fast load time, and includes relevant information about your business and services.
  4. Getting listed in local directories can help improve your visibility in local search results. 
  5. Encourage customer reviews, because testimonials are important for building credibility and improving your local search rankings. 
  6. Make sure you’re using local keywords in your website content and on your Google My Business listing, which can help improve your visibility in local search results.
  7. Social media can improve your local search rankings by driving traffic to your website and increasing engagement. Make sure you are active on social media and using relevant hashtags.
  8. Local content can help improve your visibility in local search results. Consider creating blog posts or videos specific to Austin and its surrounding areas.
  9. One effective strategy to dominate local search results in Austin and boost your business is by conducting thorough and targeted local keyword research. You can use variations of long tail keywords as well.

Why Is Local Search Important for Businesses? 

Local search is critical for small and local businesses because it allows them to reach potential customers in Austin. Local search has become even more essential for companies that want to stay competitive and be seen by potential consumers due to the growth of mobile devices and voice search.
Businesses that appear at the top of search engine results pages (SERPs) are more likely to be trusted by customers because they are thought to be more reliable and trustworthy.
Positive reviews in local search results can help businesses increase their online reviews, and ratings can significantly influence a consumer’s decision-making process. Higher-rated businesses are more likely to draw new clients.
Several studies have demonstrated the impact of local search on consumer behavior. For instance, according to Google, 46% of all searches have local intent, with 76% resulting in a visit to a physical store within 24 hours. Additionally, 28% of these visits result in a purchase. 

Why Monitoring and Measuring Local Search Performance Is Essential? 

Track your website’s conversions and see which pages drive the most traffic. If you’re only getting a few conversions, it may be time to improve your call-to-action or the user experience on your site.
By regularly monitoring and measuring your local search performance, you can identify opportunities to improve your website and online presence, leading to more traffic, conversions, and revenue. 

The Final Word on Dominating Local Search in Austin and Growing Your Business 

Let’s wrap things up! Google local search optimization refers to optimizing a business’s online presence to improve its visibility in local search results. This is achieved through various local marketing strategies, such as claiming and optimizing a Google My Business profile, building a strong online reputation through customer reviews, using local keywords in website content, building local citations and backlinks, and monitoring and measuring local search performance through analytics tools. Local search optimization aims to attract more local customers in Austin to a business and improve its overall online presence. 

Drive Business Growth with the Top Digital Marketing Solutions in Austin 

Are you tired of being buried on the second page of Google results? Agency Partner Interactive can help! Our SEO company in Austin, TX helps growth-focused businesses like yours implement the strategies discussed in this blog to improve your local search performance and attract more customers to your business. If you need help optimizing your website for SEO or managing your Google My Business page for higher conversions, Agency Partner Interactive’s SEO experts are here to help as the best digital marketing agency in Austin.  

With our proven strategies as an Austin SEO company, you can increase your online visibility, drive traffic to your website, and ultimately boost your sales and revenue. 

So, what are you waiting for? Get the best Austin SEO services with us today and watch your business grow! 

seo-rankings

How Building Topical Authority Helps Boost Your Google SEO Rankings

When it comes to SEO strategy, there are a lot of aspects to consider. You can’t expect Google to give you good rankings without putting in the work. And the reality is that simply focusing on your website’s content isn’t enough. To get the best results possible, you need to think about much more than just putting out content – you also have to think about how topical authority can help you achieve better rankings. This article will discuss how building your topical authority helps boost your Google search rankings 

What is Topical Authority? 

Topical authority is a measure of how well your website is performing on a particular topic. It’s also a way to examine your performance compared to your competitors and the quality of your content. While domain authority and page authority are equally as important, topical authority helps boost your overall ranking by showing you know what you’re talking about in your industry. The more high-quality, informative content you produce, the more people will trust your brand as an authoritative voice and resource on the specific subject matter. 

How Does Topical Authority Differ from Domain Authority? 

Domain Authority measures how well a website is trusted by Google. This measurement is on a scale of 0-100, with 100 representing the most trustworthy websites. 

Google uses this score to determine how well your website will perform in search results and whether they can trust it as an authoritative source of information. 

Topical authority differs from domain authority as it measures how much trust you have earned over time in a specific topic. Topical authority is determined by two main factors: 

  • The number of times your content has been linked to or shared across the web (link equity)
  • The relevance of those links that link back to you (content quality)

How Topical Authority Can Boost Your Domain Authority  

To help explain the benefits of building topical authority, let’s look at how you can use this tactic to help boost your domain authority. 

The first step is finding a topic that has enough demand. This means that people are looking for information on this topic and are willing to pay for it. 

Once you’ve found a topic with high demand, go through competitors’ websites using SEO tactics and learn what they do well. If they rank high in Google search results, determine why. Take note of what these sites are doing because you’ll want to emulate them to rank highly and outrank them in Google’s SERPs (Search Engine Results Page). 

Once you’ve learned the SEO basics and understand what it takes to rank highly in search engines, you can begin building topical authority. This means you’ll want to create valuable content for your audience. If they find your content interesting and useful, they’ll likely share it with their friends and family, leading to more traffic for your website. The more people who visit, the higher your domain authority will be! 

Benefits of Building Topical Authority 

Building topical authority is essential for many reasons, and here are some of the biggest: 

  • Increased traffic: the more you know about your topic, and the more frequently you publish articles on it, the better off you’ll be in terms of overall traffic. Staying up to date with trends in news coverage will help ensure that any reader coming to your site is likely to discover something new or exciting for them (and then share it with their friends).
  • Improved rankings: as mentioned above, Google wants its users to find what they’re looking for as quickly as possible. If someone searches “how do I build topical authority,” their goal will be served best if they get results from sites with great information rather than sites that don’t offer much value beyond self-promotion or spammy links.
  • More links back into your site(s): link building is still one of the most effective ways to increase organic search rankings across all industries. Building trust among key influencers within an industry can hugely impact how well your content performs over time without requiring any additional effort on your part once it’s published!

How to Build Topical Authority 

  1. Niche Down 

To build topical authority, you’ll first need to understand your niche. What are the specific issues that your audience is facing? What problems do they have that you can help solve? How will you offer them something unique or different from what is currently available in the marketplace? 

  1. Keyword Research 

Keyword research is essential for building topical authority. Keywords are what users type into search engines to find the content you have written. Understanding which keywords to target and how to implement them within your content is vital for optimization and ranking purposes.  

  1. Develop a Content Strategy

After you’ve determined what your audience wants to know and which keywords they’ll likely use, you need to develop a compelling content strategy aligned with your brand. A content strategy will help you determine what types of content to create, which media will be most effective, how to promote your content, and how to track its performance. 

  1. Create Pillar Pages

Pillar content represents the primary topic content writers and SEO experts are trying to rank for by producing more specific pieces of cluster content. A pillar page is a foundation on which topic clusters are built, covering all aspects of the topic on a single page. Pillar pages broadly cover a core topic and are longer than typical blog posts because they address all aspects of the specific topic. However, they aren’t as detailed, leaving room for more in-depth information to be explored in the related cluster content. 

  1. Build Topic Clusters 

Cluster content expands on the topic covered in the pillar page, addressing specific keywords related to the in-depth topic. Apart from helping your site gain topical authority and boost rankings, pillar pages and content are efficient ways to organize multiple pieces intuitively.  

For example, you might write a pillar page about Google SEO tactics (broad topic) and pieces of cluster content about building topical authority, blogging, or effective keyword strategies. 

  1. Use Internal Links Wisely 

The best way to make your content easier to navigate is through internal links. These are the links you see on a page leading you back or forward and around your site. 

  • Linking back and forth within a post or article will help readers find related information they may be interested in while reading—and it shows them you’re here to help.
  • Linking across different articles on your site gives visitors an easy way to browse all the content you have available (which can keep them from leaving). Be sure not to overdo it—you don’t want to overwhelm your readers!

Agency Partner Interactive 

Building topical authority is one of the most effective ways to improve your Google SEO rankings. You can increase traffic, gain new customers, drive engagement, and generate conversions by establishing your business as an expert in your field. SEO is an ever-evolving process that can be overwhelming without the right partner. That’s where we come in. Agency Partner’s award-winning SEO experts can drive consistent organic traffic to your site and optimize your content to get you to the top of the SERPs and keep you there. The synergy between our SEO and Content Marketing teams enables us to help brands of all sizes and industries gain authority and dominate the market. Ready to take the leap into exponential growth? Get in touch with a digital marketing specialist at Agency Partner today! 

google-search-essential

What the New Google Search Essentials Tell Us About SEO

Google’s search engine has been the center of many SEO discussions over the years. With recent updates, Google has been making it harder for SEO experts to game its algorithm with black hat methods. That said, there are still ways to optimize your website for organic search results. In this post, we’ll discuss some of these changes and how they can impact your SEO strategy moving forward. 

 Don’t Overlook Technical SEO 

If you’re not familiar with technical SEO, here are some key points to keep in mind: 

  • Make sure your site is fast. Google recommends loading under 1 second on both desktop and mobile, so if you need help improving site speed, consider scheduling a consultation with an Agency Partner SEO specialist. 
  • Use HTTPS instead of HTTP whenever possible. You should also use HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS) headers to prevent accidental communication over an insecure connection.  
  • Ensure all your pages have schema markup and structured data implemented correctly. 
  • Finally: Use Google Analytics! It might seem obvious but having analytics built into every aspect of one’s marketing strategy makes everything easier when trying to figure out what content performs best among visitors (areas needing improvement) and where visitors come from most often (which sources should be prioritized). 

Stay Up to Date with Google Spam Policies 

Google spam policies are constantly changing. It is important to stay up-to-date on these changes, as they can impact your rankings in search results. 

Google’s spam policies are significant for SEO. It’s one of the most common reasons sites get penalized or removed from Google’s index. A good rule of thumb here is that if you are unsure whether something could be considered “spammy” by Google, then you should avoid doing it altogether and stick with what works best for your site overall. 

Use Google’s SEO Starter Guide  

Google SEO starter guide is loaded with resources for SEO improvement, and it’s a great place to start. It covers many of the basics and offers areas to build your strategy. 

The Google SEO guide covers topics like: 

  • What is Search Engine Optimization?
  •  Why does Google care about SEO? 
  • How does search work? 

It also covers more advanced topics, like how to make content easier to read by using headings and subheadings, optimizing images in your blog posts, or learning how Google ranks sites based on their authority and trustworthiness. 

Refer to ‘Key Best Practices’ For What Content Google Wants to Rank 

With the new Google Search Essentials, it is clear that Google wants to rank content that answers people’s questions and provides valuable information. This means you need to create content that your users will find helpful and reliable. 

In addition to being helpful, this new ranking signal also requires that your content be unique and original. This can be a challenge for many marketers who are creating similar content across their brands. They want to avoid making something that looks like a replica of another piece of work they have done or might do again in the future. To accomplish this task, content writers need strong keyword research skills to identify topics with high search volume but low competition. 

Pay Attention to Google’s Advice 

The new Google Search Essentials are all about providing helpful, reliable, and unique content that serves people first. Paying attention to these guidelines is important because they’re the baseline for how Google ranks your work. 

In other words, if your content doesn’t meet these criteria, you will be penalized by Google’s search algorithm—even if you’re an established website with hundreds or thousands of content pieces. 

Craft a Strategy Around Google’s Quality Questions 

If you’re not getting a lot of traffic, or if your traffic isn’t converting into leads and sales, then it might be because your content isn’t great according to Google. 

Google wants to ensure that the content on its search engine is helpful, reliable, authoritative, and relevant. To do this, they have created a new series of questions they will ask potential customers after reading some of your content. These questions will appear as part of the Google Search Bar when someone searches for local businesses like yours. 

Don’t Sleep on the Quality Rater Guidelines 

Quality raters are Google’s internal team of reviewers who evaluate the quality of websites and help determine whether they should be rated in search results. This is a big deal because the more relevant and high-quality content you have on your site, the more likely you’ll rank higher in Google’s algorithm. 

Quality raters were introduced in 2012 as an effort to get feedback from real people about how well or poorly certain websites were performing. These individuals don’t have any power over what appears in search results. Still, they can flag instances where sites seem deceptive or spammy so that Google engineers can address them accordingly when developing new algorithms. Because these rater guidelines are updated often, web admins need to stay alert for any changes that impact their strategies for improving site quality and performance online. 

The main takeaway here? Quality raters aren’t just imaginary beings; they’re real people who work at Google! And while we can’t see their faces—their influence on how we view technology today cannot be denied. 

Final Thoughts 

Google is constantly changing its search engine algorithm to improve its user experience. They will continue to prioritize relevant, valuable, and unique content rather than how many keywords are implemented.  

This is just the beginning of Google Search Essentials. As more people use it and provide feedback, we expect it to evolve further to meet the demands of the digital world.  

Agency Partner Interactive 

SEO is highly complex and can be challenging to navigate without the skills of an expert. Luckily, Agency Partner Interactive has a team of SEO specialists dedicated to optimizing and improving our clients’ websites and content. Our work has earned us awards, such as one of the Best US-Based SEO Agencies by BestSEOserviceCompanies.com and Top Web SEO Company in Texas by Design Rush. Drive organic traffic, conversions, and revenue like never before by scheduling a consultation today! 

organic-click-through-rate

How To Improve Your Content’s Organic Click Through Rate

Click-through rate (CTR) is a key metric for web content, particularly for internet marketing campaigns. Click-through rate helps you measure the effectiveness of your content, so you can make adjustments to improve it. This article will explain what a click-through rate is and how you can optimize your site’s CTR to rank higher on search engine results pages (SERPs). 

What Is a Click Through Rate? 

Click Through Rate (CTR) is the percentage of people who click a link. It’s a metric that indicates user engagement and how well your content is performing. 

How To Improve Click Through Rate 

To improve your organic click-through rate, you need to optimize the headlines, meta descriptions, and content of each webpage that you want to rank for. 

The headlines are what people see first when they search for something. Make sure it’s compelling enough to make them click through to your page. Meta descriptions are the short snippets of text that appear under each search result listing in Google and Bing SERPs. Optimize these as well so that they describe what can be found on your website without being too long-winded or spammy. They should also be relevant and include keywords related to your business or product/service offerings. 

Optimize Headlines 

Your headline will entice the reader to click on the link by making them curious or answering their questions before they even ask them. If you don’t have a good headline with keywords implemented, your content will be easy to miss and may get lost in the sea of internet information. 

Here are some best practices: 

  • Use a descriptive headline – A descriptive headline has keywords that tell people what they can expect to read in your article. It should be something that would catch their eye and make them want to click on it.
  • Be unique – Make sure you stand out from other headlines by using something different than everyone else is doing right now (this could include using puns or humor). You can also try changing the order of words in standard phrases like “how to” or “the best way” so that it still makes sense but doesn’t look like every other title out there. 

Meta Descriptions 

Meta descriptions are the snippet of text that appears below the title on a search result, and they’re the first thing users see when they land on your page. This is your chance to entice them with a short, engaging description that will compel them to click through to read more. 

It makes sense that SEO experts want you to include keywords in meta descriptions because it will help get your content ranked higher in SERPs. However, while keyword optimization is important for SEO purposes, it can be difficult if you focus too much on them and end up writing something overly promotional or generic instead of concise and informative—which is what Google wants from meta descriptions anyway! 

Content To Spark Interest   

This is the key to creating content that will get you more organic clicks. If your audience isn’t interested in what you’re writing, they won’t share it with their friends, who won’t be inclined to click on it. You must consider what will spark the interest of your target audience and what format that information should take for maximum impact. The following are some basic guidelines for creating engaging and effective content: 

  • Relevancy: Your content must be relevant to your target audience. Relevance is one of Google’s ranking factors, so if someone visits your site or clicks on your blog post and finds the information misleading or off-topic, it will hurt how your audience perceives you, and your rankings will suffer.
  • Approachability: Ensure your content is easy to understand for anyone looking for information. A well-written article should be easy enough so anyone can understand its main points without needing any prior knowledge about them beforehand. Don’t make people work too hard when reading your articles! If your point doesn’t come across clearly or if you’re using too many complex terms, your readers may not engage and convert.

User Input Optimization 

After all the hard work you put into writing the content, it would be a shame if no one clicked on it. Your goal is to get your visitors interacting with your content as much as possible, and one of the best ways to do this is by including user input optimization. 

User input optimization includes features like: 

  • Comment Form: Give visitors a way to interact with your content by asking them questions or encouraging them to share their opinions or experiences in the comments section. This will encourage more visitors to engage with your site and click through on links contained in the comment box.
  • Contact Form: If people don’t feel comfortable leaving comments online, they may be more inclined to contact you directly by filling out a form. Your form can ask for just an email for newsletter subscriptions or something more in-depth like your client’s pain points, address, mailing info, etc.

Conclusion 

Your content’s click-through rate is essential for ranking higher on SERPs. As you can see, there are many ways to improve your CTR, and it’s not just about using keywords. Ensure your users have a positive experience with your content so that they stay longer on your site and engage with you.  

Agency Partner Interactive 

Digital marketing is all about constantly optimizing, staying agile, and improving. Our transparent communication process keeps you in the loop every step of the way as we help you create engaging content, optimize your website, and sustain your digital presence. Get a proposal from Texas’ top digital marketing agency! 

SEO-Split-Tests

How To Stay on Top Of SERPs With SEO Split Tests

SEO has always been an evolving practice, but in the last few years, it’s changed more than ever before. Organic search rankings are becoming more competitive, and Google is constantly testing new algorithms to make them even more difficult to crack. These changes mean that if you want to stay on top of the SERPs (search engine results pages), you need a strategy that adapts quickly and keeps up with these changes — which is where split tests come in!

What Is an SEO Split Test?

To put it simply, an SEO split test is when you run different versions of a page and compare the results to see which one performs better. For example, if you have two versions of your home page that are identical except for one element (such as a headline or image), then you can compare how they perform individually and with each other.

  • Run new tests to keep tabs on what’s working and what’s not
  • Use proven tactics to create pages that get high rankings

Why You Should Be Running an SEO Split Test

You probably already know that Google’s search results are continually changing. This can be frustrating because you always feel like you must be running an SEO campaign, but there’s also something exciting about it — you never know what change might help your SEO rankings.

If you want to optimize your site for maximum traffic, then an SEO split test should be part of your strategy. A split test lets you test different elements of your website without making any changes to it.

How To Set Up Your First Split Test

  1. Set up your test parameters. The first step is to determine the overall goal of your split test and the metrics you’ll use to measure that goal. This could be anything from adding several new email subscribers to increasing sales by 10%.
  2. Set up your goal-tracking code. You can set this up inside Google Analytics or any other analytics platform that you’re currently using or on your website itself (in which case it should be a JavaScript tag). Ideally, though, have both!
  3. Create audience lists for each variation of the ad and make sure they’re in separate campaigns (or if they’re not, then at least separate ad groups). You may want to include different audiences based on location and demographics here as well so that when one changes over time, another doesn’t get affected by it accidentally. For example, if we were doing this for an eCommerce store selling women’s clothes online, we might have separate audiences called ‘Women 18-29’ versus ‘Women 30-60+’. The same goes for conversion goals—setting them up two different ways will help ensure accuracy later on when measuring results since they won’t affect each other directly.

What Makes a Good Topic For A Split Test?

Before you start creating your split test, it’s important to have a good idea of what you want to test. Here are some questions that can help you decide on the best topic:

  • Do I want to test headlines?
  • Would it be better if I tested different images?
  • Do my landing pages need improvement?

Asking yourself these questions will help ensure that whatever topic you pick is relevant and measurable. You’ll be able to answer them more easily once you’ve chosen a topic for your split test!

How To Run an Effective Split Test Campaign With Google Analytics & Optimizely?

When you’re running a test, there are two types of data you can collect: qualitative and quantitative. Qualitative data is more subjective, while quantitative data is more objective.

Qualitative data is a way to get feedback from your customers about what they like and don’t like about a particular page or product. For example, if you want to know what people think about the copy on your home page, then ask them! One way to do this would be with an exit survey or visitor chat box on your site that asks users why they left without converting into a lead or sale (and/or whether they found what they were looking for). In this case, it might be useful to ask whether someone was confused by any specific part of the page—and then rewrite it accordingly so that others aren’t lost as well!

Quantitative data is a way to measure how well your lead generation campaign is performing. For example, if you want to know what percentage of visitors are becoming leads on your site, then provide an opt-in form that asks for their name and email address in exchange for something.

Conclusion

Split testing can be a valuable tool for any company, but it’s important to understand the basics before diving in. There are many ways to run an effective split test, so we recommend starting small with one or two tests and working your way up from there. You can use Google Analytics and Optimizely together to track all of your results, but keep in mind that some platforms offer more robust features than others when it comes down to data collection and analysis.

Your website is the cornerstone of your marketing strategy. Agency Partner Interactive can help you optimize it so that it can rank #1 on Google for relevant keywords and drive more traffic to your business. The time to get started is now! Contact us today for a free consultation!

Agency-partner-global-digital-agency-the-manifest

The Manifest Hails Agency Partner Interactive LLC as One of the Most-Reviewed Global Digital Agencies

 

full-service-digital-agencies

Agency Partner Interactive LLC is a high-growth digital agency that has developed a reputation for helping home services, healthcare, and eCommerce businesses double revenue within 12 to 18 months, even during the peak of COVID shutdowns. We’re a high-performance digital agency that aims to lead organizations toward modern business excellence. 

Today, we’re delighted to share that we’re listed in the 2022 directory of The Manifest. The platform’s newest compilation recognizes us among the most-reviewed digital agencies globally.

 “This award is a welcome affirmation of our company’s commitment to excellence in marketing and technology service. We strive to help our clients achieve concrete business goals, and it is an honor and blessing to do what we do.”

— CEO, Agency Partner Interactive LLC

For over a decade, we’ve been a stalwart force in the digital space, helping businesses solve their complex digital problems. We’ve focused on building brands, creating experiences, and transforming businesses. To win this award is a momentous occasion for us as it showcases the brilliance of our entire team. 

Elevation Concepts is a furniture manufacturer that engaged with us for web development and SEO solutions. The main objective of our partnership is to help them develop a website and an e-commerce platform to replace their existing product. We utilized WordPress to build the new solution, and we’re currently in the second phase of our project, which mainly focuses on SEO. 

“They want to help us grow our business and be successful. Moreover, they’ve taken ownership of the project, and it’s very comforting to know we’d get a good ROI.”

— Scott Newman, Founder & CEO, Elevation Concepts

Check out the brand-new list on The Manifest to read more about our notable projects.

For inquiries about our services, please get in touch and give us a brief description of your project.

digital-marketing-2023

Digital Marketing in 2023 — Why It’s Essential for Your Business

We’ve been hearing about digital marketing for a long time, and it has become a part of our daily lives. Outsourcing Digital marketing helps businesses grow globally, makes their products and services available to customers at a single click, and increases brand awareness. With the constant advancements in technology and increased competition, brands must continuously implement new, successful strategies and tactics to bring them ahead of their competitors. Here are some critical aspects of Digital Marketing that you should know: 

Ever-Evolving Rules of SEO  

SEO rules are ever-evolving, and it has changed from a purely technical process to a holistic approach that focuses on the user experience.  

SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is a process that helps businesses rank higher on search engines for specific keywords or phrases. The main objective of this practice is to increase visibility, sales, and overall brand awareness. However, SEO has become more complicated as time goes by, with Google constantly changing its algorithms to stay ahead of competitors such as Bing and DuckDuckGo.  

Importance of UX  

A crucial step in your digital marketing strategy is to have a good user experience (UX). UX refers to how people interact with the website or app you provide. A good UX means users can navigate easily, find what they’re looking for quickly and understand how it all works.  

A great user experience can come from many things:  

  • Design – does your website or app look professional and aligned with your brand?  
  • Content – is the information on your website and pages valuable and relevant to your audience?  
  • Interaction – does your audience have easy access to what they need? Are there clear calls to action?  

Engage and Retain Customers with Social Media 

Social media is a great way to interact with customers. You can use social media to communicate with your customers, get feedback from them and promote your products. Social media is also an excellent tool for advertising your business.  

Social media is the best way to engage customers because they feel they are part of the brand, which increases customer engagement and loyalty. It also gives you access to data about how people interact with your brand and what they think about your product or service.  

Cutting Costs  

A recent study showed that digital marketing is the most cost-effective way to reach customers. This is because it’s scalable, measurable, and agile. Digital marketing provides you the flexibility and convenience of reaching your target audience without spending a fortune on advertising.  

As an entrepreneur or small business owner, you want to spend as little money as possible on marketing while maximizing your return on investment (ROI). Digital marketing is ideal because results are easy to measure, pivot if needed, and scale without the need for extra costs. 

Business Expansion  

First, let’s discuss how digital marketing can help you expand your business by growing your reach and audience. Digital media allows you to reach a broader audience like traditional media — but with more possibilities for increased engagement. Because digital platforms are highly targeted and interactive, they can provide a better experience for users than conventional channels have been able to do in the past. You can also use these channels to attract new customers who might not be familiar with your brand or products yet (e.g., if you’re an online retailer).  

Second, we need to discuss how digital marketing can help you grow by reaching out to diverse demographics. With so many daily users on social media sites like Facebook and Instagram around the world, it makes sense that marketers would want to access those audiences, especially when those audiences include younger generations whose buying power will only increase over time!  

Over the years, digital marketing has evolved rapidly. Today, it’s more important than ever to have your business included in the digital sphere. Businesses with a dynamic online presence on social media or an eCommerce site will benefit from customers who prefer shopping online rather than visiting physical stores.  

Digitize your Brand and Achieve Results with Agency Partner Interactive 

Digital marketing services are essential to the growth of any business regardless of size and industry. If you need help getting started, we’ve got you covered. Agency Partner’s internet marketing experts can help guide you through data-driven decisions designed to maximize ROI.  

On average, our clients see over 400% increase in web traffic, 170% increase in conversion rate, and 65% decrease in cost per lead. Make 2023 your year of explosive growth with a Clutch.co Global, SMU Cox Dallas 100, and Inc. 5000 award-winning digital marketing agency. Schedule your consultation today! 

seo-trends

The Future of SEO in 2023: Latest SEO Trends & Changes

Search Engine Optimization is one of the most effective, scalable, and data-driven methods for businesses to grow their online presence, penetrate new markets and increase web traffic. With an ever-evolving digital landscape, many ask what SEO will look like next year or even in the next decade. So, what does the future hold for SEO? This blog post will explore a few predictions on what we can expect from search engine optimization in 2023. 

Google Will Ramp Up AI-Powered Algorithms 

Google has been using AI for a while now and will only get more advanced in the coming years. AI is so powerful because it can learn from data points, which means it becomes more accurate as time goes on. This allows Google to make predictions about SEO trends and changes, implementing them into their algorithm in advance! 

The Rise of Voice Search 

Voice search is an increasingly common way for users to search online compared to text, and it will only grow in popularity. 

Voice-powered digital assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant have made it easier for people to interact with their devices naturally. As voice recognition technology improves, we expect more searches to rely on spoken commands rather than written ones. This shift will affect SEO practices since keywords must now be catered to mimic natural speech rather than text. 

Mobile Optimization Will Impact Search Rankings 

The importance of mobile optimization has never been greater. If you’re not currently prioritizing your mobile strategy or are looking to take it to the next level, here are a few things to keep in mind: 

Optimizing your website and apps for mobile devices ensure that your site is accessible for people to use on any device or interface. If your site doesn’t display correctly, the links don’t work on mobile, or they can’t find what they’re looking for, they’ll likely bounce from your site and go to your competitors. 

When optimizing your mobile presence, it’s essential to understand your audience’s preferences, behavior, and usage. Technical SEO can help segment your users and get your brand in front of the right audience, but if your website isn’t responsive, your efforts will go to waste. 

More AMPs in Search Results 

Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP) is a way to improve the mobile experience for your users by optimizing your content for faster loading times on mobile devices. Google has even said they will start displaying more AMPs in search results in the future, meaning that if you implement AMPs, your rankings could improve. 

More Local Searches 

As the world continues to get smaller and more connected, the importance of local search will continue to grow. With the rise of voice search, we can expect a more significant number of queries that are location specific. And with the increased use of mobile devices, people will search on their phones more than ever. If you aren’t geotargeting and optimizing your content and landing pages, now is the time to start! 

Long-Form Content Will Improve Rankings 

According to the State of Content Marketing Report by Semrush, content pieces with 3,000+ words get triple the amount of traffic and four times more shares. They also achieve 3.5 times more backlinks than pieces that have an average word count of 1,000. However, it’s not just about creating wordy pieces. To rank well on Google SERPs, your content must maintain quality and relevancy to your audience.  

Keyword Research Will Continue to Be Important 

This is a no-brainer, but keyword research is and will continue to be an invaluable resource for all brands. It can provide data on how users search, where they search, and what they’re looking for. This information helps understand user intent and behavior, which can better inform your content creation strategy. 

SEO is Only Getting More Complex  

SEO is a long game, and you’ll need to adapt to changes and updates in Google’s algorithm quickly and efficiently. Unique ranking factors and metrics always come into play, and the era of simply optimizing keywords and meta titles is long gone. Keeping up with SEO trends is paramount if you want to continue ranking well and staying ahead of your competitors.  

Key Takeaway 

Although SEO will continue to change, most are evolutionary rather than revolutionary and can be adapted to benefit your rankings. There will still be a focus on keywords, links, and content, but that’s not all you can rely on as Google will continue to evolve the way it understands and ranks content. 

An Award-Winning SEO Agency 

Agency Partner Interactive is a full-service internet marketing agency that offers world-class SEO services. We can get your website on page one of SERPs and keep it there. Whether you need to increase conversions, optimize your website and content, build links, or drive consistent traffic, our SEO experts can achieve your objectives and more. Our ability has won us awards like Top SEO Companies in Dallas by SEOblogs, Best US-Based SEO Agency of Q3 2022 by Best Seo Companies, and Clutch.co Global 1000, to name a few. Ready to take your business to the next level? Speak with a strategist today! 

tiktok-vs-instagram-reels

Marketing on TikTok vs Instagram Reels

If you’re looking to increase brand awareness and engagement, TikTok and Instagram Reels are two highly effective options. While both platforms can help you achieve your goals, each has unique strengths and weaknesses. This blog post will explain everything you need to know about TikTok and Reels marketing. 

TikTok 

If you have a brand, there’s a good chance you already have a social media presence on Instagram. But there’s still an audience left to reach, and TikTok may be the platform where you can do that. 

TikTok is based on a video-first foundation. It was launched in 2016 and is owned by Chinese technology company ByteDance. The platform has more than 1 billion monthly active users, most of whom are between 13 and 24 years old; 90% of TikTok’s audience comes from outside China, primarily from North America and South America. 

Instagram Reels 

Reels is a relatively new Instagram feature that allows users to create a video of up to 90 seconds, which is longer than Instagram Stories (up to 60 seconds). 

Instagram Reels has been around since April 2019. While it’s only available on iOS and Android devices (no web-based access), it’s still an excellent platform for marketing because it offers more flexibility than using TikTok or Instagram Stories alone. 

Instagram Reels and TikTok Demographic Audience 

If you’re trying to reach a younger audience, TikTok is a better option. Instagram Reels may be a better choice if your target audience is older. This doesn’t mean there’s no overlap between the two audiences—there definitely is! But if your goal is to connect with a like-minded consumer base and not just a broad audience, it’s essential to understand who they are and where they hang out online. 

Differences Between TikTok and Instagram Reels 

A key difference between Instagram Reels and TikTok is that the latter is a video-first platform. TikTok relies on users making and sharing videos to drive its growth. This makes it an excellent choice for B2C businesses looking to increase brand awareness and engagement with their audiences, especially considering how much time people spend watching these short clips every day. 

On the other hand, if you’re hoping to use TikTok as part of your B2B marketing or lead gen strategy, things may not be so straightforward. While there are plenty of opportunities to drive conversions through paid advertising or working directly with influencers, they don’t come cheap. You’ll need some significant funds if you want them done right (i.e., high-quality influencers and affiliate brands).

Benefits of Marketing on TikTok 

TikTok is an effective tool for reaching new audiences and building your brand’s presence on social media. TikTok is perfect for B2C brands like beauty companies or clothing retailers who want to appeal to a younger audience like teens and millennials. It’s a highly visual platform where users are likely to only read the title of your video before pressing play. 

Benefits of Instagram Reels Marketing 

On the other hand, Instagram Reels is designed to nurture existing followers by providing an immersive experience that keeps them coming back for more. 

Instagram Reels can help you build connections with your existing customers by creating unique content that draws them in, then engaging with them on a more personal level. As many brands know all too well, it can be easier said than done when trying to keep older consumers interested in newer technologies like short-form video-sharing apps—but it isn’t impossible! 

Content Creation 

While creating content on both platforms may seem easy, it’s not. The challenges of posting and promoting videos on TikTok and images on Instagram Reels are very different. 

TikTok is a video-first platform, while Instagram Reels is a photo-first platform. When you upload content to either app, your audience’s expectations differ depending on which social media channel they use most often. You should ensure your brand resonates with audiences who use each app before attempting to market on both platforms simultaneously! 

Final Thoughts 

While this article focuses specifically on the differences between TikTok and Instagram Reels marketing strategies, there are other factors you should consider when deciding whether these social media channels are right for your business. Some questions to consider are:  

  • Does marketing on these platforms align with your brand? 
  • Is this medium the best way to share your content? 
  • How much time and effort are you willing to invest in consistently creating, posting, and sharing your content? 

Agency Partner as Your Social Media Marketing Agency 

Video marketing effectively increases your brand awareness, reaches new audiences, and engages with your existing ones. With a compelling social media marketing strategy, you’ll be able to nurture a community of loyal followers and post easily shareable content.  

Agency Partner Interactive is a full-service internet marketing agency specializing in social media and content strategy. We’ve helped over 500 brands make data-driven decisions that accelerate growth and drive revenue. While you may have an idea of which platform to use, creating content, managing it, and tracking results are how you’ll be able to take your brand to the next level. Ready to bring your vision to life? Schedule a consultation today! 

local-seo

Improving Local SEO: Data-Driven Strategies for Local Search Marketing

In today’s digital world, businesses are increasingly dependent on online channels. With this shift comes an increased need for search engine optimization (SEO). But while most business owners have an idea of what SEO is and how it works, many are still uncertain about how to implement it effectively. In this article, we’ll explore strategies you can use to improve local SEO for your business (and get more customers from Google). 

What is Local Search Marketing? 

Local search marketing is a strategy designed to attract nearby customers to your business, encompassing both organic and paid search methods. Local search marketing can be used by local and national businesses looking to establish themselves as regional leaders in their industry. 

Local search has been gaining momentum over the past few years at an unprecedented rate. With more people searching online than ever before, it’s no wonder why this trend is snowballing! 

So, what exactly is local search marketing? Let’s go over some of the basics: 

Local Search Marketing targets potential customers based on their location or geographic area (i.e., city or town). This can be done using paid ads on Google Maps and organic listings on platforms like Yelp and Foursquare that use geolocation data from users’ phones.  

How to Implement an Effective Local SEO Strategy 

  1. Deliver Quality Content

Your content is the most critical aspect of your local SEO strategy. It can be text, images, videos, or links—but it should always be unique and relevant to your audience. Here’s what you need to know: 

  • Content should be well-written and easy to understand. Google wants its users to have an enjoyable experience using search engines; when people can’t understand what they’re reading on a page (or can’t find what they are looking for), they get frustrated and go elsewhere. For that reason, it’s vital that you write articles about interesting topics for your audience but also contain clear language so anyone can understand them easily.
  • Make sure your content is easy-to-find! If someone is searching for something specific in their area or industry niche, chances are they want information related specifically within those parameters—not general knowledge pieces written by someone who’s halfway across the world. 
  1. Maximize Positive User Experience

As a local business, your goal is to attract and retain more new customers. To do that, ensure your website loads quickly and is easy for search engines like Google to crawl—otherwise, they won’t know about it. This can be done using resources like Google Webmaster tools or a sitemap of all the pages on your site (which allows search engines to visit each page). You should also make sure that the site is mobile-friendly so people can easily access it from their phone or tablet while they’re out and about looking for somewhere new. 

Finally, keep an eye on user behavior through tools such as Google Analytics so that you can spot any issues with navigation or content before users report them themselves on review sites like Yelp or TripAdvisor. 

  1. Optimize with Google My Business

Once you have your Google My Business listing set up, you can optimize it using the following strategies: 

  • Accurately list your location and business hours. Your local search results will be more accurate if they include the correct address, phone number, and opening hours for your business.
  • Upload pictures of things unique to your store or services—like a photo of your new merchandise display or a group of people lining up for one of your events. These images help searchers get an idea about what kind of experience you can offer, making it easier for them to choose who they trust with their time and money.
  • Upload videos showing off some aspect of your company (like a tour) or what makes you unique compared to other businesses in town. Videos don’t count toward character limits like text, so they’re ideal ways to share information without worrying about going over budget on characters!
  1. Consistently Manage Reviews

Reviews are a crucial factor in Google’s local search rankings. To ensure yours are well-optimized, you need to consistently manage them and make sure they’re positive and high quality. 

  • Respond: responding to both positive and negative reviews show customers that you care about their experience. A response is also more likely to rank higher in Google, thanks to the positive signals it sends.
  • Encourage: you can encourage more customers to leave reviews for your business through email campaigns, social media outreach, offering discounts on their next purchase, or even simple reminders on receipts.

Agency Partner as Your SEO Agency 

Local search marketing is one of the most powerful tools in your local SEO arsenal, but it can be challenging to get started. The key to success lies in your ability to understand and use data to make smarter decisions about the strategies that will work best for your business. By following these tips, you can improve both your local ranking and customer experience. For everything else, trust Agency Partner Interactive’s SEO experts. Our ability to drive results has earned us awards like Top 20 SEO Companies in Texas by DesignRush, One of the Best US-based SEO Agencies of 2022 by BestSEOCompanies, and Tech Titans’ Fast Tech 2022. Schedule a consultation today! 

ppc-outsourcing

What Is PPC Outsourcing and How Can It Benefit Your Business?

PPC outsourcing is the process of using a third-party service provider to manage your PPC campaign. Many companies outsource their PPC campaigns because they don’t have the time or resources to manage them effectively. Here’s what you need to know about PPC outsourcing and how it can benefit your business: 

What Is PPC and How Does It Work? 

PPC stands for pay-per-click, which is a type of online advertising that uses a cost-per-click (CPC) model. PPC ads are displayed on search engine results pages (SERPs), social media platforms, and other websites that have agreed to show them. When you click on a PPC ad, it takes you to the advertiser’s website, where they’ve placed more advertising material to convince you to buy what they’re selling

What is PPC Outsourcing? 

PPC outsourcing involves hiring a third-party agency to manage all aspects of your PPC campaigns. The agency will create and optimize ads, monitor performance, analyze data, and report on results. If you’re new to PPC and want to spend less time learning all there is to know about it, this solution can be highly beneficial. 

In addition to saving time, there are other benefits of working with a PPC agency: 

  • They have access to more resources than most businesses.
  • They can leverage their relationships with Google AdWords, Bing Ads, other ad platforms, and their own marketing tools. 
  • They have access to more paid traffic than most businesses and expertise in creating high-quality landing pages that convert visitors into customers.

Benefits of PPC Outsourcing 

There are many benefits of PPC outsourcing, but they can be summed up in three main points: 

  • Greater expertise: Experts in their field have a wealth of knowledge and experience that takes years to cultivate. This gives them a head start when it comes to strategy, as well as the ability to scale your PPC campaigns quickly, efficiently, and effectively.
  • More cost-effective campaigns: PPC experts are often able to get more from their ads than small businesses do because they have access to better tools and resources, as well as higher budgets for testing. They can also offer more competitive rates than an individual, or small business would be able to afford on their own.
  • Better tools and resources: Many PPC experts have developed proprietary software that helps them manage their accounts more efficiently. Those same programs may not be available at affordable prices if purchased directly from Google or another ad platform provider. 

Outsourcing Your PPC to the Right Agency Can Help Your Business Grow 

PPC outsourcing is a great way to help your business grow because it frees time for you to focus on developing other aspects of your brand. It’s also important to keep in mind that PPC can be competitive, and it may take some time before you see results. However, if you choose a reliable agency and are prepared to invest in your campaign, then PPC outsourcing can be very beneficial for expanding your business. 

How To Choose a PPC Agency 

Before you choose a PPC agency, there are several things you should consider. You’ll want to choose an agency with a good track record and highly rated by past clients. This can be difficult if you are evaluating a brand-new company, but most reputable agencies will have reviews and testimonials on their website, Clutch.co, or LinkedIn. 

You should ensure the agency has experience in your industry and expertise in SEO, PPC advertising, and social media marketing. Look at some of their previous projects so that you know what kind of results they’re capable of producing before hiring them. 

Your next step is to find out how your potential partner works with clients—do they prefer long-term strategic partnerships over short-term contracts? Are they flexible when it comes time to make changes to existing accounts, or do they require additional fees if something changes after the campaign launches? What kind of reports do they provide weekly/monthly/quarterly on campaign performance? Is there someone dedicated solely to communicating with you throughout every step of the process? 

These questions can help determine which agency you should choose to manage your PPC campaigns. 

Final Thoughts 

PPC outsourcing is a proven way to increase your ROI. It’s easy to understand why so many businesses are choosing to go with dedicated agencies for campaign management. The eight benefits listed above are only a few reasons you should outsource PPC to an agency. Outsourcing won’t just make things easier on you and your business for the moment — it will also result in much higher-quality PPC in the long run. 

Agency Partner Interactive as Your PPC Advertising Agency 

If you’re looking to achieve scalable growth through more sales, calls, forms, and product sales, look no further than Agency Partner Interactive. Our PPC experts can place your search ads on page one of Google SERPs and keep them there. With so much that goes into a successful PPC campaign, trust Agency Partner to create ROI-driven strategies that won’t max out your ad spend budget. Schedule a consultation today! 

content-marketing-trends

Content Marketing Trends for Your 2023 Strategy

Content marketing is one of the most effective ways for your business to reach prospects and customers. But in a world full of content, it’s crucial to have a unique voice and strategy to stand out from the crowd. To help you create a winning content marketing strategy for 2023, we’ve put together ten trends that will be essential for success in the next decade. 

Repurposing content 

The first step to creating a content marketing strategy is determining what content you’ll be producing. You can repurpose your existing blog posts and create new pieces based on the same topic. 

For example, you can take a 500-word article on Facebook Ads and turn it into video or slideshow form. You could also break up the material into smaller segments, such as an infographic with 20 slides sharing one tip for using Facebook Ads effectively.

Repurposing content effectively saves time and money while increasing your search engine rankings because Google rewards sites that produce original content by giving them higher ranking in SERPs (search engine results pages). 

Tracking content performance 

To measure the effectiveness of your content, you need to track the performance of each post. 

The most straightforward way is to use Google Analytics. It’s free for most websites and easy to set up. You can use it to follow how many people visit a page and how long they stay there. Then, from this data, you can determine how many visitors are coming from social media or other sources such as email newsletters. 

Tailoring content to dream clients 

Content marketing is all about tailoring your message to the client. When creating content for prospective clients, you should focus on what they want and need to know. You must speak their language and use their terminology. 

You also need to use the visuals that appeal most directly to them—it’s no good trying to appeal to a client who loves animals when they’re not into dogs or cats! 

Focusing on the user experience 

User experience is the cornerstone of your content marketing strategy. It’s what draws readers in, holds their attention, and gets them to act. If your content isn’t great, then no amount of SEO or paid advertising will help because people won’t find it helpful. They might even feel misled—and that’s not going to convert into meaningful interactions with your brand. 

Utilizing video 

The use of video is growing rapidly, and it’s not hard to see why. Video is an engaging medium that allows you to tell your story in a unique way, conveying your message clearly and memorably. Video can also be used as a tool for education and information, helping people learn more about your products or services. 

But more importantly, video is an excellent way to build trust with your audience. Amongst a sea of available content, you want your readers or viewers to invest their time in what you have to say. Then, they’ll need reasons why they should trust what you say—and nothing does this better than seeing who exactly they’re dealing with! 

Investing in long-form content 

Long-form content can be more engaging, persuasive, and educational than shorter content. This type of content has a higher chance of being shared as well. 

  • Long-form content can be more engaging because it’s longer, so it has more time to grab your reader’s attention before they move on to something else.
  • Long-form content can be persuasive because the length allows you to make your case in a way that short articles can’t do effectively.
  • Longer articles are more educational because they allow you to go into greater detail about important topics or concepts that might not fit into shorter pieces.
  • Longer articles also tend to be more entertaining due to their increased word count; they often have room for humor and storytelling elements missing from shorter pieces.

Optimizing for voice search 

Voice search is growing and becoming more popular as the technology behind it continues to improve. A recent study by Google found that voice searches made up 42% of all mobile queries in the U.S., and this number is expected to increase as more people begin using their phones as a primary means of accessing information. 

The reason for this trend is simple: voice search is different from text search, with both pros and cons. While it’s easier to use than typing out long phrases on your phone, users need to speak clearly so that their words are correctly understood by machines (which can be challenging for anyone who doesn’t like talking into a phone). But even if you don’t want your content optimized for voice search right now—or even if you never intend on doing so—it’s still worth understanding the differences between text-based and conversational searches so that you can adapt when needed. 

Building personalized content 

Personalized content is one of the most effective strategies for increasing conversions and improving customer experience, retention, and satisfaction. 

Personalized content involves using data about a person or group of people to create messages that resonate with them based on their specific needs, interests, or preferences. Personalized marketing helps you achieve these goals by tailoring your messages to each person using their name and other details about them. 

This can be as simple as sending an email or creating a notification in your app based on age, gender, or location data. 

Optimizing content for search engines 

Keyword research is critical for SEO. You should always think about optimizing your content for search engines, especially if you’re already ranking well organically. If a keyword appears in the title, subheadings, and body copy on your page (or even within your image captions), that phrase may be more likely to rank highly when someone searches for it. 

Keyword research involves using tools such as Google Keyword Planner, SEMrush, or Ahrefs’ Keywords Explorer to find relevant terms and phrases people might use when searching online. 

Google Analytics 4 

Google Analytics is a free web analytics tool that helps you understand your audience, optimize conversion rates, and measure campaign ROI. It’s the most popular web analytics tool worldwide, used by more than 5 million websites monthly. 

It provides insights into traffic sources and visitor behavior, so you can make data-driven decisions about improving conversions on your site. You can also track customer engagement across channels like email marketing campaigns or social media ads. 

A Full-Service Internet Marketing Agency 

This post covers some of the most significant content marketing trends you need to know heading into 2023. If you need help implementing these tips into your content strategy, Agency Partner is here to help. Our digital marketing experts can develop a compelling content strategy that engages with your audience, drives brand awareness, and accelerates your business growth. Start the new year strong and schedule your consultation today! 

web-design-trends

Top Web Design Trends for 2023

It may feel like web design is constantly changing. That’s because it is. The internet is an ever-evolving entity that grows and changes every day. New browsers, new technology, and new users mean new trends in web design will constantly be emerging. But how can you stay ahead of the curve? In this blog post, we’ll uncover some signs pointing to what we’ll be seeing in 2023: 

Accessible Web Design 

In this section, we’ll be looking at one of the most important trends for web designers in 2023: accessibility. Accessibility is about making your site usable by anyone and everyone. It’s also great for search engine optimization (SEO), user experience (UX), and website conversion rates. 

The easiest way to make a website more accessible is to think about how someone who uses assistive technologies like screen reading software or voice commands would use it. You should also consider how users who don’t have full dexterity might interact with your website. If you rely heavily on mouse clicks and keyboard shortcuts, a person who is limited to pressing keys will find it frustrating to navigate your interface. 

Some other tips include  

  • Keep copy short and straightforward
  • Use clear language
  • Make sure links indicate what they will do when clicked on
  • Provide text equivalents for images that convey meaning
  • Avoid flashing content or moving elements
  • Avoid background animations like parallax scrolling effects unless necessary for understanding the page’s content or improving usability on mobile devices such as phones—they can be distracting otherwise!

Chatbots 

A chatbot is a computer program designed to simulate conversations with humans. Chatbots can be used for many purposes, including customer service, content moderation, and more. 

In 2019, the use of chatbots increased dramatically as companies looked for new ways to help without hiring additional employees. The most popular platforms for creating chatbots include Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and Facebook Messenger. Some businesses employ live agents in conjunction with their chatbot; others rely entirely on their bot-powered assistants to serve customers’ needs. 

If you’re interested in creating a chatbot for your website, but don’t know where to start, try these tips: 

  • Go simple by using basic conversational flow or adding custom phrases as needed
  • Use emojis and GIFs when appropriate – they help make communication more fun!
  • Design an engaging experience that provides value beyond just answering questions

Flat Design 

Flat design is a minimalist style of design that uses simplistic, easy-to-read fonts to create clean and simple designs. This trend is great for making an easily navigable website because it enables users to move between pages quickly and find what they’re looking for much more efficiently than other web design styles. Flat is also mobile-friendly because it’s typically built with minimal elements that won’t slow down your mobile device or consume too much data while browsing on the go. 

This trend has been popular since 2017, but it’s set to continue in 2023! If your business website needs a clean, professional feel, flat may be the right choice for you. 

The Importance of Color Theory 

The first thing people notice when they visit your site is its color scheme. Color can improve usability and accessibility, but it can also have a powerful effect on how users perceive your brand, even if you aren’t trying to communicate a message through color. 

Color affects our moods, making it an ideal tool for creating atmosphere or emotion in your design. The right color can evoke feelings of joy and warmth as well as calmness and serenity; other times, you want to convey excitement or urgency, so choose bright colors if that’s what you’re going for! 

Animated Effects 

Animation can be used to create impact and make your site more engaging. This can be done by animating text, elements, or objects in your design. For example, if you have a button on your website that says, “buy now,” and you want the button to stand out from the others on the page, you could animate it so that when someone hovers over it, their eyes are immediately drawn to the moving element. 

Animation is also helpful for showing how something works within your company’s website or application. Animation makes this process much easier as users can see exactly what actions need to be taken, which will help them understand how things work. 

Adding some personality and emotion into designs will also make them memorable for visitors, which may lead them back again later down the road. 

3D Graphics and Illustrations 

One of the more prominent trends to watch is using 3D graphics and illustrations in web design. Using these types of visuals helps users understand complex concepts faster and makes it easier for them to achieve their goals on your website. This year, we saw several websites using 3D animations to enhance their user experience, making them more engaging and interactive. 

In addition to being entertaining, illustrations can also be used to guide users through a process or add visual interest. For example, a company that sells kitchen furniture might use augmented reality to show how its products look inside someone’s home. This type of image helps people visualize what they would like in their kitchen without having to purchase it first.  

Best Practices for Successful Web Design 

Regardless of trend cycles, a well-designed website should always be engaging, visually appealing, and easy to navigate. 

  • Make your site engaging. If you want to attract and retain visitors, ensure your website is easy to use, read, and understand and that users can quickly find what they’re looking for.  
  • Make your site visually appealing. While this may seem obvious, it should always be top of mind! Users are more likely to spend time exploring websites that look beautiful than those that don’t—and they’ll also be more likely to share those sites with their friends via social media.
  • Make your site easy to navigate by using an intuitive infrastructure. Organizing your pages with menus or tabs at the top and having the flow of information clear will prevent clutter

Agency Partner Interactive Can Help 

Looking ahead to 2023, it’s clear that web design is changing. We’ve seen a shift from traditional website layouts to more engaging and visually appealing designs. This trend will continue as designers develop new ways to make their sites more inclusive and unique. Need help turning your vision into reality? If so, contact our award-winning web designers today! 

SEO_for_Law_Firms

How to Take Advantage of Local SEO for Law Firms

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!

SEO_Cost_for_Small_Businesses

How Much Does SEO Cost for Small Businesses?

Expert Tips For How Much Does SEO Cost for Small Businesses??

To succeed in the digital age, you need an online presence. But, uh-oh! Your budget is already tight, and creating and maintaining your website costs a lot of money. So how can small businesses afford search engine optimization (SEO)?

What is SEO?

SEO stands for search engine optimization. It’s the process of improving your website’s visibility in search engines such as Google, Bing, Yahoo, and others.

SEO is not a one-time project; it is an ongoing process that requires constant monitoring and adjustment to ensure you’re getting the best possible results from your efforts.

SEO is an investment in your business’s future—one that will pay off over time through increased traffic and leads to your website.

The Importance of SEO for Small Businesses

If you’re a small business owner, it can be challenging to get a clear picture of how much SEO costs. It’s important to understand that SEO is not a one-time project but an ongoing process that requires constant monitoring and adjustment to ensure you’re getting the best possible results from your efforts.

Regardless of the size of your business, you need to get more people to visit your website. Effective SEO not only increases traffic and improves rankings on search engines, but it also has a positive impact on conversion rates. If you hire an agency or consultant, they will be able to advise you on how to optimize and promote your website based on an analysis they perform.

How Much Does SEO cost for Small Businesses?

But how much does SEO cost, really?

The answer is: not as much as you think—and here’s why. Let’s say you decide to hire a specialist and pay for monthly SEO services. If done correctly, this can be a wise investment for your business in the long run, but it requires continuous maintenance once the project is complete. In other words, if your site goes down or has poor rankings one month after launch because of an update from Google (which happens more often than not), it will cost more money to fix in subsequent months because those costs are incremental. So even though having a consistent voice across all of your social media platforms can help with search engine optimization (SEO), simply having keywords throughout various posts isn’t enough on its own—you need links! SEO is a lot like caring for a plant. It requires consistent attention over the course of its life. Monthly recurring SEO campaigns yield compounding value over time. 

How Should You Determine Your Budget for SEO Services?

The first step in determining your SEO budget is to look at your current budget. Look at how much money is spent on marketing and advertising, then compare it with how much you have left over for other services. If you can’t find a reasonable estimate of what you have left over, try estimating what percentage of your total income goes toward marketing and advertising (this will include things like social media management, public relations work, event planning, etc.) From there, consider whether or not that amount of money will be enough for the type of results you want from SEO services — if not, consider cutting back elsewhere so that it can go toward SEO! There is such a thing as “affordable SEO” and if local SEO is all you start with, the Agency Partner SEO team can help you scale up your marketing effort to create greater, faster value.

Next up: business goals! What do you hope to accomplish through this investment? How much time do we have until our next big goal? How long did other companies who invested in SEO take to see results?

The last consideration when determining your budget should be how long it takes an SEO campaign to start working before paying off — this could mean several months or even years, depending on the level of competition in your industry or vertical market (think job search engines).

Is SEO Worth the Expense?

Yes! If you’re considering SEO, you’ve probably heard that it’s a long-term investment. The good news is that once you find someone who knows what they’re doing and stick with them, those investments will pay off over time. The bad news is that this kind of professional help isn’t cheap—but it can be worth it if you’re willing to put in the work and see your company grow in the long run.

SEO won’t happen overnight. It’s not a quick fix but rather an ongoing process that requires consistent attention and maintenance over time to keep your website ranking high on search engines like Google.

SEO isn’t one-size-fits-all; every small business has different needs when it comes to marketing strategies for their company’s website or blog pages. That means hiring someone familiar with how things work for your industry will help ensure they know how best to get results for your unique goals!

An Award-Winning SEO Agency

If you’re looking for an experienced agency to help your company reach digital dominance, Agency Partner Interactive can help. Our team uses proven SEO techniques, digital marketing strategies, and branded content campaigns to bring scalable results to businesses of all sizes and industries. Our ability to achieve proven results has earned us one of the Best US-Based SEO Agencies of 2022 by Expertise.com and BestSEOservicecompanies.com. Contact us today to speak with an expert about how our team can use SEO and other internet marketing strategies to grow your business and generate more revenue.

SEO Budget Calculator - Agency Partner Interactive

SEO Cost – How Businesses Budget for SEO Services

Creating a Budget For SEO

SEO Marketing Insights from Agency Partner

One thing we hear all the time is: How much does SEO cost? How much should I budget for SEO Marketing Services

As digital marketers, we hear that question and our brains start to think about SEO strategy and everything that goes into getting more organic searches for business owners. Immediately, our SEO specialists consider everything from potential website performance needs, competitor research, on-page SEO optimization, link-building strategies, local SEO, and more as it relates to your goals.

Oh, and let’s not leave out considerations for the fact that there are different SEO pricing models, depending on whether you are looking for a one-time optimization or if you’re truly looking to play the long game and dominate your industry. Depending on what you need, you will likely consider fixed pricing versus monthly retainers that support technical SEO efforts, the cost of content marketing that helps you rank on Page 1 for new keywords, and routine analytics meetings with your SEO consultant.

Those are just a few things we think about. Other questions may include:

  • How long has your web domain been around? What about other websites that compete for the same keywords?
  • How much organic traffic are we currently seeing in Google Analytics and what are the referral sources?
  • Is the site ranking just for branded keywords, or are more competitive keywords resulting in impressions and clicks?
  • What does the Google Search Console say of impressions and clicks to your website over time? Is growth stagnant?
  • Is your website currently holding a first page rank for any relevant search terms either locally or nationally?
  • How healthy is your backlink profile relative to the top ranked sites?
  • Are we competing with big brands, local businesses, or personalities?
  • How often do your biggest competitors publish blogs, news articles, and/or new web pages?
  • Can the business support a SEO campaign right now? …or do immediate needs require that this budget be allocated toward a more immediate, albeit less permanent marketing tactic?
  • In Google Analytics, what does the website’s bounce rate look like relative to keywords resulting in clicks to the site?

While these questions are fairly common, the answers to them will vary significantly from one business website to another. Competitiveness and your desire to dominate will factor into what your monthly SEO budget should look like. To generalize, most SEO experts will charge a monthly recurring investment of $2,000 to $10,000+ per month. Yes, that’s a big range!

seo budget
How Much Does SEO Cost? Learn from Texas’ top SEO marketing agency.

A national or international SEO budget in a competitive online market should never be less than $5000 per month. For SEO that seeks to attract local buyers in a not so competitive market, it is possible to kick-off a local SEO campaign in the $500 to $2500 range. Again, depending on competitiveness, your budget will vary significantly. 

To learn more about where that money goes, some things to watch out for when selecting a SEO partner, and when you can expect some ROI from SEO, keep on reading!

What to Expect From An Appropriate SEO Budget

Notably, the value from search engine optimization compounds over time… So unlike PPC on Google Ads, SEO is not how you make a quick buck. SEO is how you build wealth through a business website.

SEO is also kind of like caring for a plant. It requires consistent attention over time and when you stop, your SEO value slowly begins to diminish relative to other competing sites on the web. This is because Google’s search algorithm changes constantly. So as you consider your SEO budget, be mindful of the fact that an adequate SEO effort is something that should be a monthly recurring undertaking for the life of your business or website.

SEO, when content driven, ensures that whenever someone is searching for answers to any question that is relevant to your business, your brand is front and center every time. Businesses love SEO because of how the economics of it play out relative to other sales and marketing activities. If you consider an investment over 12 months, notice how the monthly expense stays mostly flat in the graph below. Also take note of what the additional revenue line is doing… strong revenue growth.
how long does SEO take
In this example, we are looking at a Texas based, B2B medical supplies company with a monthly SEO budget of $8,500. At the 7th month of this campaign, things started to get exciting because this company’s website began to rank on Page 1 of Google for some its most commercially valuable keywords. At the close of the year and following a 12 month SEO investment of $102,000, this family business counted just under $1 million in additional revenue and a massive ROI. The break-down is as follows:

  • Total SEO Budget: $102,000
  • Total New Revenue: $992,742
  • 12 month SEO ROI: $890,742

Unlike this company’s SEO campaign, if you look at their Google Ads marketing performance, new revenue is positively correlated to their monthly ad budget. So as logic would have it, more budget equates to more revenue just as less budget equates to less sales. In this case, the client was competing in a market with a fairly expensive cost per click and PPC was never their most desired source of new business. PPC helped them serve some immediate needs while they worked to establish their SEO game.

Google Ads Campaign Over Time

To reiterate, this is a big reason that business owners love the economics of an expertly crafted SEO campaign versus other marketing channels. SEO is part of a long-term, industry-dominating digital marketing strategy. A basic SEO campaign typically takes anywhere from 8 to 16 months before a mostly static, consistent monthly investment begins to generate a noticeable ROI. For some industries and markets, like SEO for family law, return on investment may feel exponential once your average page rank starts to hold search engine positions 1 through 3.

Ways to Allocate Your SEO Marketing Budget

There are different ways to allocate your SEO budget and get the work done. You may consider augmenting your existing marketing team to fill any gaps in expertise, hiring an outside agency that happens to be an expert, or you may try the DIY route. Generally speaking, these are the various ways to allocate your SEO marketing dollars:

  • Hiring an in-house SEO team of 4 to 8 people
    • Your SEO team should consist of:
  • Hiring a team of SEO freelancers with a budget of $70 to $190 per hour, per person
  • Hiring an in-house marketing manager or marketing project manager that can manage a team of SEO freelancers.
    • Depending on experience, expect to budget anywhere from $50,000 to $125,000 per year for this person. You get what you pay for!
      • Don’t forget to add the cost of your freelancers to this. They will most likely charge a price per word or a flat monthly fee for a set amount of deliverables.
  • Hiring a SEO agency at $90 to $250 per hour depending on the agency’s bill rate

Small consultancies and startups may easily feel overwhelmed by all of this and most will never have a starting SEO budget of $8500 per month…. but the fact is that there is a way to start small and grow your SEO strength in an effective, strategic way.

Many small to medium sized companies, including law firms and health practices, tend to hire marketing agencies because they are able to gain access to certified, experienced experts that would otherwise be out of reach. Most agencies will offer a full suite, white glove service that functions much like an outside marketing and technology department. Enterprises will almost always utilize their in-house teams for SEO however it is common for them to hire agencies for occasional marketing tests or simply to get some fresh ideas on the whiteboard.

Across all budgets, the common key to success is a commitment to consistent, scheduled content production over an indefinite period of time.

Why $100 Per Month Is NOT The Real Cost of Cheap SEO

Affordable SEO does exist, however there is such a thing as “cheap” or bad SEO… Bad SEO is exactly what it sounds like. It’s wholly inadequate and far too many companies fall into this trap. A lot of this stems down to the fact that less than half of small businesses have a SEO budget of any kind. Of the businesses that do have a SEO budget, a survey indicates that 71% of small businesses budget for only $1 to $99 per month for their SEO. I mean… you get what pay for. $99 is literally nothing and you will almost certainly measure some negative ROI from this.

Most often, this is due to a lack of education wherein business owners are sold by the agency with the cheapest proposal rather than the one with the highest value. This happens ALL the time. Don’t be a sucker.

Unfortunately, SEO spammers know that most business owners have no idea how SEO works.

This is why they exploit businesses every day by sending spam email with promises that you can get on Page One of Google for only $99. Because most business owners assume that SEO is a basic commodity, similar to getting gas at the pump, many opt to invest in the cheapest option. After several months, they may realize that there is “no strategy” and/or no ROI and will opt to end the campaign to either find another vendor or do nothing at all.

The way this often plays out is like this:

  • Company contacts 2 to 4 agencies for SEO quotes
  • Some agencies respond with general, templates proposals, almost immediately. Others may ask some basic business questions.
  • Company considers several proposals. Often, these are reviewed by several stakeholders that really do not understand what SEO is.
  • Company may reach out to the final 1-2 agencies with follow up questions.
  • Company opts for the cheapest or second to cheapest SEO marketing proposal.
  • Company cancels SEO arrangement after several months.
  • Either immediately or several months later, Company may opt to work with a different SEO Agency or does not invest in any SEO.

This scenario plays out daily. In the end, a lot of time has been wasted, a little money has been burned, and the business hasn’t really achieved its goals. But worse can happen….

Some of the collateral damage from cheap SEO may far outweigh any money that may have been (under) invested to begin with.

There are a ton of LinkedIn and Facebook groups for digital marketers. In some of these forums, you’ll observe extremely elementary questions from people posing as experts. Some of these questions may be so basic as: “I just scored a SEO client and he wants to rank for ‘keyword X’ so how do I do that?”
Facebook SEO Group
There are also a ton of online resources that provide free or low cost SEO tools for rookies that want to pose as SEO experts. In most cases, rookie marketers will rely on their personality and salesmanship to “score a client” and then figure out the SEO part after the sale. This is something to fear as the effects of black hat SEO may be permanent in some cases and in others, they may be very difficult to bounce back from. Things to watch out for include:

  • Utilization of link schemes such a private blog networks (PBNs)
  • Unnatural, purchased backlinks that may or may not be relevant to your industry
  • Keyword stuffing and hidden text on your web pages.
  • Zero requests for a content calendar and weekly recurring blog posts

The single most damaging thing a SEO rookie may lead you toward is a Google penalty. The effects of a penalty from Google can be absolutely devastating and you should expect a huge loss of organic search visibility, clicks to your website, and revenue. There are ways to bounce back from this, but it takes a lot of investment to do so.

DIY Stuff: Start Your SEO Budget By Collecting Some Basic Information

To truly understand where you need to go, it is important that you fully understand where your LLC or corporation is today. There are a few ways to do this and the most simple is to ensure that your technology team has been instructed to check your website for some technical best practices. Once you have ensured that some foundational things have been fully accounted for, you also will want to glance at your competitors and see what things look like on their side of the fence. We have found that some of the most powerful SEO strategies start with a basic SWOT analysis.

Compare Your Website’s SEO Grade versus Your Competitor’s

Use comparative data to create your roadmap for success.

This is something that your in-house digital marketer should be doing already: Take 90 seconds and get your Competitive SEO Report Card score to see where you stand. When doing so, be sure to enter the domain of your single biggest competitor, and enter a super common, non-branded word that a customer would search for when looking for the product/services you sell.

  • Competitive SEO Report Card (scroll down to “Begin Your Free SEO Analysis”)

Ensure That These 3 Fundamental Elements are In Place

Does your site adequately address demands around Mobile Friendliness and Site Speed?

As a best practice, your marketing team should be demanding a routine weekly or monthly audit of your website’s mobile friendliness and site speed. Because a majority of web searches start with a mobile browser, Google wants to ensure a fantastic mobile experience in its search results. So know where you stand and ensure that your site is up to the mark by leveraging these two free tools.

Make certain that your site is defaulting to HTTPS when opening pages.

Google has adopted a strict position on information security. Whether or not a website leverages HTTP versus HTTPS is a Google ranking signal. This means that Google will view a domain that opens in HTTPS more favorably than one that opens in HTTP. To open your website securely you must have an active SSL certificate associated with your web host. To see whether or not your site has an active SSL certificate in place, simply open your website and see what the browser bar tells you. Do you see HTTP or HTTPS next to your web address?

https as a ranking signal for SEO
By leveraging HTTPS, you are telling your visitors that you value their privacy and taking a step to help prevent third parties from eavesdropping on a conversation between your website and your web visitor. This is especially important for any web forms that may ask for personal, financial, or other information. If you choose not to have your website default to loading secured HTTPS sessions, Chrome and other browsers will go so far as to inform users that your site may be compromised and unsafe to access.

SSL for SEO

So before any actual SEO work begins, consult with your technology team and ensure that you have your bases covered as things pertain to Speed, Mobile Friendliness, and Site Security.

If you are starting from scratch and have never optimized your site for speed, security, and mobility, expect to pay anywhere from $300 to $3000 for the first effort.

Once you have covered those three essentials, you are almost ready to call in your SEO experts. Be sure to discuss maintenance of these items with your technology team and inquire about a monthly and annual budget for this routine work effort. Once you get past the first big optimization, your monthly maintenance budget should be fairly minuscule. If you have any questions about that, please feel free to contact us directly by clicking here: Ask Us About Speed, Security, or Mobile Friendliness.

Have a Clear Understanding of Your Business Goals

Now that we have accounted for the basic technological leg work that goes into creating a solid SEO foundation, we can start building. But just what exactly are we needing to build? To answer this question, start by writing down what your business goals and objectives are.

  • On paper, define what sort of ROI you expect and need from your SEO campaign. Is it leads, sales, retention?
  • Discuss your goals with other stakeholders and create a realistic, “rigidly flexible” SEO budget as a conversation starter.

Put On Your “Spy vs. Spy” Hat

In a nutshell, it is time to compare your website against your industry’s top ranking sites. This helps you understand what tactics your biggest competitors are employing. In many ways, it should be your goal to match, and then one up whatever it is they are doing. To put this as simply as possible, do the following:

  • Compare your blog versus their’s — how regularly do they publish new content?
    • Does their content add value?
    • What is the approximate word count of their average post?
  • Does your competitor seem to leverage press releases?
  • Are there any special sections on their site like FAQs or location specific landing pages?
  • Does their site have a landing page that is uniquely tailored to each product/service line?

Take note of your findings and be prepared to discuss all of this information with your internal stakeholders. Also, be ready to share this with your agency partner and know that the more candid you are, the more able your SEO expert will be to devise a competition crushing strategy.

Sum It All Up And Share Your New SEO Budget

By now, you know that you need to allocate some of your marketing budget to the following, tangible deliverables:

  • Site Speed Optimization performed by your web team
  • Mobile Friendliness update performed by your web team
  • SSL certificate performed by your web team

At a range of $300 to $3000 for this first overhaul, these are fairly inexpensive optimizations. Once you’re past the first optimization, you should make a plan to revisit these items at least once a month.

With the foundational tech needs accounted for, you also know that you need to allocate part of your monthly SEO budget toward:

  • On-page optimization performed by your digital marketing team
  • Off-page optimization performed by your digital marketing team

Expect to pay your in-house team or agency partner anywhere from $1500 to $2500 per month for really good, US based SEO optimization. This should include the cost of monthly analytics and reporting, keyword targeting, strategy, and updates to your meta-titles, tags, and descriptions. Also, know that this alone is not enough to help you grow and dominate your market.

The next big variable, and often the most costly, is the key ingredient that actually helps you retain your favorable position and rank for new, relevant keywords:

  • Weekly, recurring SEO Content production performed by your digital marketing team

To determine what your content needs are, this is where you refer back to your marketing intelligence. If your competitor is posting a new blog every day at 500 words each, at a bare minimum you should be doing that as well. It is best to curate a writer that is a subject matter expert on your topic or at least familiar with your industry.

To help you do the math on this one, assume that your content will cost anywhere from $0.15 to $1.50 per word. The range is fairly expansive because some writers are much more valuable than others. There are a lot of people that will claim to be content writers but there is a huge difference in style, expertise, and process. Super cheap writing tends to be spun content and it is not suitable for 99% of business websites. If your subject matter requires unique expertise, it is possible to pay as much as $1 to $2 per word.

If it’s super specialized content that you’re after, well… yes, you guessed it: that price per word just keeps going up. Remember, you get what you pay for! 

Know that the perfect SEO strategy may or may not conform to your early budget expectations but even a small SEO scope can prove to be valuable… so start with Local SEO and the basics of on-page SEO services! If in fact your site requires a lot more investment than anticipated, discuss what can be done to stretch every investment dollar and whether or not some tactics may be phased into your SEO campaign over time.

As a Leader, Educate Yourself and Make an Informed Decision

Combined with our own data, this information has been aggregated by surveying top SEO agencies and world renowned SEO authorities.  If you’re looking to firmly control your market and aggressively grow your market share, a content driven, expertly crafted SEO strategy may be for you. As long as you understand that this is not about making a quick buck, with some patience and equal commitment to a full campaign, SEO can be one of your most reliable performers when it comes to lead generation.

Additionally, the best SEO tends to positively impact your other marketing channels so don’t take this budget decision lightly. For example, if you are running a Google Ads campaign, it will lower your cost per click by improving your Google relevancy score. This means that for the same PPC budget, your new business ends up winning more clicks and impressions.

Also, effective SEO allows you to build a valuable content library that will establish your brand as a thought leader. This content helps your customers make purchase decisions and it gives your sales team a more valuable reason for reaching out to sales prospects. No one likes the “check-in” or “follow-up” email so lead with value and share a new blog with your prospect.

By now, hopefully you understand that search engine optimization is a process of improving the visibility and ranking of a website on search engines. Proper SEO can help a website attract more organic traffic, which can lead to increased sales and brand awareness. While there is no set cost for SEO services, most businesses should expect to budget between $500 and $5,000 per month for SEO. The actual SEO cost will depend on factors such as the size of the business, the competitiveness of the industry, and the desired results. Businesses that commit to a long-term SEO strategy and invest in the full suite of SEO services are more likely to see a return on their investment. For this reason, it is important to partner with an experienced SEO company that can develop a custom SEO plan for your business.

Author: S. Adam Rizzieri
Co-founder & Chief Marketing Officer // Agency Partner Interactive

If You Made It This Far Through The Blog…

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To get your search engine optimization game on track, contact our digital marketing experts today. Click the button below and tee up a free, no obligation 1 hour strategy session.

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10 Ways to Do SEO on A Budget

Expert Tips For 10 Ways to Do SEO on A Budget

As a business owner, you’re always looking for ways to save money. But did you know that you can do SEO on a budget? In this blog post, we’ll share 10 ways to get the most out of your SEO efforts without breaking the bank. So, whether you’re just starting out or you’re looking for ways to optimize your current campaigns, we’ve got the tips that will help you achieve results no matter your SEO budget.

For a deeper dive into how much you should spend on SEO, check out Agency Partner Interactive’s guide to How Much to Budget for SEO.

SEO Audits Are Your Friend

To make things better, you have to first understand where it is you’re going wrong. Your first step should be to run an SEO audit to check for…

  • any broken pages
  • error alerts
  • content duplicates
  • domain and page-level factors
  • and more

There are both free and paid tools for doing this SEO audit plus outsourcing options, depending on what your budget allows.

Agency Partner is always available for a consultation to help you figure out what options will work best for your needs!

Get Bigger by Starting Small and Local

Start with where you are. Target your local keywords first. Optimize your searchability in local directories. Naturally, build up your review history in your area. And don’t forget to register your listing on Google My Business with your location in the title tag.

What Have You got That Your Competitors Don’t?

Something clearly works for your competitor, but that doesn’t mean they have the entire range of the marketing edge covered.

Pay attention to their content and social strategizing. Read the comment feedback from their audience for ideas on where to capitalize that they are missing. Conduct a content gap analysis to guide your marketing where you have the best opportunities for breakthrough.

Guest Blogging Is Still a Thing That Still Works

Once you’ve done the analysis and written those freshly tailored blogs, reach out to related content scopes. Begin by building a relationship with the admin through engaging with their content as you would like them to engage with yours. Then approach with your proposal. This is a chance to reach a brand new audience and position your brand as an industry thought leader.

Remember: Guest blogging needs to be mutually beneficial in some way when you approach another digital platform to write for.

DO NOT Keep It Short and Sweet

When you’re on a budget, don’t waste your limited resources by trying to compete with the big guys and their short-tail keyword domination. You won’t win… not yet, at least.

Do your keyword research and figure out what phrases people find you at with all the niche details – but not so detailed and niche-y that you end up with no one being able to find you.

For example, you’re not just a shoe retailer – you specialize in women’s ballroom and salsa dance heels. Use all that balanced info to your advantage when strategizing your SEO.

Rev Your Load Time

This tip does mean you need to first check your analytics to know where you’re starting from. If the current load time is longer than 3 seconds, then this approach is critical for you for sure – anything longer than 3 seconds is inherently damaging to your UX conversions, statistically speaking, and Google definitely doesn’t like that.

Look into…

  • simplifying your HTML and CSS code
  • allowing compression
  • avoiding redirects
  • optimizing images, and
  • upgrading your server response time

This may require a larger portion of your available budget (especially if you’re not super code-savvy yourself), but we can promise the results will be worth the expense.

Use ‘Fetch as Google’ to Re-Optimize Your Pages for SEO

 Google finally made fetch happen. (Yes, a Millennial wrote this.)

It’s a tool that lets users test if Googlebot can ‘fetch’ a URL and show how it’s rendered. If it works, then you can request Google re-crawl your site for better SEO and maybe even re-index it. This can make a massive difference in your SERP ranking at no cost at all.

Identify Any Orphan Pages

You may have some pages that lack internal links directing users to them, known as orphan pages. This can be a problem dragging down your site’s effectiveness, as those OPs don’t benefit from the associated authority of your homepage. From there, you can choose to either remove it entirely or revise your sitemap.

U Got a Bad URL?

It may seem insignificant to you, but that URL of yours that looks more like a scrambled coding language may be part of what’s holding back your SEO efforts. Your URL has to be simple enough for search engines to understand and obvious enough to the user what the page is about. You want people to confidently click through to your link, not worry if they’re about to fall for a phishing scam.

Links on Links on Links

Work smarter, not harder. You’ve already put in the work with initially creating your blog content; now get the most out of them by linking internally in later relevant blogs. If you do it smartly, it’s a great traffic driver and can be a nice boost in both your Average Time on Page analytic AND how easily Google can crawl and index your site.

Just don’t overdo it, okay? Google doesn’t like that either.

Is SEO Optimization Worth It?

As long as you’ve got an effective strategy, SEO optimization couldn’t be a wiser investment. It’s estimated that about 92% of online activity starts with a search engine. Add in a partner like the team at Agency Partner to help you maximize that strategy, you’ll be set for a very successful return on any sized investment! 

Send us a message here to get your site and SEO perfected for Search Engine Success ASAP!