There is no denying that header tags still serve an essential role in SEO for your website and the users who visit it. SEO can influence your rankings through Google by making your content more natural and enjoyable for a visitor to read. Headers also provide keyword-rich context about the content on the site which the search engine uses to find you. SEO continues to evolve and the heading tags should be optimized to provide the best results in today’s world of change.
History
of SEO Heading Tags
HTML header tags are created to separate the headings (H1) and sub-headings (H2-H6) of a website page from the rest of the content. Heading tags (H1, H2, H3) were legitimate ranking factors in the early 2000s and it was required to add keywords into the heading if you wanted to rank. This practice in SEO has changed quite a bit in recent years.
SEO
Habits Vs. Useful Practice
Adding
keywords to heading tags has become a habit more than actual usefulness in SEO.
Taking a closer look at top ranking websites shows evidence that header tags no
longer require keywords to succeed anymore. Another example of an old habit is
the belief that H1 headings are more important than H2 headings or other listed
tags after that. This belief 15 years ago would have been a real ranking factor
but presently, this is no longer the case. Currently, the primary purpose of
heading tags is to explain what the content on the page is about. It helps
visitors understand what the text or images are portraying on the website.
Following
Best SEO Practice
To improve your website’s visibility and grow your online traffic, it is vital to continue the practice of comprehensive and thoughtful SEO strategy. Google along with other search engines are shifting from authority rankings towards the quality of content that is provided. The structure, relevance to the topic, and the whole user experience are all taken into consideration to be successful online in today’s world. A few essential SEO practices that you should include on your website are:
Create a unique title and meta description that explain the page’s content easily and accurately.
Use the most descriptive and important keywords in header tags but don’t overuse them; they should be used naturally for a visitor to follow and read easily.
Provide content to a webpage that is meaningful and accurate. The content should provide specific information to meet the user’s intent and be found in search queries. Long-form content appears to be ideal for backlink acquisition; however, John Mueller, Google’s Webmaster Trends Analyst, has stated publicly that word count itself is not a ranking factor.
Creative
Programs and Systems is an all-inclusive tech company that specializes in Custom Development, Managed IT Services, and Digital Marketing.
All work is done in-house and we never outsource our services – from custom
server builds and workstations, custom software programming and phone app
development to search engine optimization and paid advertising. Our professionals
provide results. For more information, check out our website at https://www.cpsmi.com.
Digital marketing is a very broad term. In the age where
computers run our entire lives, most people not working in the industry itself
don’t know the full reach that digital marketing encompasses. On the outside it
seems, at its most simple, to be the act of increasing
more online exposure for a business or brand. That is essentially what
digital marketing is, but it really is so much more than that. Let us explore
some major
elements of digital marketing to more properly understand the scope of it
as both an industry and an idea in and of itself.
Email marketing:
Email
marketing is an extremely popular form of digital marketing that only gets
stronger over time. The benefits of this method are vast but among the most
important is the fact that it is in real time. When compared to print marketing
such as fliers and posters, email marketing does not require outside factors
like print shops to create and deliver the material. Marketing through email is
a quick process that keeps you and your client more up to speed and regular, so
nobody gets left behind with content and material.
Search placement:
Search
placement can also be called “search engine optimization” or “SEO”, but all
mean roughly the same thing: making your company’s website more searchable on
the internet. Since the act of searching for something via search engines like
Google takes up the great majority of online searching activity, it’s crucial
that your website shows up in results after specific keywords relevant to your
business are searched. With tools such as Google
Ads companies can keep track of keywords people are searching and where
their own website ends up in those searches. Companies can use these metrics to
shape and evolve their online presence to better place on the most popular
search engines online.
Blogs:
After
your company collects and understands some great keywords that puts their site
high up on Google’s search results, you can use those keywords to create a blog to further utilize those terms. When
writing articles for a blog, it can benefit your website greatly when you have
articles that incorporate those important keywords because doing so puts more
links to your site in the search results that aren’t your specific homepage. If
a potential customer is searching for a certain service you provide but doesn’t
know very much about the service, it benefits both you and the customer if your
site can provide a blog article directly explaining the nature of that service.
Keeping up with blog posts weekly or monthly provides a database of specific
topics any potential customer can find through searching for similar topics.
The more blog posts you post, the better exposure the website should get in
general.
Analytics:
A
program like Google
Analytics can give any business owner the keys to a wealth of metrics and
data that can give that owner a much better understanding of who visits the
site and what their goal is to visit. If your company targets a certain demographic
using analytics can make it easy to see charts and tables of data directly
related to that exact audience. Analytics can also open your eyes to a possible
wider spectrum of audiences you may not have expected, which you can then use
to grow your business. Simple metrics like age range of the visitor or even
which mobile device was used to visit can help any business alter any methods
to target the audience best suited for their product.
Creative Programs and Systems is an all-inclusive tech company
that specializes in Custom
Development, Managed
IT Services, and Digital Marketing.
All work is done in-house, we never outsource services from custom server
builds and workstations, custom software programming and phone app development,
to search engine optimization and paid advertising, our professionals provide
results. For more information on CPS check out our website at https://www.cpsmi.com.
Marketing trends have changed more in the last 5 years than any other prior period of time and don’t show any signs of letting up anytime soon. No longer can marketers rely solely on a campaign of generic paid advertisement or perform basic website optimization; in 2019 the digital marketing landscape has expanded to encompass detailed SEO, Social Media Integration, Content Marketing, detailed Paid Advertising, and more. No longer can we dismiss the reality of artificial intelligence; it is an important part of the future of advertising online. In this installment on the future of digital marketing, we will discuss key trends you will want to implement into your strategic plans.
Search Engine Optimization A/B Split Testing
One of the most important trends you will want to implement
is the use of A/B split testing. This
allows you to isolate variables that increase traffic volumes to your website
in an effort to target your approach to changes in website content. Different online tools can be utilized to point
out areas of potential, examples where page impressions are high but the CTR is
low, to improve in order to increase clicks and traffic.
Artificial Intelligence
It is estimated that by the year 2020, AI technology will
penetrate almost every new software products and services. AI is effective in analyzing different
consumer behaviors and search patterns.
Data is pulled from various social media platforms, blog posts, and such
in a manner that helps companies understand how customers are finding their
products and services.
Programmatic Advertising
This type of advertising allows AI to automate the buying of
ad products in order to target more specific audiences. Real-time bidding opportunities, as with most
all real-time strategies, allow more efficient, quicker use of data relating in
higher conversions and lower costs to acquire them.
Chatbots
Chatbots are computer programs that are designed to simulate
conversations with human users via the internet, text, or phone. This would allow your company to be in
constant contact with customers, no matter what time or day it is. Chatbots allow for 24/7 responsiveness.
Personalization
In order to stand out above your competitors it is crucial that you personalize your marketing approach including content, emails, products, services, and more. Generic ads are annoying whereas personalized ads are appealing. When emails are sent based on personal behaviors they are at least 3 times more effective in boosting sales than mass e-mail blasts.
Video Marketing
Another important trend to prepare for has to do with video marketing which doesn’t just involve YouTube. It is proven that video marketing on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn causes higher engagement with a wider audience.
Influencer Marketing
Influencers are well-known celebrities from Instagram and YouTube with a large number of followers. Similar to word of mouth promotion, we are more likely to take recommendations from people we trust. Influencer marketing has been proven to be more effective than corporate advertising.
Micro-Moments
These are the times when we turn to devices like smartphones
to take immediate action. Moments where
we want information right away and do not what to wait for it. Marketers need to take advantage of the
moments when people are searching for products, services, or information.
Digital marketing, just like SEO, is ever changing. No two strategies are the same and therefor there isn’t a one size fits all approach that can be taken when providing comprehensive digital marketing strategies for clients. It is important to keep an eye out and be observant to up and coming trends that are occurring around you.
Creative Programs and Systems is an all-inclusive tech
company that specializes in Custom
Development, Managed
IT Services, and Digital Marketing.
All work is done in-house, we never outsource services from custom server
builds and workstations, custom software programming and phone app development,
to search engine optimization and paid advertising, our professionals provide
results. For more information on CPS check out our website at https://www.cpsmi.com.
One of the most noticeable trends changing the way we optimize websites for search engine recognition is the use of Voice Search. It is predicted that by the year 2020 more than thirty percent of all website sessions will be done without the use of a screen. How is that possible, you ask? Voice-only search offers the user the opportunity to “look” at the information contained on the web without scrolling through sites on a pc or mobile device. Voice technology will be a key element in the success of online companies in the future.
What Exactly Is Voice Search Technology?
The most well-known source using voice technology is
Amazon Alexa.
Instead of typing keywords into a search query, users
speak into a device. The gadget then
returns audio search results based on the spoken query. The precision in which audio technology
recognizes what a user is saying is unbelievable. Although many of us are just being introduced
to voice search technology it is not new.
Speech to text programs and voice dialing have been in use for years.
How Are Digital Marketing Efforts Being Affected by Voice
Recognition?
The use of voice search will radically increase the
search experience.
Search engines, like Google, Bing, and Yahoo will begin
to place a higher importance on voice search optimization. As we know the point of SEO is to rank websites so that when users enter a
search query, either by text or voice search, the most relevant content is
pulled up first. It is
important that digital marketing experts account for both voice search optimization and traditional optimization in
their websites. Being that the two are
very different it is crucial to understand that some factors that affect
traditional rankings may or may not have a similar effect on voice
searches. Below are some tips to help
balance the two very different search engine optimization strategies.
Tips for Voice Search Optimization
Voice search users are most often searching for a
purpose, to complete a certain action. Most voice searchers want a song to
play, a product to be purchased, or specific information to be gathered. No matter your intention, Google uses a
similar algorithm to rank sites which include the following:
Website Loading Speed
Google voice search, like traditional searches, favors
websites that load quickly. It is
important that your site is responsive and functions properly on mobile
devices. All images used on the site
need to be optimized, files must all be compressed, and other tasks that speed
up traditional websites.
Write Content How You Speak
When a user searches for content on a pc or mobile
device, they often use short phrases or long-tailed keywords, think of the
phrases you use in bullet points. If you
want to find a roofer, many users will type in the keyword phrase “roofing
contractors near me”. However, in a
voice search the user may ask “Who is the best roofing contractor to install my
roof’. For your content to be optimized
correctly for bot traditional SEO and voice search, it is crucial to include
naturally sounding, long-tailed keywords in combination with short, snappy
keywords. Make the content easy to
comprehend, content should be written at a 9th grade reading level or below for
maximum comprehension.
Aim for your
website content to range between 1850 and 2500 with a combination of short and
long form content.
Use Blocks of Content
Featured snippets are a summary of the website pages
content. A snippet will appear after
paid advertising and before organic listings.
Content should be optimized and identifiable as a snippet. It must summarize the entire pages
information, be placed above the fold, and include fewer than 29 words. Content that optimizes with header tags,
lists, and bullet points are more easily read by search engines. Featured snippets should include long-tailed
keyword phrases.
Focus on Local Searches
Location based content accounts for over twenty-two
percent of voice search queries.
Websites that consider local content and phrases including a “near me”,
“close to me”, “within a couple of miles”, and so on.
Creative Programs and Systems, CPS, is an all-inclusive IT
solutions company offering a variety of services including: managed IT
services, IT consulting, residential computer services, custom programming,
website design, iphone & android app development, and more. More information can be found at https://cpsmi.com.
One of the most noticeable trends changing the way we optimize websites for search engine recognition is the use of Voice Search. It is predicted that by the year 2020 more than thirty percent of all website sessions will be done without the use of a screen. How is that possible, you ask? Voice-only search offers the user the opportunity to “look” at the information contained on the web without scrolling through sites on a PC or mobile device. Voice technology will be a key element in the success of online companies in the future.
What Exactly Is Voice Search Technology?
The most well-known source using voice technology is Amazon Alexa.
Instead of typing keywords into a search query, users
speak into a device. The gadget then returns
audio search results based on the spoken query.
The precision in which audio technology recognizes what a user is saying
is unbelievable. Although many of us are
just being introduced to voice search technology it is not new. Speech to text programs and voice dialing
have been in use for years.
How Are Digital Marketing Efforts Being Affected by Voice
Recognition?
The use of voice search will radically increase the search experience. Search engines, like Google, Bing, and Yahoo will begin to place a higher importance on voice search optimization. As we know the point of SEO is to rank websites so that when users enter a search query, either by text or voice search, the most relevant content is pulled up first. It is important that digital marketing experts account for both voice search optimization and traditional optimization in their websites. Being that the two are very different it is crucial to understand that some factors that affect traditional rankings may or may not have a similar effect on voice searches. Below are some tips to help balance the two very different search engine optimizationstrategies.
Tips for Voice Search Optimization
Voice search users are most often searching for a
purpose, to complete a certain action. Most voice searchers want a song to
play, a product to be purchased, or specific information to be gathered. No matter your intention, Google uses a
similar algorithm to rank sites which include the following:
Website Loading Speed
Google voice search, like traditional searches, favors websites that load quickly. It is important that your site is responsive and functions properly on mobile devices. All images used on the site need to be optimized, files must all be compressed, and other tasks that speed up traditional websites.
Write Content How You Speak
When a user searches for content on a PC or mobile device, they often use short phrases or long-tailed keywords, think of the phrases you use in bullet points. If you want to find a roofer, many users will type in the keyword phrase “roofing contractors near me”. However, in a voice search the user may ask “Who is the best roofing contractor to install my roof’. For your content to be optimized correctly for both traditional SEO and voice search, it is crucial to include naturally sounding, long-tailed keywords in combination with short, snappy keywords. Make the content easy to comprehend, content should be written at a 9th grade reading level or below for maximum comprehension.
Aim for your website
content to range between 1850 and 2500 with a combination of short and long
form content.
Use Blocks of Content
Featured snippets are a summary of the website pages content. A snippet will appear after paid advertising and before organic listings. Content should be optimized and identifiable as a snippet. It must summarize the entire pages information, be placed above the fold, and include fewer than 29 words. Content that optimizes with header tags, lists, and bullet points are more easily read by search engines. Featured snippets should include long-tailed keyword phrases.
Focus on Local Searches
Location based content accounts for over twenty-two percent of voice search queries. Websites that consider local content and phrases including a “near me”, “close to me”, “within a couple of miles”, and so on.
Creative Programs and Systems, CPS, is an all-inclusive IT
solutions company offering a variety of services including: managed IT
services, IT consulting, residential computer services, custom programming,
website design, iphone & android app development, and more. More information can be found at https://cpsmi.com.
It is that time of the year where we all begin to reflect on the past year and look ahead to see what is coming on the horizon. This is true in both our personal ventures and in business. So much can change in just a years’ time, software is developed, processes are upgraded, and algorithms change. It is crucial, especially when it comes to your business online that new trends in SEO and digital marketingare considered. Get a jump start on your 2019 online marketing goals by considering what experts are labeling “the most important SEO trends of 2019”.
Who is your target audience? What is their intent?
According to industry experts knowing, defining, and building your online marketing strategy around these two things will be more important than ever before. Understanding what people’s expectations are with any given search query and providing the answer/solution with your website and overall online presence is the most effective manner to meet your audiences need. The goal for marketers is to stay ahead of people’s preferences because they can change quicker than can be imagined. If you are successfully able to do this, Google will reward you with higher search engine placements and site visitors are more likely to invest in you.
Search engines outside of Google
In 2019 experts agree that the importance of placement on Google, although high, will shift towards traffic coming in from a variety of sources and search engines. The goal is to effectively drive traffic and look to engage people in outlets other than just websites.
If your target audience, as defined above, are searching for apps then your website ranking will not be nearly as important as your rank in the app store. If your audience is full or video viewers, then it is crucial that your videos appear towards the top of where they are being searched. The main objective is to rank well on Google and engines that are being used by your audience. Drive traffic through all mediums that your audience is using.
AI: The importance of artificial intelligence
The use of structured data is becoming critical in SEO as the shift from mobile-first to AI-first continues. The information gathered by AI must show a relationship and within a timely manner. AI processes text quickly and will bypass required information if it is taking too long to crawl the data as it is being presented.
In 2019 the importance of structured data, schema, active and passive search behaviors and intent make the process and behaviors leading to the search a critical part of SEO. As digital marketers we need to start diving deeper into the relationship between keywords, topics, and audience behavior in creating and implementing structured markup. Using a combination of site architecture, meta data, site tags, and structured data allows marketers to give the proper signals to search engines to back up the sites topical and supportive content.
Generate incomparable content
In 2018 we learned that Google’s algorithm was focused mainly on the quality of the content and this will not change a whole lot in 2019. It was found that websites that were able to provide in-depth, high quality content increased significantly in their placement on search engines. Websites with weak content, although previously ranked highly, dropped in placement on search engines and website visibility became minimal. Website content writers must create content that is able to answer questions and solve users’ problems. The best way to do this is through the creation of content that relates to, moves, and brings solutions to your target audience.
Boost knowledge, become an expert, and create trust
Not only is the content important but quality is also determined in that the content fits into the context. As marketers it is not likely any authority will be placed on your content if you have not proven to be an authority on the subject. What this means to us is that we must work to leverage ourselves within the industry as an expert. Back links and other important SEO measures must be received through sources that show expertise in areas we are looking to specialize in.
Technical aspects of search engine placement
The complexity of technical SEO practices will not go away in 2019. There are some key technical components that will continue to play a role in your placement including:
Site Speed: The speed at which your website pages load on desktops and mobile devices will continue to play a role in rankings. Your audience has about three seconds of patience. In order to get the best loading speed possible for the pages on your website follow this advice:activate AMP on your pages, use HTTPS, move to PHP7, optimize, and use critical rendering paths.
JavaScript: Websites are heavily Java Script driven. Be familiar with this popular programming language and how search engines work best with JavaScript driven websites.
Optimization on-page
On-page site optimization hasn’t disappeared in its level of importance with the increase in elements that are now significant in search algorithms. On-page optimization is not an aspect of SEO that can be put in place and forgotten. Each and every quarter, on-page optimization should be reevaluated and modified as seen fit.
Prepare for the importance of voice search
The last decade of SEO has been all about mobile optimization although 2019 isn’t going to be full on voice search it is time for marketers to consider it and start to include voice strategies in their online marketing techniques. Voice searching is an easy way to request answers to simple questions however might not yet be the best option for more complex needs.
Optimize for featured snippets & Google SERP features
Not only must your own website be optimized, in 2019 the Google experience must also be optimized for. Your sites exposure will come in a combination of ways, visibility is key. Featured snippets should be programmed to answer questions to questions users will have related to your website. These snippets could range from recipes, knowledge graphs, answer boxes, and who knows what else. Programming these snippets into your site are guaranteed to see an increase in your organic traffic.
Creative Programs and Systems, CPS, is an all-inclusive IT solutions company offering a variety of services including: managed IT services, IT consulting, residential computer services, custom programming,website design, iphone & android app development, and more. More information can be found at https://cpsmi.com.
It is the question we are asked more than any other, “How do I get my website on the first page of Google?” and as we previously mentioned,there is more than one way to reach Googles front page. In this installment we will look at gaining first page Google access both through paid ads and organic searches.
Let’s start by talking about paid advertising, more commonly known as Google Ads. This is the quickest method in which companies can get their website to be viewed on page one of the Google search engine for particular keywords and phrases. One of the easiest ways to describe Google Ads is to compare it to an auction. Once you have created and set up a Google Ads account you will create bids for targeted keywords and phrases. This bid is the amount you are willing to pay for ad positionings for your targeted keywords. Pay per click as it is referred to allows higher bids to appear closer to the top of the page with all other elements being equivalent.
There is a lot more that goes into paid per click advertising on Google. This is however a very simplified approach to introducing the concept of paid advertising. Website owners will choose a daily budget that they don’t want to go over and once this amount has been spent your ads will stop showing. Ad scheduling helps to narrow down the time frame which your ads are shown. It is important to note that you will have more ad impressions than ad clicks. In pay per click advertising you are only paying for those clicks to your actual ad. Setting up campaigns with quality ads and keywords will lead to a higher quality score, further enhancing the positioning of your ads.
There can be a large difference in campaign costs between industries. For highly competitive industries such as construction, legal firms, and IT companies commonly have bids ranging from $1.00 up to $100.00. Paid advertising can be cost prohibitive especially when not properly managed.
CPS has a Google Ads expert on staff. It is common for companies to set up a Google Ads account without professional assistance. Google has made it very simple to sign up and create ads on their platform. Bing has a similar product as well. The problem is that if you don’t know what you are doing you can easily waste hundreds of dollars.
I suggest all companies hire a professional that is certified in Google Ads to create and manage your account. They will be able to optimize Google Ads and your company’s website to work together to create the best experience for your paid advertising campaigns. Certified Google Ad specialists often charge a one-time account set up fee and monthly maintenance. You can expect to easily make up the cost of professional services with the benefits you receive in increased traffic to the site within the first few months if not the first month.
In conjunction with paid advertising it is important to have your site ranking organically on Google and other popular search engines. Organic rankings are the listings on the SERP that are found underneath paid advertising and business listings. Often more paid ads are seen again after organic listings. Organic rankings cannot be bought and must come naturally. This is done through a practice known as Search Engine Optimization, SEO. Many factors influence the positioning of your website on Google. Some of those include:
Page Content Quality and Length
The pages throughout your website need to be full of content that is easy to read, informative, and unique. The on-page content must be beneficial to the reader. Your content should be only as long as it can be while maintaining quality. Create content that your target audience will find useful.
Inbound Links Quantity and Quality
Google ranks your website higher than similar websites when other sites link to yours, especially large scaled, relevant websites. When other websites, third party links, show acceptance by creating inbound links to your site Google sees that as a signal that your content is worthy and therefore can have a higher SERP.
Mobile Presence
With the increase in the number of people accessing the internet via smartphones and tablets, Google is placing mobile-friendly websites ahead of those that aren’t. Websites need to be optimized for mobile devices so that they are easy to navigate. Users on all platforms should access the desired information with speed and ease.
Page Speed
No one notices the speed at which pages load unless they load slowly. Well, no one except Google that is! Web pages must load quickly no matter what device they are being viewed on. Patience is a virtue that most internet users don’t have therefore in order to provide the best sites possible within SERP the loading speed of pages is measured.
Keyword and Phrases Within Page Content
Another element that is considered important in SEOis using the keywords and phrases you desire ranking for within your sites on page and off page content. These should be used not only within the content of the page but also the headers and meta details. It is important to not overdo their usage as this is known as “keyword stuffing” which Google will penalize you for. Content should be written in language that is easy for humans to understand. Keywords should be used sparingly and kept as natural sounding as possible.
Domain Name Authority
This is something new companies don’t have a lot of control over however, the longer you have owned a domain the better. The more pages that contain your domain name along with quality content the better for ranking. Using keywords within your domain can impact traffic and therefore rankings because users are more likely to click a relevant domain name vs a competitor’s domain that shows little relevance to the search.
Site Security
Google places priority on secure sites vs non-securesites. A website should load via https. Not only does Google give placement preference to secure sites, site visitors prefers to visit secure sites as well. This is true even if you are not obtaining critical information such as credit cards. Google wants all sites to have an SSL installed in order to load website pages in a secure format.
Along with on page elements there are a number of off page features that, when done correctly, work to enhance your rankings on search engines. Some of these essential tasks involve:
Creating a Google My Business Listing
Business listings are one of the best FREE ways to“advertise” your business. Take time to claim and optimize your business on Google (and other major searchengines). Business listings are listed right after Google Ads, pay-per-click, and before organic searches on the SERP. This listing allows clients to leave reviews, see your business on a local map, and shows all relevant business information like hours of operation, address, and more.
Create and Maintain a Blog
Blogging is one of the best ways to create a buzz about your company. If you want to rank on Google,start a blog and post regular articles and company updates. Blog ideas can be difficult to come up with,so my advice is to consider the top 5 questions customers would ask you if they were in front of you. Then write a detailed answer to satisfy each of these questions, one blog post per questions. Make sure to note the title of your blog; it is a crucial element to each blog post.
Quality Link Building
Quality link building can be done in a number of ways. Guest article writing is one of the best ways that businesses can build links. Write an article for a local paper, industry blog or magazine, or whatever reputable source you can find to publish you. At the end of your article add in a bio with a link to your website and information about your company.
Submit your Business Information to Directories
Create listings of your business on local and industry directory sites. Sites like Yelp, Foursquare,and Angie’s List, some of which charge a small fee, are great sources to create business listings. Creating a healthy online profile through trusted directory domains send a trustworthy signal to search engines like Google. If other sites trust yours this will only help your SERP.
Just remember that you are never done! In order to get to the front page of search engines and maintain your placement it is critical to remain persistent in your efforts. Staying one step ahead of the competition is what will ensure your placement at the top!
Creative Programs and Systems, CPS, is an all-inclusive IT solutions company offering a variety of services including: managed IT services, IT consulting, residential computer services, custom programming,website design, iphone & android app development, and more. More information can be found at https://cpsmi.com.
Every business on the internet wants to know how they can get their website ranked well enough to show up on the first page of search engines, mainly Google. It really is a million-dollar question and if the answer was as simple as the question then I would be out of a job however, it is not simple and instead requires a great deal of patience, time, effort, and understanding. The good thing is you are in the right place to start the adventure of 1st page Google rankings and we are the team of expertsthat can help get you there!
It is important to first understand how search engines like Google work. Many people use Google and the Internet interchangeably. This is however, incorrect. The internet is, “a global computer network providing a variety of information and communication facilities, consisting of interconnected networks using standardized communication protocols.” (https://www.dictionary.com) In real people speak, the internet is the one source where the world can connect without borders. This connection involves search engines, web sites, and more. Google is not actually the Internet and even if your site is not ranking on the first page of Google does not mean it is not showing up on the Internet. What it does mean though is that your website it lives on the internet but is not displayed as an option in Google’s search results for the exact keyword that was searched.
Google is not human, it is in fact an automated system that works 24/7/365 visiting websites throughout the internet. Google takes a glimpse of each page within the website and tucks this information into a large database where it organizes this information into usable data for later search inquiries.
In theory Google is “reading” the content on pages of your website including text, pictures, video, and audio files. This data is used to determine exactly what that page of your website is about and uses it to decide what web pages to show in searches and in what order for specific keywords and keyword phrases. In real speak, Google uses several elements to create an algorithm to establish what pages (websites) within the Internet are the most relevant to the specific phrase that is searched and displays them in order of relevance. These results are known as SERP, Search Engine Results Page; the result, the SERP is defined as the first ten website pages that are shown.
A SERP itself is broken down in a unique format. The top results are usually comprised of paid ads that come from Google Ads, formerly known as Google Adwords. The next section is filled with local businesses listings and a map laying out the locations and basic service area. After that you will find the main area where the organic listings are found. These are the top 10 webpages Google has found that are relevant to the search term(s) as described above.
Often clients are on Google but just aren’t showing on the first page results. There are several factors that play into where your site pages are ranked within Google for searches using keywords and phrases that are relevant. The goal is to rank on the first page but just because you aren’t on page one doesn’t mean that you aren’t “on Google”.
To get ranked by Google your website and pages need to be indexed. This is the case for all search engines not just Google. There are several ways that this can be done: manually through an indexing tool such as Google Search Console or automatically over time as Google is scanning the internet it will find your site. This process can take some time though so if you have a newer site it is in your best interest to have the pages of the site manually indexed. If your page is not showing up in Googles search results for a keyword or phrase you think it should be it is time to evaluate the reasons this is occurring. Remember to look as you may not be coming up on the first page results but instead on a later SERP. Both are “issues” that can be resolved.
I know what you are thinking, “Ok, my site is there on page 17 but how in the world do I get it on page 1 where it will actually be seen?” This is the million-dollar question, it is what all website owners strive for. In fact, so much that there is an entire industry that was created to do this one specific thing, RANK WEBSITES AND PAGES ON GOOGLES FIRST PAGE! As we have mentioned, there are two ways that first page Google rankings can occur: paid advertising (Google Ads) and organic listings.
In our next installment we will dive into each method of reaching Googles front page. The one thing to remember is that if it was easy everyone would be there. The process of ranking on Googles first page through either paid or organic listings is not simple or overnight. It will take time, patience, and perseverance to obtain the status you are looking for with your website. Thankfully you have found right where you need to be! The professionals at Creative Programs and Systems are here to lead the way.
Creative Programs and Systems, CPS, is an all-inclusive IT solutions company offering a variety of services including: managed IT services, IT consulting, residential computer services, custom programming, website design, iphone & android app development, and more. More information can be found at https://cpsmi.com.
There are a number of ways in which business of all sizes receive IT support. From in house IT techs, on call IT professionals, and managed IT providers, specialists exist in a number of capacities to ensure that the IT needs of your business, no matter how large or small your company is, are met. Many companies are switching to managed it services simply because it is one less thing on their plate to manage.
In order to choose an IT infrastructure for your business it is important to evaluate your current needs and future growth. Although the services of managed IT professionals allow you to take a hands-off approach it may include more services than you actually need. In this installment we will take a look into the general overview of managed IT plans. It is important to note that different companies offer different services, so it is crucial that you find an IT plan and company that would fit your needs without having to pay for services you do not require.
Vital Elements of Managed IT Contracts
Security
Security within your organization is important for a number of reasons and it truly the first area of concern for many business owners. It is crucial that company and client data is kept secure. A breach in data security not only costs companies millions of dollars to clean up from it puts critical data in jeopardy. Managed IT service providers must have a detailed outline on how they will secure your specific IT systems. Look for areas including intrusion detection and prevention, encryption, and firewalls to be addressed as well as how the services will be carried out.
Infrastructure
The infrastructure of your organization must be well cared for in order for your company to thrive and grow. No matter what size your company is the basics still apply, to run efficiently everything you need must be able to be performed on your systems network. This means that your managed IT service contract must include server & storage maintenance, network administration, backups, and basic services to issues arising within the network. You must work with your IT provider to develop a list of current and future IT services that are required for you business to continue to thrive.
Service and Support
The service and support of IT technicianscan occur in a number of manners include over the phone, remotely, and in person. Does your company require 24/7 support to operate? If this is the case and your business will be dead in the water without 24/7 support, you will want to find an IT company that offers a managed IT service contract that supports your company no matter the time a day or day of the week. This type of support will come at a premium. Many IT companies support normal business hours and make accommodations for emergency support when needed. Support outside of normal operation times may require an additional fee above and beyond your monthly managed IT support.
Monitoring your Network
Monitoring your network is critical to successfully managing your IT services. An interruption within the network will mean downtime for your company. Managed IT services monitor every aspect of the network from in house, remote users, mobile devices, and virtual machines. Monitoring services should also include intrusion prevention and detection, firewall configurations, and 24/7 monitoring.
Data Backup and Disaster Recovery
Having a complete backup of your data is crucial. If disaster strikes it is important to know that the data that keeps your company up and running is accessible and up to date. Does the company provide on site backup, cloud backup, or is a private source used to backup crucial company data? Not only should you know where to look for important company backups it is important to have access to this information when you need it. Your managed IT support provider should also include a detailed disaster recovery plan when addressing backup needs. It is essential that this information is readily available to prevent any downtime if your company should encounter an unexpected issue.
There are many aspects to managed IT plans. This installment provides basics to expect when looking into providers of managed IT service plans. Further questions should be asked to help you determine if these services are right for your company. When interviewing IT specialists and different service plans available it is important to note exactly what is and isn’t covered in different managed IT plans. Communication is the key element when it comes to a successful IT solution for your company.
Creative Programs and Systems, CPS, is an all-inclusive IT solutions company offering a variety of services including: managed IT services, IT consulting, residential computer services, custom programming, website design, iphone & android app development, and more. More information can be found at https://cpsmi.com.
One of the most important aspects of creating a new website is making sure that your target traffic can easily locate you. The planning process involved requires business owners to consider what keywords and keyword phrases people will type into search engines in order to find them. Content is then created around these searches to maximize ranking results. That has worked well in the past but with new technology and voice search now is the time to reconsider website content.
Voice Search Technology
Voice search technology is when people use their voice to ask devices such as computers, phones, Alexa, Google Home, and such devices to aide in their search of the internet vs sitting at a device and typing the search into a search engine. More than half of all internet searches are said to come from voice activated technologies by the year 2020. Each year the number of voice-activated speakers purchased increases ten-fold. It’s pretty obvious to us that in order to continue to be successful websites need to be adjusted to accommodate for both voice and type searching.
People are using voice search technology mainly because it is so fast and easy to use. You can search using your phones while on the go. Information is easily received whether you are in the car, at a restaurant, or sitting in your front room, no matter where you are at voice search technology allows you to easily access information.
What Does This Mean for Your Business?
There are a number of things voice search technology changes when it comes to search engines and optimizing your website to meet the needs of your customers. One thing this means is longer search phrases. When people speak they tend to talk in complete sentences whereas when typing the phrases are shorter and more to the point using basic keywords.
Voice Search vs Traditional Typing
Voice Search: Clients are more likely to ask a question such as: “What are the voice search statistics for 2018?”
Traditional Search: Clients are more likely to input a keyword or phrase without adding to it: “voice search” or “voice search stats 2018”.
Voice activated applications have been programmed to understand our natural speech patterns. They will understand longer text phrases and questions. When planning to optimize your websitefor search engines it will be important to take this new information into consideration. Keyword optimization will no longer only revolve around simple keywords and long-tailed keyword phrases it should now include answers to questions and longer phrases.
The Future of SEO
With voice search technology becoming more and more common, optimization for search engines is going to focus more on the long-tailed keyword, a keyword that is more than three to five words. Whereas previously websites would have been optimized for “kitchen remodeling” with voice search optimization should include “kitchen remodeling trends for 2018” or “local contractors specializing in kitchen remodeling 2018”.
Websites that are designed with voice search technology in mind will have a huge advantage over older website designs that do not redesign their sites to include optimization for the new technology. Long tailed keywords and phrases are less competitive and therefore easier to rank for. Designing a website around this now will ensure you are prepared as voice searching becomes more and more common.
What Can You Do Today?
Currently the most common voice search is your business’s phone number and address. Don’t hide that information on your site within an image or logo. The phone number and address need to be easily found and recognized. Your companies Google business listing should include an up to date address, phone number, and website address should be easily available if a client does a quick search of your company’s name.
If you are looking for local customers include phrases such as, “near me”, “local”, or “close by”. The popularity of keywords that include these phrases has increased over 500% in part due to voice searching.
Content should be structured for the intent of your users. What are your users looking for? What information are they trying to find from your site? Optimizing for Google means that your sites content gives answers to the user’s questions. Blogs or a blog series should be written in a manner that also answers your customers questions. Posts should specifically address questions that will be asked.
Creative Programs and Systems, CPS, is an all-inclusive IT solutions company offering a variety of services including: managed IT services, IT consulting, residential computer services, custom programming, website design, iphone & android app development, and more. More information can be found at https://cpsmi.com.
