Category Archives: SEO

An Insight Into Google Webmaster Tools

SEO, Small Business Marketing, Technology, Webmaster Tools, , ,

Google Webmaster ToolsGoogle Webmaster Tools is a free web service that Google provides to webmasters. By using these tools, webmasters can check the indexing status of their websites and can optimize the website for better visibility. The increased visibility is limited to only Google search and not to other search engines. Many people who use Google Webmaster Tools are now aware of this fact, as this information is not highlighted clearly. Google Webmaster Tools is a very popular solution that most webmasters use to improve the Search Engine Ranking Optimization of websites. You can find more information regarding Google Webmaster Tools here, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Webmaster_Tools.

Using Google Webmaster Tools

  • Only webmasters can use Google Webmaster Tools. Therefore, you will need to prove your ownership of the website before you can use the tools.
  • To use Google Webmaster Tools, you will have to create your account.
  • Go to the home page of Google Webmaster Tools (http://www.google.com/webmasters/tools/)
  • If you have a Google Account, use it to log into the site.
  • If you do not have a Google Account, you will have to sign up for an account.
  • After logging into the account, you can add the website details.
  • You will be provided with options to verify the ownership of the website.
  • You can verify using any of the following methods
    • HTML file upload method
    • HTML tag method
    • Domain name provider
    • Google Analytics
    • Google Tag Manager
    • Once the website is verified, you will be able to access the Google Webmaster Tools dashboard for the website.

Advantages of Integrating Google Webmaster Tools

By integrating Google Webmaster Tools, you will be able to monitor the following by using the tool

1.       Crawl errors

Google Webmaster Tools will allow you to identify errors that Google bots have encountered when trying to crawl in your website. This will allow you to review these errors and rectify them.

2.       Top search queries

This function of the tool will provide you with details regarding the top search queries that have led audiences to your website. Using this tool, you can identify if the website is displayed in search results when search is done for appropriate keywords or phrases

3.       Keywords

This tool will also provide you details regarding the top keywords that are associated with your website.

4.       Site links

The various links that lead to your website will be displayed in this tool.

5.       Sitemaps

By using Google Webmaster Tools, you can upload sitemaps for websites.

How is Google Webmaster Tools different to Google Analytics?

  • Google Analytics will provide you details of total traffic to your website whereas Google Webmaster Tools will provide you with traffic details for each keyword separately.
  • Google Analytics will provide you statistical data on visitors to your site whereas Google Webmaster Tools will give you information on how Google sees your site in the perception of a search engine.

It is a great combination to use Google Analytics and Google Webmaster Tools in unison as it will provide you with many statistical data that can be used to improve traffic to your website. It will also allow you to identify if your marketing campaign or SEO campaign is providing you with your desired results.

Our guest blogger: Matthew Anton is an experienced webmaster who has been using Google Webmaster Tools to analyze and rectify website data in his websites. Matthew writes regular post on http://backlinksvault.com/

What Types Of Businesses Need A Mobile Website?

SEO

Mobile website designHow many people do you know who don’t have a smartphone? Can you count them on one hand and have fingers to spare? How many of those constantly use their phones to find information on the web? It’s a safe bet to say all of them. Even the few troglodytes who only have feature phones occasionally use them to find information on the net.

The point being made is that everyone uses the mobile web, and most people use it several times a day. They use it to access their social networks, to read news and, very importantly for businesses, to find goods and service providers and buy products.

This means that if you have a business, you need a mobile website. However, some businesses need mobile websites more than others.

The bad news for small businesses with limited budgets is that they need mobile websites more than others. The good news for small businesses with limited budgets is that the returns on mobile websites more than make up for the initial expense.

Let’s take a closer look at exactly what types of businesses absolutely can’t do without a mobile website.

  • Restaurants

In May 2012, Bryson Meunier cited some statistics from Google that revealed 88% of all searches for the keyword ‘restaurants’ came from mobile phones. The most often-used restaurant-related search terms on mobile phones included ‘locations’, ‘hours’, and ‘menu’. This suggests that mobile users want to get very specific information from their search results. If your restaurant doesn’t provide this very specific information in a mobile format, it’s losing out on a major audience.

There is one very important reason why small local restaurants need to get their act together and get mobile websites. Mobile users aren’t really looking for franchises or fast food places. If they do, they specifically search for franchise names. Instead, they conduct vague exploratory searches to find out what happens to be nearby. For example, they may be in the mood for Chinese food and so they conduct a random search for Chinese restaurants in their vicinity. Now, if you own a Chinese restaurant, you want to ensure that you pop up at the top of those search results. And that means that you need a mobile website that includes an address, directions, contact numbers, and easy-to-read menu.

  • Service providers

It used to be possible for service providers to rely on an ad in the Yellow Pages and the local newspaper to get business. Now, however, it’s easier to reach for the phone than to hunt for the paper that could already be lining the cat litter tray and the Yellow Pages was probably thrown on the recycling pile as soon as it was delivered.

As a service provider, your best bet is to use your mobile site to punt your services before your company info and to provide geographic and location-specific information and glowing testimonials on major landing pages.

  • Retailers

Mobile users may not always make purchases on their mobile phones, but they do a lot of ‘window’ and comparative shopping. They also do a lot of searching for words like ‘discount’ and ‘coupon’. As a retailer you need to emphasise your products on your mobile site, and proudly proclaim your special offers, promotions, and coupons. Users need to see at glance exactly why you’re better than all the stores in the area. Geographic and location-specific information is a must.

Meunier cites additional stats that show 90% of mobile users take action as a result of their mobile searches. In the case of a small restaurant, this could mean a full table. In the case of a service provider, it could mean a booking. And while retailers might not necessarily make a sale online, this could mean that they entice users with open wallets through their door.

People almost literally live on their mobile phones these days. They rely on them for everything from Skyping their boss to Facebooking their mom. And, of course, they use them to make vital decisions, like where to eat, which plumber to use, and where to buy that vintage dress. All of which means that if you’re a small business, you can’t afford not to have a mobile website.

Our Guest Blogger Jemima Winslow, has five years’ experience working in online marketing and has had the satisfaction of watching many small business owners reap the returns after taking a chance and investing in mobile site development.

6 Tricks To Create Killer PPC Ads That Convert

AdWords, PPC, SEO, Small Business Marketing, , ,

You might think that writing ad copy is simple compared to writing a blog post or a landing page for a website, but it’s not.

In fact, it can be much more complicated. When you write a blog post, there are no restrictions as to how lengthy it can be. You get to decide how much space you need to share your message across. When it comes to PPC ads, you’ll need to squeeze your message in a short and catchy ad and that can be quite a challenge.  For example, if you choose to advertise on Google, you ad copy needs to be comprised of:

• 25-character headline

• Two lines of 35-character description

• A URL that sends users to your landing page

That’s all you get! Sounds like a lot of pressure, doesn’t it?

But don’t panic. Even if there’s little space, there are ways you can make the most of the limited space. Read on for the top six tips and tricks to write killer PPC ad copy for your campaign…

1. Make Your Headline Count

Take as much time as you need to write an eye-catching headline for each ad. This is the first thing people see so make it count, otherwise your ads will just be ignored.
You have 25 characters you can take advantage of so use them wisely. Use strong keywords, numbers, percentages and power words that will grab users’ attention.

Be specific in your headline and make sure it reflects exactly what you’re promoting. This ensures users know exactly what they’re clicking on and what they will find once they land on your site.

2. Use Powerful and Relevant Keywords

PPC advertising is about bidding on keywords so make sure yours are as powerful and as specific as possible. Make them relevant to what people are searching for online when they’re looking for your services or products.

After all, when people type in a keyword or keyword phrase, that’s exactly what they want to see. In other words, being predictable can give you a better chance of earning some clicks.

In addition, use your keywords sensibly throughout the copy so it looks natural and not stuffed.

3. Always Include a Call to Action

When it comes to advertising, calls to action are vital as it tells people what they should do next to find what they’re looking for.

Effective calls to action include “sign up now”, “buy now”, “order today”, “save 80% on…”, “free download” or “get a free estimate today”.

Include a strong call to action that’s clear and specific so people know exactly what they should do next.

Exactly what kind of call to action you use will depend on what you want people to do once they’ve clicked your ad, so make sure it is aligned with the landing page you are sending them to.

4. Get Those “Power” Words in There

Most successful ads include power words in their headlines, but you can also add them elsewhere in the ad copy. For example, experiment with using words like buy, get, try, go, download in your body copy. Of course, you can use others as well but you’ll need to test them and see which ones work better for your audience.

5. Test Your Ad Campaigns For Success

Once you’ve created your ads, it’s critical to test them and see which ones perform best. Check the statistics and data and track your ads’ click-through rates to see which ones are the most effective.

There’s always room for improvement, so if an ad isn’t getting any clicks, replace it with a better one. And then keep testing and improving as it’s the only way you can ensure your ads are as effective as possible in terms of generating revenue for your business.

6. Create a Conversion-Oriented Landing Page

Don’t forget that you’re using your ads to direct potential customers to your site. The URL you include in your ad needs to redirect them to a specific landing page that’s relevant to the ad. You should never link your PPC ads to your homepage.

You landing page is an extension of your ad, so when users click on your ad it means you’ve captured their interest and your conversion-oriented landing page needs to close the deal and convert them into sales. Take the time to create a landing page that includes your offer, clear call-to-actions and no other distractions.

Following these six tips will help you make the most of the limited space you have when creating PPC ads.

This guest post was written by Alex Gavril, who is part of the 123-reg blog team. The company is the UK’s largest domain name registrar and also provides a range of other services, including PPC management.

The Art Of Balancing Content Creation And Promotion

Blogging, content marketing, Copywriting, guest blogging, SEO, Small Business Marketing, Social Media Marketing, Viral marketing

Many people can be seen to be debating over content creation and promotion. Both are known to be unique and important in their own way and individuals are recommended to give a good amount of attention to them in order to acquire a good feedback from the customers and real-time visitors. When it comes to the importance of choosing between the two, nothing can be said since both the processes are considered to be equally significant. However, ineffective content creation really does not help the content promotion as it fails to pique the attention of the target market. On the other hand, good content creation with low content promotion does not easily reach the customers, resulting is low feedback and followers in the long run.

The Art of Balancing Content Creation and Promotion

Importance of Efficient Content Creation

Content creation can be difficult for people who are not really aware of it. It is essential to create good content beforehand in order to attract the customers. The process of content creation and promotion is linked to each other and both become worthless even if one is ineffective. Therefore, in the beginning, interesting and well-written content must be written for the purpose of promoting it in the long run.

Benefits of Efficient Content Promotion

Since content promotion is equally as important as content creation, individuals are recommended to give a good amount of attention to it in order to avoid any kind of shortage in the target audience in the near future. It is essential to publish content at as many sites as possible in order to give it an adequate amount of coverage and promotion. Without promotion, content ceases to exist and acquires extremely low rankings in the search engines, which is likely to ruin all the chances of possible promotion in the long run. Effective content promotion allows many WebPages and blogs to achieve a high status and ranking in the search engines, resulting in higher web traffic on a daily basis.

Preventing Audience and Content Shortage

A balance between content creation and promotion is a must in order to achieve success. Even if one ignores, then the other is not likely to act the way it is supposed to. The fact that bad content creation ends up in audience shortage and bad content promotion ends up in content shortage gives all the more reason for people to maintain an appropriate balance between the two. The one and only way to do so is to take both the processes seriously and to attend to both the content creation and promotion on an equal basis.

The Art of Balancing Content Creation and Promotion

Acquiring Content Harmony

The main strategy for creating a balance between both the processes is to indulge in content harmony. According to a lot of research and professionals, content harmony can be achieved through the correct usage of both the content creation and promotion and that too, on the right time. The results are going to be much better than just following content creation or content promotion. Good content creation can be satisfactory for the time being but it undoubtedly results in a shortage of audience in the long run and the same is the case with promotion as it tends to create a vast content shortage.

Content Creation and Promotion for a Successful Marketing Campaign

An effective process of employing both the content promotion and creation ends up in a successful content strategy which enables people to earn a good amount of profit in the long run. Businesses must really follow both the strategies in order to excel in content creation and promotion. Content harmony is something which can be easily achieved by hard work and determination. All marketing campaigns can be easily successful if people try and concentrate on both the content related and promotional aspects of their business in the long run.

Our guest blogger, Jordon, has varied and broad career in the technology world and he is one of the most experienced SEO writers who love to spread the knowledge through his informative contents. His articles mostly cover the exact step by step working procedure and current research, inventions in the technology field. His most of the case studies can be found on Climb Digital.