Tag: search engine optimization

Categories
Growth Academy

Google Core Update: Focus Your Niche

Google update: Focus on 1 niche
Google update: Focus on 1 niche

Highlight your Niche, Don’t Overgeneralize

For many business owners, there is a general perception that their online content should be as broad as possible, drawing customers in from all corners of the web.

That line of reasoning has been stomped by the May 2022 Google Core Update!  Google wants to prioritize content that highlights the E-A-T model:

  1. Expertise
  2. Authoritativeness
  3. Trustworthiness

How do you improve the E-A-T rating of your site?  Get positive reviews on your products, ask for mentions from followers or fellow businesses, and ensure that users feel safe and secure when buying products from your site.  Ask for customers to leave positive feedback on sites like Trust Pilot or Google reviews – that is a surefire way to improve your E-A-T!

Be a Specialist: Highlight your Niche

In doing so, it appears Google wants to boost e-commerce stores and content that demonstrate strong expertise in their niche, and do not try to blast out mundane, poor-quality content on everything from celebrity news to “The best couches of 2022.” 

This is potentially a huge boon for niche e-commerce business owners.  You no longer have to dilute your online content by broadening its scope!  Rather, it’s best now to push the other direction, and make your posts specialized to your niche business.  Google Search wants to reward e-commerce businesses who provide the highest-quality products in their field, and will no longer let retail giants outrank SME competitors based solely on their larger online domain.

Refine Your Search Results with Longtail Keywords

Picking the relevant keywords to buy Google ads has always been important, but the recent Google Core Update makes longtail keywords more important than ever before.  What are longtail keywords?  They are the manifestation of “niche” interests within search engines.  Longtail keyword phrases are highly specialized and specific, meaning instead of a customer searching…

“Buy shampoo,”

They search:

“Shampoo with all-natural ingredients and anti-dandruff.”

Instead of searching,

              “Buy new couch,”

They search

              “New cherrywood handmade couch with futon and memory foam cushion.”

Notice the difference?  Longtail keywords are generally longer (3+ words), describing very specific products.  Review your current product line, and make sure you only buy Google AdWords that describe your product in precise detail!  They usually have lower a lower cost-per-click (CPC) as well, so that’s an added bonus for your online marketing budget.

source

Amazon: The King of Longtail Keywords

While they are a retail giant now, Amazon is the classic example of longtail keyword success.  When they were simply a humble bookstore, Amazon did not want to compete by selling 1,000,000 copies of the most recent bestseller.  Bookstore giants like Barnes n’ Noble were dominant on these popular titles.

Instead, Amazon aimed to sell books with niche audiences, maybe only selling 10 copies of each title.  However, if they were able to dig and find 100,000 books that each had a niche audience of 10, guess what… they still sold 1,000,000 books 😉 In essence, longtail keywords are a big reason why Amazon became the retail giant it is today.    

Conclusion: Google Core Supports Longtail Keywords

If you want to benefit from the recent Google Core Update, find longtail keywords related to your product line, bid on low-CPC Google AdWords related to them, and watch your sales grow!  If you are having trouble retargeting customers, or want an advertising option outside Google’s Display Network, contact Ad360 today!  We have the niche expertise to power your digital marketing success 😊

Categories
Growth Academy

Google Core Update: Trouble for SEO?

Google Core Update: SEO trouble?
Google Core Update: SEO trouble?

Some E-Commerce Owners are Frustrated by Google Core’s Update

It’s clear that Google’s Core Update has already affected a lot of businesses online.  While the new Search Engine algorithm just began rolling out in May 2022, some e-commerce sites reported immediately falling out of the SERP rankings for important keywords, as well as seeing a drastic drop in clicks and impressions on the site.  Take the following tips below as a starting point to improve your Google SERP ranking.

Click here for part I of our coverage on the Google Core Update

source
  1. Increase Posting Frequency

The most effective way to rebuild and grow your SEO, as well as your e-commerce sites online visibility, is to begin posting more frequently on your site.  

Did you have a blog post rocket to the top of the Google charts two years ago? That’s great, but it won’t be enough to continue thriving following the May 2022 Google Core Update. If you are staying current and up-to-date on the major trends within your industry, Google is going to be rewarding you with a boost in page ranking!

2. Strive for Originality

On top of that, Google will now be rewarding sites that post original content.  If you are reposting content from another site or using AI-generated content, Google is going to ding you.  Also, if the quality of the content is basically a rambling word salad, and considered not useful for users, Google will rank that lower, as well.

Best Solution: Diversify your Traffic Generation Avenues

Aside from posting original quality content for frequently, it’s important that e-commerce business owners use the Google Core Update as a wakeup call to not rely solely on the search engine giant for their revenue! 

You can begin ad campaigns with Ad360 in one click that bring visibility to the entire web, meaning you get impressions from outside Google’s display network and across all apps.  On top of trying out various social media platforms, business owners can ensure that even if the Google Core Update affects their traffic from search engine’s other revenue streams and ad channels pick up the slack!

Categories
Growth Academy

Google Core Web Vitals matter even more

google core web vitals matter even more
google core web vitals matter even more

Google Algorithms Control your SERP Ranking

Because of its ubiquity on the market, Google holds huge influence on your e-commerce store’s visibility and viability through your site’s SERP: “Search engine results page.”  Being ranked on the first page in Google search is the aim of any successful e-commerce business, so many will research or hire experts in “Search Engine Optimization” (SEO) to do just that!

Big News: Changes to Google’s Core Algorithm?

After following the same guidelines for the past few years, Google has officially begun rolling out the next “Google Core” algorithm update.  While the implications of this update will not be clear for several more weeks, its important for e-commerce businesses to be aware of how Google’s Core Update could affect the visibility of their e-commerce site.

Double-Check Your “Core Web Vital” Metrics

Core Web Vital metrics include your site’s page speed, its response to user input, and the stability of the webpage loading across different devices.  While it’s early on, it appears sites with strong core vitals are immediately seeing a boost in traffic.  We’ve mentioned the importance of webpage speed here, so make sure you get a comprehensive website audit to check these core vitals! 

While anecdotal, some online business owners reported seeing a 25% spike in traffic following the Google Core Update.  It appears the strong fundamentals of their “Core Web Vitals” played a role in their boosted visibility online.

Also, it is clear that sites with original content are being boosted.  If you have AI-generated content, or have boosted the work of someone else, Google now has software that spots the duplication of content, resulting in a lower SERP for your e-commerce store.

source

News Updates on Google Search Algorithm

Since Ad360 is devoted to helping e-commerce businesses successfully advertise their quality products online, we are paying close attention to the rollout of Google’s Core Update for Google Search.  Stay tuned for new developments and insights on this story!

Categories
Growth Academy

WordPress Blogs Boost WooCommerce Sales

WooCommerce Blogs Boost Sales
WooCommerce Blogs Boost Sales

Texts Online are Crucial for SEO

While setting a daily budget and promoting on major platforms  are the backbone of driving traffic to your store, neither will automatically increase your SEO or SERP. 

Instead, quality website text and blog posts help Google “crawl” your page more efficiently.  By doing so, you will rank higher for the keyword searches potential customers execute every day!  So, Ad360 recommends that, if you have a WooCommerce store you are advertising online, make posting a 250+ word blog post part of your routine.

Blog Posts Support Videos, Pictures & Infographics You Put Out

It’s important to note that good visuals online – especially mobile – are essential to catching customers’ attention.  Xerox found that colorful infographics increase readership and customer memory by 80%! However, to keep them there, it helps to have a supporting blog post describing your product. 

Because WooCommerce comes with a WordPress site, e-commerce business owners can get in a routine of preparing advertisements to go out across social media and the web, and linking the accompanying blog post with a minimal strain on your time.

In fact, the blog posts do not even have to be perfect and sound “polished” and professionally written.  Most online users read blog posts for entertainment and education, not to make buying decisions.  Some quick numbers on that: 77% of the internet users read blogs, and a third of all readers read them solely for entertainment. So, let your blog be your outlet for you to show your brand’s personality and connect on a more conversational and intimate tone with your followers.  Hopefully, this post here inspires you to keep pressing on ahead with your WordPress blog – let your voice be heard! 

And hey, it increases your sales on WooCommerce and SEO ranking.  Why not?  😉 Make the most of your WooCommerce promotion with an updated WordPress blog!

source
source
Categories
Growth Academy

4 Keys to Unlocking SEO on Shopify

SEO for Shopify
SEO tips for Shopify e-commerce stores

And why it’s VITAL for Sales Growth!

In part III of our “Search Engine Optimization” series (part I and II linked here), we distill the top 4 “keys” to boosting sales with SEO.  Here, you’ll find the breakdown of actions you could take today to increase your store’s visibility on search engines like Google – and they aren’t complicated!  SEO may not be rocket science, but it does take strategic, effective marketing strategies on your part.

Read below for the 360 degree, step-by-step guide to learn the practical application of SEO strategy!

1.      Favicon design

Favicons are those little picture designs that appear in the corner of your website tab. Some popular ones are the multicolored “G” when on Google or the red “play button” icon on Youtube. 

These little guys may seem unimportant, but they carry a lot of weight for SEO ranking!  Simply put, they provide brand awareness, credibility, and customers an easier way to recognize your site.  Even if you have incredible goods in your store and provide top-notch service, customers subconsciously judge you right away if you don’t have a favicon like other sites. 

Picture a dilapidated, old storefront – looks like a tornado just hit it.  Even if the goods inside are amazing, and the store owner is a peach of a guy, chances are you won’t go in!  It looks too worn-down on the outside. You make a snap judgement to move on. 

That’s exactly what will happen to your store without a favicon!  Get one designed asap to increase sales to your Shopify store.

2.      Descriptive heading tags for well-organized site categories

We’ve mentioned in an earlier article the importance of descriptive heading tags to better organize your site’s web pages. Here’s why that is so essential.  Not only do users feel better browsing, Google’s “crawl” software won’t get confused indexing your site.  The clearer the web page headings and the better classification of your info, the more SEO-friendly Google will consider your site… and you will be rewarded with a better ranking 😊

Sometimes, these headings are referred to as “H tags.” Make sure to keep your ducks in a row when building the content on each page.  It should always start with a clear, descriptive, but not-too-wordy title!  That’s a major key to growing your Shopify sales.

3.       Detail meta and product descriptions

On top of good headings, remember that breaking up your info with easy-to-read product descriptions is essential for SEO best practices.  If you have any product listed on your site unaccompanied by at least a few lines of descriptive text, you are doing your online business a disservice!

Make sure you remember that new potential customers browsing your site (as well as Google’s web crawlers), are not experts on your industry like you.  If you can find a way to give them good information, segmented into different tabs on the product description, you give yourself the best chance to land on the first page in Google rankings. 

4.      Research backlinks through Google Search Console

This final key may be the most difficult to implement, as it involves some pretty serious market research: backlinks.  Backlinks are essentially hyperlinks that connect your site to another.  Consider when you look for, say, a new toaster online.  You find a site that lists the “top 10 toasters,” and there are hyperlinks leading to each option – those businesses successfully have been “backlinked,” linking them to more web pages across the web and increasing their visibility.

Now, when starting off green, finding the right sites to reach out to for a backlinks “shoutout” can seem pretty daunting.  So, we recommend starting by checking out Google Search Consoles information on backlinks here.   Make sure to check out what backlinks competitors have, and from there, you can begin your own marketing campaigns to increase the number of affiliate sites that offer a “backlink” to your Shopify store.  More quality backlinks, more sales for your Shopify store 😊

If you feel you would benefit from some SEO expertise to set up your store for success, reach out to try a free demo from Ad360 today!  We can provide a free consultation to evaluate how effective your SEO practices are, and what we can do to bring you up the Google ranks 😊  Cheers, we hope you enjoyed the 4 keys to SEO success!

Categories
Growth Academy

The Importance Texts for Customer Growth

Text Descriptions for SEO
Texts are a major component of SEO

Focus on Textual Descriptions for Search Engine Optimization

Business owners agree there is an element of excitement in designing a brand-new Shopify site!  They can pour their passions into the web page’s presentation, and digital advances have made it as simple as “cut & paste” to add all kinds of dynamic elements to the site: pictures, slideshows, videos, and interesting graphics that “pop” off the screen. 

Be aware that, without a couple lines of descriptive text, audio-visual elements go completely unnoticed by search engines like Google.  They won’t “pick up” what your store is putting down!!

We’ve mentioned in a previous blog on SEO (link here) that Google’s “web crawling” software, vital for a website’s ranking, does not do a very good job analyzing the “purpose and place” of pictures and videos.  Every time you leave you, say, a picture of your product, without a meaningful textual description, it will be missed by Google’s ranking software, and your website’s visibility will suffer.

Breaking Down Where & When to Add Text on Your Site

To keep it simple, Ad360 wants to provide a 360° view on the most important places to add text for boosting sales.  That way, business owners can quickly spot where they need to add full text descriptors to make their site more Google-friendly.  We know that can sound silly, but strategically placing text descriptions gives you the best chance to be on the coveted “first page” of Google search results.

i.                    Meta text

You know those little “preview” descriptions that pop up when you search something up on Google?  That is meta-text, a tagged part of your webpage that Google recognizes as providing a good “glimpse” of what your web page offers users.  

ii.                  Webpage Titles

It may seem redundant while you type them out, but every web page users click through should have clear titles and subtitles.  Even if it looks a bit silly to you, users who have never browsed the site – and Google’s “web crawling” software – will greatly appreciate the clarity!

iii.                Product Descriptions

We at Ad360 are always a little shocked how many visually-stunning sites we come across… that totally blow off product tags and product descriptions.  We would highly recommend having at least one sentence – like a caption – for every product preview, and then full descriptive text when the user clicks through to view the product in closer detail.  

For example, if selling a gold bracelet, the caption with the product picture could read, “24 carat gold bracelet, sourced from ethical vendors and made with adjustable links for all wrist sizes.”  When the user clicks through to view the product, give them a novel!  It is best to break the text up into tabs, but those full text descriptions to accompany your pictures and products will boost GEO rankings and grow sales far more efficiently.

iv.                     Branding Descriptors

Marketing research makes clear that, with the seemingly endless commerce options available to online customers, it pays to include descriptive text that “fills in the human picture” of who you are as a business, what you stand for, and the values you hold dear.  As an example, having a strong “About Me” text page correlates to increased sales, as does stating how your store supports its core values.  Are you an animal lover?  Have a page where customers can make a donation to your chosen charity.  Text elements that give a fuller picture of your brand’s core values go a long way in customers positively identifying with you!

V.                     Reviews

Make a page that lists your favorite reviews!  It adds more dynamic text to your site and provides a sense of “social validation” that new customers, who, after reading a few positive reviews, feel they are making a good decision 

It’s Ok Ramble – Lean Toward More Textual Description, Not Less

Here is the main takeaway: any picture, video, link,  or product should come with full descriptive text, so both customers and google crawling software can make sense of your website!  Always lean toward “more full description,” not less.  If it starts to feel a bit redundant or like you’re rambling, that’s ok!  Google’s “web crawling” software will reward you with a higher ranking and more traffic to your online store.  You can edit down the parts that confuse customers, but remember – you are structuring your site for optimized web success! If you feel unsure about your current text descriptions or feel like professional guidance may give your online store a lift, reach out and try a free demo from Ad360 today!  We provide a free 30 minute consultation that can evaluate your current text descriptions, pointing out where improvements can be made for optimal sales success 😊

Categories
Growth Academy

What is Search Engine Optimization?

What is SEO
Search Engine Optimization

What Exactly is SEO? What Value Does it Add to my Business?

Google defines Search Engine Optimization (SEO) as “making your site better for search engines.” Put another way, SEO are all the changes to your text that make your site “ping” on Google’s algorithm when users execute a search!

Crawling for New Content – How Google Discovers your Site


How does it do that, you ask? Well, Google didn’t become a tech powerhouse for no reason. Google employs automated “web crawlers” that look for new/updated web pages based on how the site connects to the rest of the internet… hence the term “internet.” Basically, Google finds your page based on how it interlinks and interconnects to the rest of the web!

 

Indexed for Info – Google Programs Analyze Webpage Text to Evaluate Content

After Google discovers that your site exists among the 50 billion online web pages (congrats!) Google “indexes” the site’s content, using software to try and figure out the “purpose and place” of your online business. To check if your site is properly indexed on Google, type in “site:_________” and past your url into the blank.

There you Are – Having Google List Businesses on Search Results

After figuring out the “purpose and place” of your online site, Google will begin listing your business. The user’s location, language, device, and previous search history all play a role in what pops up for them, but those factors are out of your control. 

It’s time to put in stark terms how vital SEO is for growing your business! 



Introduction – Tell me WHY SEO is Important


If you ever question, “Why is it important for my business to rank on Google anyway,” consider this fact:

71% of all online users click through from the “first page” search results 

With that in mind, it’s essential for any online business to identify the most commonly searched keywords/phrases when customers are browsing for your line of products. If you are serious about leveraging online search engines to optimize your sales growth, learning to “move up the rankings” through SEO is a must! Organic SEO growth is more effective at growing sales and driving traffic to your website than virtually any other online tool. Remember that there are over 5 billion searches conducted on Google per day. Being at the top of the list for the searches pertaining to your business… you can see how that might spur sales growth!

Picture This – Example of SEO’s Utility for Growing Sales


For a quick hypothetical – picture you’re a custom soap maker. You’ve taken a 360 degree view of your online marketing, and every time a user searches the phrases, “custom soap,” “boutique soap,” or “soap for sensitive skin,” your site pops up as one of the top three results. Just by that remarkable visibility alone, you’re going to receive a steady, consistent stream of sales no matter where else you advertise. Think about it! Google’s search engine is literally advertising for you! 

However, to get to a place where SEO is, in a sense, doing your promotional work for you, it takes in-depth research and serious legwork to perfect your site’s key phrasing and text. Every line of business needs a wholly unique approach to their SEO, while still hitting the most relevant key phrases universally searched online… this part is easier said than done. 

How Online Business Make Quality SEO Webpages


Making unique, engaging online content involves some artful human ingenuity, but there are specific metrics and guidelines to follow for how you structure that content to best optimize search results. 

  1. Aim to be descriptive as possible with all titles and headings

No need to be wordy, but picture a software crawler… it’s not as smart a human! You need to be really clear with titles so the crawler software goes, “Oh! I get that!” You’re not just writing for your customers – you’re writing for the online ecosystem as a whole. 

2. Make Each Webpage Stand Alone as a “Complete” Entity

We love a phrase Google uses when giving the 411 basics on SEO, “Google is smart, but we can’t guess what you don’t tell us.” It’s easy, as a business owner, to assume the folks reading are making the same leaps in logic you are… but they aren’t! Neither are Google’s programs. Give a logical rundown of your entire business offerings; don’t assume Google gets what you imply. Even if it seems painfully obvious to you, give Google a break – it’s sifting through 50 billion webpages! 

3. Be Topical, Be Up-to-Date 

Show your business can grow and change with the seasons – think holiday bundles and special deals of that nature! Those updates keep your business moving up the search queue, as Google will record, “These guys are with the times, maaaan.” We’re pretty sure that’s how Google software talks when no one is listening 🙂

4. USE TEXT!

Let’s start by acknowledging how cool it is to be able to share and upload pictures/videos with one click – memes have straight up changed the world. HOWEVER! When it comes to growing your sales through SEO, Google software still understands text formats more effectively than others. While having an aesthetically pleasing and dynamic webpage, complete with aural-visual elements, is highly recommended, it should not come at the cost of accompanying text. Having clear textual complements to any picture and video on your site will benefit your business greatly in terms of growing sales. Don’t have any picture/video without at least a little caption of explanatory text attached!


Most Important Web Elements for your Site’s SEO Rank


To give you a 360 degree view of SEO, we thought we’d leave readers with a list of all the design, web, and marketing research factors that improve your site’s “searchability” for boosting sales:

  • Site content 
  • Site structure/Web Page layout 
  • Intersection with online ad campaigns
  • Keyword research (e.g. – Term frequency-inverse document frequency analysis)
  • SEO development
  • Precision marketing to specific market “niches” or geographic locations

Modifying a single keyword/phrase can be the difference between Google finding 10 million or 100 million results. Market research on these keywords, therefore, are essential to aligning your online business with the most precise, potent keywords related to your industry!

Conclusion: Using the Right Tools for SEO Sales Success


We know that it feels a bit overwhelming that all these different factors play into SEO. Some business owners have all the savvy on their products they ever need, but figuring out the most SEO-friendly text to convey the value and purpose of their services becomes a whole challenge in itself. 

If you feel your business would benefit from 24/7, 360 degree support, reach out to try a free demo from Ad360 today! As a proud Google partner recognized for our ability to maximize company sales, Ad360 has all the tools, analytics, and organizational expertise to push your business to the top of the Google chart 😉 Drop us a line today for a free SEO consultation – we look forward to your future sales success.