Google Confirms December Algorithm Update
Google Confirms December Algorithm Update. Google’s guidance regarding the update remains the same as it always has been. This is the third core algorithm update of the calendar year. A fair amount of time has passed since the last core update, compared to the average time between these types of updates. The last core update rolled out on what the internet refers to as “Star Wars Day,” also known as May 4th. It’s likely the pandemic delayed the rollout of Google’s next core update. As more time than usual has passed, could that mean the impact of today’s update will be more impactful? We won’t know the answer to that today, or even tomorrow, as the rollout process of a core update can take weeks. Expect Google to publish a tweet when the update officially starts rolling out later today, and another tweet some days later when the rollout is complete. Historically, many SEOs and site owners assume the worst when it comes to core updates. Though these updates are also opportunities for sites to be rewarded for their optimization efforts over the past several months. That’s especially true for sites negatively impacted by previous core updates. With a new core update, Google will reassess how content should rank following changes made to the site since the last update. Sites that have been diligently working toward improving their rankings may see a reversal of fortunes, so to speak. On the other hand, sites that have not made a concerted effort to optimise their content may see results reflective of that effort. One thing that’s certain is there will be a noticeable impact. Broad core updates are designed to produce widely noticeable effects across search results in all countries in all languages. Sites will inevitably notice drops or gains in search rankings when a core update rolls out. Changes in search rankings, either positive or negative, are indicative of content relevancy. If the content has become more relevant since the last core update then it’s likely to be moved higher up in rankings. The opposite is also true. Adding more depth to a piece of content is an effective way to send signals to Google about how relevant it is for particular queries. Content may also end up being seen as more relevant if there’s a general shift in search interest toward a particular topic. For example, content about business meetings may be seen as more relevant now if they’re geared toward remote working. Then there’s newly published content that didn’t exist at the time of the last update. New content all has to be reassessed against previously existing content. To be sure, rankings can move around quite a bit over the coming weeks.
SEO Tips for 2021
Looking at SEO Tips for 2021. Optimising your website can seem like an impossible task, but if you break it down into parts, it’s simpler than you might think. Start by focusing on the following simple SEO tips that work for every website, and almost any business, to build a solid SEO structure that will have you high up in the search rankings. Create a Solid Structure Implementing cool, new SEO tips won’t make any difference if your website structure isn’t solid for search. Design your website in a way that makes it easy for search engine crawlers to index, which starts with creating a clearly established page hierarchy. Your website will need pages, categories, subcategories, headings, subheadings, and an interlinking strategy that glues the website structure together. This not only helps search engines to quickly understand what your website is about, and rank it accordingly, but it also helps your human clients find the information they’re looking for quickly and easily – which means fewer drop-offs and more conversions. Quality Content Counts Quality content is one of the keys to high ranking search results. Google is considering the quality of content more than ever before, so whether you’re an established business or a new business, it’s important to ensure that your content is truly unique, informative, interesting and well written. Quality content isn’t just about words, either. Videos and photos can also provide significant engagement, however, it’s important to make sure that they’re clearly labelled and that the meta descriptions match what the content is about, to avoid user or bot confusion. Lighten your Load Site speed is one of the top tips in SEO management, so one simple task you could take on would be to improve your website’s loading time. There are several ways to do this. However, one of the easiest ones is to delete any content that’s slowing down your loading. This could be large/old pictures, unused videos or discontinued products; or old website elements such as browser caches, unnecessary CSS or JavaScript. Mobile Optimisation is Key These days, desktop websites are practically passé. Website’s built for mobile have become a focal point for both web design and search engine indexing since mobile traffic began to outpace desktop browsing in 2016. That means if you’re out to improve your business’s ranking, you’ll need to go mobile. Hopefully, you’ve designed and built a mobile responsive website from the beginning, however, if you haven’t, now’s the time to start. Focus on good mobile design and UX, and loading, and you’ll see your search rankings quickly soar. Search engine optimisation ensures that a website is found when someone is looking for what you are promoting. With the right mix of content and key phrases the search engines will know how to categorise your website. While continuing a monthly online marketing plan customised by Direct Submit, improvements in ranking will steadily increase as time goes on. Direct Submit SEO Company, sends regular reports to each client showing their progress and highlighting any updates or relevant news. Ready to Get Started? Confused about where to start after reading these SEO tips? Hiring an SEO professional is a good place to start and this can make a significant difference in your search engine results. Direct Submit are a leading SEO & Digital Marketing Agency who have a reputation for delivering tangible results and excellent customer service. We help our clients get more customers from search. With offices in Durham and Newcastle, we pride ourselves on delivering top-quality results that are based on proven techniques and an intimate, dynamic knowledge of ethical search marketing practices. Remember, you’re just one phone call away from starting on the road to success.
Importance of Digital Marketing During Lockdown
Importance of Digital Marketing During Lockdown. Lockdown has had a negative impact on many businesses all over the world, and those that have survived are needing to look for ways of reinventing themselves and rebuilding for the future. This pandemic has hit many people hard, and has also caused a lot of companies to reassess how they function, as well as what is important to them. It’s clear that remote working has played a far greater role in this pandemic than many might have expected. Indeed, this move has also seen a huge surge in the amount of online spending that consumers are doing at the moment. Statistics suggest that two in five Brits made plans to shop on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. The pandemic has hit businesses and consumers hard in the wallet, but it has also seen a huge uptick in online business being conducted. So, as a business, it is time to take advantage of this, and look at some of the best ways of being able to run the business effectively online. Remote Working is Your Friend Remote working is your new best friend. Embrace it across the business and reap the benefits. One of the most positive things to have come out of this pandemic from a business perspective is the number of companies that have found they can survive, and even flourish, through remote working. When the pandemic hit, and the Prime Minister urged those who could to work from home, the number of Brits working exclusively from home rose to 24%. There is no doubt this is one of the best ways of being able to improve the business and the way it is able to function. Remote working allows companies to continue to run and thrive, whilst adhering to social distancing parameters as well. You Can Cut Costs A perk of running a business digitally over lockdown is that you can actually cut rather more costs than you might previously have thought. There are a lot of costs that business owners have to cover these days, and companies always seem to be looking for ways of reducing costs. Well, the lockdown has provided a few opportunities in this regard, and this is something that you need to keep in mind as much as possible. One of the key costs you can reduce is business overheads. If the office isn’t being used then do you really need it? Get rid of the lease and run the business remotely and you could wind up saving a lot of cash as a result. Change Your Marketing Approach Being able to market and promote your business as effectively as possible is one of the key things that is required for any kind of success, and this is why you need to make sure you focus on the best ways of doing this. You still need to be marketing your business throughout the lockdown process, and this is why a focus on digital marketing is so important. The importance of digital marketing during this time should not be underestimated, and it’s the perfect opportunity for companies all over the world to be able to refocus their marketing strategy. This could mean looking at improving the company website and social media profiles, as well as kicking it old school with some email marketing as well! Value Matters Value is really important, and you are going to need to work on doing as much as you can to provide as much value as possible to consumers. Because money is tight for a lot of people right now, it is crucial that your business tries to offer as much value as possible. Running an online business is about driving traffic to the brand and trying to secure leads and conversions as much as possible. You have to make sure you are doing as much as possible to improve value, and think about what you are being able to provide to boost your success and business profile as much as possible. Consumers are Spending More Time Than Ever Online There is no question that lockdown has led to an uptick in the number of people spending time online. And the upshot of this is that there has been a spike in consumer online spending at this time, something businesses can take advantage of. Indeed, the UK has seen a 102% rise in online shopping since lockdown, and this is believed to be largely to do with the number of people increasing their online supermarket shops. The growth in online shopping provides a great opportunity for business owners to capitalise and Focus on Efficiency and Customer Service If you want to succeed in running your business as well as possible online during lockdown, you have to alter your approach slightly to be more customer-centric. That’s not to suggest this isn’t already an important part of the process of running a modern company because invariably it is. The thing to consider here is that there is a lot more of a focus on this right now because of an increase in online activity, but also because of the changing values that people have now in the wake of coronavirus. Companies are expected to evolve and change with the times, and to update their values as much as possible to account for what consumers are now focused on. And the key focal points for this include a focus on efficiency and customer service. Your online focus needs to be on providing speedy and efficient transactions, and giving your customers better service as much as you can. You have to do as much as you can to come up with ideas that will let you make the most of this moving forward, and help your company to grow online more effectively. This has accelerated the need for most businesses to develop some sort of digital presence, and this is really important for the future right now. You need to take your business in
KG Commercial Photographic Services
KG Commercial Photographic Services. We at Direct Submit love promoting a ‘good news’ story – particularly at the moment. We’ve been working with KG Photography for some time now to help establish and promote their range of commercial photography services. We’ve just received an email from them to say they are now working on contracts with several major businesses including Greggs, Franks Carpets, promoting the new Xbox campaign and helping market Fenwick’s Newcastle Xmas window. KG Commercial Photographic Services – Photographs that Make a Difference Understanding your target audience and what aspects of your product appeal to them really help you create an image that is relevant and easy for prospective customers to relate to. Using commercial photography services such as those provided by KG Photography will not only provide you with beautiful shots it will also help you achieve a uniform look across anything that your business creates, helping you to create a well-defined brand that stands out against the rest. With a friendly and flexible service on offer at KG Photography, they are happy for you to visit them at their attractive, well-equipped studio or to take the shots you need at your premises or other chosen location. Why not head over to their website to take a look at some of their previous work for inspiration and have a think about what advantages having some really impressive, top quality images could bring to your business? Direct Submit can help you get your website working harder for your business. Contact us today on 0845 272 2350 or visit our Digital Marketing Services page and ask how we can apply our proven and cost-effective SEO process to help market your business on the Internet.
Your Full-Service SEO Agency
Your Full-Service SEO Agency. At Direct Submit, we use tried and tested white-hat SEO strategies that are approved by every single search engine. This ensures that whether it’s Google or Bing, our work will show appreciable results regardless. This also means that there’s no chance that your website will be penalised for bad SEO practices; the ranking we help you achieve is long-lasting, paying dividends for the months and years to come. Google is known to use more than 200 factors to determine your ranking. These include factors like page load speed, content comprehensiveness, keywords, HTML optimization, mobile-friendly web design, site security, backlinking, etc. These factors are updated regularly and can have a significant impact on the results pages. As a full-service SEO agency, we help you tackle all of these fronts. After conducting a thorough analysis, we identify where your business’s website is lacking and get to work immediately. Our SEO strategies are tailored to the specificities of your business and its industry. After all, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to SEO. Direct Submit can help improve your website performance with our trusted digital marketing services. The goal of our SEO strategy is to establish a strong foundation for a website that delivers effective user experience and is easily discoverable in search results. Positioning a brand as an authority in the industry takes effort, commitment, patience, and technical knowledge, and our SEO consultants have it down to a science! As a leading SEO & Digital Marketing Agency who have a reputation for delivering tangible results and excellent customer service. We help our clients get more customers from search. With offices in both Durham and Newcastle, we are your full-service SEO agency and we pride ourselves on delivering top-quality results that are based on proven techniques and an intimate, dynamic knowledge of ethical search marketing practices. Remember, you’re just one phone call away from starting on the road to success.
How does SEO work?
How does SEO work? Let’s break down the way this works, starting with Technical SEO. Search engines have three main functions when it comes to web searching, which are crawling, indexing and ranking. Crawling:the discovery process in which search engines send out a team of robots (known as crawlers or spiders) to find new and updated content. Indexing:the process of organising the content found while crawling, allowing your site to be included in the search results displayed. Ranking: the process of ordering the content included in search results by most relevant to least relevant. Technical SEO strategies include algorithms that optimise every aspect of your website to make sure search engine crawlers index and rank your company’s website correctly. Next is a technique referred to as On-Page SEO, which includes content building and web design to enhance a site’s user experience. Building your website, with content and visuals that are appealing to customers, is another key component of SEO that turns viewers into sales. Content is key. Without quality on-page content that includes relevant key words, search engines will not pick up your website’s URL. When your content matches the searcher’s interest, it creates credibility. This is achieved through SEO copywriting and content writing that is sure to catch not only the viewer’s attention but also the search engine’s algorithms. Effective web design is how to make your content visually appealing through dynamic graphics, blog posts, and visuals that encourage visitors to explore your webpage further. Make sure your site’s appearance clearly appeals to your intended users. Another way to increase credibility is through backlinks to your website, or Off-Page SEO. When your content is relevant and informative, other sites are more likely to link your to your site resulting in third-party credibility building. So Why Is SEO Important for My Business? The first page of search results + increased visibility and viewers = more sales! As a growing business, increasing your visibility on the web is absolutely key. Today, search engines drive the majority of online traffic. The higher up on a search engine results page that your site appears, the more credible you are to customers and the more valuable, organic online traffic your website will receive. Did you know that Google receives over 63,000 searches per second, each day? We live in a technology-driven world, in which people want the best, as fast as possible. When searching a subject, product, or service, customers don’t want to spend hours combing through results. With so many searches per day, Google knows exactly how to index sources to ensure customers are seeing the most reliable results, at the fastest pace. This makes the world of SEO marketing a competitive one. The algorithm of SEO is a simple one, but ensuring that SEO strategies are implemented efficiently, correctly and with innovation, takes expertise. At Direct Submit we have experts that understand how each individual component of the SEO strategy impacts overall ranking. We address site structure and site architecture first to ensure the proper navigation is in place to maximise each pages ability to compete in the search results. From there we test and monitor the on-page optimisation of each page within your website on an ongoing basis and adjust accordingly. We have experts in on site usage who will help improve CTR to your pages and measure user engagement to continue to improve organic rank over time. Direct Submit is an SEO marketing and digital agency based with offices in Newcastle and Durham. We specialise in ROI-focused digital marketing, bespoke web design & development and digital design. With a focus on building long-term relationships with our clients, we deliver services including SEO, PPC, content marketing, social media marketing, web design and e-commerce websites. Call us today on 0845 272 2350 or visit our Digital Marketing Services website.
Bing is Different from Google – Why it Matters?
Bing is Different from Google – Why it Matters? There are certain things that Bing does better than Google. For example, doing an image search using Bing is preferable due to the higher quality results. You can search for different layouts and see licensing information for each image without having to figure out where to look. Bing also pioneered infinite scrolling for image search results, though it’s no longer unique. Google now offers this feature, too. Video search is also more hassle-free with Bing, despite YouTube being a Google brand. When you search for a video on Bing, the results come up as a thumbnail grid. You can then watch the videos without leaving the SERP. You will often find that optimising for Bing SEO is much like optimising for Google SEO. Both search engines use the BERT algorithm, which means keyword stuffing, manipulative link-building schemes, and other questionable tactics won’t work. Why Bing Matters? > Bing isn’t the search engine with the largest market share, but it still serves millions of users every day. > One-third of U.S. online queries are powered by Bing, most notably in terms of voice-assisted searches. > A Bing SEO vs Google SEO mindset is not productive, especially since both search engines use the BERT algorithm. > Many optimisations initiatives meant for Bing also work for Google, and vice versa. An Influential Search Engine Bing, the second most influential search engine in the world, can be a very lucrative channel. You shouldn’t ignore opportunities for increased reach and growth. Besides, Bing SEO tips may often coincide with what you’re already doing for Google SEO. It’s not a good idea to think of optimising your online presence in terms of Bing SEO vs. Google SEO. As we’ve touched on consistently throughout this post, Bing is more similar to Google that many realize. Their algorithms may not be the same, but with delicate balancing, it’s not difficult to come up with a strategy that satisfies both Bing and Google. Despite the low percentage of people using Bing and Yahoo!, you’re still looking at a potential audience numbering in the millions. So well worth optimising for.
Effective & Affordable Digital Marketing
Effective & Affordable Digital Marketing. Direct Submit SEO Services began with an idea that Search Engine Optimisation services should be affordable to everyone in the small business marketplace, but also be able to handle medium to large firms as well. We are an in-house Digital Marketing agency that specialises in Search Engine Optimisation. Our SEO specialists focus on delivering revenue producing results to our clients. Digital Marketing or Search Engine Optimisation Our 20-year journey of adjusting and tweaking our proprietary SEO strategy as made us leaders in our industry. Our vision has always been to provide effective and affordable digital marketing solutions to everyone, whatever their business or organisation. We strive to build long-term customer and partner relationships, always giving 100% of our abilities, deliver consistent high-quality work, and ALWAYS be at service for our clients. After signing up for one of our Digital Marketing or Search Engine Optimisation, just leave the rest to us. We’ll get to work and free you up to spend your time where it’s needed most… running your business! With offices in Durham and Newcastle, we pride ourselves on delivering top-quality results that are based on proven techniques and an intimate, dynamic knowledge of ethical search marketing practices. Remember, you’re just one phone call away from starting on the road to success.
Key Steps of an SEO Implementation Process
Key Steps of an SEO Implementation Process. Almost every business wants their business to be found on the first page of the major search engines. Your business has to earn that right to get these results using an effective SEO process. The Search Engines, most notably Google, are continuously changing and updating how they rank for search results. To ensure your website remains successful within the search engines, you need time, expertise and energy to focus on recognising these changes. Here are a number of recognised steps for any successful SEO campaign: 1. Website Audit If you have a website for your business, the first step is to run an SEO audit on it. The audit will check your website for keyword ranking, content, current SEO level, inbound/outbound links, social media presence and how you rank against your competition. 2. Keyword Analysis Performing keyword research is not always a straightforward process. Some keywords, obviously relevant to your business and product, can be highly competitive, making it futile to use them for ranking. There are tools that you can use to analyse and research what keywords and phrases might work best, but sometimes it takes plain old logic to determine the best ones. For example, what will my target audience use in their search queries to find my product? And if they find your website using certain keywords, will they like what the results are; i.e., does your website answer their questions and fulfill their needs? Will the traffic those keywords bring result in a conversion to a sale or monetary gain? 3. Website Analysis Reviewing the details and underpinnings of your website design can reveal some areas that need modifications to improve SEO. Looking at page titles, meta descriptions and internal/external links are some areas that need review. Developing a content-to-keyword map helps as well. 4. Backlink Analysis Backlinks are links between websites; a backlink points back to another website. Backlinks are crucial to successful SEO, because they represent trust and confidence. Backlinks to your website are a signal to search engines that others vouch for your content. In this step of the SEO implementation process, your website’s backlink profile is analysed and a plan created for building quality links. 5. Content Optimisation This is where content is reviewed on your website, social media channels, blogs and wherever your brand name is mentioned under your control. A blogging calendar should be set up, to include dates and topics to be published. The keyword analysis results will be used to develop calls to action and other marketing opportunities. 6. Directories and Citations Claiming your business listing in Google My Business can boost your SEO considerably, so it’s important to do so. There are dozens of directories and review sites where you should list and claim your business. Search engines love these, and it will definitely work in your favour as long as they are relevant to your business. You’ll also need to make sure your Name, Address and Phone (NAP) is consistent throughout your listings and with your website. 7. Ongoing Reports, Reviews and Maintenance Reports showing status of your SEO progress will help determine if the strategy is working well or if it needs some tweaks. Periodic keyword review and analysis should be conducted to ensure they are still working to your advantage. SEO Is a Journey Even if you’re lucky enough to achieve the coveted first page of Google results, you can’t rest on your laurels and hope that it stays there. Competition is fierce and you need to stay on top of the game to keep up. Direct Submit SEO Services can help you create and implement a comprehensive SEO implementation process. Start by getting your free SEO audit report. Once you know where you stand, we can help you maximize your online presence.
How important is local SEO?
How important is local SEO? When a potential customer conducts a search, they may (or may not) type in their location. Whether or not they do this hardly matters anymore. Often that same searcher will have enabled Google to pinpoint their location. Because of this, local businesses will show up on top. This can be at the top of the search results or in a dedicated list of nearby business profiles. Still not convinced about the importance of local SEO in making sure you end up on the first page? These local SEO statistics might just change your mind: > If customers search for something local, 72% of them will visit the store within five miles of where they are. > Stores that used location-based, in-store mobile coupons saw a 9,916% increase in their sales. That means they found you online, you rewarded them with a coupon at checkout, and they became a customer. > Mobile-friendly sites make customers want to connect. 61% of customers who find you on a mobile phone will contact you. > Local SEO statistics include the 70 to 80% of people who completely ignore paid advertisements in favour of the first five organic search results (i.e., your local business). > Google changes its search ranking algorithm between 500 and 600 times a year, making local search (the kind that specifies a location) even more effective. > 87% of people with a smartphone use it to search at least once a day. > Combine #6 with the fact that a new study found that people in the U.S. look at their phones an average of 80 times a day when they go on vacation, with some people virtually glued to the screen (around 300 times a day). Chances are good they are searching more than once a day, and on vacation they are looking for local businesses. Like yours. > Google Maps is utilised by 86% of people to look up a local business. > Once they find you, almost 80% of location-based searches culminate in a purchase at the business’s brick-and-mortar location. > Location-based searches turn into same-day sales 18% of the time. > Google reports a 900% increase in the use of “near me/close by” searches. These two search terms are prime real estate for local SEO. > There’s also a 500% increase in “near me” searches that also include the words “can I buy” or “buy.” According to Google search statistics, 2019 means your customers are actually looking for you right now. > Of all of the three and a half billion daily Google searches, 46% of them are local. > If the first position of a local listing gets 30% of the clicks (or just a little less, depending on your source), local listings that come after the sixth ranking get less than 2% of clicks. And, that’s for search results that are still on the first page. > There is good news for local listings who highlight their reviews: 97% of consumers are influenced by reviews, with 88% trusting online reviews to make a purchase or contact a service. > For smartphone users who want ads, 67% of them want them customized to their zip code and city. > 61% of people open to ads want them to be even more specific – to their pinpointed location. > Why so much ado about mobile devices? Mobile devices now account for over half of all searches online. So while your website needs to be optimised, your mobile site must be fast and responsive, too. > Whether on a smartphone or a desktop, Google’s local pack often appears in the top three search results when a location is specified. > Mobile searches want the world, and they want it now. Searches using the term “now” or “today” have increased by 150%. > By 2020, it’s predicted that 50% of all searches will be voice-activated. Whether searchers are on a smartphone or using voice search, optimising for both can point locals to your shop or practice without even lifting a finger. “Where to buy” searches have grown by 85% since 2015. This local SEO stat means you have customers right down the street who want to walk in the store and buy your product (instead of just ordering online). > 67% of customers prefer businesses that tailor ads and content to their location. > Almost the same number (66%) of customers actually purchase from a business that targets their location. Local SEO statistics don’t mean much if you have no idea where to start. If need a company that has real-world experience using data-driven strategies to improve your company’s online presence, get in touch with Boost Medical today. Our SEO managers will use their expert knowledge, industry insight and range of tools to understand your company from a local business perspective. They will analyse the competitive landscape, capture accurate baseline information about the performance of your current marketing strategies, evaluate your website & local online presence, and formulate a strategy to increase your SEO performance.