Do you really need a mobile-friendly website?

May 31, 2016 By John

Do you really need a mobile-friendly website? Google’s answer is, “…having a mobile-friendly website has become a critical part of having an online presence.“

It has been over a year since Google’s April 21, 2015 announcement that they would give preference to mobile-friendly websites in mobile search results. In the FAQ’s of the Webmaster Tools Blog, Google says, “pages designed for only large screens may see a significant decrease in rankings in mobile search results.”

Eleven months later on March 16, 2016, Google announced that they are, Continuing to make the web more mobile friendly. They are even more serious about it now. To help you understand how Google defines “mobile” and related terms here is a link to their Mobile Terms Glossary.

Another indication of how seriously Google is emphasizing the importance of having a mobile-friendly website is the rolling out of a new mobile-friendly testing tool on May 17, 2016. If you don’t know if your website is mobile-friendly, run the Google Mobile-Friendly Testing Tool.

Google also says, “If you haven’t made your website mobile-friendly, you should.” (The bold font was done by Google.) We urge you to take their words seriously. Do you really need a mobile-friendly website? If you want your website found by prospects and customers when searching with their phone or another mobile device, the answer is yes.

If your website does not pass Google’s Mobile Friendly Test, Call Us Now!
608-822-3750 or 800-281-9993

Portions of this page are reproduced from work created and shared by Google and used according to terms described in the Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution License.

Google Has Made Twitter More Important To Your Search Strategy

May 28, 2015 By John

As some of you know, Twitter plays an important part of many Social Media marketing strategies. With a Google announcement on May 19, 2015, Twitter gained importance in search strategy and SEO, especially for businesses with audiences that are primarily mobile users.

“Starting today, we’re bringing Tweets to Google Search on mobile devices. So now when you’re searching on the Google app or any browser on your phone or tablet, you can find real-time content from Twitter right in the search results.” — Google

The most important part of this is that your Tweets (with a link to your website) potentially reach Google search users, not just your Twitter followers. When you think about it, this is much bigger than it seems. Now, it is possible Google search results could include a normal listing for one of your pages AND a Tweet that links to a landing page on your website as well.

Please remember, this is Google, so your Tweet still has to earn its way into the Google’s search results page listings. It is too early to know just how that happens, but it is a given your Tweet, the link in it, and the link’s landing page will have to be relevant to the searcher’s intent. Of course having a Twitter account with active followers who retweet your Tweets, is certainly a good thing. As this new Google-Twitter deal starts to take effect, real-time trending Tweets are what is showing most frequently.

For those of you yet to embrace the fact that your website visitors are just as or more likely viewing your website on a mobile device, here are a couple of blog posts to read.

In April, 2015, comScore reported, the “Number of Mobile-Only Internet Users Now Exceeds Desktop-Only in the U.S.”

With phones the “central devices,” the number of “connected devices” is changing and growing rapidly.

Make no mistake, the Google-Twitter deal will beneficially impact many businesses that are using Twitter regularly and well.

If you are looking for more mobile visitors to your website, you should consider ramping up your Twitter presence and campaign. Of course, your website has to be Google mobile-friendly as well.

We can help! Contact or Call us Today at 1-800-281-9993 or 608-822-3750

If Travelers & Local Business Are Important To You, So Is Yelp

June 9, 2014 By John

Does your business depend on travelers or local customers?

If the answer is yes, you need to take a look at your Yelp listing. While you may never have heard much about Yelp, it can be very important to you if you have a business that relies on transient and/or “local” business.

Nearly every Google, Bing, or Yahoo search for a “local” business returns listings that include one or more Yelp listings in the results. That is especially true if the search is done on a mobile device.

How important are those people using mobile devices? A “Local Search” study recently released by comScore, Neustar Localeze and agency 15 Miles, reveals that “78 Percent Of Local-Mobile Searches Result In Offline Purchases.” ComScore also observed, “Nearly half of all service, restaurant and travel searchers were looking for a business they have never made a purchase from before.” The implications and importance should not be overlooked or undervalued.

Yelp’s listings are often near the top of local search results. One of the reasons is their reviews. In addition to being prominent in Google search results, Yelp provides reviews by its “Yelpers” for Apple Maps, as well as listings and reviews on Bing, and since February of 2014, Yahoo. Yelp also signed a deal with Yellow Pages. The agreement allows YP to enhance its customers’ business listings on Yelp, and expand their distribution within the YP Local Ad Network to include Yelp’s vast audience of consumers.

Reviews are arguably the most important element of Yelp.

Google, Bing, Yahoo and other search engines are paying more and more attention to and using “social signals” (in varying degrees) when ranking search results. Of those “social signals” the importance of reviews is significant. The number of people talking about your business and what they are saying has an impact on how well your web pages rank in search results.

If you have a business, especially one with a physical storefront, you likely have a Yelp listing. Don’t take a chance that they have your business information correct. Claim your business listing, so it is displaying as you would have it. I should note, they will likely try to upgrade you to a paid account. It is not necessary for a basic listing. You will have to make your own decision about the value of upgrading.

Of course, Yelp is only part of the equation, there are at least six other major players when it comes to Local Search. You may read about them and find links to where you may update your local listings in our earlier blog post, Take Control of Your Local Search Listings Now!

Don’t put it off. Update your Yelp listing today.

Keyword SEO is Not Enough – 8 Steps to Fixing

May 12, 2014 By John

That statement is certainly not a great revelation. However, it is worth repeating. While it has never been a case of “build it and they will come” for websites, many think a Search Engine Optimized website will automatically do well for nearly any search using keywords related to what their website offers. It seems that many people think that “Keywords” = SEO. Obviously, that has always been an overly simplistic view, but keywords do play a big role in getting a given web page displayed in search results. That said, there is much more to SEO, and certainly more to generating traffic to your website.

How people use the Internet and Web has dramatically changed.

Much that happens on the Internet no longer includes viewing a web page. It happens on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram, various chat platforms, regular email, newsletters, and other platforms. People are using phones and other mobile devices, not just desktop computers. When internet activity does involve viewing a web page, in many cases the visitor came from a link in content on one of the aforementioned platforms and devices.

How Google, Bing, Yahoo, and other search engines evaluate and rank available content on the web that can be displayed in Search Engine Results Page (SERPs) rankings has dramatically changed as well. Reportedly, Google has over 200 Ranking Factors. Only a portion of those have to do with on-page SEO.

On top of that, with Google’s “Universal Search” results displaying many elements in addition to traditional snippets and links to relevant websites. Search results may now include (not all at the same time) the following.

Site Links (6 pack)
Google Map + Pins
Local Carousel – Photos
List Carousel – Just that, grouped list of results
Knowledge Panel – Top Right, info related to query
Google AdWords – Top, Right Column, Bottom

Answer Box
Image Mega-Block
Video Results
News Results
Social Results
In-Depth Articles

Where eight to ten traditional listings were once displayed for a query, now there are often only three or four. The competition for results page real estate is very real.

It is this simple. Traditional on-page, keyword search engine optimization, is not enough by itself to achieve high rankings in search results. What you do online other than on your website, and what others say about your business and your web presence, impacts your website traffic.

Here are 8 steps to fixing your search results rankings.

Have a quick-loading, attractive, relevant, and frequently updated website.
- Google includes site speed in their 200 ranking “signals”
Well-written content that visitors find of value, and worthy of sharing
- Compelling content that conveys your value proposition for your product or service
On-Page Search Engine Optimization done correctly, including headings and internal links
Add a blog, or “what’s new” page that has fresh and compelling content
Don’t forget any given keyword has to be on a web page to show up in search results
Create and use at least one or two Social Media accounts
Place Social Media share and follow buttons on your website
Send a monthly email newsletter (include links to your website) to clients and prospects

I know. It sounds like more work and time, and it is. That said, in today’s rapidly and constantly changing online world, Keyword SEO is Not Enough.

1-800-281-9993 or 608-822-3750 or contact@webwisedesign.com

Landing Page Key Elements Refresher — SEO Notes

March 18, 2014 By John

We often talk about important key elements of a well written landing page when we are talking with clients and prospects. Every page on your website is a potential landing page, so it doesn’t hurt to mention these key elements even more frequently.

Of course, pages vary greatly due to the nature of their content. However, there are some basic tenets that should be nearly universal. Here are some key elements that should be included in nearly every page.

Headline
- Short description of what is on the page
- Contains same keywords as title of page
Sub-Headlines
- Makes for easy scanning — People scan before reading
Content
- Page-specific, well-written descriptive text
Images or video
- Visuals attract attention — Videos engage website visitor
Bulleted and/or Numbered lists
- Makes for easy scanning — Did I see this somewhere before?
Calls to action
- Call us today at 1-800-281-9993 or 608-822-3750 for help with your landing pages.

Every page on your website is a potential landing page.

Too many people still believe that nearly everyone sees the home page first when visiting a website. That is far from the reality. You need to treat every page as a landing page that conveys your message, or describes your product or services effectively.

Did I mention calls to action in the key elements of landing pages?

We could be “Putting The Web To Work For YOU!” Call 1-800-281-9993 or 608-822-3750 today!

Have an Old Website That No Longer Ranks Well in Searches?

March 10, 2014 By John

For years, many have believed the age of a domain name is a factor in Google search results rankings. We have seen anecdotal evidence that it seems to be true, to a point. Google’s Matt Cutt’s answer to a related question in a Google Webmaster Tools video prompted this post.

Does this sound like your business?

Your domain name was registered several years ago.
You had a website before a lot of others understood the importance.
Your website was doing pretty well in Google for many keyword searches
Lately, the last statement is no longer the case.
You are wondering why you no longer do as well in Google SERPS (Search Engine Results Page) rankings.

Does this sound like your business or organization?

You have not done any meaningful updates to the content on your website in years
You have not redesigned the look and layout of your website
Your photos and graphics are not optimized to be fast loading
You are not using Social Media
You have not included Social Media share & follow buttons
Your competitors have been doing all of the above

Take a fresh look at your website to see just what visitors are experiencing, and compare that to what they experience on your competitor’s or other similar websites.

Don’t just listen to us. See for yourself what Google’s Matt Cutts says in his video, “How can an older site maintain its ranking over time?“

Three Important SEO Facts to Remember for 2014!

January 9, 2014 By John

1. The Google Search you remember from 2 years ago doesn’t exist!

Google Most likely, what you thought you knew about getting ranked in Google SERPS (Search Engine Results Page) rankings, matters very little anymore. Think semantic and entity search with keywords as the tertiary element.

2. Just having a website is not enough!

Social Media needs to be included as well. Blog, Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook – know the social media platform used by your target audience and connect with them frequently.

3. You can’t ignore Google+ anymore! Especially, those of you with local businesses.

I know. I know. I don’t like it either. When someone searches locally for your business or the products or services you offer, you simply have to control the narrative.

Google’s Hummingbird – Why? What Have We Learned? What You Need To Do.

November 15, 2013 By John

The Hummingbird algorithm update has changed Google search. You don’t have to be a weatherman to know which way the wind is blowing, and you don’t have to be a Search Engine Optimization expert to know that Google search results are not the same as they were. The change isn’t necessarily bad. It is just different.

Why and What?

There are a couple of things in play here.

For at least a couple of years, Google has been moving towards “semantic search” and “entity” (which we’ll talk about in a future blog post) results, and with the Hummingbird algorithm update, Google is continuing that path. Simply put, semantic search tries to understand searcher intent and the contextual meaning of the keywords in a search query.

As we all know Google has a treasure trove of data about how we search, how it relates to us, where we are, and on and on it goes. The results are meant to be more natural, or “conversational,” because search queries are increasingly more conversational in manner. Hummingbird is an effort to leverage that premise and provide more relevant search results, which is what Google is always trying to do and sell.

The other thing in play is the extremely rapid embracement of mobile devices and Google’s refinement of voice search capabilities. The keyboard (with shorter queries for many reasons) is falling victim to voice search on phones, tablets, notebooks, and even some desktops. For most people, voice search is as “natural” as it gets.

What do you need to do?

Those of you who read this blog or know me, might expect me to say, “your content needs to be well-written, describing the benefits of each of your products and/or services.” That is exactly part of what I would say. The content has to be structured correctly on the page. You should take advantage of linking (correctly) to other relevant pages within your website. Of course, there is more that can be done to individual websites, that I won’t generalize here.

Quality, well-written content will be rewarded even more, as long as it is natural and conversational. Keyword cramming won’t work so well for you, and that’s a good thing.

Of course, we are always happy to help. If you would like some help sorting out all the talk about Hummingbird, please give us a call at 1-800-281-9993 or 608-822-3750, or email us contact@webwisedesign.com.

Search Engine Optimization Benefits from YouTube Videos

August 21, 2013 By John

Not many think of their YouTube videos as a Search Engine Optimization (SEO) tool, but here at WebWise Design & Marketing, we do. A high percentage of our clients who use videos on their websites, or on YouTube, have experienced excellent improvement in SERP (Search Engine Results Page) rankings. Next time you do a search on Google, take note of the companies with YouTube accounts linked to their websites and how they rank in the search results.

To benefit the most effectively, start by creating a YouTube “One Channel” for your business, community, or organization, and upload your videos there. Be sure to include keyword search terms in your titles and descriptions so your videos will be found when people search.

Setting up a YouTube “One Channel” (an abbreviated version):

Do: Create short, quality videos for display on your website and on YouTube
Do: Create and customize your YouTube “One Channel”
- Use a properly sized, quality version of your logo.
- Use the same color scheme as on your website. (Think consistency in marketing)
- Enable the Overview tab
- Link to your website
Do: Upload your videos on your YouTube “One Channel”
Do: Search Engine Optimize your YouTube Channel
- Write keyword-rich titles and descriptions for your videos, and use relevant tags
Do: Judiciously embed your YouTube videos on relevant web pages

Do Not

Do not upload business or organization videos to a personal account, and likewise, do not upload personal videos to a business account.
Do not use the default settings when customizing your YouTube One Channel
Do not ignore the fact that users present multi-device and multi-platform challenges
Do not upload videos that are not relevant and complimentary to your website content

Summary: DO use videos as part of your content and SEO marketing efforts. If done properly, you will reap rewards in more and relevant traffic to your website.

Of course, we are happy to help you with any or all of the above. Give us a call or drop us a note.

Website SEO Health Check List – 5 Important Elements

July 2, 2013 By John

How long has it been since you reviewed your website SEO health? Here is a tried and true checklist to use.

Page Title – The page title is the most important element of your page. A concise, well-written “Title” with your primary keywords at or near the beginning makes a world of difference to Google and the other search engines.

Description tag – These descriptions are often used as a part of the snippet shown in the search results. The description needs to be page specific, provide an overview of page content, and include the keyword search terms. New page = new description.

Headers – Generally, every page should have a header, coded as an H1. If at all possible, your header should contain the keywords used in the previous elements.

First paragraph – The first sentence is very important and should include your most important keywords. This paragraph may be the only paragraph your visitor reads before making that “should I stay”, or “should I go” decision.

Internal Links – When possible, your home page should include a short paragraph introducing each of the major areas on your website. Link to those internal pages using the keywords in their titles, descriptions and headers. Google loves that kind of linkage.

There you have it! Review your pages, make those changes, and enjoy improved SERPS (Search Engine Results Page) rankings.