SEO

Search Engine Optimization Benefits from YouTube Videos

YouTube One ChannelNot 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

  • 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

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

Check markPage 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.

Check mark 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.

Check mark 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.

Check mark 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.

Check mark 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.

Two Things You Can’t Ignore: Landing Pages and Quality Score

I am sure our clients, and others who take advantage of advertising using Google AdWords, wonder why I frequently talk about landing pages and quality score. Well, they are simply two things you can’t ignore!

The people of Google write about understanding landing page experience, and it is important to know what they say about it. It is also important for anyone wanting to maximize their investment in Google AdWords to use the advice they offer.

Here is how they start their article about landing pages, “Landing page experience refers to how good we think someone’s experience will be when they get to your landing page (the web page they end up on after clicking your ad). You can improve your landing page experience and Quality Score by focusing on three things: relevant and original content, transparency, and ease of navigation.”

How do your landing pages stack up?

Don’t forget the ever important quality score. Here are a few considerations that Google says can come into play when calculating “Quality Score.”

  • The keyword’s past click through rate (CTR): How often that keyword led to clicks on the ad
  • The display URL’s past CTR: How often the display URL received clicks
  • The account history: The overall CTR of all the ads and keywords in the account
  • The quality of the landing page: How relevant, transparent, and easy-to-navigate your page is
  • The keyword/ad relevance: How relevant the keyword is to the ads.
  • The keyword/search relevance: How relevant the keyword is to what a customer searches for
  • Geographic performance: How successful the account has been in the regions targeted.
  • If targeting the Display Network – The ad’s performance on a site: How well the ad has been doing on this and similar sites.

It is important to note the number of times in the above list that Google looks at account performance. It is easy to not worry about a particular keyword or a handful of keywords that are not performing well, but it is a costly mistake to ignore the impact poor performing keywords can have on your ad display placement.

Here is more from Google on Quality Score.

Don’t forget. When it comes to Google AdWords campaigns,  there are “Two Things You Can’t Ignore: Landing Pages and Quality Score.”

Five Reasons You Should Claim Your Google Places Listing, Today!

If you have not, and many of you have not, claimed your Google Places listing, here are five reasons you should claim your Google Places listing today!

Google Search for Insurance Lancaster WI

1. This Google quote, “97% of consumers search for local businesses online.”

2. Google’s Universal Search results

In today world of Google’s Universal Search results, nearly every time a potential customer does a Google search that contains your community’s name (or the region where your business  is located) and the type of product or service you offer, they will see a Google map with pins on it, and a list of businesses represented on that map. Is there a pin for your business there? There is no easier nor quicker way to improve visibility in Google SERPs, than claiming, and using your Google Places listing.

3. Make sure your listing is accurate and thorough. Did I say thorough?

You may add photos and videos; custom categories like your  service area, brands you sell and how to find parking; and coupons to encourage customers to make a first-time or repeat purchase.

4. Customer Reviews

Google and prospective customers both love customer reviews. You don’t have to do many test searches using Google to see that websites of companies who have several reviews on their Google Places pages, do very well in Google SERPs.

5. It is easy, and takes a very few minutes.

You may verify your phone number, address, and add business hours.  After you have claimed and verified your Google Places listing, you may go back and take advantage of the features.

To make sure the basic information you submit is accurate, Google will ask you to verify it first by entering a PIN that will be sent to either your business address or phone number. (We recommend using the phone number. It automated and is nearly instantaneous as opposed to weeks.)

Now, go claim your Google Places listing!

Here is some help from Google:

Getting started with a local business listing on Google Places

Google Places quality guidelines

Websites Aren’t a “Build It And They Will Come” Proposition.

So, you just launched a new website? Is it a month or more later and you are wondering where all the traffic is? Google, Bing, Yahoo, and other search engines don’t just “magically” know your website exists. After they do find you, if you and your web developer both have not done your jobs, you won’t be ranked very highly (or at all) for some time. Here is roughly how it should work.

Before you launch:

Some of you have heard me repeat this mantra many times. This applies for Google AdWords and for organic search results, here is what matters, “Landing pages, landing pages, landing pages.” On those landing pages, you need well-written “Titles,” Meta Descriptions,” “Headlines” and a first paragraph that contains the keywords for which you would like to be found. If you did not provide (or have your web developer edit and provide) well-written, keyword-rich content for your pages, those pages won’t rank well, if at all. If you want your website to be found for specific keywords, those words have to be well-placed on your landing pages. That, is a simple fact.

At and after launch:
  1. If your web developer does as he/she should,  he/she will create a sitemap.xml file that includes a list, of all, or at least the file names of the primary pages of your website. The sitemap.xml file should be submitted to Google and other major search engines. With Google, the correct way to submit it is using a Google Webmaster Tools Account. Google, Bing, Yahoo, Ask.com and utilize sitemap.xml files. The search engine robots will follow the page links in the sitemap.xml file, index the content on the pages, and depending on your content, will include some or all of your pages in their search index.
  2. From there, your pages have to “earn” their way toward the high ranking in SERPS that everyone hopes to have. Notice I said “hopes.” There are no guarantees for organic search listing results. Good content and a good web developer can influence how you are are ranked, but if someone promises you a number one position or any specific position, put your hand on your wallet and run.
  3. If an existing website (preferably, one that ranks well in Google search page results, aka SERPS) has a link to your website, Google and some of the other search engines, will at some stage find that link, follow it, and as above, index the content on the pages, and depending on your content, will include some or all of your pages in their search index.
  4. Claim your Google Places page! I cannot emphasize this enough. Claim your Google Places page!
  5. You should ask to get your website listed in any local community directory. The Chamber of Commerce in most communities will have a business directory. Ask for links from vendors, and from associations to which you belong.
  6. Review and choose the Social Media that best suits you, and engage your prospects and customers.

Those are the basics. Most of the time, it takes weeks to months before a new website will rank well. If you do what I outlined above you will likely be pleased with your ranking  much sooner than later.

If you have done all of the above, and are still not ranking well, don’t despair. Just take another look at your content. Rewrite it making sure you have your keywords placed properly, and they are written according to Google’s guidelines. Review the websites that are getting found better than you. You will likely find some clues that will help with your website. Keep at it. You can get to the top!

Here are two effective ways to jump start a new website, or a newly revised website.