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Month: January 2015

Google Emphasizes Importance of Mobile-Friendly Websites

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With mobile searches assuming dominance over traditional computer web searches, businesses, marketers, and SEOs have seen a recent push for mobile-friendly websites and apps. Making websites mobile has become so vital to the success of businesses that Google has begun sending warnings to websites that are not mobile-friendly.

Although the message from Google is a warning, one that is not supposed to harm a website’s SEO rankings in San Diego or other major markets, the message of this bold move should be clear for all businesses: the move to mobile websites and apps is no longer voluntary, but critical, to maintaining an audience and market base.

Mobile search is becoming increasingly dominant with 50% of all Google searches now being performed on mobile devices. Even when computers are available, users still tend to search on their mobile devices. In fact, according to cision.com, 81% of people prefer using their mobile device to conduct searches simply because of more convenience and speed.

Businesses and marketers should take note that web pages that do not properly load or function on mobile devices are eliminating a large portion of their market base by failing to stay up to date with technology. Not only are users turning away from mobile-unfriendly sites, but they are being pushed to competitors’ sites. 60% of users are not likely to return to a mobile site that they had issues with, and 40% of those individuals will go to a competitor’s website.

Google’s recent warning to websites incompatible with mobile devices is just another signal to companies and businesses to update their services and incorporate the growing market of mobile reliant customers. Failing to keep up with technology can result in a loss of over half of internet web searchers.

It would be wise for companies to heed Google’s warning, however some companies simply don’t know where to start. If you’re interested in learning more about mobile-friendly web design or responsive websites, reach out to Saba, Inc. We provide San Diego web design and development for local companies, as well as businesses throughout the United States and Canada.

Schedule a consultation with us today by calling 858-277-1717 and receive a complimentary website audit. We would be more than happy to answer any questions you may have about website design, search engine marketing or mobile app development – we’re here to help your business attain the expose it rightfully deserves!

The Importance of Giving Back to the Community for Businesses

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Getting involved and helping the community is not just the right thing to do, it is good for business – whether you’re like us and selling a service like SEO in San Diego, or a brick-and-mortar store offering a product. While it may seem difficult to use precious time and resources on community service projects, many business owners may be surprised to hear just how much of an advantage this can be for their employees, their clients, and their profits.

Putting a Face On Your Company

Until their minds are changed, most of those living in your community are going to see nearby companies as faceless entities. This is going to result in fewer meaningful connections; connections and relationships that can often lead to business-to-business partnerships, a better pool of employees, and even more loyal customers. Until locals see your company involved in the community, they will never see you as part of a community.

Higher Employee Satisfaction

Everyone wants to work for a company that they feel good about and are proud of, and few tactics will accomplish this as much as regularly giving back to the community. Employees live in the community and are often going to be involved with schools, sports teams, religious organizations, and clubs. When they feel as if their company is improving the lives of their friends and family, their satisfaction is sure to skyrocket.

New Perspectives

It is difficult for anyone to step into another’s shoes and truly see the world through their perspective. One of the most effective ways to accomplish this is by interacting with them on a personal level with community service and charitable acts. When a business is able to clearly see their role within the community and how their products and services are affecting those around them, they are more apt to make well-informed decisions in the future.

Community service is about much more than free publicity and potential tax credits. Businesses that regularly give back are going to be able to connect with employees and customers on a level never before possible. At Saba, Inc., we are more than a San Diego online marketing company, we’re a local business that hopes to share our extensive knowledge and wisdom with the community. Our services are designed for all types of businesses, and we are always more than happy to have a free consultation with your business to see how we can help. Reach out to us today for more information – 858-277-1717.

5 Key Differences between Marketing and Sales

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Due to some overlap in goals, many people assume that marketing and sales is the same thing. However, this is not the case. Today, Saba Inc., a trusted online marketing company in San Diego is going to share some of the key differences that marketing departments have from sales teams.

  1. Marketing is macro-targeted

    One of the biggest differences between marketing and sales departments is their intended audience. The marketing department’s goal is to target entire demographics of people to get them interested in their products. Alternatively, a salesperson’s job is to target specific individuals and convince them to make a purchase.

  2. Marketing generates leads that sales converts

    Overall, the job of marketing is to generate leads that the sales department can act on. For example, a marketing department may advertise a new mobility scooter to senior citizens. Due to the advertising, seniors may contact the company. It is the job of sales to convert those leads into actual purchases.

  3. Marketing typically comes first

    Research into marketing possibilities is usually one of the first steps of the research and development process for a product. If a product cannot be properly marketed to a subsection of consumers, it will never make it out of the research phase. The sales department only comes in later when the product actually exists and can be sold.

  4. Marketing is a longer term strategy

    Marketing is about a bigger picture with a longer view. Some marketing proposals may include multi-tiered advertising campaigns that span everything from print ads to pay-per-click strategies. These are often carried out over a few months, with very successful campaigns lasting for years. Alternatively, a sales person needs to focus on the imminent concern of moving product as quickly as possible.

  5. Marketing is more about branding

    Marketing shapes the branding for a company and its products. For most people, advertisements are the way consumers are informed about a product, and it will go on to shape their attitudes and feelings about the brand. While sales personnel can also affect branding, their influence is not as eminent.

The above are just some of the differences between marketing and sales, two vital pieces of the business model that should be used to support one another. To learn more about marketing your business in today’s online world, reach out to Saba Inc. We offer a wide range of services that can be customized to your needs including search engine optimization, ppc management, web design and development and mobile app development. Call us at 858-277-1717 and schedule a complimentary website audit or simply have a conversation with one of our marketing specialists.

Tips for Updating Your Website without Killing Your Rankings

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Whether you offer a product or service, having a well designed, organized and functional website is instrumental for success in our technology-driven world. Unfortunately, many businesses shy away from making the necessary updates to their websites because they are afraid they will lose their prominent position in current search engine rankings.

As a San Diego SEO company with more than a decade of experience, we can tell you that this is one of the worst things a business can do! And with Google placing more emphasis on user experience in their ranking algorithm, a poorly designed website could actually hurt your rankings in the long run. Knowing that it’s always better to do things the right way, we’re offering some insider tips as to how you can update your website without killing your rankings.

Website Design

Review your website design and be honest about it’s ease of use. Would users be able to quickly identify the products or services that you offer? Are there clear navigation labels that can direct the user to pages of interest? Are you using vibrant (and professional) pictures and a consistent color scheme that is aesthetically appealing? These things all play a part in user experience and can help to keep a user engaged and browsing the pages of your website. As a result, Google will find your website more relevant and is more likely to allow you to keep your high ranking position in search results. Click here for more information about website design and development and the ever increasing need for responsive websites!

URL Structure

The URLs of your website should accurately and concisely describe what is on the page. The cleaner the URL structure, the easier it is to navigate for both customers and Google crawlers. As many SEOs know, using words to describe product pages and services are always better than numbers. For instance “www.website.com/product/holiday-sweater-red” is always going to be a better option than “www.website.com/product/H1-1253-3350”.

If you are changing your URLs to better reflect your products or services, just be sure to redirect your old URLs to your new URLs. You don’t want cached URLs of your website to show up in Google search results that lead to broken or missing pages. This will most definitely have a negative impact on your rankings.

Content

Content is king in today’s SEO world so make sure that your content is relevant to the user. Gone are the days when keyword stuffing would allow websites to attain and maintain high rankings. Even if you have a high-ranking page that is overflowing with keywords, take the time to revise the content. If you use relevant terminology, keyword synonyms, and information that would be helpful to the user, Google will reward you. Also, don’t be afraid to take this time to add MORE content to your website. Adding a blog is a great way to do this, and will provide Google with more content to cache, better increasing your chances for positive rankings.

For more tips on how to maximize search engine optimization and increase your online visibility, reach out to Saba, Inc. We are a full-service internet marketing company in San Diego that offers SEO, PCC, web design and development and mobile app development. Call us at 828-277-1717 and find out how we can help you increase your rankings today!

3 Effective Strategies for Addressing Conflicts or Setbacks with Clients

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It’s impossible to run a business and avoid setbacks with clients and customers. However, running into a problem with a customer doesn’t have to mean the end of a relationship. As a small business ourselves, we’ve found that there are tried-and-true tactics for ironing out issues and coming out of the situation with an even stronger relationship moving forward.

  1. Ask yourself what you would want if you were in the customer’s position

    If the customer is unhappy or has an issue with your product or service, put yourself in their shoes. Why are they concerned? Is this something that resulted from something you did? Is it the result of poor communication? Listening is key. Then, identify their main concerns and don’t be afraid to ask them to elaborate on why they feel a certain way. Being able to see the situation from your customers point of view can help you better understand their concerns, thus you will be in a better position to address them.

  2. Stay calm and level headed when speaking

    When a client is angry and frustrated with you, it’s natural and almost instinctual to feel angry and frustrated back. However, if you remain calm and explain the situation without getting upset, one of two things will likely happen: the client will be calmed by your patience and you’ll be able to work out a solution, or client may still not see your point of view, but you’ll have made a great foundation for additional honest and open discussions.

  3. Demonstrate the value of your work

    Companies that are ethical and strive to go above and beyond what is asked of them are better able to settle issues because their work is able to speak for itself. Show the numerical value of your services, such as increased leads or profit, or the benefits of your product to the client’s company, such as increased productivity. In situations where customers are asking for a discount, explain how you won’t be able to effectively do your job and deliver the high quality service that is expected at such price.

Addressing conflicts or setbacks with clients is all about how you approach the situation, whether you’re a San Diego internet marketing company like ourselves, or you are a brick-and-mortar businesses selling apparel.

For more information about addressing conflicts or setbacks with clients, or to learn how you can further enhance your brand image and customer service, reach out to Saba, Inc. today at 858-277-1717 and learn about our wide range of services including web design and development, PPC and AdWords and SEO in San Diego.

The Impact of Pictures: What Message is Your Website Sending?

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How many times have you heard someone say, “I’m a visual person”? Probably enough times to realize that we are all visual people, and when given a choice between a block of text and a beautiful image, our eyes migrate to the image. That’s why, when thinking about the strategy behind designing your website, its critical to use attractive images that portray that you are savvy and care about our user and their overall experience.

According to San Diego web design experts, visual images are processed much faster than text, and this will help keep your user on your website. Show them your product, whether it is a beautiful bottle of wine, an electronic device, or an article of clothing. Images lend your website credibility because your user can see the amazing product that you have to offer.

But what if you offer a service? There are still many ways to use photos to your advantage. For instance, using clear, bright and professional pictures of customers smiling can give anyone viewing your website a sense of happiness and even trust. While you may not offer a tangible object, you probably hope that your service will leave people feeling a certain way, and that can be most easily depicted by the photos on your website.

Put yourself in the users’ place. Which companies do you trust? Whom do you buy products from and why? More than likely, when you visit these websites, you are greeted by a variety of beautiful images. The site has easy to understand navigation, and you can find contact information. There may even be a section about the company. While people love to learn the background of the company they are buying from, an image of the staff or a personal story from the owner with his or her picture can propel your business to the next level. It provides a face to match with the product or service, something that your prospective user can identify with, increasing feelings of comfort, which can often lead to a purchase.

An example of the power of images can be seen through today’s social media applications. For instance, Pinterest, a website that relies solely on the power of images, has more than 70 million users around the world. The user doesn’t rely on product descriptions or information about services, but rather pictures that relate to the company’s particular industry. It is starting to gain popularity among businesses, helping to build brand loyalty, while influencing purchase behavior of customers.

If we were visual people before, technology is shaping us to become even more so. And of course, with the emergence of infographics, we are now blending text with images to create a whole new kind of content!

For more information about website design and attracting a larger customer base, visit our website at www.sabaseo.com or call us today at 858-277-1717 and schedule a website audit or a complimentary consultation with one of our online marketing experts.

Users Rely More and More on Mobile Phones for Search

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Since the emergence of smart phones, the Internet is constantly available at any moment as long as one has their phone close by. Due to this convenience, people are relying heavily on their smart phones for web searches. According to comScore’s 2014 report, 53% of the total time spent on the Internet comes from mobile phones and tablets. Additionally, the Harvard Business Review explains that 31% of mobile Internet users have stated that their mobile devices are their primary access to the web.

For businesses, marketing agencies, and San Diego SEO companies, these statistics emphasize the importance of having mobile-friendly websites, ensuring that customers can be reached on their schedule, which is often on the go. In fact, reports further indicate that 42% of users relied solely on their mobile devices for researching their purchase, and 55% of mobile shoppers actually go through to make a purchase. This tells us that without mobile-friendly websites, businesses are eliminating nearly 50% of their market. Mobile-friendly or responsive websites are becoming a necessity, rather than simply a convenience.

According to many marketing experts, mobile websites are the best option for businesses due to their immediacy, compatibility, broad reach, and ability to be shared. Most importantly, mobile websites are often easier to create than mobile apps. However, the mobile app market is growing and in many cases, can supplement a great online website, helping to increase brand and customer loyalty. Click here for more information about mobile app development in San Diego.

But don’t think that mobile websites can only impact a customer who is looking to make a purchase from the home or office. According to a recent study by Usablenet.com, 33% of shoppers would rather rely on searching their smartphone for help rather than ask a sales associate in store. This means that businesses who do a majority of their sales in-store can still benefit from upgrading their website to a mobile friendly or responsive website template.

Searching from a mobile device also has another benefit for businesses. Generally, mobile devices use location services to optimize search results even further. Marketing can now be location-based, providing even better search results for users. This targeted marketing approach increases the quality of leads, and can thus play a role in increasing sales.

The implications of customers becoming more reliant on their mobile devices for searches are clear. Without adapting to the mobile world, businesses are drastically limiting their market and giving a competitive edge to their competitors. If you would like to learn how to make your website mobile friendly, reach out to Saba, Inc. We are an online marketing company that specializes in SEO, PPC and web development in San Diego. With the help of our online marketing experts, you can reach your targeted audience, drive traffic and increase sales.

To request a free website analysis or simply have a conversation, reach out to us at 858-277-1717 or fill out our online form.

Writing for Users Rather than Search Engines – A Recipe for SEO Success

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Over recent years, Google has made great strides in order to improve its search engine process and functionality. One of those monumental strides includes its new-found emphasis on informative, relative and engaging content. In simple terms, this means that Google now ranks websites based on how useful they are rather than how many keywords they’re stuffed with.

While this has been a positive change toward weeding out spam and useless information, it’s also sent many website owners scrambling for ideas on how to keep their websites above water despite the new algorithm. The following three tips, presented by the trusted San Diego SEO company, Saba Inc., are the foundation for how to craft compelling, user-friendly content:

  1. Provide value

    Luckily, Google has released a detailed guide on creating useful content that performs well in search engines. Most importantly, you should provide value to your readers. If you have an idea for a writing topic, take a moment to research what others have written about it. Take the existing content and build on it to offer your readers information they can’t find anywhere else on the web.

  2. Establish yourself as an authority in your field

    If users don’t trust you, they aren’t going to stick around. Show your readers that you have a firm grasp on your niche and on the products and services you provide. You can do this by putting yourself in the shoes of your prospective customer and brainstorming what they are looking for and what they might ask. Make sure that your answers to these questions are detailed, and demonstrate your extensive knowledge of your field. Provide insider tips and first-hand examples and experiences for even more power. You want users to not only trust you, but return to you in the future for more information and advice.

  3. Build content around things you’re interested in

    If you aren’t interested in what you’re selling, it will likely show to your customers through your boring, monotonous content. Studies show that content written with care and interest are often much better received by internet users than content that’s merely churned out because it is able to create an emotional connection with the reader. Keep this in mind as you develop content for your website.

Lastly, know exactly what goes into creating engaging content. The content team here at Saba, Inc. recommends taking things a little deeper by examining the psychology behind successful and useful content. You must engage your readers on a subtle, emotional level by addressing them directly with “you,” using active language, and building trust very quickly.

Looking for more internet marketing tips? Reach out to Saba, Inc. at 858-277-1717 and schedule a complimentary website audit and consultation with one of our expert SEO analysts today – we would love to help you increase your traffic and website exposure!

The Hallmarks of a Great Service Company

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Building a successful company that provides excellent customer service is challenging and requires the efforts of an entire team. Understanding the hallmarks of a great service company allows you to take any existing brand or business to the next level of success regardless of the competition in any industry or field.

As a company offering internet marketing services in San Diego, creating an exceptional client experience is our number one priority! We wanted to share a few simple ways that businesses can help build lasting relationships and brand loyalty with their customers:

  1. Getting to know your customers

    Getting to know the customers or clients you want to appeal to is essential when providing the right amount of customer care and service. Researching your target market and demographic allows you to gain insight into the wants and needs of your consumers to better understand them while also having the ability to relate to them more directly, especially when troubleshooting or dealing with a potential issue.

  2. Following up in a timely manner

    Following up with customers is another way to improve your brand’s image while increasing the chance of receiving referrals from your loyal clients in the future. When companies are kind enough to follow up with customers, they are more likely to remember your brand and business for future use, while also sharing the information with their own family, friends and colleagues. Referrals are often the best kind of business!

  3. Rewarding your clients for loyalty

    Giving your loyal customers rewards such as reward cards, free gifts and even heartwarming holiday cards can help to boost credibility and the reputation you have as a business or brand. The more time and effort your employees are able to put in to ensuring the happiness and satisfaction of your customers, the more likely you are to see them return in the future.

Because customers prefer companies who work hard to provide great service, ensuring your team members and employees execute excellent customer service is a must. By providing the best customer service possible, it is much easier to retain and gain new customers and clients for the future success and growth of any company.

For more information about growing your client base, reach out to Saba SEO today. We are a San Diego SEO company that also provides services including AdWords/PPC management, web design and development and app creation. Call us today at 858-277-1717 to schedule a complimentary consultation or request a free website audit,

5 Things to Avoid in 2015 for a Successful SEO Campaign

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As 2015 is in full swing, many business owners are interested in optimizing their San Diego search engine optimization (SEO) campaigns to make the year remarkably profitable. If this is one of your professional goals, you should note that there are several things you should avoid doing in order to have a successful campaign this year.

  1. Linking Down

    The type of websites that you link to can affect your ranking in search engines. Specifically, linking to high quality websites (such as The New York Times or government sponsored websites) can improve your ranking in search engines. At the same time, linking to spammy and generally less known websites can negatively impact your ranking. To be sure that you’re not linking down, you can use this website to check the page rank of the website you want to link to. The higher the page rank the better!

  1. Keyword Stuffing

    Search engines have become incredibly “smart” as they carefully scan content to determine whether the same words are repeated throughout a piece of content at a significantly high rate (such as 10 to 15 times within a 400 word article). When you keyword stuff, you send a signal to the search engines that your website is spammy because naturally, the content will not read well. In basic terms, if you are using keywords repetitively, you are likely unable to develop strong and relevant content.

  2. Spinning Content

    Content spinning has been and remains a relatively prevalent practice in the world of internet marketing. It’s popular because it frees people from spending time devising original ideas or rewording concepts that have already been expressed in innovative ways that necessitate extensive thought. However, spinning content is dangerous because it increases the likelihood that you will be formally or informally accused of plagiarism. Such accusations can severely harm your online reputation.

  3. Hiring the Wrong Team

    There’s nothing wrong with hiring a great San Diego internet marketing team to run or assist you with your SEO campaign. The problem surfaces when you hire a team that does not have extensive education and experience in the online advertising sector. To avoid this reality, be sure that you thoroughly research any SEO company that claims it can offer you excellent, expedient services.

  4. SEO Spam

    SEO spam mails come from “business people” that claim they can get you immediate results while requiring minimal effort. As noted in Search Engine Land’s article regarding SEO tactics to avoid, “You don’t need to submit to 1,000 search engines or 500 directories. You can’t buy 2,000 quality links for $50. And no reputable SEO can guarantee a number one ranking on any search engine for keywords that matter.” If you receive e-mails asking you to buy quality links or submit to a trillion directories, discard them. It’s all SEO spam.

If you’re ready to get your 2015 SEO campaign going, know that you can use a strategic plan to increase your conversion rates and strengthen your online presence. However, it’s also important to be cognizant of the fact that there are several SEO strategies you need to avoid. By reviewing the advice listed above, you can ensure that your SEO campaign is ethical and effective.

For more information, reach out to Saba SEO today and request a free website analysis or call us directly at 858-277-1717 – we look forward to hearing from you!

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