May 2016 - Saba Digital Marketing

4 Ways Using LinkedIn Can Help Promote Your Business

Posted on May 30, 2016 by admin@saba4321

LinkedIn is the top online networking platform for individuals and companies. Besides helping members build relationships with each other, the website provides valuable opportunities for business promotion. Here are four ways that LinkedIn can give a boost to your promotional efforts.

1. Group Creation and Membership

LinkedIn lets members make and join groups centered on a variety of interests. If you don’t find a group that already addresses your interests, you can easily start one. Either way, the group will connect you with others who share interests relative to your business. This endeavor can add to your network connections and increase awareness of topics central to your business.

2. Make a Page for Your Business

With the introduction of company pages, LinkedIn opened up new possibilities for promoting as a business rather than as an individual. This ability is essential in promotional campaigns, which should link the message with the business as closely as possible. Of course, this doesn’t mean that you have to forgo a personal profile. By connecting the two, you can build your network in multiple ways for maximum results.

3. Encourage Employee Participation

The combination of individual and company pages on LinkedIn means that companies do not have to only be represented by executives. In fact, every employee at your business can create their own profile. This will boost the presence of your company on the website, resulting in more network connections and enhancing your promotional capabilities.

4. Improve Your SEO Efforts

Being easy to find through online searches is key to getting and retaining partners and clients. Considering all the benefits of business networking, profile optimization on LinkedIn is very worthwhile and will help with your off-page SEO efforts. Once potential clients and partners can find your profile easily, you will be better able to build your network and profit as a result.

If you could use help getting all your marketing ducks in a row, reach out to Saba, Inc. We are a full service digital marketing agency in San Diego, offering SEO, PPC, social media management, and web dev and design. Call us today at (858) 277-1717 to learn more!

Understanding and Using Intent Keywords

Posted on May 27, 2016 by admin@saba4321

Action terms like “buy” and “purchase” used by searchers when they’re ready to make a purchase are referred to as intent keywords. Effectively using intent keywords, which differ from high-traffic keywords in that their sole purpose is to convince someone to take action, as part of your search engine marketing efforts can boost your odds of sealing the deal.

Selecting the Right Intent Keywords

What action do you ultimately want someone visiting your site to take? For instance, charities may use terms like “donate” and “cure” to solicit an action. Retailers use words like “buy now” and related terms like “free shipping” to further encourage a purchase. Words like “review” and “compare,” while not as strong, can still attract buyers who need a nudge to make a decision.

Tools to Identify Intent Keywords

The Keyword Planner tool on Google AdWords can help you identify less competitive terms that can signify intent. WordStream Advisor comes in handy if you’re interested in intent keywords that indicate a more immediate decision is needed.

Intent Keywords and Other Buying Signals

Increase the effectiveness of your keywords by incorporating those terms with other buying signals, or the clues someone gives when they’re ready to make a decision. Intent keywords are often combined with:

• Price keyword phrases: Terms like “costs” and “prices” target purchasers looking for the best price before they buy.

• Urgency keyword phrases: Words like “emergency” and “24-hour” catch the attention of someone needing urgent service.

• Comparison keyword phrases: Terms like “compare” and “versus” invite a comparison before someone makes a purchase.

Using intent keywords will allow you to focus more on generating productive leads. Such terms can easily be combined with local keywords to further target your intended purchaser. As with any keywords you use, monitor results and fine-tune your selection of terms based on what’s eliciting the desired actions.

Learn more about the right types of keywords for your online marketing efforts by contacting Saba SEO. We are a San Diego search engine optimization company helping businesses throughout the U.S. and Canada reach their target audience and increase website traffic. Call us today at (858) 277-1717 and schedule a free consultation

Top 10 Benefits of Working with an SEO Agency versus In-house SEO

Posted on May 23, 2016 by admin@saba4321

Handling SEO needs in-house can mean hiring a few specialists or simply having employees do the work. When you work with a trusted San Diego SEO agency, on the other hand, you get instant access to a group of professionals who are both experts in the SEM and dedicated to building your business. If that’s not enough, here are a few other reasons to work with an agency.

1. In-House Can Be Expensive

The average salary of a web designer in San Diego is $75,000 annually–and you’re likely to need 3 to 4 other team members.

2. You Get a Suite of Knowledge

When working with an agency, you’re really getting access to expert knowledge from content writers, SEO professionals, social media experts, and website and graphic designers who are all ready to work together to deliver results.

3. Access to Newer Technology

Updating software can be time-consuming and costly. SEO agencies in San Diego routinely stay on top of advances in technology to better serve clients.

4. Your Staff Will Thank You

Distributing SEO duties among existing staff members means less productivity and more stress if they also have other responsibilities on their plate.

5. It’s Easier to Change Agencies

Making changes with in-house staff can be complicated. If you’re not satisfied with the results you’re getting from one agency, you can find another with relatively little hassle.

6. You Get a Fresh Perspective

An SEO agency isn’t coming at your marketing needs with an insider’s perspective, which initially might sound like a bad thing, but that means they are able to identify areas of opportunity overlooked by in-house staff.

7. There’s No Learning Curve

There’s no need to worry about a learning curve or taking time to train employees in the basics of SEO when hiring an agency.

8. It’s Easy to Expand Your SEO Efforts

If you need to expand your SEO efforts internally, you’ll need to hire more employees or add to the duties of your existing team. Many SEO agencies can easily scale to fit growing client needs.

9. Less Likelihood of Mistakes

SEO mistakes can be costly in terms of lost potential revenue. Agencies want to keep your business, so their teams often take added precautions to ensure that all bases are covered.

10. Better Tracking Capabilities

SEO agencies often have access to an assortment of metrics and other statistics that can determine how well each campaign is doing. They also have the ability to notice problematic patterns and make changes quickly.

Deciding which avenue is right for your business? Call the SEO and SEM pros at Saba, Inc. We can perform a complimentary website audit and tell you more about the benefits of working with a trusted online marketing agency in San Diego. Reach out today. We look forward to speaking with you!

The Differences Between B2B and B2C Marketing

Posted on May 20, 2016 by admin@saba4321

The purpose of any type of marketing is to deliver an effective message. When it comes to B2B (business-to-business) and B2C (business-to-consumer) marketing, however, there are several important differences in how to achieve that goal. After all, the consumers you’re trying to reach with each form of online marketing have very different needs, reactions, and expectations.

Content Requirements

B2B customers want website, blog, and social media content that’s useful, insightful, and detailed. With B2C, interactions frequently involve a mix of content that’s not only useful and to the point, but also emotional, humorous, and–most importantly — something they’ll want to share.

Terminology

When you’re marketing to other business consumers, there are certain terms and acronyms they’re going to expect you to know and use (like B2B). With B2C, you want to keep things clear, concise, and easy to understand, meaning that it’s okay to briefly pause to explain certain terms.

Logic vs. Emotion

Whether it’s concern over personal safety or the feeling of saving a few bucks on quality clothing, emotional responses are a perfect fit with B2C marketing. For B2B, however, your target consumer wants to know the value of your products or services and how it’s going to be good for their business and bottom line.

Short-Term vs. Long-Term Goals

The average consumer has immediate needs often met with a purchase. B2B customers want to know what you can do for them now and in the future, which often involves some type of long-term arrangement plus product education and ongoing support.

Completing the Transaction

Aside from input from friends and family members or taking online reviews into consideration, B2C buyers rarely rely on anyone else to make the decision to purchase. There’s often a chain of command involved with business purchases, however, frequently making the process of wrapping things up more involved and time-consuming.

Learn more about the best digital marketing strategies for your business from the friendly marketing experts at Saba SEO. We specialize in San Diego search engine optimization, PPC, social media, and mobile app development. Give us a call at (858) 277-1717 and ask us about our free website audits.

Using PPC and SEO to Increase Patient Leads for Spine Surgery

Posted on May 18, 2016 by admin@saba4321

With roughly 80 percent of the population experiencing back pain at some point, it’s no surprise that spine surgery is a highly competitive field, especially when it comes to attracting new patients. Despite the differences between SEO and PPC, both techniques can be effective for spine surgeons looking to increase patient leads. Here are a few tips to make the most of both strategies.

SEO

Select the Right Keywords

Keywords are the foundation of SEO. Choose the right keywords from the get-go by avoiding overly generic keywords with high competition (for example, “jewelry” vs “handmade jewelry in San Diego), using keywords relevant to the content on the site (keywords for a page about silver jewelry will be slightly different than those for a page about rose gold jewelry), and experimenting with keywords to see which ones perform the best.

Start and Maintain a Blog

Blogging regularly can help any business improve its online reputation and establish authority on a specific subject. It’s also an easy way to strategically integrate relevant keywords that will help the website gain traction on the search engine results pages.

Optimize for Local Search

Patients are likely to search locally before ever considering a spine surgeon who practices elsewhere. Optimize for local SEO by:

Using relevant locations in keywords and meta tags
Including the name of a larger nearby city for practices in smaller towns
Placing a map on the “Contact Us” page along with the address and phone number

PPC

Draw on Emotions

Back pain is highly personal and emotional in nature. Peppering PPC ads with emotional keywords that are connected to the specific conditions a spine surgeon treats will better resonate with patients and persuade them to click on the ad.

Specify Desired Actions

Always clearly state the desired action in a PPC ad. For instance, something like “click to schedule a no-obligation consultation” is one way to encourage patients to take the next step beyond gathering information.

Simplify Landing Page Forms

Most people are hesitant to give too much information if they aren’t entirely sure whom they’re giving it to or what will happen once the information is provided. If people who click on an ad are directed to a form, keeping the required info as limited as possible can increase confidence and prevent potential patients from bailing before scheduling an appointment. You may also consider adding a line or two about not sharing the information collected.

While SEO is a long-term strategy used to generate brand awareness and obtain a high rank on search engine results pages, PPC campaigns target prospective patients using demographic information and produce immediate results. However, PPC campaigns can also become costly quickly. Combining the two is often the most effective strategy for spine surgeons looking to increase website traffic and obtain qualified leads.

Ready to take the guesswork out of SEO and PPC? Leading San Diego internet marketing company Saba SEO can help. Give us a call at (858) 277-1717 and ask for a free website audit to get started.

Using Email Marketing to Grow Your Business

Posted on May 13, 2016 by admin@saba4321

Email marketing is a very effective strategy for promoting your business, especially when used in conjunction with other efforts like SEO and social media marketing. If your business isn’t utilizing email marketing, here are a few reasons you may want to reconsider.

Save Money and Other Resources

Email marketing provides a significant savings over traditional mailers. You don’t have to spend money on paper and postage, trees are saved, and there is no wastage. The people on your list gave you permission to use their email addresses. You’re only targeting people who are already interested what you are selling.

Expand Your Client Base

You’ve already seen that email marketing can help you target an interested and engaged audience. It can also help introduce your business to new clients. By adding an opt-in box to your business website, you are allowing everyone who sees your site to easily ask for more information. You can also promote your email newsletter over other channels such as social media.

Keep Your Clients Informed

Marketing via email is a great way to stay in touch with your existing clients. If you are offering a new service or running a special you can easily let them know. This isn’t as labor-intensive as it sounds. You can create a newsletter template that can be re-used indefinitely. This is efficient for you and ensures your audience is seeing your logo and business name repeatedly. Today’s consumer likes to feel engaged, and an email newsletter is a great way to maintain that connection.

Email Marketing and Your Records

Finally, your email newsletters will create a kind of archive for you. If you can’t remember what promotions you did last November, the archive can tell you. If you want to write and sell an e-book, the newsletters will provide a great window into what has worked best for your business.

Whatever line of business you’re in, an effective email marketing strategy is a key component of your toolkit. If you need a little help getting started, visit our website at www.sabaseo.com or give us a call at (858) 277-1717 to speak with a friendly online marketing professional.

How to Make Your Infographic Shine

Posted on May 11, 2016 by admin@saba4321

One way to tell a story with your data while retaining the attention of increasingly click-happy browsers, who now have a shorter attention span than goldfish according to one study, is to use an infographic. By offering an instant glimpse of relevant facts and figures in a visually appealing way that’s easy to digest, a well-crafted infographic can be a powerful marketing tool.

1. Use an Attention-Grabbing Headline

First and foremost, San Diego digital marketing experts recommend checking keywords to see what’s trending for the topic of your infographic when putting together your short, eye-catching headline. Keep it relevant to what’s presented.

2. Have a Clear Design

Establish a logical connection between each section of your infographic to make it easy to follow. The graphics should clearly illustrate the stat presented within each section to increase comprehension. Further boost clarity by:

Limiting your color palette
Keeping height and width reasonable*
Presenting a hierarchy of information

*The standard is no more than 735 pixels wide and 5000 pixels tall.

3. Choose Thought-Provoking Topics

Do some brainstorming and come up with a list of possible infographic topics and narrow it down to the ones likely to get people thinking, reacting, and sharing. An effective infographic tells a story, elicits an emotional response, or answers an interesting question–and sometimes it does all three of those things.

4. Use Large Fonts

Think about how your infographic is likely to be viewed. If you post your infographics on visual social platforms like Pinterest or Instagram, for instance, you still want people to see enough to be interested, even in thumbnail view, so keep the fonts large enough to be readable from a distance.

5. Tie It All Together

Don’t leave your infographic open-ended. Wrap up your presentation of facts with a conclusion that ties together the facts presented and lets readers know what they’re supposed to take away from having read it.

Infographics can easily be shared by potential customers who find the facts and figures presented interesting and relevant, which can boost your brand’s reputation as a reliable source of information. Finally, make sure the info presented in your infographic is factually accurate, properly sourced, and current.

Saba SEO is a San Diego-based online marketing company specializing in SEO, AdWords management, and web design and development. For more information on creating eye-catching, shareable content like infographics, call us today at (858) 277-171 and request a free consultation with one of our online marketing experts.

What Are the Benefits of Using Pay-Per-Click?

Posted on May 9, 2016 by admin@saba4321

Putting your ads in front of potential customers can provide many invaluable marketing rewards. Welcome to the world of pay-per-click, a form of advertising where you only pay for clicks or views. While there is some risk involved with PPC (like accidently blowing your entire monthly marketing budget in a day), it can also be an effective way to attract the attention of your target audience.

Budget Control

Before you start, you can establish your daily spending limits so you avoid the costly accident mentioned above. It’s also easy to adjust those limits based on results you’re seeing. The amount you actually spend, however, depends on much you want to compete for desirable keywords related to your business.

Keyword and A/B Testing

One of the unique benefits of PPC is the ability to test low-risk keywords on a small scale before peppering those terms throughout your other content. You can also A/B test different versions of pages where your content is directed to determine which one leads to more conversions.

Highly Customized Targeting

With PPC, you can get really specific with not only who is likely to be viewing your ads, but the time of day those ads are displayed. You can even get device-specific and target mobile consumers. PPC can also be customized by:

Different keywords for different demographics
Times of the year, such as seasons and holidays
Keyword variations by geographic location

Easy Tracking Capabilities

It’s very easy to keep track of the results you’re getting thanks to the highly specific data you’ll receive. You can further boost your ROI with PPC by:

Tracking clicks and conversions
Seeing where traffic is coming from
Changing keywords that aren’t working

Potential for Rapid Results

The ROI on your organic search efforts is likely to be long-term rather than short-term. PPC, on the other hand, has the potential to generate results, i.e., conversions and traffic, in a matter of days.

If you’re interested in learning more about what PPC advertising can do to boost your business, give us a call at (858) 277-1717. As a leading SEM company in San Diego, we’ve got years of experience helping companies like yours increase their online visibility and drive traffic. Reach out today!

5 Illegal and Unethical SEO Practices to Avoid

Posted on May 6, 2016 by admin@saba4321

Some SEO practices are outright illegal while others are, at the very least, considered unethical, which could also get you in trouble with search engines. By making a conscious effort to avoid such practices, you’ll increase the odds of getting your site where it can be seen and avoid costly penalties.

1. Trademarked Keywords

According to leading SEO companies in San Diego, if a keyword in your domain name is a registered trademark, you could find yourself in legal hot water. Visit the U.S. Patent Office website and do a search on any keywords you think may be trademarked. The same applies to trademarked keywords in meta tags and trademarked PPC keywords.

2. Keyword Stuffing

Search engine bots can usually spot instances of keyword stuff, done on purpose to give your content a boost in the rankings. However, Google frowns upon this practice and once you start racking up Google violations for such offenses, it’s difficult to reverse the damage.

3. Copying Webpages

Referred to as “page-jacking,” this is the practice of copying a competitor’s webpage and replacing the links and products with your own info. It won’t take long to get flagged for this, which could lead to being banned by search engines.

4. Doorway Pages

These poor quality pages are made for search engines rather than actual visitors for the purpose of emphasizing certain keywords. Such pages often copy content from other sites and have no navigation menu. Cloaking is a related practice involving the creation of one version of a page for visitors and another for search engines.

5. Link Farming

Placing a bunch of links that have nothing to do with the content of your site on a page is referred to as link farming. Done for the purpose of gaining link popularity, it’s a practice that can get you penalized.

One way to ensure you’re following SEO best practices is to work with a trusted digital marketing company in San Diego. If you have questions or are wondering if working with an SEO agency is the right choice, reach out to Saba SEO today by calling (858) 277-1717. We offer free website audits and can help you reach your targeted audience, drive traffic, and boost sales.

How Home Care Agencies Can Increase Client Leads Using SEO and PPC

Posted on May 4, 2016 by admin@saba4321

Instead of using traditional marketing strategies such as print and direct mail, many home care agencies are turning to PPC (Pay Per Click) and SEO (Search Engine Optimization) as an effective marketing strategy to increase client leads. A well planned SEO and PPC marketing strategy will include careful selection of keywords, effective content marketing, geo-centric campaigns, and performance tracking.

Careful Selection of Keywords

The process of generating leads with PPC and SEO starts with selecting relevant keywords and phrases. While it’s important to select the most common keywords and phrases relevant to the home care industry such as “senior care” and “home care”, using longer variations such as “in home care for seniors” and “senior care for patient with dementia” etc. can be more effective because fewer companies are competing for those keywords, resulting in more (and better-qualified) leads. An exhaustive keyword research process is a MUST for identifying and selecting winning keywords for successful SEO and PPC. Get the keyword selection process wrong, and you are looking at thousands of dollars in Google AdWords spend without much traction.

Content Marketing

Choosing the right care options for an elderly loved one can be often overwhelming, stressful and confusing. Prospective clients looking for a home care agency tend to seek out reliable sources of information during the initial phase of searching for a home care solution. This provides a prime opportunity for Home Care Agencies to utilize their blog by providing answers to some of the questions a prospective client might have. Informative content can have a huge influence on the prospect’s decision-making process. Home Care Agencies that are not engaging their visitors through effective content marketing are hurting their chances of increasing lead conversion.

Think Local

For the purpose of generating interest in a home care agency, you’re likely to have more success if you focus locally due to the nature of the services provided. Since home care agencies often serve seniors from various nearby towns, optimize content for each specific service area with geo-specific keywords. With PPC, you can add your location to callout extensions and hyperlinks to better target prospects searching for home care.

Measuring Performance

Results with PPC and SEO can be tracked right down to how well each keyword is performing. Adjustments you make to your SEO efforts can take a while to show results, but once the website is ranking well, you should start to see a good flow of leads. Results from changes to PPC can be fairly quick, but can also be quite costly. By effectively using both SEO and PPC for short-term and long-term lead generation efforts, you can target caregivers, seniors, and other qualified leads looking for home care options. And finally, no marketing campaign can succeed without properly measuring performance and the return on investment. Home Care Agencies should constantly evaluate the Return on Investment to ensure the amount of money spent on SEO and PPC is generating positive revenue.

Interested in learning more about how PPC and SEO can help increase your leads? Saba SEO is a trusted leader in digital marketing, helping home care agencies across the U.S. and Canada. We help increase traffic to your website and drive revenue. Call us today at (858) 277-1717 for a free consultation!