May 2017 - Saba Digital Marketing

Google’s New AdWords Display: The Wait Is Finally Over

Posted on May 31, 2017 by admin@saba4321

In the past, Google’s AdWords display featured up to three ads in the search results page. Now, the company is experimenting with larger blocks of ads. In February, users started noticing that the top block of ads often contained four ads. By the end of February, San Diego AdWords managers observed over 36 percent of search result pages had four ads at the top.

The top ad blocks look the same as before and display the same information. The only change is that users are now more likely to see four ads instead of three, which is common with commercial Google search results. However, users have also noticed the change with other searches.

Additionally, the ads that used to appear on the right-hand column of a search results page have now disappeared. This change occurred at the exact same time as the top ad block change. However, the right-hand column often had up to eight ads, so even with the new AdWords display, the ads on screen have decreased overall.

After the change, a Google spokesperson said, “We’ll continue to make tweaks, but this is designed for highly commercial queries where the layout is able to provide more relevant results for people searching and better performance for advertisers.”

This change may be a part of Google’s attempt to use mobile-first design. The mobile version of the site doesn’t support right-hand column ads, so getting rid of these ads eliminates a big difference between Google on different devices. The increase in top block ads will likely replace the revenue Google loses from eliminating right-hand column ads and allow more space for product listings. There are still Product Listing Ads on the right side of the page, even with four ads in the top ad block.

To learn more about the latest PPC and AdWords trends, turn to Saba SEO. Our paid marketing plans are ideal for businesses that need increased website traffic and clicks. With our team of professionals, we create customized, high-converting ads that appeal to your customers and are in line with your business objectives. To create a high-quality and result-oriented PPC campaign for your business, give us a call at 858-951-1717 today.

How to Produce High-Quality Content for Your Local Business

Posted on May 26, 2017 by admin@saba4321

More than half of all online searches have local intent. To attract the attention of searchers looking for local businesses, you may have to design content keeping their needs in mind. If you want to produce the best content for your business, consider these tips.

See What’s Trending Locally

Most of the leading San Diego SEM companies agree that the best content for local businesses is anything that’s relevant to the intended audience. Use Google Trends to see what keywords or phrases are currently trending in your desired geographic areas. Make use of this info by:

Naturally using keywords/phrases that make sense for your business
Using trending local keywords in new blog and social media posts
Paying attention to related key phrases for nearby locations so you can have more variety in your content

Pay Attention to Comments and Conversations

Take cues for your local business’s content by seeing what your customers are already talking about. This means staying active on your social pages and regularly checking feedback and blog comments. On a related note, consider asking local customers to post video reviews and comments you can use to enhance your content.

Play Up Unique Features of Your Local Area

Keep your customer base engaged by adding unique local features in your content. For instance, if you have a local limo/shuttle bus service, you can reference upcoming local festivals and events in your content because area residents may need rides to and from these events. Further localize your content by:

Using local terms for neighborhoods and monuments rather than the “proper” names
Referencing some of the main streets or nearby neighborhoods
Mentioning noted local residents (if it makes sense to do so)

Make sure your content is optimized for mobile devices because most searches conducted by on-the-go consumers are for local businesses. Creating a Google My Business listing will make your business visible on Google Maps. Don’t forget to use niche directories specific to your intended local audience.

Creating high-quality content for local businesses requires professional expertise, which is something Saba SEO is renowned for. Our team of online marketing experts can create responsive websites and reader-friendly content that can boost your online ranking, increase your website traffic, and improve your conversion rates. From simple tweaks to complete revamps, we offer customized content marketing solutions that are in-line with your business objectives and target audience’s expectations. If you need fresh, catchy, and highly engaging content for your local business, give us a call at 858-951-1717 today.

Is Organic Ranking Affected by Website Engagement Rates?

Posted on May 24, 2017 by admin@saba4321

Over the past few years, Google has been focusing on relevant, high-quality web content. Since people are more likely to engage with content they find relevant, organic search rankings may now depend on website engagement rates. San Diego online marketing experts share a few details about this possible interdependence.

Google Measures “Dwell Time”

Google previously blocked websites where visitors only stayed for a few seconds before going back to the search engine results page. The search engine considered this “dwell time” to check for clickbait scams, and it is still being monitored to some degree. Dwell time is determined by looking at:

The amount of time users spend on a site and individual webpages
Website visits and conversion rates
Bounce rates

Bounce Rates Correlate with Higher Organic Rankings

Google says it doesn’t use bounce rates in search rankings. However, there is a clear correlation between the sites that rank highest and low bounce rates, suggesting bounce rates may be an indirect ranking factor. A study of 200,000 domains found similar results.

Conversion Rates Suggest Good Engagement

Other studies have found that after a point, time spent on a site doesn’t matter. However, conversion rates are still important. If your website visitors are taking the desired action, they obviously find your content relevant, and high conversion rates can be a sign of good engagement with your brand. Engagement can also affect other known organic SEO factors such as social shares and external links that point back to your site.

Website engagement rates can affect your traffic, which can also impact your organic search results when other factors are considered. To learn about how this correlation can affect your online ranking, get in touch with Saba SEO at 858-951-1717. As a team of experienced internet marketing professionals, we provide high-quality SEO solutions tailored for your specific needs. For over 10 years, our experts have helped businesses boost their online ranking, acquire leads, and increase website traffic and dwell time.

How to Perform a Content Audit

Posted on May 22, 2017 by admin@saba4321

A content audit is one of the most important aspects of content marketing. Effective SEO strategy depends on high-quality content, and one of the best ways to measure the quality of content is to conduct a content audit. It involves a thorough review of all aspects of your content where factors such as optimization, traffic, and relevance are taken into consideration. Expert content marketers in San Diego share a few tips on how to perform a content audit.

Create a Spreadsheet for Your Content Assets

Use tools such as Screaming Frog to find all URLs for your existing online content. Enter all of your URL data on a spreadsheet. WordPress has a content audit plugin you can also use to collect the same information.

Gather Important Data

Tap into your metrics to see how visitors are interacting with your existing content. Google Analytics is one of the most convenient tools you’ll need for this purpose. Most of the time, it makes sense to consider overall performance for both SEO and marketing purposes. Pay attention to things like:

Length of time spent on each page
Bounce rates
Traffic patterns and conversions
How people are finding your content (external links from other sites, search results, links from your blog or social posts)
Views and social shares
Page titles and meta descriptions

Analyze Your Data

Add an “action” column to your spreadsheet with all of your data to determine whether your content is “fine,” “needs update or adjustment,” or “needs to be removed.” Determine how your content is performing by keeping your goals in mind, and focus your attention on content that does not meet your goals. A content audit can help you decide whether to:

Do A/B testing with different forms of the same content
Produce more relevant content on a regular basis
Remove or repurpose outdated or under-performing content
Change the type of content you produce (e.g. adding more images and videos)

Over time, your website or social media content can become outdated and irrelevant to your intended audience. As a general rule, it’s a good idea to conduct a content audit periodically as new content is added or whenever you make significant changes to your online engagement strategy.

At Saba SEO, our search engine marketing team performs content audits on a continual basis, observe the results, and take corrective actions to improve your content quality. We can monitor your website and social media accounts and provide fresh, high-quality, and optimized online content that engages your readers and results in high conversion rates. If you need reliable and experienced professionals to review your engagement strategy and offer recommendations, call us at 858-951-1717 today.

How to Boost Your Local Business Ranking in 2017

Posted on May 19, 2017 by admin@saba4321

Local search is more than just paid ads showing up in rankings. What it means for your local business rankings in 2017 is more competition for the same space on search engine results pages. With the right approach to local SEO, you can still stay ahead of your competitors and boost your local rankings. Here are a few tips on local optimization you should consider.

“Spy” on Local Competitors

Observe your competitors and look at what they’re doing to grab attention and generate online traffic. Google Alerts can tell you whenever a competitor is mentioned online. The Social Mention tool allows you to keep track of competitors’ social interactions, and the competitive research and keyword research gadget tools from SEOBook also give you a lot of information about your competitors. You can also find competitor data with Google’s Keyword Planner. Regardless of what tools you’re using, pay attention to:

Keywords being used
Traffic patterns based on specific terms and words
Overall visibility within your desired local market(s)

Optimize Your Site for “Near Me” Searches

Search queries with some variation of “near me” or “nearby” have doubled over the past few years. Optimize your website for searches of this nature with full contact information and location pages specific to each location you serve. Your content can also be optimized for “near me” searches by including multiple neighborhoods and referencing larger cities nearby (e.g. “less than 5 miles from Miami”). Also make sure your website is optimized for mobile use so searchers can quickly find your contact information.

Embrace Local Voice Search

The dominance of mobile devices has lead to the increased use of voice searching. Because voice search is associated with mobile devices and most mobile searches (nearly 60 percent) are done with local intent, it’s a trend worth considering. Ranking your local business for voice search means:

Using keyword phrases based on how people speak
Varying your phrasing to account for the different ways people can ask the same question
A/B testing content with different keyword variations to see what resonates better with local voice searchers

Use your title and description tags to attract the attention of local searchers. Keywords and descriptive terms can also be used in your URLs and in titles and captions for your videos and images. Snippets (blurbs of relevant info about your business) can also provide an incentive to click or tap. Also, make sure to keep your directory listings current, especially your NAP (business name, address, phone number).

With over 10 years of experience in search engine optimization for San Diego companies, the team at Saba SEO can help you boost your online ranking. Our local optimization strategies include keyword search, responsive web design, providing high-quality content, and several other tactics to increase your website traffic. We regularly monitor results, track changes, and offer lasting solutions for your SEO needs. To create winning online marketing and search engine optimization strategies, get in touch with us at 858-951-1717.

A Brief Look at XML Sitemaps

Posted on May 17, 2017 by admin@saba4321

A sitemap is a list of all pages and links for a website, which crawlers use for online ranking purposes. It’s essentially an index that tells Google what each page on your website is about and when it was last updated. Creating a sitemap is one of the most important aspects of web design and development.

Why Create One?

Having a sitemap isn’t completely necessary, and web pages can still be ranked without it. However, adding this index to your website helps determine which pages are most relevant to searchers. Sitemaps are also helpful if:

Your pages don’t have internal links to attract the attention of search engine crawlers
You’ve recently created a new site that does not have a lot of internal or external links
You have multiple versions of your website or its pages

Creating a Sitemap

You can create either an HTML sitemap, which is a list of links, or an XML sitemap, which is not visible to users. An XML sitemap is better if you have a large website. You don’t need to create these two different sitemaps, and having only one of them would be fine.

If you have a WordPress site, you can use either the Yoast SEO plugin or the Google XML Sitemaps plugin. You can also make a sitemap manually if you only have one or two web pages. After you get your sitemap ready, submit it to Google. Just remember to update it when you make changes to your site, such as:

Deleting or adding pages
Making significant changes to your website content
Adding new elements to your pages (HTML, plugins, videos, or images)

Sitemaps are important because search engine crawlers have a lot of data to go through when determining the rank for a website. If you need a responsive website with a proper sitemap for your business, turn to Saba SEO. As one of the leading San Diego web development companies, we use a variety of tools to create high-quality sitemaps that can result in more traffic for your website. Whether your business website needs a few fixes or a complete revamp, give us a call at 858-951-1717 today.

How to Manage a Drop in Your SEO Rankings

Posted on May 15, 2017 by admin@saba4321

SEO is beneficial when you’re getting a steady flow of traffic, productive leads, and high conversion rates. However, when your SEO rankings drop, you should address the problem. Here are a few things you need to do to manage a drop in your online ranking and increase web traffic.

Find Out If Google Has Made Updates or Penalized You

Review Google Analytics data to see if the drop in rankings relates to certain aspects of your SEO such as organic results. If the drop is sudden and unexpected, there may have been a new Google rollout you missed. Also check for Google penalties that may require your attention, and consider these fixes:

Ask Google for further clarification on any penalties you don’t understand
Read up on new Google changes and adjust your content or site design accordingly
Connect with other businesses in your network to see if they’ve experienced similar issues and ask what they’ve done about it

Determine If There Are Issues with Your Links

Having relevant and high-quality links shows your website has relevance and credibility. Make sure to check if any links have been removed from your site recently, and see if the links pointing to your site are still active. Fix these issues by:

Removing or fixing broken internal and external links
Removing links where the source is no longer relevant to your content
Reaching out to site owners to find out why links were removed
Acquiring new external links by reaching out to online influencers

Address Recent Changes to Your URL and Website Content

Changing your URL is similar to starting all over again with your SEO efforts because Google will consider new URLs as new pages. If you can’t revert back to your old URL, do a 301 redirect to the new URL. You may also experience a dip in rankings if you’ve recently made substantial changes to your website content. If this is the case, you should:

Reflect your new keywords in your page and meta tags
Try A/B testing with your new content to see what ranks better
Go back to your original content and make slower changes to your content rather than doing it all at once

Minimize your SEO-related headaches by hiring Saba SEO, a reliable online marketing company in San Diego. Our professionals can design, review, and continually monitor your online engagement strategies and provide fresh, relevant content for real people rather than search engines. We have a proven track record of providing high-quality SEO services to a variety of businesses. If you need a customized optimization strategy for your business, give us a call at 858-951-1717 today and schedule a consultation.

Why Net Neutrality Is Important for SEO Purposes

Posted on May 12, 2017 by admin@saba4321

Net neutrality implies that all online information should be treated equally irrespective of its source. It applies to the access allowed by Internet service providers (ISPs) and the fees they charge for that access. The ability to access the entire Web is important when it comes to SEO for your website. Here are a few reasons why net neutrality is important for SEO purposes.

Access to Content

Content can be posted anywhere online. If it becomes difficult for some users to access certain content, it could impact traffic and conversion rates. Net neutrality, on the other hand, gives all optimized content an equal chance of being seen by anybody accessing the Web.

Greater Competition

Serving different customers at different levels would mean a lack of competition. While this may seem like a good thing for marketers, it’s not. If you have to build multiple campaigns to target different consumers across a wide range of tiers, you’ll be serving fewer customers with each campaign, which could reduce your visibility.

Startups Face Less Struggle

Without net neutrality, negotiating fees with various ISPs could be a major cost for startups with limited budgets. With net neutrality, anybody can join the Web without having to deal with extra fees.

Site/Page Speed

It’s possible that a world without net neutrality could make the information superhighway inaccessible for some sites. As a result, other important SEO-related factors like page speed could be affected. Plus, there would be no easy way to fix it except for investing in a higher tier package.

SEO may seem complicated, but with the right tools and strategies you can boost your ranking, improve your conversion rate, and attract high-quality leads. At Saba SEO, our team can make it happen. We offer a variety of customized and results-oriented engagement tactics well within your budget. Whether you’re a local business looking for new customers or a conglomerate interested in expansion, we can create the right SEO strategies for you. Call your trusted San Diego optimization firm at 858-951-1717 to schedule an appointment.

HTTPS Sites Can Be Seen on Google Results

Posted on May 10, 2017 by admin@saba4321

Google takes several ranking factors into consideration, and HTTPS is becoming an increasingly important ranking signal. In 2014, Google said they considered HTTPS a “light” ranking signal. However, by mid-2016 approximately 30 percent of page one results on Google were using HTTPS protocols. Experts at a reputed SEO agency in San Diego explain why Google is now giving more consideration to HTTPS.

Why HTTPS Matters

Hyper Text Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) provides an additional layer of security when information is exchanged between a website and a browser. The “secure” part of HTTPS implies all of the information sent back and forth is encrypted, which matters because:

Encryption prevents third parties from seeing what’s being sent
There’s less chance of corruption of data during the transfer of information
Communication is limited to only the intended website

Improving the User Experience

It’s no secret Google values the user experience. If a site is using standard HTTP, it’s not secure. This means the user’s data could be compromised during the transfer of info from a website to its browser. After Google suggested HTTPS may be given more weight, many website owners began making the shift from standard to secure HTTP. According to one estimate, half of all websites may now have HTTPS.

It’s already clear Google favors HTTPS sites. The company’s Chrome browser requires websites that collect sensitive information (credit card numbers, social security numbers, addresses, etc.) to have HTTPS. The protocol is equally essential for all e-commerce sites. Adding an extra level of security to a site can also provide peace of mind for searchers who are wary of high-profile data breaches.

To learn about the latest Google trends, SEO tactics, and other internet marketing essentials, get in touch with Saba SEO. Our team can help you optimize your website for search engines, boost your rankings, attract high-quality leads, and stay ahead of your competitors. Whether you need a new, responsive website with high-quality content or minor upgrades to your existing site, call us at 858-951-1717 today.

The Real World: Why Do Rankings Change?

Posted on May 8, 2017 by admin@saba4321

Unexpected changes in rankings occur every now and then, and it can either yield positive or negative results for your business. SEO experts in San Diego share a few reasons why search engine rankings keep changing and what can be done about it.

Your Competitors Are Also Busy Optimizing for Search Engines

While you’re building a robust link profile, creating plenty of high-value content, and designing an attractive and responsive website, your competitors are also busy doing SEO tasks of their own. This makes it important to pay attention to what other businesses in your niche are doing and how their SEO strategies are performing for them.

Individual Behaviors of Web Users Is Important

Search engine results are becoming increasingly personalized, especially on Google. This means every member of your target audience is likely to get a different set of results for the exact same search term. Not only are search results reflective of individual search histories, but they’re also designed to be hyper-local.

Changes Made to the Website

Both purposeful and inadvertent changes to your link profile can impact how well your site ranks. You might gain or lose a few inbound links or discover a number of broken links. Make sure to review and clean up your link profile on a regular basis. This way, you don’t have to worry about being penalized for any dead links overlooked. Be mindful of the fact that changes in ranking can occur each time new content is added to the site, web pages are updated, or domains are changed.

Algorithm Updates

When search engine algorithms are updated, rankings can change. Site owners should bear in mind Google and other major search engines are busy making AI technologies larger determinants in how websites rank. Every time a new search is run, Google’s Rank Brain becomes smarter and more adept at handpicking the results people really want. Thus, even if your website hasn’t undergone any major revisions or your competitors haven’t stepped up their SEO game, you could find your company listed higher or lower on SERPs without warning.

Search engine optimization is a complex and evergoing task. If you want to boost your ranking and stay ahead of your competitors, turn to Saba SEO. As a well-known SEO company in San Diego, we have designed customized, effective, and high-quality SEO strategies for a wide variety of business. Our team continually monitors results to ensure our clients remain on top of their SEO game. Call us at 858-951-1717 to schedule an appointment.