Saba Digital Marketing

4 Ways Google Is Simplifying the SEO Process

There are two main reasons Google cares about SEO. First of all, they want to create good user experiences by directing searchers to useful information. Secondly, effective and efficient SEO makes it easier for Google to sell and place more ads by targeting interested customers. The experts at Saba SEO, San Diego’s premier digital marketing agency, discuss four ways Google is simplifying the search engine optimization process.

1. Adding an SEO Audit Feature to the Lighthouse Tool

Google Lighthouse is a handy tool that allows you to test website factors such as performance and accessibility. Google has added a new SEO component to this tool that can also evaluate webpages to determine how well optimized they are for search engines. They also offer advice on what can be done to improve SEO deficiencies. SEO-related issues typically covered include:

  • Title tags
  • Canonical tags
  • Text size (especially important for content viewing on mobile devices)

2. Introducing a New and Improved Search Console

Google’s new version of Webmaster Tools has been improved in a way that’s good for SEO. The most notable update is the ability to view up to 16 months of search performance data. This ability alone makes it easier to analyze long-term trends. An updated Index Coverage report shows:

  • Correctly indexed URLs
  • Warnings when there are potential issues
  • Reasons some URLs aren’t being indexed by Google

3. Updating the SEO Guide

Google has relaunched and updated its SEO starter guide. It’s an important resource for getting a better idea of what to do to keep both Google and online searchers happy. The updated SEO guide includes advice on:

  • Organizing content topics
  • Understanding what visitors want
  • Optimizing images, headlines, and text for actual users rather than search engines
  • Creating both webpages and blogs with the target audience in mind

4. Hiring a Public Search Liaison

While a big chunk of Google’s revenue comes from paid search, the company’s hiring of a new public search liaison suggests they’re still firmly committed to organic search. Previously, the head of Google’s WebSpam team handled communications with the SEO community. The company has now hired an SEO journalist and analyst to handle such duties. The move suggests a shift toward more openness with search engine optimization.

Google is also heavily investing in artificial intelligence, as evidenced by the company’s algorithm learning AI system called RankBrain. The reason for the AI focus is because a big part of SEO these days involves sorting through massive amounts of data and developing a better understanding of the intent behind search habits. Google is already working on achieving these goals in a way that’s understandable to anyone interested in SEO.

If you need help with any aspect of search engine optimization, turn to Saba SEO, an SEO company in San Diego you can trust. We have a team of experts who stay up to date with the latest changes in Google algorithm and offer customized solutions for all your SEO needs. Whether you need a responsive web design or an effective paid marketing campaign, we are here to help. To schedule an appointment with one of our SEO Managers, give us a call at 858-951-1717 today.

What Google Is Doing to Protect Smaller Businesses from Scams

Small and medium-sized businesses (SMB) that depend on online engagement for their revenue and brand visibility try to keep Google happy. You can image how concerned business owners would be when receiving a notice or phone call supposedly from Google threatening to remove their listing. This is just one example of the types of fraud small businesses are susceptible to. The experts at Saba SEO, the best web design company San Diego has to offer, discuss some of the steps Google is taking to protect SMBs from scams.

What Kind of Scams Is Google Fighting? 

Some fraudsters set up fake accounts that claim to be affiliated with Google. Other companies target SMB owners with robocalls where they claim their listings on Google will be immediately taken down unless they return the calls. Other scammers try to convince business owners to pay for certain SEO services that Google offers for free.

What Are the New Steps Being Taken?

Google has already fought several scammers in court with various lawsuits, and they plan to continue to do so. Individuals or companies pretending to be Google or have an affiliation with the company also have to face repercussions from the Federal Trade Commission. Google will now take additional steps to make it easier to identify scammers and report fraud. Such efforts include:

  • Identifying scammers’ accounts more efficiently
  • Offering a tool for SMB owners to report scams and fraud attempts
  • Providing a directory of trusted partners (Google My Business Partners program)
  • Making more resources available to local small business owners

What Recommendations Does Google Have for SMB Owners?

First of all, Google suggests making any callers prove they’re actually from Google. Fraudulent callers tend to be evasive if challenged on a call. When it comes to potentially fraudulent contact attempts, Google also suggests:

  • Claiming Google My Business listings
  • Realizing claims that ranking will be affected when contacted by someone professing to be Google are usually false
  • Not responding to robocalls
  • Making use of Do Not Call Registries

Google does sometimes call to offer services to listed businesses. However, they will never ask for payment information over the phone, nor do they use automated call systems. Also, Google always gives callers an opportunity to opt out when contacted by phone. Any contact attempts not in line with these procedures should be viewed as suspicious.

One of the best ways to stay away from scams is to let a reliable SEO agency monitor your digital marketing campaigns. When it comes to high-quality internet marketing, San Diego businesses and organizations all over the world trust Saba SEO. Our experts work diligently to create, execute, and continually monitor search engine optimization and social media marketing campaigns. For over ten years, we have helped many businesses boost their online visibility and acquire more leads and sales. To learn about our premier SEO services, give us a call at 858-951-1717 today.

How to Discover and Monitor Bad Backlinks

Backlinks can go a long way toward adding credibility to your brand and website. However, when backlinks are “bad” they can do more harm than good. A bad backlink is an inbound link that is no longer active, from a source not relevant to your business, or generated for the purpose of fooling search engines. Even backlinks that were originally valid could become troublesome, which is why it’s important to discover and monitor bad backlinks. The experts at Saba SEO, a leading San Diego web development company, share a few tips on discovering and monitoring low-quality inbound links.

Look for Google Penalties

If Google hits you with a manual penalty, you’ll get a “detection of unnatural links” message. However, the penalty notification doesn’t necessarily mean all of your backlinks are bad. It just means there are signs suggesting questionable link sources or patterns.

Gather Your Backlink Data

A backlink checker like Ahrefs provides a variety of info you can use to create a current backlinks profile. A convenient way to gather backlink data is to create a spreadsheet and update it on a regular basis. Keep track of backlink stats such as:

• Number of backlinks
• The sites the backlinks are from
• Rank and authority of backlink sources
• The content attracting the most backlinks

Pay Attention to Unusual Backlink Patterns

Once you have a system for keeping up with your backlinks, look for anything out of the ordinary. For instance, a common sign your site’s backlinks may not be reputable is a sudden uptick in links for no apparent reason.

Periodically Check for Dead/Broken Links

Websites often make changes over time, which results in links that are dead or broken. Backlink checker tools can be used to quickly identify links that are no longer active. If you have links from trusted sites that are suddenly inactive, contact webmasters for those sites to ask for a new backlink.

Be Suspicious of Unindexed Sources

If you notice some of your backlinks are from websites not being indexed by Google or any other search engine, check out the site yourself. Unindexed websites aren’t necessarily bad, but they tend to be viewed as less reliable.

Zero In on Clearly Irrelevant Links

In some cases, you can spot potential sources of bad backlinks just by looking at the link and the URL or domain associated with it. Signs of questionable backlinks may include:

• Domains suggesting website content not remotely related to what you offer or do
• Links from locations or countries you are not actively targeting
• Links associated with domains that are a jumble of characters/numbers (suggests they were created in a hurry)

Check Spam Scores

Moz has a handy spam checker tool that can be used to check a website’s odds of being penalized for “spammy” content. Using spam checking tools is a good way to get a better understanding of source websites you aren’t sure of. Questionable sources of backlinks tend to have:

• Little or no social media activity
• Obvious signs of keyword overuse
• Webpages with very little content

Google uses several factors to determine what constitutes a high-quality backlink. Some of these factors include the age of the domain, keyword relevance, consistency of link patterns, and exact-match anchor text instead of links associated with generic phrases like “click here.” You can’t always control who links back to your site. However, be diligent about making sure your backlinks are beneficial.

If you’re looking for a reliable digital marketing agency to regularly monitor your backlinks and increase your online visibility, turn to Saba SEO. We are among the best marketing companies San Diego has to offer. Our experts can identify and eliminate low-quality inbound links from your website, and our content writers can create fresh content for your business. Whether you need minor fixes in your existing website or a new website altogether, we are here to help. Call us at 858-951-1717 to schedule an appointment with one of our web design experts.

 

Google Will Notify Reviewers When Business Owners Respond

Google recently announced an important new change to their review system. People will now be notified with an email when a business responds to their reviews. This email will show the original review and provide a link to the response. In their announcement, Google also mentioned they plan to roll out mobile push notifications in the future. The experts at Saba SEO, provider of high-quality SEO in San Diego, discuss the latest Google update.

Community manager Marissa Nordahl explained that there’s a five-minute delay between the response being published and the notification being sent. The delay gives business owners a chance to proofread the response one last time and make changes before the reviewer sees it.

The latest Google update could be good or bad for your business depending on the circumstances. If a customer leaves a negative review, it’s best for your business to respond politely and sincerely. However, it’s not always easy to appease angry customers. Even if you write the perfect response, they may get upset again when they get the notification and remember their experience.

On the other hand, the new notification system gives you a better opportunity to engage with your satisfied customers. A reviewer who sees your response will remember the positive experience and may be more likely to return. Also, your customers will think highly of you for taking the time to reply. They’ll feel more of a personal connection to you or your business.

Whether you’re responding to positive or negative reviews, it’s especially important to choose your words carefully now that the reviewer is more likely to see them. Thank your customers for taking the time to leave a review, and don’t take negative reviews personally. Try to keep your messages short and to the point while also being genuine.

If your business has been plagued with negative reviews, let the experts at Saba SEO help you out. We are among the leading San Diego SEO companies with over ten years of experience in white hat search engine optimization. Our experts can create a customized online reputation management plan for your business that includes responding to negative reviews, creating effective social media marketing strategies, and mitigating the effects of negative publicity. To create a comprehensive digital marketing plan for your business, give us a call at 858-951-1717 today.

4 Reasons You Should Try Guest Podcasting

Guest posting is a great way to build links and expand your audience, but it’s not always the perfect strategy. If you already blog regularly, guest posting doesn’t give you much opportunity to create fresh content that will reach an entirely new audience. Instead, you could try guest podcasting. It might seem overwhelming to dive into a different medium, but guest podcasting can be very beneficial to your marketing strategy. The experts at Saba SEO, a leading SEO company in San Diego, share a few reasons you should try guest podcasting.

1. Reach a Different Audience Than Blogging

While guest blogging can attract new visitors to your site, it may not help you create a diverse audience. All of your visitors will be people who enjoy reading blogs. If you appear on a podcast, you’ll reach a new demographic. Podcasts are becoming increasingly popular, and they tend to develop a more loyal following than blogs.

2. Build Trust

Podcasts usually require more time, effort, and equipment to produce than blog posts, so there’s more competition for guest spots. If you’re offered a guest blogging spot on a high-traffic website, your audience may not care. Being featured in a podcast seems like a bigger honor. When another site recognizes your expertise by inviting you onto their podcast, your audience may start trusting your knowledge as well.

3. Save the Hassle of Regular Podcasts

Hosting a podcast can be hard work, but appearing as a guest is fairly simple. You should plan what you’ll talk about and leave everything else to the host. You don’t have to worry about equipment, marketing, editing, or any other aspect of production besides answering the host’s questions. As a guest, it may be faster and easier than writing an elaborate blog post.

4. Keep the Listeners Engaged

Viewers often click away from blogs, infographics, and other visual content before reaching the end. They skim through to see if they’re interested, but they miss out on the key points that would draw them in. However, they are more likely to make it to the end of a podcast than to the conclusion of a blog post. Your audience can’t skim through a podcast the way they can with a blog post, and they can also multitask while listening. Podcasting is an excellent medium to attract a large and engaged audience.

Guest podcasting is just one of the many branding strategies you should consider. If you need help creating a comprehensive marketing plan for your business, turn to Saba SEO, a San Diego SEO agency you can trust. From search engine optimization to video production, we offer a wide variety of services to help our clients reach out to new audience and expand their customer base. Our experts utilize several white hat tactics to improve your brand appeal and boost your online visibility. To create a customized internet marketing plan for your business, give us a call at 858-951-1717 today.

How to Achieve SEO Success in 2018

More than 90 percent of online experiences begin with a search engine, which is one of the most compelling reasons to be proactive about maintaining your online visibility. Successfully using SEO is a process that includes a combination of the technical aspects of SEO like site structure with on-page and off-page efforts. The San Diego SEO experts at Saba SEO discuss a few things to do if you want to succeed with SEO in 2018 and beyond.

Apply SEO to Multiple Platforms

Most people think of SEO as primarily applicable to websites. While optimizing your site is certainly important, it’s just one of several places where SEO can be applied. Optimization can also extend to:

  • Google My Business listings
  • YouTube videos
  • Blog posts
  • Social media profiles and content
  • Vertical search engines and third-party sites like Amazon and Yelp
  • Online directories
  • App store listings

OptimizeContent for People

If you are constantly thinking about how to work keywords into your content, you might end up with something that does not appeal to actual readers. Instead, write for real people first. Google is increasingly placing more importance on relevance. If you create content while keeping your target audience in mind, you may be rewarded by the search engines.

Tap into Your Searchers’ Pain Points

Most searchers looking for online content are trying to solve some type of problem (“pain point”). Your content strategy should be based on a solid understanding of your customers’ needs. There are plenty of “audience tools” you can use to get clues in Google search results. Pay attention to the information that pops up on:

  • Auto complete feature (based on recent search habits)
  • “People Also Ask” boxes
  • Related searches

The extra insights from these results can be used to fine-tune your content. The idea is to direct your intended audience to your content by providing the answers they’re looking for.

Take a Cue from Social Conversations/Comments

A lot of people use social media to say what’s on their minds. Oftentimes, this means voicing concerns or complaining. However, if you pay attention to the valid comments on your social media pages, you’ll get a better idea of the topics you should be addressing in your content.

Do Competitive Research

You can also get some idea of where to focus your SEO efforts by looking at how your competitors are targeting the same audience. There are plenty of tools you can use to see the keywords your competitors use. However, you won’t be able to know every single detail of their SEO strategy. You can still get a feel for what’s working for other businesses and what’s not, which can help you decide where your priorities should be with SEO and the content you present.

Consider Voice Search

It’s estimated that half of all searches could soon be voice-activated. Part of the reason for this is the increased accuracy of voice-recognition tools like Siri and Alexa. Optimizing for voice search means:

  • Using long-tail and conversational keywords
  • Having an FAQ page since voice searches tend to be in the form of questions
  • Using structured data markup to give voice search devices more info about your website content

News and social content are more likely to attract attention organically on search engines these days. Take advantage of this trend by consistently producing fresh, engaging content on your social platforms and finding ways to work trending topics into your own content.

Whether you need help creating high-quality content or a fully optimized website for your business, turn to Saba SEO. As a leading internet marketing service provider, our agency has several years of experience in search engine optimization, paid marketing, and website development. Our experts have designed customized and comprehensive digital marketing strategies for a wide variety of businesses worldwide. To learn about our high-quality services, give us a call at 858-951-1717 today.

A Quick Guide to Facebook Page Optimization

With more than 2 billion active users, Facebook is the most popular social platform in the world. If your goal is to reach a massive audience to promote your brand and what you have to offer, Facebook may be the perfect platform for you. Here are a few tips on Facebook page optimization, brought to you by the experts at Saba SEO, one of the best SEO companies San Diego has to offer.

Choose the Right Type of Page

Facebook makes it fairly easy to set up pages. Start by selecting the right type of page for your needs. Most businesses go with a Local Business or Place, Company, or Brand/Product page.

Set Up Your Location Page

If you have a single physical location, start with a location page. If you have multiple locations, one of the pages will act as the main page for your business and the other location pages will be “child” pages that branch off from the main page. Get started with optimization by including the following information on your location page(s):

  • NAP (business name, address, phone number)
  • Username
  • Business category
  • Website address and email
  • About Us section (mix in a few relevant keywords when describing your business)

Manage and Monitor Ratings and Reviews

With location pages, you can implement ratings and reviews to boost your online visibility. However, make sure you regularly monitor your feedback. A comments plugin can be used on your website to further encourage feedback. If you get bad reviews, quickly respond to show followers you’re responsive to customer needs.

Update Hours of Operation

Many businesses with location pages want people to call or visit their physical location. Encourage customer visits by keeping your business hours up to date. If you have special holiday hours or instances where unforeseen issues are affecting your business, you can use your posts to update followers.

Have a Short, User-Friendly URL

When you first make your Facebook page, you’ll get a URL with jumbled characters that won’t help your online ranking. Instead, customize your Facebook URL to include your business name. Add the location if you have different pages (e.g. “MyStoreBrooklyn”).

Use Your Cover Photo to Your Advantage

The first thing Facebook users will see on your page is the featured cover photo. Use the photo to your brand’s advantage. You can even get creative with the featured image/banner section by:

  • Including a brief video
  • Adding your slogan or a short phrase that sums up what you offer
  • Creating a slideshow

Add a Call-to-Action Button

A call-to-action (CTA) button can be added just below the cover photo. Adding a CTA button can be an effective way to encourage visitors to your Facebook page to take the desired action quickly. How you phrase your call to action will depend on the nature of your business.

Implement Messenger

Facebook Messenger makes it easier to interact with visitors, customers, and followers in real time. Only use Messenger if you or your staff members will be able to actively engage with the customers.

Organize Page Tabs

If you add more location pages over time, you’ll have multiple tabs. Facebook allows you to organize these tabs and turn some of them on and off. You can move your tabs around and prioritize them based on what’s right for your business.

After you’re done optimizing Facebook for your business, the last step is to keep track of your stats. If you will be using Facebook to run ads, results can be included in your Google Analytics reports. In general, fan and organic reach, the number of people clicking anywhere in your posts, comments and shares, click-through rate, and any negative actions taken by fans (e.g. hiding posts) are among the key metrics you’ll want to watch once your Facebook account is fully optimized.

If you’re looking for social media experts to create and manage your Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter account, turn to Saba SEO. We are among the best SEO companies San Diego has to offer. From creating social media accounts to designing focused marketing campaigns, we offer a wide variety of services to help you harness the power of social media to increase your leads and customers. We have over ten years of experience in search engine optimization and an A+ rating on BBB to our credit. To schedule an appointment with one of our Social Media Managers, give us a call at 858-951-1717 today.

How Web 3.0 Could Impact Online Searchers

The purpose of the World Wide Web is to present information as quickly, efficiently, and accurately as possible. What’s being hailed at the next generation of the Web, known as Web 3.0, could make this process even more user-specific. The full impact of this next-gen Web won’t be known until it’s in widespread use. The experts at Saba SEO, a leading San Diego web design company, discuss what Web 3.0 could mean for online searchers.

Making Complex Searches Simple

Right now, if searchers are looking for information on movies to see and places to go to dinner afterward, they would need to do two separate searches to get the info. In the future, Web 3.0 may make it possible to enter “latest superhero movie in theaters and Italian restaurant near me” and get both results from a single search.

Drawing from Knowledge of Searcher Habits

Google already gathers a lot of information to make educated guesses about what searchers want. Web 3.0 may take this concept even further to the point where the World Wide Web would function more like a personal assistant. For example, you might be able to type in “Where should I go for lunch today?” and get suggestions based on previous searches you’ve made related to restaurants and food preferences.

Giving Data a Human Touch

Some insiders are predicting we could see the emergence of the “semantic Web.” Basically, this means the Web and the search engines that run on it would process data very similar to the way the human brain does. Google is already working on the semantic web with its RankBrain program.

Presenting a Virtual Web

There is some speculation in tech circles that increased use of virtual reality could lead to the creation of a virtually presented World Wide Web. The idea of having instant access to virtual shops and being able to explore virtual structures simply by performing an online search sounds amazing. However, there are several technical and practical hurdles to overcome first. For starters, website design would become more complex.

Whatever Web 3.0 brings, it can be assumed it will be accompanied by changes with SEO, website design, and content presentation. It was only in 2003 when the phrase “Web 2.0” was coined to reflect the internet’s evolution at the time because of the emergence of social media. As for when Web 3.0 will arrive, some experts suggest there are already signs it is arriving, such as the increased reliance on artificial intelligence.

Web 3.0 is expected to have some impact on search engine optimization. If you need a reliable digital marketing agency to help you maintain or increase your business’s online visibility, turn to Saba SEO. We are a reputed SEO company San Diego businesses and organizations all around the world rely on. Our team can create a comprehensive marketing strategy for your business that includes search engine optimization, web design, content development, and social media management. To schedule an appointment with one of our SEO Managers, give us a call at 858-951-1717 today.

Study Reveals Important Information About Featured Snippets for Mobile

Getting a featured snippet is a great way to attract visitors to your site. A featured snippet is the search result that appears at the top of the organic results page and attempts to answer the user’s question. It’s longer than the standard snippets that appear under each search result, and it usually answers the question more directly and thoroughly. The experts at Saba SEO, one of the leading San Diego marketing companies, discuss a recent study on featured snippets for mobile.

SEMrush recently conducted a study to figure out how Google selects their featured snippets for mobile searches. They collected a group of featured snippet hubs, which are web pages that have earned multiple featured snippets. Some single URLs have earned almost 3,000 separate snippets, and the snippet hubs have several factors in common.

Pages that earn featured snippets tend to be easy to skim. On average, SEMrush found that a featured snippet hub has 22 headers and subheaders, which is helpful for mobile browsing. They also found that the majority of featured snippet hubs have secure URLs, and most are written at about a seventh-grade level. Most of the pages include several images and external link citations.

The content isn’t the only factor in earning a featured snippet. According to SEMrush’s study, site architecture plays an important role as well. It’s generally best to move from broad to narrow with the folder structure. Linking to other topics on your site throughout the content helps as well.

The study found that 94 percent of the pages that earned a featured snippet ranked in the top five for that search. Questions and comparisons are the most common searches that bring up featured results. Creating site content that answers questions or compares two topics may be the best way to earn a featured snippet. If you have helpful content, good organization for mobile devices, and smart site architecture, your pages may start appearing as featured snippets on mobile searches.

To maximize your website’s chances of being included in featured snippets, turn to Saba SEO, a San Diego SEO company you can trust. For the last ten years, we have helped businesses all around the world boost their online visibility. From web development to search engine optimization, we offer a wide variety of services to help you expand your outreach, increase your website traffic, and enjoy a top ranking on Google’s search engine results pages. To talk to one of our SEO Managers, give us a call at 858-951-1717 today.

Smart Ways to Apply SEO Tactics on LinkedIn

LinkedIn has about 500 million users and a solid reputation as the go-to social destination for professionals. If you want to target employers and potential job seekers, consider optimizing your LinkedIn account. Having high visibility on LinkedIn can also do wonders for your overall online reputation and credibility. The experts at Saba SEO, a leading San Diego SEO agency, share a few tips on how to optimize your LinkedIn page.

Add Some Personality to Your Profile

If you just enter basic info into your LinkedIn profile, you won’t be doing yourself any favors. Instead, put some time and effort into your profile so you’ll make a good first impression on visitors. An SEO-friendly LinkedIn profile includes:

  • A professional photo
  • All fields filled out as much as possible
  • A detailed description that includes the natural use of keywords (don’t stuff keywords)
  • Links to samples of your work or any industry-specific articles you wrote
  • Recommendations from other users within your industry or niche

Include Keywords in Job Titles 

Go beyond basic job titles and include some keywords where it makes sense to do so. for example, instead of “Sales Rep” you might use “Digital Marketing Sales Rep” with “digital marketing” as the keyword.

Get Active in Relevant Groups

Being active in relevant groups can expand your professional network, but such groups also appear in your profile. Search engines will check out the listed titles to get a better idea of who you are and what you do.

Customize Your URL 

There’s some debate about the actual SEO impact of vanity URLs. However, customizing your URL with your name will make it easier for connections to find you on LinkedIn, which can boost your visibility by increasing visits to your page.

Promote Your Account Elsewhere

Once you have an optimized LinkedIn page, you might as well tell the world about it. Draw more attention to your page by tapping into the audiences you already have elsewhere. You can promote your LinkedIn account across multiple platforms by:

  • Including a LinkedIn button on your website
  • Promoting new posts on Twitter, Facebook, and any other platforms you are active on
  • Putting a link in your directory profiles
  • Including a link to your profile in your email signature

Give your LinkedIn page even more SEO power by including backlinks to your profile page in your social media accounts and blog posts. Another option is to guest blog or present video posts where you discuss topics relevant to your industry. Simply include your profile link in the description field. Finally, keep track of your LinkedIn traffic to get a feel for how your efforts are paying off.

With the help of Saba SEO, you can boost your online visibility without draining your budget. We utilize a wide variety of white hat techniques to help you increase your search engine ranking and acquire more leads. When it comes to high-quality internet marketing, San Diego businesses and organizations all over the world rely on our expertise. Whether you need help with search engine optimization, paid marketing, content development, or web designing, we are just a phone call away. Give us a call at 858-951-1717 to speak to one of our digital marketing experts.

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