Saba Digital Marketing

All You Need to Know About the Google Sandbox

If you’re a website developer, online marketer, or business owner, you may have heard of the Google sandbox. Although Google hasn’t confirmed the sandbox, many SEO experts agree it exists. The San Diego SEO service providers at Saba SEO explain what the Google sandbox is, why it exists, and how it works.

What Is the Google Sandbox?

The Google sandbox is supposedly a filter that stops new websites from achieving top rankings in Google search results. Web developers and SEO experts find it nearly impossible to get new sites to rank well despite the fact they used the same strategies on other websites that have high rankings.
New sites may remain in the sandbox for a few weeks to an entire year, which may be Google’s way of putting these websites on probation. The search engine is dedicated to delivering high-quality results, so they may put new sites through a waiting period to assess their quality.

Is the Google Sandbox Real?

Google has never confirmed the existence of the sandbox, but experts believe Google’s algorithm includes several factors that create the sandbox effect. Webmasters first noticed their newly-launched sites weren’t ranking well in 2004. In 2014, developers and site owners took interest in the sandbox once again when new sites started taking even longer to rank.

How Can You Avoid the Google Sandbox?

It may be challenging to completely avoid the sandbox, but you can reduce the amount of time your new site remains in it. Content creation and link-building seem to be the best ways to escape the sandbox. As soon as possible, you should publish a set of blog posts or a piece of original research. It’s also a good idea to create a social media presence for your site and reach out to relevant businesses or influencers for link-building opportunities.

If you want to increase your search engine ranking and come out of the Google sandbox, turn to Saba SEO. We are among the best marketing companies San Diego has to offer. Our team can create a new and responsive website for your business, provide high-quality content, and take steps to boost your online ranking. We also offer social media marketing services to help you enhance your brand image and attract high-quality traffic to your website. To talk to one of our professional SEO Managers, give us a call at 858-951-1717 today.

3 Ways Small Businesses Can Outrank Amazon

It can be difficult for small e-commerce stores to compete against massive brands like Amazon. These large retailers usually dominate the search engine results page, and you may not think your small business can beat them. However, it’s possible to outrank Amazon, which could bring you a huge boost in sales. Here are three tips for strengthening your SEO strategy and beating Amazon in the SERPs, brought to you by the team at Saba SEO, one of the leading San Diego SEO companies.

1. Use Long-Tail Keywords

If you only focus on short-tail keywords like “mattresses” or “women’s shoes,” you probably won’t outrank Amazon or other major retailers. There are so many different websites and businesses trying to rank for those keywords, and it’s easy for smaller e-commerce stores to get lost under the larger and more authoritative sites.

Instead, you should utilize unique long-tail keywords to beat your competition. Most large retailers like Amazon don’t use long-tail keywords, so these keywords can increase your ranking. Instead of using “women’s shoes” as your main keyword, you could incorporate keywords like “Nike women’s running shoes” or “women’s red sandals.”

2. Improve Your User Experience

User experience is one of the most important factors in search engine rankings. One of your main priorities should be increasing your visitors’ engagement rates and decreasing bounce rates. Increasing your page speed and making your site mobile-friendly can enhance user experience. Also, every piece of content on each page should be useful for your visitors.

3. Don’t Use Stock Product Descriptions

Sites like Amazon offer thousands or millions of products, and they typically don’t have time to write unique product descriptions. If you can include unique and keyword-rich descriptions for each of your items, you may outrank Amazon in the SERPs. Try to provide as much useful and relevant information as possible. For example, you could use long-tail keywords to create unique content for your products and services that keeps your visitors on your site for longer.

Increasing online visibility can be a challenging task. However, the team at Saba SEO can simplify the SEO process for you. We use various white hat tactics to increase our clients’ search engine rankings without draining their budget. As one of the leading marketing companies in San Diego, we offer customized and high-quality solutions for both small and large businesses all over the world. For over ten years, we have helped several organizations build a solid brand image and attract more clients using the power of the internet. If you want to know how we can boost your business’s online ranking, give us a call at 858-951-1717 today.

Study Shows Featured Snippets Are Dominating Search Results Pages

Roughly 30 percent of Google search results now have featured snippets, as reported in a study published by a consulting firm. The research confirms that people pay more attention to the results displayed at the top of search engine results pages (SERPs). The findings are also significant because featured snippets are often used to provide answers to voice search requests. The digital marketers at Saba SEO, a leading San Diego SEO company, discuss the impact of snippets on search engine ranking.

Featured Snippets Are on the Rise

Based on an assessment of over a million queries, the study showed that half of these searches returned results that included either a featured snippet or a similar type of response. It’s not so coincidental that more people are using voice search features, which often produce results based on snippets. In fact, Google Home and Android device voice search results only come from featured snippets.

Snippets vs. Featured Snippets

“Snippets” are simply the descriptions included with search results, and featured snippets are the descriptions Google prominently displays. However, they’re not entirely unrelated. The study showed that nearly 90 percent of the 601 featured snippets reviewed were identical to the related “regular” snippets. The remaining snippets had differences that included being:

• A partial match to the regular snippet
• In table form
• A shortened or truncated version of the regular snippet
• An enhancement of the regular snippet
• A mix of two-page sentences
• A composite of meta and other content

Why Featured Snippets Matter

Featured snippets are significant because they show Google considers the content in these blurbs of information to be high quality and in line with the searcher’s intent. Having your content displayed in featured snippets can:

• Boost click-through rates (CTRs)
• Increase organic visibility on SERPs
• Raise website traffic
• Enhance business/brand credibility

Landing a prime featured snippet spot is an effective way to boost online visibility and gain an edge over competitors. You can increase your odds of ranking in position zero by researching your competitors snippets, including relevant bullet lists in your content, using keyword phrases that answer common search questions, and keeping your snippet content as concise as possible.

If you need help reaching position zero on Google’s search results page, turn to Saba SEO. As a premier internet marketing service provider in San Diego, we utilize state-of-the-art tools and techniques to boost your online ranking, enhance your brand image, and increase your website traffic. We offer content development, search engine optimization, social media marketing, and other services to establish a solid online reputation for your business that can increase your online ranking and attract more visitors. To learn about our customized digital marketing solutions, give us a call at 858-951-1717 today.

Google Announces That Voice-Based Search Is Increasing

Using a virtual assistant or similar voice-activated device to get information is not a new concept. What is new is the increased accuracy of the results people get when asking questions or giving commands. Because of reliability that can be as high as 90-95 percent and the convenience of being able to speak instead of type, Google reports that voice search is on the rise. The San Diego SEO specialists at Saba SEO discuss voice-based activity and its impact on search engine optimization.

An Increase in Mobile Voice Search Activity

Google says 20 percent of all queries on its mobile app and Android devices are voice searches, which isn’t all that surprising considering Google Assistant is now available on more than 400 million devices. Mobile voice-related searches are also three times more likely to be locally based than traditional text-based (typed) searches.

More Voice-Activated Actions Are Now Available

Google has gone a step further by integrating an assortment of third-party transactional services into its Google Home smart speakers, such as Uber, Open Table, and Ticketmaster. As a result, people can use voice commands to do everything from making a restaurant reservation to ordering a shared ride.

Voice Search Appeals to Searchers of All Ages

Millennials love voice search, with 25 percent of people between the ages of 16 and 24 already using voice search on their mobile devices. However, 40 percent of adults are also using voice search every day, suggesting it’s an appealing option for searchers of all ages. Other statistics reveal that:

• 35 times more voice queries were performed via Google in 2016 than in 2008
• One out of every five Android searches is voice-related
• Approximately 25 percent of searches performed on the Windows 10 taskbar are voice-activated
• Nearly 70 percent of people who use Google Home or similar smart speaker devices say they can’t imagine going back to life without such technology
• More than 50 percent of online shoppers report using or planning to use some type of voice-responsive technology

The Trend Is Not a Passing Fad

Whether it’s with Siri, Alexa, Google Home, or some other type of voice-activated method, there are many ways people can perform voice searches. And voice search doesn’t look like it’s going to be a passing fad. By 2020, half of all searches may be voice-activated. It’s also predicted that 30 percent of all searches could soon be done without a screen.

What does all of this increased voice searching mean for marketers and businesses? For SEO purposes, it means getting more conversational with keywords and using location-suggesting words like “near me” since most voice searches are local and based on the speaker’s detected location.

If you want your business to benefit from voice search, turn to Saba SEO. As a leading San Diego SEO agency, we offer search engine optimization, web design, content development, and social media marketing services to businesses all over the globe. Our experts utilize a wide variety of white hat tactics to boost your local and organic SEO and increase your online visibility. Whether you need a review of your existing marketing plan or a new SEO strategy, give us a call at 858-951-1717 today.

Request A Free Consultation