Month: November 2023

With 80% of businesses using Google Ads for their PPC campaigns to break through the saturated online advertising marketplace, many business owners are beginning to ask, “What is the advantage of using Google Ads, and should I be implementing it in my digital advertising strategy?”

Google Ads is Google’s proprietary advertising service, which allows businesses of all shapes and sizes to promote their products and services on the search rankings. As a business owner, you can create a campaign with your budget, demographic, location, and target audience in mind, which can provide much faster results than standard SEO campaigns and reach the right audience.

Come with us as we explore the answer to the question, “What is the advantage of Google Ads?” and look at the types of Google ad campaigns you should be running to optimize your promotional strategies. 

14 Advantages of Google Ads

So, what is the advantage of using Google Ads? 

There are plenty. Let’s check out a few of the main ones. 

1. Enhanced Brand Recognition

When most people want information about a particular product or service, they head to Google, which is why having a decent presence on the world’s largest search engine is crucial.

When you promote your website using Google Ads, you get the right audience to see your brand. As users continue seeing the same ad over and over, they begin to recognize your brand. 

And, as we all know, brand recognition is a key factor for lead generation.

2. Precise Audience Targeting

With Google Ads’ in-depth targeting engine, you can customize your target audience based on a number of important characteristics, including location, age, language, interests, keywords, and more. 

It even allows you to target those who may have already expressed their interest in your products or services based on pages they’ve visited in the past.

In essence, you don’t end up wasting advertising money on the wrong group of people. 

3. Quick Results

While optimizing your SEO is one of the best long-term strategies to stay in favor of Google’s complex web of search ranking algorithms, you have to spend quite a bit of time making sure your website is running optimally. This means publishing quality, engaging content, researching the right keywords, and a million other things. 

If you’re looking for a quicker way to drive traffic to your site, Google Ads is king. You don’t have to compete with organic search results, meaning any kinks in your SEO strategy are irrelevant. 

4. Ad Placements Across Platforms

When people ask us, “What is the advantage of Google Ads?” one of the main things we say is flexibility.

You have total control over how you want to promote your ads, all the way down to the platform you want to promote them on. From social media platforms to smartphone apps, the options are limitless. 

5. Massive User Base

Google dominates the search engine marketplace with over 80 billion visits every month, meaning it can send businesses massive amounts of traffic each day, especially if businesses have the budget for it. 

The platform works by tapping into some of the largest and highest-quality traffic sources on the planet using relevant ads and content. This means you have the opportunity to reach people from all over the world in an instant. 

6. Budget Control and Flexibility

Google Ads is a form of PPC advertising, meaning there’s no minimum budget requirement, and you only have to pay for what you decide to use. In essence, you determine a budget that’s comfortable for you and decide how to spend it.

The beauty of Google Ads is you won’t find any hidden fees, making it easy to put a cap on your budget and cease advertising spending once you’ve reached your goals. 

It’s also worth noting that Google uses real-time AI to adapt to monthly budgets so that its clients get the most from their spending. 

7. Conversion Tracking

The reach of Google Ads is clear, but how well does it convert, and if it converts well, is there a way to see that?

Evidence shows that Google’s paid traffic conversions offer twice the success of organic traffic conversions. As for tracking, because Google allows you to place different users in your target audience in separate “buckets,” you can analyze individual analytics data to see how well certain types of ads convert with specific demographics in mind. 

8. A/B Testing

A/B testing has long been one of the most potent advertising strategies. You can experiment with different ad elements and characteristics to see what works best. 

For example, let’s say you want to increase the click-through rate of your latest paid ad, though you’re unsure how to approach it. You can start by experimenting with different keywords or copy that might be more persuasive for your target audience. 

You can also try using Google’s newest search ad format, Responsive Search Ads, which lets users add multiple descriptions and headlines to a single ad before Google automatically tests out which combinations perform best. 

With A/B testing, you can find what works best to save money in the future. 

9. Keyword Targeting

As we said before, the audience targeting aspects of Google Ads are comprehensive. 

However, where its strength truly lies is keyword targeting.

The Google Adwords platform allows you to select and bid on short- or long-tail keywords. 

What’s the difference?

Short-tail keywords might garner fewer leads, though they often provide more traction. On the other hand, long-tail keywords can target potential customers with much higher intent. 

10. Demographic Targeting

Google’s demographic targeting offers a unique way to narrow your target audience, as the last thing you want to do is spend precious advertising money on people outside your chosen demographic.

You can pick from various settings in the targeting module, including age, gender, household income, and more. 

11. Remarketing

More than 45% of websites use Google Ads in their ad networks, meaning all their cookies can retarget users. 

If a user visits your website, they will continue to see your ad even after they’ve left. Google even allows you to tweak your retargeting options so that only those who have performed specific actions can see them.

For example, if a user clicks on the “bedding section” of your home goods website, they will continue receiving ads for bedding specifically.

12. Ad Customization

As one of the most flexible ad platforms, you can customize your ad however you see fit. 

You could, for example, choose to target only people in your local area of a certain age range with a particular combination of display and video ads for a set period. 

The parameters are highly adjustable.

13. Rapid Campaign Setup

One of the reasons Google Ads has become so popular amongst businesses large and small is that it’s a super easy platform to execute on. You don’t need an MBA or years of marketing experience to set up a campaign and get the job done.

With a few basic marketing skills and good instincts, you can kick off quality ad campaigns and get positive results. 

14. Competitor Ads Analysis

What is the advantage of Google Ads when it comes to your competition, you ask?

Well, since the Google Ads platform is transparent, you can track what keywords your competitors are bidding for and what kinds of ads they’re running. 

In doing so, you can analyze their strategies and adjust as you see fit. 

Don’t let your competition beat you. Get in touch with us here at Mediaboom and work with an expert team that can help you create the optimal Google Ads campaign.

Types of Advertising You Can Do On Google Ads

As we said before, Google Ads is wildly flexible, and the world is your oyster when it comes to the types of advertising campaigns you want to run. 

Search Ads

Along with the organic results you see when you plug into the Google search engine, you also find search ads. These ads, often text-based, are relevant to the search terms used. 

With a search ad, you want to target terms and keywords relevant to your business’s products and services.

Display Ads

When internet users visit websites that are part of the Google Display Network, they’ll see display ads. With two million websites in the network, which reach more than 90% of internet users, display ads are very beneficial. 

These ads can be made up of text, images, video, and more. 

Video Ads

Video ads run through YouTube, so any ad you create through Google’s video campaigns will run through this popular platform. 

App Ads

App ads are made to promote other applications. The beauty of this ad type is that it consolidates your current ads and marketing materials across a vast range of platforms to curate individual app ads. 

Shopping Ads

Shopping ads are excellent options for retail businesses and eCommerce stores. They’re managed using the Google Merchant Center and appear on both Google’s Shopping tab and the main SERP. 

Note that these ads often use product data instead of keywords. 

Discover Ads

Lastly, we have “discover ads,” which reach users who Google deems are “ready to discover new products and services.” These ultra-personalized, visually engaging ads take on different forms on various platforms, including the Gmail app, the Google app, and the YouTube app.

FAQs About the Advantages of Google Ads

What is the Main Purpose of Google Ads?

The main reason businesses use Google Ads is to promote their businesses, increase traffic, and sell products and services. 

Why Are Google Ads So Effective?

One reason why Google Ads is such an effective platform is that advertisements appear at the top of the SERP before any organic search results, meaning you get the ability to reach your target audience when they’re most engaged. 

What is the Advantage of Using Google Ads?

Using online ads is one of the best ways to increase customer reach and build brand awareness, all while encouraging consumers to purchase your products and services. 

Is Google Ads Really Profitable?

Google notes that a business can generate $8 for every $1 of ad spend. 

Is Google Ads Better Than SEO?

Google Ads can provide more positive results in the short term compared to SEO, which often takes weeks or months of hard work.

Conclusion: Hire a Digital Marketing Agency Now

So, what is the advantage of using Google Ads?

It provides business owners with the ability to target a worldwide audience with total control and intent, all while providing back-end analytics tools to make sure every campaign run is optimal.

From instantaneous results to precise targeting, the advantages are endless. However, creating a strong Google Ads campaign is only part of the greater advertising process.

Knowing how to manage and analyze your campaigns is even more valuable, and that’s where Mediaboom comes in.

Get in touch with us today and see how our team of digital marketing experts can help your business achieve its advertising goals.

With more than 87% of consumers using Google to evaluate the credibility of their businesses, using local SEO ranking factors to stand out in the crowd is key. But what exactly are these factors, and why is it so important for your business to pay close attention to them? 

Local SEO ranking factors are the parameters Google and other search engines use to determine where a business appears in local search results. From optimizing your on-page SEO to completing your  Google Business profile, there are numerous ways to climb higher in the SEO rankings. 

In this guide, we’ll look in-depth at how you can improve your rankings in search engines. 

What Are the 10 Most Important Local SEO Ranking Factors? 

Though Local SEO ranking factors are in a constant state of flux, there are a few factors that seem to stand out more than others. 

1. Domain Authority

Domain authority is an umbrella search ranking metric that was developed by the team at Moz, which predicts how likely a website is to secure a top SERP position. 

Better domain authority means better rankings in local, organic search results.

While there are many methods you can use to achieve higher domain authority, some of the most important include optimizing your Google Business Profile, creating engaging and relevant content, and acquiring high-quality backlinks from other local businesses. 

2. On-Site SEO Optimization

While there are endless ways to optimize a website to increase the flow of local search engine traffic, making sure you have relevant, high-quality content and a user-friendly site structure will get you furthest with search engine crawlers. 

Here are a few ways you can start optimizing your on-site SEO:

• Use relevant and impactful headings
• Establish internal links
• Implement quality multimedia components
• Craft compelling meta-descriptions
• Optimize page titles

Let’s work together and create an on-site optimization strategy that suits your business.

3. Google Business Profile (GBP)

Google Business Profile (GBP) is somewhat of a cornerstone of local SEO optimization. It’s a completely cost-free Google tool that connects consumers with nearby businesses via Google Maps. 

When you have your GBP listing filled out correctly, it captures the attention of both the search engine’s algorithms and potential local customers. In fact, the Google Business Profile is often the first point of contact for people looking for products and services on Google, which is why it’s key to make sure you have your business listed and that you’re actively managing it. 

Note that your Google Business Profile determines relevancy with factors like categories, proximity, and keywords, so take these into account when filling out your profile. 

4. NAP Consistency

NAP, which stands for Name, Address, and Phone number, offers business contact details while reaffirming the legitimacy of a business for search engine crawlers.

Make sure your NAP is identical across all directory and citation listings so that you don’t confuse the search engines. 

5. Local Keyword Usage

With a dialed-in local keyword strategy, you can reel in potential customers who are searching for niche products or services that you offer.

Google has long emphasized the importance of geo-targeting and location-based keywords when it comes to search results and local SEO ranking factors. One of the things you can do is research and implement the most relevant keywords with keyword tools like Ahrefs and SEMrush and implement them into your site.

Contact our team to learn more about how you can boost your SEO with proper keyword utilization.

6. Online Directory Listings

If your business is not already in online directory listings, put the task on your to-do list.

Search engines rely on the NAP data from these directories to determine your local organic search result rankings, so ensuring your business information is verified and complete can be hugely impactful.

7. Citation

Online citations and directories are somewhat like modern-day Yellow Pages, providing accurate and up-to-date information about your business that can help you secure reputable and authoritative local backlinks. Citation signals account for 13% of the overall ranking factor.

Many consumers turn to these citations to find contact details and various products and services, while search engines rely on citations to verify essential business details.

8. Local Backlinks

As a local business, you should strive to acquire relevant and authoritative backlinks from local websites. Do note that in Google’s eyes, however, quality surpasses quantity, so do your research.

The local SEO ranking criteria take a number of factors into account regarding backlinks, including the authority of the linking domains, link relevance, the number of linking domains, and the specific anchor text.

9. Google Reviews

When you’re looking for a new restaurant to try, you want to see that it has positive reviews, right?

Google sees it the same way. When it sees positive reviews, it pins the business as “trustworthy.”

Google gives businesses with consistently positive reviews better rankings. However, don’t think you can fool Google with fake reviews, as it also takes the overall quality, quantity, and diversity of reviews into account.

We recommend encouraging your happy customers to share positive feedback on platforms like Yelp and Google Maps!

10. User Behavior

There are many ranking factors that consider how users interact with your site, such as dwell time and click-through rate.

Though user behavior only accounts for 8% of your ranking weight, it’s still a key factor to keep in mind.

Google highly values user behavior, as it’s much harder to manipulate than some of the other local SEO ranking factors. 

While some SEO experts try to manipulate user behavior, we often find that it’s better to spend time optimizing your Google Business Profile and crafting high-quality content to provide users with the best possible experience.

In turn, you’ll naturally enhance your user behavior signals. 

How To Track Local Ranking

If you can’t monitor your website’s performance, how in the world will you know what areas need optimization?

This is where having the right tracking tools is invaluable.

Top 3 Useful Tools

Here at Mediaboom’s digital marketing agency, we use the highest-quality digital marketing tools to optimize site performance. Here’s a short list of some of our favorite tools.

Want to learn more about how we use these tools to optimize our clients’ rankings? Get in touch! 

1. SEMrush Position Tracking

SEMrush Position Tracking is one of the best SEO tools on the market, as it allows users to track their daily positions by monitoring a custom set of keywords.

It also provides a number of great advanced tracking functions, such as geographic location tracking, language tracking, and device type tracking. You can even take all of your SEO ranking data and compile it into a downloadable PDF format to assess in full. 

2. Moz Rank Checker

Moz has been a long-standing player in the SEO industry, and the Moz Pro Rank Tracker is a great example of a reliable rank-checking tool.

You can use it to monitor keyword rankings either weekly, monthly or in a completely custom timeframe of your choosing, as well as make insightful comparisons for keyword visibility between mobile and desktop searches.

3. Ahrefs Rank Tracker 

Ahrefs is one of the most well-known SEO companies in the industry, and Rank Tracker, with its many precise features, makes it a top choice for pro SEOs. 

With Ahrefs Rank Tracker, you can monitor keyword positions for your pages and post and pinpoint rankings for specific countries by adding keywords to your tracker list, taking it outside the sphere of local SEO.

Ahrefs also provides endless data for you to assess, including the average position, current keyword position, and keyword-generated traffic, making it incredibly valuable for those who need deep insights into their SEO work. 

What are the 4 SEO Rank Factors?

There are four key factors that can influence your SEO rankings:

1. On-Page SEO

On-page SEO includes things like images, internal links, and title tags, all of which optimize the user experience. When Google “crawls” your site, it tries to determine certain things about your content, such as whether you’re using relevant keywords based on the content, whether pages on similar topics are linked to one another, and whether images have alt-text.

2. Off-Page SEO

Contrary to on-page SEO, off-page SEO looks at external site factors, including social media engagement, product reviews, and audience interaction. The more users engage with and share your content, the more Google will value it. Guest blogs and backlinks are two essential components of off-page SEO.

3. Technical SEO

This looks at how smoothly your site operates and includes aspects like sitemap creation, speed optimization, duplicate content removal, and whether or not your site performs optimally on all devices, including mobile and desktop.

4. Local SEO

As you now know, local SEO helps consumers discover nearby businesses with organic searches. Google Business Profile is one of the main tools used for local SEO ranking factors, as it allows you to manage how your business is displayed on Google.

More importantly, however, are the actions you can take to optimize each of these rank factors.

Additional Resources to Improve Local Rank

Beyond taking care of the above local SEO ranking factors, there are a few additional things you can do to climb higher in the search engines. 

Optimize Your Website Design

Google likes responsive, user-friendly websites, and as mobile usage continues to surge, it’s even more important to provide a smooth mobile experience. 

Check out our web design project for Quazi Clinic for an excellent example of how great web design can have beneficial results.

Increase Your Speed 

Most of your traffic will originate from mobile users, so make sure to assess the speed at which your pages load on mobile devices. Excessive dynamic elements and visuals can hinder load times, though luckily, we have tools like PageSpeed Insights that can provide detailed insights into your website’s loading speed to give you a better idea of how it’s performing. 

Explore our SEO Optimization article to find other ways to increase your visibility.

Define a Content Marketing Strategy

If you don’t have a quality content marketing strategy in place, it’s important to start crafting one now. 

From creating valuable, keyword-optimized blogs to auditing and repurposing existing content, there are many ways in which having a consistent stream of content can boost your local SEO efforts.

Get in touch with us here at MediaBoom to see how we can help you build a one-of-a-kind content marketing strategy like this one.

Constantly Publish New Resources

With a continuous flow of new content and resources, you show search engines that you’re active and authoritative. Plus, it’s a great way to keep people coming back to your site. 

Check out our content creation guide to see how you can best regularly update your website with fresh and informative content. 

Collaborate with Local Businesses In Link-Building Campaigns

As we said before, having quality local backlinks from reputable businesses can significantly boost your local SEO rankings, so establishing partnerships and collaborating with businesses in your area for link-building campaigns can be incredibly beneficial. 

Get in touch with reputable businesses in your area that work in the same industry or offer relevant products and services.

FAQs About Local SEO Ranking Factors

How Do I Rank Higher In Local SEO

There are several ways in which you can rank higher in local SEO, though some of the most important factors include:

• Optimizing your Google Business Profile
• Improving your internal linking structure
• Performing a local SEO audit
• Ensuring NAP consistency across all platforms 
• Engaging on social media
• Optimizing online citations and directories

What Is The Most Important Local Search Ranking Factor?

Having an optimized Google Business Profile is one of the most important factors for local search rankings. 

How Does Google Determine Local Ranking?

Google determines local search rankings based on a combination of factors, including prominence, distance, and relevance, so having SEO to support these elements is key. 

Conclusion 

As you can see, there are many essential local SEO ranking factors to account for, and each holds its weight when it comes to driving organic traffic.

A lot of these strategies require trial and error, and seeing consistent results often means months of work. However, one way to speed up the process is to partner with a digital marketing agency like Mediaboom. 

Allow us to do the hard work for you so you can focus on what really matters — your business. 

Contact us today to get started.

Digital advertising is increasingly crucial to promote and grow your business. It allows you to reach your audience where they spend most of their time, increasing anything from brand awareness to your customer rates.

Spending big money on digital campaigns means little if you don’t know whether these campaigns are actually performing well. And for the majority of brands, that’s exactly what happens. In fact, more than 75 percent of marketers struggle to track the return on investment for their digital campaigns.

With the right numbers, you can determine exactly whether or not the money you invest in your digital marketing strategy is well-spent. These numbers allow you to make adjustments, prioritize spending, and maximize business growth. To accomplish these goals, here are 9 key metrics that can help you measure and determine the success of your digital ad campaigns.

1. Total Reach/Impressions

The most basic of ad metrics answers the question of how far it traveled. Depending on your preferred network, you will get the answer to that question in one or both of two basic ways:

• Impressions describe the total number of times your ad was shown.
• Reach describes how many unique users actually saw your ad.

The difference is best explained through an example: one person seeing your ad twice will constitute a reach of one, but two impressions. Either metric is best used to measure the brand awareness you get through your digital campaign.

2. Average Daily/Monthly Cost

Naturally, you also need to know how much you are actually spending on your campaign. While the overall cost is probably defined ahead of time, this metric helps you better understand how your budget is spent throughout the campaign.

A reach of 10,000 is much more impressive on a $10 than a $100 daily budget. Monitoring your daily or monthly costs over time also allows you to spot exactly how consistently your campaign has been running, which you can correlate with spikes in other metrics for additional insights.

3. Total Clicks

Most digital campaigns have clicks as an immediate goal. Typically, these clicks direct to the brand website, where the user is prompted to read relevant content or convert to a lead through a landing page.
Based on that goal, it follows naturally that the totality of clicks can help you understand the success of your campaign on its most basic level. More clicks means more audience attention, which you can leverage into conversions and other desirable actions down the road.

4. Click-Through Rate

Total clicks matter, but click-through rate might be even more important. This metric divides clicks by the total impressions of your ad, allowing you to understand which percentage of viewers actually clicked on it.

Whereas total clicks predict success down the funnel, your click-through rate allows for direct insights into the success of the ad itself. Through continuous A/B testing, you can improve individual aspects of your ads to maximize your click-through rate over time.

5. Cost per Click

Take your average daily or monthly costs, and divide them by the total clicks for that time period. You get your cost per click, which can be a crucial determinant for understanding how well your budget is working toward your basic campaign goal.

Costs per click can vary significantly based on your industry. In real estate, for instance, the average cost per click for Google search ads is $1.81, while the average Facebook cost per click is just under $2. Because most digital ads are charged by the click, this metric is crucial to forecasting your budget as well.

6. Average Duration/Page Views per Visitor

Once members of your target audience get to your website as a result of clicking on your ad, what happens? A visitor who immediately bounces is of little value to your business. To better determine the success potential of each click, consider using a platform like Google Analytics to track your web metrics.

More specifically, it makes sense to track the average amount of time a visitor spends on your website, as well as the number of pages they view while there. You can narrow your data by channel, allowing you to pay special attention to web visitors who came from paid ads.

7. Lead Conversion Rate

Ideally, a visitor to your website doesn’t just spend some time there, but converts to a lead for further, more targeted marketing. How well your individual ads perform in accomplishing that goal can be crucial in determining the ultimate success of your digital ad campaigns.

In that effort, lead conversion rate will be an important metric. More specifically, what percentage of users who view your ads actually converted to leads on your website? Through tracking pixels on ad platforms like Google and Facebook, you can easily relate individual website conversions back to your individual ads.

8. Cost per Lead

Similar to cost per click, this metric helps you determine your actual ROI. If you know that an average customer is worth $10,000, and about 5 percent of your leads convert to customers, you know that the average lead is worth $500. Now, you know that a cost per lead below $500 will result in a positive return on investment.

Cost per lead is also an ideal metric to compare different advertising networks. Facebook, for instance, tends to have a lower cost per click but a higher cost per lead than LinkedIn. Which of the two works best for you ultimately depends on your marketing goals.

9. Lead to Close Ratio

Finally, the holy grail of marketing metrics: how many of your leads actually become customers? Once you figure out this number, you will have a better idea of exactly how successful your ads actually are.
The lead-to-close ratio finishes your sales funnel. In combination with your other metrics, it helps you track the success of your ads from first exposure all the way to becoming customers. As a result, it will be vital to measure the success of your digital ad campaigns.

Making Your Way to a More Successful Digital Campaign

Track these metrics, and you will increase the chances of each ad actually making an impact for your audience. The result is reliable, sustainable business growth. But of course, you still need the right marketing strategy and execution to actually make that happen.

If your brand or business would like to establish and succeed with digital ad/marketing campaigns, contact us to schedule a free consultation.

SEO reputation management is a must, as companies only have one image. Once it’s tarnished, building it back to rights can be difficult. You don’t want the specter of bad decisions harming your SEO and brand, so how do you use SEO to manage your online reputation?

You can improve SEO reputation management by auditing your website and improving it based on the results, inviting more user-generated content, showcasing behind-the-scenes views of your brand, publishing high-value content, and creating a crisis management protocol. Covering your bases ensures your profitability, brand equity, and search traffic don’t take a hit.

This introduction to online reputation management SEO will provide strategies and best practices for safeguarding a blemish-free image and restoring a tarnished reputation.

What is online reputation management?

Essentially, online reputation management, or ORM for short, is the digital marketing strategy of managing the public’s perception of a company on SERPs. With as much as 90 percent of consumers checking online reviews before making a purchase, you certainly don’t want potential clients finding negative stories on the first page of results when they look for your business. 

Protect your brand’s image online with SEO reputation management by addressing negative feedback and giving positive content more weight with optimized strategies. If your content is properly SEO-focused, it will carry more weight with search engines like Google. 

What is SEO?

Search engine optimization (SEO) combines digital marketing strategies intended to boost your website’s rank on internet search engines. Using keywords related to your industry, business niche, and geographical region, optimize your content to help Google understand what your site does and build a digital reputation as an authority in your industry. The stronger your SEO efforts, the higher your website will rank on SERPs.

SEO includes content from social media posts and blogs to press releases and your website using targeted keywords, technical optimization, and building a network of trusted backlinks. 

Benefits of ORM for your business

You may ask why ORM offers your business benefits, questioning whether it is truly worth the effort. According to Forbes, 97 percent of business owners said ORM was vital to their digital marketing strategies. 

How Reputation Management Affects SEO

Gossip and negative news tend to spread far faster than any positive message ever will. If something less than flattering about your brand goes viral, reputation management will help mitigate the damage, preventing further sales and search traffic loss. A bad online reputation can decimate your brand’s value and profitability if left unchecked.

A negative online reputation can impact:

• Organic search traffic

If the first thing customers see when they search for your company is a negative story, they are far less likely to click through and give you their business. Less search traffic means fewer sales.

• Paid search traffic

Negative articles and reviews will make paid digital advertisements for your brand give a lower return on investment. If you don’t want to keep increasing your advertising budget without results, look toward SEO reputation management for solutions.

• Brand Equity

Negative press can directly impact your brand equity, resulting in greater difficulties in drawing in customers and establishing working relationships with other businesses. 

• Profitability

When your business suffers from a negative reputation, profitability is one of the impacts you’ll feel most keenly. Losing too much profitability can cause you to lose stockholders or force you to let employees go to stay in business. 

Get better SEO reputation management with these tips

1. Start with an intense evaluation of your online reputation

Discover what potential customers find when they do a Google search for your business. You know where to start if they find anything other than a clean, updated list of blog posts and SEO content leading back to your website. According to recent research, 93 percent of internet experiences begin with a search. Once you’ve identified your problem areas, use SEO reputation management to move closer to your business goals. 

2. Respond to all online reviews and showcase your brand’s customer service

ReviewTrackers reported that 88 percent of all online reviews are published on just four websites — Google, Yelp, Facebook, and TripAdvisor. The same report said 94 percent of consumers said they were convinced to avoid a business due to a bad review and 53 percent of consumers expect a company’s response to negative reviews within a week. However, the faster the response, the more favorable an impact it has. 

Set up Google alerts for your brand, so you don’t miss any reviews, good or bad. Make it quick and straightforward for customers to leave reviews for your company by using a consistent approach across platforms so the reviewing process is fast, easy, and accessible. Minimize the number of clicks someone must make to leave a review, and keep your questions short. 

Don’t forget about employee-facing review platforms, either. If you plan to grow your business, you will eventually need to recruit talented workers. Ensure you provide an excellent experience for both customers and employees and encourage both to leave reviews telling others how you treated them.

3. Publish useful, engaging content customers find valuable

One of the most essential SEO reputation management tactics is regularly publishing useful, engaging content that customers will find valuable. Google constantly strives to deliver practical, relevant results for internet searches. Content is ranked by its usefulness and relevancy to the user’s search, so yours needs to offer some benefit to the reader to have SEO value. 

Suppose a potential client is torn between you and a competitor and browses both websites to determine which company is the best fit. You are more likely to win the client’s business with a robust library of helpful content to educate consumers about your industry. According to Forbes, self-focused content marketing isn’t the most effective way to catch your audience’s attention; they want value.

Build trust with your target audience and improve brand development by offering informative content that comprehensively answers their questions and concerns. Imagine every conceivable question potential customers could ask about your business, then make sure those answers are easily accessible on your website. 

Don’t be afraid to branch out across platforms for your SEO reputation management. Video marketing is an incredibly popular medium accessible to everyone with a smartphone. Lean into your multimedia options, sharing different aspects of your company to maximize efforts while sharing a consistent brand message. 

4. Use social media to your advantage

When used properly, social media offers your brand unprecedented potential for customer exposure. Control the message the public receives about your brand while growing your audience by providing instant access to the information newcomers want most. Social media should function as a window offering a peek at your company.

Your social media profiles are opportunities to show the platform’s users who you are and what you do at a glimpse. Your social media strategies can’t be an afterthought if you want effective ORM. If social media is a window to your company, let it be open and attractive rather than shuttered and inactive. Social media is one of the first places potential customers will search for you; be there for them to find. A positive reputation and active social media will make lead nurturing easier and more effective. 

5. Highlight the people behind the brand

From the CEO to the custodian, people increasingly want to know about the people behind the brand. According to Washington State University, 44 percent of a company’s market value is intricately entwined with the CEO’s reputation. Your potential clients, employees, and investors are all people who are likely to care about the people supporting your brand. Cultivate a clean, positive image for your company’s CEO and keep it steady with SEO reputation management.

6. Accept that there will be discomfort and commit to working past it

Progress rarely comes without difficulty. If you accept there will be troubles from the start, you’re far more likely to commit to working past the complex parts to achieve your goals. Negative reviews may be unfair or outright lies — you still need to deal with them. With so much beyond your control, SEO reputation management is more critical than ever. 

7. Put your energy into boosting positive search rankings

Use SEO techniques to help positive content dilute the power of anything negative someone may publish online. Ask satisfied customers to leave reviews, which builds a steady stream of positive messages about your brand and services. As a bonus, frequent favorable customer experiences will drown out the effect of negative reviews you may receive and build trust among your target audience.

8. Ensure your “About Us” page is engaging 

Take the time to ensure your website’s “About Us” page is engaging and shares valuable information about your company. This landing page is vital for sharing your company’s values, mission, and methods. Let current and potential customers know who you are, what you stand for, and how you plan to accomplish your goals. 

9. Feature testimonials from satisfied customers

Featuring testimonials from satisfied customers on your website will have more effect than most other reputation management strategies. Customers trust online reviews and often use them to influence their purchasing decisions. Client testimonials tell prospective customers what to expect when they work with your business and go a long way toward building your online reputation. 

10. Maintain SEO efforts for content and on the technical side

Google Business Profile (GBP) is a vital tool. Establish your profile, and ensure it is constantly updated with your contact information, hours, location, and other critical data. Your company’s reviews connect to your GBP profile.

Technical SEO is your website’s speed and efficiency. Ensure your site works correctly, is optimized for mobile use across various devices, has updated Schema markup, and remember to monitor your Core Web Values. 

11. Regularly Audit and Update Your Website

Build website audits into your business routine to help you identify issues with your website, improve conversion rates, and benefit your website’s performance. You can also raise your SEO rank.

While you can perform many types of audits–including lead conversion optimization, data privacy, and social media audits, we recommend only two for your purposes.

The first is an SEO website audit, which can identify issues hurting your rank, such as unoptimized videos and images, slow loading speed, keyword stuffing, and messy navigation.

Next, schedule an SEO link audit. This type of audit reviews the integrity and caliber of your backlinks or third-party links associated with your website. An SEO link audit reviews the anchor text, domain, and URL source to determine if it’s boosting your website’s SERP ranking or hurting it.

12. Encourage User-Generated Content

User-generated content, or UGC, is another SEO reputation management strategy. This third-party content comes from enthusiastic users of your product or service. They make the UGC of their own accord, including videos, photos, reviews, social media posts, or blog content.

UGC continues to dominate consumer decision-making, with animation and design resource Linearity stating that YouTube videos with UGC get 10x the views of those from brands.

You can’t force UGC, so how do you encourage your audience to begin creating it? By introducing a user-generated content campaign.

Here are some components your campaign needs:

• Start an ambassador program, working with your most passionate user base to spread the word about your products and services.
• Partner with an influencer and spread your brand to new audience.
• Review social media for mentions of your brand, reviewing the perception and improving accordingly.
• Start a social media contest or giveaway with an exceptional prize.
• Introduce a brand-specific hashtag to increase brand attention.

13. Foster Positive Online Communities

Social media isn’t the only way to connect online. Forums and online communities provide a space to share expertise and discourse about everyday topics. If your industry or niche doesn’t already have an existing online community, your company should start one.

Consider opening a brand-specific forum to promote positive user engagement. This platform for your staunchest and most steadfast supporters to gather can mitigate positivity, as any unfavorable posters would be outnumbered.

On-the-fence customers who review the forum or online community might feel compelled to join. As they see the passionate fan base you’ve accumulated, their positivity can rub off, building a more loyal audience.

14. Create Crisis Management Protocols

Although SEO reputation management should preclude reputational crises, you can never say never. You should have a crisis management protocol in place so you can handle negative circumstances should they arise.

Time is of the essence during a crisis. The longer you go without making a statement or taking reparative action, the shadier it can look to your audience. Having crisis management protocols ensures you’re ready to act swiftly when and if needed.

Here are some pointers for creating a crisis management plan:

• Hire a crisis management team or assemble one based on your current staff members.
• Dole out responsibilities to each member.
• Determine what internal communications are necessary for a crisis, including the verbiage, timeline, and any necessary follow-up.
• Do the same for external communications, going so far as to prepare statements or press release copy you can use if necessary.
• Build an action plan detailing all the steps needed for a crisis management plan and when they’d be deployed.

15. Implement an Online Reputation Monitoring Tool

Tracking brand mentions is a critical part of online reputation management SEO but is time-consuming. Using reputation-monitoring tools saves you time, so you don’t miss any pertinent mentions and reviews.

Deciding which tools to incorporate into your marketing workflow takes time and consideration. Continue reading for our recommended tools designed to simplify your online reputation management.

Local SEO reputation management 

Local SEO reputation management focuses on your company’s immediate area, seeking feedback and endorsements from locals in your industry, both customers and associates. Focus on keywords related to your specific business niche and geographical location.

SEO Reputation Management Tools

Rank higher in Google search results and assuage a brand image with these tools.

Google Alerts

The free Google Alerts tool allows you to select which keywords or topics to prioritize in Google Search, such as name mentions, products, or news. You’ll receive an email from Google Alerts whenever your selected topic(s) gets an update.

You can fine-tune the results by selecting which account receives alerts, how many results you want Google Alerts to send, the preferred language, which parts of the world the alerts come from, and the types of websites.

ReviewPush

A paid service for improving the guest experience, ReviewPush uses the power of automation to collect data. This tool will track ratings and keyword trends and monitor negative and positive signals. You can also count on ReviewPush to reveal blind spots.

Social Mentions

Curate data from more than one billion sources using Social Mentions to track relevant brand mentions. Real-time updates presented in feed format allow you to review negative and positive sentiments. Social Mentions also produces social media data from major platforms like YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook.

SEMrush

SEMrush offers a suite of tools for SEO reputation management. You can track your rank, review your competitors’ SEO proficiency, and use the Social Media Tracker to compare your content against the competition.

SentiOne

Take SEO for reputation management further with SentiOne. This tool can track over five million sources (including social media) and produce automated reports and alerts. The AI-powered notifications feature includes anomaly detection so you can expect accurate results every time.

Reputology

Incorporate a tool like Reputology into your SEO strategy. This review management and monitoring program uses a semantic analysis engine called Text Analytics to divulge insights based on your customer’s words. You can also issue surveys and monitor reviews within this software.

BuzzSumo

Improve your SEO for reputation management with BuzzSumo. Track your brand, related topics, products, or competitors to stay abreast of related mentions. You can also use BuzzSumo for alerts when you receive backlinks, with recommended strategies to strengthen your backlinks profile. You can even count on the platform to find influencers to build up your UGC.

Meltwater

Find the data you need using Meltwater. Its social listening features and crisis management tools will help you understand your audience and plan for if your social reputation goes awry. Receive detailed, automated reports from Meltwater, setting the frequency (with daily, weekly, or monthly options available).

Hootsuite

Who’s saying what about you? You won’t have to guess when using Hootsuite for online reputation management. Besides social listening, Hootsuite lets you create a Stream to naturally jump into conversations and potentially convert a larger audience.

ChatMeter

Designed to increase your positive reviews, ChatMeter is a solid SEO reputation management tool to consider. You can review your overall reputation and social media reputation. ChatMeter even has a listing optimization feature.

Hire a professional reputation management agency

The process of SEO reputation management can be daunting if you’re not well-versed in digital marketing, but don’t worry because help is available. When you don’t have the appropriate skill set to optimize your ORM on your own, hire a professional reputation management agency to handle it all for you. 

Find a digital marketing agency with the right skills to accomplish your goals and let them take care of everything. At the same time, you enjoy the rewards of a strong, positive reputation with the public and your target audience. ORM is a crucial SEO strategy that sets your business up for success by ensuring the public finds positive information when searching for your brand.

Conclusion

SEO reputation management can have a massive impact on a company’s authority and trust with the public. The prevalence and importance of online reviews aren’t likely to fade anytime soon, but with a team of experts supporting your brand, your reputation is in good hands. Contact us at Mediaboom to learn about how our team of experts can help you manage your company’s online reputation.

Check out the recent Redfin article we were featured in:

As we approach the cusp of 2024, the world of interior design is brimming with exciting possibilities and new trends that promise to transform living spaces in both bustling cities like New York and serene retreats like Virginia
Beach. Design experts are forecasting a year that celebrates the cozy embrace of nature blended seamlessly with modern aesthetics. Prevailing themes revolve around the harmonious fusion of nature’s gentle embrace with living spaces that captivates the senses and elevates our daily lives.

This Redfin article on interior design trends invites us to the new New Year’s lifestyle where organic and the modern converge, where every corner becomes an inviting sanctuary, and where innovation and tradition can exist in one
room.  

Read the full article here: Designer Predictions & Trends for 2024 | Redfin

In the last decade, you’ve probably seen the power of travel website SEO at play. It quietly aids travelers of all levels in finding new destinations, accommodations, and experiences. The global tourism market is booming, set to surpass 2.29 trillion U.S. dollars, driving intense competition in the industry.

With numbers like this, it’s no surprise that the travel sector is fiercely competitive

But what is SEO for travel websites?

SEO for travel websites incorporates on-site and off-site search engine strategies to boost your digital presence. These organic marketing tactics aid in a better user experience, improve online visibility, and enhance credibility. Important metrics for travel SEO include click-through rate, keyword rankings, and social media engagement to help gauge overall performance. 

There are several benefits of SEO for a travel website. Here are the top 5:

1. Increased Organic Traffic — By optimizing your website for search engines, you attract more visitors organically.
2. Improved Online Visibility — Higher search engine rankings increase visibility and exposure.
3. Enhanced Credibility — A well-optimized site enhances credibility and is often seen as more trustworthy by users.
4. Better User Experience — SEO practices often lead to a more user-friendly website.
5. Long-Term Returns — SEO investments can yield sustainable results over time.

So, how can you boost your digital marketing strategy for your travel website? Read on for a travel SEO guide and how to best position your company for success.

10 Steps to Boost SEO for Your Travel Website

There are several imperative things to remember to boost your SEO for a travel website. The first is the timeframe. This is a long-term strategy that may take months to see substantial results. An effective strategy includes optimized blog posts, in-depth keyword research, and a backlinking strategy. Effective marketing also incorporates an unwavering understanding of your target audience.

However, these tools are just the starting point. There is no one-stop shop for success. Both on-site and off-site SEO strategies work in tandem for success.

Let’s dive into on-site and off-site SEO and why both are vital for your business.

On-site SEO for a Travel Website

On-site SEO for the travel industry focuses on providing a quality website that is easy for search engines to find. This digital marketing strategy emphasizes target keywords, website speed, and user experience.

1. Customized Website Design

We’ve all experienced a dated website before. How did you feel? Maybe you viewed the website as confusing and inferior to potential competitors.

For this reason, it is imperative to ensure your website’s design is user-friendly and visually appealing. It should not be overly busy with blocks of text or overpowering imagery, especially on the landing page.

2. Target Relevant Keywords

On-site SEO for travel websites focuses on keeping search engines happy. One of the easiest ways to appease search engines is by providing target-relevant keywords.

Research and integrate travel-related keywords strategically. That is to say, do not bog down your website with so many keywords it confuses visitors. According to Ahrefs, Google won’t rank your website higher than competitors solely because you used more keywords. Several additional factors influence that coveted spot.

3. Optimize On-Page Content

One of the best SEO tips for travel websites is to craft high-quality, informative content that aligns with user intent. This content often takes the form of educational blog posts.

Ready to invest in producing high-quality content? Connect with Mediaboom, a digital marketing agency with experts in on-page content today.

4. Improve Website Speed

There is nothing worse than a website that takes too long to load. Faster-loading pages enhance user experience and SEO. Furthermore, a slow-to-load website can frustrate visitors and negatively affect your bounce rate.

Google PageSpeed Insights is a free tool to check your site speed on both desktop and mobile. This easy-to-use resource helps diagnose performance issues and checks for best practices, accessibility, and search engine optimization. Be sure to add this tool to your arsenal for travel SEO and marketing.

5. Optimize for Mobile

In today’s digital-first ecosystem, mobile users are rapidly on the rise. A study by Statcounter found that over 50% of website traffic comes from mobile devices. With this stat in mind, ensure mobile responsiveness for an ever-growing mobile audience.

Just as with your desktop website, Google PageSpeed Insights works to provide a baseline for your mobile website. 

6. Utilize Schema Markup

While you may not have realized, you probably see schema markup nearly every time you search online. Schema markup provides HTML data to help return more information for users. Common examples include showcasing five-star ratings, pricing, or events directly on the search engine results page (SERP).

7. Prioritize User Experience

Now, more than ever, you should curate a seamless, user-friendly interface and prioritize the user experience. A positive UX translates to visitors spending more time on your website. In turn, this boosts conversions and your SEO for travel websites.

8. Create SEO-Oriented Blog Posts

If you’re looking for a multi-beneficial way to boost your organic traffic, look no further than blog posts. Consistently publishing content that caters to your target audience’s interests and concerns is an impactful way to boost SEO for travel agencies. Furthermore, blog posts provide valuable insight for visitors that enhances your brand.

Ready to create high-quality blog posts? Connect with the digital marketing agency Mediaboom with experts in content marketing.

Off-site SEO for a Travel Website

Just as with on-site SEO strategies, there are several important off-site tactics for travel websites.

9. Build High-Quality Backlinks

High-quality, relevant, and authoritative backlinks boost your website’s authority. Backlinks are live links that direct back to your content from external sources. They are an effective tool to boost SEO for the travel industry.

Case Study: Runway Growth Capital

See how Runway Growth Capital increased website traffic with link building and extensive on-site and off-site work. 

10. Create Quality, Engaging Content

Thankfully, creating an effective backlink strategy is easier than ever. Develop shareable and valuable content to attract natural backlinks. This will positively impact your SEO for a travel website and help establish your website as a leader in the space.

11. Leverage Social Media

Use social platforms to promote your travel content and engage with your audience. Leverage your social media channels to cross-promote your website, newsletter, and other valuable assets.

12. Focus on Local SEO

Optimize for local search terms if you have a physical presence. For those with a brick-and-mortar business, you may be missing out on valuable conversions. Create and populate a Google Business Profile to start your local SEO for a travel website.

13. Encourage User Reviews

While it goes without saying, positive reviews enhance trust and visibility. More often than not, prospective customers read user reviews before investing in a product or service. For tourism, user reviews are even more important. This is because travel is often a hefty investment with new experiences and destinations.

If expectations are not aligned, this may contribute to a negative visitor experience. Testimonials help to paint a less biased picture of accommodations, services, or experiences.

14. Consider Voice Search Optimization

With the rise of Siri and Alexa, it is important to optimize for voice search queries related to travel. In fact, 55% of hands-free technology users use voice search to help answer questions.

15. Google Business Profile

Claim and optimize your Google Business profile, this is especially important for local search. This free tool allows you to easily turn prospects who find you on Google Search and Maps into new customers.

10 SEO Metrics to Monitor for Your Travel Website

There are ten important SEO for travel website metrics to monitor for success. These metrics provide invaluable insight into website traffic, user experience, and content marketing.

1. Organic Traffic

The number one goal of travel SEO is to produce organic traffic. Organic traffic utilizes search engines as the main acquisition tool.

2. Keyword Rankings

Keyword rankings refer to a website’s specific ranking for a specific keyword. These keywords include both long-tail and short-tail keywords.

Long-tail keywords are specialized and niche. Examples include “travel destinations in Aruba” or “pet-friendly hotels in Nashville.” Short-tail keywords, on the other hand, are more competitive. Examples of short-tail keywords include “travel” and “hotel.”

You can use a free keyword rank checker to see how your website compares.

3. Click-through Rate (CTR)

Click-through rate (CTR) measures the ratio of specific link clicks to the number of times that asset is shown. Oftentimes, the asset is an email, ad, or page. What is considered a good click-through rate varies by industry and platform.

4. Conversion Rate

Conversion rate measures the percentage of desired action taken on your website. While specific rates are industry-specific, you can calculate your conversion rate to get a starting baseline.

5. Bounce Rate

Bounce rate measures the number of website visitors who leave the website before taking action. The higher the bounce rate, the greater the likelihood a website’s content is not engaging or relevant to the visitor.

According to SEMrush, a bounce rate of over 60% is cause for concern. Anything under 40% is typically deemed a strong bounce rate.

6. Page Load Speed

Page load speed significantly impacts user experience and SEO for a travel website. As you can imagine, a slow website negatively affects user experience and increases the bounce rate.

7. Backlink Profile

Your backlink profile illustrates the number of external websites linking to your content. Simply put, these are live links that direct back to your content. They increase credibility and your travel website’s SEO.

8. Social Media Engagement

Social media engagement factors in actions like comments, likes, saves,and shares. These actions help deliver a clear picture of which content converts best.

9. Mobile-Friendliness

In today’s mobile-first world, visitors expect access and information on the go. For this reason, a properly formatted and responsive mobile website is required. Is your website mobile-friendly? Receive a baseline score from Google Search Console’s mobile-friendly test.

10. User Reviews and Ratings

As mentioned above, user reviews and ratings are key to establishing credibility. Because the travel industry is so competitive, prospective customers often turn to reviews before investing.

Tool for Analyzing SEO Performance

While there are several tools for analyzing SEO for a travel website, there are three popular tools that stand out.

1. Google Analytics — Google Analytics is a must-have tool for your travel website SEO strategy. Utilize Google Analytics to measure website traffic and track user activity.
2. SEMrush — Semrush provides several free tools to help maximize your website’s performance. The SEO Audit tool highlights issues with crawlability, internal linking, and more.
3. Google Search Console — Google Search Console is another free Google service that equips you with data to optimize your website’s visibility. This tool checks your page ranking and if there are any crawling errors associated with your website.

See how Luxo Italia maximized SEO performance to elevate its online visibility.

FAQs – SEO tips for travel website

How Do I SEO My Travel Website?

There are several ways for beginners to get started with SEO for a travel website. The best first step is to determine keywords for your business and begin plugging them into your website content.

Note: Do not overstuff the page. These keywords should feel organic, not inhibiting. 

How to Do SEO for Multiple Countries?

International and local SEO are on two completely different playing fields. Nevertheless, it is incredibly important for the travel industry. On the international scale, there are added competitors. This means you’ll need to incorporate localization factors and perform additional keyword research.

Why is SEO Important in Tourism?

SEO is important in tourism because travel is an uber-competitive market. This means you must invest in every digital and physical marketing strategy you can to stay relevant.

How Long Does it Take to See Results?

Google’s ranking system is incredibly complex and factors in quality and relevance. For this reason, it may take a few months to see a significant impact with SEO for a travel website. Don’t get discouraged if it takes nearly a year to see results, especially for new websites.

Can I Do SEO Myself, or Do I Need a Specialized Agency?

While there are several SEO best practices to get you started, it is best to consult with a specialized agency. Website optimization requires a time commitment. It may save you time and headaches by enlisting the help of a professional in SEO for travel websites.

Conclusion

In uber-competitive markets like travel, it is best to enlist the help of experts in SEO and digital marketing. Hire a digital marketing agency now with experts in SEO for travel websites to stay a step above the competition.

SEO website design is responsive, navigation-friendly, and mobile-optimized. According to HubSpot, over 73 percent of web designers blame non-responsive design for leads exiting a website, proving the value of good design in winning audience attention and improving your status in SERPs. How do you develop a website design optimized for SEO?

SEO web design requires a solid website foundation with reliable hosting, HTTPS, and a robots.txt file. You should build an easily navigable website structure, implementing meta tags, readable URLs, internal links, and meta descriptions. Optimize your keywords and focus on the user experience, using SEO monitoring tools to track your backlinks and ranking.

In this guide to SEO and web design, you’ll learn all about the required elements your website needs as you retool it.

What Is SEO?

Search engine optimization or SEO is your business’s on-page and off-page strategies to improve search engine results pages or SERPs.

On-page SEO refers to the changes you make to your website and off-page centers around backlinks and elements beyond your website that impact it.

Backlinks matter more than ever, as SEMrush reports that Google prioritizes sites with the highest backlinks. However, this is a case of quality over quantity.

Your business should aspire for the top spot on the first page of SERPs. Even getting on the first page is enough to positively impact your website traffic, as SEMrush also reports that under one percent of internet searchers ever make it to Google’s second page of SERPs.

What Is Website Design?

Web design involves planning and executing a website layout. With roughly 1.13 billion websites online in 2023, it’s not enough to have any ol’ website if you want to improve your search engine optimization rank. Your site must be SEO-optimized.

Here are some basic web design elements the average consumer will expect when they land on your site:

• Responsive design
• Readable typography
• Appealing graphics
• Complimentary color scheme
• Solid branding
• Simple but effective page layouts
• Calls to action
• Visual hierarchy
• Page headers and footers
• Social media buttons

Why Are They Important Together?

Website design has always gone hand-in-hand with search engine optimization. Here are five benefits of combining the two.

• Attracts high-intent traffic
• Improves the user experience
• Increases ROI
• Low-cost marketing strategy

How to Build an SEO-Friendly Website in 25 Steps

Now that we’ve established the basics, it’s time to build on those foundations with the following SEO website design steps and strategies.

Before starting: Website Foundation

Your website foundation enables easier crawling for search engines and site navigability for an enjoyable, efficient user experience. Here are five elements of your site foundation to prioritize as your SEO web design gets underway.

1. Choose a Reliable Content Management System (CMS)

A content management system or CMS includes content creation, storage, workflows, and publishing. It’s a collaborative tool allowing for all hands on deck to expedite content-related processes as your company begins building toward a higher volume of content.

Utilizing a CMS system has many benefits. You can publish more content at scale. Cloud-based and mobile-friendly CMS systems are always accessible, even on the go. Many CMS tools produce analytics to improve your content.

2. Select Reliable Hosting

The web host you choose is important as you build your company’s first website or rebuild it from the ground up. Reliable hosting is a pillar of SEO-friendly web design.

The occasional website outage won’t hurt your search engine ranking, but if your site goes down frequently enough, Google and other search engines will de-index it.

3. Choose an SEO-Friendly Domain Name

Consider your domain name when revising your website for a higher position in the SERPs. Domain SEO involves selecting a top-level domain and domain optimized for search engines.

Shorter is better here, with seven to 13 characters the recommended limit. Use a simple domain, but select one based on keyword research.

4. Implement HTTPS for Site Security

Mediaboom and most websites you visit online use HTTPS, short for Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure. It’s a step beyond standard Hypertext Transfer Protocol or HTTP, incorporating encryption for a secure website browsing experience.

Leads and website visitors will feel more confident visiting an HTTPS website. Search engines value HTTPS as well, as it indicates yours is a high-quality, trustworthy site worthy of being boosted in SERPs.

5. Configure the robots.txt File

Web crawlers and bots rely on the Robots Exclusion Protocol or robots.txt file to tell them which sites to crawl and which to skip. This editable file ensures Google’s crawlers only assess your completed, optimized pages.

If you have pages in progress, configure the text file to block crawlers from visiting until your next site crawl.

Mediaboom can help you create a strong website foundation that will become the basis of your SEO-friendly site. Contact our experts today for a free consultation.

Website Structure and Design

Next, it’s time to broaden your SEO website design, building on your site structure with the following elements.

6. Create a Clear Navigation Structure

All websites have a navigation structure, but whether yours is neat and straightforward or a mess depends on the attention you’ve put on it. A website’s navigation structure should have a clear relationship between connected pages.

For example, the about page will be connected to a team and mission page, related to a page about your pricing plans. That will be connected to a contact page linked to your blog.

The more straightforward the navigation structure, the easier a search engine crawler can comb your website.

7. Use a Responsive and Mobile-Friendly Theme

Your website’s theme encompasses all front-end design elements, including typography, text sizing, positioning, headers and footers, color palettes, backgrounds, and page layouts.

You may be able to select from premade themes or design your own for more originality. Keep in mind that your theme must be mobile-ready, responsive, and UX-optimized.

8. Use Readable and Keyword-Optimized URLs

SEO website design requires search-engine-friendly URLs. As you did when creating your website domain, implement keyword research into your URL titles.

Descriptive URLs tell your audience where they’re being redirected, even before clicking on a link (such as hovering).

If your URL has several words, rely on hyphens to separate them. However, don’t use long URLs, and keep all the text lowercase.

9. Optimize Images Using Lightweight Formats and Alt Tags

Images liven up your website, adding visual appeal, but large files can hamper loading speed and detract from the mobile viewing experience. Consider using lightweight image formats such as GIFs, which are lossless.

In the file format, include alt tags to describe the images. Alt tags make your images more accessible and assist search engine crawlers in ranking and indexing your website’s images.

10. Use Meta Tags for SEO

Meta elements are shortened tags that preview the content of a page in the source code. Robots meta tags are a type of robots.txt, and viewport meta tags tell a website browser how to display your website on mobile, tablet, and desktop screens.

11. Create Internal Links Between Pages

Internal link-building is a pillar of search engine optimization. However, that doesn’t give you free rein to link to any pages on your site. The internal links you build should make sense, creating a natural relationship.

For example, if you write a blog post about baking a cake, and you have a recipe for chocolate buttercream elsewhere on your site, you can link to that recipe in your blog post.

Internal links build out your site hierarchy and improve the user experience by guiding them to relevant content without them having to take their time to search for it.

12. Add Meta Descriptions for Each Page

Meta descriptions are an example of meta tags, a short descriptor of your blog content under 160 characters.

You should write a meta description in sentence case, inserting your keyword naturally in your summary. The tone of the description should suit the search intent, as the meta description augments your website content.

Mediaboom’s SEO website design expertise can help your company improve its rankings. Discover how our services can make a difference in your rank – book your free consultation now.

Content Optimization

Next, prioritize optimizing your content as you improve your SEO website design.

13. Perform Keyword Research

Keyword research is the heart and soul of content search engine optimization. You must select keywords relevant to your audience that align with search intent. You can use free or paid keyword search tools from SEMrush, Google Search Console, or Ahrefs Keyword Explorer.

14. Write High-Quality, Keyword-Optimized Content

Once you’ve selected the relevant keywords your audience searches for, insert them into content, including blogs, web pages, alt descriptions, and meta descriptions.

Use the keywords naturally. This is another area where it’s quality over quantity. Google and other search engines penalize websites that stuff keywords, ranking them lower. Customers also don’t like keyword stuffing, as it comes across as spammy and reduces your brand’s trustworthiness.

15. Optimize Your Website Loading Speed

The average internet user expects a mobile website to load in about eight seconds and a desktop site in under three seconds. We discussed how images can slow your loading speed, but that’s not the only element.

Using CSS and JavaScript files and overusing video content can also drag down loading speed. Revise the elements on your site that are the biggest culprits, testing your loading speed until it’s in the required timeframe.

16. Create an XML Sitemap

A sitemap tells a search engine crawler where to go by indicating the most important pages. This ensures Google doesn’t miss them when indexing your site and determining your SERP position.

You can build an XML sitemap for your site using Google Search Console. You must have all your website URLs, then code them. When you submit your map, Google will soon crawl it, so take time to get it right.

17. Follow Google’s EEAT Guidelines

Google established the EEAT guidelines for producing content. This acronym is short for Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness.

Quality Raters, as part of the Search Quality Rater Guidelines Google employs, provide feedback on content across the internet.

Google takes this feedback to improve its algorithms, prioritizing content that meets the EEAT guidelines. Incorporate the pillars of this guideline into your content writing instructions and briefs to help your ranking.

18. Optimize for Voice Search If Necessary

Voice search is an increasingly popular trend, with more than a billion monthly voice searches. Based on your audience and their use of voice search, you could optimize your SEO website design to include it.

Keywords are more conversational when using voice search and often long-tail. You might utilize terms like “near me” more often.

19. Keep Creating High-Quality Content and Regularly Update the Site

An editorial calendar will help you plan content to publish frequently. Determine the right publishing frequency based on your audience’s needs and interests.

Some sites post daily, others twice per week, and others still up to four times a week. Don’t sacrifice quality at the expense of keeping your content calendar going.

In addition, continue updating your site, revising your SEO website design to hold your ranking.

Mediaboom’s years of experience working with businesses across many industries can help you master search engine optimization. Book a free web consultation with our experts now.

Website Promotion and User Experience

Promoting your website is the next SEO web design element to focus on, fostering a better user experience.

20. Make the Website Shareable on Social Media

Your website should have social sharing buttons for popular platforms in which you have an established presence, such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram. Put the buttons on your homepage and encourage your audience to share your site and its content.

21. Monitor and Analyze SEO Performance Using Tools Like Google Analytics

Google Analytics is a leading platform for reviewing the success of your search engine optimization campaign. Your SEO campaign should enhance your website visibility, although it can take months to see positive results.

Continue monitoring your SERP growth, and don’t forget to submit your website for crawling after optimizing it.

22. Foster High-Quality Backlinks from Reputable Websites in Your Industry

Reputable backlinks are a surefire way to boost your SERP position. Seek high-quality industry websites with a strong reputation and contact them for a guest blogging arrangement. That’s one of the simplest and most effective ways to generate backlinks.

Working with influencers can also produce strong backlinks, as can building a free tool or a high-quality industry resource like an infographic or whitepaper other industry professionals will often source.

Ongoing Maintenance and Improvement

Your SEO strategy paid off with a higher ranking, but your work hasn’t ended yet. Here are some search engine optimization maintenance tasks to tackle.

23. Conduct Periodic SEO Audits to Improve Overall Site Performance

Maintaining an SEO-friendly website is achievable with occasional search engine optimization audits using tools like SEMrush or Google Search Console. The audits will identify weak areas in your SEO strategy and recommend improvements and adjustments you can make.

Prioritize these issues as they arise so the next time Google crawls your website, they won’t hinder your rank and push you further down the page.

24. Implement Structured Data Markup (Schema) to Enhance Search Engine Results with Rich Snippets and Structured Information

Structured data, such as schema markups, are worth strengthening to hold your SEO rank steady. Search engines speak schema markup language, using your markup data to learn more about your web page content and categorize it accordingly. Incorporate rich data such as snippets to win the top spot for a keyword.

If you need a website design and SEO company to guide your business and help you achieve search engine optimization goals, choose Mediaboom. We’re a digital marketing agency that specializes in SEO services.

Contact us today to begin planning your search engine optimization strategy.

Community Engagement and Feedback

Connecting with your online community is a valuable way to generate feedback that can bolster your SEO efforts. Here’s how.

25. Foster a Community Around Your Website

Build a social community through forums, social media interactions, or comments, connecting with these valuable individuals and soliciting their feedback. Listen to the suggestions and concerns they mention, especially recurring issues.

Implement that feedback into your SEO friendly website design to improve the user experience. For example, you might change your color scheme, downsize the video on your homepage, or delete images that slow loading speed.

Website Design and SEO Services: Why Choose Mediaboom

Mediaboom’s unerring dedication to website design and SEO services makes ours a premier choice of companies that want professional results with an impact. Here are three case studies to exemplify our high-quality service.

Qazi Clinic

The Newport Beach, California cosmetic and dermatology service Qazi Clinic sought Mediaboom’s services for a website refresh to bring in new patients.

Through our SEO, website, paid ads, and strategy, Qazi experienced a total traffic increase of more than 2,127.01 percent, an organic traffic increase of 3,496.68 percent, and over 302.75 percent more online leads.

GFI Partners

Mediaboom has assisted GFI Partners with its marketing needs for more than five years. This real estate marketing agency serving New York and San Francisco received a newly optimized website designed and implemented by us to position GFI as an industry leader.

St. Clair CPA Solutions

In St. Clair CPA Solutions’ quest to reach new clients, they selected Mediaboom for SEO, website development, copywriting, strategy, and website design services. Our work helped St. Clair increase its mobile traffic by 246 percent, organic traffic by more than 327 percent, and total traffic by 171+ percent.

Hire a Digital Marketing Agency Now

SEO website design starts with Mediaboom. Our track record of excellence speaks for itself, with long-term relationships with clients across industries and profound results. Let our expertise help your company launch its SEO-friendly website – contact us today.