As we know for small biz; Websites and Online Marketing >> Getting your website found in Google Search is one of the key elements to marketing success – And technical Website SEO and a few other clever bits are what get you there.

Google change the goal posts often and it’s usually for the better that genuine business’ get found in Search. The latest update is called Penguin 4.0 and rolled out late last month (23rd September 2016) – So we should be seeing changes now. We’ve not had a major Google update since last Summer (Panda), so this could really change things.

I’ve been doing some training with Google myself this Summer and it has really opened my eyes to the type of things that they are looking for in terms of great website design and development and therefore SEO. Of course nobody will ever know the full secret to their Algorithm for getting found, but we can but try with the info that we do have.

 

Google Search

Results listed are there to help the end user – Google is there to help the end user find what they need when they need it. If you aren’t in Search, it means that there is something about your site or service that isn’t as helpful to the end user as you might think.

The aim (for Google Search) is to create relevant results in a list format for Search. Ranking is of course the secret bit!

Link juice helps you to show up in search – So by having other websites (credible websites) link to you. It’s not about link exchange, or even a daisy chain – Google spiders need to crawl sites and they do this by jumping from one to the other. Who is linking to you?

 

On Page (Search Engine) Optimisation

Use the following to make sure that all page information is filled in correctly. This also works for Blog Posts and Project types in WordPress when referred to as Pages.

  • Title Tag (Page Title) to describe content – Make this a thing – Organic SEO.
  • Write page content to what your end user is searching for.
  • Images: Filename = relevancy and add in the Image alt tags.

This has come to light especially with the Penguin update. Those with a WordPress website and Yoast SEO Plugin installed, make sure that page info is filled in – Page Title and Meta Description contains key search terms and that images are alt tagged. On page (paragraph) text should be tagged appropriately so and contain key search term too.

 

Google Search Console

Is your website linked to Google Search Console? As this is another plus point with Google for doing so – You can also control Crawling and upload a SiteMap so that Google knows where to go!

Google Search Console also links into the Google Analytics dashboard now, and some Search Console is available. Kept a big secret until now and still in Beta, you can check on key search terms being typed into Google (for the most part) that get your site found and clicked through to. They may not be what you expect!

 

Local Google Search and Directory (Google Plus)

Google My Business = A Local Directory. Is your business on Google My Business / Google Plus (for business) as this is where local (mobile) search result mostly come from (the map bit anyway!) Google Plus is a directory and obviously carries klout with Google.

Great website design is key as we know – So include on your website (for organic SEO) the following – Just to make sure that when the end user gets there, they have all the info that they need:

  • Business address
  • Phone number (landline)
  • Opening hours
  • Operating hours
  • Operating area

You can Blog about local events, local offers and offer local e.g. bike trails in Leicester if you are a Cycle Shop. Offer quality content in the above – Write blog posts with care.

This is because people will search on such phrases (from mobile mostly) as ‘bike shops near me’. SMART phone is key and therefore having the website as mobile friendly is a priority. Is yours? You could already be losing traffic due to Google’s Mobile website update “Mobilegeddon” of April 2015.

We are also finding that long time websites are rewarded. Launching a business? Get a website a.s.a.p.!

 

Google Analytics

I’ve briefly mentioned Google Analytics already. Website analytics are in this case Google Analytics. Google Analytics helps you to measure success. You can look at the calls to actions that you have set – So newsletter opens (check these against MailChimp stats too).

 

eCommerce; First Steps

Going off subject a little now but still related. I think we can see the importance of a great website. Websites also need to do more for the business owner now – And what better way to make your website work for you than with a site that can serve customers for you whilst you are busy doing other things (For me it’s sleeping!).

Products listed show up as their own entity in Google Search, so for example I have a client who owns a Tea Room and gets found for “Afternoon Tea Voucher” through the products on her website. And this is great as her core business is a Tea Room selling tea and cake – Not vouchers.

A couple of steps to take if you are looking at setting up with eCommerce or want to look at this as an option: Get a PayPal account

  • Next step (For WordPress) is WooCommerce – Get a professional in!
  • Collect product reviews (WooCommerce / products) – These are great for Google Search also.
  • Look for SSL if taking online payments. (SSL is a SSL Certificate that your website host (Me!) can put behind your website to make it extra toasty secure for monies. Simple.)

From an Online Marketing perspective we can look at retargeting ads for those who have gotten so far through the process e.g. added to the cart but not purchased. A whole host of possibilities!

If you like what you have read, or are abit confused, or now need some tea and cake – Then get in touch! Use the Contact Me form on this website and I’ll get right back to you!