Maggi Pier

Productivity Hacks: Outsource Your Weaknesses

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Productivity Hacks: Stop Trying To Do Everything Yourself

This should resonate really well for the business owners out there: Productivity Hacks! No matter how big or small your operation is, time is one resource that will always be limited. This means that you’ll continually need to optimize the output you get from spending a certain amount of time at work, and increasing productivity is often the smartest way to do this. As usual, I’ll be sharing one “hack” per post, which will often be broken down into smaller, more actionable points that you can quickly put to use and benefit from.

So with that out of the way, today’s hack is one that may sound painfully obvious but it addresses one of the most prevalent issues faced by business owners: Stop trying to do it all yourself!

Most businesses start out as a one person show, and as a result, those owners feel tremendous, constant pressure to have all the answers and do all the things, all the time. And yes, for many, this situation may be unavoidable for a certain amount of time – but the point I’m trying to make is that is shouldn’t–actually, cannot be–permanent. If you feel like you’re stuck in this loop, here are the right steps to take to get out of it:Identify your weaknesses and hire the right people to fill those gaps

Take some time to reflect on what your own strengths and weaknesses are, and be honest! Ask people that know you from different contexts (work, socially, family, etc.) to help get a well rounded data set. The weaknesses you identify will become the strengths you should search for during your hiring process, as this will help you build a well-rounded and effective team. The tricky part here is that, at the beginning, this process is going to require extra time even while you’re trying to run the whole show yourself. However, as per the actual hack mentioned above, you may be able to shift some of this burden onto a recruiting agency which can take care of the initial screening process based on the criteria you provide. This may be especially helpful if you’re not very experienced in being on the other side of the interview table.

Empower your team

Having the right people won’t do anything for you if you don’t provide them with the right environment for them to prosper. While different employees (and roles) have different needs, in general, we can say that some level of autonomy and opportunities for skill development are needed, as these are what will help them become truly effective parts of your business. Many times, you can play it safe by starting them off with low-risk tasks and as you build rapport/trust, feel free to hand off other tasks and use both the results and actual face to face feedback discussions as a gauge for future capacity/potential and overall fit. Deciding which tasks go to whom is an entirely separate (and sometimes complex) discussion, but the general goal is for each team member (including yourself) to be doing the tasks that highlight their strengths, as this will produce the best ROI on their time spent at work (and of course, on the wages they’re earning).

Outsourcing

The specific opportunities for outsourcing can vary widely across industries, but in general, try to identify processes that can be handed over to an external specialist. Often, these processes are discrete and not central to your daily operations. Common examples may include: payroll, bookkeeping, cleaning, IT, and maintenance/repairs. Again, this helps you maintain good ROI on your wage expenses and your team focused on your core business objectives.

That’s about it for today’s productivity hack, but of course none of this is meaningful until it’s put into action. So try these tips out today and reach out to share what worked, what didn’t, and how to better tailor these strategies to your specific business situation.

Best On-Page Optimization Tips

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seo optimization tips

The Best On Page SEO Optimization Tips

If you’re trying to improve your SEO, you should give these on-page optimization tips a try. These suggestions should be a big help to you.

Always Use URLs That Are SEO Friendly

Your URLs should be short, and they should contain keywords. Studies have found that shorter URLs get better Google rankings than long URLs do.

Use Engaging Images

You should include visually-appealing images in all of your content. Images can dramatically reduce your bounce rate, which can increase your search rankings. Images can also be an excellent way to draw people to your site. If you add keywords to the ALT tags of your images, people will be able to find your site through image searches.

Always Place Your Keyword Within The First 100 Words

When you’re writing a piece of content, you need to make sure your keyword appears within the first 100 words of your post. This will make it easier for search engines to identify your keyword.

Switch To A Responsive Design

Mobile devices are what many people use to access the internet. That’s why it’s essential for sites to have a responsive design. Some search engines, like Google, penalize sites that are not mobile-friendly. Make sure that your site will load in perfectly on any device.

Link To Your Own Content

You should try to include at least two internal links in every piece of content that you write. Internal links can keep people on your site for longer. They can also make it easier for search engines to crawl your site.

Add Share Buttons To Your Site

Does your site have share buttons? If it doesn’t, you should add them. The easier it is for people to share your content, the more likely they are to share it.
Follow these on-page optimization tips, and you should see a big SEO boost!

Social Media Image Sizes – 2020

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social media image sizes

Social media platforms are always being updated, which means they’re frequently changing their profile and cover photo dimensions, layouts, and requirements for uploaded images. It can be tough to keep track of it all. We understand you’re busy; you can’t spend all your time sweeping the Internet for information that’s bound to change again tomorrow.

However, high-quality and creative imagery is imperative to social media marketing success, so it’s important to know the proper dimensions for each network you use.

That’s why we decided to gather the information for you and keep it in one continuously updated place for your convenience. We also sprinkled in some social media image best practices. Pretty handy, huh?

We thought so, too.

Facebook Image Sizes

Featuring high-quality imagery on Facebook shows your audience that your business is legitimate, reputable, and pays attention to the details (no matter how small).

Facebook wants to provide a positive user experience and prevent advertisers from being overly promotional or spammy, so they check to see how much text is featured in each image.

Use this tool to see if your images adhere to Facebook’s text-to-image ratio.

Facebook Profile and Cover Photo Dimensions

Most businesses use this space for their logo rather than a person’s photo. However, if your business is run by you and only you, using a photo of yourself might not be a bad idea.

As for your cover photo, you’ll notice that your desktop display looks a little different from your mobile device. That’s because Facebook is trying to create a better experience for users depending on the device they’re on.

In order to cater to both mobile and desktop displays, we recommend keeping the safe zones in mind:

  • 90 px on both the right and left sides of the image are visible on desktop
  • 24 px on both the top and bottom of the image are visible on mobile

 

Facebook Shared Image (Timeline & News Feed) Dimensions

These images appear both on your timeline and in most of your followers’ news feeds. With the decline of Facebook’s organic reach, try asking your fans to like or share your photos to gain visibility without a significant financial investment. Or consider paying a small fee to boost your posts to ensure that your audience sees it in their feed.

Facebook Shared Link Photo Dimensions

If you’re sharing a link to your business’ Facebook Page, there are a few more elements to consider and formats to choose from. When you paste a link into your status, depending on the size of the images on the web page, you’ll be prompted to include a carousel of up to 10 images. You also have the option of sharing the link without using the image—which can come in handy if you’d rather upload a new image to share with the link instead.

Pro Tip: Sharing images and links from other sources allows you to post relevant content to your page when you don’t have time to create your own. It’s also a great way to share content contributed by your audience or other businesses and keep promotions to a minimum.

All Facebook Image Dimensions

Instagram Image Sizes

Instagram is all about visuals, which should make the importance of high-quality images blatantly obvious for this social network.

Instagram Profile Photo Size

As with some other platforms, the profile photo is a circle that shows up next to all of your posts and at the top left of your profile page. For businesses, it’s a great idea to use your logo here so all of your photos are associated with your brand.

Now when you go to post on Instagram, you have a few more options available to you than in the past.

Square photos are no longer the be-all-end-all on this platform (though when you look at the grid view of your profile page, they will show as a square). You have the ability to upload portrait- and landscape-oriented photos and videos, as well as a carousel of up to 10 photos per post.

And, to ensure images look sharp across all devices with high-resolution displays, Instagram strives to upload your images at the best quality resolution it can (up to a 1080-pixel width).

Pro Tip: This is a great place to show your company culture, what happens “behind the scenes” of your business, the process of creating your products, customers using your products, etc.

All Instagram Image Dimensions

Twitter Image Sizes

Known for its real-time social buzz, Twitter is also an extremely popular customer service and experience tool for businesses.

Twitter Profile and Cover Photo Dimensions

Your profile photo will be visible not only on your profile, but in your news feed and next to a link in the “Who to follow” box. Most businesses use their profile photo as a place for their logo because it is seen practically everywhere: when you Tweet, when others Retweet your Tweet, when their Retweet gets Retweeted, and so on.

Your cover photo, however, is only seen when a user clicks to your profile—but that doesn’t mean it’s not important! It’s a large photo across the top of your profile, so you want it to be high-quality and represent your brand.

Twitter recommends that you upload your cover photo dimensions at 1500 x 500 pixels, but because the cover photo is responsive, yours may end up looking larger or smaller depending on the size of your browser or screen.

To be safe, we suggest keeping all-important content and design elements of your cover photo within the safe zone. ?

And when you’re creating your cover photo, don’t forget to account for your profile photo in the bottom left corner!

Pro Tip: Cover photos are a great place to describe what your brand does, display a new product, or use as free advertising space.

Twitter Timeline Photo Size

Twitter may have a limit of 280 characters, but you can use visuals to assist in representing your brand and enhancing your shared content.

Attaching a photo to your Tweet used to take away 23 characters (because it needed the URL to link to the photo), but now, links and media attachments (e.g. photos, GIFs, videos, and polls) are no longer counted in the Tweet character limit.

And it’s a good thing too because Tweets with images are over a third more likely to be Retweeted than those with only text.

All Twitter Image Dimensions

TweetDeck Image Sizes

You can’t make separate images for Twitter and TweetDeck since TweetDeck is not a separate social network, so everything you post on one site will show up on the other (there’s no way around it).

However, you still want to take into consideration the way that your Twitter images appear on TweetDeck because the dimensions do vary in size a bit.

Pro Tip: Some of your header image design will be covered by your profile photo and bio in TweetDeck. So if you have important text or imagery that you’d prefer be seen at all times, be careful about centering those elements.

PLEASE NOTE: Any images you upload to Twitter will appear on TweetDeck, so you cannot have two different image sizes. However, be sure to keep the below dimensions in mind when creating Twitter images to ensure that they render well across both platforms.

Google My Business Image Sizes

Engage with your customers and keep a fresh presence on Google with eye-catching imagery that will help you stand out in both the search results and on Maps.

Google My Business Profile and Cover Photo Dimensions

Consistency is key with Google My Business (GMB)—ensuring that your brand is easily recognizable right from the search results page.

With a strong GMB profile photo that represents your company (most commonly, it will be your logo!) and a cover photo to show some personality, you’ll make a great first impression when your business is searched for.

Pro Tip:Your cover photo is shown when a user is searching in Google Maps. Within your GMB account, you can choose what image you would prefer to display here, however, keep in mind, it does not guarantee that it’ll be the first image to populate for your business.

Google My Business Posts Dimensions

GMB posts allow you to push events, updates, blog posts, offers, and company news directly to the Google search results page.  Posts offer a unique and visual way to attract the interest of people searching for your brand. These posts only stay active for a week, so be sure to update them frequently.

You can start posting from directly within the Google My Business interface. Be sure to use captivating images and attention-grabbing headlines to stand out.

All Google My Business Image Dimensions

Pinterest Image Sizes

Pinterest is a valuable search tool in itself, with 90% of weekly pinners using the platform to make purchasing decisions.

Pinterest Profile Photo Size

This is one of the few platforms that doesn’t have a cover photo, so the representation of your brand rests heavily on the shoulders of your profile photo. Pinterest’s profile photo is uploaded as a square, but displays as a circle at the top of your profile.

Pin Image Size

With Pinterest’s layout being more portrait-oriented, vertically designed pins tend to perform better. When deciding on size, create a pin that caters to what you want to visually represent; larger pins do not necessarily mean you’ll attract more attention.

 

Pinterest Board Display Size

The first thing you see when you visit someone’s Pinterest profile is their collection of boards. Name your boards appropriately and include a relevant cover photo for each of them. You don’t want empty boards (or no boards at all), but you don’t want a plethora of boards with no purpose, either.

Pro Tip: Ensure that your first two or three boards are directly related to your industry or audience. You don’t want visitors to leave your profile because they don’t understand what your business does or can’t quickly find the information they’re searching for.

Also, infographics tend to do really well on Pinterest.

All Pinterest Image Dimensions

LinkedIn Image Sizes

LinkedIn is primarily for networking with other professionals, but it’s also a resource for businesses to connect with other businesses, prospective employees, and industry leaders. You can choose between a personal profile and business page (both with free or paid options).

LinkedIn Personal Profile and Background Photo Size

You should have a respectable, professional photo of yourself for your personal LinkedIn profile.

On LinkedIn, the background photo replaces the “cover photo” at the top of your profile page. As an oblong shape, it can be difficult to find imagery that fits the space well—that’s where creating your own visuals comes in handy.

LinkedIn Company Logo Size

The standard logo for a business account is a small square at the top of the profile page that is displayed next to your company’s name.

The square logo is what people see when they search for your company or see your posts in their news feed.

LinkedIn Company Cover Photo Image Size

The cover image on a business page stretches across your profile above your logo and company name.

Pro Tip: Use a photo of your employees or your business’ building as a banner photo—and avoid random stock photos. For background photos, it’s usually best to choose something subtle that doesn’t distract too much from the content on your profile.

All LinkedIn Image Dimensions

YouTube Image Sizes

YouTube is a video-sharing social network that is accessed by users on the largest variety of devices, including tablets, phones, desktops, and televisions, so it’s important to have imagery that displays correctly across devices.

YouTube Channel Icon and Channel Art

A small profile photo overlays the top left corner of your YouTube page. As important as profile and cover photos are to representing your brand, on YouTube, many users will most likely see one of your videos before they view your channel page. This makes having striking images even more important so that users associate the videos with your brand and are familiar with you when they do reach your page.

Pro Tip: You only upload one image for your YouTube channel art, but it will display differently across different devices. When you upload an image, you can crop it to fit the desktop layout (see the GIF below for a demonstration) – but make sure the important elements are right in the center to ensure they aren’t cropped out on smaller screens.

All YouTube Image Dimensions

Snapchat Image Sizes

With over 187 million daily active users, Snapchat provides businesses with a visual way to connect with their audience. Through the use of lenses, filters and ads, Snapchat is a source for engaging, unique content.

Below are the updated image sizes required to run successful Snapchat advertising campaigns.

All Snapchat Image Dimensions

Tumblr Image Sizes

Tumblr is a blogging and social platform where users share thoughts, quotes, music, articles, GIFs, videos, images—basically anything. Images are (of course) an important aspect of this social network, but text-based content is associated with Tumblr as well.

Tumblr Avatar (Profile Photo)

This photo will show up as a small square next to your posts in your followers’ main feeds and is embedded with your username in posts that users come across while perusing Tumblr.

You can choose a theme for your Tumblr page, which allows for added customization (think of it as a website or blog page); however, many users will still be able to see a “profile” preview with an avatar and header photo of your choice (see the GIF below for an example of the profile preview).

With that in mind, it’s important to remember that this header image will not show up on your Tumblr page unless you add it to your theme. Your avatar may also not be featured on your theme but will show up as your Tumblr’s favicon on browser tabs.

Tumblr Image Post

Now that your avatar is taken care of, it’s time to look to your posts. With eye-catching imagery, your post will have a greater chance of standing out and maybe even get some reblogs!

And it doesn’t just have to be one photo—choose up to 10 images to display per post. Don’t worry, Tumblr made it super easy to create a photoset.

Pro Tip: Consider placing your business’ logo directly on the photos you upload to increase brand visibility and recognition.

All Tumblr Image Dimensions

Social Media Image Size Infographic & All Image Templates

 

Download All Image Template PSDs

The post 2020 Social Media Image Size Cheat Sheet appeared first on Mainstreethost.

How to Create & Verify Your Google My Business Account

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verify google my business listing

Your free Google business listing (known as your Business Profile) can do more than you think. When properly optimized, it showcases your best features and makes it easy for consumers to discover, learn about, and contact your business. But in order to properly optimize your Business Profile, you need access to it, and in order to access it, you need to verify with Google that you are the rightful owner.

While it seems as though it should be as simple as “step one create, step two claim, and step three verify,” the process is neither that simple nor that linear—which, if you’re reading this post, you have already figured out. That’s because it requires three different Google accounts and two different Google platforms, all of which have very similar names. Talk about a brain bender.

how to create and verify your google my business account account vs listing

So, in this post, I’m going to first iron out for you exactly what’s what in Google, and then give you a clear-cut roadmap to creating a Google My Business account and using it to claim and verify your Business Profile on Google.

Why create a Google My Business account?

Your Google My Business account makes it easy for consumers to discover, learn about, and contact your business online. These are the core benefits of a Google My Business account, and if that’s not enough to convince you, consider the disadvantages of not having one.

You risk losing customers. Without a Google My Business account, you don’t have control over the information displayed in your Business Profile, and according to a BrightLocal study, 68% of consumers would stop using a local business after finding incorrect information online.

You risk a poor reputation. Without a Google My Business account, you cannot respond to your Google reviews. And with reviews being both a Google ranking factor and the number one influence on consumer buying, being able to manage them is a must.

You lose out to competitors. An empty or bare-bones Business Profile is akin to having an unkept storefront. If you don’t take care of your business, how can consumers trust that you’ll take care of them? They’ll be much more likely to click on and engage with a Business Profile in the search results that has lots of attractive information and looks lively.

You lose SERP real estate. Google ranks Business Profiles according to their quality, and a Business Profile alone is not enough. A Google Business Profile managed through a Google Business account, however, can be optimized to rank above competitors for relevant keyword searches.

how to create a google my business account why you need one

Which listing would you choose? The unclaimed one on the left or the one optimized by Google My Business account on the right?

What you need in order to claim and verify your business on Google

By now, it should be clear that creating a Google My Business account and verifying ownership of your business is crucial if you want to provide accurate information, respond to reviews, attract customers, and rank higher in local search.

As mentioned earlier, however, the process is not super simple. It involves two different Google platforms and three different Google accounts, all of which have similar names, and some of which you likely already have. So to get you off on clear footing, let’s first iron out the terminology.

Google Account: This is the free account you create with Google so you can have access to Google Docs, Google Drive, Google Photos, Gmail, and more. Many call it their “Gmail account,” but Gmail is just one of the features; you can actually use any email to set up a Google Account. In this post, I’ll use the term “standard Google Account“ to refer to this account type, just to avoid confusion. Most business owners already have two standard Google accounts—one they use for their personal life and one they use for their business.

how to create and verify your google my business account what is google account

Business Profile: This is your free business listing on Google that appears on Google Maps, the local results of Google Search, and the right-hand Knowledge Panel of Google Search.

what is google my business business profile in maps fresh n clean dry cleaning

An example of a Business Profile on Maps.

Google My Business account: This is the free account you create that gives you a dashboard to manage and enhance your Business Profile.

how to create and verify google my business account google my business dashboard

Your Google My Business dashboard.

How to verify your business on Google

Now that you have the proper terminology laid out, let’s put the pieces together to form a full picture of the process.

The goal is to gain full access to your Business Profile on Google.

The means by which you do this is your Google My Business account, which you sign up for using a standard Google Account.

The steps to complete the process are as follows:

  1. Make sure you have a standard Google Account for your business.
  2. Make sure you have a Business Profile.
  3. Create a Google My Business account.
  4. Request to claim your Business Profile.
  5. Verify ownership of your business.

Now, with the groundwork laid out, you are armed and ready to successfully claim and verify your business on Google. The steps outlined below are written linearly, and in some cases, you’ll need to skip down a step. But I’d still encourage you to read them all carefully to avoid hitting roadblocks or creating duplicate accounts.

Step #1: Make sure you have a Google Account for your business

This is the standard Google Account we described in the terminology section above. If you already have one (make sure it’s not your personal-use Google Account), skip down to Step #2. If you don’t have a Google Account for your business, follow the steps below.

1. Go to accounts.google.com/signin.
2. Click “Create account.”

how to create and verify your google my business account create google account

3. You’ll see a drop-down with two options. Choose “To manage my business.”

how to create and verify google my business account manage a business

4, Supply the necessary information.

Step #2: Make sure you have a Business Profile

Your Business Profile is the official term for your Google business listing. As mentioned above, Google Business Profiles are separate from Google My Business accounts. A Business Profile can exist on its own, without Google My Business account. The problem with this is that the business owner has no control over the information in that Business Profile until they claim it, and this is done through Google My Business. Bottom line: You’ll want to make sure you have a Business Profile to claim once you’ve set up your Google My Business account.

If you know you’ve already created a Business Profile, skip down to Step #4. If you haven’t created one or are unsure, follow the steps below.

Note: Even if you didn’t create it, there’s a good chance your Business Profile already exists. This is because a Business Profile is simply a place on Google Maps, which any person or computer can add. So to check and see if you need to create a Business Profile, follow these steps:

1. Go to Google.com/maps.
2. Search your business name.
3. If your business name populates in the drop-down with an address next to it, this means your Business Profile already exists. Great! You can move on to Step #4.

how to create and verify google my business account check maps for google business profile

If your business name does not populate with an address, select it and you’ll see something like this:

how to create and verify google my business account add missing place the token shop

4. Select “Add a missing place,” and you’ll see a screen like this:

how to create and verify google my business account add missing place form

5. Provide the requested information. Notice that you’ll have the option to claim the business within that same window. Since you don’t have a Google My Business account yet, you’ll need to move on to Step #3. If you already have a Google My Business account, you can follow the prompts and you’ll end up at Step #5—look at you go!

Step #3: Sign up for a Google My Business account

The means by which you claim your Business Profile on Google is through a Google My Business account. Provided you have a standard Google account (see Step #1), here’s how to sign up for a Google My Business account.

1. Make sure you are logged into the standard Google Account for your business (and not the standard Google Account for your personal life).
2. Go to google.com/business.
3. Select “Manage now.”

how to create and verify a google my business account google.com/business

4. Provide the basic information Google asks for, including.

  • Business name
  • Address
  • Website
  • Phone number
  • Delivery area (if applicable)
  • Category

Once you connect this account with your Business Profile (the final step of this post), additional fields will open up in your dashboard so you can provide even more information about your business. This information is the key to optimizing your business for local SEO and attracting more customers through your free listing.

Step #4: Request to claim your Business Profile

This is where we start putting the pieces together. Unfortunately, creating a Google My Business account (from Step #3) does not automatically connect it to your Business Profile (from Step #2). You need to tell Google to connect them, and you do this by verifying ownership of your business. To do this, start by locating your Business Profile on Google Maps or Google Search and requesting to claim it. You can do this one of two ways:

Claim request method #1:

1. Go to google.com and search for your business name and location. If your Business Profile appears on the right-hand side, find the “Own this business?” option and select it.

how to create and verify your google my business account own this business arnos cleaners

2. From there you’ll be taken to a screen that says “Manage this business so you can reply to reviews, update info, and more.”

how to create and verify your google my business account own this business arnos cleaners manage this business

3. Click “Manage now,” and follow the prompts to claim your business. Once again, make sure you’re logged in with the standard Google Account used for your business, and not for your personal life, referred to in Step #1.

Claim request method #2: Google Maps

1. Go to Google.com/maps.
2. Type in your business name.
3. Click on your Business Profile, which will expand.
4. You’ll then see an option to “Claim this business.”

how to create and verify your google my business account own this business arnos cleaners claim through maps

Clicking on “Claim this business” will then overlay the same screen you saw in the first method, but this time right over the map.

how to create and verify your google my business account manage this business google maps

4. Click “Manage now” and follow the prompts. Again, make sure you’re logged in with the Google Account you created for your business referred to in Step #1.

Step #6: Verify ownership of your business

This is the home stretch! If you need to grab a Gatorade or some orange slices, I’ll be right here when you get back.

When you click on “Manage now” as instructed in Step #5, you’ll be asked to provide information to prove you are the rightful owner of the business. Depending on the type of business you have, if you created the Business Profile and you’re logged into your Google My Business account, you might get validated on the spot. If you aren’t the one who created the Business Profile, Google will send you a verification code that you’ll enter into your Google Business dashboard. Depending on the circumstances of your account/security requirements of your industry, you may be given your verification code via regular mail, email, or text.

how to create and verify your google my business account verification pin code

Once you receive the code and enter it into the box, you will have full ownership of your Business Profile on Google! You can now manage reviews, update information, add more attractive details, and optimize it for successful local marketing.

Take the time to verify your business on Google

Google is changing the way consumers find and engage with local businesses, so if you want to continue reaching your audience and attracting customers with your free Business Profile, be sure to follow the above steps. The process has different parts and pieces, but it doesn’t have to be quite so complicated with guides like this and options like doing it on mobile. Get started with creating, claiming, and verifying through Google My Business today so you can get the most out of this incredible and free tool available to you.

Recession-Proof SEO. Seriously ?

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local seo help

I have seen a lot of “It’s the best time to invest in SEO!” chatter on the socials. The Rt value of that message is definitely >1 in this industry, and it is certainly in my interest to believe it. But is it true or just the usual self-serving rap boast by a profession that thinks itself the most gangsta in all of digital marketing? Oh sorry, that’s the affiliate marketers…

In 2008, at the height of the Vampire Squid craze, my consulting business grew by something like 25%. I was a solo practitioner at the time with a modest number of clients, so all it took was a few new ones to grow like that. I assume it was a good investment for our clients (some are actually still with us!), but is past performance an indication of the future?

 

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PPC IS NOT PPE?

We have certainly seen many clients pause their PPC campaigns. The ease of setting them up works in reverse after all. One of the reasons we have not as an agency embraced PPC is that it can make clients feel like you had your hand in their pocket every day.

But SEO is such a longer-term game than PPC, or even Social (which can require brands to spend time actually building some kind of relationship with customers), so why would companies that are furloughing and laying off employees invest in something that is not going to show immediate results?

      1. For many businesses there are no immediate results to be had.
        It’s hard to buy demand that isn’t there, but what about demand down the road? Last week we got contacted by a small hotel in Baja. They have no business now, but were planning on adding more rooms by the end of the year and knew they would need their SEO issues solved by the time the economy came back if they wanted to make it. Same with the event venue in Brooklyn that was under construction when shelter-in-place started. If you are in “about to open” mode, SEO is one of the few digital marketing investments that makes sense at the moment. It’s a bet on the future (which tends to be a good bet, even if the odds of an actual future keep getting lower).

      2. Now you really don’t want to screw up your SEO
        When most things in your business are not going great, the last thing you want to do is to make them worse. As those of us who have been plying the SEO trade for way too long know there are many more ways to destroy your organic traffic than there are to grow it. We are seeing a lot of businesses using the current slowdown as an opportunity to redesign, replatform, rebrand, etc.

        There’s a reason this is the hero image for our SEO for Website Redesigns page:

        And this is the hero image for our SEO for Domain Name Changes page:

      3. Not Being Prepared For The Future Is How We Got Here In The First Place
        If you are the kind of business leader who guts your ability to fight pandemics two years before you have the worst pandemic in the past century, you may not care about what your business will look like two years from now. But if you are used to spending a large part of your marketing budget buying customers via clicks, you now are in the midst of a grand experiment about how powerless you are when that budget goes away.

        SEO, for all its frustrations as a reliable marketing channel, is one of the few that keeps paying off over the long term, like compounding interest. Hopefully we may all be able to emerge from our shelters this summer, but it seems highly likely next winter we could be in a similar situation. Even though the economy has slowed down, people are still buying stuff, just not as much of it. In times of lower demand and limited ad budgets, it’s probably not a bad idea to be ranking at the top of Google for your $ terms. And that takes time.

I am not saying everyone should plow what’s left of their marketing funds into SEO. And rereading this, it does seem like I am a bit too proud of all them Benjamins flapping around back there. I don’t know whether or not SEO is recession proof. But what the great master himself said nearly four years ago is still true today:

The post Is SEO Really Recession-Proof? appeared first on Local SEO Guide.

SEO Tips for Small Businesses

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The majority of our conversations about search engine marketing have been about paid advertising tactics. And while paid search marketing is an extremely important part of a business’s marketing mix, we would be remiss if we didn’t spend some time discussing the organic side with search engine optimization.

Goal talk podcast episode 16 cover artwork - SEO for small businesses.

Search engine optimization helps pages on your website rank well on search engines like Google and Bing so you can increase both the quality and quantity of your website traffic. SEO is a largely free tactic that will allow Google’s algorithm to intake your website content and rank it for a search query, based on the information on your website and the search itself. While in PPC you pay to have your link and headline show up at the top of the first page of the SERP, SEO is what powers the organic listings below the ads at the top of the page. So how do you get started in optimizing your website for SEO?

In this episode, WordStream’s in-house SEO manager Gordon Donnelly breaks down:

  • The essential elements of starting out in SEO.
  • Tips for optimizing your site.
  • Tools for keyword research.
  • Resources to help keep you up to date with changes.

And more! You can find this week’s episode on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, as well as your favorite podcast app. Also, don’t forget to watch new episodes on our YouTube channel, and follow the podcast’s Twitter account for episode releases, ask the hosts questions, and join in on the conversation.

About the podcast:

The Goal Talk podcast is all about giving small business owners and marketers the information they need to succeed. From advertising tactics that help you personalize your message for your customers to management styles that will help your employees perform at their full potential and feel satisfied in their role, we’re sharing valuable takeaways to help you and your business flourish by interviewing the experts and sharing their insights. Listen here.