Local search

SEO

Content – the foundation of search

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Just like a bricks and mortar shop you need to build a website on good foundations. There are numerous frameworks that allow website owners to maintain and add content. These are called Content Management Systems (CMS) such as WordPress. The beauty of a CMS website is that it allows the user to easily update content especially blogs.

Hubspot says that: “Text will always be the foundation of search so making sure the text around your website’s assets is descriptive will help them rank well in search.”

In a nutshell, this means that the content you add to your website is a key element in generating leads via search engines. This is because if you have relevant content in relation to what someone types into search to find you’re making the search engines job in finding your business and returning you in the results page a lot easier. With this in mind, here’s some tips to consider to help improve the content on your website for search engine optimisation (SEO).

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Great content

To get your message across to your target audience, and Google, keep content relevant and to the point. This is essential to help you be found in search engine results pages and it helps to position you as a thought leader in your field of expertise.

Potential clients and search engines need to see you as an expert. This is where a blog helps as you can add fresh content regularly. Your blog should have tips and advice that answer your target audience’s pain points and issues.

If you are writing the blog posts yourself and struggle to think of new content every week it’s worth noting that 51% of companies say that updating their old content has proven a great tactic for creating blogs (Source: SEMrush, 2019 via Hubspot).

There are more tips about writing engaging content in our recent blog which covers creating offers, developing case studies and topics of interest.

Tips to maximise blog content

Keywords

When you embark on writing a blog or creating a new website it’s worth thinking about what you want to be found for in search. This will help define what is on your list of keywords or phrases to include in your content moving forward.

Working with a digital marketing agency or using a tool such as Semrush can help you identify the volume of searches associated with a particular keyword as well as its difficulty to get ranked for. This can help you hone the list of keywords further so that you have a good balance of words and phrases.

Understanding that 49% of users say they use Google to discover or find a new item or product, being found in search engine results pages should be a key part of your SEO strategy. (Source: Think with Google, 2019 via Hubspot )

Keywords and phrases

A picture tells a great story

Don’t just think of content as the written word. Sometimes less on a webpage is more and breaking a page up with relevant images will help make the page easier to read, builds your brand and helps visitors get a feel for who you are.

Make sure your images are optimised for use on websites. You may need to resize them before you upload as large images can impact site speed. The first five seconds of page-load time is crucial as it can impact on conversion rates. Website conversion rates drop by an average of 4.42% with each additional second of load time (Source: Portent, 2019). Also remember to complete your image alt tag on the backend. This is good for SEO.

Can website visitors easily move from webpage to webpage?

Make sure your website menu is easy to read and navigate. Ideally a webpage should be no more than 2 clicks – preferably 1 click – from the homepage.

Create bold and clear call to actions with directional text so visitors know what to do. Make it easy for them. Add a call to action near the top of a blog as well as the end to help with engagement. Phrases to encourage action include:

  • Download our ebook
  • Book a meeting
  • Contact us for more information, email us on…
  • Get involved by registering at….
  • If you want to attend the networking session, contact…
  • Free website review

Internal links throughout content especially in blogs also helps guide visitors back to services and products where you mention them on the site.

Digital marketing Croydon

We are a Croydon based digital marketing agency offering SEO services including blog writing, keyword research, local SEO, Google Ad campaigns to help improve your online presence and visibility online as your SEO experts.

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SEO

Boost your SEO

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Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is a long-term strategy but if you can get into the routine of doing a few simple tasks whenever you upload content to your website then this will support your ongoing SEO strategy well into the future. Here’s our four tips.

Internal links  

As with signage in a shop, your website layout needs to be easy to navigate. This is not just for your website visitors but it’s also for the search engine web crawlers. Always remember that these are part of your core audience. If search engines can simply find their way around your website, then this will help you rise in organic search engine rankings. 

So, how can you help people and search engines move with ease around your site? Well this is where adding internal links is essential. Always have at least three internal links from one web page to elsewhere on your website. Think of it as a signpost and remember to point people in the right direction. Adding a link to the homepage also helps.  

Keywords 

Include your keywords in your web page URL as well as an H1 or H2 header tags – these form part of your technical SEO that you’ll add when you upload your content to content management system (CMS) like WordPress. Again, these act as a guide to search engines about what the content on your web page is about so that your website can appear in search results for an appropriate enquiry.

Keep it simple and people will find you.  

Content marketing keep it fresh  

Unique content is a crucial part of your content marketing strategy. It’s about being informative and knowledgeable providing advice for your target audience.

Remember to add keywords in your website content that are relevant to your products and services. Basically you need to think about what people will search for in search engines and therefore you need to write about it and include these words in your blog post, services pages and homepage.   

Title tag and meta description  

Always complete your title tags. These show on search engine results pages (SERPs). This is what your audience will click on to your website. So, make sure you have your keyword in the title tag but keep within 50-60 characters.  

You can then give more detail for your meta description so that potential website visitors can see more about what’s on offer. Rally think about what will make them click your web page link over your competitors and have that information in you meta description but restrict this to 50-160 characters.  

SEO Croydon   

We’re an SEO company based in Croydon and London with a specialism in helping businesses gain quality leads. We work with a range of businesses including professional services such as accounting firms. We can help with setting up an SEO campaign including SEO audit.

We can also work with you on your digital marketing strategy including a mix of tactics such as social media management, Pay Per Click (PPC), email marketing and CRM – read more about our marketing services.  

Further reading  

SEO Agency

Improve local SEO by creating local content

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Improving your search rankings by creating local content may sound obvious but you’d be surprised how many businesses relying on local search haven’t optimised their website for such eventuality.

As an SEO company in Croydon, here’s a brief overview of what to consider for improving local SEO by creating relevant and targeted content to help improve local search rankings.

Local search

Firstly, a little background on local search. Four out of five consumers use search to find local information. That’s a lot of potential business and prospects you could be letting miss your sales funnel. When people search Google, Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) or local search is a way for businesses to promote their services to local potential customers and clients.

Search engines look for triggers such as content on a website that is tailored for the area you’re targeting that will showcase local business. Social media pages, external links and a Google My Business page, all help to add to your authenticity of serving a local area and it will help your business appear higher up in the search engines which strive to provide the most relevant results.  

Content marketing strategy

When you create a content marketing plan, make sure you include a continuous focus on content for a local audience.

If you’re an accounting firm, you may want to target new businesses that have just arrived in the area. By creating content that would be relevant to them about the area such as useful resources for businesses to tap into from networking groups to social activities can help with search engines locating your website over others in the prize for better ranking in search results.

Don’t forget to revisit your contact details on your website and any other external site where you may have details such as industry bodies or your social channels. In addition, your Google My Business page is a great source for local information. Make sure you constantly add updates to it.

Discover the benefits of SEO for your business

SEO is a long term digital marketing strategy. If you’re looking to improve your local ranking factor, we can help. We’re a digital marketing agency in Croydon serving businesses across London. If you would like to explore SEO for your website, why not get in touch and we can chat about the ways that we can help improve your results in search to generate high quality leads.

Or please take us up on a free website review as this can also highlight areas that need attention that you can implement yourself.

Local SEO resources

Inbound marketing strategy

Flexibility for change  

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One of the most prominent things we’ve noticed with businesses during these unprecedented times that COVID-19 has impacted on us is that we’re adaptable to change.   

Local businesses evolve 

We’ve touched on video conferencing as many businesses, who are able to, have adapted to working from home. But where businesses rely on footfall to physical premises, they too have evolved. We’ve been amazed and in awe of the ingenuity of locally businesses here in Croydon. As we’re sure you are too in your local areas.  

From bars, restaurants and cafes so quickly turning to providing online delivery or  takeaway options. People want these places to survive. We all want to return to normal as soon as possible so having the ability to support and buy where we can is great all round. 

The arts, so used to collaboration face to face, they too have had events canceled and have switched to total reliance on online selling (#artistspledge has caught everyones attention – read about it on Instagram).  

These are only two sector examples. It goes without saying that this is affecting everyone.   

Flexible working  

The term flexible in business is often heard. Whether that be flexible working or a flexible software solution that your team can create dashboard views that suit their individual preferences. Whatever, flexible is a prevalent term.  

But for so many of us, this had not been tested to the degree we see today. For many office-based companies working remotely was probably seeping into the normal routine anyway, but evern so it’s still a dramatic shift for many.  

Perhaps before now we didn’t truly understand the term ‘flexible working’. It’s not just about the ability to work at home, remotely and when suitable for you. It’s so much more. It’s about adapting to change swiftly for the benefit of the business and its target audience – whatever sector you work in. It’s about how you solve the challenges your target audience is facing. What solution you can offer them within your capability.   

Seeing how all companies are changing to cater for their customers and clients, in such a short space of time, has been heartwarming. It’s not only about businesses surviving, it’s so much more – it’s about community being at the heart. 

Keeping present in a digital world 

Now, more than ever, the solutions offered by the digital world are paramount for keeping businesses in the public eye.  

Digital marketing has always needed to be flexible. These marketing solutions are not just plug and play (read our blog on it’s not just about social media to get more of our thoughts on that). Digital marketing forms part of your inbound marketing strategy and lead generation. It’s about a package of tools that you switch up or down according to metrics, campaigns and your goals.  

Ultimately , you want visitors to your website, but how do you get them there? This is where you need the flexibility to adapt to change and perhaps take the time to act on implementing marketing activity now, so that in a few months’ time, your continued online presence will reap dividends as search engines remember you. Just like the local shops, bars, pubs and art groups, just because you do not have your physical premises does not mean you should not and can’t be seen.  

Digital marketing resources for your virtual business  

Here’s our resources to help you with inbound digital marketing. We’re also able to hold a video call with you to chat through some quick online marketing wins you could implement to help your business in the long-term.  

The Digital Marketing Tools to help you engage. A mix and match approach will help maximise your opportunities. Chat to us about the what each entail and what may be the best fit for you so that you can form a digital marketing plan.   

  1. Website design & Development  
  2. Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)  
  3. Social Media Marketing  
  4. Pay Per Click (PPC)  
  5. Remarketing / Banner advertising  
  6. Email Marketing  
  7. Content Marketing  
  8. Marketing Automation    
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