Search Engine Optimization Archives - Page 10 of 14

January 21, 2022 by David Henderson

Having a website and making it visually appealing with easy functionality is only part of having an online business. You can create the best online experience for your customer, but if they can’t find your site, then what is the point? Unwired Web Solutions is an SEO company in Kitchener that can help get your website found.

If Google doesn’t index your site, you are not alone. Many sites are sitting idle because of various potential issues that are preventing Google from indexing. It is vital to know some of the most common problems causing your customers not to find your website. Our team has narrowed down the top reasons why this may be happening.

Your Site Is Not Mobile-Friendly

It is now mandatory to have a mobile-friendly website if you want to be indexed by Google. Since introducing its mobile-first indexing, you will lose rankings and traffic if your website is not optimized for viewing on a smartphone or tablet.

If your website is not mobile optimized, it doesn’t have to be complicated. You can add responsive design principles such as CSS media queries or fluid grids. These easy fixes can make sure that users find what they need without experiencing any navigation problems.

To find out if this is what may be causing your website not to be indexed by Google, try running your site through Google’s Mobile-Friendly Testing Tool.

Your Site Loads Slowly

Google is less likely to want to feature slow loading sites in the top results of their index. If your site takes too long to load, it could be due to various factors. Having too much content on a page for a user’s browser to handle could be a reason for slow loading time. It could also be due to an old-fashioned server with limited resources.

Many tools can help to let you know if your website is loading at a fast enough pace. Google Page Speed Insights is a helpful tool that could also identify what website sections need urgent attention. This tool can analyze a web page against five performance best practices such as minimizing connections, leveraging browser caching, reducing payload size, and more.

Your Content Needs Updating

Many people don’t realize how important well-written content is on a website. To succeed on Google, you must have minimal content that doesn’t have any significant issues and meets your competition levels. Content that is less than 1000 words does not do as well as content that is more than 1000 words.

The information on your website should be informative and needs to answer questions, provide information, or have a point of view that differs from other sites in the same niche as yours. If your content doesn’t meet these standards, Google will likely find another site with better quality content.

Good quality content should also incorporate SEO practices by adding relevant keywords throughout the text. Hiring an SEO company in Kitchener can ensure that your content is written correctly and can be indexed by Google.

Text isn’t the only thing that needs to be optimized for Google. Image optimization for SEO is also extremely important and can make or break your website views. If you have images on your website, they also need to be optimized, just like written content.

Your Site Isn’t Engaging

Believe it or not, Google can tell if your site is user-friendly and engaging. Your website will rank higher in search results if it’s easy for your customers to find what they’re looking for and navigate around your website without feeling frustrated.

Google doesn’t want to index sites with confusing navigation or ones that are just plain hard to use because there are too many distractions. If you have an eCommerce website and only have one product listed per category instead of several, this could also be why your content isn’t ranking well with Google.

Google wants to index sites that people enjoy sharing. If you can “wow” your readers with your content and have them share your blogs, you will rank better on Google. If your website is getting a lot of clicks and attention, Google knows it is something that people want.

All Domain Properties Are Not Added To GSC

You may have more than one variation of your domain, and this may be causing problems for you to be indexed on Google. Some older sites may have migrated from http:// to https:// But these variations may not have been added and verified in Google Search Console.

You will need to make sure that you’re not missing any of your domain variations when adding them to Google Search Console. You will also need to verify your ownership of all the domain properties to make sure that you are tracking the correct ones.

You Are Not Using A Sitemap

If you have a website, you need a sitemap. A sitemap is a list of all the pages on your site, which is one way for Google to find out what content you have. This tool can help to ensure that every page gets crawled and indexed by Google Search Console.

An informative sitemap can tell Google what the important pages of your site are and what you want to submit regularly for crawling and indexing. It is important to note the HTML sitemaps are depreciated in Google Search Console. XML sitemaps are now the preferred format.

It Can Be Challenging

Understanding why your site is not being indexed by Google can be a challenge. However, it is well worth solving if you want your customers to find you. Technical SEO, content, and links are all important in maintaining your site’s performance on Google. You will want to make sure you are getting your site out there in the correct manner.

Unwired Web Solutions can help make sure each page of your website is optimized for Google. The better Google can crawl, index, and rank your site, the better results you will see. Contact us today to learn how we can help get your indexed on Google, which means more potential customers coming your way!

December 22, 2021 by David Henderson

In content marketing, images are vital. Adding visuals to practical, well-researched content can help to resonate with your audience over time. They don’t just stand out at first sight; they are also easier to remember. But it isn’t just the images themselves that help your page stand out, image optimization for SEO must also be implemented to help your site gain the ranking it deserves.

Eye-catching visuals can help the reader to focus and get a better idea of what a message is genuinely trying to say. They can give a better understanding of the message but can also explain easier and faster to some rather than just a cluster of written words.

Plan Your Content

When creating content for your site, always start by planning the content with its messaging, audience, and goals in mind. This thought process should include some compelling visual content. From the very beginning, you should consider what type of images, infographics, or other rich media could be added to the content to enhance its messaging.

Web content containing visuals has been shown to perform approximately 94% better than content with no visuals. Email marketing campaigns are no exception, and any emails that include images have a higher click-through rate compared to campaigns that have no visuals.

Image Optimization for SEO

It is not only important to have the images in your content, but they must be optimized for SEO. Image optimization is considered as an integral element in SEO optimization. It is essential to optimize the image for a better user experience and is also needed for search engines.

Images can give search engines important contextual information and speed up page loading, increasing user engagement and search engine rankings. It is vital first to understand the basics of image optimization before attempting optimization.

What Is Image Optimization?

Image optimization is the process of creating and delivering high-quality images in size, format, and resolution required for the channel. It also includes accurately labeling images so search engine crawlers can read them and understand page context.

File names for your images are extremely important and should be chosen even before uploading them onto your page. Before uploading, name the file with relevant, descriptive keywords to get the most SEO power. Use target keywords at the beginning of the name and separate them out with hyphens.

Alt tags are essential in the world of SEO. Without properly labelled alt tags, search engine crawlers can’t accurately index your image content. Provide more detail in the alt image than you would in the title, and aim for 10 -15 words that convey something about the image.

Images That Please Your Audience

In today’s digital climate, customers are more likely to be quickly captivated by an image than just words on a page. The trend of images within content is unlikely to change anytime soon. With the dramatic shift in content preferences with the growth of faster phones, faster internet connections, better picture quality, and more, it is critical to have visuals that will please your audience. Unwired Web Solutions can help to make sure all images on your website are up-to-date and have the proper SEO to accompany them.

As an SEO company in Kitchener, we understand the needs of our local clients. As a local business, appealing to the community is important for your success. Let our team help with your content needs that can help drive more customers and sales your way. Contact us today!

December 2, 2021 by David Henderson

For local small businesses, it is vital to understand how Google ranking works. Without a firm grasp on it, business owners could end up spinning their wheels. If you own a small business, you most likely already know that potential customers turn to Google to search for what you offer. But if they can’t easily find you, they may turn to your competition.

No matter what type of business you may be, a local SEO company such as Unwired Web Solutions may be able to help grow your online presence. Over the past five years, Google has changed dramatically in the way it ranks local businesses.

A Continuous Process

Optimization needs to be done continuously to make sure your website gets the ranking it deserves. The days of hiring an SEO specialist to get your website ranked and then sitting back and doing nothing for ten years are gone.

Although there have been a lot of changes, the core factors for SEO haven’t really changed. They still depend on keywords on the website and links from external sites. But because of Google’s new changes, SEO professionals need to stay ahead of the game and find ways to help clients rank.

A Different Way of Looking at SEO

A few years ago, when Google started changing results based on local intent, local businesses needed to change the way they thought about their SEO strategies. Google Business Profile was also launched, allowing local businesses to claim their business listing and add information similar to a Facebook business profile.

Google Business Profile changed the game for several reasons. Customers could now learn about your business without even clicking on your website. Google Business Profile and local search algorithms also added new core ranking factors such as:

Reviews
The proximity of the user on the map
Photos, posts, and videos of your products and services
Description in the “About” section

More Complex

Over the years, ranking factors for local businesses and franchised locations have become much more complex. There are over 100 factors that may impact how your company ranks in the local area. Experts suggest that the most important part of ranking locally is through keyword optimization. It is extremely critical to take the time to do the research as there are hundreds of keyword combinations that can be used to find businesses. When thinking of keywords for your business, you will need to consider which ones have the most search volume and which describe your core service or product.

Understanding keywords can be tricky. Those with the most searches aren’t always the primary keywords for targeted optimization. Sometimes it’s better to be ranked number one for the secondary keyword for a profitable service than being ranked number 18 for the keyword with the most searches. Keyword optimization is a constantly evolving process, with rankings changing every day. With the help of a local SEO company, they can help you track average rank and analyze search traffic to determine your monthly adjustments.

Social Media

All search engines and social media platforms are paying attention to each other. When Google looks at ranking a local business, they are closely watching every aspect of your business. Some of the most significant factors in Google ranking include:

Are you actively using Google Business Profile?
Are you actively logging in and using listing sites such as Yelp and Bing?
Are you updating your events and information?
Are you posting on social media regularly?
Are you uploading photos and videos to Google Business Profile and other platforms?

As you can see, activity is critical when Google is ranking you. When Google looks at solid and active businesses, they appear as thriving companies using these platforms, which shows they care about their customers since they are showing concern about their online reputation.

A strong, active online presence will help your reputation and clickthrough rates to help convince more customers to contact you. As Google is the search leader who has a highly advanced algorithm, it may be essential to work with a local SEO company that can help with the process. Contact our team at Unwired Web Solutions today to get started with your local SEO plan.

November 29, 2021 by David Henderson

Experts are predicting that retailers who boldly invest in cutting-edge technology are the ones who will lead in the future. The rise of web-connected devices has completely reconfigured the retail landscape, and those who do not react will be left behind. Because of this, more companies than ever before are reaching out to Unwired Web Solutions for eCommerce solutions and search engine optimization services.

The Rise of Technology

Chances are, in the past 18 months, you’ve probably bought something online, paid for something with your smartphone, or used a retail app. Each of these examples is easy to see how crucial technology is becoming in the retail and consumer sector. It had previously been advised that consumer companies and retailers need to evolve into technology companies, but the COVID-19 pandemic brought technology front and center, faster than anyone could imagine. For retailers that have had no choice but to close their stores during the pandemic-related lockdowns, eCommerce and online customer service have been their lifelines.

To say that technology is changing the retail sector would be an understatement. It has completely revolutionized the way we shop, forcing the industry to rethink its business model. People have found an increased convenience, time saver, and equality experience through shopping online.

M-Commerce

The rise of technology has seen a blurring of the boundaries between retail and supplier. Brands once relied on physical stores to get their products to consumers, but now many can sell effectively through their digital channels. Some of the most popular digital media that people use for online shopping are on their mobile devices. With the release of dedicated apps by retailers, consumers don’t even need to go to a website to order anymore. Now known as M-commerce, customers can use an app on their mobile device, find what they are looking for, and purchase.

Automation

Automation is another way technology is changing the retail sector. Automated assistance can create a customer experience that bridges the gap between customer service and customer questions. Many are simply pop-up chat boxes that appear to have a live person on the other end but in reality, only contain automated messages.

Omnichannel

Omnichannel retailers can offer a unified experience through their social media channels, their website, mobile apps, and physical stores. Each channel can present its own sales opportunities and options for customers to talk to real-life customer service representatives in various ways. By promoting their brand across various platforms in a unified way, consumers can easily recognize and purchase products.

What Will the Future Look Like?

Whether retailers like it or not, digital transformation in the retail sector is happening. However, only the most forward-thinking ones will adapt successfully. There are many ways that retailers can change their marketing strategies to fit more into the technology their customers want. For example, mobile apps can help grow your brand and engage with your customers. Customer portal software is also a great way to enhance your relationship with your customers. By simply bringing the experience of a brick-and-mortar store into your website, social media outlets, or app, your customers can easily see your products, get information, and most importantly, place an order easily.

At Unwired Web Solutions, we have helped many businesses adapt to this rapidly changing technology. Contact our team of experts today to help transform your retail location with eCommerce solutions and search engine optimization services.

November 26, 2021 by David Henderson

The holidays are almost here, and as a businesses owner, we understand you want to do all you can to increase sales this season. By updating your Google Business Profile, your customers can easily find the information they may need. Unwired Web Solutions offers local SEO services that include making sure your company’s profile is up to date on Google.

This holiday season, chances are your customers are using Google to find information about your business. They may be looking for your website, checking for extended holiday hours, or getting directions to your location. No matter the reason, your customer needs to find the information they are looking for; otherwise, they may go to your competitor.

The peak holiday season is rapidly approaching, and for many businesses, it has already begun. ECommerce sales for November 2021 to January 2022 are forecasted to increase 11% – 15% this year over last year. With much of the world still locked down to some degree, many consumers are still opting to do their holiday shopping online.

But it isn’t just online shops that need to worry about their online profile. With in-store shopping anticipated to rebound to a 33% share in 2021 from 28% in 2020, customers may be looking online before visiting a brick-and-mortar location.

To keep up with sales this Christmas, businesses need to prepare their Google Business Profile (GBP), formerly Google Business Profile. By updating your information online, you can aid shoppers in their searches by presenting the most up-to-date, accurate, detailed information possible.

Update Hours

If your business is extending hours over the holiday season, we recommend setting “Special Hours” in your Google Business Profile. Setting these special hours enables you to provide shoppers with the information they need to visit your shop.

Use the “More Hours” section if your business plan to provide specific services at different times during the holiday season. For example, if you plan to be open an hour earlier for seniors this holiday season, you can set it in the “More Hours” rather than the “Special Hours.”

It can be necessary for a business to close for a number of different reasons temporarily. Google recommends that if your company is closed for 7 or more days in a row or will be closed for an unknown period of time, you should mark your business as “Temporarily Closed.”

Update Your Images

Businesses with more GBP photos have been shown to get more clicks, phone calls, and driving direction requests. For those with over 100 images, businesses were found to get 520% more calls compared to the average business.

Providing many high-quality images will not only correlate to more conversions, but they can also provide the visual stimulation needed for a customer to consider your business. By acting as a digital representation of your brand, your images will be a digital storefront, accurately portraying the in-store shopping experience that your customers can expect this holiday season.

Monitor Reviews

Often time, Google reviews can make or break a business. These reviews can also provide your customers with pertinent information about your business operations.

Research shows that 50% of consumers feel more confident in a business when they see a brand actively responding to reviews. This gives the customer the feeling that the company cares about their wants and needs.

This holiday season, have a team in place to respond to both positive and negative reviews to encourage customer loyalty.

A Few Simple Steps

By taking these few simple steps this holiday season, you can help to ensure a profitable holiday season. Our team at Unwired Web Solutions offers many services to help your local business thrive all year long. From local SEO services to website design, and SEO analysis tools, we can help your business stand out online. Contact us today to learn more about our valuable services.