by Francois Muscat | Feb 21, 2019 | SEO
SEO is always changing because Google is constantly improving their search algorithms. Everything – from the increase in mobile searches as well as voice searches to the way people consume content – guides Google’s algorithm and SEO practices, which is why you need to stay up to date with how Google ranks websites. Here are a few outdated SEO practices that you should no longer waste your time on:
- Keyword Stuffing
Ten years ago, everything was about keywords. You needed to have as many variations as possible of your chosen keywords on a page. Today, loading a webpage with keywords in order to manipulate Google rankings will do you more harm than good. Stuffing content with keywords does not offer a good user experience – and it can lead to a Google Panda penalty.
- Creating Multiple Pages For Similar Keyword Variants
Creating a separate page for ‘plumber in Pretoria’, ‘plumbers in Pretoria’, and ‘plumbing company in Pretoria’ is pointless. This is the old-school way of thinking about SEO. Google is smart enough to analyse the keywords on the page and know that all the pages can be grouped under ‘plumber Pretoria’.
- Using Outdated Link Building Strategies
Manipulation is no longer a sustainable route to build links for your website. With the Penguin update, Google can identify spammy, irrelevant and mass link building. Spam blog commenting, paid links, private blog networks and spammy footer links are all things that you should avoid.
Need help with your SEO, content marketing or link building strategy? Then contact WSI OMS today.
by Marelise da Silva | Jan 7, 2019 | SEO
As digital marketing transforms, so too do the factors that Google takes into account when ranking websites. Making sure that you understand these essential SEO ranking factors will help you to continue ranking high in Google searches – of which there are 3,5 billion each and every day! Below, we take a look at some of the ranking factors that are set to change, and how to adapt your digital marketing and SEO strategy accordingly:
Responsivity
- Can your website be viewed using a smartphone or a tablet without deforming or causing loading issues? This is undoubtedly one of the most important ranking factors in 2019 – and it has been for some time already. If you have yet to ensure that your website design is mobile-friendly, there is no time to waste.
Loading Speed
- Google is heavily focused on user experience, and one of the most annoying things for anyone visiting your website is having to wait for ages for a page to load. Therefore, slow loading pages are certain to have a negative effect on your search engine optimisation and rankings.
Links
- Link building is an important part of SEO. However, it is essential that you build quality links. In these instances, quality really is endlessly better than quantity! Quality links help Google to assess how trustworthy your website is. So, how can you go about building these quality links to boost your rankings? Guest posting on reputable blogs and websites is a great way to get it right, as is influencer marketing. Influencer marketing is also a wonderful strategy for boosting your social media marketing and event marketing efforts!
If improving your SEO and digital marketing, in general, is a priority for your business this year, then it pays to enlist the services of the experts. Here at WSI OMS, we specialise in social media marketing, content marketing, SEO/search engine optimisation, website design and link building. Contact us now to learn more.
by Marianna Muscat | Dec 20, 2018 | SEO
The highest-ranking pages in Google are the ones we click on when we need to do research. If you’re researching surfing spots in South Africa for an article, for example, and type these keywords into Google, then you will undoubtedly find information about the best surf spots in the country within the top-ranking search results.
When it comes time to rank a source for the information that has been used for the article, the copywriter will likely link back to the top-ranking pages. This cycle means that the top-ranking pages on Google continue to get all the backlinks, which means that new content can’t compete.
New research by Ahrefs, however, both proves and disproves this theory. The top-ranking pages on Google get new links at a faster pace than lower-ranking pages regardless of the quality of content, which will lead one to believe that it is impossible to beat these pages in search engine results. The study showed that there isn’t proof that acquiring links at a faster pace leads to better rankings though.
For digital marketers and SEO consultants, it is a good reminder that backlinks aren’t the be-all and end-all of trying to get to the top of Google. Many smaller companies with fewer pages on their website and fewer backlinks are able to claim top spots simply by providing high-quality content. While backlinks are an important part of your strategy, you can outperform your competitors by investing in quality content marketing too.
Need help with your search engine optimization strategy? Then contact WSI OMS today.
by Francois Muscat | Dec 17, 2018 | SEO
What is the point of going to the trouble of perfecting your website’s SEO if you are not going to monitor its performance thereafter? There are countless SEO and digital marketing tools available out there to help you do this, the vast majority of which don’t have to cost you a fortune. Here is our round-up of the top ones to try:
These tools have been designed and created by the SEO big-wigs themselves, so it makes sense to use them to your advantage! What is more is that they are completely free as well. The FetchAsGoogle tool and PageSpeed Insights are two of the most popular – and are really easy to use. The former will provide tips on how to improve web page SEO and the latter will provide insight into how well a page follows common performance best practices.
This tool makes it possible for you to keep an eye on your website’s individual keyword rankings. It gives you a good general idea of what specific search terms your web pages are currently ranking for and why.
This is another free tool that works great for auditing your website and finding areas that require improvement. The tool does more than just analyse the quality of SEO, though. It also investigates whether or not your security is up to par and just how mobile-friendly the website is overall. The tool works quickly and will provide you with a score of between 1 and 100 in just a few seconds. If you are keen to make massive improvements, Hubspot also offers a host of high quality paid SEO tools to choose from.
It pays to consult the experts when it comes to updating your website’s SEO. Here at WSI OMS, we specialise not only in SEO, but also in content marketing, digital marketing and social media marketing, thus offering you an all-in-one solution to your online needs. Contact us today to learn more.
by Marianna Muscat | Sep 18, 2018 | SEO
Search engine optimization, or, as we like to term it, staying relevant in the eyes of Google. Sometimes it seems like getting it right is like catching a slippery fish. You might catch its attention for a bit, but before you know it, it slips through your fingers, and you have to start all over again.
SEO is difficult, but it can be made easier with the right advice. South Africans need an SEO solution tailored to their needs – where else are you going to find three or four different languages spoken in one sentence?
If there is one thing that we Saffers are good at, it is making a winning plan. And so, with a leading firm like WSI handling your SEO and digital marketing needs for you, you are on a winning streak.
That will key you in on all the latest stuff in the SEO world. It explains exactly what Panda was. (Hint, it is not the cute, cuddly bear you played with as a kiddie.) You are walked step by step through each change in the history of search engines.
We go a step further, though, we explain key concepts as they relate to SEO to make you a mini-SEO marvel. Amaze your friends at your next braai by understanding exactly what
all the jargon means.
Or, read up on the information so that you have a better understanding of the kind of concepts that you want to discuss with WSI. After all, time is money, and we want you
to get the best possible results out of your consultation with us.
Ready to jump right and claim your own piece of internet real estate? One that no Land Expropriation Bill will get near? Okay, let’s give you a little bit of homework to do – it’s just a tiny bit and it will be info you will actually use.
And, please do it now, not now-now, or just now – it’s important.
Audit How Well Your Site Ranks Locally On Google
Why Google In Particular?
Because Google is the big chief when it comes to search engines. In February of 2017, 95.9% of all mobile searches were performed using Google. It didn’t perform as well on desktops for the same period with only 80.5% of all traffic, but still, you want Google to show your site some love.
Why Locally In Particular?
Because, let’s be honest here, if you are a plumber in Pofadder, getting a call from Jabu with a blocked loo in Springs is not going to do you much good.
So, do this for yourself now – take the industry that you are in, whack on the town name at the end, add South Africa, and see what results come up. How did your company do? Were you on the first page? If so, great. Now, were you in the local 3-pack?
What’s The Local 3-Pack?
If you look at the top of the page of results, you will see a box containing a map of the area and the names of three local businesses related to the search. This is the holy grail of local ranking. These are the three illustrious sites that Google has deemed to be the best of the best.
What’s The Big Deal?
Think of it from the perspective of your average man in the street. They don’t know much if anything about the 3-pack. They see the top three results and a handy map that shows their locations as well. Who do you think they will call first?
Surely People Won’t Just Stick To Those Three?
No, there are going to be people who do decide to check a little further down the list. But what are they going to find? The businesses in the top three spots are there because they have a few reviews and a complete profile.
Businesses lower down the page won’t have as many reviews. As a person trying to decide on the best plumber, for example, a site with 10 great reviews is going to look better than a site with none.
And, quite frankly, most people won’t bother moving beyond the 3-pack anyway.
How Do I Get Into The 3-Pack?
There are a few things that you need to do.
Start With A Complete ‘Google My Business’ Page
If you have not already done so, claim your Google My Business Page. Fill in as much of the information as possible. Make sure that the information that you use matches the information on your site and in any online directories.
Verify your Google My Business Page. When you ask Google to verify this, it sends you a code. You then enter this code to prove that you have access to the address, telephone number, etc. (It will tell you how to go about this verification.)
Optimize your description in much the same way you would your site.
Check Citations
Businesses that are somewhat dodgy in nature will often have several different addresses or phone numbers. You need to check any citation online that lists your business address or telephone number, or even the name.
Discrepancies will cost you points when it comes to rank. So, here’s the boring part of the homework. Check every online listing you can find and make sure that the numbers and addresses are completely up to date. If the data from every source matches, it makes your business look more legit.
Ask Clients For Reviews
The more natural, good reviews you have for your business, the better. Give people the link to review your page and tell them you would appreciate it if they would leave an honest review. That’s it. No scripting the review and no bribing them for it either.
Google has strict policies when it comes to reviews, and if you are caught breaking these, your site gets penalized. It just is not worth it.
Well, that’s enough homework for now, don’t you think? Need a bit more tutoring? Call us in, and we’ll help you smash your way to the top of your local 3-pack.
URL: https://seotribunal.com/blog/stats-to-understand-seo/
by Francois Muscat | Sep 17, 2018 | SEO
Want to take your email marketing strategy to the next level? The SEO and design experts at WSI OMS have rounded up some top email design tips to boost your results:
Email subject line
The subject line of your email campaign may not traditionally be considered a ‘design element’, but the visual aspect of this part of your email can have an impact on what your reader experiences. With email subject lines, longer is not necessarily better. Research shows that keeping the subject line to fewer than 65 characters is the way to go. If you can make it shorter while retaining the essence of your message, this is even better.
Emojis
Have you ever noticed strange characters in an email, such as a tiny square box or a single “J”? This is usually when the sender intended to use an emoji, however, the emoji is not supported by your email client. There are ways around this, but you should always test what the emoji looks like in Outlook, Gmail and other popular email clients to make sure you are not creating confusion.
Email Intro / Pre-Header
The pre-header of an email is the short intro that people will see. It is usually just one or two sentences and needs to be kept short (under 70 characters). This means that you should give a bit of extra thought to the first few sentences of your email. Make it compelling enough for someone to click to view the entire email.
Dynamic Content
The graphics in your email can be changed to make it more relevant to viewers. Online clothing brands often do this by showing men’s wear to male subscribers and women’s wear to female subscribers.
Images
The imagery you use needs to complement your message, not distract from it. Be careful with stock images as it can seem ingenuine, which will also distract from the message you are trying to get across.
Do you need help with your SEO or email marketing campaign? Then WSI OMS can help you. Contact us for more information today.
