It’s crucial that you come out on top online. Savvy business owners already are probably aware that we are talking regarding the SERPs. Getting to the top of the search engine results pages for targeted keywords is the easiest way to make sure that you see a great level of success online. You need to build up your profile so that customers and clients see you rather than the competition. If this sounds complicated or tricky, it can be, but it’s well worth it if you succeed. There’s a massive potential for profit online. All you need to do is reach out and grab it.
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Of course, there’s a problem here. There are millions of sites online and while some are dead or barely used, others will be competing for the exact same customers you are. 97 percent of interactions online begin with a search engine and unfortunately, most business owners know this. That’s why they pour time, energy and money into make sure that they come out on top. But it’s not actually about pulling out all the stops. Instead, you need to target the right areas to make sure that your campaign and your fight for relevance is successful. Without further ado then, here are the steps you’ll need to take to succeed with an online marketing campaign.
Put A Face Behind the Name
It’s crucial that there is a face behind the brand of your business. Customers and clients need someone who they can connect with and relate to. They need to see someone that they can form some form of relationship with behind the name or logo. Studies show that users are far more likely to click on a site if there is a picture of a person as part of a profile. The difference can be as much as eighty percent and that’s incredible. It shows how much people favor that personal touch and it’s a big bonus for small businesses. If you’re running a small business, you have a tremendous opportunity to connect with customers on a more personal level. You can be seen as something other than a massive, driven machine. Adding a self-image is one of the ways to achieve this.
At this point, it’s perhaps worth mentioning photography. Photography is one of the greatest tools in your arsenal online and it’s true what they say. A picture can be and often is, worth a thousand words. But it has to be the right picture. You would be wise to invest in professional business photography. In doing so, you can demonstrate that your business is both successful and well-funded. These are two things that customers want to see from your company. It’s a fallacy to say that users are eager to seek out and support the underdog. Most want to buy from a trusted brand that is already well established on the market. At the very least, they want a company that has the look of a professional business.
Get the Domain Right
It can be tempting to cut the costs when it comes to finding a website or a domain for your business. Many business owners will avoid hosting to cut the cost. However, comparatively the cost of hosting is actually quite small. Particularly when compared to some of the other bills that you’ll need to handle. Hosting can often only cost a few dollars a month, depending on the package that you want or need. So, what benefits do you get from essentially owning a piece of online retail space.
Well, first you’ll have more control over your business website and what you can or can’t use it for. That’s crucial because it means that your website will be more responsive and load at a far more rapid rate. We’ll look at why this is important a little further down. But for now, let’s focus on the domain. By hosting your website, you will be able to select a specific domain for your business. That’s important because, while people can often find your site purely by keywords, it once again makes your website look more professional. Surveys also show that websites with a specific domain are more likely to rank.
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However, it’s also kind of like trying to sell a product without a label. People are more inclined to buy a tin that says beans then once which is just a metal tin. Why is this? Well, there’s brand recognition here but it’s also just a matter of making sure that they are getting exactly what they want. You can be creative with the domain but it should be simple and easy enough that it tells users exactly what they can hope to get from your company.
Unfortunately, a lot of people do struggle to get the right domain due to the fact that popular ones are often owned and very expensive. That said, there are ways to dodge the issue here. For instance, you can shop for expired domains. By doing this, you can get your hands on a domain that has been popular in the past and could fit perfectly with what you are offering through your business.
Handle Bad Reviews
You do need to be aware and be ready to deal with any bad reviews that could impact your business. This could be an issue with anything from deliveries to the quality of your product. The key here is to make sure that you are taking the appropriate steps to fix the problem and correct your company image troubles. You might want to start by ensuring that you are aware of any bad reviews that could pop up.
Various services are available that will handle this for you. Using a service like this, you’ll be able to keep a check on both positive and negative chatter surrounding your business brand online. You will then be able to correct problems if and when they develop. You don’t need to respond to every negative complaint, but you should target ones that are getting traction or gaining attention. These can damage your brand to the point where you will need to enter into a level of recovery.
When you handle negative reviews the right way, it’s also a chance to grow your business and create loyalty in your customer base. But how does it help you get to the top of the SERPs? Most customers are more inclined to trust the words of other people who have bought things from your business compared with word directly from your mouth. So, if you want to get people to visit your site, thus boosting the ranking, it’s crucial that the word is positive.
Performance Issues
How many websites online have performance issues? We wouldn’t be surprised to hear that it’s as common as 1 in 4. We guarantee you though, no site that reaches the top of the SERPs has this problem. Google make sure that any sites with these issues end up at the bottom of the pile. So, what types of performance problems are we talking about and how can you fix them. Well, this includes:
- Slow load times
- Difficult navigation
- Poor mobile response
Slow load times are typically caused by issues with hosting. If you are hosting your site, then you might also find it’s due to the level of data on each page. No problem, this issue is easy to fix. All you need to do is optimize various media sources that might be on your page. This will include pictures and videos. All can be cut down to size with free to use software online. Don’t worry, while the weight of the data is removed, the quality will remain.
If your site is difficult to navigate, this points to problems with the site structure. This is more difficult to fix and you will usually need the help of a professional web designer if your site is a complete jumble or labyrinth. Ideally, you don’t want a user to ever be more than three clicks away from what they might be searching for from your business. This isn’t as complicated as it sounds but it often requires you to know how to rebuild what operating systems behind the scenes of your website. That’s why it’s best to invest in a pro service. It’s also worth pointing out that a good structure can make your site easier to index. This is again crucial if you are looking to build up a solid ranking online.
Finally, make sure that your site is completely mobile optimized. This simply means that it will work effectively regardless of what device a user is operating. These days, a user is far more likely to be looking at your site on their phone compared with a desktop screen. You need to be prepared for that. You need to make sure that the right systems are in place so that it runs smoothly. Once again, you have to be careful with levels of data. High volumes will mean that your site doesn’t load probably on a mobile device, if it even loads at all.
Take this advice and you will be able to fix your search ranking, rising to the top of the charts online with your brand.
