When it comes to marketing exposure on the web, search still reigns supreme. Google continues to get smarter at displaying the most relevant results. Users are getting the information they need faster than ever. A win, win right? Not if your website isn’t showing up in the first page of search results. 75% of search engine users never scroll past the first
page of search results. The winners on the first page get the spoils; qualified leads and willing buyers. The losers are left with the leftovers. So, how do you show Google you mean business in 2012? We’re glad you asked…
BE SOCIAL
2012 has already been the year of social media. Not only has there been an increase in user engagement, but searchengines have incorporated social media into everything they do. Search results contain more social media pages and mentions. Ranking algorithms are now strongly affected by one’s social media presence. Why are search engines all about social media? Social media helps spread good information around among friends unlike ever before. It is not only helping businesses interact and engage with their fans, but it’s becoming vital for businesses to continue to display on the first page of search results. Studies have shown that a particular business’ social presence (especially on Google+) has a direct effect on where they rank in Google. At this point, social media is a no brainer. Develop a social strategy, find & engage with your fans, and watch your search results improve.
WRITE VALUABLE CONTENT
With all this talk about social media, one thing is certain. Content is still the king of SEO. Nothing is more important than fresh, quality content that users find as valuable information. It’s not acceptable anymore to create a website, ignore it for years, and expect to show up on the first page in search engines. Explore opportunities to create valuableand link-worthy content on your website. As a result, Google will recognize you as an authority in your industry, andreward your search results accordingly. Create a blog about the latest advancements in the industry. Statistics show that companies who blog have 434% more indexed pages in Google, which means more leads. Update your blog with the latest news stories about your business on a consistent basis. Remember to write content with the end user in mind, not search engines. If people like the content on your page, they will share it on their social networks, and your website will reap the rewards.
RICH SNIPPET OPTIMIZATION
One of the newest and most effective ways to gain trust with Google and increase exposure in search results is having rich snippets for the pages of your website. By applying microdata on your website’s source code, you are able to tell
Google to display even more information in your search results such as the author, recipes, video, products, business locations, events, and more. The implementation of rich snippets on top results has been shown to increase click-through-rates dramatically because of the perceived value of the content.
The value of SEO simply cannot be overlooked as 93% of all online experiences begin with a search engine. Understand the keywords your potential leads are using to search, develop an SEO friendly website, and implement a solid social media & content marketing strategy. Need help understanding how SEO works? Interested in integrating a blog or social media platforms to your website? Starkmedia understands the importance these elements have on a web presence, and we’d like to help.
