Budget SEO

Here’s the thing: so many search engine optimisation companies claim to offer fantastic results for very little in the way of money-however, as the old saying goes, often, you get what you pay for.

Suppose you run a business that’s based anywhere within the United Kingdom. In that case, it’s more than likely that you get constantly bombarded with various cold calls and e-mails and a lot of advertisements on social media from various companies that they can improve your business search engine optimisation, sometimes for a relatively minimal fee.

However, we always say to businesses that SEO is often crucial to the company’s success, in order to bring in more customers and generate more sales.

Therefore, do you want to risk hiring the wrong digital marketing company, because after all, what can you get in the way of work for say, £250 or less a month?

Instead, with search engine optimisation, the work needs to be of very high quality; it must be diligently put together, so the business has robust search engine optimisation that’s “white hat”.

Don’t pick a company that doesn’t make your phone ring

You have companies that publish SEO reports every month, which can make everything look like it’s going well.

Numbers within the report might all be green, impressive line charts add a quick e-mail may accompany the report, stating that everything seems to be going fantastically well.

However, we always like the expression “the proof is in the pudding”, and what we mean by that is it is easy to talk the talk, but can you walk the walk?

Have you seen a sharp increase in sales? It might all be looking good with fancy line graphs, and the SEO agency might well be telling you that everything is going fantastically well, but if sales are not increasing, then you could be looking at SEO metrics, which are not essential and rather unimportant.

Be realistic what you can achieve with your marketing budget.

What you have to think about is that to improve a business’s search engine optimisation, they often have to improve the technical SEO, the on-site and off-site, and also sometimes manage the business’s social media accounts as well.

So, if you’re paying, say, £250 a month, and the business has to produce content marketing, build backlinks, and much more, you have to be realistic about the quality of the work that you are obtaining.

Outsourced SEO

If the SEO work is outsourced, then you also have to consider how much the SEO agency is making from the monthly fee, and how much are the people doing the work are being paid?

If the person doing the work is not paid much, well, at the end of the SEO contract, there’s unlikely to be good results.

Quality

Instead, it would be best if you invested in high-quality work that cuts the mustard, implemented by an SEO consultant who knows their stuff.

At our agency, we have SEO consultants who have over ten years of experience.

Sometimes it’s better to go without

Sometimes, if you can’t afford quality, it’s better to do nothing and this is something we genuinely believe.

To like having a sports car, is it better to put low-quality oil in the engine and try and drive it? Or is it best not to drive the vehicle until you have obtained some premium high-quality oil and the type of oil which the manufacturer approves of?

Well, we would say it’s best to not take the car out until you have added really high-quality oil to the car, and this is the same as your business’s search engine optimisation.

Here is the problem many businesses get themselves into; when they are start-up business, they often don’t have much in the way of a marketing budget.

This is when they fall prey to various SEO companies that offer low-quality services for a minimal fee, say £250.00 or less a month.

However, what can happen is that they not just damage the business’s search engine optimisation, they make it incredibly difficult for a new company to come along afterwards and implement quality work and try and fix the problems the other company has caused.

Google Penalties

Some businesses will incur a Google penalty because of low-quality seo work that has been implemented.

This means, for example, if the business has incurred a link penalty, such a Penguin penalty, it could take a long time to recover from.

It’s far better to have a website with no SEO work completed on it all, than to apply low-quality work and then be forced to rectify problems later on.

Because as any good marketing consultant will tell you, if the business does incur a Google penalty. It can take a long time to recover from.

Dive into a detailed exploration of the Google Over-Optimisation Penalty, its impact on SEO, and effective strategies to avoid penalties. This guide, complete with a 1000-word FAQ, offers expert insights and practical tips for enhancing your website’s organic presence.

Introduction: Understanding Google’s Over-Optimisation penalty

In the dynamic world of search engine optimisation (SEO), the term “Google Over-Optimisation Penalty” often buzzes around, leaving many to wonder about its impact on their digital presence. This penalty, part of Google’s ongoing battle against web spam, targets websites employing dubious SEO tactics. Our journey here delves into the depths of this penalty, its implications, and strategies to maintain a robust online presence.

Google Updates

Google’s algorithm updates continually evolve, primarily focusing on purging its index of spammy content. This includes pages filled with excessive keyword usage, low-quality content, or those that appear thin in value. These updates signify Google’s commitment to enhancing the user experience by promoting authentic and valuable content.

Mastering high-quality SEO: No shortcuts to success

Achieving high rankings in search results is a marathon, not a sprint. It demands expertise, commitment, and adherence to ethical practices outlined in Google’s Webmaster Guidelines. The allure of shortcuts may tempt many, but these often lead to algorithmic penalties from Google, significantly affecting a website’s organic traffic.

keyword-stuffed pages

A common misstep in SEO is keyword stuffing. Imagine a company promoting a specific product, say handbags, and employing a marketing firm that excessively uses the product name in their content. This approach not only hampers readability but also flags the content as low-quality in Google’s eyes, risking the imposition of the Over-Optimisation Penalty.

Spun content: A Risky SEO shortcut

In their quest to churn out vast quantities of content, some businesses resort to using spun articles. This practice, while seemingly efficient, can be detrimental to a site’s SEO health and can attract penalties from Google.

Over-Optimised anchor text:

Another common pitfall is the overuse of optimised anchor text. For instance, a website selling cordless drills might excessively use this term in its internal links. Such practices not only detract from the user experience but also risk attracting penalties for over-optimisation.

Elevating your business with ethical SEO practices

In the realm of SEO, quality reigns supreme. This section will highlight the significance of white hat methods and how they can be leveraged to enhance a business’s online visibility and sales, drawing from real-world examples and successes.

This section will provide comprehensive answers to frequently asked questions about Google’s Over-Optimisation Penalty, offering insights and advice for businesses navigating the complex landscape of SEO. It will cover topics such as identifying over-optimised content, avoiding common SEO pitfalls, and adopting best practices for sustainable, long-term success in search rankings.

How to recover from a Google algorithm updates

Written by: Ryan Walsh

Date: 09/November/2023

Google (Alphabets) algorithms, have the super complex job of organising millions of different company websites in the U.K and across the world. This is so whether you’re looking for a local restaurant or a plumber the most relevant, useful businesses appear on the first page. It is widely thought that the search engine, answers over 3.5 billion searches every single day! And that’s just absolutely mind blowing, right?
Google also regularly updates and improves its algorithms, as routine as clock work. So, when a business moves up and down quite considerable on Google, this is what SEO consultants, refer to as “ranking flux”, which basically causes businesses to either move up or move down the ranks say by 3 places or more in just one day.

How often does Google roll out these major algorithm updates?

It’s widely thought that Google rolls out between 3 to 4 major algorithm updates a year, from our experience, of helping many businesses to improve their search engine optimisation, we would say the largest most seismic algorithm updates seem to happen during December and January time every year.

This is often why during the Christmas period, this is why a lot of seo consulants are busy monitoring data on Google Analytics, to see how their clients’ websites have been impacted.

This is often why also a lot of businesses can get rather frustrated, because all their hard work carried out during the year, to try and improve their position on Google can sometimes massively change during the festive period, due to a major algorithm change.

However, with that said if a business does follow the guidelines (Google’s Webmaster Guidelines) and also best practices, then sure they may still see some gradual dips in terms of where the business ranks on Google, but if the business has followed white hat methods, then this shouldn’t change too much.

How does Google’s algorithm work?

So, our job as a digital marketing agency, is to improve the visibility and organic traffic for our clients.

But what does that mean in reality?

Well, what it basically means is as Google’s algorithm is constantly assessing how good a business’s search engine optimisation is- and this takes place by Googlebot crawling and indexing a website, often every single day of the week.

What’s Googlebot’s job? What does it do?

Well Googlebot simply crawls and indexes a website through backlinks, and internal links, if it spots that changes have been made, such as a new piece of work is added, then Google’s algorithm can then change where the company is positioned. So lets say a business adds a really good piece of evergreen content marketing, that’s not just good, its great quality, well, then the algorithm might decide to rank the business higher on Google.

Why does it take so much longer to optimise a new website?

A new website, (a website that’s just been built, and has been live for less than a year) let’s say a website that is under one year old, it’s much more difficult to get that website onto the first page of Google.co.uk simply because often the SEO will often be weak.
And Google doesn’t yet trust a brand new company website as much as it does a company that has been trading for say 10 years.

So, it’s our job to constantly improve what are called the businesses “ranking factors”, this is so Google’s search algorithms and Googlebot notice the hard work that we are putting in, and if you hire the right agency, they can help the business to climb the ranks on Google steadily, sure it still takes a long time, but when a business does reach the top of Google, well this can sometimes massively increase the profitability of that business.

Why all the content marketing should be quality and also relevant

So, let’s say your business sells ladders online, then it would be self-explanatory to make the website relevant for the term “aluminium ladders” right? And that’s all the seo company should focus on?

What is not as simple as that, that’s because a good marketing agency needs to understand every single term and phrase used to describe the products that you sell. So that these can start to be optimised, so that you can start to rank higher in Google.co.uk.

You have to make the website useful

Sometimes, some content writers working at various marketing companies, may write blog posts for their clients which are totally off topic. For example, they might be working for a business and they find the services that they offer quite complicated.

Some marketing agencies then really be bothered to properly research an article and write it so its quality. This causes what is called “content thin”, content marketing and it could actually cause a Google Penguin penalty.

Usability or UX

This is why a web design agency has to often work closely with a seo agency, because you want your customers to find the website as easy-to-use. In matter of fact, you will to be a piece of cake for your customers to find the products or services they want.

Quality should always come first

Your marketing agency should focus on “expertise, experience and authority and also trust”, you must create high quality content marketing that’s well written, and must always be white hat. There is absolutely no doubt in our marketing agency that we believe that EEAT is now a major consideration as to whether a page or blog post should rank on the first page of Google.co.uk or not.

What is a core algorithm update?

From our experience we would say that generally speaking every three months or so a major Google core update occurs, sometimes it can happen much more frequently than that, sometimes a series of Google updates can occur one after the other, and this can go on for some time.

As previously mentioned earlier on within the article, we would say the most seismic shifts in terms of where the business moves on Google often happens around the Christmas period.

However there have been some updates which are introduced to help fight spam, such as targeting businesses which use low quality link building, writing low quality content marketing, and these updates to the algorithm can be introduced and then they are updated on a regular basis as well.

How did the 2018 Google Medic update change SEO forever?

Basically speaking, if the website was to do with anything related to YMYL (‘Your Money or Your Life’), such as offering financial advice, then this type of business website was scrutinised to see how reliable the information was, if it was written by experts, basically if the website could be trusted or not.

if the information was not high quality, then websites would remove down greatly until they could improve their search engine optimisation and also prove that they are high quality source of information.

For example, anything to do with pensions, investments, the stock market are the websites that got heavily impacted by the2018 Google Medic update

The Penguin Update

Another massive update was the Google Penguin updates.

The Penguin algorithm update was massive algorithm update, and it penalised millions of websites that having low quality backlinks.
A lot of businesses took the wrong method of optimising their website, by purchasing low quality backlinks, and temporarily they might have seen an improvement in where the business ranks on Google. Yet as the Google Penguin algorithm update was rolled out, these websites, which had low quality backlinks, were removed from Google altogether or seriously reduced in terms of where they rank on Google, say moving off page 1 to page 7 overnight!

The Google Hummingbird Update

The Google Hummingbird update was again a massive algorithm update, first released by Google back in 2013.

The Google Hummingbird update simply made the Google organic results much more precise because the algorithm can then understand more complex questions that were asked to it.

For example, somebody might ask “how to change the motor oil on my motor vehicle”.

It would then understand that the person doesn’t necessarily want to go to a local garage, instead the person is directed to articles that explain how to change your engine oil and offering advice on how somebody with practically no mechanical knowledge can change the engine oil on their car.

How did Google’s RankBrain update change seo?

RankBrain

The Google Rank Brain update was truly massive, we seen a lot of businesses majorly change in terms of where they were positioned on Google.co.uk because of this major AI update.

This is when Google started to combine A.I, that’s artificial intelligence into its algorithm.

We think how this update works, is it measures engagement (bounce rate + time spent on the website). You can use Google Analytics to measure these two important SEO metrics.

So how can you start to recover from these Google algorithm major updates that we’ve discussed?

Talk to the experts

What we would recommend is talking to a highly experienced seo company, that can demonstrate that they have helped hundreds of different businesses recover from a Google algorithm.

Therefore, if your business has impacted by a Google algorithm update, then its important that that you pick a business that has helped many companies recover to recover from Google Penguin, Panda penalties.

Always focus on quality

A lot of businesses focus on quantity, when instead, they need to concentrate on quality.

Understand the algorithm updates

So, a common mistake that a lot of businesses make is noticing that their organic traffic has rapidly decreased, and they then start trying to improve the seo, yet not taking the time, to understand what the algorithm update was focused on, so they may end up doing more of what caused the business to incur a penalty.

However what important to do is to step back, and have a good think about what to do algorithm update address, for example if the seo expert start the say this update was addressing thin content marketing, instead of adding more written work, it might be worth just trying to improve the existing work rather than adding new work and possibly making the problem worse.

Always keep an eye on the competition

There are some businesses which say we’re going to do everything our own way, and keep blindly doing the seo work, even if it’s not generating any results.

However, we think at this seo agency, sometimes you have to take inspiration from your competitors. For example, if your competitors are positioned in the number one spot on Google for a very long period of time, then they’re doing something right, in terms of their seo.
Therefore, a good digital marketing agency will do what we call “reverse engineering”, that is looking at exactly why does that business rank at the top of Google, why is their SEO so good?

Then once you’ve worked out what aspects of the seo are good, the you can start then incorporating these ideas into your own marketing strategy.

Now don’t get us the wrong way, what we mean is do not copy the competition, because if you copy and this will lead to a Google algorithm penalty, but will we do need is to take some inspiration from the competition in terms, of for example, where are they getting their backlinks from?

Introduction

Guv’nors and guv’norettes, let me tell you, the realm of Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is as bustling as the tube at rush hour! Over the years, many SEO companies have moved from questionable SEO tactics like dodgy redirects to focusing their SEO efforts on producing top-quality content marketing and also building top-quality backlinks. Nowadays, the information we can access is as vast as the Thames , allowing us to dish out handy insights to users through keyword research and nifty SEO techniques. Grab a cuppa, as we unravel the top organic SEO tools that we think are quite simply the bee’s knees!

The Golden Key: Keyword Research

Why’s It a Big Deal?

Much like fish and chips, keywords and SEO go hand in hand. They’re your ticket to discovering the lingo people are using and help you whip up content marketing ideas that are as appealing as a Sunday roast! So what do we mean by this, well quite simply put let’s say that you run a solicitor’s practice, you are going to need to write content marketing, there will help you attract the right customer. For example you might be an employment solicitor, so your solicitors practice will need to publish regular articles offering advice about employment law.

Google Keyword Planner – your digital crystal ball

With just a Gmail account, this free tool, and every single SEO company will need this, as it lets you peek into the average search volumes of terms, revealing potential golden nuggets. It’s like having your own digital Big Ben, ticking away with insights!

Ahrefs – The SEO Arsenal

You do need to pay for this tool, but it’s most definitely worth paying for. Ahrefs offers detailed insights and a buffet of pricing plans, from Lite to Enterprise, for every budget. It’s the full English breakfast of SEO tools, offering everything you might crave! It’s absolutely essential in our view because it’s such a brilliant marketing tool, no matter if you run a plc business in Bristol, with 10,000 employees, or you are a sole trader, we would highly recommend purchasing this marketing tool.

SemRush & Moz – The Dynamic Duo

These two are the Sherlock and Watson of organic SEO, offering extensive insights and allowing you to sift through thousands of keywords like hunting for treasures in Portobello Road Market! We would highly recommend purchasing Moz SEO, it’s brilliant at helping businesses to improve their organic SEO.

Screaming Frog – The Digital Detective

This tool scours your domain for issues like a detective on the beat, highlighting potential problems and offering solutions. It’s as essential as an Oyster card for traversing the digital landscape! So, for example it might find that on your main pages, you haven’t written any meta titles, or any meta descriptions, and these should be added. As they can help to improve your businesses click through rate. Screaming frog is used by online marketing agencies right across Bristol.

In matter of fact, if you were to have a chat with most Bristol SEO companies, most would say, they use screaming frog on a daily basis. It’s a brilliant tool, and in a matter of minutes, it can scan an e-commerce website, which might have 10,000 pages, and it can flag SEO issues with the website. For example it might find a lot of 404 pages, for those that don’t know what this means, it simply means it can find broken links.

Tackling the technicalities

What’s the Fuss About?

Technical issues can be like the London fog, obscuring your site’s visibility. Addressing them is crucial for ensuring your website stands tall like the Shard in the digital skyline.

Google Search Console – The SEO guardian

This again, it’s an absolutely This SEO tool which offers a panoramic view of your site’s performance, ensuring everything’s tickety-boo and highlighting areas for improvement. So for example, you can actually use this tool, to see which backlinks are connecting to your website. Therefore if you are receiving a lot of spam, low quality backlinks, then your marketing agency should take action to disavow those backlinks.

Page Speed Insights – The speedy gonzales

Much like navigating through the city’s hustle and bustle, your site needs to be swift! So it doesn’t matter if you run a plumbing business in Bristol, and you are a sole trader or perhaps you are a solicitor that employees 10,000 staff, your company website needs to be fast.
If your company website is slow, then your businesses bounce rate is likely to be very high. PSI is your go-to for ensuring your website is as fast as the DLR!

Crafting the Tale: Blog Writing

Why Bother with Tools?

Using the right tools for blog writing is as vital as having a sturdy umbrella in this city! They help you target relevant keywords and ensure your content is top-notch!

Grammarly – The grammar guru

Grammarly is like your trusty black cab, steering you away from grammatical mishaps and ensuring your content marketing journey is smooth and plagiarism-free!

Conclusion – The digital roundabout

Navigating the digital realm with these organic SEO tools is like traversing through the city’s iconic roundabouts. They help you craft engaging content marketing, and address SEO issues, such as having broken links, then your SEO company can fix these SEO problems. Above all else, it’s the years of experience and expertise that our marketing company has which truly make campaigns triumphant, much like the enduring spirit of this great city!

Famous Quote:

“In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun.” – Mary Poppins

F.A.Q Section:

Which SEO Tool is best for beginners?

Google Keyword Planner is a fantastic starting point.

How often should I conduct an SEO Audit?

Regular audits are key, much like keeping the Tube running smoothly. Aim for at least twice a year to ensure your site is in tip-top shape!

Are paid SEO tools worth it?

Investing in SEO tools is like investing in a good pair of wellies – it can make your journey much more comfortable and effective in the long run!

Introduction

Ever clicked on a website and felt like you’ve stepped into a time machine headed for the 90s? Well, that’s because keeping a site fresh is a bit like grooming a beard: neglect it, and soon it’s a wild, unruly mess. Blogging, in this context, is the razor – the solution to the unkempt mess. • it’s important, when no writing blog posts, to prioritise quality over quantity. But besides keeping things in shape, there’s more magic to it than meets the eye, especially when it comes to the sorcery of SEO.

It’s important that your content marketing is written in a white hat way

Dive in with us as we unravel this digital enigma, peppered with a sprinkle of humour, a dash of facts.

7 Bullets to Summarise:

• Blogging = Digital Beard Grooming; keeps things spiffy.
  We would recommend all blog posts are over 1000 words
  Current content? It’s like the digital version of fresh orange juice!
  Top-notch SEO is like finding the best pub on a rainy day.
  Outdated content? More like last season’s footy scores – time for a refresh!
  Mobile optimisation? Don’t let your blog be that mate who’s always late.

The magic behind blogging and SEO

Relevant

We would recommend that the work is written by somebody within your company, or by your marketing company, by somebody who is an expert on the subject. For example, if you’re writing about running trainers, then somebody who is an expert on running trainers should be writing the article or providing the writer with advice on what they should be writing about.

Ever landed on a webpage and thought, “Blimey, is this the digital Stone Age?”
That’s stale content for you. But here’s a little secret, search engines want to quality blog posts, and in return, the business may get ranked higher. And the quickest fix? A quality blog post! From the juiciest industry gossips to the latest moves in your company, keep it snazzy, and the rankings? Oh, they’ll follow.

Keywords

In the vast cosmos of SEO, keywords are your guiding stars. Dreaming of topping the charts? It’s not all about building links, mate. Sometimes, the niche phrases, the “long-tail keywords”, give you that edge. Like “best wellies for rainy Tuesdays” – specific, but it hits the spot!

SEO excellence.

Meta Charm: Always add a well written meta description.
Throwback: It’s like digging out an old tune – revamp that content marketing, it’s still a banger!
We would recommend publishing a quality blog post at least once a month.

Our last tipple? The penny’s dropped for many business heads – blogs aren’t just a fad, they’re the main event!

F.A.Q Section

Q: Why should I care about blogging for SEO?

A: Without it, you’re just hoping for a bullseye; with it, you could be on a winning streak.

Q: How often should I update my blog?

A: Remember how you feel when the biscuit tin is empty? That’s how search engines feel when you publish low quality or “thin” content. Its only by adding quality work, your seo will improve.

Q: Is mobile optimisation really that crucial?

A: Ever tried reading a broadsheet on the Tube during rush hour? That’s a non-optimized blog on mobile for you. Keep it smooth and scroll-friendly!

Q: Does my blog have to be funny?

A: Not as funny as a cat in wellies, but a chuckle or two never hurt anyone. It keeps readers around for the next gag, and the next fact.

Conclusion

After this whirlwind tour through the bustling streets of Blogging and SEO, one thing’s clear: they’re two peas in a digital pod. Ignoring the importance of blogging is like refusing a free pint at the pub – simply bonkers! It keeps your site lively, ensures you’re the talk of the town (digitally speaking), and gives your digital reputation a hearty boost.

But remember, it’s not just about chucking words onto a page. It’s about creating a space that’s both informative and useful.
So next time you contemplate the relevance of a blog, recall this cheeky guide and raise a toast to the magical powers of blogging. And always remember the wise words of Sir Winston Churchill, “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”

Navigate the intricate world of citations in local SEO and why your business should be building business citations. Explore how to build citations, why they matter, and how to avoid common pitfalls.

In this action-packed guide, we’ll explore the importance of citations in local SEO and why every business should be building them, regardless of whether you run a sole trader business, or you’re the marketing manager for a plc which employees thousands of staff.

From boosting Google rankings to establishing yourself as a reliable company, it’s all in here, we explain why it’s worth building business citations. And we’ll even throw in a few laughs, facts, and figures to make it a ride worth taking. So, hop on! And mind the gap in your knowledge – we’re about to fill it.

•      Why Citations Matter: More than just a name-drop, they’re the key to your local SEO success.
•     Building Citations: It’s about the quality, not the quantity

Avoiding the Black Hat: so, sure you could use an seo tool, helps speed up building business citations, however the problem is, if the business citations do not match, then these will mean that your business has inconsistent business citations.

Having inconsistent business citations, for example one citation, saying you are based on new road, and another saying you are based that Church Street, or simply mean that you have conflicting NAP details, which can mean that this actually damages your seo, and doesn’t actually improve. So the important thing to remember is, your businesses NAP details need to match.

How important are citations in Local SEO?

Are Citations the Bee’s Knees?

Citations make finding your business easier, like a good old signpost pointing to the pub. So what we mean by that is, sure, you can have your full address written on your company website, let’s say it’s written in the footer section. Yet if you also have let’s say 100 business citations, and these all confirm that address, then this can help to improve your businesses local seo.. Boosting Google rankings in local searches, you say? Yep, citations can do that. But don’t think it’s a walk in the park – because often spend multiple days building business citations, keeping up with the online Joneses requires a bit of elbow grease.

Letting potential customers know how to get in touch is crucial, otherwise, they might think you’ve gone missing like that sock in the laundry. So, you need to have your businesses NAP details on your company website, but you also need to build business citations as well.

Contents

•     What are citations?
•     How should citations look?
•     What’s the best way to build citations?
•     How effective are citations in boosting local SEO?

What are Citations?

Citations are your business’s online business card, so therefore business citations include your brand name, address, and phone number (NAP).

Mind Your NAP

How Should Citations Look?

Citations should always mention your businesses name, your businesses address and phone number,. The whole NAP is the crown jewels, but a partial citation can also be useful sometimes. It’s all about uniformity.

Citation Best Practices

Citations should be as crisp as your Sunday best. No abbreviations or careless spacing. And if you change your business name? Fear not! As long as you update your business citations, with your new address and the rest of your business citations remains consistent, Google won’t give you the cold shoulder.

What’s the Best Way to Build Citations?

The average local business ranking in the top 10 has about 75-86 citations, and our marketing agency would say that to build that number of business citations, will it take at least three working days to complete (source: BrightLocal). It’s not just about quantity, though; quality plays a significant role too.

Eyes on the Prize

Citation building isn’t a one-time gig. Keep an eye on the competition, for example, if they have a lot more business citations then you, then you simply have to build more. You also have to Update your listings, and never stop looking for new opportunities, unless you fancy a tumble down the search ranks.

My new websites looking at improving their search engine optimisation sometimes need to cool their heels, as it’s a marathon, not a sprint.

Old pages tend to do better – it’s like your grandad at the pub, lots of stories and everyone listens. So, this is why when you contact some digital marketing agencies, they don’t work with companies, that have brand new websites, simply because, new businesses, with new websites are much harder to optimise their say business which has had the website for the last say seven years.

Google’s got three steps to rank:

Discovery, Crawling, and Indexing.

Just like how you discover a good local pub, crawl into it, and index the number of pints you’ve had! Well Google does the same, it crawls your website, and if the content marketing, and to the other ranking factors, such as backlinks are good quality then you can climb to the top of Google.

SEO isn’t a quick cheeky Nando’s; it’s a fine Sunday roast. Takes time, but well worth it.

So why does it take longer to improve the search engine optimisation for a brand-new company with a brand-new website?
When you design a brand-new website, you’re itching to see it soar the charts, and starts to bring in massive amounts of business ain’t ya? But here’s the snag, my friend. It ain’t about rushing; it’s like waiting for a good brew. In the organic SEO game, patience is more than just virtue; it’s blinking essential.

How fast can a new website catch the limelight?

That’s like asking how quick the queue is at your chippy on a Friday. It does depend! Yet let us explain why that is so, let’s say that your launching a brand-new website, well it might be up against competitors, direct competitors, the might have been improving their search engine optimisation, for donkeys years.

So, when your digital marketing agency start work, the initial work they do, is likely to be a drop in the ocean, when compared to how much work is actually needed to overtake your competitors. So this is why search engine optimisation is a marathon and most definitely not a sprint.

Let’s get down to brass tacks. How does a page even get on Google’s first page?

Discovery, Crawling, and Indexing:

Sounds like a strange dance routine doesn’t it? but it’s how Google works out how good your businesses search engine optimisation is. Google’s always on the lookout, sniffing out new websites and checking out if you’ve added any new work to the businesses which it has already indexed. Once spotted, Googlebot has a wander around your company website on a regular basis, some websites are crawled every single day. If it likes what it sees, you’re indexed and ready to rock and roll.

Quick Fixes? Not Quite, Sunshine!

SEO ain’t no magic trick. Any agency saying that they can click their fingers, and get you to the top of Google in the blink of an eye, are most certainly telling porky pies.

Search engine optimisation takes a huge amount of time before the client can start to see any meaningful results, at a minimum, we would say it takes at least six months for most businesses to start reaping the rewards from our hard work.

So do Aim for the long haul. And remember, stay away from low quality methods of search engine optimisation such as: keyword stuffing, copying content, or those shady link farms.

For the love of tea, if you want to climb the ranks:

Make sure Google can crawl your website, so your web designers may have accidentally left the no indexed have, left on make sure that this is removed.

• Craft content marketing that’s richer than your nan’s pudding.
• Build quality links.
• And be active on social media, such as Facebook, to promote your products or services

Is chucking a load of money on advertising going to help me rank better?

Let’s cut to the chase: Simply throwing huge amounts of money at a marketing agency most certainly isn’t going to be the magic potion to shoot you up in organic rankings. That’s because sometimes there is a limit on how much an agency can actually do, for example it is better to have quality work, and to stagger this work over a large timeframe, to see the best results.
It’s actually possible to overdo your businesses search engine optimisation, just like you can over bake a cake, to the point where it’s not edible.

Quick-Fire FAQ Section (because who doesn’t love a good ol’ FAQ?)

What’s the fastest way to rank?

There’s no magic tricks which can bring a business onto the first page in a short amount of time, therefore it doesn’t even matter if you were to turn up in your marketing agency with millions of pounds to spend, sometimes it’s not about the money, it all boils down to the quality of the work, and is making sure every part of the work is really good quality. It’s a mix of good content marketing, SEO savvy, and a bit of elbow grease.

How crucial is content marketing in SEO?

As crucial as a good cuppa in the morning. Without it, you’re just not starting off right.

Is technical SEO really that important?

Is fish and chips a British classic? Absolutely, yes!

Do I need an SEO expert?

Can you fix your plumbing with sticky tape? Some things are best left to the pros.

Can I just focus on keywords?

And miss out on the bigger picture? That’d be like going to the pub and only ordering a glass of water. Doable, but why?

In Conclusion…

Getting a site to rank is like nurturing a plant, you’ve actually got to care about it, keep an eye on it to make sure it’s growing right but not overwater because you’ll end up killing it. You’ve got to give it time, the right nutrients (or in this case, SEO practices), and a lot of care. You can’t rush it. Just like you can’t rush a perfect brew. But with patience, persistence, and with time (you’ll see growth. After all, in the wise words of Winston Churchill, “Success is not final; failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.” So keep calm, carry on, and SEO your heart out.

Meta Title: Climbing the SEO Ladder
Meta Description: Dive into the world of organic SEO with a sprinkle of British humour. Learn how to rank, why content marketing is your best mate, and why tossing money at ads won’t magically fix everything. Cheers!

Alright, grab a cuppa, pull up a chair, and let’s talk about how any Bristol-based business can boost its SEO by applying the strategies detailed in this blog post. Remember, we’re not prattling about general SEO here. We’re focusing on local SEO, the James Bond of the internet world, always dressed sharp, suave, and prepared for action.

First things first, my Bristol mate. Let’s address the elephant in the room – the colossal 95% of mobile users who love searching for local information. Your business, whether it’s selling the world’s best bangers and mash or the finest pint, must be visible to these search-happy folks. How, you ask? With local SEO, of course!

Optimise your business for local search terms. For instance, if you run a chip shop, try to rank for “best fish and chips in Bristol”. The idea here is that you’ll appear right at the top when people make a local search. So, when hungry Bristolians are craving a proper fish and chips, your shop is the first one they’ll see.

Now, let’s talk about the Pigeon update. No, it’s not a city pigeon pecking at your chips, it’s Google’s clever update that makes local search more accurate. For instance, if you’re a plumber in Bristol and someone’s searching for “emergency plumber”, Google uses the searcher’s IP address to throw up local options. So, ensure your website’s content mentions your Bristol location, along with your services, to get this bird working for you.

Next up, Google My Business (GMB), or as I like to call it, the digital Yellow Pages. Grab this free opportunity to show off your business. Pop in all the details – phone number, address, business hours. This will increase your chances of appearing in the local pack, Google’s ‘3 Pack’ podium of organic business results. That’s prime real estate, right there! The more complete and accurate your GMB profile, the higher your conversion rates.

Reviews! They’re like the town gossip – everyone loves reading ’em, and they can make or break your reputation. Encourage happy customers to leave positive reviews on your GMB profile. Got a negative review? No worries! Respond to it professionally, showing you care. People appreciate businesses that take criticism on the chin and strive to improve.

Onsite optimisation is your best mate in this journey. It’s important to have your business’s name, address, and phone number (known in the biz as NAP) marked up with Schema, along with relevant keywords, in your website’s URL, title tags, H1 and H2 headings, meta description and within content. And remember to put a map from your GMB listing on your landing page. Easy to find, easy to visit, right?

Blog content, my friend, is another critical element. Regularly updated, unique content keeps Google spiders (the good kind) happy. Write about local events, news, FAQs. This keeps your website fresh and relevant, showing Google you’re alive, kicking and worthy of a higher rank.

So, there you have it, folks, a peek into the exciting world of local SEO. With these strategies, any business in Bristol, from a cosy corner café to a bustling nightclub, can supercharge its local SEO. It’s all about knowing the right tricks, the right strategies, and applying them with a dollop of patience and a dash of perseverance. Now go on, make Bristol proud!

• Highlighting the growing importance of local SEO for businesses with a physical location.
• Showing how 95% of mobile users use their phones to look for local businesses, indicating the need for a strong online presence.
• Understanding the impact of Google’s Pigeon update in 2014, and how it has shifted focus towards local search results.
• Explaining how local SEO works by utilising the user’s IP address to deliver location-specific results.
• Detailing the importance of high visibility in local search results as most users search with purchase intent.
• Outlining how businesses can optimise their websites for local SEO, starting with claiming a Google My Business (GMB) listing.
• Discussing the benefits of a complete GMB profile and how it can increase conversion rates.
• Explaining the significant role of online reviews in local SEO and how they influence customer behaviour.
• Sharing tips on onsite content optimisation, such as Schema markup and including local information in meta-tags.
• Emphasising the importance of regularly updated blog content that is relevant to the local audience, further boosting local SEO efforts.

Alright, mate! Let’s have a chat about this thing called “Local Search Engine Optimisation” or Local SEO for short, but first, let me put on a spot of tea, shall we?

Intro: Get Ready for an SEO Whirlwind Tour!

Don’t you know? These days, it’s all about getting noticed in your neighbourhood, especially if you’re running a business with a bricks-and-mortar location. You’ve got to be right up there, front and centre, when someone’s on the hunt for whatever it is you’re peddling. Think of local SEO as the high street of the digital world – except everyone’s using their mobile phones and not walking around with shopping bags.

Seven Key Points about Local SEO

Crucial for businesses with a physical location
Assists in ranking for local search queries
Empowers the modern consumer’s need for instant information
Provides more accurate local search results
Attracts customers at the purchase stage of the buying cycle
Requires specific optimisation strategies for maximum effectiveness
Enhances visibility on Google My Business (GMB)
The Main Course: What Is Local SEO and Why It Matters

So, what’s this local SEO all about? Picture this: You’re in town and suddenly develop a mighty craving for the best fish and chips, or fancy a cuppa at the most quaint café around. You whip out your phone and type in “best fish and chips” or “quaint café.” What you see next are search results all neatly lined up, not for places in Timbuktu, but right around where you are!

That, my friend, is local SEO in action. It’s all about making sure when someone’s looking for what you offer, your business pops up on their radar. Since the 2014 Pigeon update by Google (what a bird, that one!), local SEO has become more relevant than ever, giving businesses a fighting chance to rule the roost locally.

The stats say it all. A whopping 95% of mobile users are using their phones to look up local information, with the aim to give a ring or pay a visit to the business. With 89% of consumers wanting what they want, when they want it, (impatient lot, aren’t we?) it’s clear that being at the top of those search engine results matters. So, you better get that local SEO game on point!

Sprinkling Some Extra Flavour: Boosting Local SEO 

Alright, so how do we whip up this local SEO thing? First off, you’ve got to stake your claim on GMB (Google My Business). It’s like your digital “open for business” sign, and it doesn’t cost a penny! It’s essentially the digital version of the Yellow Pages, but without the massive book and the yellow fingers afterwards.

Next up, you need to keep a keen eye on reviews. Yes, every single one! Good, bad, and downright ugly. Think of it as getting your morning papers, except it’s about your business. Bad reviews? Well, they can be a bit of a sticky wicket, but you can turn things around by responding in a professional and caring manner. Besides, nobody trusts a place that only has golden reviews, we’re not daft!

Content, as they say, is king, and this is where the “onsite optimisation” jargon comes into play. You need to juice up your content for maximum SEO value. This includes using Schema markup for your business’s name, address, and phone number, as well as including your city or town’s name in your website’s URL, title tags, headings, meta description and within the content itself.

And let’s not forget the blog! No, not your aunt’s blog about her 15 cats, but your business blog. Regularly updating your blog with relevant and interesting content is the digital equivalent of fresh paint on your storefront. It keeps things looking neat and attractive.

Conclusion: Grabbing the Local SEO Bull by the Horns 

To wrap it up, if you’re running a local business and you’re not using local SEO, you’re like a ship lost at sea. In the era where customers want everything at the click of a button, local SEO is the lighthouse that guides them right to your front door. It’s high time you invest in this strategy and get ahead of your competitors. As the old saying goes, the early bird catches the worm!

FAQs

(To follow in another response due to the word limit)

“In the world of Internet Customer Service, it’s important to remember your competitor is only one mouse click away.” – Doug Warner

(NOTE: These statistics are correct as of my last training data in September 2021. Please verify for your use.)

Sources

Google Internal Data, 2021.
BrightLocal Consumer Review Survey 2021.
MOZ’s Annual Local Search Ranking Factor Survey, 2021.
Google Pigeon Update Information, Google, 2014.

Alright, gather ’round, you lot! There’s a wind of change blowin’ through the SEO world, and it’s bringing along quite the twist. Not unlike the double-decker buses taking a sharp turn ’round Trafalgar square… I mean, some square.

Google, our all-knowing overlord of all things internet, has gone and tweaked their Content Rater Guidelines, just when we were all getting comfortable. Perfect timing, really, what with everyone going bonkers about AI content creation and mourning the impending doom of content. Our friendly neighbourhood tech giant always knows when to spice things up a bit, don’t they?

This update isn’t a lone wolf, oh no. It’s part of a pack, trailing along with other updates that Google’s been churning out throughout the year. You’ve got your product review updates, your Helpful Content Updates, all prancing about like they’re new to the party. But our good ol’ friend E-A-T, he’s been hanging around the block for quite some time. Only now, he’s gone and got himself a face lift, a new letter to his name.

Remember when E-A-T first waltzed in, strutting about like it owned the place? It was 2014, and for a while, we SEO folks treated it like the eccentric uncle everyone’s polite to but no one really takes seriously. Fast forward to 2018, it was like he’d won the lottery – everyone was suddenly all ears, cosying up to E-A-T like there’s no tomorrow. All because Google made it official – E-A-T was now part of the Core Algorithm family.

E-A-T stands for Expertise, Authority, Trust. Sounds like a trio of superheroes, doesn’t it? To flaunt your Expertise, your content needs to pack a punch of knowledge about the subject, almost like it has a PhD in it. And Authority, mate, you’ve gotta strut your stuff, show the world you’re the big cheese, the head honcho. And finally, Trust – in a world where any bloke or their nan can spin a tale, you’ve gotta be the real deal, the one your users can bank on.

So now, Google’s thrown in another ‘E’ in the mix. But this one stands for ‘Experience’. Got you curious, haven’t I? Don’t worry, we’re about to jump right into it. Buckle up, folks, cos E-A-T has just become E-E-A-T, and we’re all in for a wild ride.

• Google has updated its Content Rater Guidelines, introducing an additional ‘E’ to the E-A-T concept, standing for ‘Experience’.
  This update aligns with the recent trend of prioritising personal experience content, which resonates with consumers.
• E-A-T, or Expertise, Authority, Trust, has been a central part of Google’s Core Algorithm since 2018.
• Expertise requires in-depth knowledge and professionalism, Authority demands proof of the author’s credentials, and Trust emphasises the necessity for audience belief.
• The rise of personal experience content is exemplified by platforms such as TikTok and YouTube, where direct feedback about products or services is paramount.
• Readers are increasingly sceptical of content created purely for SEO purposes and prefer genuine, helpful information.
• Google places heavy emphasis on ‘Trust’, highlighting secure payment systems for online stores, honest product reviews, accurate informational pages, and non-harmful social media posts.
• There’s a distinct difference between ‘Experience’ and ‘Expertise’ – Experience refers to the user’s personal encounter, whereas
• Expertise relates to the provider’s professional knowledge.
• An independent piece of content that relays a personal experience with a product can be equally or even more valuable than the product description itself.
• The SEO landscape is changing, with a shift towards Experience, Expertise, Authority, and Trust (E-E-A-T) in content creation, prioritising user experience over purely SEO-driven content.

Google has just flipped the SEO script with an interesting addition to their Content Rater Guidelines, just as the whole world is frothing at the mouth about AI content creation and prophesying about content’s demise. It’s funny how their timing was ‘just right’, innit? Now, this update isn’t just pulling a fast one – it’s part of the grand scheme of things with all those product review updates and helpful content amendments. And of course, our old mate E-A-T is in the mix, only this time with a bit of a twist. So grab a cuppa, because we’re about to dive into the world of E-A-T (Experience, Authority, Trust) and meet its new sibling, E-E-A-T.

THE NOT-SO-NEW CONCEPT OF E-A-T

Any seasoned SEO sailor remembers when E-A-T first made its grand entrance back in 2014. It took a few years for us to stop treating it like a fad and start giving it the attention it deserved, particularly after it was officially crowned as part of Google’s Core Algorithm in 2018.

Google’s E-A-T, broken down for your convenience:

Expertise: If you’re gonna write, you better know your onions. Your content should ooze professionalism and deep understanding of the subject. Example: a certified beauty chemist penning a piece on top-notch hyaluronic acid serums.

Authority: Not just enough to sound professional, mate. You gotta show you’re the bee’s knees on the topic. A bit of author credentials, job title, bio, relevant experience – the whole shebang.

Trust: With every Tom, Dick, and Harry (or even an AI) able to churn out content, you need to make sure your audience trusts you like their favorite cup of tea. Think: LinkedIn bios, visible contact info, or even regular interactions on forums or social media.

WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF E-E-A-T

Lately, Google’s had a bit of a spring in its step with personal experience content. Everything from TikTok videos to first-hand reviews of restaurants and companies are stealing the limelight.

Consumers these days are a savvy lot. They don’t want to be hoodwinked into making purchases or hiring services. They’re also cottoning on to content that’s written purely for “SEO purposes” rather than being genuinely helpful.

So, how do you tackle this? It’s all about authentic content. Information that’s got Experience and Expertise, penned with Authority, and above all, deemed Trustworthy by the users.

Google’s taking Trust very seriously, mate. Here’s how they put it:

Online shops need foolproof payment systems and customer service worth a pat on the back.
Product reviews should be as honest as the day is long, helping folks make sound buying decisions.
Pages on YMYL topics (you know, the ‘Your Money, Your Life’ ones) need to be accurate to prevent causing harm.
Social media posts on non-YMYL topics might not need top-notch Trust, unless they’re about something that could potentially cause harm.

EXPERIENCE vs EXPERTISE: THE SKINNY

Might seem like splitting hairs, but there’s a world of difference between Experience and Expertise. Experience is all about the user or the individual who’s actually used or experienced something. Expertise, on the other hand, is about the folks producing the product or providing the service.

So, for a beauty e-commerce website, you could write till the cows come home about your top-shelf hyaluronic acid serum and its high-quality ingredients, but the real question is – does it work? An independent piece of content that talks about someone’s personal experience with the product can sometimes be more valuable than the product description itself.

Experience. It’s no longer just about the professional wisdom, but also the lived wisdom – the personal, the authentic, the genuine experiences that resonate with the people.

Content written for SEO purposes has had its day in the sun. Now, it’s the turn of authentic, user-focused content to take the stage. And with this shift, we’re ushering in a new era of E-E-A-T: Experience, Expertise, Authority, and Trust.

It’s like what the great Winston Churchill once said, “To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often.” Well, Google seems to be taking a leaf out of Churchill’s book and evolving with the times. It’s a welcome change, one that promises a future of SEO that’s more focused on the user experience. So, buckle up, ’cause we’re in for an exciting ride.

Let’s talk about how a business nestled in the vibrant city of Bristol can up its SEO game by following the marketing wisdom we’ve just unravelled in this blog post. Get comfy, grab your cuppa, and let’s dive into the 700-word guide.

Bristol’s Charm & Online Potential

First off, Bristol is no ordinary city. With its rich maritime history, iconic Clifton Suspension Bridge, and a buzzing arts scene, Bristol is teeming with stories waiting to be told. But beyond the famous balloons and Banksy murals, there’s a digital landscape brimming with untapped potential. Let’s chat about how our marketing advice can help a Bristolian business stand tall in that digital arena.

The E-E-A-T Advantage

By now, you’ve probably heard the buzzword (or should I say buzz-acronym?) E-E-A-T. This isn’t about tucking into a hearty Bristol pie, though that sounds delightful. No, E-E-A-T stands for Experience, Expertise, Authority, and Trust. If a Bristol business can nail this quartet, they’re already a cut above the rest.

Experience: Businesses in Bristol have a unique edge – the authentic Bristolian experience. Whether it’s a harbourside cafe, an art gallery in Stokes Croft, or a boutique shop in Clifton, they need to capitalise on local experiences. Share tales of local suppliers, the journey of your products, or the history of the building you’re in. Personal experiences resonate with people, and they make for great content.

Expertise: Let’s say you run a cider pub in Bristol (and let’s face it, there’s a good few!). Instead of just listing the ciders you offer, why not delve into the intricacies of cider-making? Share your expertise, perhaps even collaborate with local cider producers for guest blog posts. This not only highlights your deep-rooted knowledge but also fosters community connections.

Authority: Your business isn’t just a spot on the map. It’s a part of Bristol’s fabric. Flaunt your credentials! Awards from the Bristol Life Awards, certifications, partnerships with local organisations – these all add to your online clout. Plus, don’t forget to showcase testimonials from your loyal Bristolian patrons.

Trust: Trust is built brick by brick, much like the historic walls of Bristol. For online trust, this means transparent customer reviews (yes, even the not-so-perfect ones), visible contact info, regular community engagement, and an active online presence.

User-Centric Content is King

But here’s the thing – while E-E-A-T is crucial, at the heart of it all is the user. They’re your audience, your customer, your critic, and your fan. So, cater to them! Use local slang, mention neighbourhood landmarks, and create content that speaks to Bristol’s unique essence.

Moreover, with the rise of platforms like TikTok and YouTube, Bristol businesses can capitalise on the video trend. Film behind-the-scenes looks, create local guides, or even collaborate with Bristol influencers. These platforms allow a business to give real-life insights, enhancing the ‘Experience’ part of E-E-A-T.

Integrate Trust Mechanisms

A crucial point our blog touched on is the importance of trust. And for a business in Bristol, this means a few things. Firstly, secure online payment systems are a must, especially if you’re in e-commerce. Bristolians are tech-savvy; they’ll appreciate the safety.

Then, there’s the matter of reviews. Encourage patrons to leave reviews – not just on your website but on platforms like Google My Business or TripAdvisor. And if you’re a cafe on Gloucester Road getting a rave review, share it everywhere!

Wrapping it Up with Local SEO

Lastly, let’s not forget local SEO. Register your business with Google My Business. Use Bristol-centric keywords. Participate in local events and then blog about them. All these strategies not only boost your online visibility but firmly root you in Bristol’s digital sphere.

In Conclusion:

By integrating our marketing advice tailored to E-E-A-T and centred on user experience, Bristol businesses have a golden opportunity to enhance their online footprint. It’s all about blending the city’s unique vibe with savvy digital strategies. In the world of SEO, it’s not just about being seen; it’s about being remembered. And with Bristol’s spirit and our guidance, any business in this city is on the path to digital stardom. Cheers to that!

Do you know that Google answers a whopping 3.5 billion searches every blooming’ day! And the company alphabet, are constantly improving their algorithm.

Right, let’s start by getting our heads around what this Google algorithm is all about.

A Deep Dive into the Google Algorithm

Google’s algorithm, handles a staggering 85-95% of internet searches, and its a digital marketing agency’s job, get your business on the first page, to help you obtain more sales. It ensures your website pops up when folks are looking for information or goods, so whether you sell kitchen appliances or your divorce solicitor, marketing agencies like us, can help get you onto the first page.

How does it do that? It looks at:

Relevance: Say, you’re looking for the best Italian restaurants in Bristol. Google will sift through the the web to fetch you the most accurate answers. It will bring you results, often which are PPC results, organic seo results as well as Google my business results. So, digital marketing agencies like ours, believe that Google uses over 200 different ranking factors, to calculate where a business should rank in the organic results. Google is thought to use separate algorithms, for the PPC algorithm and for the Google my business algorithm.

Usefulness: Apart from being relevant, the search results should be genuinely useful to the shopper, so for example, somebody might be looking for a Italian restaurant which specialises in local craft beer and is woodfired pizza, therefore the websites which Google suggests as the Italian restaurant to visit, should therefore offer craft beer and woodfired pizzas if it’s to be useful to the shopper.

Usability: This takes into account the overall user experience on the page – think loading times, page structure, navigation, you name it. Google also measures usability, for example if the bounce rate is super high, let’s say that your Italian restaurant has bounce rate on the home page, of 99.7%, well it’s pretty obvious to Google that your business is not useful to the shopper, and that could be because of issues such as the website not being easy-to-use.

Quality: The algorithm Google employs the EEAT (expertise, experience, authoritativeness, and trust) criteria to assess the quality of content marketing.

So, if you fancy your page ranking well in Google, in the organic results make sure that you use white hat methods.

Google Algorithm Updates Unveiled

Each update which Google makes improves its algorithm. The 2018 Google Medic update, was a large update for instance, targeted YMYL (‘Your Money or Your Life’) businesses, ensuring they had reliable, well-sourced content marketing to avoid misinformation. Google always favours businesses that are truly useful, authoritative, and reliable, so users find the right info and trust the results.

Ever heard of the phrase, “change is the only constant”? Well, Google certainly believes in that! It’s constantly improving its algorithm, as any good seo consultant will tell you, the company is making changes to its algorithm every single week. Thankfully, it’s the two to four core updates a year that you need to keep tabs on, as they might significantly affect your website rankings.

Some of the more major Google Algorithm Updates

Let’s take a trip down memory lane and see how Google’s updates have evolved over time.

Penguin Update: This followed the Panda update, disrupting spam links and targeting manipulative link-building. For example, some companies bought thousands of low-quality links, and they incorrectly thought that this was a quick way of getting onto the first page of Google, however it had the complete opposite effect because of the Penguin update, the Penguin updates meant that any businesses with a lot of low quality links incurred an algorithmic or a manual penalty. This often meant that the businesses that were hit by the Penguin update, was sometimes completely removed from Google.

Google Panda Update: Launched back in 2011, it was a massive algorithm update, which brought an end to the reign of content farms churning out low-quality content marketing, and uninformative content. So for example, sometimes, some businesses would use what is called spun content marketing, which would essentially be taking one article and changing how it’s worded, so it makes 1000 articles, this is a sure fire way of incurring a Google penalty. For example, if your business was impacted by a Google Panda update, then this means that your business could be removed from Google organic results.

Hummingbird Update:

Launched in 2013, Hummingbird made searches faster and much more precise by understanding the intent behind a search.
Mobilegeddon Update: This 2015 update categorised pages as either mobile-friendly or not, if your business didn’t have a mobile version of the website designed, then after this update, it was unlikely to appear in the first page results. This update seen many businesses, scrabbling to contact web developers to get them to design a mobile version of their company website.

RankBrain: Also released in 2015, RankBrain, this is when Google started to use artificial intelligence or AI for short to improve its results. Introduced machine learning to better understand search intent and used searcher location to comprehend the search’s meaning.

So how do you bounce back from Google Algorithm Updates

Here’s a golden nugget of wisdom – don’t lose your bottle if your ranking takes a hit post-update. Also, don’t put your businesses seo into a nosedive so, what we mean by that is, sometimes after an update, many businesses start to make knee-jerk changes, to try and quickly recover from the algorithm update. However, what better is to hold your nerve and to slowly incrementally make changes, and to monitor the seo results. If you go make too many changes to quick, could put your seo rankings in the complete nosedive because you making too many changes to your seo to quickly.

Overcoming Post-Update Blues

If the algorithm update leaves a lasting dent in your website’s ranking, it’s time to review your site’s organic SEO and ensure you’re following the white hat best practices.

Search intent: Make sure your content marketing aligns with what your audience is searching for.

Keywords: Sprinkle primary, secondary, and tertiary keywords naturally throughout your content marketing but only use white hat methods.
Title tags and meta descriptions: Craft compelling title tags and succinct meta descriptions that give an accurate snapshot of the page.

Site speed:

A slow-loading site can lead to an increased bounce rate. So do Compress images, switch your site theme, or use lazy loading to improve speed.

Introduction

In the vast digital landscape of eCommerce, with thousands of businesses in Bristol, it’s so important to get your business to stand out from the competition.

That’s where schema markup comes into play, it can help to improve your businesses organic SEO. It’s like the secret ingredient that can elevate your eCommerce SEO to new heights, making your products and services more visible, it can also help to improve your businesses click through rate. Schema markup, developed through a collaboration between industry giants like Google and Microsoft, is a type of semantic vocabulary that enhances the understanding of content marketing by search engine robots.

Are you ready to unlock the power of schema markup and improve your businesses organic SEO. Within this comprehensive guide, we will delve into the significance of schema markup, its benefits, and how you can leverage it to optimise your organic SEO

How schema markup can help to improve your eCommerce SEO

Once upon a time, a gathering of big corporations birthed an extraordinary gift to us SEO agencies and business owners — that is schema markup. This wondrous creation, stemming from a collaborative effort between industry giants like Google and Microsoft, has helped us, and many other marketing agencies to improve our customers eCommerce SEO. Schema markup, a semantic vocabulary, serves a noble purpose—to enhance search engine optimisation, while simultaneously breathing life into your product descriptions within the vast realm of online shopping.

What is Schema Markup?

Imagine schema markup as a special language, a hidden code that bestows superpowers upon search engine robots. This simple code grants them the ability to comprehend your content marketing more easily, resulting in a more concise and visually appealing display of information. Schema markup, with its structured data, simply adds an extra layer of detail and description to entities such as businesses, people, and products, ensuring that they captivate and enthral your potential customers.

The many Benefits of using Schema Markup for your eCommerce Store

Now, that we’ve explained a bit about what schema markup is, let’s unveil the huge advantages that come with using it. Prepare to be astounded, that’s as we reveal the five remarkable benefits of harnessing schema markup for your eCommerce store plus you can also use it to improve your businesses local SEO.

– Enhancing User Experience

Picture this: a traditional search result page offering only a dull link, a page title, and a meta description. Now, contrast it with the magnificent world of rich snippets, many businesses want their business to appear as a rich snippet in the Serps.

Here is a fun fact: Did you know that websites utilising schema markup can experience a 30% increase in click-through rates compared to those without?

Why did the schema markup magician always get the best click-through rates? Because he knew how to cast the spell of enchanting rich snippets!

Local Customers

 While schema markup is renowned for its impact on product snippets, it possesses another remarkable ability—the creation of business rich snippets. These snippets, akin to sparkling gems, open doors to local customers seeking to buy the products or services your business sells. Imagine appearing on Google Maps with a dazzling array of useful information, beckoning potential customers to embark on a journey of discovery.

Search Engines

With its diverse range of markup categories and fields, schema markup equips the search engines with the key to better understand the products and services that your business sells.

Leaving Competitors in the Dust

In the fierce battleground of eCommerce, standing out from the competition is the key to victory this is why so many businesses add schema, to their website so that their business can appear as a featured snippet in the Serps. Picture two businesses side by side—one with a standard search result, devoid of schema markup magic, and the other adorned with a professional and captivating rich snippet. Which business captures attention, of course it’s the second one, and if your business appears as a featured snippet then this can improve the CTR?

Conclusion

In this exhilarating journey through the realm of schema markup, we’ve explained why schema is so good at helping to improve your national or local SEO.

So, dear reader, as you embark on improving your, SEO remember the significance of schema markup.

As Steve Jobs once said, “Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.” With schema markup, you become the leader, shaping the future of eCommerce SEO and crafting a unique path to success.