SEO is extremely important not only to Google and other Search Engines, more importantly to end-users.

Following some of the basics SEO tips provided by Google, you can better ensure your website is setup correctly and serves end-users best.
This quote can be found at the top of Googles SEO Starter Guide

​“Even though this guide's title contains the words "search engine", we'd like to say that you should base your optimization decisions first and foremost on what's best for the visitors of your site.” - Google
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Let’s keep end-users in mind and dive into some of their tips found in google article above.

It has been said “Content is King” and it surely still reigns. Take this excerpt from Google’s SEO Starters Guide below.

“Creating compelling and useful content will likely influence your website more than any of the other factors discussed here”.

Old School SEO

SEO has been manipulated by less than ethical SEO services for years. While Google is actively combating this, one of the main areas of focus is quality website content.

There was once a day when a website could be filled or “stuffed” with Key Words, main search terms. This was either done just blatantly with strings of Key Words (KW) going on forever. Or they would hide this KW stuffing with white text and white background kind of stuff.

This lead to a tremendous push back from users as the search results where filled with garbage. While Google certainly never intended to reward this behavior, it worked, until google updated their algorithm and tightened up on KW density eliminating much of the spam. 

2018 SEO
In today’s search environment Key Words are essential to incorporate into your content, although they should only be used when appropriate. Along with the evolution in search queries as mobile and voice search really take hold. Its not as important to focus on one KW, rather on answering questions one might search for our solutions to problems
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Your content should be easy to read and flow topic to topic. Answering the classic 5 W’s (who, what, where, when & Why) should help you organize your content a bit.

Content should be on topic to your specific page and answer questions from various perspectives while making it easy for users to take action.

Keep your content unique and continuous. Think of a writing assignment at school, if you copy and paste your content, you just won’t get any credit. There are great times to quote other content and give them credit. However, most of your web content should be unique to that specific page. It also helps to refresh or update your content as it serves both returning and new customers.
 
Structure your content into main topics and subtopics. Utilize headings and separate topics allowing users to focus on what they want quickly.
Content should also show your businesses personality, when at all possible.

A great way to do this is through a blog. But, don’t forget about Social Sites. These allow for multiple content streams to reach your customer and drive traffic to your site.  

Page Title are important to the overall search experience. To both Search Engines like Google and to end-users or searchers on-line. They appear not only at the top of your browser but in the first line of your results. This a good place to use a main KW, caution do not stuff or use too many KW’s in your title.

You will find that in the three basic elements of a results listing. When an end user searches for a KW or phrase, if those words match words found in the Page Title, Page Description and Page URL, they will be displayed in Bold.

Making it easy for the end-user to associate your information with that of the search query.

Page Titles should be unique and specific for each page. From an end-user perspective this easily allows them to identify the relevance to their search. While from a Search Engine perspective by eliminating duplicate titles, it creates a broader footprint for your site, matching it to more search queries and topics.
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The length of the Title on desktop is 70 characters long and up to 78 on Mobile. Best practice is to keep it at 70 this way it should display correctly across both platforms.

This is a longer area to describe in more detail what the page is about. It serves both the searcher and the search engines, allowing for more specific details of your page and a chance to capture the searchers attention.

This area should

• Be informative and captivating
• Use unique descriptions of what each page is about

The length of the page description varies between Mobile and Desktop which is about 150 characters long and 110 on mobile.

We recommend you put the more important information first, we also recommend going over 110 characters. This should ensure you have at least two lines of text for your description on the Search Engines. 

As your website is developed and grows over time, it is helpful to make your page URL’s relative and easy to read. Ultimately easy to read and navigate for the end user, the searcher. But, also easy for the Google Bot’s to crawl and understand.

Use a hierarchical structure which flows from main topics to sub topics. This should start at the homepage and then navigate to categories and subcategories as applicable.

Categorizing site by topic helps both the reader and the search engine understand it better. In addition, it helps those who might want to link to your site, giving them a clear relevant path to do so.
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These URL strings are displayed in the search results and much like the description and titles, when the search contains a matching word, the searched word displays in bold. This helps users quickly identify relevance to their search query.

It is recommended to create an on-page HTML sitemap geared towards the visitors of your website. A second, XML Sitemap can be created and submitted through Google’s webmaster tools.

If you are not techy and the whole thought of XML has you turning off, at the least create the on-site sitemap. It is simply a layout of the structure of your site with links going to each page.

Not only can it be helpful for users who may be looking for something specific. It also allows a place for the Google Bot’s to find and crawl your entire website.
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While there maybe some instances you use a picture or image to link through to another page. It is recommended to use mostly text for the navigation and not to nest everything in drop down menus.  

Anchor text is the text shown to a user that is linked to a website, once clicked it will take the user to that site. This text is important as it indicates to the user what they can expect to find if they click that link.

For example, Boise SEO is linked to our home page. Users can clearly tell that that by clicking that text phrase, they will find a Boise SEO Company.  

​A few things to keep in mind with your anchor text.

• First make sure it is relevant to what the linked webpage is about.
• Make it short. Don’t use a whole sentence or paragraph
• Internal anchor text matters. Ensure the anchor text leading people around your site is on-topic and descriptive.
• Make them easy to see, allowing users to identify that it is a link.
• Linking out to sites Google doesn’t trust can affect your site as well. 

If you create a new website or some quality content, of course you want to stand at the top of Table Rock and scream it to the world.I would too.

That’s exactly what you should do, well maybe not on Table Rock but across the web.

You should share it on various social media site such as FaceBook or Google+, make sure you are directing (linking) people back to your new content with relevant anchor text.

Google appreciates you promoting and generating traffic to your website. through engagement and outreach. There are a number of ways to do this.. one way would be to find online places to publish your site for exposure. Rather its with social platforms or directories. Both can help drive visibility.
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Be aware there are numerous ways to generate backlinks which Google strongly recommends you avoid.

Essentially make it natural and don’t pay for linking services for the aim of increasing your Page Rank instead of increasing your traffic.
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Their philosophy is to create quality content, share that content and let the links and traffic naturally follow.   

These are a few basic steps you can take to ensure your website is following some basic SEO principles. While they may seem daunting, a solid foundation and proper set-up of your websites on-page SEO can be a huge difference in your rankings.
 
For the business owner who would rather focus on their strengths and sell more of their widgets than try to tinker with SEO, I get it. The terminology and the details behind each SEO aspect creates a learning curve you would rather avoid.

It’s a simple fix, contact us for an honest evaluation of your website and SEO efforts. If we can help, we will create a solid game plan to move forward and propel your website online.
 
As a Local SEO Marketing in Boise, our mission is to educate and help other local businesses succeed online.

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See our previous post on Local SEO and stay tuned for more tips on SEO and Local Marketing

If you’re a local business, brick and mortar and/or service orientated, you need to be thinking Local SEO.

Through a unique process of search engine optimization, Local SEO drives connections to potential customers in your geographical area at the right time in the right place.
 
We consider, this type of Search Marketing, Local SEO, to be the cornerstone of any local marketing strategy.   ​

​To build a long-term brand presence and have lasting results. Local SEO should be a focus of all small businesses. Offering a great return on investment. Some would argue local search marketing has the highest ROI of all, paid, marketing strategies.
  
Most online searches, end on the first page of results, with a good portion of those clicking through on the visible map listings.

​The top organic pages (below the map) get the most overall clicks with percentages drastically dropping as you go down the page and on to the next page.

​Having a “Local Business” is big leverage within communities as we see a growing trend across the US towards buying local.
  
Here in Boise we have a huge affinity for supporting local products and locally owned businesses. Rightfully so as us local business owners care about and want to serve our communities. Just as in the real world, you need to be leveraging "Local" online as well.
 
Much like in Boise that affinity for "local" is present across the west, Portland Oregon, Bend, Seattle and everywhere in between you will find local followings and buy local campaigns.
  
We as consumers like to get to know and support our neighbors. We like to stake a claim and show pride in our communities. We like quick responses and to find the closest business to serve our needs.

​The “near me” search is a great example of this. I have to admit when I search I often type something like " service near me" or "service+city" which brings me the best local results.
  
In fact, when searching I often get a suggestion for the "near me" version of my search and click on it.

As we as a society adopt more voice assistant technology Local search will be increasingly dependent upon these and other "semantic" search phrases. Phrases we would use more in a conversation, or with certain intent rather than specific words. Think about how you would ask your "Google Home" device or better yet your friend for something. ​

​Okay as a business owner you likely understand the importance of Local SEO and the effect it can have on your success. So where do you start and what should you do? As a top Boise Local SEO company, we have found the following areas to be a great place to start.
  
As with any Search Marketing campaigns, you need to do the basics really well and stay up to date with changes within the dreaded algorithms of Google, Bing and others.
  
Local Algorithms are a bit different than traditional. However, both try to serve their "customer" the searcher, the best results possible. In local search, location matters big time, relevancy, trust and authority.
  
These are overarching principles and the actual algorithm incorporates hundreds of factors which are proprietary to Google, Bing or the search engine being used.
  
Keeping the overarching principles (location, trust, relevancy, authority) in mind you can dramatically increase your rankings. 
 
Below are some of the non-technical Local SEO tips to consider starting with.

Local directories are important and having a consistent Name, Address, Phone (NAP) across all your listings will help ensure Google and other search engines don’t get mixed signals. Sending mixed signals lowers your overall rankings.
 
These might include a listing in your local chamber of commerce, BBB, Yelp, Four Square, Home Advisor, Local directories. You can usually find a number of directories in your city by searching "City+Directory".
 
There are 100's of directories in the US we recommend starting with local ones and adding others as you go.
  
tip: If you sponsor an event or non-profit in the area, you might be able to get them to mention you on their website. ​

Google My Business, (GMB), is the most important listing you need to setup.

​Take the time to create, verify and optimize this listing. Your NAP, should match that of all your other listings, down to the character.
  
This consistency builds your credibility within the algorithms allowing you to rank higher. Other optimization factors include setting up the appropriate categories, hours, social profiles and adding as many great pictures of your business as possible. 
 
GMB allows you to create posts and engage with your customers. We recommend taking advantage of this feature. The posts stay active for a certain period of time. So, make sure to stay up to date and keep yourself visible.
 
Along with posts they have recently released a website builder which is incorporated in your GMB. This is a great feature to create another property on Google. It’s a simple process and the system populates your info from what it finds online. This makes it simple to create and publish within minutes.
  
You have the options to edit the website and add pictures/content to better describe your business. In our opinion it should not be a replacement to a traditional website. Rather another Google property you own and manage. As they say Google loves itself! 

Your social profiles allow for a couple things. They help you build a Brand online, with multiple touch points across the web. They also allow you to put fantastic citations back to your business. This builds trust and prevalence among the search engines.

Maybe just as important they allow for interactions and increase awareness along which can bring traffic to your website and business.
  
FaceBook, Google+, Twitter, Pintrest and Snap Chat are well known platforms you should be on and utilizing for your local business. While others such as allignable and meetup are gaining traction on a local basis and great sites to consider. ​

​Reviews across your social and local profiles allows not only the search engines but the customers know a bit more about your business. They are becoming more important in ranking factors, in our opinion. Also, as Social Proof. This social proof can turn a searcher into a customer.
  
Think of this, you are on a trip to Portland and looking for a great Italian restaurant for lunch. After grabbing your smartphone opening your google app and searching for the "best Italian restaurant near me".

A number of results are served, while you would love to try them all you only have time for the best. Likely, the restaurants with the best review stars or ratings will get your attention first. 
 
From there you open the page with the best reviews, see photos of the restaurant which looks inviting and decide to try it out.  

We all do, it is human nature to take into consideration the opinions of others while making a decision. 
 
While there are many services which can help you gain reviews, there is still a lot you can do as a local business owner. Be aware google does have user guidelines "Contributions must be based on real experiences and information. Deliberately fake content, copied or stolen photos, off-topic reviews, defamatory language, personal attacks, and unnecessary or incorrect content are all in violation of our policy. If you see this behavior, please report it." Google Policy.
 
Google also has some tips on getting reviews, here , this has their top 3 suggestions. All of these suggestions will help with your Local SEO efforts. 
 
First, is to ask your customers for reviews. Make it easy for them leave these reviews either on your smart device or desktop. Maybe you have a client list you could e-mail them requesting some honest feedback for your company.
   
Their next suggestion is to reply to the reviews you have gotten. This builds connections at the same time shows more about your business to the outsider looking in. With positive reviews a quick response may be appropriate. As well responding to reviews gives you the opportunity to address negative reviews in a positive manner.
 
Their last suggestion seems like a no-brainer. To ensure your listing is verified, only verified listings can reply to reviews. The truth is most businesses either do not have or have not verified all their business listings. So, take it to heart and make that a priority.

​Just like with traditional Search Engine Optimization it all starts with your website. It needs to be structured in an easy to navigate way across all device types.

Responsive design and Mobile friendly websites have been a best practice for a number of years and with the majority of searches conducted on smart devices with varying screen sizes, it is becoming a more prevalent factor in the search engine algorithms.
  
Since mobile searches or searches conducted through a mobile device have surpassed those on a PC. Having a site that is easy to use and take action through across all devices is crucial to Local SEO.

​Your page titles and descriptions are important they are the first thing to tell the search engine what your page is about. Make this specific to your location and service/product.

It is not 2005 and "keyword stuffing" does not work and is highly frowned upon. However, great content that address both a service/product as well as a location is a best practice in Local SEO.
  
Your content should address your customers main concerns and what they would be searching for. Without getting technical, this plays into the semantic search which is becoming more pervasive. If your content address Who What When Where & Why it’s a great start.
  
The Search Algorithms are getting better at understanding search queries and the user. With this it is even more important to mention your main product/service along with location but not repeatedly or by stuffing in phrases. This won't help and may even get your site marked and penalized by Google.
 
tip: Think of adding FAQ's, Best Practices and a blog to your website. This allows you more area to place in depth content.  ​