Category Archives: Tips

SEO Practices That Defeat Algorithm Updates

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SEO Practices That Defeat Algorithm Updates

At Zenergy Works, we understand that Google’s ever-evolving algorithm updates can leave businesses scrambling to maintain their search engine rankings. But instead of chasing after every update, the key to long-term SEO success lies in adopting sustainable practices that work with—not against—these changes. In this blog, I’ll share actionable SEO strategies that help your website stay ahead, no matter what new algorithms are introduced.

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Why Google Algorithm Updates Matter

Google’s mission is to provide users with the most relevant and high-quality content. To achieve this, Google constantly refines its algorithms, impacting how websites are ranked. Recent updates, such as those targeting user experience (Core Web Vitals) and content quality, emphasize the importance of a strong SEO foundation.

As a business owner, it’s essential to partner with an SEO company that understands these shifts and implements strategies designed to thrive in this dynamic environment.

1. Prioritize High-Quality Content

At the heart of every algorithm update is Google’s commitment to content that satisfies user intent. High-quality, original content continues to reign supreme in SEO. Here’s how to ensure your content meets Google’s standards:

  • Focus on User Intent: Understand what your audience is searching for and create content that answers their queries comprehensively.
  • E-A-T Principles: Google evaluates content based on Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness. Showcase your authority by citing reputable sources and offering well-researched insights.
  • Avoid Keyword Stuffing: Use keywords naturally, focusing on delivering value over keyword density.
  • Regularly update existing content to keep it relevant and align with the latest search trends.

2. Mobile-First Optimization

With mobile searches accounting for over 60% of all searches, Google’s mobile-first indexing prioritizes websites that are optimized for smaller screens. If your site isn’t mobile-friendly, it risks losing visibility in search results.

  • Fast Loading Times: Optimize images and reduce server response time to improve site speed.
  • Simplify Navigation: Make your site easy to browse on mobile devices by minimizing clutter.

3. Improve Core Web Vitals

Core Web Vitals are performance metrics that measure your site’s loading speed, interactivity, and visual stability. These factors directly impact your rankings.

  • Largest Contentful Paint (LCP): Optimize page load speed to ensure key elements are visible quickly.
  • First Input Delay (FID): Enhance your website’s responsiveness by minimizing JavaScript.
  • Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS): Avoid unexpected shifts in layout by specifying image dimensions and preloading fonts.

4. Focus on Local SEO

For businesses targeting specific geographic areas, local SEO is a game-changer. Recent algorithm updates have increased the importance of optimizing for local search.  Local SEO strategies are especially important for small businesses looking to dominate their local markets.

  • Google My Business Optimization: Keep your business profile up-to-date with accurate information, including address, hours, and services.
  • Localized Content: Create blog posts or landing pages tailored to your local audience’s needs and interests.
  • Citations and Reviews: Ensure consistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone Number) across directories and encourage positive customer reviews.

5. Diversify Your Backlink Profile

Google views backlinks as a vote of confidence in your content. However, not all backlinks are created equal. Updates targeting spammy or low-quality links have made it crucial to focus on quality over quantity.

  • Earn High-Authority Links: Partner with reputable sites in your industry to gain backlinks from trustworthy sources.
  • Content Marketing: Publish compelling infographics, case studies, or research that others want to link to.
  • Avoid Link Farms: Stay away from practices that could result in penalties, such as buying links or participating in spammy link schemes.

6. Leverage Technical SEO

A strong technical foundation is essential for navigating algorithm updates. Technical SEO focuses on optimizing your website’s infrastructure to make it more accessible to search engines. Technical SEO may seem daunting, but with the right SEO consultant, you can ensure your site is search-engine-friendly.

  • Structured Data: Use schema markup to help search engines understand your content and display rich snippets.
  • XML Sitemap: Ensure your sitemap is up-to-date and submitted to Google Search Console.
  • Fix Crawl Errors: Regularly audit your website for issues like broken links, duplicate content, or missing meta tags.

7. Stay Ahead with Regular SEO Audits

SEO isn’t a one-and-done process. Regular audits allow you to identify weaknesses, measure performance, and adapt to changes in Google’s algorithms. With Zenergy Works, you’ll receive SEO audits weekly ensure your website remains optimized for today and prepared for tomorrow.

  • Technical Audit: Identify and fix issues that may be hindering your site’s ranking.
  • Competitor Analysis: Keep an eye on what your competitors are doing to stay ahead in your industry.

Partner with an SEO Company You Can Trust

At Zenergy Works, we specialize in helping businesses navigate the complexities of SEO. From adapting to algorithm updates to crafting long-term strategies, we’re here to ensure your website ranks high and attracts the right audience.

Get a Free SEO Quote

Ready to take your SEO to the next level? Contact us today for a free SEO quote and discover how we can help your business thrive in a constantly changing digital landscape.

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Tips on Holiday Success for Google Ads

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Tips on Holiday Success for Google Ads

As the holiday season approaches, business owners with websites face one of the most competitive and rewarding times for digital marketing. For any digital marketing firm, the holidays present a golden opportunity to help clients capture more traffic, leads, and conversions. At Zenergy Works, we specialize in Google Ads management and understand how to make the most of paid ads during this critical period. In this post, I’ll share actionable tips to help you succeed with Google Ads this holiday season.

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1. Start Early and Plan Strategically

The key to holiday success is preparation. Begin by analyzing your past holiday campaign performance and identifying what worked. Use that data to shape your strategy. Create a detailed campaign calendar, outlining when specific promotions, discounts, or sales will run.

Be mindful of key holiday shopping dates such as Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and even Green Monday. Start your campaigns early to capture pre-holiday shoppers and stay visible during the peak season.  We suggest using Google Ads’ Performance Planner to forecast campaign performance and budget allocations effectively.

2. Optimize for Mobile

Did you know that mobile devices account for a significant portion of holiday shopping? Your campaigns need to cater to on-the-go customers. Optimize your landing pages for mobile use and ensure that your website is fast, responsive, and user-friendly.

In your ad campaigns, leverage mobile-friendly ad formats like call ads or app promotions if they fit your business model. Use the mobile-first indexing insights from Google Analytics to identify and address pain points in your user experience.

3. Focus on the Right Keywords

Holiday shoppers often use highly specific search terms. Tailor your keyword strategy to include:

  • Branded keywords (e.g., “Zenergy Works holiday deals”).
  • Seasonal keywords (e.g., “holiday gifts,” “Christmas discounts”).
  • Long-tail keywords that target purchase-ready customers.

At Zenergy Works, we emphasize targeting the right audience. As part of your paid ads strategy, be sure to refine your keyword list using tools like Google’s Keyword Planner.

4. Leverage Remarketing Campaigns

Not every visitor will convert on their first visit. Remarketing allows you to stay top of mind with potential customers who have already interacted with your site. Set up remarketing lists to re-engage those visitors and encourage them to complete their purchases.

5. Adjust Your Budget

The cost-per-click (CPC) often rises during the holidays due to increased competition. Anticipate this by adjusting your budget accordingly. Focus on high-performing campaigns and allocate a larger share of your budget to them. Consider using Google’s Target ROAS (Return on Ad Spend) bid strategy to ensure your investment delivers strong returns.

6. Create Compelling Ad Copy and Visuals

Holiday shoppers are bombarded with ads, so yours must stand out. Use ad copy that evokes urgency and excitement:

  • “Limited-Time Holiday Offer – Shop Now!”
  • “Exclusive Christmas Deals – Ends Soon!”

Incorporate festive imagery and call-to-action buttons like “Shop Now” or “Get Yours Today.” Google Ads’ Responsive Search Ads allow you to test multiple versions of ad copy, ensuring the most effective message reaches your audience.

7. Utilize Ad Extensions

Ad extensions enhance your ads and provide additional information to potential customers. During the holidays, focus on:

  • Promotion Extensions: Highlight special discounts or free shipping offers.
  • Call Extensions: Allow mobile users to call your business directly.
  • Location Extensions: Drive foot traffic to your physical store if applicable.

By making your ads more informative, you’ll increase your click-through rates and conversions.

8. Monitor Campaign Performance and Adjust

The holidays are dynamic, and market conditions can shift quickly. Regularly monitor your campaigns to ensure they’re delivering optimal results. Use real-time data to adjust bids, pause underperforming ads, and refine targeting criteria. With tools like Google Analytics and Google Ads Insights, you can track important metrics such as conversion rate, click-through rate, and cost per acquisition.

At Zenergy Works, we pride ourselves on helping businesses navigate the complexities of digital marketing, especially during the bustling holiday season. Whether you’re new to Google Ads or looking to enhance your strategy, our team of experts can assist you with top-notch Google Ads management and comprehensive campaign solutions.

Are you ready to maximize your paid ads performance this holiday season? Get a free quote on paid ads management today!

Let’s work together to make this your most successful holiday season yet. Contact us at Zenergy Works, and let’s turn clicks into conversions.

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How To Create Amazing SEO Blog Posts

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How To Create Amazing SEO Blog Posts

Whether you’re a seasoned blogger or just starting, creating content that ranks well on search engines requires attention to detail and strategic planning. At Zenergy Works, we’re dedicated to helping businesses get noticed online. In this blog post, I’ll share the essential steps for creating amazing SEO blog posts that capture attention and drive results.

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1. Start with a Strong Foundation: Keyword Research

The first step in any SEO strategy is keyword research. Keywords are the search terms people type into Google or other search engines to find the content they need. As an SEO company, we know how critical it is to choose the right keywords—words that not only bring in traffic but attract the right audience. For this post, we focused on “blog posts” as the primary keyword and included relevant keywords like “SEO” and “SEO company.”

When choosing keywords, think about what high-performance auto enthusiasts might be searching for. Are they looking for tips on performance upgrades? Maintenance advice? Use keyword research tools to find these terms, and remember to check search volumes and competition levels.

2. Create a Catchy, SEO-Optimized Title

Titles are the first thing readers and search engines see, so they need to be both catchy and optimized for SEO. Your title should include the primary keyword (in this case, “Blog Posts”) and clearly communicate the article’s value. A good rule of thumb is to keep titles under 60 characters to ensure they display fully in search results.

For instance, “How To Create Amazing SEO Blog Posts” is a clear and direct title that includes the keyword and hints at the value readers will get from the post.

3. Write for Your Audience, Not Just Search Engines

SEO might be all about getting noticed online, but the ultimate goal is to connect with your target audience. In this case, the audience is high-performance auto owners who are likely passionate about speed, precision, and quality. Use language and references that resonate with them and reflect the topics that are important to your target audience.

4. Structure Your Post with Headings and Subheadings

An effective blog post should be well-organized. Use headings and subheadings to break up the content and make it easy for readers to skim. Search engines also pay attention to headings, so include relevant keywords in them when it makes sense.

In addition to improving readability, a good structure helps search engines understand the content and its relevance. Headings also provide natural stopping points, which is especially helpful for readers who may want to skip to specific sections. It is usually best to use H1 for the main blog title, H2 for section headings, and H3 or lower for subsections.

5. Write Compelling Meta Descriptions

A meta description is the brief snippet that appears under your title in search engine results. Although it doesn’t directly impact rankings, it can influence click-through rates. Write a compelling meta description that includes your primary keyword and entices readers to click, much like structuring a paid ad.

For example:

“Learn the secrets to creating SEO-optimized blog posts that drive traffic. Follow these expert tips to make your content stand out.”

Keep it under 160 characters to ensure the whole description is visible on the results page.

6. Use High-Quality Images and Alt Text

Visuals make blog posts more engaging and break up the text, but they also have SEO value. Use high-quality images that are relevant to the content. For example, images of high-performance cars, close-ups of engines, or shots of cars on the racetrack could work well here.

Don’t forget to add descriptive alt text to each image. Alt text helps search engines understand what’s in the image and improves accessibility for visually impaired users. Include keywords where appropriate but keep the descriptions natural and relevant.

7. Optimize Your Content for Mobile Users

More than half of web traffic comes from mobile devices, so optimizing for mobile is essential. Make sure your blog post looks great on smaller screens. This includes using shorter paragraphs, larger fonts, and a responsive design that adapts to any device.

Search engines prioritize mobile-friendly content, so this step can improve your rankings. Plus, it ensures a better user experience for your readers, keeping them engaged longer.

8. Encourage Engagement with a Strong Call to Action

Every great blog post should end with a call to action (CTA). This could be as simple as encouraging readers to leave a comment, share the post, or visit your services page. A CTA not only prompts reader interaction but also increases time spent on your website—an important factor for SEO.

For high-performance auto owners, a CTA could invite them to explore related content, sign up for a newsletter with tips on car performance, or check out specific services we offer at Zenergy Works.

Creating SEO-friendly blog posts doesn’t have to be complicated. By focusing on keyword research, writing for your audience, and optimizing each element of your post, you can create content that not only ranks well but also resonates with your target audience. At Zenergy Works, we’re committed to helping you achieve online success. Follow these tips, and you’ll be well on your way to writing amazing SEO blog posts that drive results.

If you want to apply these techniques to your SEO campaign, please reach out to us and we will work with you to bring you quality website traffic.

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What To Do If A New Competitor Enters Your Market

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What To Do If A New Competitor Enters Your Market

When a new competitor steps into your market, it can feel like a threat to your established place in the industry. However, with the right approach, especially in your digital marketing and SEO strategies, you can not only maintain your position but potentially even improve it. At Zenergy Works, we specialize in transforming these challenges into opportunities through expert SEO and digital ad management.

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Understand Your New Competitor

The first step is to thoroughly understand who your new competitors are. What products or services do they feature?  What are their strengths? Where do they lag behind? Use digital tools like SEMrush or Ahrefs to analyze their SEO strategies, and social media engagement metrics. 

Evaluate Your Current Position

Before you can outmaneuver a competitor, you must assess your own standing. Are you prominent in the marketplace for the products or services that are most popular with your customers? 

Enhance Your Digital Marketing Efforts

Improving your SEO and digital marketing is crucial. Focus on:

Effective digital advertising can place your brand in front of the right audience at the right time.  Whether it’s Google or Microsoft Ads, social media ads, or retargeting campaigns, our strategic ad placements ensure you stay ahead of the competition.  In addition to providing traffic to your website and generating leads, paid advertising can also render valuable insights into popular search terms and messaging.

Engage and Retain Your Customer Base

With a new competitor in the market, retaining your existing customer base is more important than ever. Implement tactics like personalized email marketing, loyalty programs, and active engagement on social media platforms. Show your customers that they are valued and that your brand continually strives to meet their needs.  Don’t restrict your efforts to digital strategies, but also think of the personal touch in the form of a phone call, card or visit to a place of business.

Facing a new competitor in your marketplace is a challenge, especially if you are a local business facing a larger company, but it’s also an opportunity to refine your digital marketing and SEO strategies. The advantage of being a local business is the freedom to be innovative and  agile in marketing strategy and tactics.  Contact us today to see how our expertise in SEO and digital ad management can help your business to maintain your competitive edge.

For a free site scan for your website, please reach out and we will spend some time evaluating your placement in your marketplace.

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How Can Digital Marketing Help Grow My Business?

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How Can Digital Marketing Help Grow My Business?

When it comes to growing your business, tapping into the power of digital marketing is a game-changer. However, for your efforts to be most effective, it’s essential to understand the wide range of digital marketing tactics available and what they have to offer

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When you employ multiple tactics simultaneously, your digital marketing strategy becomes a robust toolkit that propels your business’s growth forward and becomes a driving force behind its success. 

For example, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) helps improve organic search placement, while paid ads (primarily on Google and Bing) ensure immediate visibility by placing your business at the top of the search engine results pages. This combination gives you both long-term visibility through SEO and instantaneous visibility through paid advertisements—ultimately driving more traffic and potential customers to your website. 

Email marketing uses an organic collection of customer email addresses to stay in touch with existing and prospective customers; social media marketing utilizes social media platforms frequented by your customer profiles to promote your unique selling proposition, brand image, and products. 

Our digital marketing strategies focus on building sales while improving your company image and brand recognition; these proven tactics can be effectively applied to any business, whether B2C, B2B, retail, or a professional service. 

Leveraging Digital Marketing to Build Sales

SEO and Paid Search Ads on Google and Bing have immense potential in terms of driving sales. These techniques specifically target keyword searches used by potential customers who have moved past the casual browsing phase and are ready to make purchase decisions:

  • Keyword research: Understanding what your potential customers are searching for is key to visibility. Conduct comprehensive keyword research to identify the terms and phrases your audience uses when looking for products or services like yours.
  • Highlighting key products and services: Showcase your most popular and profitable offerings; this will direct attention to them and increase the likelihood of conversions. 
  • Create conversion-oriented landing pages: Develop dedicated landing pages focused on converting visitors to customers. These pages should contain clear, concise information about your products or services backed by testimonials from previous clients. Additionally, incorporating credibility statements focused on E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authority, and Trustworthiness) will bolster customer confidence in your brand. 

Email marketing is a powerful, cost-effective way to announce promotions or incentives for new and improved products or services, as well as an opportunity to improve products or services through upsells. It serves as a direct line to your audience and encourages them to make purchases or take advantage of special offers. 

Social media is a less formal platform for driving sales and promotions. However, for your campaign to succeed, it’s crucial to provide useful and relevant information. Share content that helps your customers use your products or services more efficiently or offers valuable industry-specific tips. Once you’ve established credibility through your content, call-to-actions to purchase your products or engage your services will be more effective. 

Building Your Image and Brand Recognition

Not all SEO content needs to be sales-oriented. In fact, Google (and other search engines) view content that provides value to users as the best content—and therefore worthy of being ranked higher in the search results. 

In addition, valuable content that educates and informs your audience positions your firm as an esteemed authority in your field. Blog posts and FAQs are instrumental in sharing your knowledge and establishing credibility. 

Likewise, Paid Display and Performance Max campaigns aren’t solely about immediate conversions; they’re designed to reach a curated customer profile and expand brand recognition. While this isn’t meant to imply that you won’t receive conversions from this platform—you certainly will—you’ll also have the benefit of amplifying your visibility in a way that drives both immediate action and long-term familiarity with your brand. 

Email marketing is an excellent platform for distributing content to existing and potential customers already familiar with your business, whether it’s a new blog or essential updates. This regular engagement deepens your relationship with your customer base, fosters brand loyalty, and encourages repeat business—all of which are key to helping your company grow. 

Social media platforms offer a window into your company’s culture and values for those in your target markets, which allows you to forge online relationships and cultivate brand recognition among your target audiences. 

Crafting a Successful Digital Marketing Strategy

While this guide doesn’t cover every digital marketing platform and its nuances, it does offer a general roadmap for crafting a successful digital marketing strategy. 

Keep in mind that the cornerstone of any successful digital marketing strategy lies in having a website that delivers a robust and seamless user experience; your website is the foundation that drives the success of all of these strategies and ties them all together. Learn more about creating a strong online presence here. 

4 Business Tips For “Pandemic Economy” Success

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I was the guy who predicted that Covid-19 would dissipate by June 30th of 2020.  I was clearly wrong.  But I am willing to admit my shortcomings and say that this global pandemic will be affecting our economy, and how almost every business attracts new customers, for the majority of 2021, at least.  I wanted to share the over-arching strategies that I am sharing with my clients.

Here are four keys to selling more effectively throughout the duration of the pandemic — and beyond.

Improve your website

In this environment, your website has become more important.  You need to be able to show potential customers why they should work with you without the benefit of in person meetings or in store visits.  You need an efficient way to communicate hours of operation, how to reach you, steps you are taking to minimize the risk of spread of disease, the fact that you are still ready and able to serve customer needs and other critical information to potential and existing customers.  

Your website should also become an efficient way for consumers to understand what products you feature.  Improving product photos and descriptions, adding video to show examples of how your products work, or creating a video for service businesses so that customers can “meet” you virtually are all strong steps to engaging new customers.  That’s right, I said new customers. You probably need new customers now more than ever.  Your website can give them a reason to consider doing business with you.

When you acquire a new customer, go out of your way to make them feel welcome.  Follow up on product or service satisfaction.  Make sure that the customer knows that you are there to fulfill their needs and just thank them for their business.

Strengthen connections with existing customers

Your existing customer base is the “path of least resistance” to increasing sales.  If you have a customer service team, they are probably not as busy with clients coming in the door as they were pre-pandemic.  Have your team make calls directly to past customers to make sure that they are doing well and that your products are still working for them.  Email blasts that highlight product improvements and put a face to the names on the phone of your team are also effective.  If you have clients that have been adversely affected by the pandemic, and are having trouble paying their bills, reach out in a friendly manner and work on payment plans or other arrangements that make them understand that you are their partner in this difficult time.

It is important that you modify your customer service strategies to fit the needs of your customer base, and that you work a bit harder to cement customer relations.  Go the extra mile to understand how your customers prefer to communicate-via text message, email , phone call, social media or even snail mail, and then use that medium to keep in touch.

Leverage Your Experts

Online meetings and webinars have become the norm.  Many businesses have a CEO or internal experts in the different fields that they work in.  Have these leaders in your company be available for focus groups or just have them pop in to regular video conferencing meetings to greet customers and answer any questions that they may have. Making sure that customers know that they are valued by the industry experts and leaders in your firm will help to cement those relationships.

Get Tech Savvy

Your sales and customer service teams will undoubtedly become more digitally savvy as an outcome of Covid-19, and will continue to discover more tools that can help us connect virtually. Make sure that presentations are available via the website, even if they are password protected, to add a visual aid to conference calls if needed for those customers who still do not have web cams.  Make sure that your team has all of the tools that they need to effectively connect with your customer base, especially since many of them are working from home.   Supporting your team puts them in a position to achieve more, and their ability to service their customers does not go unnoticed by the customer base.

Conclusion.  There are no magical formulas to success in this difficult time.  It boils down to hard work and being willing to adapt and remain positive in the face of a challenging time.  Some businesses cannot even open and are doomed to fail.  This is a heartbreaking reality of this difficult time.  For the rest of us, we need to realize how lucky we are to be happy, healthy and still in the game. 

Ad Credits Might Be Coming To You From Google And Facebook

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Both Google and Facebook have announced ad credits for customers.  

Google has stated that credits will appear in late May in the Google Ads accounts of small to medium-sized businesses who have advertised in 10 of the last 12 months on Google Ads. No application or other action on the part of advertisers is required.

Facebook has a limited geographic scope of their ad credits because for some reason the businesses need to be within a certain distance of a Facebook office.  Facebook requires an application and for users to be approved.  For more information on the application process, please click here.  Facebook has stated that if your location is not currently approved for the program, check back later as eligible areas may be expanded in the future.

Please remember that the team at Zenergy Works is sheltering in place, but we are fully operational and here to help.

Please stay safe and do not hesitate to let us know if we can help you in any way.

How COVID-19 Has Affected Google Ads Campaigns

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The world is different than it was 90 days ago.  The same is true of trends in Google Ads Campaigns.  Consider the following traffic trends:

  • 25% less mobile search. More people are at home with laptops, desktops and tablets as opposed to handhelds.
  • More search is occurring late at night.  More people are at home and using the internet as a source of news and entertainment.
  • Some Industries Are Big Winners and Others Are Losing Traffic.  If you have resources that are useful to those limited by shelter in place, you are gaining traffic, but if you have travel related services, you may wish to consider shutting paid ads down and waiting it out.

What Can Be Done?

1. Revise Your Ad Dayparting

You can easily track your own campaigns performance by day of the week and hour of the day within Google Ads. Simply click “Segment,” then “Time” within Google Ads.  Even if you reviewed this recently, the performance has likely changed in March due to the outbreak of COVID-19.  You may see more search volume late night and if you typically do not advertise late night, you may wish to being doing so.

2. Revise Mobile Search Bid Adjustments

Mobile search is decreasing.  Review search traffic in both Google Ads and Google Analytics to better understand the search volumes of desktop and tablet vs. mobile devices.  I have seen some clients actually shift from positive bid adjustments on mobile to positive bid adjustments on desktop traffic.

3. Smart Bidding May Help

Google’s smart bidding strategies may help advertisers by automatically digesting changing data and adjusting their CPC bids in real time to match their goals.  This is especially helpful for those who have limited time and limited Google Ads Experience.

4. Be Open To New Platforms

More people at home may make advertising on YouTube for either keyword or affinity audiences a smart move.  Also consider adding Google Search Partners to your strategy if you have not already done so.  Google Display typically offers a tremendous amount of exposure for the cost involved, so consider using this platform if you are expanding services to help those in need or offering special pricing or incentives to your customers.

5. Consider Social Media Advertising

Facebook and Instagram have interesting social media advertising platforms.  This may be a time to reach a different audience while more people are using social media platforms to gain information and keep in touch with friends, co-workers and family.

Bob Dylan said “The Times They Are A Changin” and he was never more right than now.  This is a scary time for all, and while when it may end may be uncertain, the fact that it will end is certain.  The only constant in digital marketing is change, and it is happening now, and quickly.  Please contact us if you would like to consult with one of our Google Ads or Social Media ad experts.  We are offering a free one hour consultation to help any business that is trying to effectively market themselves in these trying times.

More resources for online advertising and COVID-19:

  • How the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic Is Affecting Small Businesses & Marketers

How To Get Your Business Listed In The Local Pack On Google

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The most common type of local pack is a list of 3 businesses featuring contact information for that business with links to the website or Google Maps page for that business.  Placement in this pack is important not only because of its prominence in search but also because of the ease of using these results when searching using a mobile device.  Google has been consistently reducing the number of businesses listed in the Local Pack on the first page of search results (from 7 to 3) over the last 2 years.  We will review the factors that will help to get your business listed in the Local Pack and how to effectively manage your Local Pack Map Listing.

Local Pack

Business information generally included in the local pack are the Name, Address, and Phone Number of Business (NAP). Other information may include business hours, star rating, and whether the business is currently open.

How to get into the Local Pack

In Local Packs, Google shows business listings, not websites, so to be featured in a Local Pack, you need to get a Google My Business page.

One of the prerequisites of getting into the Local Pack is to be ranked within the top 10 results for your local search query, which generally requires a great deal of effort be devoted to SEO optimization of your website.

Step 1: Claim and Optimize your Google My Business listing.

  1. Be sure to be consistent with NAP to the information listed on your website.
  2. Fill in correct business information.
  3. Add Photos.
  4. Make sure that you are listed in the proper category.
  5. Match the keywords in your Local Pack Listing to those featured in the H1 tags and page titles of your website.
  6. Verify your google listing.

Step 2:  Optimize your website for local SEO

  1. Scan website for on page SEO.  Use Google Search Console and a site scan tool like SEM Rush.
  2. Verify NAP on the website – BE EXACT.
  3. Create local citation sites(ie. Merchant Circle, Yellow pages online, etc) and be sure to match NAP on website and local map listing.
  4. Obtain locally relevant backlinks. Be sure to avoid spammy links.
  5. Add structured data markup.

As you can see from the list here, what used to be a simple process has become complex, time-consuming, and requires more than a little knowledge of Search Engine Optimization.   Because of the increased competition for the placements in the local map pack, not only must the list be fulfilled, but it requires more backlinks, more citation sites, and more exacting on page SEO and content strategy to gain rankings.

Eric Van Cleave is co-CEO of Zenergy Works, A Santa Rosa, California SEO, and Digital Marketing Firm.

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