Are you looking to grow your business and connect with more customers in your area? In today’s digital world, a strong online presence is essential. That’s where local SEO comes in. These specialised SEO services are a powerful part of any digital marketing strategy, designed to increase your online visibility for local searches. By partnering with the right agency, you can ensure your business appears when potential customers nearby are looking for exactly what you offer, driving both traffic and growth.

For any local business in the UK, being found online is no longer a luxury, it’s a necessity. With a huge percentage of customers using search engines to find local services, your online presence directly impacts your success. A targeted search engine optimisation strategy helps you stand out in a crowded market.

Even with a small marketing budget, local SEO is incredibly important. It’s a cost-effective way to reach your target audience and achieve your business goals. An effective SEO strategy ensures people in your community can find you right when they need you. Below, we’ll explore how this approach attracts clients, boosts your profile, and builds trust.

Attracting New Clients in Your Area

A primary goal of local SEO is to connect you with local customers who are ready to buy. Nearly half of all Google searches have local intent, meaning people are actively looking for businesses in their immediate vicinity. When your online presence is optimised for your area, you appear in these crucial search results.

This process turns potential customers into loyal clients by making your business easy to find. An affordable local SEO agency can help you rank higher on search engines and even on Google Maps, driving foot traffic to your physical location. This improves the user experience and leads to sustainable business growth.

A focused local SEO strategy includes:

>>> Targeting keywords that people in your area are using.

>>> Optimising your website for mobile users.

>>> Creating content that is relevant to your local community.

>>> Making your business visible in local map results.

Increasing Business Profile on Local Search

Your Google Business Profile is one of the most powerful tools for local visibility. When fully optimised, it helps you stand out on Google Maps and in local search results, providing customers with essential information at a glance. An SEO agency will ensure your profile is complete and accurate, building credibility with both the search engine and users.

This involves detailed keyword research to understand what people in your local area are searching for. By incorporating these terms into your profile and website, you make it clear to Google what you offer and where you operate. This improvement in local visibility directly translates to more enquiries and customers.

The cost for these services can vary, but many agencies offer affordable local SEO services with packages starting from around £95 per month, making it accessible for most businesses in the UK. This investment helps you compete effectively in your local market.

Boosting Business Trust with Reviews and Citations

Trust is a cornerstone of attracting and retaining customers. Online reviews and local citations are key components of your SEO efforts that help build this trust. Positive online reviews signal to potential customers that your business is reliable and offers quality services, directly influencing their decision-making.

In addition to reviews, citation building is crucial. This involves ensuring your business information, name, address, and phone number (NAP), is consistent across all online directories and websites. This consistency strengthens your reputation with search engines, signalling that your business is legitimate and trustworthy.

Understanding Affordable Local SEO Agencies

Finding the right SEO company can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. An affordable local SEO agency specialises in providing effective SEO solutions tailored to the budgets of small and local businesses. They focus on strategies that deliver the best return on investment, helping you grow without breaking the bank.

When choosing an agency, you should look for one that offers transparent pricing, has a proven track record, and understands your specific business goals. A good partner will offer customised SEO services designed to boost your local visibility. Let’s look at what “affordable” really means and what features to expect.

What Makes a Local SEO Agency “Affordable”?

The term “affordable” doesn’t mean cheap or low-quality. Instead, an affordable local SEO agency provides high-value services that fit within the SEO budgeting constraints of small businesses. They understand that you need real results without the enterprise-level price tag. Their focus is on delivering a strong return on your investment.

These agencies often offer flexible SEO packages, allowing you to choose a plan that aligns with your business goals and financial resources. For many UK businesses, affordable local SEO services can start from under £100 per month, making professional optimisation accessible to everyone from sole traders to growing companies.

The key is finding an agency that offers transparent pricing and a clear strategy. They should prioritise the SEO activities that will make the biggest impact on your local presence, ensuring your budget is spent wisely to help you connect with customers in your area.

Difference Between Affordable and Premium SEO Services

When choosing between affordable and premium SEO services, it’s important to understand what you get for your money. Affordable SEO packages are designed to cover the essentials for local businesses, focusing on foundational activities that improve local search rankings. Premium SEO, on the other hand, often includes more comprehensive, nationwide strategies.

Affordable local SEO services are perfect for businesses with physical stores or those targeting a specific geographic area. They provide core optimisations to get you noticed by local customers. Premium packages might include more extensive content creation, advanced technical SEO, and broader link-building campaigns for companies aiming for a national audience.

Key Features of UK Local SEO Agencies

When you’re looking to hire a local SEO agency in the UK, there are several key features to look for to ensure you’re making a good choice. A reputable agency should have a proven track record of helping businesses like yours succeed. They should be transparent about their methods and focus on strategies that deliver sustainable growth.

One of the most critical services is Google My Business optimisation and you should ensure your profile is accurate and appealing to potential customers. Another essential feature is citation building, which involves listing your business correctly across various online directories to build authority and trust with search engines.

When choosing an affordable local SEO agency, ensure they offer:

>>> A free, no-obligation chat to discuss your goals.

>>> Customised strategies tailored to your unique business needs.

>>> Expertise in local keyword research and content creation.

>>> Transparent monthly reporting to track your progress.

Choosing the Right Local SEO Partner

Selecting the right SEO agency is a crucial decision for your business. Your goal is to find a partner who not only offers affordable local SEO services but also has the expertise to deliver real results. Look for SEO experts with a proven track record who take the time to understand your specific business goals.

A great partner – such as Direct Submit – will act as an extension of your team, crafting a strategy that aligns with your vision for growth. They should be transparent, communicative, and focused on your success. The following sections will guide you on what factors to consider, how to assess their reputation, and what risks to avoid.

Avoiding Risks with Cheap Local SEO Providers

While affordable local SEO is a great investment, affordable does not mean cheap. “Cheap” SEO can be a significant risk. Providers who promise instant top rankings for-a-very low price often use outdated or harmful techniques, known as “black-hat” SEO. These methods can get your website penalised by Google, causing your online visibility to disappear overnight.

A common risk is the use of low-quality backlinks or keyword stuffing, which can damage your site’s reputation permanently. Proper risk management involves choosing an SEO company that is transparent about its methods and focuses on sustainable, long-term growth rather than quick, risky wins. Remember, if an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is.

To avoid risks with a cheap local SEO provider, watch out for:

>>> Guarantees of #1 rankings.

>>> A lack of transparency about their methods.

>>> Extremely low prices compared to the market average.

>>> No access to performance reports or analytics.

Typical Costs of Local SEO Services in the UK

Understanding the cost of local SEO services is a key step in planning your marketing budget. In the UK, prices can vary, but many agencies offer affordable local SEO services designed for small businesses. These SEO packages are created to provide maximum value and drive business growth without a hefty price tag.

Typically, you can find monthly plans that cover all the essentials needed to improve your local search presence. These packages make professional SEO accessible, allowing you to invest in your online visibility and compete with larger businesses in your area. Let’s explore the common pricing models and what’s included.

The Benefits of Hiring a Local SEO Agency

Hiring a local SEO agency can be a game-changer for your business. Instead of trying to navigate the complex world of search engine optimisation on your own, you can rely on a team of experts. They have the tools, knowledge, and experience to improve your search rankings, increase website traffic, and drive sustainable business growth.

An agency frees up your valuable time, allowing you to focus on running your business while they handle the technical details. They work to boost your organic traffic, bringing high-quality leads directly to you. Let’s look at how they can help with Google Maps, the advantages over DIY, and how they manage your budget.

Can Agencies Help Rank Higher on Google Maps?

Absolutely. A well-established local SEO agency can significantly improve your small business’s ranking on Google Maps. This is a core part of any effective local SEO strategy. Your visibility in map search results is heavily influenced by your Google Business Profile, and agencies are experts at optimising it.

They ensure your profile is fully complete, accurate, and filled with relevant keywords that your customers use in local searches. An agency will also manage your online reviews and build local citations across the web. These signals tell Google that your business is prominent and trustworthy, boosting your position in the local map pack.

An agency helps you rank higher on Google Maps by:

Fully optimising every section of your Google Business Profile.

Building consistent local citations across reputable directories.

Encouraging and managing customer reviews.

Advantages Over DIY SEO Approaches

While DIY SEO is possible, it comes with a steep learning curve and can consume a lot of your time. One of the biggest benefits of hiring a local SEO agency is gaining access to a team of SEO experts. They are up-to-date with the latest algorithm changes and have access to professional tools that are often too expensive for a single business.

This expertise allows them to develop a robust SEO strategy that covers everything from content to technical SEO. They can identify opportunities and fix issues you might not even know exist, leading to faster and better results. This professional digital marketing approach is tailored to your specific business goals.

What Results to Expect from Affordable Local SEO

When you invest in an affordable local SEO campaign, it’s important to have realistic expectations. SEO is a long-term strategy, not a quick fix. While you might see some early wins, significant improvements in your online presence and search engine rankings take time to build.

Reputable agencies will show you case studies and be transparent about typical results. Within the first few months, you can expect to see foundational improvements and initial signs of progress. In the following sections, we’ll cover realistic timescales, key performance indicators (KPIs), and what growth looks like for a local business.

Timescales for Visibility and Ranking Improvements

Setting realistic timescales is key to a successful SEO partnership. You won’t see your website jump to the top of search engine results overnight. Generally, it can take anywhere from three to six months to see a noticeable improvement in your search rankings and organic traffic.

In the first three months, an agency will focus on foundational work like technical audits, on-page optimisation, and setting up your Google Business Profile. You might see improvements in your online visibility for very specific, long-tail keywords during this period. The more competitive your industry, the longer it may take to see significant movement.

Typical SEO timescales include:

1-3 months: Foundational fixes, initial keyword tracking, and some gains in visibility.

3-6 months: Noticeable increases in keyword rankings and organic traffic.

6-12 months: Stronger positions in search results and consistent lead generation.

KPIs to Track Progress and Success

To measure the success of your SEO campaign, it’s important to track the right Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). Your agency should provide you with monthly reports that clearly show your progress. This transparency is a sign of a good track record and helps you understand the value you’re receiving.

One of the most important tools for tracking is Google Analytics. It provides data on organic traffic, user behaviour, and conversion rates. Other KPIs include your keyword rankings for target terms, the number of leads generated from your website (like phone calls or form submissions), and your visibility in local map packs.

Key KPIs to track include:

>>> Keyword ranking improvements for your main search terms.

>>> Growth in organic website traffic.

>>> Increase in leads (calls, form fills, direction requests).

>>> Number of new, positive online reviews.

Realistic Growth for Local Businesses

For a local business, realistic growth from SEO means a steady and sustainable increase in visibility and customers. The goal is to build a strong online presence that consistently attracts local customers over the long term. This isn’t about explosive, overnight success but about creating a reliable channel for business growth.

Within the first few months, realistic results include improved search engine rankings for less competitive local keywords and more engagement with your Google Business Profile. As the campaign continues, you should expect to see more phone calls, more visitors to your physical location, and a steady increase in website-generated leads.

>>> Realistic growth from local SEO looks like:

>>> A steady climb in local search rankings.

>>> An increase in calls and enquiries from local customers.

>>> Becoming a recognised and trusted name in your local community.

An Affordable Local SEO Agency

Investing in an affordable local SEO agency can significantly enhance your online presence and drive new customers to your business. By understanding the unique needs of your locality and leveraging targeted strategies, these agencies can help you compete effectively in your market. Remember, the key to success lies not just in affordability but also in finding a partner that aligns with your goals and values. If you’re ready to take your local SEO efforts to the next level, get in touch with us today for a free consultation and start on the path to greater visibility and success!

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Local SEO, or local search engine optimisation, is a digital marketing strategy focused on optimizing a business’s online presence to attract more customers from relevant local searches. It allows businesses, especially those with physical locations, to connect with users in their geographical area who are seeking specific products or services. Local SEO strategies can significantly influence a company’s visibility on search engines like Google, thereby enhancing foot traffic to physical stores and driving online sales.

The importance of local SEO in digital marketing cannot be overstated. With the growing prevalence of mobile devices, users often conduct searches with local intent, such as restaurants near me or best plumbers in [city]. According to research, nearly 78% of mobile local searches prompt an offline purchase, making local SEO an essential tool for businesses looking to capture nearby customers. By implementing effective local SEO strategies, businesses can rank higher in local search results, thereby increasing their chances of attracting potential customers.

Local SEO for Businesses

Optimising Your Google My Business Listing

One of the foundational elements of local SEO is creating and optimizing a Google My Business (GMB) listing. This free tool allows businesses to manage their online presence across Google, including search and maps. A well-optimized GMB listing can significantly enhance visibility in local search results, making it easier for potential customers to find essential information such as hours of operation, location, contact details, and even customer reviews.

To optimise a GMB listing, businesses should ensure that all information is accurate, up to date, and consistent with their website. Adding high-quality images, responding to customer reviews, and regularly updating posts about offers or events can further improve engagement. It’s also crucial to select appropriate categories that accurately describe the business, as this helps Google understand what services are offered and match them with relevant searches.

Importance of Local Citations

Local citations are online mentions of a business’s name, address, and phone number (NAP). These citations appear on various platforms, including directories, social media, and websites. Having consistent citations across multiple platforms is vital for local SEO, as search engines use this information to validate the legitimacy and relevance of a business.

To maximise the benefits of local citations, businesses should focus on acquiring listings from reputable local directories and maintaining consistency in NAP details across all platforms. Tools like Moz and BrightLocal can help track citations and ensure consistency. By improving citation accuracy and quality, businesses can enhance their local search rankings and visibility.

Building Local Links

Link building remains a critical aspect of SEO, and the same applies to local SEO. Local links are hyperlinks from other websites that relate to local businesses or communities. Acquiring high-quality local backlinks can boost a business’s authority and improve its ranking in local searches. Strategies for building local links include sponsoring local events, collaborating with local businesses, and getting featured in community news articles.

Engaging in community events and contributing to local charities can also provide opportunities for gaining local backlinks. Additionally, businesses should consider reaching out to local bloggers and journalists to discuss feature opportunities, which can further enhance local link-building efforts. A strong local backlink profile not only aids ranking but also establishes trust and credibility within the community.

Attracting New Customers

Targeting Local Keywords

Keyword research is a fundamental component of local SEO. Businesses should focus on identifying local keywords that potential customers might use when searching for their products or services. Tools like Google Keyword Planner, SEMrush, and Ahrefs can help identify these keywords. By including local keywords in website content, businesses can effectively target local audiences and drive more relevant traffic to their websites.

Incorporating local keywords into meta tags, headings, and throughout the content can improve search visibility. For example, a bakery in San Francisco should use keywords like San Francisco bakery or best cupcakes in San Francisco to attract local customers. Regularly updating and optimizing existing content with relevant local keywords can also help maintain and improve rankings over time.

Creating Location-Specific Content

Creating content tailored to a local audience can help establish a business as a relevant authority within the community. Businesses should consider producing blog posts, videos, or infographics that resonate with local interests, events, and culture. For instance, a hardware store could create blog content about seasonal home improvement tips specific to the local climate.

This type of content not only engages local customers but also encourages sharing, increasing the chances of earning backlinks from local websites. By demonstrating knowledge of local trends and issues, businesses can foster deeper connections with their audience, ultimately driving more traffic and conversions.

Increasing Your Online Profile

Enhancing Online Reviews and Ratings

Online reviews play a significant role in influencing consumer decisions. Positive reviews can enhance a business’s credibility and attract new customers, while negative reviews can deter potential clients. Encouraging satisfied customers to leave reviews on platforms like Google, Yelp, and Facebook can significantly improve a business’s online profile.

In addition to soliciting reviews, businesses should actively manage their online reputation by responding to all reviews—both positive and negative. This shows potential customers that the business values feedback and is committed to providing excellent service. Regularly monitoring reviews can also help businesses identify areas for improvement, further enhancing customer satisfaction.

Utilising Social Media for Local Engagement

Social media platforms provide an excellent avenue for local engagement. Businesses can use social media to share updates, promotions, and engage with the local community. By posting content that resonates with local interests and participating in local discussions, businesses can increase their visibility and foster a sense of community around their brand.

Social media is also a powerful tool for promoting special events, sales, or local partnerships. Utilizing local hashtags can help reach a broader audience within the community. Furthermore, leveraging user-generated content, such as customer photos or testimonials, can enhance a business’s credibility and showcase its connection to the local area.

Boosting Sales Through Local SEO

Tracking Conversions and ROI

To understand the effectiveness of local SEO efforts, businesses must track conversions and return on investment (ROI). By utilizing tools such as Google Analytics and UTM parameters, businesses can monitor website traffic, user behavior, and conversion metrics. Analyzing this data can provide insights into which local SEO strategies are driving the most traffic and sales, allowing for adjustments to be made as needed.

Setting up conversion tracking for specific actions, such as online bookings, phone calls, or newsletter sign-ups, enables businesses to measure the effectiveness of their local SEO campaigns accurately. This information is invaluable for refining strategies and maximizing marketing budgets effectively.

Integrating Local SEO with Other Marketing Strategies

Local SEO should not exist in isolation; it can be effectively integrated with other marketing strategies for improved results. For instance, businesses can align their local SEO efforts with content marketing, social media marketing, and paid advertising. Cross-promoting local content across various platforms can amplify reach and engagement.

By incorporating local SEO into broader marketing strategies, businesses can create a cohesive brand message that resonates with local audiences. Additionally, considering customer feedback and data from various channels can help inform future local SEO efforts, ensuring they remain relevant and effective.

The Cost-Effective Nature of Local SEO

Comparing Local SEO to Traditional Marketing

When evaluating marketing strategies, local SEO often emerges as a more cost-effective option compared to traditional marketing methods. Traditional advertising such as print media, billboards, or radio ads can be expensive and often lack precise targeting. In contrast, local SEO allows businesses to reach potential customers actively searching for their specific services or products, often at a fraction of the cost.

Moreover, local SEO provides measurable results, making it easier for businesses to assess the effectiveness of their efforts and adjust strategies accordingly. This ability to track performance and optimize for better results makes local SEO a smart investment for businesses of all sizes.

Long-Term Benefits of Local SEO Investment

Investing in local SEO offers numerous long-term benefits. Unlike traditional marketing campaigns that may yield short-term results, local SEO efforts can result in sustained visibility and traffic over time. Once a business establishes a strong local presence, it can continue to attract new customers with little ongoing investment.

Additionally, as customers continue to find and engage with a business through local search results, brand loyalty can grow, leading to repeat purchases and referrals. This creates a compounding effect where a successful local SEO strategy continues to pay dividends well into the future.

The Value of Local SEO for Business Owners

Building Brand Awareness in the Local Community

Local SEO plays a crucial role in establishing brand awareness within the community. By appearing prominently in local search results, businesses can increase their visibility and recognition among potential customers. When users consistently see a brand listed as a top result for local queries, it fosters trust and familiarity.

Participating in community events, sponsoring local activities, or collaborating with other local businesses can enhance brand awareness further. This local engagement not only boosts credibility but also aligns the brand with the values and interests of the community, reinforcing its presence and reputation.

Gaining Competitive Advantage

In today’s competitive market, leveraging local SEO can provide a significant advantage over competitors. Many businesses still overlook the importance of local optimization, presenting an opportunity for those who prioritize it. By excelling in local search visibility, businesses can capture a larger share of local traffic and convert that traffic into loyal customers.

Additionally, a well-implemented local SEO strategy can help businesses stand out in a crowded market. By focusing on what makes them unique, whether it’s exceptional customer service, quality products, or community involvement, businesses can leverage local SEO to articulate their value proposition to potential customers effectively.

A Strategy for Business

Local SEO is an essential strategy for businesses looking to connect with customers in their area. By optimizing Google My Business listings, targeting local keywords, and engaging with the community online, businesses can increase their visibility and attract more local customers. The cost-effective nature of local SEO, coupled with its long-term benefits, makes it a smart investment for business owners aiming to build brand awareness and gain a competitive advantage.

FAQs

1. What are the key components of local SEO?

The key components of local SEO include optimizing Google My Business listings, ensuring consistency in local citations, building local backlinks, targeting local keywords, and managing online reviews.

2. How does local SEO impact my business?

Local SEO improves a business’s visibility in local search results, driving more relevant traffic to websites and physical locations, ultimately leading to increased sales and brand awareness.

3. How long does it take to see results from local SEO efforts?

The timeframe for seeing results from local SEO can vary based on factors like competition, current website health, and the effectiveness of implemented strategies. Typically, businesses may start noticing improvements within three to six months.

4. Can small businesses benefit from local SEO?

Absolutely! Local SEO is particularly beneficial for small businesses, as it helps them compete against larger competitors by targeting specific geographical areas and local customers actively searching for their products or services.

5. Is local SEO a one-time task?

No, local SEO requires ongoing efforts to maintain rankings and adapt to changes in search engine algorithms, customer behavior, and market dynamics. Regular updates and optimizations are necessary for sustained success.

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The answer isn’t the same for everyone. And your choice today might not be the same a year from now, but here are a few reasons, as recently posted in Search Engine Land, why outsourcing might be the right path for you.

1. To remove responsibilities
Depending on the size and composition of your team, you may have a lot of marketing, technical, and/or content people wearing a lot of hats or having multiple responsibilities.

SEO requires functions that go beyond the core aspects of research, strategies, and implementation of tactics. It includes content, IT, UX and the ability to navigate any legal or compliance functions.

Outsourcing SEO often removes a responsibility (or multiple) from marketing staff, allowing them to quarterback more of the effort than to have to become an expert and go really deep in a specific channel.

2. To create accountability
Going deeper than thinking about day-to-day responsibilities is thinking about accountabilities.

When someone is wearing too many hats (including the SEO hat), it can be hard to stay focused on the work needed and be fully accountable for progress and performance.

SEO takes time. Yet, it needs a lot of tactical implementation short term to get to the benefits long term. There has to be accountability for the work.

That means the ability to equip the responsible party with the budget, resources, tools and adjacent needs (content, IT, etc.) to do the job right. Plus, there has to be an expectation of a strategy, KPIs and time for how it will happen and be measured.

A part-time resource, or one that doesn’t have all of the resources and expertise needed, can’t fairly be held accountable for the performance and quality of the effort.

3. To have moderation
I have learned over the years even on the agency side of things what it means to have someone in the middle as a moderator.

Having a third party, or someone who isn’t embedded in the organization’s day-to-day, can be a big plus.

That person or group can see things that get missed while dealing with other marketing activities, operations, sales activities or customer service.

Much like a writer proofing their own copy isn’t ideal, marketers who do their own work, with no outside perspective, can have a difficult time.

4. To create consistency
Consistency can be an issue for in-house SEO focuses. Unless part of a dedicated SEO team, there’s always likely to be a competing interest.

A customer service fire, or the need to work leads, often can take priority over SEO and elements of a plan that won’t have an immediate impact today.

Inconsistent efforts and commitments to the overall SEO strategy suffer if not done consistently and prioritized.

5. To bring in expertise
The ability to stay up-to-date and to be an expert at the level needed to craft, maintain and adapt an SEO strategy can be hard to do in-house.

Algorithms and search results are constantly changing. Competitors are everywhere. And there is a flood of information (accurate or not).

Even the most brilliant in-house SEO has to be able to stay engaged in the SEO community to stay sharp. Beyond the strategy and tactical execution, there is always a new problem to solve or something to troubleshoot.

For a complex organization or big website, it’s challenging to be a jack-of-all-trades SEO. For smaller brands and businesses, it’s hard to hire someone, let alone multiple people, only for SEO.

6. To improve ROI
It is possible to measure SEO ROI whether the effort is managed in-house or with a partner. However, it isn’t always the easiest when “hats”, accountabilities and expertise can be issues.

If you’re doing SEO, you’re investing in people, tech, content and measurement. You want to know you’re getting a return on that investment.

Are you able to tell that with an in-house team? Are there reasons or excuses why SEO isn’t going well? Do you have a moderation issue?

Really, all the reasons I noted for outsourcing point to ROI in some way. Sometimes the best option is to get a dedicated partner to take on SEO and have that be their sole focus or a primary focus to keep that effort moving forward in an accountable and ROI-measured way.

The post Reasons it Makes Sense to Outsource Your SEO appeared first on .

Content marketing is an essential and integral aspect of internet marketing, and can fundamentally enhance your website’s online reach. By creating high value content which readers share, interact with and enjoy, you can establish a readership of potential customers who will be more likely to share your content, purchase your products or make use of your business’ services when they require so.

Therefore, content marketing has huge implications for a successful SEO strategy. Simply put, content marketing is creating and sharing unique, relevant content online.

Showcase your Business to the Web
Content marketing is one of the most profitable ways to showcase your business to the web. By creating high-quality content, your website will gain more backlinks from other websites, thus boosting your rankings in Google search results. With pieces of content, you can build a bigger audience to your website through social media, also. The more traffic you can pull into your website, the more people will avail of your products or services.

The end goal is to attract qualified Web traffic that’s searching for the answers that you’re addressing. This includes producing blog posts, videos, FAQs, whitepapers, tutorials, etc so that searchers can arrive at your online channels through a variety of ways.

Content marketing generates inbound leads as opposed to chasing them with traditional marketing.

It is now accepted by most that content marketing is one of the most beneficial ways to showcase your business on the Internet and for many promoting a new web based business can prove a daunting prospect.

Looking to Promote Your Business
If you are a busy small business looking to promote your business, the creation and dissemination of original and quality content can help drive customer engagement, increase company profile and help market your business to the widest possible audience.

Are you looking for a Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) specialist to help maximise your search visibility? If you are offering a service online or selling goods you’ll want to increase your visibility in search engines – that’s where SEO comes in!

Direct Submit is a Digital Marketing and SEO Agency with offices in Newcastle and Durham. We specialise in ROI-focused digital marketing, bespoke web design & development and digital design.

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Third-party plugins are a major source of security vulnerabilities and website performance bottlenecks. The proposal outlines three ways to tackle a plugin checker and solicits feedback on the idea.

The WordPress proposal defined the problem:

“While there are fewer infrastructure requirements for plugins than there are for themes, there are certainly some requirements that are worth verifying, and in any case, checking against security and performance best practices in plugins would be just as essential as it is in themes. However as of today, there is no corresponding plugin checker.”

WordPress Vulnerabilities And Poor Performance
The WordPress publishing platform has received a reputation for being vulnerable to hackers and for being slow. So it may be surprising to learn that the WordPress core itself is a highly secure platform.

The majority of the vulnerabilities affecting the WordPress platform are due to third party plugins. Even though WordPress itself is reasonably safe, third party plugins have caused WordPress to virutally become synonymous with hacked sites.

There is a similar issue with regard to WordPress site performance, too. A WordPress Performance Team actively works on improving the performance of the WordPress core itself. But that effort can be undermined by third party plugins that load JavaScript and CSS on pages where they’re not required or don’t lazy load images, which ends up slowing down website performance.

Plugin Checker
WordPress already produces a theme checker that allows theme developers to check their work for best practices and security. The same theme checker is used on the official WordPress theme repository, too.

So now they want to explore doing the same thing for plugins. This is how the goal of the proposed plugin checker was defined:

“There should be a WordPress plugin checker tool that analyzes a given WordPress plugin and flags any violations of plugin development best practices with errors or warnings, with a special focus on security and performance.”

The proposal lists three possible approaches:

A. Static analysis
This is how themes are checked but there are limitations, such as not being able to run the code.

B. Server-side analysis
This method allows the plugin code to run plus a static analysis could also be accomplished.

C. Client-side analysis
This loads a headless browser (essentially a bot that emulates a browser) and then tests the plugin for issues that can’t necessarily be detected with a server-side solution. The document notes some challenges to this approach but also lists ways around them.
The proposal features a graph with columns for approaches A, B, and C and rows that correspond to ratings assigned to each approach for security and performance issues.

The evaluation finds that the Server-side analysis may be the optimal approach.

The WordPress performance team is not committed to creating a plugin checker, this is just a proposal. This is just the starting point. Nevertheless, checking third party plugins for security and performance best practices is a good idea because it will benefit WordPress users and site visitors.

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No enterprises or agencies. Google told me in an email that the program is “is open to small businesses in the United States with an active Google account. Large businesses, marketing and SEO agencies are not eligible to participate.” The cost is $39.99 per session. There’s no fee through the end of 2020.

Small business doesn’t appear to be defined, so theoretically companies with up to 100 employees or even 499 employees (the U.S. Small Business Administration definition). As a practical matter, the program will likely be utilized by very small businesses with relatively few employees. Suspended accounts aren’t eligible to book an appointment and must get reinstated before gaining access to the program.

Don’t call it ‘Google Care.’
The company says this is not an enhanced version of Google support – although many may be tempted to see it that way. Support, Google says, is intended for troubleshooting around discrete problems, such as reinstatement or merger of duplicate listings.

Google SBA is intended to help business owners become more proficient in the use of Google products. Advisors will do “pre-appointment research to come prepared and make the most of your 50-minute appointment.”

Google says SBA is specifically designed for business owners who:

> Feel overwhelmed or uncertain about your business’s online presence.
> Have advanced product questions.
> Don’t have an online marketing specialist or outside marketing agency.
> Have never used Google products.
> The program cannot be used for real-time GMB verification.

Depending on the survey you consult, anywhere from between 60% to 70% of SMBs don’t work with marketing agencies and are trying to manage digital marketing in house.

Video chat and screen sharing. Recommendations will be customized and delivered over video-chat, which can also include screen sharing. SMBs are encouraged to “share their goals” prior to speaking with an advisor. The advisors themselves are internal Google personnel.

Google says that SMBs can expect discussion of two products per appointment. That raises the question of multiple sessions. I asked Google if they were planning discounted bundles for people who needed more than just one session. “There are no upcoming plans for a price bundle or subscription, but it’s something we might explore in the future,” a Google spokesperson said.

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A collaboration between the major search engines (Google, Bing, Yandex, and Yahoo!), schema markup helps you provide relevant and useful information to deliver the best (and most informative) search results for your pages.

Schema.org is the result of this collaboration and can be defined as an agreed-upon set of code markers that instruct search engines how to read the data on your website. Schema markup not only tells search engines what the content means, it also provides context.

This is essential for showing users the most relevant results for the keywords in their search queries and the intent behind that query. Google, more so than other search engines, has become phenomenally adept at displaying search results that match user intent.

Schema Types
There are a number of different schema types that you can use to improve your presence in SERPs, including:

> Local business
> Organization
> Articles
> Events
> Products
> Restaurants
> Web Page
> Blog Post

You can use as many schemas as you like to improve your SERP presence, but only one of each schema type. For example, you can add both a Local Business and an Organization schema to your website, but not two Local Business schemas.

What can it deliver?
Schema markup can deliver a variety of ‘rich snippets’ in SERPs, such as knowledge graph cards, enhanced snippets, review snippets and rich cards. These eye-catching features help your listing to stand out from the competition and provide searchers with more relevant and useful information. While schema markup doesn’t directly influence search rankings (at this point in time), it can influence rankings indirectly by increasing click-through rates and lowering bounce rates, which sends positive signals to search engines.

Even if these benefits don’t help with search rankings, increasing your click-through rate and lowering your bounce rate are still big wins. After all, you’re sending more people through to your website and those that you send through will generally stay there longer because the rich snippet informed them that your result was the one they’re looking for!

A featured snippet about Rich Snippets
So, what are rich snippets? Rich snippets are essentially enhanced search results that deliver more information than the basic information usually provided in SERPs (URL, meta title, meta description, etc.).

This may include additional information about your business, such as contact details, operating hours, location, reviews and star rating, products, services and more. By adding this information to your website’s HTML in the form of schema markup, Google can then present these details as rich snippets, but there’s no guarantee that it will. Just as there’s no guarantee that Google will show your meta description instead of a snippet of the page content.

To read more about structured data and why you should implement it, visit the article posted on the ahrefs blog by clicking on this link.

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Google is now allowing users to report counterfeit goods within the organic/free Google search results for removal. This works similar to the DMCA process, where you can request the removal of stolen copyrighted content from Google’s search results.

What are counterfeit goods? Google Ads already prohibits such products from being advertised on Google and it describes counterfeit goods as goods that “contain a trademark or logo that is identical to or substantially indistinguishable from the trademark of another. They mimic the brand features of the product in an attempt to pass themselves off as a genuine product of the brand owner.”

How do you report counterfeit goods for takedown?

Google has added this as an option to the legal troubleshooter form, similar to where you report copyright and other legal notices, in Google search. Google has added an option for counterfeit foods to be reported for takedown review. This will model the approach Google took for other notice-and-takedown processes that have been successful in removing illegal content from search upon notice from rights holders (e.g. DMCA) and authoritative bodies (e.g. voluntary removal of rogue pharmacies upon notice from health administrations).

A Google spokesperson told Search Engine Land that this policy only applies to counterfeits. This does not apply to non-counterfeit forms of trademark infringement.

Google has told us at Search Engine Land that this is fully manually at the time being. Similar to DMCA request takedowns, this is a manual process. Google will require you to submit a takedown request, a Google employee will review the request and decide to take down the content or not.

But over time Google will use these submissions to develop ranking algorithms and systems that will help Google further limit the visibility of sites that are consistently found to be selling counterfeit goods. This will help Google more algorithmically stop counterfeit goods from getting into the Google organic results.

Keep in mind, Google did launch the Pirate Update in 2012. This was designed to prevent sites with many copyright infringement reports, as filed through Google’s DMCA system, from ranking well in Google’s listings. Google might likely do something similar after collecting data from these requests.

Will this work?

On the Google Ads side, Google began enforcing this policy in 2011. In 2014, the preventive measures did not seem to work as well as one would have liked. Several years later, sometimes you still find counterfeit good slip through the cracks. So it is to-be-determined to see if this works well on the organic search side.

This gives site owners with legitimate goods and the right to sell it to worry less about those illegally selling these counterfeit goods and undercutting them. It helps level the playing field in organic search a little more and gives you a mechanism to report these activities with real and serious consequences to those publishing counterfeit goods in search.

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OneSearch promises not to track, store, or share personal or search data with advertisers, which puts it in direct competition with DuckDuckGo. It’s available now on desktop and mobile at OneSearch.com.

What differentiates Verizon Media’s OneSearch from DuckDuckGo, a more established privacy-focused search engine, is the ability for businesses to integrate it with their existing privacy and security products.

In an announcement, the company states:
“OneSearch doesn’t track, store, or share personal or search data with advertisers, giving users greater control of their personal information in a search context. Businesses with an interest in security can partner with Verizon Media to integrate OneSearch into their privacy and security products, giving their customers another measure of control.”

Another unique offering from OneSearch is its advanced privacy mode. When enabled, OneSearch’s encrypted search results link will expire within an hour.

OneSearch’s advanced privacy mode is designed for situations where multiple people are using the same device, or if a search results link is being shared with a friend.

The full array of privacy-focused features offered by OneSearch include:

> No cookie tracking, retargeting, or personal profiling
> No sharing of personal data with advertisers
> No storing of user search history
> Unbiased, unfiltered search results
> Encrypted search terms

Although it doesn’t sell data to advertisers, OneSearch does rely on advertising to keep its service free. Rather than using cookies and browsing history to target ads, OneSearche’s contextual ads are based on things like the current keyword being searched for.

OneSearch is only available in North America on desktop and mobile web browsers, though it will be available in other countries soon. A mobile app for Android and iOS will be available later this month.

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The WSJ story says that Amazon lawyers raised red flags about using the company’s search algorithm to generate more profit, suggesting that it might provoke the ire of regulators — and it’s likely to. Amazon has denied favouring its own brands artificially at the expense of relevance or the customer’s best interests.

The article depicts an internal battle between Amazon retail executives and Amazon/A9 engineers seeking to remain independent. It quotes former Amazon engineers to substantiate claims that the company sought to make product profitability a prominent ranking factorranking factorranking factor.

“Executives from Amazon’s retail divisions have frequently pressured the engineers at A9 to surface their products higher in search results.” According to the WSJ:
Amazon retail executives, especially those in its private-label business, wanted to add a new variable for what the company calls “contribution profit,” considered a better measure of a product’s profitability because it factors in non-fixed expenses such as shipping and advertising, leaving the amount left over to cover Amazon’s fixed costs, said people familiar with the discussion.

Legally, search algorithms are constitutionally protected speech under the First Amendment, according to previous judicial opinions. Therefore, at least in the abstract, Amazon can rank results in whatever manner, using whatever factors or criteria it pleases.

Accordingly, the inclusion of product profitability as a ranking variable or the boosting of Amazon’s own products wouldn’t ordinarily carry any legal implications. But this is Amazon, which now faces multiple antitrust investigations. And this story, suggesting the company is picking winners and losers in search, is sure to draw further scrutiny from U.S. regulators at time when most of the major U.S. tech companies are being investigated for alleged anticompetitive behaviour.

Multiple surveys have shown that Amazon beats Google as a consumer starting point for product research. And according to eMarketer, Amazon is the dominant online marketplace in the U.S., controlling nearly 40% of e-commerce. However, it’s questionable whether Amazon can be characterized as a “monopoly” under current antitrust law.

In response to the article and allegations Amazon said, “The Wall Street Journal has it wrong. We explained at length that their ‘scoop’ from unnamed sources was not factually accurate, but they went ahead with the story anyway.

The fact is that we have not changed the criteria we use to rank search results to include profitability. We feature the products customers will want, regardless of whether they are our own brands or products offered by our selling partners. As any store would do, we consider the profitability of the products we list and feature on the site, but it is just one metric and not in any way a key driver of what we show customers.”

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