During Covid-19 we have seen a massive 70% increase in internet traffic. This means that SEO is now more important than ever before. In this blog post, discover our 5 top tips to help you continually improve your SEO strategy, during and after COVID-19.

During lockdown, businesses had to shift their sales from their stores and offices to online. SEO played a massive part in enabling businesses to be discovered online, and if it was done correctly, it presented a massive opportunity for businesses to convert new customers.

We are now approaching light at the end of the tunnel. Shops have reopened and we are no longer relying so heavily on the internet to gain customers. However, this does not mean that SEO should now be ignored. Now is not the time to take your foot off the gas.

This blog discusses our five top tips to help you to continue to improve your SEO strategy during and after COVID-19.

1. Fresh and relevant content

Just because we are coming out of lockdown, it doesn’t mean you should stop creating content. Google loves fresh content. And before you start panicking and trying to type up a million and one new blogs – fresh content just means up-to-date content.

So essentially, re-visit some of your old blogs and repurpose them. Update the statistics, add more photos, maybe even add a couple more paragraphs; do whatever you need to do in order to update that piece of content.

This is not to say that you can’t type up new blogs if you wanted to. If you have the time, type up a backlog of blogs ready to be released over the next couple of weeks/months. Websites such as ExplodingTopics.com and Google Trends show you what topics are currently trending so you can find out what people are searching for and answer the questions they are asking.

2. Use your data to your advantage

If your website has had an increase in visitors over the lockdown period you are at a major advantage, even if this didn’t actually lead to any extra conversions.

You can use the data gained through customers visiting your website to assess how well your website is working. Has a certain page led to more conversions than others? Are customers adding items to their basket and not purchasing? Are hundreds of potential customers viewing your website but not one of them have made a purchase?

All of this data is invaluable. It will allow you to make necessary changes to ensure that your website works effectively. Work with your data and use it to your advantage, and don’t be afraid to make changes to continuously improve your website.

3. Keep on top of the basics

It should go without saying; you need to keep on top of your SEO. SEO rarely gives you instant results (in some cases it could take up to six months to start seeing any results) so if you decide to suddenly stop your SEO campaign, you are setting yourself up to fail later in the year.

There are a few items that you should be checking regularly, such as your keywords. You should also check your page speed to see if your site is running quickly enough. Google offers a free tool to check this which can be found here.

Running a site audit can also be very beneficial. It will provide you with a full report on all of the technical aspects of your website, allowing you to see what areas of your website need improving. Click here for a free site audit from The Marketing People.

4. Update your listings

As we entered lockdown during COVID-19, you may have had to list your business as ‘temporarily closed’ or add limited hours to your Google My Business page. As we are slowly returning back to normality and businesses are opening back up, make sure you have updated your Google My Business page so all of the information is correct and up-to-date. The last thing you want is to open back up to no customers as Google is telling everyone that you are still shut.

To find out how to update your business hours on Google My Business, watch our short video which walks you through the simple process here.

Also, don’t forget to update every directory that you are listed on – not just Google My Business. All of the information online about your business needs to be consistent.

5. Get your website converting

If you follow the previous four tips your website should be updated and healthy, so all that’s left to do is make sure that your website is actually converting.

There are a few ways to increase your conversion rates. You can create more opportunities for visitors to sign up to newsletters/downloadable content through sidebars or popups. You could even run a special offer or promote certain freebies throughout your website.

If you need any help with your SEO or getting your website to convert potential customers then please get in touch with us today on 01543 387 047.

Would you like to grow your business online and attract more customers? We will show you how. In this blog, we will explain what local SEO is, why you need it, and give you 5 ways you can use it to generate leads and sales for your business.

What is local SEO and why do I need it?

Local SEO (Local Search Engine Optimisation) improves your business’s online visibility by helping you promote your products or services to potential customers in the local area, as and when they are looking for them.

By utilising local SEO strategies (we will discuss these in more detail below), your business will appear as one of the most relevant local results to customers searching for your product or service in your area. For example: hair salon in Staffordshire, emergency locksmith in Birmingham, Indian restaurant in Lichfield.

If your business has a physical location or you serve a geographical area, no matter how big or small, local SEO will enable you to capitalise on these local searches that have more purchase intent behind them.

Before we get started…

Make sure your website is responsive, error free and there are no underlying technical issues on the site.

Would you like a free report on the technical aspects of your website, and advice on the areas that need improvement to ensure your site is fully optimised for search engines?

Click here for your FREE website audit.

1. Google My Business

Google My Business is one of the most important parts of local SEO, and the good news is that it’s totally free and easy-to-use.

Claiming and optimising your Google My Business listing will drastically improve your local search rankings.

The information you provide in your business profile will be fed to the knowledge panel, the local pack and Google Map search results, so the more detailed and up-to-date your Google My Business profile is, the more likely you are to appear in front of prospective customers.

For a step-by-step guide to set up your Google My Business account, click here.

2. Local Keywords

Local keywords are keywords that contain geographical phrases to help people find your business online.

Start by conducting local keyword research and look at the search volumes for each. Review the branded keywords your competitors are ranking for, then target these so that your business will appear above theirs.

You want to identify and include local keywords that combine your products or services with your location. The overall objective is to identify commonly used phrases that potential customers will be searching for. By including them in your content, you will rank higher in Google for those searching for your particular product or service.

It’s important not to become too excited and include lots of different keywords for the sake of it – this is known as keyword stuffing, and Google will penalise you for this.

3. Local Content

Google loves great content, as do your customers. It’s important that you regularly update and share relevant content on your website, your blog and across your social channels.

If you serve specific geographical areas, you may want to look at creating location landing pages within your website and include local keywords and citations within the in-page copy.

Once these landing pages are implemented, you will want to direct your Google My Business pages to these, to get the most benefit from them.

4. Reviews

90% of consumers read online reviews before visiting or buying from a business.

Not only will positive reviews help build credibility and the reputation of your business, they will also improve your search listings.

Customer feedback means fresh content, which Google rewards. It also increases the number of keywords you can rank for.

By replying to these reviews, you show your business cares about its customers, plus it increases interaction, which Google loves.

If Google sees positive reviews, it will trust your business and recommend you in search. At the end of the day, Google wants its users to be satisfied with the results of their search.

5. Links

Backlinks from authoritative websites help search engines recognise your site as a trusted source of information, thus boosting your rankings. They also increase your chances of appearing in the local pack on Google.

Links from local newspapers, magazines, blogs, newsletters, directories and social posts can all help to improve your online visibility.

So, how do you get these links? By building your reputation as a trusted source, by regularly posting quality content, hosting events, building relationships with organisations, and utilising local business directories.

Do this and you will build brand awareness and drive relevant traffic to your website, increasing your opportunities to sell.

 

So, there you have it. There’s 5 ways to use local SEO to gain more customers in your area.

Local SEO is a fundamental part of your overall SEO strategy to attract, engage, convince and convert customers.

If you would like to drive more prospects to your website to increase your sales, contact The Marketing People today on 01543 495752.