Posts In Category "Search Engine Optimization"
Increasing Your WordPress Website Speed
The load time of a website is an important consideration that Google and other search engines make when determining site rank position. While it may sound ridiculous, most people will not wait more than a few seconds for a website to load. In fact, studies suggest that if it takes more than five seconds for a site to load, a user will simply hit the back button and move on with their search.
Read More →What is the SEO Value of a Microsite?
From time to time we work with companies that have microsites that focus on a specific area or niche the company serves. The thinking is that the company’s expertise can be prominently featured and not have to compete for prominence as it does on the main site. For accounting firms, it’s common to have microsites that are industry focused (i.e. real estate, construction, technology) designed to attract prospects within a specific niche and geography. While this approach has proven successful in the past, many marketers are wondering if there is still SEO value to building microsites. The challenges involved in using microsites are various including the cost for initial development, technical maintenance, content update requirements, developing calls to action as well as establishing other methods to drive engagement.
Read More →What is a Google-Friendly Site?
When building a new website or launching a new web campaign many marketers are faced with the task of examining their website to make enhancements that will improve their ranking in Google. There is no shortage of information on the web about what one needs to do to make a site attractive to Google (and other search engines). The latest trend is on quality content and before that it was having a mobile (responsive) site and prior to that it was about keyword selection and ranking. The truth is that Google regularly changes/adds criteria to their ranking formula which makes it difficult for a marketer to be in complete compliance with these standards. However, this doesn’t mean you should not consider what Google is looking for from a website. Google has issued several guides, blog posts and videos that when reviewed together provide a general framework for how marketers can do well with the search engine.
Read More →What Does Google Say About Duplicate Content?
A key concern that many marketers are faced with is duplicate content. The reality is that it can be difficult to generate custom content for your company’s entire website. Even for those firms that have robust and time-testing content marketing plans there is often the need to use content from syndicated services to fill the gaps or address issues or topics that internal writers can’t react to fast enough to create the needed information for publication. Whatever the reason it’s sometimes necessary to use duplicate (or syndicated content) for your website. When this happens, marketers are concerned that Google will penalize them for doing so. After all, there’s a lot of information floating around the web that states Google will penalize the website or worse. While there are situations in which Google will penalize a company for using duplicate content, this is only under very specific circumstances. To help clients, prospects and others understand Google’s policies, FlashPoint Marketing has summarized important insights about Google’s treatment of duplicate content.
Read More →What is Structured Data?
Keeping current with search engine marketing and search engine optimization trends can be a challenging task. After all, most marketers are responsible for more than just the company’s website. Other priorities need your attention and in the blink of an eye Google can make one change that can impact how your website is ranked and displayed which impacts traffic, conversions and new business. A relatively recent change that was announced by Google (as part of a joint effort with other search engines such as Bing and Yahoo) was structured data. This is a new type of data that website marketers can provide to search engines that allows certain parcels of content to be displayed with more information including photos and other details. It’s an important development that marketers in every industry need to be aware of, and where appropriate, work with their SEO and digital marketing provider to implement. To help clients, prospects and others understand the impact of structured data on their marketing efforts, FlashPoint Marketing has provided a brief summary of key details below.
Read More →Getting Started in Content Marketing
Most accountants and accounting marketers understand that Google calls the shots when it comes to Search Engine Marketing (SEM) and when they make a change or develop a new set of criteria it’s essential to pay attention to ensure the firm’s website is falling in line. A key area where many firms struggle is in […]
Read More →Questions to Ask When Evaluating SEO Providers
The ability to shape and position your accounting firm’s website to attract qualified leads is the core function of search engine optimization (SEO). While there are other types of digital marketing that are designed to enhance branding and drive engagement with potential employment candidates, the purpose of SEO (and content marketing which I include under the SEO umbrella) is to drive qualified leads to your firm’s website. The challenge that many industry professionals face is there are literally dozens of vendors in the CPA space that claim to have the expertise, services and solutions to move firms toward their lead generation goal. Therefore, how can one tell the difference between the various providers and rate compatibility for their firm?
Read More →Myth Busting
There’s a showed called MythBusters on The Discovery Channel where the hosts create elaborate, and often funny, experiments to determine if a common myth is true. Some of my favorite busted myths include how a penny dropped from a skyscraper won’t actually kill you, that a shark isn’t afraid of its own shadow and that you can’t really dodge a sniper’s bullet.
Read More →On Page SEO Essentials When Launching a Website
Creating a site that accurately reflects the firm brand, is pleasing to the firm and contains the proper narrative is only half the job. Marketers need to also focus on building a website that will generate new business opportunities and attract prospective job candidates.
Read More →Why is SEO Important During Website Development?
When launching a website development project there are many issues to consider including site design, desired functionality, content, professional photography and imagery. Making sure all the puzzle pieces are on the table, in the right order and fit together is essential to the success of your project project. Unfortunately, many accounting marketers and accountants miss an important aspect of a website project that can create future issues – they don’t consider search engine optimization (SEO) elements.
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