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Local Search Engine Optimization (Local SEO)

SEO Predictions for the Upcoming Year

Every year, search engine optimization (SEO) specialists like to make predictions about how SEO practices will change and evolve over the coming 12 months. Indeed, for the year 2018, some of the top SEO predictions included that Google would remain the top referrer of website traffic (which it did); that Amazon’s web search volume would increase dramatically; and that Twitter would not only remain independent but would also continue as the most “valuable and popular network for publishers and influencers.”

Now that 2018 is coming to a close, what can we expect for SEO in 2019? Here are some predictions that our team–and other SEO specialists throughout the industry–are making:

Voice Search Will Increase

Most people who have a cell phone or an artificial intelligence device (like Amazon Alexa) within their home or place of work are already familiar with using voice commands to get things done. And in 2019, the use of voice, and specifically, voice search, is expected to increase.

This is significant because voice requests are distinct from normal queries, which may mean that current keywords practices may require adjustment.

Mobile-Friendliness Will Become Even More Important

Today, if a website isn’t mobile-friendly, it is missing out on a valuable opportunity to connect with customers. In fact, in 2016, mobile searches already comprised more than 50 percent of search queries, and data holds that mobile searches have increased by about 80 percent in the last two years. The number is expected to increase in 2019 – for businesses that don’t already have mobile-friendly websites, it would serve them well to develop those as soon as possible.

User Experience Will Affect Ranking

According to SEO specialist Chris Brantner, who serves as the SEO director at SleepZoo, user experience (UX) will have a more pressing effect on website ranking in 2019 than it has had in previous years. This is a result of Google’s push for more personalized search results, which in turn means that websites will have to do a better job keeping users on their site – enhancing the user experience is one of the best ways to do so. If your site is slow, your content isn’t engaging, or a site that isn’t mobile-friendly, you can count on a loss of traffic.

How NUVEW Can Help

At NUVEW, we are constantly improving our SEO practices to ensure they’re aligned with current trends. If your business needs more meaningful website traffic and you want to learn more about how to increase organic leads, we can help. Connect with us at 219-323-3343 or contact us online today.

Social Media and SEO – What’s the Connection?

For businesses in Illinois, Indiana, and throughout the country, the only way to remain competitive is to have a great website, and know how to drive traffic to that website. Indeed, gone are the days, unfortunately, when just doing “good business” was what got companies referrals and customers. Instead, today, customers are interested in businesses’ online activities, online reviews, blog content, website user experience, and more. And one thing that can affect search engine optimization (SEO) the most is social media activity. Here’s what you should know–

Ranking Signals Used by Search Engines

A brief synopsis of the complexity of this topic is this: Google uses a number of different factors (and nobody really knows what they all are) in order to determine how a website should rank, i.e where it should be displayed on a search results page – towards the top or towards the bottom. We know that one such factor that Google and other search engines consider is that of shared links on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter. This means that activity on both of these sites is used as a “ranking signal,” and that maintaining a strong presence on either or both could help your company rank higher. Keep in mind that there is a correlation between social media use and ranking, not necessarily causation.

Ranking Signals Aside, Social Media Builds Your Audience

Let’s pretend for a minute that social media use and engagement isn’t a ranking signal and has no correlation between where a company’s website falls on a search results page. Even if we assumed this to be true (which data shows that it isn’t), we know that regardless, social media builds your audience.

Essentially, as a platform with more than two billions users, Facebook is a fantastic place to let those in your community and surrounding areas know about your product, product goals and development, and your company story. You can improve your web presence and quickly build your audience using Facebook and other social media platforms. And because new websites are being created by the hundreds every minute, doing whatever you can to increase your audience and improve your web presence is strongly recommended.

Improve Your Social Media Presence Today

Understanding how social media works and the strong relationship it has with SEO can be confusing as a non-marketing professional. Which is why if you want to drive organic traffic to your website and increase the number of qualified leads you receive, working with a marketing and SEO professional is a must. At NUVEW, we specialize in all aspects of online marketing, including both SEO and social media marketing.

To learn more about our online marketing services and how we can support your business’ growth, please call us today at 219-323-3343 or send us a message telling us more about your online marketing goals. We are a local SEO company that’s passionate about supporting other local businesses in our community.

Strike The Best Work, Life Balance As A Small Business Owner

How to Keep the Best Life Balance As A Small Business Owner

While everyone strives to keep family and work as separate as possible, entrepreneurs are especially vulnerable to falling into an almost constant flow of work. Owning a small business takes a lot of time, effort, passion, and hard work and this can translate into too many hours of working “off the clock.”

There are ways to help keep your family happy while balancing the demands of being an entrepreneur.

Communicate. Make sure to discuss with your family the basics of what is going on at your business. Maybe it’s your busy season or you are on deadline. If your family is in the know, they will be better able to handle the long hours and during-dinner phone calls. On the flip side, make sure your employees understand when you are off and who to contact instead of you for help.

Schedule. Quality time with your family should be on your calendar. Family events should be no different than business meetings. Both should be planned and should not be interrupted by the other.

Delegate. A benchmark of being an entrepreneur is often having a say in everything about the business. While you should be aware of what is going on every day, you also need to hire, train and trust employees that will keep your business running smoothly while you are away.

Shut down. While it’s good to stay connected to your employees and business, you need to have boundaries. This may be turning off your phone during dinner, your kids’ sporting events, vacations or at a certain time every night.

Focus. Whatever you are working on – whether it’s work or play – make sure you are concentrating on the task at hand. The more focused you are on your current effort, the sooner you can wrap it up and move on to what’s next. Plus, your family will be happier if you are immersed in your time with them and not jumping at every beep your phone makes.

Prioritize. There may be days that you won’t get everything done on your to-do list. Making sure you know what is most important on both the family and work sides will allow for a sense of accomplishment on what gets done and the ability to let go of what didn’t as there’s always tomorrow.

Our Team Can Be Part Of Your Team

We can be the trusted professionals for your website and social media needs. At NUVEW, we offer such services as website development, website design, search engine optimization and social media management. Our skilled crew can help you work toward your goals and ease some of the stress of running your business. We can be your web solution experts!

Connect With Us For A Web Site Plan

As small business owners ourselves, we understand wanting to have a flourishing business as well as a happy family. Contact us today to discuss how we can help you keep your work, life balance by allowing us to manage some of your marketing. Reach us by phone at 219-323-3343 or connect with us online.

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