What Search And Directory Listing Citations Do For Business

Listings = CitationsKinetic Knowledge Google Listing

Citations are simply a reference on other websites for your business information, including Name, Address, Phone Number ( = NAP info ), hours of operation, website URL link and, if the directory owner allows, other service related information. Search and directory listing providers happen to be business listing websites that 1) people visit, that 2) search engines crawl & index and 3) that help to search optimize a web presence.

What Listings Can Do For Your Business

A business with LOTS of accurate information- rich citations has a much better chance of being ranked high in Google local search results. Wait, what was that? People search and find business websites on Google, SO WHY would a business owner with a website bother chasing other citations? Or better yet, how many folks are really ever going to search, for instance, for Home Butop local organic seo signals ilder or Inspector on Topix.com, yellowpages.com or Yahoo.com?

Well, Google is a search engine (albeit it is also a business listings directory = citations provider) that is looking to satisfy the searchers’ interests in the best way possible. It needs to find and then compare the most relevant information available on any subject, including locally. When there are lots of accurate references to a particular business, especially when consistent with the website’s info, well that’s where citations shine. Logically, a business with plenty of consistent citations on the web will have a far better chance of being ranked higher in Google local search results because those references support an overall competitive and consistent local presence. And how a detailed website, a YouTube channel, a Facebook page or a search | directory listing helps the next prospect to find a business doesn’t really matter – does it? Rounding out a web presence with lots of relevant search and directory listing citations (= your business information on other websites) supports an overall web presence in many ways, none more important than helping to make your business that much more locally relevant!

And while Google isn’t disclosing which listing sites they trust or value the most, you can certainly do a quick business specific search and draw your own conclusions. Many of the ‘search and directory site listings’ for that business are going to be there!

What You Need To Know About Listings

top local map pack seo signalsBut who has the time to register, and manage a verify- process then go through a per directory learning curve for options in order to get a complete set of listings? Who has the time to update them, for instance, when a phone number changes? It’s even more challenging when you consider that no one knows which citations truly matter to Google, so where is time invested best spent?

It’s where a search & directory listings citation service shines! Its also a quick easy way to build some back- links safely, without running the risk of raising red- flags. And while Google doesn’t necessarily count all listing back- links, its algorithm certainly does count some!

Our Listing Citation Service Benefits

For some, the management support for listings/citations is welcomed support, so that a person can focus on your business. We can add a businesses information to most all of the large meaningful search & directory listings sites so that it will not only have the benefit of multiple quality business citations and a better competitive set of signals needed for higher Search Rankings, but potentially more leads and customers. Check out our search & directory listings service, which can add that all PLUS a great deal more for your marketing mix:  https://www.kineticknowledge.com/search-directory-listings-management-plan/

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“The Long Tail” As It Relates To Search Engine Visibility

Web Design And Development | Kinetic KnowledgeThe Long Tail theory was developed by Chris Anderson in his Oct 2004 Wired Magazine article describing how the web might influence certain business & economic models. Anderson, Editor of Wired Magazine at the time, later authored his best selling book ‘The Long Tail’ to better detail the theory.

As it applies to content, blogging and better search engine optimization marketing the idea with ‘the Long Tail’ is to be visible for as many near variations of one’s core subject focus as is possible. The proven theory being that, while a business may generate less search discovery per keyword variation [i.e. Condos in New York City] than it will for the most obvious & highly targeted keyword search phrases [i.e. New York City Real Estate] due to competitive forces, the collective impact of a broad set of keyword variations may easily exceed that of the most targeted. Better yet, the more varied (or long tail) a targeted search term is, the less competitive it is to be visible for. An SEO strategy focused on long tail keywords can be a good one so long as there is some traffic. Obviously, to target keywords that nobody is searching is mostly useless.

This is NOT meant to suggest a business should give up targeting the obvious searches [i.e. New York City Real Estate]. On the contrary, the point is based more on a potentially cost- effective approach to being visible in the search engines. Pursuing the most competitive search topics versus what is likely to be competition with the deepest pockets may simply be cost- prohibitive.

Research shows that people do search more specifically and so a cost- effective means to capture them can be broader ‘long tail’ keyword targeting. To demonstrate and support this ‘Long Tail’ theory, here is traffic analytics data drawn ( compiled originally in 2007 ) from a committed Vail CO Real Estate client that had great keyword indexing for both sought after and then also not so sought after targets. The firm focuses on being indexed for everything going on in its’ community as it relates to Real Estate. We examined one month of data to demonstrate ‘long tail’ search discovery success.

A. Total ‘Short Tail’ search discovery equaled 190/ 1,015 searches bringing new visitors to their website = 19%

      • Short Tail being the town’s name and state plus the words property, real estate, home or homes


B. Total Long Tail search discovery equaled 825/1,015= 81%

      • Long Tail being as many variations relating to obvious town searches as is possible

a.) different areas of the town were equal to 130 total search discovery variations
b.) condominium complexes equal to 299 total search discovery variations
c.) developments equal to 89 total search discovery variations
d.) clubs equal to 101 total search discovery variations
e.) restaurants and local business equal to 27 total search discovery variations
f.) listings or specific Street equal to 32 total search discovery variations
g.) developer equal to 56 total search discovery variations
h.) random/ miscellaneous equal to 91 total search discovery variations

Albeit anonymous, the data above demonstrates ‘Long Tail theory’ success based upon less targeted keyword variations amounting to 81% of the overall search traffic. We’d argue they are not only cost- effective marketers, but even better – they are capturing the most qualified eyeballs!

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SEO Takes Time, With Patience It Generates Revenue!

LEARN BASIC SEO CONCEPTS

No less than once per week we get calls from folks dangerously uninformed about SEO. When people finally decide to invest in SEO services, it’s usually because they are panicking about the fact that their website traffic is dead. No visitors or leads, nothing is coming in.

You see just because you build it doesn’t necessarily mean that consumers will come. And while WordPress brings many of the necessary on- page tools, it is actual use of them and also how much competition there is that will determine what is necessary to become visible for target keywords. Websites and website pages have to be optimized both on and off site for search engines to notice and rank you high. It’s a battle you either do or do not wage. Ultimately we must have the attention of search engines first in order to then gain the attention of qualified (by their search) consumers.

monmouth county nj seo servicesWhen in panic mode we often want a resolution fast and, unfortunately, that’s NOT how SEO or search engines work. Granted visibility for some keywords is less competitive than others, but we’ve really got to schmooze Google; we’ve got to wine and dine Yahoo or Bing with the useful content and various other signals they use to compare. The search engines don’t put out results on the first date; you’ve got to earn their attention!

SET REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS ABOUT SEO

There are many facets of SEO: you cannot do one thing and expect to show up on Google Page 1. That’s not how it works, worse it never stops moving (see: What is the Google Crawl). You have to combine the best practices and techniques including website meta data, keyword- optimized content, internal page linking, quality inbound links, quality outbound links, social voice signals, accurate citations and, depending on how competitive it is for keywords in a particular business discipline, quite possibly more. Work that is done over a period of time, NEVER over night. Search engines are way ahead of you!; they are looking for natural compliance with a set of quality guidelines. And that is not paying someone to give you 1,000 back links, which is going to be seen as spamming or gaming … the search engines know.

You may be saying to yourself, “Why invest time or money into SEO if it’s going to take so long to start producing results??” Think about it THIS WAY: you may not be implementing an SEO strategy, but your competitor certainly will. So when that consumer goes to Google and searches for a product or business like yours, you won’t be there but your competitor will.

If you want immediate visibility for a sale or special you are having- get the word out by advertising it. If you want to have the type of web digital footprint that will allow consumers to find their way back to your website on their own terms & timeline, start investing in SEO now. It’s a process and it is ongoing, but without this you essentially don’t exist online.

Whether you are a brick and mortar business or 100% web-based your web presence needs to be available for people considering your product, service or brand; 80% of consumers research businesses online first, so those of us who fail to plan an SEO strategy essentially…  plan to fail. Learn more about local SEO services.

About Kinetic Knowledge

Based in Monmouth County, NJ, Kinetic Knowledge is a full service digital marketing firm offering website design, SEO, social media, graphic design, e-commerce, content marketing and custom webmaster service solutions. Give us a call to learn more about our social media marketing and content marketing services. We can be reached at 732-722-5915 or visit us online at www.kineticknowledge.com

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Common Business Web Presence SEO Mistakes

Common Business Web Presence SEO Mistakes | Kinetic KnowledgeIn terms of visibility online, there is no ‘one SEO fits all business types plan’. Versus throwing money at a moving search engine results landscape and hoping that something sticks, it is best and most cost effective to get the fundamentals right first. Then measure and go forward with what proves to work. Some of the competition is going to be there, but most competitors fail to execute on even the most obvious requirements. Here is a list of the most common business web presence SEO mistakes the average company fails to manage online – at the cost of leads & new business. Where are you on these?

Common Business Web Presence And SEO Mistakes

1. A lack of detailed pages for each service offered:

The fact is, Google’s algorithm indexes and ranks pages based upon what it sees as subject specific content worthy of human consumption. One page with a list of services ruins any chance of competing for the qualified traffic searching for those very services.

2. A lack of a commitment to content, in general:

Google’s algorithm also seeks new timely information and so it likes websites that produce it. A website with no blog or timely news coverage for ‘question & answer topics’ the target market is searching … it fails to help Google to recommend that website.

3. A lack of mobile friendly content:

Hard to believe it today, but we still see it everywhere. Upwards of 50% of all people search from their phones and business owners ought to know that search engines do NOT want to recommend non mobile friendly content.

4. No geographic specificity:

Google believes a local business is the better local search result. For the business demonstrating location authority when Google looks for local answers, this is the low hanging fruit. Get established locally first, then build outward and conquer the rest of the world … or maybe just another town, a county or a state.

5. Incomplete contact information:

Hours of operation, for example, matter to Google when ranking a local web presence. Many fail to show hours with their contact information and are, at certain times, ignored in search results because of it. Note: and no. 7 explains, this information is also cross referenced against local listings, so you need to have it all accurate & consistent.

6. Incomplete Google My Business Tools:

Google favors certain types of content generated with its’ tools. Once verified and properly executed, these Google My Business tools ( especially when aligned with a primary website for accurate consistent information ) will matter a great deal.

7. Inaccurate search & directory listings:

Never to say they will outrank a content rich website, but consumers visit search and directory listing websites. Search engines crawl them as a highly weighted signal, seen as an information accuracy cross- reference (vs website and other listings). Listings consistent with a primary website presence for accurate contact information matters. In the end it doesn’t really matter if people find your business through yours or listing websites like Yelp, Yahoo, CitySearch, Topix or Google.

8. Sending reviews to the wrong place:

Google still rules for search; Google favors its own tools and local reviews published on Google map listings are prioritized in their Search Engine Results Pages (SERPS). Good reviews are hard to get, be smart and send them to where they are going to be seen the most by far = your Google listing.

9. Failure to leverage basic web page meta tag techniques:

Search engine crawlers ignore some, but PRIORITIZE other meta tags. There’s even a tag not used in competitive ranking, but that still serves as a tactical means for driving lots of traffic.

10. Failure to leverage basic web page link opportunities & techniques:

Search engines crawl & evaluate all links, including a) to other relevant pages on the website, b) that link off website to supporting information and c) that come in from other important websites. Do NOT fail to leverage these different links, for instance c) inbound links from trusted search & listing sites and/or industry associations the business is a part of.

11. Website solution choice:

Many website solutions limit fundamental tools, support or worse, trap the user’s web presence in its’ host environment. Why allow someone else to own the links, bookmarks, social likes, shares and the content keywords indexing a website accumulates over time? Cheap or free is likely serving someone other than you first; it rarely, if ever, is the best route. Business owners should own and control a website they can forever rely upon and grow.

12. Host solution choice:

The cheapest host solution is almost always shared, limits bandwidth, loads slow and offers minimal security at best. And good luck with any service.

13. A lack of management:

In this day and age, a serious business likely needs web presence and digital assets management. If assets aren’t managed in support of one another, any web presence will inevitably become a regrettable waste of time, effort and resources.

In Summary Of These Common Business Web Presence SEO Mistakes

There is no ‘one web presence SEO fits all business plan’. It’s why it is always best to start with the fundamentals, to measure performance & competition and then assess whether or not it’s’ enough to drive leads. Getting the fundamentals right not only saves money versus throwing it at a moving landscape, but sets a benchmark for determining whether or not a program can thrive in ongoing maintenance mode or if it needs expansion.

Ask us about our affordable hands- on SEO ( see: https://www.kineticknowledge.com ), including what canbe fundamentals based only programs and also overall digital assets management options. Let us help you get organized, drive leads and save money!

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