This original post has been updated in 2025, but many of the basic themes have held true for years. With small businesses, or really any business, we have to be careful to use each dollar of our budget wisely. This is why it is critically important not to make basic mistakes with your website that [...]
In SEO, every search is a different competitive landscape, and Google has evolved to where every search has different ranking factors. So though it can be said that just about everything is a ranking factor, deciding where to focus your limited resources in a way that will "move the needle" is more important than ever. [...]
Understanding SEO's Evolution Ah, SEO. Just when you think you've got it figured out, it changes like a chameleon on caffeine. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is not some mystical art; it's a dynamic, ever-evolving practice that adapts to new technologies and user behaviors, staying a crucial part of digital marketing. Many misconceptions about SEO stem [...]
I've been attending this conference since it began. I can't remember what it was originally called but it eventually became Local U and is now one of the most important dates on my calendar. I can't share everything I learned there, because it is part of the secret sauce that makes us successful and helps [...]
Sometimes things in the Google algorithm make sense and sometimes we are left scratching our heads. This one makes sense. This post should be short and to the point but addresses something that can often be overlooked and can be handled strategically. Your menu items matter for your local search presence. When we say "menu" [...]
I like to try to simplify things as best I can for my clients and followers. Yesterday, I shared a great new article from Moz on the Google Business Profile fields that affect your rankings. Though they touch on the 11 fields, I wanted to discuss them briefly. Some of these you have a lot [...]
Darren Shaw, who has been a big part of the annual local ranking factors study in recent years, recently announced data showing that service areas seem to be ranking factors. This is big news as data has suggested in the past that it had no bearing on rankings. I wanted to quickly touch on why [...]
Google is in the business of providing the best answers to user’s searches. There are certain basic SEO elements to keep in mind when building or redeveloping any business website. The basics of Google search have been the same for 20 years. They are just getting better at measuring and understanding the content and adjusting [...]
It has been mayhem in the Google search results in recent weeks, and really in the last couple of years. Another big change coming up very soon. Google has been incorporating AI into results as well as making up for a bad PR hit they had from updates in 2023. It is easy to get [...]
First of all, I apologize, because I hate clickbait. Did you click on the article thinking for that immediate gratification of SEO rankings and success? Unfortunately, many small businesses get tricked into this with fancy sales pitches and sneaky promises that capitalize on both business owners desire to succeed and their confusion about how SEO [...]
