SEO Questions – FAQ

What Is a Bot?

Dalton — Mon, 19 Jan 2015 21:29:30 +0000

A bot (short for “robot”) is a computer program designed to do automated tasks. When used over the internet, bots can carry out a wide variety of tasks much more quickly and efficiently than a human could, such as crawling a website and gathering data. Most bots, like the ones that search engines use to index pages on the internet, are not intended to harm websites or users. However, spam bots and viruses are examples of programs which can be used for targeted, malicious purposes.

The post What Is a Bot? appeared first on FAQ.

What is a Meta Description?

Clix — Wed, 04 Jun 2014 14:42:16 +0000

Meta descriptions are HTML attributes that provide concise explanations of the contents of web pages. Meta descriptions are commonly used on search engine result pages (SERPs) to display preview snippets for a given page.

Meta description tags, while not important to search engine rankings, are extremely important in gaining user click-through from SERPs. These short paragraphs are a webmaster’s opportunity to advertise content to searchers and to let them know exactly whether the given page contains the information they’re looking for.

The meta description should employ the keywords intelligently, but also create a compelling description that a searcher will want to click. Direct relevance to the page and uniqueness between each page’s meta description is key. The description should optimally be between 150-160 characters.

Meta descriptions can be any length, but search engines generally truncate snippets longer than 160 characters. It is best to keep meta descriptions between 150 and 160 characters.

Source: http://moz.com/learn/seo/meta-description

The post What is a Meta Description? appeared first on FAQ.

What is a Geographic Modifier?

Clix — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 14:18:39 +0000

A geographic keyword modifier is the use of a geographic term in the beginning, end, or in the middle of a keyword term. For example, if my core keyword was “health insurance,” you could geographically modify the keyword by adding the term “St. Louis” to it, making it “St. Louis health insurance” or “health insurance St. Louis”. Pretty simple concept, eh?

The post What is a Geographic Modifier? appeared first on FAQ.

Google Verification PIN

Clix — Thu, 13 Feb 2014 20:21:09 +0000

Google + Local Listing Verification PIN

It’s important to get the Google local listings verified for each of our clients business locations. Each of the locations will receive a postcard from Google in the mail with a verification PIN number on it. (see postcard below) We need to enter this PIN in order to complete the local listings for each location. Each of these postcards are going to be addressed to you (our client). When you receive notice of the postcards you will need to let us know what the PIN is in order for us to complete the verification process. The postcard(s) should arrive in about a week or so.

The post Google Verification PIN appeared first on FAQ.

What is Local SEO?

Clix — Mon, 13 Jan 2014 21:47:54 +0000

Local SEO

What is Local SEO and how does it affect my rankings?

Local SEO is a specialized kind of online marketing that increases visibility for businesses interested in ranking for geographically-related keywords. A large part of Local SEO involves ranking in the Local algorithms, as well as ranking well in the organic results for Local keywords.

What types of businesses need Local SEO?

Any business that gets some or all of its customers or clients locally should consider local SEO. That could be a local restaurant, retail outlet, doctor, dentist /orthodontist or lawyer, but it could just as easily be a local ad agency. If you have a physical address in a city and expect people to go there, you should be doing local SEO for that location.

How is Local SEO different from National SEO?

While all of the elements that apply to national SEO also impact local SEO (on-page factors, links, social, indexing, etc.), local comes with a few unique elements.

The first and probably most important is that for local SEO you need to create and claim a local profile on Google (and other platforms as desired. See the Local SEO Guide for more information) Your local listing is what will show (usually) for localized search results.

The second most important thing is called a citation. A citation is any place online that uses your company NAP (name, address, phone number) all on the same page, in the same format as your local listing. This same format bit is pretty important. While Google is pretty smart, it’s best to make sure that your local citation efforts match your local listing as closely as possible. Don’t abbreviate in one and not the other (St. vs Street, (800) vs 1-800, etc.)

Third, reviews. Lots and lots of reviews (preferably really good ones.) Quantity and quality of reviews left for your business on your Google Places page is one of the most important local ranking factors.

How does on-site optimization differ for Local SEO vs. National SEO?

All of the same elements apply, but there are four things you should strongly consider mixing in. One, make sure your name, address and phone number are used on every page of your site, in the same format as your Google local listing (in the footer is an ideal location.)

Two, use your City and State names in your Title tags, Meta descriptions, and the content on your site (as it fits, don’t just force it in there.)

Three, make use of Schema local markup to better help search engines identify and show your location.

What are the most important signals that boost local SEO rankings?

The three biggest factors in local listings appear to be the number of citations, the number of reviews (primarily on your Google Places listing, though other places do count), and how positive the reviews are overall. From what we’ve seen, positive reviews will trump citations, so persuading your customers and clients to leave great reviews on your Google local page is the single most important thing you can do. Of course, there are some things that have a big impact and that may not be directly in your control, such as how close your business is to the city center.

What does the location of a business to the city center have to do with anything?

Google uses something commonly called “centroid bias”, which means that if someone searches for, say, Seattle Dentist, there will be a bias towards the dentist locations that are closest to the center of the city. While it is possible for a business in a neighboring city to rank for a metro keyword (i.e. a business in Cambridge trying to rank for a Boston keyword), if you’re on the outskirts of a city, or in a city neighboring a major metropolitan area, you’re going to be at a disadvantage.

Can you outline a brief action plan you’d recommend for new company looking to compete for local search results?

First, claim your local listing on Google Places, and make sure to complete your listing until it’s at 100%. This will require adding images, videos, and more. When creating this listing, DO NOT use any keywords or location names in your business title or business description that aren’t a part of your official business name or absolutely critical to accurately describing your business.

Second, make sure that the information from your Google Places page is spread across all of the other major local platforms, in the same format. Each of these will become a citation, which is hugely valuable.

Last but not least, do everything you can to get your happy customers to leave positive reviews for you on Google Places. You aren’t supposed to directly solicit positive reviews, but there are plenty of ways to encourage great reviews.

Can you recommend some ways a local business can get reviews?

Let your customers or clients know that they can rate their experience with you on your Google Places profile. Have logos up in your windows or in your office showing the places where people can leave reviews. Include your profile links in your email communications (particularly in follow-up emails after a purchase or visit), direct mail, and anywhere else you can think of to get it in front of customers. Of course, if you want positive reviews, you need to provide a product and/or service that warrants them.

And while this should go without saying, DON’T BUY REVIEWS. While Google doesn’t always catch fake reviews, they are working constantly to get better at it. Yelp on the other hand errs on the site of extreme caution, and often banishes overly positive reviews.

Is Local SEO an ongoing endeavor, or is it more of a set-and-forget expense?

There is absolutely an ongoing component. You should be getting new citations, reviews, social mentions and links each and every month.

Source: Search Engine Journal

The post What is Local SEO? appeared first on FAQ.

Yelp Local Listing

Clix — Mon, 30 Dec 2013 19:23:24 +0000

Yelp: www.biz.yelp.com
Yelp is one of the most well-known and popular local directories. Over 84 million people visited Yelp in the third quarter of 2012. Consumers can use Yelp to find local businesses and allows visitors to leave reviews, ratings and upload photos of businesses.

Yelp Business accounts offer a suite of free tools that include the ability to:

Communicate with customers both privately and publicly;
Track how many people view business profiles;
Add photos, a detailed business description, up-to-date information, history, and areas of specialty;
Recommend other businesses.

To take advantage of these benefits, you must first claim your listing, which you can do by searching for your listing on Yelp.

How do I add my business to yelp.com?
If your business is not listed, create a Yelp account (or login to your existing account) to begin.
Go to biz.yelp.com then click “Create Your Free Account Now”

Follow the steps/enter information accordingly. You will need to claim the listing at business telephone number. If the listing already exists but has not been claimed, you will see a button on the page that says “Claim This Listing.” Whenever you need to make edits to your listing go back to biz.yelp.com to login and make edits.

To Contact Support: Email: feedback@yelp.com

The post Yelp Local Listing appeared first on FAQ.

YellowPages Local Listing

Clix — Mon, 30 Dec 2013 19:17:46 +0000

YellowPages: www.yp.com
YellowPages (YP) is North America’s largest local search, media and advertising company. Millions of searches occur daily using YP products to find, compare and select local merchants.

How do I add my business to yp.com?
Go to: http://adsolutions.yp.com/SSO/Login

Click “Get Started”

You may run across ads/upgrade requests throughout the process of filling out information – there will be a small option somewhere (usually towards the bottom) that says something along the lines of “Skip” or “No Thanks”
Follow the steps/enter information accordingly
You will need to get the listing verified by business telephone

When you want to edit/update your listing you will need to go to the business login: http://adsolutions.yp.com/SSO/Login

To Contact Support: Phone: 1-800-577-7126

The post YellowPages Local Listing appeared first on FAQ.

CitySearch Local Listing

Clix — Mon, 30 Dec 2013 19:13:43 +0000

CitySearch (CityGrid): www.citysearch.com
Citysearch partners with InfoUSA for local business data. They offer an Express Update service that allows merchants to update their listing data as well as add new businesses. Once you’ve added your business please allow 1 – 2 months for the information to be on Citysearch.

How do I add my business to Citysearch.com?
You can find them at www.expressupdateusa.com

How to Claim a Business:
Use this link: http://signup.citygrid.com/cyb/find_business

Search for your business by entering your business name and zip code. Then click “Find my Business”.
Click “Claim This Business” below your business
You will need to claim via business telephone #

Logging into your account:
if you cannot login via citysearch.com then login via CityGrid using this link: http://myaccount.citygrid.com/login

If your business is not verified by phone yet, then as soon as you login it will ask you to verify it by phone and it will not let you do anything further until you verify the business by phone.

To Contact Support: Email: customerservice@citygrid.com
Call Support: (800) 611-4827 – hours are: 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM Pacific Time

The post CitySearch Local Listing appeared first on FAQ.

Manta Local Listing

Clix — Mon, 30 Dec 2013 19:07:57 +0000

Manta: www.manta.com
Manta helps small businesses profit, connect and grow through the largest online community dedicated entirely to small business.

How do I add my business to Manta.com?

On the homepage click “+add your business”

Follow the steps/enter information accordingly
You will need to verify the listing via phone – they will give you a code on the screen. You have to call them – it does not have to be from the business telephone number.

To Contact Support: Phone: 1-866-751-6481

The post Manta Local Listing appeared first on FAQ.

SuperPages Local Listing

Clix — Fri, 27 Dec 2013 21:53:28 +0000

Creating a SuperPages Local Business Listing

SuperPages: www.superpages.com
Superpages.com is the local expert, and another one of the top online resource for finding business information and insights. SuperPages helps millions of consumers find local business information from driving directions and hours of operation to photo, links directly to their website and customer reviews.

How do I add my business to superpages.com?

While on the home page superpages.com, click “Add Your FREE listing” in the top right corner

Follow the steps/enter information accordingly
Once your listing is created, in order to make edits to your SuperPages listing you must login to www.supermedia.com. It may take up to 48 business hours for your edits to go through.

To Contact Support: Phone Support: 866-558-0400
Sign-in help page: http://www.supermedia.com/help/account-information/sign-in/

The post SuperPages Local Listing appeared first on FAQ.