PROOF SEO is Valuable

Download the PDF to see which links on Google get the most clicks.

Don’t Think SEO is Worth it?

Who Gets the Clicks on a Google Search

Ever wonder where that “other sock” goes? Maybe it is hiding on Page 2 of a Google search.

If it is on Page 2 of Google, then it will never be found.

Unfortunealty in this day and age, we suddenly don’t have time anything anymore. When we want something, we want it now. That also goes for the information we want. When we “Google” something, we want the best, correct, most accurate results.

Typically we want it so bad that we want it to always be the very top link in Google. If it isn’t the top link, we barely want to scroll or swipe down the page to see if the right link is just lingering a few spots down the list.

Google is the #1 search engine for a reason …

Their algorithm for searching millions of websites and returning the results we want is amazing. But sometimes lost in this equation is the hard work, knowledge, and dedication the right web developer and right SEO team can do for your website.

Google has a loooong list of things it uses to grade websites. The websites that follow these guidelines will be found faster and rank higher. Most people don’t realize this … and why should they?

If they don’t operate a business with a website or ever relied on a website to attract more leads.  Then they just go along thinking it is how it is. They have a website, Google will find it. My potential customers will find it. Sorry, but that is wrong.

Granted … if people search for “Best Buy” … they will find Best Buy.

But what if they search for “the best mortgage rate“. Then Google will return a whole host of websites offering “the best mortgage rate”.

This is where the algorithm comes in. Of all of the sites on the internet Google has to:

  • Find all of the sites that are related to “mortgage”, “rates” and claim to have “the best”
  • Then based on their secret algorithm, sort all of the sites into a series of 10 organic links.
  • Based on your location, based on page speed (loading time), based on a number of factors …

All of this in under 1 second.

Are you “feeling lucky” that your company website will be on the first page? in the top 5? Number 1?

There are 4 types of searches

NAVIGATIONAL. INFORMATIONAL. TRANSACTIONAL. VOICE.

I want to KNOW. I want to GO. I want to DO. I want to BUY

There are 3, well 4 types of searches that are performed.

  • NAVIGATIONAL SEARCH
    • People searching for sites they know about … “YouTube“, “Google“, “Riders” but don’t remember the exact domain
  • INFORMATIONAL SEARCH
    • People searching for “landscape ideas for backyard”. They are just looking for info and ideas, not yet ready to buy
  • TRANSACTIONAL SEARCH
  • VOICE SEARCH
    • With Google Home, Amazon Echo, Apple Home Pod, Google Assistant, Siri, Cortana, and more. People are searching with their voice. When they search using their voice, they will use different keywords and more keywords.
    • For example, on their phone, they might type in a search like: “restaurants near me”. Where with a voice search they might search with: “seafood restaurants that have all you can eat shrimp”

Because they don’t have to type, they will use more words and also be more specific.

Not sure if you were aware, but ….

All search engines will return 10 listings per page. That is 10 organic listings. Listings that have not been paid for to Google, Bing or Yahoo.

Those “PAID FOR” listings show up as ADS (advertising) above and below the 10 organic listings. Oh yeah, there might also be a map at the top of the page as well. This is how the search engines make money.

When you see ads on some searches and no ads on other searches. This typically means that the search words you used in your search, that is it very competitive and companies want to be found for that search.

Back to the Organic Results …

With only 10 organic listings per page, you might think it is ok to be one of the 10 listings. A few years ago you might have been right, but not anymore. If you look at the Who Gets the Clicks” document, you will see that only the top 2, (ok, maybe top 3 or 4) listings are worth it.

The number 1, organic listing receives 36.4% of the clicks, number 2 drops by more than half!

If you think about it … if you are looking for a PLUMBER, and the #1 spot is a Plumber, why would you go any further??

Sometimes you will see in the listings, links to other sites, typically other directories like yellow pages, Kijiji and Used Regina. Now depending on your needs for a plumber, you may not have time to poke around other directories. You are already on a directory, the best directory, Google.

What does this mean for you?

What if your site appears on the first page but low on the page. What if your site shows up on Page 2 of Google, with all those unpaired socks?

Well … there are a number of things you can do. Unfortunately, we don’t want to give away all of our secrets, but here are a few things you can do.

 

Download the PDF to see which links on Google get the most clicks.

Google doesn’t call you

Google does not call you

And your Google listing will not expire

If you are receiving calls from “Google” or companies telling you that your Google Listing is set to expire … hang up!

Does Google call about my Google Listing?It is a scam. We probably get about 3 or 4 calls a week from one of these companies. But we do answer them, we press #1 to speak to a representative (it could be why we get so many calls). But we answer them and want to talk to them because we like to challenge them. Most times they hang up. So how reputable can they be?

When we challenge them about “who they are?“, or “where are they seeing that our Google listing is about to expire?“, or we tell them that we perform SEO as a service, they either hang up, or giggle and realize they are caught. We’ve even had some admi it and threaten us.

We like Google, and we work with Google to help our clients. But when we need help from Google, it is very difficult to find a number to even call them. So they are not just going to call you out of the blue to help you. To be honest and blunt … Google doesn’t even know about you and your business (unless you are a very large, international company or they want to buy you). Google has lots of their own stuff on the go and they provide a lot of tools for companies like us to use to help your business.

There are over a billion websites. Google is not about to call each and everyone. They provide the tools to help be found with them, but that’s where it ends.

 

Don’t believe us? No problem. Check out what Google has to say on the subject.

No, your Google listing is not about to expire

In fact, you have to tell Google if your business closes

If you have ever searched Google for a particular business. You might see on the right hand side of the Google search results, that there is more information about that company. Sometimes you will notice that the Business is Permanently Closed. In order for that to happen, someone with control of the business listing with Google has to login and label the business as permanently closed.

 

What to do if I get these calls

  • Hang up on “Sharon from Google”. Do not press 1 to talk to an agent. Doing this typically tips of theri software that is making these calls that someone answered and they will continue to call.
  • File a NOTICE with the Google Safety Centre. It will “help them better protect our users. Please note that this form will not directly impact whether you will receive robocalls in the future.”
  • File a complaint with the CRTC.
  • Hire someone local to help you or take over yourself.

So how is it that your listing will expire?

It won’t. Most businesses don’t even know how to claim their listing or that it is even a service to claim it. They assume that that is all done by Google. Sure, the initial information may appear because of Google, but if you look close, it allows you to Claim the Business if you are the business owner.

Claiming it is very important. So is keeping it up to date. You are able to do a lot of things with it, including setting business hours and holiday hours. How many times have you searched for a business to see they are “open today” according to Google only to find out they aren’t actually open. Google is only as good as the information they have. If it is out of date, then what are they supposed to do?

Google is very important to your business

The yellow pages are dead

There are a number of amazing ways to market your business. Billboards, social media, radio ads, television ads and more. But … when was the last time you slammed on the breaks when you saw a billboard with a must have product or service?

Business make money by selling services or products. Up until about 10 years ago, the only way to sell products was in-store or out of a printed catalogue. The web has changed a lot of things. But some things haven’t changed, in order to sell products, people still need to come to your business or buy online.

What has changed is people typically go to Google or Bing to find what they want. They may see the billboards, hear the radio ads or even follow you on Facebook. But those marketing tools are just that tools. Tools to promote your business, but they should be geared to  drive traffic to your website, online store or physical store.

There is a reason Google is the #1 search engine.

They have the best search algorithm to help people find what they want faster. ANd … people will go to Google or Bing when they are searching for a product or service. If people do not know about your business … they are not searching for your business. They are searching for a product name or service, “in Regina” (or wherever they are).

A number of Google’s services are free and some are paid for like Google Adwords. If you are comfortable with computers and know what to do, then head on over to Google My Business to get started.

If you are unsure of what to do or hate computers, we can help you.

Claiming your Google Listing is only the beginning of proper SEO.

 

Google My Business

Claim it. Update it. Start it. Hire us to help.

Website or Online Brochure

Website vs Proper Website

How do I know if my website is working?

A proper website will sell you 24 / 7 and be found by Google and your potential customers

There was a time when it was good to have a website that showcased what your business sold or was about. But those times are gone and have been for a long time. A website is not a bucket list item. Where you launch it, scratch it off your to do list and forget it.

Ask yourself:

  • How long would you visit CBC News if the website never changed to current relevant news?
  • How often would you read the same newspaper (if you still read them) over and over?
  • How often would you talk to a person if they told the same stories everyday?

By not updating or editing your website you are asking your customers, potential customers and Google to read the same content over and over.

Why have a website if it is not going to be updated?

What should my website have on it?

Help Google and your customers find you.

Hire Omni Studios to develop a proper website for your business.

A website needs to:

  • Sell your Products
  • Sell your Services
  • Educate your current clients and potential new ones
  • Be responsive / Mobile Device Friendly
  • Be updated on regular basis
  • Have Google Analytics installed

If you think it’s too expensive to hire a professional to build your website …

what is the cost of doing it wrong yourself?

Before starting a new business …

So you want to start a business …

There are a lot of things you will need to start and operate your business. Obviously beyond the idea of the business, product or service you need a business name. A few things to keep in mind before you register your business in Saskatchewan.

Now Google has a couple of tools that will help you as well if the domain name is not available and you need to change your business name.

  • Google Keyword Planner
    • The Google Keyword Planner will show you to find out how many people are searching keywords that may be similar to your product or service.
  • Google Insights
    • Google Insights allows you to see the trends of your product or service.

Keep in mind as well …

  • Your business name does not need to have the product or service in the name. Be creative, be unique.
  • A long business name and subsequently a long domain name will make it difficult for people to type or misspell.
  • Speaking of spelling mistakes, try not to be too cute by changing how a word is spelled as your company name, unless you have the budget to purchase all of the domain names that go with it.
    • For example: If you choose the name Maple Leaf Widgets as your business name. But you insist on registering Maple Leef Widgets can be somewhat dangerous.
    • People will want to search for your company name with the correct spelling and may not find it because of that.
      • You should then purchase all domains to cover those names (www.mapleleafwidgets.com and .ca and www.mapleleefwidgets.com and .ca).
Business Start Up Package

The Start Up Business Package

Thinking about starting a new business or have you been in business for less than a year? We know how hard it is to get started. All the expenses.

For ONE PRICE, we can help get you up and running.

We will provide your business with the tools you need to take that next step.

What it includes

  • Logo/Brand Design*
  • 500 Premium Business Cards*
  • Domain Name for 1 Year
  • Mobile friendly one-page website
  • 1 Year of website hosting
  • Branded Facebook Page

All for $1500 Plus applicable taxes