Tuesday, June 13, 2017

4 Things Every Small Business Owner should know about SEO in 2017

Most SMBs today understand the importance of having a strong online presence. They know they need to use SEO as a tool to improve their online reputation. But, most of them are not sure whether they should hire an SEO expert or go for DIY SEO. As a small business owner, you may not have the time to keep yourself updated with the ever-changing Google algorithms. That’s why seeking professional help is always a good idea. That does not mean, however, that you should not even try to know the basics. You can join an SEO training course to quickly know about the SEO best practices. Here are four things to know about SEO in 2017.

1. Mobile websites are a must-have

With more and more users searching on their mobile devices, it is important for SMBs to have a mobile-friendly website. Your search ranking will depend on whether you have a mobile site and how it performs. Make sure your mobile website has a fast loading time. Consider using HTML5 instead of Flash for a more responsive design. Also, make sure that your mobile website includes all important information about your company. Use short title and description for best results.

2. Ensure strong social presence

Just doing onsite SEO is not enough. Search engines now judge your online reputation on the basis of other factors, such your social media presence. You should use multiple social media channels, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat. Some of your social media content may not be indexed by search engines, but they still help give a strong SEO boost. If you are not sure how to use social media to strengthen your online presence, you can ask your SEO expert or join an SEO training course in Singapore.

3. Avoid using pop-up ads on your mobile site

Users do not like to be interrupted by pop-ups. Hence, Google recently advised against using pop-ups, especially on mobile sites. If you continue to use mobile pop-ups, you may end up seeing your search ranking plummet. The search engine clearly specifies the types of pop-ups one should not use and the types you can use. For instance, you should not use a pop-up that appears when someone visits your website or a pop-up ad that must be closed to be able to access the main content. However, you can use pop-ups for legal reasons or accepting online payment.

4. Enable HTTPS

URLs beginning with https are more secure that the ones beginning with http. You should enable https to your website to protect against hackers. In addition to making your website more safe and secure, https helps improve your site’s search ranking. Search engines like Google consider https enabled sites more reliable and thus rank them higher. Also, when visitors visit a website that is not https enabled, they get a warning that the site is not secure. This may end up increasing bounce rates on your website. And search engines like Google perceives higher bounce rates as a negative sign, which could eventually hamper your ranking.



from Dynamic Marketing https://www.dynamicmarketing.sg/digital-marketing/4-things-every-small-business-owner-should-know-about-seo-in-2017/
via Dynamic Marketing

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