Archive for Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Three Solid Tips for Local SEO

| April 26, 2013 | No comments

local-seo

 

Local SEO is just as important for small business owners as big SEO is for the big guys. Local SEO ensures your business gets seen when people are looking for services in your area. As a result, business gets boosted, and you get more visibility. No one can argue that this is a good thing, so here are a few tips when you’re considering optimizing your local SEO.

1. Think about what type of competition you have in the area. Look at your competitors’ websites and blogs, even, before you start optimizing. Look at the types of keywords they’re using and try to find similar ones to use yourself. The key to good local SEO is to find keywords that are searched for often, but not used a lot. An easy way to do this is to find keywords your competitors are using, then find similar ones with a high search volume. Google trends can be a godsend here, because it’ll allow you to see which local SEO words are trending.

2. Repeat your keyword often, but not too often. Google’s algorithms are complex, and with this, repeating your keyword too often can actually hurt your search ranking. The term used for this is ‘keyword density’ and it represents how many times your SEO term shows up compared to the total number of words in whatever content you are providing. there is no magic number that gets hits, but 5% is a good number to shoot for. For local SEO, your keyword density should never exceed 10% of the total words in your content.

3. Don’t try to game the system. Google’s search algorithms are robust and smart, don’t make the mistake of thinking that you are smarter. There are plenty of tips that will give you a temporary SEO boost, but not all of them are good tips. For example, repeating your keyword over and over, adding irrelevant meta tags, and adding keywords in text that is the same color as your background will all temporarily drive up your search rating. These techniques will also get you banned from Google’s search algorithm entirely, because they are considered spamming. So play clean.

If you need more local SEO help, be sure to contact us. Here at PinPoint Local, we represent the best of local SEO. We’ll be happy to get your local business the best search rating possible.

Category: Articles, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) | Tags: , , ,

What Makes PinPoint Local Different?

| April 16, 2012 | One comment
What makes PinPoint Local stand out from all of the other Digital Media  & Local SEO Companies?


· Vertical Exclusivity - PinPoint Local will not work with any competitors in your industry.

· Manual Updates - We claim all listings by hand, we do not use bulk uploads.

· Communication - We conduct weekly calls with you to discuss results and challenges. In addition we have monthly calls with all Franchisees.

· Duplicate Deletions – During the claiming process we delete all duplicate listings.

· Ranking Reports – Each month we provide ranking reports to the Franchisees as well as to corporate.

· Google Guidelines – We strictly follow Google Places Guidelines, eliminating the chances of account suspension.

· Monthly Updating – We make monthly changes and updates to your listings, to keep the content fresh and active.

· Review Management – Assist Franchisees with review building and responses to negative reviews.

· New Features – Additionally, we now include Facebook , Twitter, and Google+ for business to the list of data sources we update.

Category: Announcements, Articles, Local Business Data (Maps), Need To Know, Pay Per Click, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Social Media Solutions | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

PinPoint Local Alert: Google Places Guidelines Update

| March 27, 2012 | 2 comments

Google Places Guidelines Update: Google recently announced a vital new change to their “Google Places Quality Guidelines”.
This change effects service based businesses who service customers at a location other than their main business address.

The change to the guidelines states this:
If you don’t receive customers at your location, you must select the “Do not show my business address on my Maps listing” option
within your dashboard. If you don’t hide your address, your listing may be removed from Google Maps.

For more information on the Google Guidelines, click here.

Follow our Twitter account for industry information & updates: http://www.twitter.com/PinPointLocal

Category: Announcements, Local Business Data (Maps), Need To Know, PinPoint Local Alerts, Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Audio Follow Up: Beware of what internet companies you hire

| March 22, 2012 | No comments

As a follow up to our last blog “Beware of what internet companies you hire” we have an audio clip of exactly what types of pitches you should look out for.

*Please note that the Name & Phone Number have been removed for Privacy Reasons*

Click here to listen now!

Category: Announcements, Articles, Local Business Data (Maps), Need To Know, Pay Per Click, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) | Tags: , , , , , , ,

Our Panda has Arrived! #SaveThePanda

| March 12, 2012 | No comments

Our Panda & Adoption Certificate arrived in the mail today! We are very excited to have our newest team member here. He makes for a great company mascot!

Our Panda & Adoption Certificate

Our Panda Care Package

Stay tuned for more updates on our newest team member and our continued efforts to help save the Giant Panda.

For More Information:

Our Initial #SaveThePanda Blog Post: http://blog.pinpointlocal.com/?p=79

World Wildlife Fund: http://www.worldwildlife.org/gift-center/gifts/Species-Adoptions/Panda.aspx

 

Category: #AnimalOfTheMonth, #SaveThePanda, Announcements, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) | Tags: , , , , , ,

PinPoint Local #SaveThePanda – Our Adoption Certificate!

| March 1, 2012 | One comment

As you know in response to the Google Panda Updates we here at PinPoint Local have adopted a Giant Panda, to help increase awareness of both the Algorithm and the Endangered Species. (Read all about it here: http://blog.pinpointlocal.com/?p=79)

We received our adoption certificate today:

 

For more information about our efforts, follow our #SaveThePanda updates on our Blog.

 

Additional Resources:

Adopt your own Giant Panda from the World Wildlife Fund: http://www.worldwildlife.org/gift-center/gifts/Species-Adoptions/Panda.aspx

Category: #AnimalOfTheMonth, #SaveThePanda, Announcements, Articles, Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Breaking PinPoint Local News: Help #SaveThePanda !

| February 10, 2012 | 2 comments

Read All About It! PinPoint Local is outraged at the negative effect that Google’s Panda changes have had on the beloved endangered species: the Giant Panda. Google’s most recent update to its search ranking algorithm was released just one year ago. It was designed to reduce the number of low quality (i.e., content farms) sites online by decreasing the bad websites overall Page Rank. But page rankings haven’t been the only thing affected by these updates, nobody thought about the poor Pandas out there. Maybe they didn’t want to have an algorithm named after them; did anyone ask them about it? We know that Google claims that the name was derived from name of the engineer who designed the algorithm, Navneet Panda, but that doesn’t change the fact that the Panda remains one of the most popular animals. Maybe it’s a coincidence, or maybe it was planned…we may never know. In an effort to help spread awareness, PinPoint Local decided to team up with the World Wildlife Fund to adopt our very own Giant Panda, and we are calling on all other SEO Companies to do the same!

Let the algorithm to affect the search results, but keep the pandas out of it! Adopt a Panda today to show your Support!

Of course, we here at PinPoint Local are avid supporters of the new Google Algorithm and the positive changes that it has made on search results, and the active efforts that Google makes to reduce spamming sites and content farms on the web. We are fully aware that Google’s use of the name ‘Panda’ in no way affects the safety or lives of pandas. But what is harming the pandas is the loss of their natural habitat and their main food source, bamboo. This article is simply designed to educate you about the Panda Algorithm as well as the seriousness of the endangered Giant Pandas, and we aim to raise awareness of both issues. We urge you to join our efforts and adopt a panda and help save this species from extinction.

Additional Resources:

World Wildlife Fund: http://www.worldwildlife.org/gift-center/gifts/Species-Adoptions/Panda.aspx

Google’s Blog Post about the Panda Algorithm: http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2011/02/finding-more-high-quality-sites-in.html

Category: #AnimalOfTheMonth, #SaveThePanda, Announcements, Articles, Need To Know, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) | Tags: , , ,

Why do I see different Google search results when I am on different computers?

| February 10, 2012 | 5 comments

We recently had a meeting with a franchisee who wanted to know why she saw one Google search result, and her franchise owner saw something completely different. This is a common question, so we have decided to put together this article to help explain why search results differ from one computer to another.

The most important factor is whether you are logged in to your Google account. Google has been focusing on personalizing search results, with “Search Plus Your World” and Google Ad Preferences. These new changes mean that Google is constantly trying to show you results that are relevant to your interests, your search history, age, and gender. These features change what search results display for each user.  Learn more about Google’s Ad Preferences here.

If you are not logged in, there are still other factors that can affect your search results. Your browser cookies affect your Google search results as well. Google uses the data stored in your browser history to determine your search history to give you relevant search results.

The other major factor that affects search results is your current location. Google uses your IP address to determine where you are located. This gives Google the opportunity to show you locally relative search results. For example, there are countless Pizza Restaurants and Chains, if you live in New York City and do a Google search for Pizza Restaurants, chances are you are looking for a Pizza Restaurant nearby, not one that is located in Southern California.

In short, Google is strongly enforcing a personalized approach to search results; it is a great tactic for advertisers so that they are able to reach a more engaging audience. They are also making it easier for users to find locations that are close to home. However it does have an effect on being able to duplicate search results across multiple machines.

So what steps can you take to achieve the same search results on two separate machines?

- Make sure neither computer is logged in to a Google account (nor any other Google linked account, like YouTube or Blogger)

- Clear the browsing history on both machines (you should also both use the same browser if possible)

- Change the location on both computers to match each other.

 

Additional Resources

Google’s Ad Preferences Explained: http://blog.pinpointlocal.com/?p=64

How to change your location: http://support.google.com/websearch/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=179386

Category: Articles, Need To Know, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) | Tags: , ,

Can I replace my Website with a Facebook Page?

| January 2, 2012 | 4 comments

Social Media sites like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn are growing rapidly in popularity and size, and in most cases, Social Media reigns supreme. 60% of online consumers actively use Social Media sites (Source: HubSpot) .  It is becoming increasingly important for businesses to have a strong presence on social media websites. So the question often arises, why do I still need a website? Perhaps a short pop quiz will help answer that question for you.

Please fill in the blank with the most appropriate response:

I just saw an ad for this company, and I want to know more about it, I better go _______ it!

  1. Facebook
  2. Twitter
  3. Google

The correct answer is of course, C. The truth is that people still search Google (and Yahoo or Bing) for information. Recent surveys show that of the nearly 50% of people who use the internet to research information about businesses, 36% of them use a search engine to find information, while a mere 1% use social media. (Source: Pew Internet & American Life) What’s the bottom line? If you want to get found online, you still need to show up in Search Rankings. You can’t rely on one or two social media page search results to get you traffic. Don’t forget, while these sites are easy to use, they also take away your control of how visitors see information, how much information they can get, and where they go to get it. Having a company website shows your customer that you have stability, and that you are a solid company to invest in. Social Pages are free and you can delete and create hundreds of them in a day. Social Search is growing, but search engines and websites are still the go-to place for consumers to obtain your business information.

PinPoint Local offers a wide array of Digital Solutions, including Web Design and Search Engine Optimization, so you can succeed in building a powerful online presence.

Category: Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Social Media Solutions

Choosing a Local SEO Consultant

| December 26, 2011 | 4 comments

As Internet usage and availability continues to rise, companies must evolve with the market to stay on top. According to Nielsen/Net Ratings (www.nielsen-online.com), 70% of Internet users use the web to find local businesses. If your business isn’t listed online, or if it’s not listed properly, you could be missing out on potential customers.

Our goal is to educate you on what you should expect from your SEO Consultant and questions you should ask before hiring one.

  • No one can guarantee a #1 ranking on Google: Beware of companies that claim to guarantee rankings, allege a “special relationship” with Google, or advertise a “priority submit” to Google.
  • Ask for explanations if something is unclear. If a company creates deceptive or misleading content on your behalf, your site can be removed entirely from Google’s index. Ultimately, you are responsible for the actions of any companies you hire. Ask questions, and if the company doesn’t give you a clear answer-move on.
  • Will you have access to your accounts? Some companies will submit your information under their accounts, and will later use this as a scare tactic to make you stay with them, threatening to remove your listings. Choose a company who will create the accounts in your name and will give you all of the information needed to access the accounts at any time.
  • Show your work. Ask to see examples, see how well the company has performed for other clients, and ask how they achieved those results. A good company will be able to show you what they did, explain how they did it, and how they can achieve those results for you.

The bottom line: Ask questions. Make sure that the company you hire understands your expectations and answers all of your questions clearly.

Contact PinPoint Local today for a Custom Quote on our Local Search Engine Marketing Solutions!

Category: Articles, Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
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