Posting for SEO Has Changed March 21, 2019 By Jackie Katz Long ago, website owners could use manipulative links and articles to drive traffic to their pages. This practice refers to the use of guest posts and links that were posted for SEO purposes only and not for the benefit of the human audience. Google issued a warning about these practices back in May. Google Wants Information Over Link Building Google is not inherently against article distribution. However, the search engine has learned to identify content that is distributed to gain links only. Content that provides information and value is still good and can help your optimization. For example, if you guest post an article discussing your cause or company in an informative way, then the content won’t be penalized. Publishing quality content that educates users is a great way to become an authority and build your ranking with Google. How Does Google Know If a Post Is Manipulative? Google looks for several red flags that indicate low quality or manipulative content. Things you should not do include: Stuffing articles only with keyword-rich links to your website instead of also focusing on content Publishing an excessively large quantity of articles Publishing content that does not represent your brand Using duplicate content The best way to protect your page ranking is to avoid these behaviors and consult a web professional. OMA Comp is available to answer questions. We can also help you build a solid SEO strategy that is supported by search engine’s best practices.
Meghan Markle Battling Online Reputation Abuse March 7, 2019 By Jackie Katz Meghan Markle is not unique by being plagued by trolls that portray her negatively on social media. She is just one of the more famous people so it is publicized on the news networks like CNN. Kensington Palace staff members are busy deleting comments and blocking abusive social media accounts. They are also using software for some of the most outrageous use of language and images. It is a full time battle to keep up her image. Unfortunately, people are swayed from what they read online. OMA Comp has been helping clients with their online image for the past 14 years. We specialize in reputation monitoring, guarding, as well as promotion. Contact us to learn more about how we can help you and your business.
Online Reputation Management Is a Must January 30, 2019 By Jackie Katz The internet has grown into a massive marketplace for just about any industry imaginable. The way businesses are perceived online has also become far more important than it used to be. Approximately 84% of consumers say they give online reviews just as much weight as a personal recommendation. Why is online reputation management a must for your business? Potential Customers Will Look for You With so many review platforms, websites, and social media profiles, more people rely mostly or entirely on the internet to gather information about companies. That means potential customers will look for you whether you have established your reputation online or not. The best way to give yourself a greater chance of earning new business is by building a solid reputation that sends a positive message. Establish Yourself as an Industry Authority Reviews are only part of your reputation. The content you put out is another. This is an opportunity to position yourself as an industry authority. When internet users trust you, they will be more likely to seek out and share your opinions and recommendations. It also boosts brand awareness and recognition. Become the go-to name in your niche. The Internet Reaches Across the Globe The internet is pretty much everywhere. It is a valuable resource when you want to tap into new markets. Putting out content, getting reviews, and building profiles will make you more accessible to people all over the world. Contact OMA Comp to learn more about managing your online reputation.
Search Engine Optimization New Rules for 2019 January 3, 2019 By Jackie Katz Search engine optimization continues to evolve. Search engines find more ways to deliver the results users want. In the meantime, businesses have to learn to adapt quickly to an ever-changing virtual environment. Make sure your company is SEO-ready for 2019 by implementing the following rules. The Featured Snippet Matters SEMrush reported that the Featured Snippet claims 11.3% of search results. It also manages to take clicks away from the top spot. This is a tool that should not be overlooked in 2019. You need to find the keywords you rank for as well as those that have a Featured Snippet. Then, you should create a short 40 to 60-word paragraph of text designed to rank for the Featured Snippet keyword. You Must Optimize for Voice Search Voice search is a big deal in the SEO world, and it keeps getting bigger. Using effective keywords and earning a Featured Snippet are a good start. Also, make sure your content provides a question and answers it. When people use voice search, Google usually seeks out pages with a related question and answer. Content and Links Still Matter Content and links still matter. You need great content and link building if you want to rise in the search page ranks. You must earn a place on the first page before you can get optimum benefit from Voice Search and other tools. Take SEO to the Next Level in 2019 Now is the time to plan for next year’s SEO. You don’t have to do it alone. Contact OMA Comp today to learn more about the new rules driving search engine optimization in 2019.
Do I Need the Hreflang Attribute for Google to Display the Correct Language? November 9, 2018 By Jackie Katz Some websites consist of multiple versions intended for different geographic regions or languages. This makes the site accessible to people across the world. In the past, pages would have to tell Google what language to display using the hreflang attribute. What Is the Hreflang Attribute? The hreflang attribute is code that is added to a website to tell Google which language is being used on that page. It would look something like rel=”alternate” hreflang=”x” and would be placed in the HTTP header, on-page markup, or on the sitemap. This function was introduced in 2011 to help search engines identify the relationships between pages that could be displayed in alternate languages. It allowed sites to offer a localized experience for different audiences. This tool didn’t influence search results ranking specifically, but was intended to ensure that each visitor sees content that is relevant to them. Does the Hreflang Attribute Still Apply In 2018? Search engines are getting smarter. Google webmaster trends analyst John Mueller was asked on Twitter on April 25th, 2018 if hreflang tags are needed to display different languages. Mueller responded by stating that “If it’s in a different language, usually Google can figure that out without hreflang. Most queries are clearly in one language, so we can send users to that version of the page.” It’s still important to include hreflang because Google doesn’t always choose the alternate page. However, some sites may no longer need this element to get the search engine to display the correct content. If you’re ready to learn more or build a fully-optimized, multi-language site, let us know. We’re available in Southeast Michigan to provide website building and SEO services that utilize current best practices all around the globe.
Google Trends: The Rise of Featured Snippets September 13, 2018 By Jackie Katz There are many things influencing SEO this year, but one of the biggest rising stars is the featured snippet. You have likely come across this search engine feature at least once or twice in the recent past. A snippet is a piece of content taken from a website that’s presented on the search results page. Anatomy of a Featured Snippet What makes a featured snippet different from results on a search page? They are reversed from the usual display format. A section of content is displayed at the top, sometimes with a related image. The page name and URL appears below. Featured snippets are prominently displayed, so that they are easy for the internet user to see before delving into the search results. The idea is that the snippet appears when Google believes that it will provide a better answer based on the search text. Why Are Featured Snippets Important? Voice searching is on the rise, with one in five mobile queries utilizing voice. This has a direct impact on the featured snippet, which is often returned as a response to questions asked using voice search. A recent study conducted by Stone Temple Consulting included 1.4 million queries. Approximately 30% of those queries were shown a featured snippet. The trend has been moving steadily upward since at least December of 2014. Optimizing Your Featured Snippet The highest ranking pages tend to get more snippet results, so the better your SEO is, the higher your chances will be of getting featured. Multiple studies have revealed that long-tail keywords are more likely to produce a featured snippet. If you need help increasing your chances of getting featured on Google, contact OMA Comp today. We can help you get noticed with improved SEO strategies.
Celebrating Labor Day August 31, 2018 By Jackie Katz It takes commitment to become Michigan’s premiere website and marketing agency. Our success stems from our skilled staff. We focus diligently on the well-being of our clients and do not want to forget to acknowledge the significant contributions and importance of our phenomenal staff. Labor Day reminds us to honor the people who strengthen our nation and help it prosper. We would like to send a big thank you to our employees to all workers everywhere. Have a happy Labor Day weekend!
Does My Website Need an RSS Feed for SEO? August 21, 2018 By Jackie Katz RSS, which stands for Really Simple Syndication or Rich Site Summary, is a type of web feed that provides updates to content. The feed consists of a text file that allows subscribers to see content for a period of time after its updated. Does having an RSS feed on your website boost your SEO? Google Weighs In On RSS Feeds and SRP Ranking When it comes to your search results page ranking, RSS feeds won’t help according to John Mueller, webmaster trends analyst at Google. A question appeared on his Twitter feed on April 10th, 2018 asking if RSS feeds help rank better in Google. John’s straightforward response was a simple “No.” The question was geared toward news websites, but the answer applies to all sites. This isn’t new, but it is something that many website owners did not know in 2018. Mueller participated in a video hangout with blogger Jennifer Slegg back in 2015. He is quoted as stating “if you are looking for a ranking boost by having an RSS feed, that’s not going to happen.” He went on to explain that “there’s no direct ranking boost for the website itself.” RSS Feeds and Search Engine Indexing The RSS feed is considered a technical tool, so it is still beneficial to have on your site. It can assist with page crawling and indexing. That means new content could be indexed faster and more accurately with an RSS feed. While it doesn’t provide a direct boost to your search engine results page ranking, it can still help. If you have questions about SEO or RSS feeds, contact OMA Comp to learn more.