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.
Celebrate the New Year! December 31, 2018 By Jackie Katz For over two decades, OMA Comp has been helping businesses harness the power of modern technology to be successful. As we begin 2019, we are excited to meet new clients and continue providing the best IT solutions, hosting, website design and optimization, online marketing and reputation management to our current clients. This year is full of opportunities, and we want to help you explore them all. Technology may get more complicated, but we’ll always be here to provide support and services that help you reach your goals. We wish our clients and staff a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year! Let’s make this year your most successful yet!
Mobile First Indexing – What That Means for Your Website December 6, 2018 By Jackie Katz There is no denying the power of the mobile platform. These handheld devices have worked their way into our everyday lives. Many people access the web entirely or primarily from a smartphone. There were approximately 3.7 billion unique users in the global mobile population as of January 2018. That’s a huge potential audience for any business. What Is Mobile First Indexing? Mobile first indexing is a shift away from web content designed for desktops and a move toward content that’s made for mobile. The term refers to changes to Google’s algorithm that began rolling out earlier in 2018. The update means that Google uses the mobile version of websites for ranking and indexing instead of the desktop version. What Does This Mean for My Website? If your website utilizes a responsive design, then you will likely not see any significant changes. The problem is with websites that have more content on their desktop version. Any content that helped with SEO may be skipped if it doesn’t appear on the mobile site. Your pages could rank lower if you fall into that category. What Can I Do to Prepare My Site for Mobile First Indexing? Make sure at minimum you have a mobile-friendly design in use. It is best to have a site that is mobile first for best practices to adhere to the Google algorithm. Also, check your pages and make sure you are serving the same content on mobile as you do on your desktop version. Your site should load quickly and be optimized for performance as well. Contact OMA Comp to learn more about prepping your business website for mobile first indexing.
All of Us at OMA Comp Wish You a Happy Thanksgiving November 19, 2018 By Jackie Katz Marketing is more than SEO and branding. It also involves getting to know each client and finding the best way to share their message with the world. We at OMA Comp are proud to be able to provide this service as well as our IT services to so many wonderful people and help ensure the technological portion of their businesses run optimally. We are thankful for the opportunity to help each one of you who comes to us. As families gather for the annual feast, we would like to share a wish for happiness, health, and plenty. May our staff, clients, and neighbors have a happy Thanksgiving spent with people you love.
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.
Is Your Website Mobile Friendly? October 18, 2018 By Jackie Katz It is more important than ever for websites to be mobile friendly. With Google’s recent changes paying credence to mobile first websites and the reality that consumers spend much more time using mobile devices than desktop computers, it is prudent that you take time to check out your site on mobile. Need help to make your website a mobile responsive, easy to navigate experience? Contact OMA Comp to update or upgrade.
Americans with Disabilities Act Recommendations for Updating Your Website September 18, 2018 By Jackie Katz The Americans with Disabilities Act was introduced in 1990 as a civil rights law to prohibit discrimination of citizens with disabilities. The evolution of this act now extends to the internet and for a good reason; accommodating your website for people with disabilities makes it easier to access and understand. Here are a few recommendations we have for updating your website around this idea. What Is Web Accessibility? Similar to how a wheelchair-bound individual finds it challenging to enter a building with stairs as the only means of entrance, websites can be difficult to interpret without specific components. Web accessibility is the general readability and interpretation quality for users with audible and visual impairments to be able to understand the information of the website. Government, Business, and Non-Profit organizations are all required by the ADA to maintain strict compliance across platforms, so what does this mean for your website? Recommendations Provide a text equivalent to important images and graphics. Screen readers can convey meaning without being obtrusive to the overall web experience. Documents should be made available in formats other than PDF. Although they look great, screen readers have a hard time deciphering PDF content; when uploading these documents – pair them with a plain-text version. Check the font style and text color for readability. Low contrast against plain color and image backgrounds makes reading challenging and is unsightly in general. For multimedia, ensure captions and audio descriptions are made available for people with hearing problems. Descriptive audio also accommodates for users with low vision. Use Descriptive HTML tags so online forms can be accurately used. This simple behind the scenes work makes a huge difference for people with disabilities. Keep in mind this is not a comprehensive list, rather these are common items we have observed that can be easily updated. Why Should I Update ADA compliance should be taken seriously. Once it is mandated, your website will need to be made compliant. ADA compliance for websites is beginning for banks and other financial institutions and then will be moving to medical and other businesses. Contact OMA Comp to learn more.