Category Archives: SEO & Marketing

Some of the data that Google uses to improve their search algorithm comes from the feedback of thousands of search quality raters. These raters conduct actual searches and rate the top quality pages according to a publicly available set of guidelines.

Data from these quality raters don't directly impact search rankings; instead, Google uses their ratings to inform the search algorithm. Nevertheless, it's good for content creators to know some of the main things that these raters look for. Google's update of the guidelines last week provide insight into the most important things to consider when creating search-friendly content.

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One of the biggest challenges businesses face when it comes to content marketing is finding a way to stand out. Considering the sheer amount of content being published every single day, it can be incredibly difficult and potentially very frustrating to create content that sets your company apart, is memorable to readers and ultimately ends up helping you achieve your business goals.

Luckily, a thorough content strategy that involves research, planning, trying new things and evaluating your results can lead to creating unique content that truly stands out. Here's how to do it:

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Announced earlier this year, Google's "Speed Update" is officially beginning its rollout. This means that loading times on mobile will now affect search rankings, especially for the slowest sites.

Many webmasters are likely already trying to increase their site's speed on mobile if for no other reason than to improve user experience. If you're in this position, you may be ahead of the game - a new report from Searchmetrics indicates that load speed has already been affecting Google rankings. However, your pages may need to load even faster than previously thought to see any SEO benefit after this update.

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Your content strategy should include specific goals for everything you publish. Consistently creating new, valuable content is incredibly important for SEO, lead generation and general visibility, but there's just so much content currently being produced that "publishing for the sake of publishing" simply doesn't cut it in many industries. The best content is both valuable to users and specifically designed to help you achieve your goals.

Two of the most popular goals for content include generating backlinks and getting social shares. The content you create in pursuit of these two goals will most likely have specific and opposing characteristics.

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The benefits of using video in your digital marketing can't be overstated. As a strategy, video has been a top performer for years, providing companies with unmatched social reach, increased conversions and excellent ROI overall.

However, it's no secret that effective video marketing can be expensive and time-consuming. Larger companies often have the budget for an ongoing video strategy involving the creation and promotion of many videos of various types. Luckily, small businesses can still see huge benefits with video, perhaps just on a smaller scale. Creating even one or two of the following types of videos could seriously boost your leads, sales and exposure.

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