Video Summary: If you’re like most small to medium sized businesses you either don’t update your website at all or you don’t update it frequently enough. This hampers your online marketing results in key areas like search engine optimization and building better customer relationships. In this six-minute video I talk about the two primary benefits of updating your website more frequently and then share a golden tip on how to create content for your website more efficiently and consistently.
If you don’t already have an easy-to-update website for your business check out this video.
We write how-to articles on Local Internet Marketing for Small Business and one of the best ways to market your business online for free is through Local search engine optimization, also known as Local SEO.
I often dive deep into specific topics as I did this past Friday when I blogged about how to Re-write your website title for better local search results. That’s just one important part of Local SEO. There are many others. But what are they?
Below you’ll find a short video which provides a great overview of search engine optimization by Senior Vice President Stephanie Leffler of Network Solutions featured on MSNBC’s Consultant Corner.
Stephanie discusses SEO practices like your website ‘title tag’, incoming links to your website, and many other useful SEO topics like the importance of creating text based content for your website in order to attract search engines.
Enjoy the video
Julian, ed LOCALNa8ion Where you are is where it’s at
If you’re trying to attract free traffic from search engines to your small local business you need to optimize your site for local searches. This practice is generally known as local search engine optimization (Local SEO).
My tip today focuses on one specific but very important Local SEO technique…
Website titles
The website title is the text that appears at the very top of your web browser window when you visit someone’s website. It’s also what people see on search engine results pages like this.
Click to view larger image
Here’s an example of a local search someone might type into Google.
Local Search example
“Florists Charlotte”
Your website title should include descriptive words that read well, include your location, and includes the major search keyword/s or search terms for your business. While your business name is nice, it’s generally the least important part of your website title.
Guess what 98% of the small business website titles start out with?
The business name.
Think of it like this. Is a banner you make for your front window that says 50% Off – Spring Sale going to attract business or the one that says George’s Hardware?
Your website title is like a banner about what you do for both people and search engines.
Good Local Website Titles
Let’s take a look at the top 5 search engine results from the local search example I used above, ‘Charlotte Florists.’
Charlotte Florists, Flowers, Local Florist Shops – North Carolina (NC)
Charlotte florists and gift shops
Charlotte Florists – Flowers Charlotte NC – Starclaire House Of …
Port Charlotte Florists – Flowers Port Charlotte FL – Port …
Charlotte Florists – Flowers Charlotte NC – Gallery of Flowers
Notice a theme?
The winners on this list lead with their city and then their common search keyword/s or search term/s.
How to do it
Get out your pen and pad or favorite word processor and start working on a new website title. Keep your new title under 70 total characters and include your major town/city first, your keyword next, and if there is room, your business name. A pipe, one of these | is a great way to visually separate information in your website title. Use this tool to count the number of characters in your new website title so you don’t feel like you’re back in Kindergarten. Here’s an example I just worked up.
Charlotte Florists, Elegant Charlotte Flowers | Mary’s Botanicals
I included the location city and two major search terms in my title and snuck in a business name in 65 total characters.
Charlotte Florists
Charlotte Flowers
Something additive and descriptive “Elegant” for the people reading my title
Business Name
Want some more examples of what to do with your website title? Check out SEO expert Aaron Wall’s video on how to write great SEO website titles below.
