Frequently Asked Questions
Explore ZipLocal’s FAQs
Welcome to ZipLocal’s Digital Marketing FAQ page! Here, we address common questions about key aspects of digital marketing, including SEO, PPC, local marketing, website development, and social media. Whether you’re new to digital marketing or seeking to deepen your understanding, we’ve got you covered. Explore the FAQs below to find answers to your burning questions.
SEO
What is Search Engine Optimization?
Search Engine Optimization ( SEO) is the act of improving your website to organically rank higher on Google and other search engines. There is a ton of competition for businesses to attract customers online, just like in the offline world, so it is imperative that your website be seen as an authority on the products and services you provide. Search engines use algorithms to determine which websites hold the most relevant results, and those websites are ranked highest among the search results. With a strategy-first SEO plan, you can stay competitive and relevant by improving how Google values your information online.
Here are some additional details about SEO:
- Quality and relevance of content: The content on your website should be high-quality and relevant to the keywords that you are targeting. This means that the content should be well-written, informative, and engaging.
- Use of keywords: Keywords are the words and phrases that people use when they search for information online. When you use keywords on your website, you are telling search engines what your website is about. This helps search engines to rank your website higher in the SERPs for relevant searches.
- Structure of your website: The structure of your website is also important for SEO. Your website should be easy to navigate and it should be clear what information is available on each page.
If you are not sure how to improve your website’s SEO, Ziplocal can help you. Our SEO experts can help you to identify the keywords that you should target, improve the quality and relevance of your content, and optimize the structure of your website.
What is organic search?
Organic search refers to the natural search results that appear when someone looks for your brand, products/services or business on a search engine. These results are not paid advertisements but are based on the search engine’s ranking algorithm. In other words, they show up because they are considered relevant and optimized for search engine optimization (SEO). So, organic search doesn’t involve any paid traffic or listings, but rather focuses on showcasing the most relevant content and web pages.
What is local SEO?
Local SEO is all about getting your business noticed in the area where it operates. It helps people find products or services near them when they search. You can recognize local SEO by keywords like “near me” or city/state names in the search. Local results also show a map with relevant businesses. To appear in local searches, you need a managed and verified Google My Business profile. Optimizing your webpage is crucial for better results. It’s important to note that local SEO has limitations in terms of reach, but it’s an essential part of any SEO strategy.
What is considered local? How far does Local SEO Reach?
Local SEO is specifically intended to help connect businesses to customers nearby. The technical answer to this is question is that it varies. If you have steep competition in your market the reach can be limited where as if you are providing more of a niche or specialized product or service your reach can be expanded. Each business has unique circumstances therefore ZipLocal uses a strategy first approach to ensure results. Learn More About how Google Business Management helps with this.
What is on-page SEO?
On-page SEO aims to enhance your website to boost its visibility on search engine results pages (SERPs) and attract more relevant visitors. It involves various techniques such as incorporating catchy headlines, informative titles, descriptive alt text for images, internal linking, engaging meta descriptions, and appealing imagery across all your published content. By implementing these strategies, you can optimize your website to improve its search engine rankings and attract a targeted audience.
What is off-page SEO?
Off-page SEO involves activities and strategies conducted outside of your website to improve its search engine rankings and visibility. It focuses on building external signals that enhance your website’s authority and credibility in the eyes of search engines. Common techniques include getting quality backlinks from reputable websites, using social media for marketing, managing online reputation, blogging, and engaging in relevant forums or communities. These efforts boost your website’s online reputation, authority, and help it rank higher in search results, attracting more organic traffic.
How Long Does it Take to See Results With Premium SEO?
ZipLocal offers customizable premium SEO plans to meet your business needs. Our plans are flexible, allowing you to choose the one that matches your goals and schedule. Our tiered plans guarantee that the monthly deliverables align with your pace and effectively meet your requirements.
Typically, positive outcomes can be observed within 6 months in most cases, and substantial growth through our SEO efforts is usually noticeable by the 12-month mark. Our SEO PLANS
PPC
What is the difference between PPC and SEO?
How does pay-per-click advertising work?
The process of PPC advertising typically involves the following steps:
Advertiser creates a campaign: The advertiser sets up a PPC campaign on a chosen platform, such as Google Ads or Bing Ads. They define their advertising goals, target audience, and budget.
Keyword research: The advertiser conducts keyword research to identify relevant keywords or phrases that users might search for when looking for products or services similar to what they offer.
Ad creation: The advertiser creates compelling and relevant ads that will be displayed to users when their search query matches the chosen keywords. These ads usually consist of a headline, description, and a display URL.
Bidding: The advertiser sets a maximum bid amount, indicating the maximum amount they are willing to pay for a click on their ad. This bid amount determines the ad’s position in the search results or other advertising placements.
Ad auction and placement: When a user searches for a keyword related to the advertiser’s chosen keywords, an ad auction takes place. The search engine evaluates various factors like bid amount, ad quality, and relevance to determine which ads will be displayed and in what order.
Ad display and user interaction: If the advertiser’s ad is selected, it is displayed to the user in the search results or on relevant websites. If the user finds the ad compelling and relevant, they may click on it to visit the advertiser’s website or landing page.
Cost per click (CPC): The advertiser is charged the cost per click, which is the amount they bid or the minimum necessary to outrank competitors, whichever is lower. The accumulated costs depend on the number of clicks received.
Conversion tracking and optimization: To measure the effectiveness of the PPC campaign, the advertiser tracks conversions, such as purchases or sign-ups. This data helps them optimize their campaigns by adjusting bids, targeting, or ad copy to improve the return on investment (ROI).
PPC advertising provides businesses with a targeted and measurable way to reach potential customers, as they only pay when someone clicks on their ads. It offers flexibility, control, and the ability to track and refine campaigns to achieve desired results. Ziplocal can help you make the most of your PPC campaigns.
Which is more important: SEO or paid marketing?
SEO and paid marketing both work best when they work in tandem. Having campaigns set up is a good way to see which works best for your business so you can allocate more marketing resources to the most effective and ROI-driven practice. Paid marketing also provides the benefit of a shorter amount of time needed to see results but also comes with the downside of generally a higher cost per conversion.
Local SEO
What are online local directories?
An online local directory is a list of businesses within a certain location, organized by industry. Each business listing is complete with the business name, address, phone number, reviews, and industry. Business Directories create a citation that provides verification of your business information. We actively monitor the highest rated directories and make sure your information is listed accurately and consistently.
How do local directories help my SEO?
There are now thousands of directories online all with varying degrees of importance and relevance. Being found in the top directories can help build trust that your information is accurate and consistent. Rather than falling into the trap of chasing thousands of directories we focus on the important ones. Trusted Directories build rapport with search engines.
What is Google My Business profile?
Google My Business is an online tool that helps companies appear on Google Search and Google Maps. With a GMB Business Profile, companies can connect with users and post updates, photos, special offers, and promotions. The profile also allows companies to post important information all in one place, including address, phone number, website, and open hours. Many consider a Google My Business Profile to be the modern equivilent to a phone book listing and therefore an essential part of your businesses digital footprint.
Websites
Do I really need a website?
In a word, yes! Not only do you need a website but you need a quality website that represents your business accurately. Your website is often times the first introduction to your business for consumers. The age old truth that you only get one chance to make a winning first impression applies directly to your website. Your website should give your company credibility, boost brand awareness, and should be a major source of business and lead generation if done the right way.
How will search engines find my site?
With a Strategy First approach and a customized SEO plan you can identify your business needs and utilize all the tools available to make sure your messaging is clear to your target consumer as well as search engine crawlers.
What is conversion optimization?
Conversion optimization, also known as conversion rate optimization (CRO), refers to the process of improving a website, landing page, or marketing campaign with the goal of increasing the percentage of visitors who take a desired action, known as a conversion. The desired action can vary depending on the objective of the business or organization, such as making a purchase, filling out a form, subscribing to a newsletter, or any other predetermined action that signifies a successful outcome.
The process of conversion optimization typically involves analyzing user behavior, identifying potential barriers or points of friction in the conversion journey, and making data-driven changes to improve the overall user experience and encourage more visitors to convert.
Some common techniques used in conversion optimization include:
- A/B testing: Testing different variations of a webpage or element to determine which one performs better in terms of conversions.
- Landing page optimization: Optimizing the design, layout, content, and call-to-action elements of landing pages to maximize their effectiveness in driving conversions.
- User experience (UX) improvements: Enhancing the overall user experience by improving website navigation, page load times, mobile responsiveness, and addressing any usability issues.
- Call-to-action optimization: Optimizing the placement, design, and wording of call-to-action buttons or links to make them more prominent and compelling.
- Form optimization: Simplifying and optimizing forms to reduce friction and make it easier for users to complete the desired actions.
- Personalization: Tailoring the user experience based on individual preferences, behavior, or demographic information to provide a more personalized and relevant experience.
- Analytics and data analysis: Utilizing tools and data to gain insights into user behavior, identify patterns, and make informed decisions about optimization strategies.
The ultimate goal of conversion optimization is to improve the conversion rate, i.e., the percentage of visitors who convert, and ultimately drive more meaningful actions and achieve better business outcomes. By continually testing, analyzing, and optimizing various elements, businesses can create more effective and user-friendly experiences that lead to higher conversion rates and improved return on investment (ROI).
Social Media
What social media platforms are best for my business?
Each company has their own unique social media needs depending on their industry and consumer base. For some, Facebook will be the best platform for business, while Instagram may be better for others. To determine which platform is best for your business, it is important to first determine your target audience and social media goals.
Didn’t find the answer you were looking for? Don’t worry!
Feel free to reach out to us directly with any additional questions or concerns. We’re here to provide personalized assistance and support to help you navigate the world of digital marketing with confidence. Contact us today to get started!
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