Google’s Latest Quality Rater Guidelines: A Comprehensive Look into E-E-A-T and What it Means for Your Business

As a business owner, staying up-to-date with the latest developments in SEO is crucial, especially if you want to improve your website’s online visibility. Google’s search ranking algorithm is continually evolving, and understanding the latest updates can be critical to your business’s success.

In the world of search engine optimization (SEO), Google’s Quality Rater Guidelines hold significant importance. These guidelines outline the standards that Google’s team of human evaluators use to assess the quality of search results. Recently, Google made several serious updates to these guidelines, focusing on the E-A-T (expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness) of web content.

These updates have far-reaching implications, especially for businesses that rely on online visibility to expand their reach and attract customers. As such, business owners must understand the significance of these changes and how they affect how Google evaluates its content.

What is E-E-A-T?

One of the most crucial updates to Google’s quality rater guidelines is the addition of an extra “E" for experience in the E-A-T acronym, which stands for expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness. This update, known as E-E-A-T, is essential for businesses looking to improve their online visibility and increase organic traffic to their website.

How Google’s Quality Raters Evaluate E-E-A-T

Google’s quality raters review the web page content and assign a rating based on how well it meets the E-E-A-T criteria. This quality rating is done by focusing on the page’s authors, topics covered, and sources or citations of information.

The quality rater must be able to clearly identify who wrote the content and determine if they are an expert in the topic. Additionally, quality raters will assess the sources’ trustworthiness and evaluate whether or not the content meets quality standards.

What This Means for Business Owners

E-E-A-T is an integral part of Google’s Quality Rater Guidelines and majorly impacts businesses looking to improve their online visibility. So, business and website owners must understand the importance of E-E-A-T to create high-quality content and score well with Google’s Quality Raters.

For business owners to continue increasing their online visibility by following these new guidelines, they should ensure that an experienced content creator can produce relevant, authoritative, and trustworthy material pertinent to their website’s niche.

Today, businesses must strive to go to the source, use reliable sources in their content creation process, and ensure that any information used is accurate and up-to-date.

Why E-E-A-T Matters for Your Website?

Google’s E-E-A-T update is essential for businesses because it can impact your website’s search engine ranking. Google’s search algorithm aims to provide users with the most helpful and relevant information available. By improving your website’s E-E-A-T, you can also increase traffic and the chances of your business’s online content ranking higher in search engine results pages (SERPs). This means more organic traffic, potential customers, and sales for your business.

Working to improve your website’s E-E-A-T can be a time-consuming and challenging process. However, the potential benefits of improving your website’s ranking make it well worth the effort. By understanding how important a high E-E-A-T is to Google’s Quality Rater Guidelines, businesses have the opportunity to get more customers and gain an advantage over their competitors.

E-E-A-T Relating to YMYL (Your Money, Your Life) Sites

The E-A-T update is especially important for websites that offer medical, financial, or legal advice. These websites are known as “Your Money or Your Life" (YMYL) websites and are held to a higher standard by Google because users’ decisions because their information could significantly impact their health, finances, safety, or overall well-being.

With Google emphasizing expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness, it is more important than ever for websites to focus on creating high-quality, relevant content and building a robust and trustworthy reputation. Failure to do so could significantly impact your website’s traffic and rankings.

Improving Your E-E-A-T

Improving your website’s E-E-A-T requires a combination of expertise, authoritativeness, trustworthiness, and experience. Here are some tips for improving your website owner E-E-A-T:

Create High-Quality Content That is Original, Informative, and Helpful to Users.

Make sure your content in social media posts is factually accurate, up-to-date, and well-researched. This means avoiding plagiarism and using credible sources to back up your claims.

Establish Authority in Your Field by Creating Content that Demonstrates Your Expertise.

Share your personal experiences and knowledge to show your readers that you are a trusted, authoritative, or trustworthy source of information. This means using a professional tone, providing detailed explanations of complex topics, and avoiding making false claims.

Use Trustworthy Sources and References to Back Up Your Claims.

This will help establish the trustworthiness of your own content too. Citing authoritative sources like scholarly articles, government websites, digital marketing agencies, and reputable news outlets can help boost your E-E-A-T organically.

Optimize Your Website for Local SEO.

Optimizing your website for local search terms is essential if you’re a business in high-competition areas like NYC or Charleston, SC. This means using strategic local SEO, such as adding your business to local directories, google search, and creating relevant content to search queries from your local audience.

Engage with Your Audience on Social Media and Other Platforms.

Respond to comments and questions, and use social media and digital marketing, to promote your content and establish your authority in the digital world of your field. This means using a consistent voice, sharing relevant content, and responding promptly to inquiries.

Partner with a Professional SEO Company.

A professional SEO company like Fudogmedia.net can help you improve your website’s E-EAT and rank higher in local search results. A reputable SEO company can also help you create high-quality content, optimize your website for local search engines, establish authority, and develop a positive reputation in your field.

How to Track Your Website’s E-E-A-T Score

Once you have taken steps to improve your website’s E-E-A-T, it is vital to track your product review progress. Fortunately, several online tools can help you measure and track your website’s E-E-A-T score.

Google Analytics is one of the most popular online tools for tracking website performance and SEO metrics. With Google Analytics, you can track a website’s performance on individual pages, as well as overall website traffic and user engagement. You can also use Google Analytics to monitor your website’s SEO rankings and organic search traffic over time. This will allow you to determine if changes or improvements to your E-EAT have positively or negatively impacted your website’s search rankings.

Monitoring metrics like bounce rate, time on page, organic search, and volume search quality can also help you determine if changes or improvements to your E-EAT have the desired effect. If your website’s organic search traffic is increasing, but its quality of it has not improved, this could indicate that your efforts to improve your website’s low E-E-A-T score have been unsuccessful.

You can also use online tools like MozBar or SEMrush to measure specific SEO metrics, such as domain authority and keyword rankings for different websites. This can give you a better understanding of how your website performs in various SERPs and how changes or improvements to your E-EAT score affect those rankings.

Ultimately, tracking the appropriate performance level of your website’s E-EAT score is essential to the success of your SEO efforts. By using the right tools and tracking relevant metrics, you can effectively measure your website’s E-EAT score over time and make tweaks where necessary. This will help you create an effective SEO strategy that generates long-term results.

Key Takeaways

It is clear that E-E-A-T is a critical factor in Google’s search engine optimization algorithm, and business owners should begin to understand its importance. Improving your website’s E-E-A-T requires a combination of expertise, authoritativeness, adequate expertise, trustworthiness, and experience. By creating high-quality, informative content and establishing your authority in your field, you can improve your website’s search engine ranking and drive more traffic to your site.

As a Charleston, SC SEO company, Fudogmedia.net is committed to helping businesses improve online visibility and rank higher in search engine results pages. We understand the importance of E-E-A-T in SEO.

We can help you optimize your website for local search terms and target keywords, establish your authority in your field, and provide high-quality, informative content that resonates with your target audience.

Contact us today for a free consultation and learn how we can help take your site traffic to the next level.

YouTube’s Growing Impact as an Awareness & Remarketing Channel – Are You Taking Advantage?

Digital marketing has completely overhauled the way that businesses market their products and services. Just a decade ago, Facebook was the hottest new forum for people to build their brand and gain the best exposure for marketing and remarketing. As we enter 2022, however, YouTube is quickly gaining as the best network to tout your company. It is currently the second-largest social network on the internet, with over one billion hours of video watched daily by over two billion online viewers.

According to statistics, 90% of internet users find new brands and products via YouTube, which is why businesses need to consider using it in their marketing campaign strategy. 62% of companies already report using it to post videos containing relevant content to further their brand identity and familiarity.

Are you using YouTube to post your organic content? If not, you are missing out on an excellent way to engage YouTube users to increase your sales. To really gain the most benefit, you can combine your posting capabilities with the power of YouTube ads. Then, you can use retargeted ads to generate the highest rate of return for your marketing dollar.

YouTube’s Impact on Retargeting Success

When a viewer watches your organic YouTube videos, you can retarget them by creating a specialized audience classification that includes those who have already viewed your material. Retargeting is also a practice that you can implement on both Facebook and Instagram, but YouTube presents a better quality audience.

On Facebook, viewers who stick it out for just three seconds are added to your retargeted efforts, while YouTube sections out only those who watch the entire video or up to a maximum video length of 30 seconds. That means you can section out only those who were interested enough to watch more than just a blip.

In reverse, that can limit the number of people that you retarget to include only those who watched your entire video as a custom audience. Facebook also gives you options to add those who watch a percentage of the total length of the video, while YouTube does not.

The Advantages of YouTube

The advantages of YouTube, however, are that it gives you several targeting options to fine-tune your marketing campaign, such as only choosing those who view a video on your channel specifically.

YouTube also allows you to target viewers according to any ad view or a specialized parameter. The best way to make sense of the views is to section out those who watched a specific video; that way, you can use targeted advertising that contains relevant offers according to the content contained in the video that interested them.

For the best results, you can post some organic videos promoting engaging, entertaining, or educational content that relates to your products or services. Once they run for a while, you can selectively choose only those that performed the highest according to the most views, comments, and likes, and use that information in your ad campaign strategy.

The result is a targeted way to retarget those viewers with precise ads that will lead to higher conversion rates. You can also use the data that you gather by quantifying engagements and views to better fine-tune your ads for higher ROAS.

If it sounds complex, it really isn’t. Creating engaging video ads and organic videos is easier than ever, but the key is to make them high-quality and professionally stunning, which is why Fu Dog Media is here!

Video Engagement and Retarget Channel

Other types of interactions besides views can be quantified on YouTube for remarketing purposes. Interactions you can also include are viewers who add your video to a specific playlist, share your video on your channel, like a video and leave a comment, visit the homepage channel, or subscribe to a specific channel.

Including numerous types of interactions like sharing, commenting, or liking can better pinpoint a broader range of consumers to retarget. Only those viewers who took the time to read the content will take the steps to interact in those three ways.

Since you know their behaviors ahead of time, you can retarget them using educational video content with a CTA asking them to become subscribers. Although a subscription does not automatically mean that you will make a sale, it is a much easier process than launching a product promotion or asking them to sign up via email. Once they subscribe, you can continue to provide free information related to your product using avenues like in-feed posts, videos, and stories.

Subscribers via Email

YouTube ads also allow you to target your viewers via email subscriptions. Unfortunately, unlike Facebook, there is no integration service between email and YouTube, so you’ll need to input the information manually, which can be time-consuming. Email marketing service providers typically allow you to download a spreadsheet of subscribers, which means that you can use Google Ads. And if you are already using Google Ads, you can target your YouTube subscribers in the same manner.

Classify your varying audiences by factors like those who purchased already, those who have repeat purchases, and those who have signed up but have not followed through, just yet to keep things straight. That will help you better target your ads for higher ROAS numbers.

Mobile App Users and Website Visitors

By adding Ads to your mobile app and website, it is possible to successfully retarget those viewers who use your app or visit your webpage. That will also allow you to create targeted ads according to where the viewer visited, like blog posts or various pages. In doing so, if someone puts an item in the cart, but does not follow through, you can go back and retarget them by adding an incentive, like a promotional price, for them to purchase later on.

Four Tips For Successful Remarketing

Hopefully, you now understand the power of YouTube marketing and why you should add it to your overall digital marketing campaign. Try using these four tips to get the most out of your efforts!

1. Don’t Over-Retarget!

Remarketing takes a fine balance for it to be successful. If you overdo it, you will likely end up paying more on YouTube than need be or irritating your viewer. Setting the best frequency for viewers will gain you the highest ROAS. Begin by using three daily impressions for thirty days, and then reduce the number of days as you see fit. The number of times you should repeat your impressions will depend upon the product you are selling. Some will require more than others.

2. Create Both In-Display and In-Stream Ads

For YouTube videos, you have the option of both in-display and in-stream ads. In-display ads will appear at the top and right of the video. Or, you can overlay an ad so that it will display directly in the video itself.

3. Use Skippable Ads to Begin With

YouTube gives you the option of not being able to skip your ad, but when you are just beginning, it is wise to allow viewers to skip. By giving them the option, you can better estimate which videos are engaging and which are not according to the percentage of viewers choosing to watch.

Once you have a high percentage of those who choose to stay instead of skipping, you can be more assured that you are engaging the audience in a positive way that will lead to results. After you have pinpointed exactly what your audience is likely to want, you can run ads that do not give allowance to skips. Just be aware that they are more costly than the skippable ones.

4. Chart View Percentages

YouTube allows you to set percentage parameters according to benchmarks such as 25, 50, 75 percent, or the entire video. By sectioning out the videos with the highest percentages of views, you are more likely to increase your conversion rates for better sales.

Which YouTube Remarketing Scheme is Best For You?

For the best ROAS, these are the different ways that you can use remarketing tactics. The right one for you depends on whether you want to increase your views and subscriptions or generate higher sales. Those who want to take their internet marketing and remarketing to a whole new level can integrate their YouTube marketing with Google Ads, thereby retargeting people who are already engaged with you via Google Ads and vice-versa.

YouTube is quickly becoming the best forum for remarketing purposes to increase overall sales and social media engagement. And since people are spending more time than ever before watching it, it is an excellent idea to add it to your digital marketing and remarketing campaign.

It is still an inexpensive forum to gain exposure and build your brand. The key, however, is to have videos that are both professional-looking and engaging. Let Fu Dog Media help you with your digital marketing both producing high-quality videos and then getting them in front of the right audience to convert viewers to customers today!

The Values of SEO: Working Effectively Behind the Scenes – “Working” Being the Operative Word!

Digital marketing is an industry that is not well understood by many business owners. I hear from customers all the time that they get frustrating cold calls from random solicitors about SEO, and that it all sounds very unnecessary. Usually, we are asked “Is local SEO expensive?” I like to answer that it is only expensive if you DON’T do it! SEO might not make an immediate impact, but the long-term game can make a huge difference.

Is Local SEO Expensive?

When we approach new clients, their first question – and rightly so – is about how much our services cost. And we understand that smart business decisions are all about weighing the costs versus the benefits. However, most people get so stuck on the price of SEO services that they can’t see the forest for the trees.

We can see where it might be difficult to put your faith in our promise that over time, we can enhance your local presence and your bottom line, but we both also know that sometimes you have to roll up your sleeves and put in some sweat equity.

Local SEO is a prime example. You might have to put some money out for the first couple of months that might not show immediate results, but we know that your sweat equity in this case will build your business in the long run. Your savvy competitors are already on board with digital marketing and SEO, and if slow and steady wins the race, you better get at it!

If You Aren’t on Page One, You Won’t Be Seen

Statistics tell us that 90% of search engine users will only go to first page results when doing an organic search for a product or service. Most of the time, we have no problem getting our customers to understand the value of updating and redoing their website to be more “mobile-friendly,” easier to navigate, and more appealing.

What they might not understand, however, is that you can spend thousands redoing your website to make it eye-catching – but it won’t catch anyone’s eye if they never see it.

90% of Search Engine Users Will Use Only the First Page Results

If you aren’t found on page one of an internet search, then you are really throwing money away on a new website because the only person that will probably appreciate it is you and the customers who you have already captured.

Throwing the money into making your website spectacular and then letting it sit without the use of local SEO really makes very little economical sense. If you understand the value of your online presence, then it stands to reason that putting in the extra amount to ensure your investment in a new design is well worth it.

In Practical Terms

Sometimes the only way to illustrate the point you are trying to get across is to put it into practical terms. So let’s say you have your mindset that local SEO is a waste of your monthly marketing budget, but let’s do the math…

How much money do you gain from earning just one client or sale per month? For most industries, if local SEO drives just one customer your way, or entices one to reach out and buy your product, you have recouped all the money you put into monthly local SEO.

How Does Local SEO Work?

A study done by the highly-respected Forrester Group found that when you invest in local SEO, you can increase your revenues by as much as 400%. But is that really realistic? Let’s see how it works.

Traffic

When it comes to revenue, driving more traffic to your website is not the only way to increase your sales and leads. If someone is merely attempting to land more people on your website indiscriminately, that is probably useless. But that doesn’t mean that driving traffic isn’t a vector for increased sales.

50% of all of your website views comes from people clicking on your link from an organic search result. Those who engage in local SEO are getting more than 50% of all the traffic on the internet, and those who aren’t are sharing the remaining 50% amongst themselves. If you rank on page one, you are being seen 90% of the time; therefore, you are getting 90% of the 50% if you come up on the first page.

The question then becomes not whether SEO is expensive, but whether you can afford not to use it as a resource to enhance your visibility and your bottom line. How many jobs are you currently missing out on because you aren’t being ranked in the top spot when people are searching for your product or service?

What I can tell you is that sometimes in an effort to save pennies, we end up throwing away dollars. If you aren’t doing some form of local SEO, you are probably missing out on a large portion of traffic and revenue.

Results-Driven

At Fu Dog Media, we don’t just throw out opinions or projections; we deliver real-life results based on analytics and reports. If you are worried about seeing any change, we provide facts, figures, and analyses about the difference we are making. But most of all, you will feel the difference our efforts make in your sales, leads, and wallet – so my question to you is, how expensive is not engaging in local SEO for your business? Contact us today and let’s start dominating the web together!

Web Design, SEO & PPC for Your Power Washing Company – The Benefits of Hiring Specialized Experts

When it comes to SEO and PPC, sometimes the practices we use in the industry don’t vary much. But that doesn’t mean that it’s not important to find a professional who understands the specific nature of power washing SEO and how to best drive traffic to gain tangible results for your business. At Fu Dog Media, we specialize in helping power washing companies gain a competitive edge, more leads, and increased revenue through the use of PPC and SEO.

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Gain Exposure – Book More Power Washing Appointments – Increase Revenue!

Increasing your exposure and sales is all about having a vivid, video- and image-packed, mobile-friendly, navigation-friendly website. Your website isn’t just a place card for your business information; it is a tool that, if laid out properly, converts visitors into booked appointments.

How does your current website stack up against the competition? Pressure washing is a competitive business in most areas, so if you don’t grab them first with your website, someone else definitely will!

Case Studies

Helping Our Clients Wash the Pressure Washing Competitors Away!
3 case studies….

What We Do Best for Pressure Washing Companie

At Fu Dog Media, our goal is not just to drive more traffic to your site, but to also drive targeted views that will convert to sales. Our proven methods will help you book more appointments and grow your business using strategies that work.

We insist on making a good impression via your website so you book more pressure washing appointments and increase your rankings, so people see you more than the competition.

Are You Getting Noticed?

Our website design team understands the importance of first impressions – after all, you only get one shot. We design sites that represent your brand and expertise, while providing vivid imagery and videos to keep visitors engaged.

Mobile-friendliness is one of the most important components of your Google ranking. We ensure that your design looks just as amazing on mobile devices as it does on computers by using our mobile responsiveness test.

And we also ensure that your customers have ease of use and navigational tools to contact you without the inconvenience of having to search. If someone has to go more than one step to find you, they probably never will.

Does your site perform that way now?
Improve Your Visibility

Statistics tell us that 90% or more of Americans use the internet to find products and services, like pressure washing companies, in their area. They also tell us that only 10% of those searching will go to page two to find what they are looking for. Therefore, if you aren’t seen on page one, you will most likely not be seen at all. Investing in a dynamic and innovative web design is critical – but not if no one sees it!

Search engine optimization may seem a bit overwhelming, and the long-term nature of it can be a little hard to swallow – but just like most things, slow and steady wins the race.

Our pressure-washing SEO practices are targeted to not just gain you more exposure, but also to keep you at the head of the pack. It isn’t just about ranking for keywords; there are over 200 factors that Google uses to rank businesses. We work as comprehensively as possible to increase as many factors as we can simultaneously!

Do You Know Where You Rank?
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Online Pressure Washing Booking

When asked, 72% of Americans would rather book their appointments online. In fact, many reported that they would book another company over their current one if they had the option to use the internet to schedule appointments. Also, think about it: you can book appointments in your sleep – literally!

Fill Your Appointment Schedule

Booking online gives people the ease of not taking another step to picking up a phone to reach out. All they have to do is click a button. They also don't have to worry about getting an answering machine and whether someone will call them back.

Potential and current customers can look for a time and day that works, and book it themselves. Not only does that cut down on your need to hire appointment setters to be available when people call; it will help to fill up your calendar quickly and consistently.

At Fu Dog Media, we can integrate your scheduling system so that your customers can see what you have available in real time, which gives them just one more reason to choose you over another pressure washing company. That means more growth for your business and your wallet.

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Boost Your Google Ranking

Whether you found out that you rank highly or not, we can help take your pressure washing business to a whole new level of domination. We have the specialized skills in the pressure washing marketing industry to rank you on page one and keep you there.

It is simple math: more exposure = more traffic = more appointments = more revenue – and we have the proof that our system works!

The Benefits of SEO for HVAC and Plumbing Companies

Plumbing and HVAC companies have a lot of competition when it comes to being found on the internet. In a post-pandemic world, the internet has become an even greater source for the average homeowner, with nearly 80% of all businesses found by doing an organic search. Statistics tell us that 90% of all internet users will only go to the first page of a search, and only 10% go to the second page, which is why your rankings are so critical to your bottom line.

Having an amazing HVAC/Plumbing website is definitely important – but only if you are doing what’s necessary for people to find it to begin with. SEO is a must to generate organic leads in the plumbing and HVAC world, and in this blog, you’ll find seven reasons that SEO is critical to your success.

Of that 81% of those looking for a product or service, only about 25% will go to the second-page listings, so if you aren’t coming up first, you might as well come up last. SEO might be a long-term strategy, but it is an essential one for your company’s visibility. These are just seven of the benefits of having an SEO campaign for your pest control or pressure washing company.

What is SEO?

As a business, you want to retain your customer base, but chances are that you are always looking for new ones, too. In the same way, customers are looking for a company that they can trust. It can be frustrating and difficult with so many options to choose from. How do consumers even know what services a company offers or how to find the right company for the service they need?

They Go to Google!

In the old days, the way to find a company was the Yellow Pages. Now people simply turn to the internet. They go into the browser and they type their search to find a match in their area. SEO impacts the way that search engines rank your company for an organic search. Let’s say that a homeowner has a water heater that isn’t heating. They would likely type “water heater repair” or do a voice search for “water heater repair near me”.

What comes up are the companies that Google deems a great match. How do they know? They use things like keywords and key phrases that are located on websites in the local area. When an internet user types in what they want, Google identifies the sites that have matching content and then up pops the ones that are relative according to Google’s algorithms.

Keywords are important because they tell the search engines which products and services you offer. If you don’t have the correct keywords or key phrases, then Google might not match you with homeowners, and you will probably not come up on the first page of a search result.

As mentioned above, if you don’t come up on the first page, you are missing 90% of internet traffic!

What Other Things Does Google Look For?

It isn’t just about keywords and keyphrases, although they are highly critical. Google also uses algorithms to quantify how relative a site is to an internet searcher, as well as things like:

Bounce rates – How long do viewers stay on your website before they “bounce” to another one?
Security – Does your website pose any security risks that Google might see as a threat to viewers?
Site activity – What are internet viewers doing once they get to your site?
Mobile-friendliness – Can people view your website as easily on a mobile device as they do on a desktop or laptop?

There are over 200 other ways that Google classifies your website – some more important than others – but it is a combined total that gets you to the top spot when someone is searching for your product or service. If you don’t know what those are, you could be making yourself invisible to the people who need to see you in the front and center.

7 Benefits of SEO for Your Plumbing or HVAC Business

It is a simple math equation – the more consumers you reach, the more likely it is that they will reach out; the more sales you make; the more revenue you take in.

1. SEO Provides a Better User Experience

There was a time when advertising was all about the company advertising their goods or services. The key focus was to get their attention through any means possible, like emails and other pop-up strategies. What we have found is that irritating the consumer does not attract them; it turns them off.

SEO differs because it isn’t about who shouts the loudest. It is an inbound versus an outbound strategy. It gives your consumer a more targeted approach, and singles out the people who are actually looking for you. If you offer your plumbing and hvac services to people who need it and are actually looking for it, you are more likely to be attractive to them – they are waiting for you already! Better favorability = they’re more apt to reach out!

2. SEO Brings QUALIFIED Leads

Leads are great if you have the time and resources to follow them up, but let’s be honest: it is much easier when the customer comes to you first – when someone is searching for your product and service, that is a qualified lead because they need you.

3. SEO Closes More Sales

The more exposure you have on the internet to people searching for your product or service, the more probable it is that they will have brand familiarity and choose you. Statistics tell us that 50% of internet shoppers use Google before they buy or decide to call a service provider.
When you use SEO to enhance your ranking, you are more likely to pop up an internet search – and more exposure means more opportunity to close the deal!

6. Boosts All of Your Other Marketing Endeavors

It isn’t that you shouldn’t spend money on things like billboards or promotional materials to send to customers, but they aren’t going to be visible when someone is sitting in front of their computer looking for a service. All those things that you do outside the internet are great to build brand familiarity and loyalty so that when your website does pop up they recognize you. But the reality is without a good mix of both, you likely are just spinning your wheels. Like anything else, marketing is a balancing act that requires you to target your customers from all angles, but SEO is one of our favorite ways to drive revenue.

4. SEO Allows for Better Advertising Spending

When you properly initiate a good SEO strategy, then you don’t have to rely so much on other paid advertising methods, like pay-per-lead or pay-per-click ads. That doesn’t necessarily mean that you should get rid of paid advertising altogether, but it does mean that over time you will get a lot of traction for free, and be able to cut back on your advertising budget.

5. SEO Builds Brand Familiarity and Credibility

If you come up first on a Google search, it is almost as if Google is giving you a recommendation of credibility. Getting Google to find you credible isn’t just about inbound and outbound links; it is an entire strategy of SEO that deems you as trustworthy due to things like online reviews, social media marketing, backlinks, and other tools. Also, more people are using Google maps and Google listings than ever before, so if you can get Google to trust you, then you have it made already with the consumer before you even step into their front doors.

6. SEO Enhances Your Other Marketing Methods

It isn’t an “either/or” thing: SEO works with your other marketing methods to enhance your bottom line. If you do advertise using other mediums, it will only further foster your brand recognition and loyalty. When customers continually see your name and logo, they feel as if they already know you, and that is great advertising. Unfortunately, when their hot water heater quits on Monday morning, they aren’t going to Google your business name, which is why both are necessary!

7. SEO Lowers Customer Acquisition Costs

Cost-benefit analyses tell us that SEO is a much less expensive way to lower your lead costs than other marketing strategies and tools. Although it is a long-term endgame, it does work. And when you got it, you got it! When we get your SEO up and running and WORKING – it is the most cost-effective marketing option available!

Dominate with Fu Dog Media

If you aren’t making full use of SEO strategies, you are losing out. Your website can be as spectacular as possible, but it doesn’t matter if no one ever sees it. A lot of our customers ask us if SEO really works and if our results are real – YES! Contact Fu Dog Media today to discuss how we can take your plumbing or HVAC company to a whole new level!

Want to Expand Your Website Conversion? Three Secret Ways Revealed!

A website is your best tool to reach your customer base via the internet. But even if you go through all the expense and time of building an awesome website design, use SEO tools to drive traffic, and update frequently, that doesn’t necessarily mean that getting visitors there means converting them to act and become a customer. There are three industry secrets that are the quickest and easiest ways to expand your website conversion to turn viewers into customers!

Leverage Your Social “Accolades”

One of the biggest keys to building credibility for visitors to become customers are reviews. If you are lucky enough to have people blow up your social media pages with positive feedback and reviews, use it to your advantage. Sure, you can toot your own horn and claim to be the best, but having customers attest to your greatness is an invaluable tool.

Pay very close attention to your reviews on various sites such as Google, Yelp, and any other social media platforms. They serve as proof to potential consumers that you aren’t just saying you are the best – you really are the best!

Another way to lend more credibility to your proven results is to become a member of the local Chamber of Commerce. Also, seek any accolades or certificates that paint you as an authority in your field! The key is to make potential consumers feel confident in your service or product – enough so that they want to take action to become a client or to purchase your goods. That way, you will convert visitors to customers at a greater rate and realize a windfall of business and profits!

Chat Functions are a MUST

Communication has changed significantly over the past decade. People are no longer interested in picking up a phone to get information or reach out. If they have to find your number, make a call, sit on hold, or punch in a number to get the right extension, you have a greater probability of losing them!

Today’s consumer wants to either text or chat through your website directly. They don’t want to wait for someone to answer or go through any additional steps. By having a chat function on your website, you won’t run the risk of losing them – you have them captured. If you have a team member available to answer questions or help with check-out, you will be amazed at how quickly your conversion rate will increase dramatically.

Don’t Leave It to Chance – Have a Minimum of Three Ways to Convert!

Obviously, the more conversion tools that you use, the likelier it is that your conversion rate will increase and you will entice consumers to act! But what are the options available?

A Visible Phone Number

Although a phone call might not be everyone’s first choice, it should always be an option. It might not be as efficient, but you want to cover all of your bases and ensure that you are reaching outliers who aren’t the norm.

Chat Function

Again, having a chat feature is a highly convenient way for people to contact you. And it makes it less likely that they will put it on their “to-do-later” list. If they do wait, you are likely to miss them!

Always Make Sure Things Match Up

Google ranks businesses according to the consistency of the information. Because of this, it is critical to ensure that your business name appears the same on your dashboard as it does on your listing. For example, if your company name is Southwest Healthcare System, any other variation – like “SW Healthcare System” – will hurt your ranking.

Make sure that your business name is exactly the same throughout all of your information. That means everywhere your name appears, including things like Facebook, Yelp, and other forums. Also, pay close attention to your address; the same goes for any street name abbreviations.

A Dispatch System

For people who don’t want to pick up a phone, the ability to schedule an appointment is invaluable. If you give your existing and potential customers the ability to book an appointment online, they are really likely to do so — now! Allow them to conveniently pick the time and day, and then make sure to give them the option for a confirmation email or call so that they can confirm or reschedule, if necessary.

Can You Implement These Simple Tools on Your Website?

Adding a chat function, a scrolling review banner, and the ability to book online is a quick and easy fix. If you want to know more about how to increase your conversion rates, customer base, and bottom line, we are here to help. Contact Fu Dog Media and let’s dominate the web together!

How to Optimize Your Google Maps Listing

If you haven’t yet discovered the power of Google Maps marketing, you are missing out on a windfall of free advertising! Google Maps helps customers find you; it sets you apart from the competition, and it can dramatically increase your bottom line. And the best part is — it is all FREE. But most people incorrectly assume that Google will automatically drive traffic to their business just because they are in a specific location.

Physical location is only one of the ways that Google Maps identifies and ranks a business. There are several other things you can do to increase your visibility, but it takes a little bit of work on your part. However, if you do put the time in, the rewards can be well worth it.

Why You Should Rank Higher on Google Maps

According to recent studies, Google Maps is used by 67% of all online consumers. And of that 67%, there aren’t many who will go past the first couple of listings when doing an internet search. That is why it is so important to increase your visibility by being one of the first to show up.

We know that consumers land where they do based on the keywords they’re searching. Keywords help to match consumers 84% more than when they type in a business’s actual name. So embedding the right keywords is one of the best tools to alert Google to match relevant searches with your business.

You also want to rank in the top three Google Maps listings because you get a prominent place just below the map where your information and ratings are displayed. Anything past the top 3 gets hidden under the “more places” tab where consumers need to search further.

How to Rank Your Listing Higher on Google Maps
Adding Yourself to Google Maps

The first step to ranking your business higher on Google Maps is to claim your listing. If you aren’t sure if your listing is visible, or you have not added your business to Google Maps:

  • Go directly to the Google Maps app or google.com/maps and search your company’s name
  • If you find it in the drop-down menu, then you are all set
  • If you can’t, use the drop-down menu to find “add a missing place” and click on it
  • You will be prompted to add your business name, location, and category

Anyone can add a business, so there is a chance that even if you haven’t added yours, someone else might have. The good news is that even if someone else has added your listing, they have no way of altering your Google Maps listing or adding information to it. The only time you can do so is if you are the one who added it, and you can prove that you are the owner of a business.

Claiming Your Google Maps Business Listing

Next, to rank higher on Google Maps, you need to claim the listing. When claiming, you have to provide more than just the name, location, and category; more details are needed. The more that you provide, the higher you will rank. But enhancing your listing can only happen after it has been claimed.

You will need to have a Google My Business account to claim your listing. If you already have an account, simply click on “own this business?” or “claim my business,” then follow the instructions.

Adding More Information to a Google Maps Listing

Once your Google My Business and Google Maps business listing are linked, you are ready to begin priming it for more visibility. Remember: the more information you provide, the higher Google will rank you. Log in to your Google My Business account and your dashboard will appear with several tabs.

Click on the “info” tab. It will have your address, service area, name, category, special hours, hours, website, products, phone number, description, and services. Use these tools to optimize your listing to rank higher on Google Maps.

Always Make Sure Things Match Up

Google ranks businesses according to the consistency of the information. Because of this, it is critical to ensure that your business name appears the same on your dashboard as it does on your listing. For example, if your company name is Southwest Healthcare System, any other variation – like “SW Healthcare System” – will hurt your ranking.

Make sure that your business name is exactly the same throughout all of your information. That means everywhere your name appears, including things like Facebook, Yelp, and other forums. Also, pay close attention to your address; the same goes for any street name abbreviations.

Add a Local Phone Number

Google is not a fan of 800 or 877 numbers because they are often linked to spam listings. Always use a local number with the area code included. It is a simple way to rank higher, and it also helps searchers verify that your business is actually located locally.

Include Your Main and Tracked Number

If your business uses call tracking, always use the tracking number as your primary and your main secondary. That way, you can track the calls that generate from Google Maps to see how well your listing is driving organic traffic. Providing both numbers serves a dual function. You can quantify the consumers that are being driven via your Google Maps listing, but Google also has the main number to compare with your website for credibility.

Keep Hours Updated

As we start to recover from COVID, hours will likely change for many businesses. Make sure that you keep up with your hours listings. Or if you were temporarily shut down, make sure that you update your listing so people don’t assume you are still closed for business. Also, when you keep your hours of operation up-to-date, Google assumes that you are an active business.

Another reason you always want to make sure that your hours are listed correctly is if someone goes to your establishment due to your posted hours and you are not open, that is likely to leave a poor impression. And it might provoke them to leave a negative review, which can severely impact your Google Maps listing.

Write a Description

Make sure to provide a detailed description of your business listing and all attributes that apply. When writing it, stay on-brand to build brand awareness and to create consistency. Keywords will be a critical part of your description, because Google Maps ranks according to your business’s name and also your services or products.

Categorize Your Business Correctly

The way that your category is listed is essential to visibility. Use the primary category to describe the core of your business. Then, check to see if any secondary or additional categories might apply. There isn’t an option to add your own category, but as you type a prearranged set of categories will show in a drop-down menu, which can sometimes be useful.

Add Images

Both consumers and Google love images! It not only signals to Google that you are active; Google is starting to use images that show in local searches. One thing to keep in mind is that Google typically loves what consumers do, and potential customers want to see what you have to offer in real life. If you don’t add photos, your image will appear completely blank and unexciting.

But only use high-quality and engaging photos. Go to the “Photos” tab in your dashboard and look for a blue circle with a plus sign. Once you click on it you can drag your photos and drop them. The same is true for videos. Your goal should be to add a new image or video daily to really increase your Google Maps visibility.

Reviews are a Must!

Consumers want to know what people think about your business, and so does Google. When you open your Google Maps listing up, Google automatically allows people to add reviews. But having the ability to add them – and actually getting people to – are two separate things. Make sure to ask your customers to review your business on Google Maps. When – or if – someone leaves a poor review, you need to respond.

Customers want to know that you care about the quality of your service or product, and answering a negative review is the best way to show that you do. It can seem risky to ask people to review your business in case someone isn’t exactly pleased. But the good reviews typically far outweigh the not-so-good, if you care about your customers’ experience.

Only Have One Google Maps Listing

There are occasions where there will be multiple listings for your business. Make sure to verify that you only have one. If you find more than one listing, make sure to consolidate and delete all but one. And then go over the information to verify that it is all correct.

Post Regularly!

Posting to your Google Maps business listing is one of the best ways to enhance your visibility and ranking. It shows Google that you are active, and it also gives consumers more information about your business.

Using Your Website to Rank Higher on Google Maps

There is a lot of crossover from your business listing to your website. Therefore, your website can be a great tool to enhance your listing.

Your Website MUST be Responsive!

A responsive website functions the same on any screen size or device. Google Maps business listings have a link that goes directly to your website. And research tells us that as many as 60% of internet searchers use a mobile device. A consumer looks unfavorably on websites that make them pinch and zoom, are slow to load, or have broken links. If they have to work harder to see your info, then that can decrease your ranking significantly.

Keywords are Critical on Your Website

If you are a local business, use targeted local keywords to boost your ranking. It will also help to rank your website higher. Using location-specific keywords on your landing pages is important. Incorporate them into your About Us page, homepage, Contact Us page, and even blog post pages. Don’t just add them to your page titles, but also your image tags, URLs, body text, headings, and captions for maximum effect.

Include an Embedded Google Map on Your Website

On your contact page – or elsewhere – make sure to add a Google Map. It is an excellent way to tell Google where your business location is. Just make sure that your address matches your Google Maps listing. The way to embed a Google Map is to first search your company’s name in Google Maps. Then, click “share” and then “embed a map.” Simply copy and paste the Google Maps link to your contact page.

Google Maps listings are quickly becoming the most common way that people find a business. It is a place where they not only find you, but they can find out about you. If you are diligent about posting and follow the above tips, you will likely find yourself in the top 3 and gain a lot of advertising, and all for free. For more great tips on how to increase your traffic and bottom line, contact Fu Dog Media — we want to help you dominate the web!

Want to be Found? Optimize Your Google Business Listing

How to Claim Your Google Business Listing

If you aren’t found on page one of a local Google search, there is a good likelihood that no one will find you. That is why Google My Business has become the hottest tactic for SEO. Google My Business is the most critical digital marketing tool there is. But before you try to manage your account, it is important to understand how to claim and verify your company or business on Google.

What are Google Business Listings?

When someone does an organic Google search on either the Google or Google Maps format, Google lists local businesses to match. The results that are displayed contain information about all the relevant companies that the internet viewer is searching for in their area. The searcher can see all pertinent information such as the business name, ratings, address, description, photos, hours of operation, and phone number.

The way that Google generates business listings is based on publicly available information. If you own a company within a specific location, it is possible that you will come up even if you haven’t added any details to your business listing.

Steps to Optimize Google Business Listing

First, you have to go through a very simple step-by-step process to both claim and verify your business listing. Once you complete the first step, you can post photos, business hours, and respond to both customer comments and questions. After you claim your account, you can also add things like events, promotions, and recent updates to your Google business listing. That means that potential or current customers will get information about your business simply by searching on Google or Google Maps.

Why You Should Use Google My Business Listings to Optimize Google Business Listing?

When someone needs a service or business, Google is the first place that they turn. Potential customers can see information on Google about your company without ever having to go to your website. But if they do want to find out more, there is an automatic link. Google Maps is currently the most favored way that smartphone users find what they need. In fact, it is used by as many as 70% of those who use smartphones. That is nearly six times more than Waze, which is the second most popular mobile search.

Making your Business Listing complete and alluring is critical to your digital marketing. If you aren’t maximizing your profile, then you aren’t showing things like photos and descriptions that can attract potential customers. Things like not having your business hours listed might give the impression that you aren’t open for business.

What can I Include in a Google My Business Listing?

Google My Business listings include things like your address, hours of operation, and a brief description of your business or service. It can also include details that are vital to contacting you like your address, a link to your website, and a phone number.

When people search using Google Maps on their smartphone or mobile device, they can click on the listing, and it will guide them to get directions or to contact you via your phone number. And smartphone users can also send text messages to your business if you have activated the messaging function.

When you manage your Google My Business listing, you can also use it to promote your business activities, promotions, or special events. Therefore, it is like free digital marketing. You can also add things like photos, answer questions, and respond to reviews. Once more, the listing you create will appear across different mediums like voice searches, mobile devices, and desktop computer searches.

Why Should I Verify my Google Business Listing?

Google My Business is one of the best ways to increase your local SEO, and it is all free. Your Google business listing is the first impression that people searching for your company or business via Google will encounter. So make it attractive, update it, and ensure its accuracy to make a good and lasting one.

Adding things like photos, your phone number, and your hours of operation can make a significant impact on the number of people who view your business and reach out to contact you. Once you have gone through the verification process, you can interact with potential customers by:

  • Editing days and times of operation
  • Verifying your phone number
  • Verifying your website link
  • Adding photos
  • Responding to customer reviews
  • Posting promotions and special events
  • Answering questions
  • Alerting customers of your offers, posts, or promotions
  • Receiving text messages from customers or prospective customers
  • Viewing analytics for desktop and mobile internet searches

Many businesses report a significant impact on their SEO when they update their Google My Business Listing, which means that they are being found through more Google searches.

How do I Verify and Claim my Google My Business Listing?



Log into your account via the Google’s Business Manager

If you have more than one Google account, make sure that you use the one that is associated with your business login. The Google account that you choose to go through the verification process will become the manager and owner of your Google business listing. The verification process will go much more smoothly if you log into a Google account that is already associated with your business, and if you use the email address that belongs to your business’s domain.

Enter Your Company Name and Select Your Location

If you have more than one location, you will need to both claim and verify each separately. Start with one and then continue to repeat the process until all listings are claimed. If there is no business already listed, Google does not have a listing for your company. If that is the case, you will need to follow a different set of steps to create a new business listing.

Confirm the Details of Your Business

Google will prompt you to confirm the details of your business such as the name, address, website, and phone number. You will then be asked to select a business category. If you aren’t sure what business category to choose, just pick one that fits best. Or, if your business fits into more than one category, you can choose others.

Begin the Verification Process

Google requires listing managers to verify that they are authorized to manage and edit business listings. Once you have gone through the steps to verify, you can update and manage your business listing. The most common way to verify your authorization is via Postal Mail.

A Google postcard will come containing a verification code according to your address. It may take up to five or more days for your postcard to arrive. But, for some businesses, there might be quicker verification methods including a phone call, an email, or even an instant verification code.

Check Your Postal MailBox

You will receive a postcard sent to your business address within 5-7 business days that will contain the code to begin verifying your Google My Business listing. The code will be inside of the postcard, and it will contain five digits.

Log Into Your Google Account and Complete Verification

Once you’ve obtained the five digit code, log back in your Google’s Business Manager account. Enter the five digits, and you are then verified. And you can update and add things to optimize your Google My Business listing. But, there are times when verification can take a little longer. If your listing needs to be reviewed, it can take up to three days for your updates to publish.

Google My Business is one of the best digital marketing tools that you can use for your local SEO. The best part is that it is entirely free once you verify and confirm your business. Follow these steps and start to create a portfolio to attract potential customers and to keep established ones in the loop! For more tips and tricks to enhance your local SEO contact FuDog Media today!

5 Google Business Profile Hacks to Increase Foot Traffic

As an SEO specialist, you've no doubt implemented various tactics to improve your clients' local SEO ranking, but you have to stop and ask yourself how many of those techniques are actually using their Google Business Profile to convert to actual foot traffic. These five Google profile hacks will help to convert their digital traffic to real-life “walk-in” traffic. The best part about these tactics is that they are relatively simple for the huge payoff they can generate for your customers' bottom line.

Answer Google Q&A With a Quick Response

According to industry experts, as many as forty percent of the Google Q&A inquiries are actual leads. If you’ve not seen the Q&A section of a Google search, this is what it looks like

This is the listing that appears to the left when someone does a Google search for a business. As you can see, there is a section where customers can send a quick question about a business. If it isn't answered quickly, your clients could be losing potential leads. And after someone adds a question, others can go in and “thumbs up” it, which means that they too would like an answer. So it might mean losing multiple potential leads.

By not answering potential clients, businesses give an impression that they aren’t responsive and they are increasing the likelihood that a lead will seek out the competition. Because it is easy to overlook leads that might be sitting in your clients' GBPs in the form of questions, being diligent about responding should become a high priority.

The most convenient way for Google My Business managers and owners to receive notifications of questions is through Google Maps App. Alerts related to questions being posted don’t appear on the dashboard of a GMB yet. But, if you have your clients set Google Maps App to alert them, they won’t ever let a question, or potential walk-in slip away.

Post Your Proximity to Close Popular Attractions

When people go to attractions such as museums, amusement parks, or even malls, they are likely to Google things around where they are visiting to find additional services. If your clients position their Google Post next to popular attractions, they can guide would-be clients directly to their front door.

That can become increasingly important for foot traffic, especially if Google expands the current way it shows Posts’ snippets not just in the Local Finder and also in the Business Profile, but in local packs.

Since posting is super easy, there is no reason not to! If you need some help explaining the process to your clients, try this Google Intro!

Convert GBPs into a Storefront Window Display

With some help from Pointy and SWIS, it is easy to turn your retail customers’ GBPs into a storefront window display. When you do, that can increase foot traffic exponentially. Set up your clients' “See What’s In Store inventory” to appear on their Business Profile and let potential customers know what the business is and exactly what they have to offer.

Pointy is Google’s new partner for the launch of this fantastic feature game-changer. The Pointy device makes it simple for any retailer to make their inventory instantly available to online viewers. And it means no e-commerce system and costs next to nothing but time and effort.

SWIS is the newest big thing to hit local Google listings. Because only one percent of US retailers already use it, you will be well ahead of the game. If you help to get your clients onboard, you will have them out in front of the competition when it comes to actual foot traffic.

Turn Your Profile Pic into a Selfie Hotspot

When possible, turning your client’s physical premise into an exterior eye-catcher will have people stomping down the doors! Consider an exterior mural to attract customers. Or, convert your integral selfie-takers into your new customers. If you create a grabbing exterior attraction, it can appeal to as many as 43 to 58 percent of those surveyed who said that they were more apt to shop at locations that are visually stimulating and attractive.

If an exterior mural isn’t in the cards, there are plenty of other ways to add inspiration to customers. If you can convince your clients to invest in an iconic new presentation for their locale, the artwork they create can cover the image of their GBP. And if it is eye-catching, then they will attract potential customers more readily than their competition that isn’t.

Local businesses who use community life, culture, and art as an integral component of their business models will attract a growing American audience that is looking for a more authentic and humanistic experience. By embracing culture and heritage, through images and decor, you will be a part of capturing a new paradigm of consumers who want more.

Use Time in Your Favor

If you are like most Americans with a hectic schedule, businesses operating from 9 to 5 only, can’t accommodate your needs. Ask your client this question, “How can a business be successful if they are only open while everyone is busy at work?”. Do some research to find out what hours of operation are posted on their direct competitors GBPs.

If you notice that there is a hole where no other shops are closed, that can be a potential opportunity to set your clients apart from others in the area. There are times when your smaller customers are already working the maximum that they can. But it is a sound question to ask them if they are working hours that suit their needs or their customers’. Posing a new idea to the client might be possible. What if instead of working the hours they currently do, they change things up to work more hours when others are closed?

Have your clients evaluate how busy they are during the week and if they pinpoint a time where it is really slow, perhaps they can take those days and times out and substitute them with other hours where competitors aren't open. If you are the only one open during off hours, guess where the customers are going to flock….

As an SEO manager, your job might be to drive digital traffic, but imagine how invaluable you will be if you can convert that additional digital traffic to walk-in. Try these simple five steps to have customers beating down your clients' door today!

5 Reasons Your Restaurant Needs Quality food AND SEO

To have a successful restaurant, all you need is quality cuisine and then the masses will come running, right? Unfortunately, that’s not all it takes to have a full house night after night. If you are working overtime to make your restaurant amazing but you aren’t working on your SEO, you aren’t focusing entirely on the right place. Word of mouth will always be king, but the internet is the best way to spread the word like fire. Using a Charleston SEO firm to promote your business is the best way to allocate your marketing energy and budget!

Everyone Uses the Internet

Think about the first step you take when you need to know about something. You head to Google to search for it, right? When people are considering what new restaurant to try or where to go for their vacation, the internet is the first place they look. And statistics say that 90% of all internet users only view the first page. So if they’re looking for a place to eat and you aren’t there, they will most likely choose the competition.

It Can Help to Highlight What You Do Best

If you have the best barbecue in the South or you serve eclectic and unique foods, that is your “brand.” But if people are searching for a specific thing like “best barbecue” and you haven’t maximized your SEO with content related to “best barbecue,” then you aren’t going to get listed on a search. But your competition will, and they will get the business nine times out of ten! If you don’t use your specialty to trigger searches, then you won’t be matched with people who are searching for you!

What Good is a Website If No One Sees It?

If a tree falls in the forest, does it make a sound? That’s like asking, “If people can’t find you, does it matter what your website looks like?” You can design the most spectacular website and have exquisite pictures, spending both time and resources to make it exactly as you want to represent your restaurant, but it is all for naught if no one sees it! If you want people to see your menu, pictures of your atmosphere, and to read all you have to offer, then SEO is key. There is no sense in putting the time into something that won’t ever be seen.

If You Don’t Use SEO They Literally Might Not Find You!

A searcher typically researches restaurants by using a keyword followed with a location. For instance, if you wanted to find the best restaurant for Italian food while visiting Charleston, you would type just that. If you don’t have the content marketing that signals Google where you are located, then people won’t even consider you. By not maximizing your website by using local-specific cues, you aren’t going to come up in a search, and people aren’t going to come to you!

It Is the Best Marketing Money You Can Spend!

Ads are great, but they cost money to run. SEO costs very little, but it makes a continual and significant impact on your exposure! By using content marketing to trigger an organic search, you will get the exposure every time. When you run an ad, it is only seen where you place it and for as long as you run it. Although ads are a good idea too, SEO is a bigger bang for your buck to reel customers in.

You spend so much time making sure you are serving quality food and have amazing service. But that means nothing if no one knows about you. To capture people who are looking for a restaurant to try for the first time or an old favorite, SEO is a must to sell out night after night. We know how to get your restaurant on the internet map. Fudog Media is the best Charleston SEO firm around. Contact us today to discuss how we can drive traffic to your site and have the customers coming to your restaurant in droves!

Reasons Your Website Design is so Critical for Your Business

Gone are the days of the yellow pages, and in its place is the internet. 98% of those surveyed said that they use their mobile device to find what they need. And of those, almost all turn to Google to find local services and businesses to contact. If your website is outdated, lackluster, or it doesn’t contain the most effective SEO tools, you are missing out on significant opportunities to drive people not only to it but ultimately, to your business. These statistics prove a powerful point; investing in your website design is one of the best investments you can make to enhance your bottom line!

Web Design Facts for 2019

People Just Don’t Have the Attention Span Anymore – Website Design and First Impression

Instant gratification is what everyone is looking for whether they admit to it or not. If your website isn’t capturing their imagination, there is a good chance that it won’t capture their business. According to statistics:

Mobile Web Design Facts

Since more people are now using their smartphone to research on the internet than ever before, mobile-friendly designs are much more important. Consumers, on average, check their mobile device at least 150 times a day. So if you want to attract them, you have to target them where they live…their mobile devices!

Slightly less than half of all B2B products are researched for using mobile devices

Currently, as many as 91% of all small businesses don’t have a mobile-friendly design, despite the growing demand for it

If a person searches a company and lands on a non-mobile friendly website, they will go back and search for another one

Digital Marketing Website Design Facts

If you are going to spend the money to upgrade to a mobile-friendly design, it doesn’t make much sense if people can’t find you. That is why you need the additional help of a digital marketing campaign to get your newly updated website seen and used.

E-Commerce Facts

The brick and mortar retail shopping experience is nearly a thing of the past. And in its place, is e-commerce. E-commerce allows internet users to shop for what they want when they want. And users can also comparison shop to find the best price. But just like a storefront’s appearance had a significant bearing on how well it impressed consumers and swayed their purchasing decisions, your website is your new storefront and just as important. What does your digital storefront look like?

So What is Your Website Design Doing for you?

Your website is your first, and sometimes your last, way to make an impression with a potential consumer. If you enhance loading speed and make it more attractive, you can significantly increase your bottom line. But only if you use the best SEO tactics to drive people to see your wonderfully designed site. At Fudog Media we understand how important website design is, and also how critical it is to make sure that internet users see your smart website investment. Contact us today to discuss how we can get you on the map and get those contacts driven to buy!

What is Geo Location and how does it Affect Searches

If you go to a search engine like Google and look for donut shops, there could be literally thousands of shops in the US. So, if you live in Charlotte, NC, you would like to see places that are within driving distance of your home or business. The same is true for someone in Los Angeles because getting something sweet to eat from a Charlotte donut shop is not feasible in Southern California. In fact, your geo location can have a huge impact on those searching for your products or services. Let’s take a closer look at some of the ways that geo location can affect searches.

  • IP Address – Google uses factors like IP address to show searchers the most relevant search results. That’s why when you search for a local business, Google seems to know where you are. They don’t know exactly, but they know the location of your local Internet provider, and this gives them a very good idea of your approximate location.
  • Overriding the IP Address Factor – Google is still very big on search terms so if someone searches for something in a specific location they’ll get businesses in that area. Let’s take the example of the Charlotte donut shop again. Suppose the shop is in Mint Hill, a small town just outside of Charlotte. If you search “donut shop Mint Hill” you will get an exact match because you’re using geo-specific search terms. So, what does this mean? Geo-specific keywords are a good idea.
  • Get Noticed on Google by leveraging SEO, SEM and Geo Location Targeting – Your geo-location is important, and a Google My Business Page can help. In fact, if you have multiple locations, make sure to have a page for each one. Talk to your SEO professionals at Fu Dog Media. We can show you the best ways to get your business noticed locally with location based optimization including SEO, search engine marketing, and social media marketing. Call us today at 1.843.608.8777 for more details.

How Online Reviews Impact Your Page Ranking

Effective search engine optimizing is more than just choosing good keywords and sitting back and waiting for the money to roll in.

In fact, strategies like customer reviews and reputation management can have a dramatic effect on your search engine rankings. Let’s look at how reviews impact your SEO rankings and how you can benefit from them.

  • The Value of Good Content
    At Fu Dog Media, we help clients create beautiful websites with easy to read and informative content. Your visitors like quality content. People are more likely to stay longer at an attractive and professional looking site. Not only do your visitors want quality content, so does Google. They reward you for presenting quality content and not just a lot of “keyword stuffed” paragraphs.
  • So what does this have to do with reviews and SEO rankings? When you add reviews, you increase your content. And this content is relative to your business. Google wants content that is relative to your products or services. If you give Google what they want, you get rewarded.


  • Visibility
    When you want to find out about a company or product, what do you do? You ask others, read information, and research the matter. In other words, you look for other people’s opinions. How many times have reading positive reviews about something swayed your opinion or made you decide to buy something?
  • Increase your SEO ranking and visibility today. By adding reviews to your site (or to other sources like Yelp), you increase your online visibility, and this almost always increases your SEO rankings. Fu Dog Media is here to help you get your site noticed with reviews and many other strategies.

Do I Really Need a Google Business Listing Page?

It’s a free business tool that helps you manage your online presence with the search engine giant, and this includes Google Maps and Google Search. A Google Business Page (from Google My Business) can help a small or medium-size business in many ways. Let’s check out some of the good things it has to offer.


  • Signing Up
    To sign up for your Google My Business page, you need a Google account, and then you’ll have to visit the My Business section. Just supply your business contact information to verify that you run a legitimate business.You’ll get to select what category your page should be listed under. Next, be sure to choose the most relevant keywords for your products or services. You can include as many as 5 videos and 10 images at no charge.
  • Do you have more than one location? If so, you can create a Google My Business page for every location. For example, if you have Charlotte, Monroe, Gastonia, and Rock Hill locations, you should have four separate pages to reach your targeted visitors.
  • Benefits of a Google Business Page Listing
    With a Google Business Page, your business becomes easier to find. Many Web surfers don’t want to search through sites and visit contact pages just to find your location. Once you’re on Google Maps, searchers have your exact address right away. This is the perfect search tool for potential customers out looking for you with their mobile devices. They also have access to your reviews so they can see what kind of business they are dealing with!
  • Style & Font
    What kind of ambiance or atmosphere do you want for your consumers? This is especially crucial if you’re running a restaurant or shop. Picking out the right style and font for your logo can help, providing potential customers with a clue on what they can expect the moment they step through the doors of your shop or business.
  • Advertise for Free
    To check out all the great things that this strategy can do for your business, contact to Fu Dog Media. We offer a free SEO Audit Report of your website ($299 value). Click this link now to get started or for more information call 843-864-9268.

Why You Need to Update Your Website Regularly

Why You Need to Update Your Website Regularly & How a WordPress Support Plan Can Help.

You don’t just start a business and expect sales to just come—and you don’t just build a website and expect traffic and conversions to come either.
If you’re wondering why you need WordPress support or a solid maintenance plan, here are 6 reasons why:

  • 1. Content Marketing—Fresh published content and consistency in adding content is king
    One reason customers will keep coming back to your pages is to check out fresh content on your pages. If you don’t have new posts on your Instagram or Facebook pages, customers might take that as a sign that the business isn’t active and that their inquiries might go nowhere, prompting them to abandon your pages and look elsewhere. If your website is stale and never changes, Google doesn’t put priority on your site, as they are trying to give the latest and greatest and most relevant info to their searchers.
  • 2. Website Security
    Website can become vulnerable to hackers if not updated each month. Plugins, WordPress, and other security measures must be updated each month to ensure your website is safe. Your WordPress support plan will give you peace of mind.
  • 3. Visual appeal—staying up-to-date
    Websites these days don’t look like the website designs we had ten or fifteen years ago. That’s why a WordPress maintenance plan is crucial. If you don’t want your pages to come out looking outdated and boring—and sending potential customers scurrying to your competition—you’ll want to look for maintenance care and assistance to keep your pages looking current and up to date.
  • 4. SEO – Consistency in building depth
    The more depth you add to your website, the better. Search engines like great content and they will reward you for having awesome information on your website. Want to be the top pest control company in your area? Start a blog and write weekly tips and tricks to your audience. This will give you content rich, keyword laced articles that search engines will gobble up!
  • 5. Keep It Mobile friendly
    Your pages must be optimized for mobile devices. If that isn’t the case yet, then you’re putting limits on your target market. With so many people these days going online using their mobile phones or tablets, it makes sense to ensure your pages are mobile friendly. That’s going to ensure access to a bigger consumer base, one that’s important if you want to grow your business and expand market reach.
  • 6. Image quality
    One of the worst mistakes people often make when they fix their own pages is that they put low-resolution images on their sites or their images file sizes are too big. If you want professional results, engaging the services of a team of digital marketing experts will ensure the photography used—along with other aspects of your site—will draw customers in.

Don’t waste your online resources. At Fu Dog Media, we can provide you with the kind of website maintenance services and WordPress support plans, from marketing campaigns that would continue to drive steady traffic to your pages to site changes and updates that would keep your business competitive. Learn more by getting in touch with us today.

Invest in a WordPress support plan today.

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