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Voice Search: 5 Best Practices to Drive Traffic & Improve Rankings

With the rise of digital assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant, voice search is changing how people find information online. In fact, more users are relying on voice search for quick, hands-free answers. The Web Guys is monitoring this shift, which has created a new challenge—and opportunity—for businesses looking to enhance SEO performance. Here are five of the best practices to optimize for voice search and stay ahead of the curve.1. Focus on Conversational KeywordsVoice searches tend to be longer and more conversational than typed queries. Instead of typing “best pizza NYC,” a voice user might ask, “What’s the best pizza place near me?” To adapt, use long-tail keywords and natural language that mirrors how people actually speak. Tools like AnswerThePublic or Google’s “People Also Ask” feature can help you identify common questions and phrases.2. Optimize for Featured SnippetsMany voice assistants pull answers directly from featured snippets (a.k.a. “position … Continued

Is Your Google Ads Campaign Falling Short? 4 Red Flags to Avoid

Maintaining an effective Google Ads campaign requires regular attention and optimization. Just as a vehicle needs routine maintenance to run smoothly, your advertising efforts need periodic tune-ups to ensure optimal performance. The Web Guys of Carmel, Indiana, makes a point of staying on top of digital marketing best practices to help our clients succeed. Read on to learn four critical warning signs that indicate your Google Ads campaign may need a tune-up.

The AI Effect on Click-Through Rates

At The Web Guys, we help businesses succeed online through web design and holistic search marketing. We stay on top of digital trends, ensuring our clients remain competitive in an evolving landscape. One major shift affecting businesses is the decline in both organic and paid click-through rates (CTRs) on Google—largely influenced by AI-generated overviews.

Getting Reacquainted with SEO

The importance of SEO has a way of insisting upon itself. You know it’s important, but you may have lost sight of exactly why it’s such a big deal. Yeah, it’s all about optimizing the search engine, but what does that really mean in the scheme of things? If this resonates with you, it’s time for a refresh, and we’re here for you.

Master YouTube SEO with Traffic-Generating Keywords

Want your YouTube videos to blow up? Of course, you do, but you may have no idea how to make that happen. Fortunately, there’s a handy-dandy keyword research process you can follow. Gone are the days when video marketing was gravy – it’s become a digital marketing staple, and if you’re missing out, your business is paying the price. If you haven’t dipped a toe in the video marketing pool, it’s time to come on in – the water’s fine, and if you’ve already tried your hand but haven’t found your groove, there are tips for you, too.

Keyword Research for SEO in 3 Easy Steps

Keyword research refers to the process of using analytics to identify those elusive keywords that are going to resonate with the audience you’re targeting. By scoping out these keywords, you greatly improve your ability to strategize content and hit your digital marketing goals. While it’s a complicated process, it is very doable – and there are three straightforward steps that can help you get there.

Small Businesses: Surviving the Google Ads Gauntlet

If you’ve ever defied the odds by slipping into your seat at an important meeting in the nick of time – only to discover you forgot the document or file that was your reason for being there in the first place, you’ve experienced that this can’t be happening feeling. In fact, most of us have been there more than once or twice, and when it comes to small businesses, Google Ads is often the stage for these missteps. Yes, Google Ads has much to offer, but there are plenty of chutes and ladders along the way that can leave you wondering where to turn for the help you need. The truth is that small businesses can compete with the major players in the Google Ads arena, but you’re well advised to bring your strongest game.

The Interplay of Site Quality and SEO Chops is Real

Quality is an elusive concept, and the interplay of your site’s overall quality and SEO is no exception. Distinguishing between those sites included in your link outreach that are forwarding your ranking, that are just hanging around and not doing much, or that are actually getting you penalized is an important but challenging matter. The goal is creating quality while bolstering the impact of your link building and reducing your overall risk, so let’s get going.

BMM Keyword Matching Walked So Updated Phrase Matching Can Run

When it comes to your Google Ads, if you are still thinking in terms of broad match modifier (BMM) keywords, you may need to pull over and absorb this next bit. In early 2021, Google began phasing out these keywords and began a targeted expansion of key-phrase matching in its stead. The complete transformation was achieved in July of 2021, which means that any BMM keywords you’re looking to for guidance are now phrase-match keywords masquerading as BMM keywords. And if you rely on both BMM keywords and phrase matching, you may be double-dipping with keywords in a manner that doesn’t behoove you (or your site’s ranking).

Let the Competition Be Your Guide

If your competition is outranking you online, don’t chalk it up to the luck of the draw or to happenstance. There is a reason the other guy has taken the lead on this one, and data analysis can help you get to the bottom of the matter and hone your competitive edge. There’s more to get out of the data that’s available to you than simply identifying the brand of content for which your target audience clamors. When you analyze data in relation to what readers want and what your hottest competition is providing, it can give your online offerings the boost for which you’re looking.