4 Reasons Why You Should Not Underestimate Mobile SEO
In a previous article titled, ‘Is Your Website Mobile Friendly? Find Out Why It Needs To Be’, we explored an update in Google’s ranking algorithm which was designed to ensure that ‘mobile friendly’ websites receive greater exposure in mobile search results.
This change is widely acknowledged to be a positive move because as most of us have experienced at some point in the past, trying to use a non-mobile
friendly site via your phone or tablet can be tricky best and impossible at worst.
Why Are Things Changing?
There can be little doubt that the world has gone mobile. There are few places that you can go where you will not encounter someone using some form of smart-phone or tablet and because many of these devices offer the benefits of using laptop or desktop but in a mobile form, who could blame them?
A study undertaken by Search Engine Watch during the summer of 2014 shines a spotlight on just how ‘mobile mad’ the world has gone and this trend is showing absolutely no signs of slowing down.
With smart-phones and tablets doing battle with more traditional computers as primary method of obtain online information, and print, television and other traditional advertising avenues giving way to the power of online and mobile channels, this is a move that has sent shock waves through the business world.
Staying Ahead of the Curve
To help stay ahead of the effective advertising curve, forward thinking business owners are now beginning to turn away from traditional marketing channels and are instead embracing the new ‘mobile age’.
SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) is a stalwart of the new age marketing techniques for many businesses and it is now beginning to break new boundaries by factoring mobile optimisation into the mix.
If you are undecided whether to explore this marketing medium, we have outlined 4 interesting facts which may help to sway your mind.
No. 1 – Mobile searches are on the increase – There is an irresistible move towards the use of mobile devices becoming the primary search method amongst internet users.
With recent figures indicating that as many as 50% of all internet users are making their search on a mobile device, and as many as 88% of all users opting for this medium if searching for a local business!
No. 2 – Mobile traffic is on the increase – During 2012, ComScore made the bold prediction that mobile generated traffic would overtake 
desktop generated traffic by the year 2014.
Whilst many people found this prediction unlikely to become true, Search Engine Watch last year reported that this was actually the case.
No. 3 – An increasing link between mobile searches and local intent – When mobile internet users are looking to make an in-store purchase, up to 50% of people use their mobile device to search for a local business.
No. 4 – The link between purchasing behaviour and mobile SEO – comScore highlighted that smart-phone and tablet users spend as much as 66% of their time online searching for online retailing opportunities.
With facts and figures such as these, do you want to miss out on tapping into this potentially lucrative market?
Contact Us
If you would like to discuss this in further detail, please give our team a ring on Tel. No. 01883 372488 and we will be happy to answer any of your questions.
7 Reasons Your Website Must Be Mobile Optimised
Does your website perform as well when viewed through a mobile device or tablet as it does when viewed through a computer?
With the emphasis very much moving towards people using mobile devices as their primary means of browsing the internet, if your website is not mobile optimised (aka responsive), your business is about to be left behind.
Still a little unsure? Below we have identified 7 facts that will help to make up your mind.
1. A Change in Browsing Habits
Recent figures highlight the fact that as many as 80% of all online adults are now in possession or have easy access to a smartphone/tablet.
Source = GlobalWebIndex’s 2015 Q3 report on trends for smartphones, tablets, smart TVs and wearables.
2. The Balance is Shifting
Whilst reports regarding these figures are scarce, a report in 2014 claimed that smartphones and tablets now account for 60% of all online traffic.
Source = ComScore: Major Milestones in May 2014
3. Focusing on Local Areas
Up to 40% of all mobile users search at least once per month for services/products from a business based in their local area.
Source = BrightLocal Mobile Consumer Survey 2015
4. Are you being Searched For?
Whilst all local businesses are generating increasing numbers of searches, some markets are more popular than others. However restaurant / cafes (58%), general shops (32%) & doctor / dentists (27%) are the most popular.
Source = BrightLocal Consumer Mobile Survey 2015
5. Not Just Online Business
Up to 52% of mobile device users consider the physical address of a business to be the most important piece of information that they can access on any
website.
This indicates strongly that they are intending to visit your business in person.
Source = BrightLocal Mobile Consumer Survey 2015
6. User Friendly Websites
Up to 61% of customers are more likely to contact a local business if their website is user friendly and optimised for mobile use.
Source = BrightLocal Mobile Consumer Survey 2015
7. Outstanding Conversion Rates!
Up to 78% of mobile searches relating to products and services available from local businesses are likely result in a purchase.
Source = 2014 Local Search Association Conference
Further Information
Footprint specialise in creating bespoke websites designed to help take your business to another level. We have been providing SEO Surrey since 1998 and if you’d like to speak to us regarding any of our services, give us a call on 01883 372488 or contact us via Facebook and we’ll be happy to talk you through your options.
3 Tips To Boost The Effectiveness of Your Blog
It is important to ensure that you do not underestimate just how powerful a tool your blog can be. However, despite benefits including:
- Creating brand awareness
- Demonstrating industry expertise
- Engaging your potential customer base
- Generating leads.
- + many more
It is a fact that many blogs are not correctly optimised for use and are therefore unlikely to fulfil their potential.
The good news though is that implementing just a few ideas can make all the difference in regards to usability and below we have highlighted 3 tips to help you along the way.
No. 1 – The Correct Use of Categories
Categories are a key component of any blog. Along with ensuring identifying and accessing archived content becoming much easier, the use of categories for your content also helps to classify and silo your content into topically themed pages.
Please Note – It is important to ensure that you limit the number of categories your blog utilises. It can be all too easy to misuse categories, with a common mistake being the creation of a new category for each post that is added. For any small to medium sized blogs, somewhere from 10 to 15 categories are likely to be all that is needed.
No. 2 – Take Steps To Vary Titles and Tags
The vast majority of bloggers are well versed in the importance of targeting relevant keywords in their efforts to get their blog noticed. Whilst 
including keywords and keyword variations in your copy is good practice, don’t stop there! Varying the title of the blog post and the title tag element is another crucial step in helping to enhance the effectiveness of your blog.
Failure to do this will not negatively impact SEO but by taking the steps needed to vary your article title and title tag and working in alternative keywords, your content will be able to work even harder for you.
Top Tip – The more keyword variations in your content, the more opportunities your content has to rank in more searches.
There are a number of SEO plugins that allow you to vary post title and title tag, but our personal favourite is the free – WordPress SEO Plugin
No. 3 – Add Sharing Buttons
The additional of social sharing buttons is a proven prompt for people to share content resulting in the improved distribution of your content via social channels. This can also help to expose your content to new audiences.
From an effectiveness perspective, the more people that share your content, the greater the chances of getting mentions and all important back links. Also sharing helps your content get discovered faster; and the quicker it’s found, the sooner it shows up in the index.
Shareaholic is our favourite social sharing plugin for WordPress and can be easily installed.
For some additional tips relating to blogging, please check out the following video from the great team over at MOZ or contact the web design Surrey team at Footprint Web Design.
