If You’re Not Mobile Ready – You’re Unprepared

The prediction has been in the air for years. But now the stats show that people are searching on the their phones and growing speeds, with no sign of slowing down.  While 71% of businesses see the mobile value 78% of businesses are not mobile ready.  It’s a great advantage to  go mobile right now and stay ahead of your competition.  While many business owners cite cost as an issue most businesses have seen a decline in advertising expenses with the demise of yellow page phone books.  Recognizing a website is now the cornerstone of any and all advertising the shift is beginning.  While pay-per-click is still scary to most business owners investing in your organic website structure is building on solid ground.

Google News for Local Businesses

Recent changes make your Google+ page more helpful to your business.  Google used to display about 7 local businesses in its “maps” section on search results. That number will now be cut to 3 as Google gives more preference to its Google+ pages.  Google set guidelines to optimize the business pages.  Take advantage of it – give Google what it wants, don’t be the business that ignores helpful suggestions from Google.  Too busy to handle this yourself?  Inquire about my Webmaster Services.

Freshen Your Website

If your business is service related make the most of your images.  If your site is more than a few years old at that time keeping images small was the best strategy for user friendly load time on each page.  Now there are many ways to showcase your work with much larger sized images – still optimizing for download speed. There are many options to make your photos interactive (click to enlarge).  Read more.

It’s your website – your business online – grow it, make it shine – freshen it – make it work for you.

Google Mobility Deadline

Google’s mobile friendly deadline of April 21st is fast approaching.  Google has been issuing notices for several months like the one below.  Note: You’ll only receive such a notice if you have signed up for Google’s Webmaster Tools.

google-mobile-ready

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That’s the good news!  Google hasn’t always been forthcoming in major changes it makes affecting search results, so giving advance notice has been a huge help for website owners.

What does this mean? If your website is a desktop version only and you haven’t created a mobile website your site will take a back seat to all the mobile friendly websites for users on cell phones.  The stats continue to climb for people searching on their phones, which is no surprise since we carry our cell phones everywhere.

This mobility issue also applies to blogs.  Google will flag your blog if the theme isn’t mobile ready.  This information isn’t provided this clearly, but revealed in the details.

Beyond Google there are other issues to consider for your mobile readiness.  Make sure your content is viewable on all devices. Flash won’t play on apple devices. Check all link redirects – make sure these are properly configured.  If all your desktop content is not on your mobile site redirect that page to an associated page and avoid an overload of links to the home page.

 

Online Reviews

Reputation management has always been part of every business.  Online reviews have changed the playing field.  Instantly any review is live, with many platforms.

Recent statistics tell us 79% of customers trust online reviews.  Despite controversy over their legitimacy online reviews continue to gain momentum.  Consumers’ comfort is being fostered in part by businesses nurturing their online reviews and improving their internet presence.  In turn consumers use reviews as part of the information about your business in making their decision.

New businesses have sprouted offering to sell you reviews, or “Likes” on Facebook.  Yelp takes serious action against business posting fake reviews.  Don’t pay for reviews.

Yelp has broadened its scope to include not only photos, but now videos.  Clients can post a video taken at your business and upload on your listing page.  You can’t remove these.  Business owners need to be aware and perhaps set policies in place as appropriate.

Yelp has also opened its reviews to more apps and developers, which means Yelp reviews will be popping up on websites and mobile apps more and more.

If you’re feeling vulnerable take heart – there is plenty to leverage here to promote your business.

Reviews help drive your website.  People talking about your business (reviews, adding photos to your listings) catch search engines’ attention.  It’s a good way to stand out.

Managing your online reviews can be a chore.  Happy customers are wonderful and painless.  Any negative review is where you’ll spend your time.   Unfortunately unscrupulous competitors have taken to leaving negative or false reviews.  Taking a proactive approach keeps maximum control in your hands.  Responding to a negative review lets you send a positive message out to potential clients.  Take advantage of the opportunity to engage with your clients.

With so many platforms meet your clients where they are active:  Facebook, Yelp!, Google Business, Pinterest, Instagram…stay connected.

Online Reviews

Google Reviews

Many of you know Google reviews changed once Google+ became a push-for Google.  There is no longer a name associated with the review until the reviewer goes back to his/her old reviews and updates.  Still they have been working for the business owner.

You may have also noticed the “star rating” – up to four stars, but you don’t see any rating for your business.  Until recently Google only displayed a rating when you had more than 30 reviews, then giving a rating.

New rules: Google now will only show a 4 star rating when you have 30 or more reviews within a 12 month period.

Good to know the rules!

Google background

Google

Did you get caught with Google‘s background this week? Yikes. I am pretty easy going, but this was so distracting. I enjoy the white background and simplistic home page for Google. It has everything right where you want it – easy loading page, easy navigating page.  Suddenly on Thursday I landed on Google to find a faded white Google name – and all the navigation buttons white with a drop shadow and difficult to read; and then this slower loading huge image.

Next up how to change it. A handy “change the background” link in the lower left corner. The catalog of choices was few when I was there.  I finally created my own and positioned it to just cover the white Google name.  But, still their choice of white on white with a drop shadow was a bit odd for all the other buttons/links.

Their forums were lit up with unhappy users…and accusations of mimicking Bing flying furiously.  (We DO take our Google seriously.)

Happy to find by Saturday Google abandoned the idea.  Now, you can choose to have an image…or not.  Thank you!  I like a white background.