• FAQs

          Search engine optimization (SEO) helps businesses drive visits to their website through organic search traffic. Given that the top organic search results receive a third of the clicks, a decline in ranking could be detrimental for your business. Implementing SEO best practices on your website will help to ensure that your web content is seen by as many potential customers as possible. The more visitors you have, the better your chances are of converting those visits into sales!

          Local search engine optimization (SEO) helps local businesses gain visibility by optimizing their local business listings for local search. A business that leverages local SEO will include its address, phone number, local opening times, and exact location in the form of a local citation. The goal is to rank for local searches which are usually performed by people in a specific geographical region looking for a business near them.

          We typically see results within the first 30 to 60 days, but when it comes to SEO, there are many factors at play. It's important to remember that SEO is a long-term strategy and results may not come as fast at you wish.


        • FAQs

          Digital advertising uses the internet to send advertisements to customers who are online through different websites and social media platforms like Google, Bing, LinkedIn and Facebook.

          The price for Google Ads management depends on the monthly ad spend. For accounts with $1,000 in monthly ad spend, the price is $550/month. Between $1,000 and $5,000 a month in ad spend, the price is $950/month. For $5,000 to $10,000 a month in ad spend, the price is $2,000/month. For more than $10,000 a month in ad spend, the price is $4,500/month.

          The price for Social Media Ads management depends on the monthly ad spend. For accounts with $1,000 in monthly ad spend, the price is $550/month. Between $1,000 and $5,000 a month in ad spend, the price is $950/month. For $5,000 to $10,000 a month in ad spend, the price is $2,000/month. For more than $10,000 a month in ad spend, the price is $4,500/month.


        • FAQs

          This depends on the complexity and size of a redesign and if eCommerce is needed. On average, it takes around 14-18 weeks from the web design intensive stage to launch.

          If your website experiences the following issues: it’s not responsive on all devices, has a slow loading speed, the design appears old and tired, users don’t spend long on the site, sales are stagnant, or your business is going through a rebranding - your website needs a redesign to boost your brand awareness and sales.

          Sometimes there’s no need to rebuild a website. Minor edits, refreshing page content and images, or restructuring page layout for SEO best practices can boost traffic and sales.


        • FAQs

          Semantic search launched in 2013 with the release of Google's Hummingbird update. Since then, Google's search engine has become more complex. The integration of machine learning, with RankBrain, and NLP, with BERT, has enabled the search engine to better understand the context of a query and deliver more personalized and targeted results. Semantic SEO is the process of creating machine-readable content using structured data and linked open data to help search engines better understand your content.

          On-page SEO is the practice of optimizing individual web pages in order to rank higher and earn more relevant traffic in search engines. On-page SEO refers to both the content and HTML source code of a page that can be optimized, as opposed to off-page SEO which refers to links and other external signals. From meta tags to page content, website structure, and HTML, on-page optimization services are focused on making your website more visible to search engines.

          Structured data refers to any organized data that conforms to a certain format, such as information in a relational database. When information is highly structured and predictable, search engines can more easily organize and display it in creative ways. Structured data involves using a piece of code that is laid out in a specific format easily understood by search engines. The search engines read the code and use it to display search results in a more dynamic way.


        • FAQs

          An SEO agency has experts in different areas of search engine optimization that may be out of the realm of your marketing team's abilities. SEO can be very complex and time-consuming. Furthermore, as search engine algorithms change it can be difficult to stay current on the latest ranking factors and strategies for improving online visibility. You will likely see a greater return on investment and better results from using a professional SEO agency than you would from tackling this on your own.

          As a digital marketing agency, SMA Marketing provides products and services in four areas: SEO, Local SEO, Digital Advertising, and Web Design

          We focus on building authentic, long-lasting relationships with our clients. We’re goal oriented and results driven and believe in doing good and making a difference in the world.

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Content Marketing Rule #1 – KISS: Keep It Straight & Simple

The internet is full of content. In fact, according to Growth Badger, in 2020, over 600 million blogs were published over 7.5 million blog posts every day. But, sadly, not all of these posts are high-quality content.

Consistent content is essential for any brand, agency, or company looking to get found and create connections. Content marketing is a powerful tool when your content marketing efforts align to serve your target audience.

The latest content marketing statistics reveal that when companies develop straight and simple visual content for their ideal customers, they can strengthen communication with buyers and turn them into loyal customers.

Just hitting publish isn’t going to ensure you provide an excellent customer experience. Quality is just as important as quantity. PwC reports that 86% of buyers are willing to pay more for a great customer experience. 

The content you create for a company will play a significant role in the overall customer experience. A 2021 Zen Desk survey revealed 67% of customers prefer self-service over speaking to a company representative, and 91% of customers would choose to use an online knowledge base if it were available and tailored to their needs.

Let’s Break Down Content Rule #1 for Success KISS: Keep It Straight & Simple

It’s true that some people will get lucky with their content strategy and rank for important terms right away. For most of us, content marketing and Search Engine Optimization are long-term strategies. Sure, there are several ways to get quick wins, but becoming an industry thought leader doesn’t happen overnight.

Search engines are flooded with millions of blog articles, videos, infographics, white papers, and other types of digital marketing pieces every day. Unfortunately, many people never reap the benefits of their content strategy because their content isn’t focused on the right information. A good content strategy requires strategic thought. Having a straightforward and simple approach will help you stay on message.

Say What You Mean: Be Authentic

Want to know the secret to getting people to connect? BE YOURSELF. Today’s consumer is looking for authenticity. If you overpromise or try to be something you’re not, you look untrustworthy. Trust is a commodity that you must earn. By being who you are, you allow your audience to get to know you. People want to do business with people. Let your personality come through in your content. Whether a blog, video, or presentation, let the content reflect your values and personality.

Too Much Creativity Can Be Confusing

Have you ever experienced something creative that didn’t make sense? Creativity is a great commodity that can help you stand out, but you can take things too far. A good example of the Skittles ads. You know the one where the kid has “Skittlepox.” Not only is it weird (which is ok if it’s true) it comes off like they are trying too hard.

Skittles has made this work for them because they have used the tactic consistently. But just because it worked for them doesn’t mean it will work for you. Authenticity and creativity should work together. When looking for a way to express your brand creatively, ensure that you are not pushing away your intended audience. If they don’t get it, you lose. 

Skittles Commercial Photo

Use The Available Channels and Be Consistent

There are a number of great channels to get your content out. Blogging on your own site or sites like Medium, posting to social channels like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and video content marketing on YouTube are just a few. The key is finding where your audience hangs out and engage with them.

With so many free platforms available, a distribution plan for content is another straight and simple aspect. Once you set up your profiles, make sure that the content you schedule on each channel is consistent. The user should be able to know who is speaking to them, no matter whether it’s a blog, video, or social post.

It can be overwhelming to get started on all these channels. This is why simple is a better strategy. First, it’s easier to scale. Second, you want to get a lot of your content out effectively, and trying to “think outside the box” all the time will drain you. Instead, use what you have and create a simplified strategy that will allow you to use all the channels available.

Content marketing is so much more than hitting the publish button. The companies, entrepreneurs, and brands that see success are the ones that have the guts to keep putting out great content even when they don’t see big results. The results will come if you have something to say. Consumers are hungry for great content. They want to engage with various types of content marketing from interesting and authentic people.

Your customers want helpful content with straight and simple answers. Use the channels you have available to you and be consistent. Content marketing isn’t rocket science. Keep it straight and simple and add some creativity when it makes sense.

Are you looking for a simple and clear marketing strategy? Our Simplified Digital Marketing course provides self-paced modules on how to write SEO blog posts for your ideal buyer. It also includes a module on how to create a well-rounded buyer persona.

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Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in November 2016 and has been updated for freshness, completeness, and accuracy.

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