The Latest
SEO Timelines: How Long Does SEO Take to Work?
How long does SEO take to work? It’s a pretty straightforward question with a less straightforward answer. Because that answer (like it always seems to be) is a frustrating it depends. Sorry. I know, that’s never any help. But the answer will never be the same for any two sites because, quite simply, no two sites are ever the same. So, while I cannot give a straightforward answer to ‘how…
4 Critical Website Mistakes Made by Small to Mid-sized Businesses
It’s the 2020s. With few exceptions, all businesses have websites nowadays. Yet despite this, many businesses treat them as a bit of an afterthought. Maybe because websites are complex and intimidating things or perhaps it’s because they can be too expensive to actively maintain. Whatever the reasons, the fact of the matter is that, as a digital marketing agency, we see many businesses squander their website’s potential because of misunderstandings…
Google My Business is Now Google Business Profile
Google My Business (GMB) is going to be seeing some changes in the coming months. Namely, Google My Business will now be branded Google Business Profile, and the Google My Business app will be retired in 2022 in favor of direct profile editing in Search or Maps. Google My Business is Now Called Google Business Profile First, it was simply called Google Local before a rebrand changed it to Google…
Better Reporting for Better Decisions
Yes, it’s that time of year when we start thinking about what we’ll do differently next year. Among the many challenges we all deal with is managing information, and more specifically how we consume information. Often we are not faced with too little information, but far too much. To make well-informed decisions, we need to better focus on the important information while either filtering out or delaying consumption of the…
What your SEO agency doesn’t know can hurt you
No, this isn’t about the competency of your SEO agency. My guess is they’re good; you’ve hired them. This is about communication. The people in your SEO agency are there to help you increase your business by improving the search results among important topic searches. As such, much of the conversation with the agency is about the page copy, headings, title tags, etc. Because site structure does not change too…
Why do we need server-side tracking for Google Analytics?
Before we jump into server-side tracking for analytics it is important to understand the state of website tracking up to this point. For simplicity, we are going to use Google Analytics as the tracking tool for this discussion. But, the same ideas apply to virtually every analytics and user tracking tool out there. How site tracking has worked – client-side Google Analytics tracking code is a bit of javascript that…
Google to Add Continuous Scrolling on SERPs
Last week, Google announced they would be implementing a ‘continuous scrolling’ function on the search engine results page over the next few weeks. Users will no longer need to press a “See More” or “Next Page” button every ten results or so. The page will simply load more results as users scroll down. This new system will load approximately 40 results before users will need to click a “See More”…
Website Analytics and Reporting
I’ve been asked what we use for analytics and tracking. The short answer is Google Analytics (like most everyone.) But, I think a better way to think about it is “how do you use your analytics platform?”, whatever it is. We find that we are creating different implementations for our clients, but every implementation has the same base elements. Below is a general approach to analytics and reporting that we…
Google Ads: Another AI/ML Move To More Data-Driven Automation
As Google continues down the path of AI/ML-driven “everything”, advertisers are left with blind spots. The latest push came when Google announced that last-click attribution will be replaced by data-driven as the default for Google Ads. This, in and of itself, is neither good nor bad. What it means to you depends on your program. One challenge inherent with AI/ML is that it requires consistency with the inputs. And the…
Google Update: How Google Changes Your SERPs Titles
Last week, Google confirmed that they changed the way they generate new webpage titles to appear on their results page (SERP). Does Google Change My Website’s Title Tag? Yes. Although you may not have noticed, Google has long experimented with systems that generate new title displays based on user search queries. Since 2012, they’ve altered titles based on search queries to more accurately represent what the user might be looking…
Google Ads Match Types Lack Meaning
As Google continues to push its belief that the Google Ads AI is better at aligning search queries to advertisers’ needs than are advertisers, the Google Ads Match type becomes less meaningful. From phrase match to exact match, Google increasingly serves ads for queries that are not aligned with the goals of the advertisers. This isn’t to say the queries are not relevant to the general themes of the keywords,…
Seeing beyond our inner geek. A digital marketers biggest challenge
Sometimes a flyer with big black letters printed on bright yellow paper stuck in a person’s front door handle is the best marketing tool. Okay, I said it. The world doesn’t revolve around digital marketing. Sometimes the best answer is the simplest, most straightforward, non technical approach. This is true on the spectrum of marketing. As we roll out digital marketing programs for our clients, there is the temptation (on…
SEO
Automotive Repair Digital Marketing P…
Local auto repair shops generally have engaged owners who enjoy working in the b…
A New Site Design Doesn’t Have …
One of the biggest concerns companies have when redesigning their website is tha…
What Are the SEO Implications of AI?
We’ve been working with clients in SEO for decades, and one of the consistent th…
Before You Change Your SEO Strategy
I had a call from a client in the auto repair industry. He asked if I’d be willi…
Boost Your Plumbing Business: Digital…
Ready to elevate your plumbing business? Discover effective digital marketing st…
Top Chicago SEO Marketing Companies f…
Unlock your business potential with Chicago’s top SEO marketing companies. Disco…
Large Language Models and AI for Loca…
It is mind-boggling to consider how fast AI has become part of our lives. From t…
GOOGLE SUNSETS THE ”&num=100” PAR…
GOOGLE SUNSETS THE ”&num=100” PARAMETER The affects on SEO data, and how it…
Search Engine Marketing for Small Bus…
The Chicago area is a powerhouse of small business innovation. From manufacturin…
A Guide to Auto Shop SEO
A Mechanic’s Guide to Ranking on Google In today’s digital landscape, having a s…
Does Duplicate Content Hurt SEO?
Can Publishing Duplicate Content Hurt Your Search Engine Rankings? Duplica…
The Role of SEO in B2B Marketing
On the surface, SEO’s role for B2B is simple: help generate sales. However, wher…
Do No-Follow Links Help SEO?
First, What’s a No Follow Link? A no-follow link is a hyperlink that looks like…
Technical SEO An Overview
Technical SEO is the process of ensuring search engines can access and easily cr…
The Impact of AI on SEO (So Far)
Generative AI & SEO In the rapidly evolving digital landscape, Artificial In…
How to Improve Your Ranking on Google…
A Guide to Google Maps SEO In the digital age, visibility on platforms like Goog…
Rebrand Your Site Without Losing SEO …
SEO Tips for a Smooth Rebrand At some point in their lifecycles, many businesses…
Citation Building for Local S…
Local Citations & Linkbuilding There are tons of components that go into a s…
Comparing Website Authority Scores (D…
Domain Authority vs. Domain Rating vs. Authority Score One of the primary sellin…
Google Automated Campaigns…use …
Google Ads is a great advertising tool for businesses of all sizes. From interna…
A Beginners Guide to Local SEO
Getting Started with Local SEO If you’re running a small business, you know that…
B2B SEO: Content-Led Strategy
Business-to-Business SEO Strategy B2B SEO is an important strategic marketing to…
Optimizing SEO vs. PPC Landing Pages
SEO vs. PPC Landing Pages Search engine optimization and pay-per-click advertisi…
Managing Change in SEO
SEO is dynamic. That’s no secret to anyone familiar with the field. We see a lot…
21 On-site SEO Areas to Improve Your …
The recommendations for on-site SEO, or on-page SEO, over years, have often been…
SEO Timelines: How Long Does SEO Take…
How long does SEO take to work? It’s a pretty straightforward question with a le…
What your SEO agency doesn’t know can…
No, this isn’t about the competency of your SEO agency. My guess is they’re good…
Google Update: How Google Changes You…
Last week, Google confirmed that they changed the way they generate new webpage…
PPC
Automotive Repair Digital Marketing P…
Local auto repair shops generally have engaged owners who enjoy working in the b…
Keywords, Search Terms, and Search Th…
Your Back to Basics Guide: Keywords, Search Terms, and Search Themes In today’s…
Google Ads Campaign Types Breakdown
Your Back to Basics Guide: Campaign Types Whether you’re new to Google Ads or ju…
Biggest Changes to Google Ads in the …
The 6 Biggest Changes to Google Ads in the Past Five Years Google ads is always…
PPC Audit: A Complete Overview
Pay-per-click (PPC) advertising allows businesses to display ads on search engin…
Google Ads Tracking Offline Conversions
Google Ads provides various tracking methods, from online e-commerce to offline,…
What Is A Google Ads Quality Score an…
What is a Google Ads Quality Score? First things first: what is a Google Ads Qua…
Google Ads – Build Your Funnel …
Improve your Google Ads Conversion by more than 50% Google Ads keeps getting bet…
Why Don’t I See My Remarketing Ads
“Why don’t I see my remarketing ads?” is a question we get asked. Or, some varia…
Amazon Prime Days and Google PMAX Sho…
October Amazon Prime Days ran 10/8-10/9, and they were promoted for weeks prior….
Evolution of a PPC Agency
There is a lot of talk about artificial intelligence in digital marketing and it…
5 Common Mistakes in Google Ads
Maximize the Effectiveness of You Ad Spend Maximizing the effectiveness of your…
Are You Starving Your Google Ads PMax…
Google Ads is in a transition, and while this may initially feel unsettling for…
The demise of Cookies and lessons fro…
As Google Chrome is sent to send Cookies to the dustbin this year, digital marke…
A Guide To Google Ads With Wix
Using Wix to Set-up Google Ads Starting a business is no easy feat and includes…
Google Ads Updates – Feb 2024
Over the past month, the two biggest (but not surprising) announcements have to…
Why is it hard to trust Google Ads AI?
There is no doubt that Google is pushing advertisers and their agencies to imple…
How to Use Remarketing in PPC
The Role of Remarketing in PPC: Strategies for Targeting and Converting In the f…
Google Ads Update: Search Themes in P…
Google Ads Update: Search Themes in Performance Max Campaigns Google has m…
5 Alternatives to Google Ads
Best Alternatives to Google Ads Google Ads has ruled the roost for years when it…
Google Ads: Automatically Cre…
Google Ads: Automatically Created Assets As Google Ads grows and expands its cap…
5 Ways to Prevent Budget Waste in Goo…
Conserving Your Ads Budget Google ads can be a great tool to drive traffic and a…
Geo Targeting Vs Geo Fencing
Geotargeting and Geofencing Compared The line between geotargeting and geofencin…
Google Ads Phrase Match Types Compare…
Should You Switch to Broad Match Keyword? We have all been there. Going through…
Is Paid Advertising Evil?
Are Search & Display Ads Evil? In the year 2023, we have all experienced ad…
5 Steps to Clean Up Your Google Ads C…
Why wait for spring cleaning when the start of the year is the perfect opportuni…
Optimizing SEO vs. PPC Landing Pages
SEO vs. PPC Landing Pages Search engine optimization and pay-per-click advertisi…
Display Campaigns & Brand Awareness
Today, we’re looking at how to build brand awareness with display advertising. T…
Google Ads Match Types Lack Meaning
As Google continues to push its belief that the Google Ads AI is better at align…
All Blogs
SEO Timelines: How Long Does SEO Take to Work?
How long does SEO take to work? It’s a pretty straightforward question with a less straightforward answer. Because that answer …
4 Critical Website Mistakes Made by Small to Mid-sized Businesses
It’s the 2020s. With few exceptions, all businesses have websites nowadays. Yet despite this, many businesses treat them as a …
Google My Business is Now Google Business Profile
Google My Business (GMB) is going to be seeing some changes in the coming months. Namely, Google My Business will …
Better Reporting for Better Decisions
Yes, it’s that time of year when we start thinking about what we’ll do differently next year. Among the many …
What your SEO agency doesn’t know can hurt you
No, this isn’t about the competency of your SEO agency. My guess is they’re good; you’ve hired them. This is …
Why do we need server-side tracking for Google Analytics?
Before we jump into server-side tracking for analytics it is important to understand the state of website tracking up to …
Google to Add Continuous Scrolling on SERPs
Last week, Google announced they would be implementing a ‘continuous scrolling’ function on the search engine results page over the …
Website Analytics and Reporting
I’ve been asked what we use for analytics and tracking. The short answer is Google Analytics (like most everyone.) But, …
Google Ads: Another AI/ML Move To More Data-Driven Automation
As Google continues down the path of AI/ML-driven “everything”, advertisers are left with blind spots. The latest push came when …
Google Update: How Google Changes Your SERPs Titles
Last week, Google confirmed that they changed the way they generate new webpage titles to appear on their results page …
Google Ads Match Types Lack Meaning
As Google continues to push its belief that the Google Ads AI is better at aligning search queries to advertisers’ …
Seeing beyond our inner geek. A digital marketers biggest challenge
Sometimes a flyer with big black letters printed on bright yellow paper stuck in a person’s front door handle is …