5 Ways to Boost Engagement on Your Facebook Page
Facebook is a powerful tool for businesses of all sizes. Whether you own a bakery, construction company, or nail salon, you can easily use the platform to connect with customers, build relationships, and promote your brand. However, you need more than a Facebook page to guarantee success. With so many other businesses vying for attention on the platform, it’s important to be active so you can reach your target audience and drive engagement. In this blog post, we’ll explore five ways to boost engagement on your Facebook page and build a stronger presence on the platform, courtesy of Five Rivers Marketing.
Post Consistently
Posting consistently is one of the most crucial factors in building engagement on your Facebook page. When your audience knows they can expect new content from you at certain times, they are more likely to engage with your posts. The average recommended posting frequency is one time a day, but depending on your industry, you may want to post as many as three times a day. Do some market research to determine a cadence that makes sense for your audience, and stick to it.
Create High-Quality Content
In addition to posting regularly, you need to ensure the content you share is high quality and relevant to your target audience. This means creating visually appealing posts, providing valuable information, and crafting engaging captions that encourage interaction. If photography or copywriting are outside of your skillset, outsource these tasks to a freelancer or marketing agency like Five Rivers Marketing to help you build trust and authenticity with your audience.
Use Facebook Live
Facebook Live is a powerful tool for engaging your audience in real-time. You can use it to share behind-the-scenes glimpses of your business, answer customer questions, or even host live events. Facebook Live videos typically receive higher engagement than pre-recorded videos, as they allow your audience to interact with you in real-time and feel more connected to your brand. Consider going live at different days and times to test out when you have the most engagement.
Encourage User Engagement
Another way to boost engagement on your Facebook page is by encouraging your audience to interact with your posts — otherwise known as a call-to-action (CTA). You can do this by asking questions, hosting polls, or running contests and giveaways. These tactics promote engagement and help you gather valuable insights about your audience’s preferences and behaviors.
Respond to Comments and Messages
Finally, it’s essential to respond to comments and messages from your audience promptly. When someone takes the time to leave a comment on your post or send you a message, they expect a response. Responding promptly and thoughtfully demonstrates you value their feedback and are invested in building a relationship with them. This can help build trust and loyalty with your audience, increasing engagement and sales over time.
Responding to comments also helps boost visibility, so the more you engage with users on each post, the more the algorithm will show your content to others. That’s a win-win in our book!
Boosting engagement on your Facebook page requires a multi-faceted approach. By posting regularly, creating high-quality content, using Facebook Live, encouraging user engagement, and responding to comments and messages, you can build a more substantial presence on the platform and connect with your audience in more meaningful ways. Remember, building engagement takes time and effort, so be patient and persistent, and you will see results over time.
Need help in this department? Schedule a free consultation with our team at Five Rivers Marketing, today! We can help you strategize a social media marketing plan that drives results and boosts engagement on your Facebook page. Tap here to get started.
What Are the Top Social Media Trends for 2023?
As we enter Q2, it’s vital for businesses to stay up-to-date on the latest social media trends to effectively engage with their audience and stay ahead of the competition. At Five Rivers Marketing, we have a team of experts who can help you navigate the ever-changing landscape of social media and implement the best practices into your marketing strategy.
Here are the top social media trends to look out for in 2023:
Social Commerce
Social commerce has been gaining momentum over the past decade, and it’s expected to become even more mainstream this year. Social commerce allows businesses to sell their products or services directly through social media platforms, eliminating the need for users to navigate to a different website. This makes the purchasing process more convenient for users, leading to higher conversion rates. Social media platforms can also monetize their network through transaction fees or advertising, making social commerce a win-win for everyone involved.
Influencer Marketing
Influencer marketing has been a popular trend on social media for several years, and it’s not going away anytime soon. Brands will continue to partner with influencers, but there may be a shift towards micro-influencers. Micro-influencers have smaller but more engaged audiences, making them more trustworthy and relatable to their followers. Businesses can benefit from partnering with micro-influencers to build trust with their target audience, especially on platforms like Instagram where authenticity is key.
Short-Form Video
Short-form video has exploded in popularity over the past few years, with platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels leading the charge. In 2023, businesses can leverage short-form videos to promote their products or services and engage with their audience more effectively. This is because short-form video is highly shareable and can effectively communicate a brand message better than traditional text-based posts. Show your followers behind-the-scenes snippets, sneak peeks of new products or services, or answers to frequently asked questions.
User-Generated Content
User-Generated Content (UGC) has been a common strategy among social media marketers for years, but with the rise of TikTok creators, this trend is dominating the 2023 social landscape. This practice refers to sharing, recycling, or reposting content others have created to promote your brand or business. This type of content comes in many forms, including photos, videos, reviews, social media posts, and blog articles.
By encouraging users to share their experiences and opinions, businesses can create a space for engagement and discussion, fostering loyalty and advocacy among customers. UGC can also be a valuable source of feedback and insights, allowing businesses to identify areas of improvement and better understand their audience.
Social Listening
Social listening refers to monitoring platforms for mentions of your brand (or relevant keywords) and using that information to revamp your social media strategy. In 2023, more brands are leveraging social listening to gain valuable information and tailor their social media content accordingly. Social listening can help brands understand their audience’s pain points, preferences, and behaviors, so they can create content that better resonates with their audience and drives engagement.
Social media trends are constantly evolving, and businesses need to stay up-to-date on the latest trends to engage with their audience and achieve their marketing goals effectively. By implementing these trends in 2023, businesses can stay ahead of the competition and create engaging and impactful campaigns that resonate with their audience.
At Five Rivers Marketing, we can help you navigate these trends and implement them into your marketing strategy. We offer a free consultation to discuss how we can help you maximize your impact on social media and achieve your marketing goals. Tap here if you need more help utilizing popular social media trends.
Maximizing Conversion Rates: A Website Designer’s Guide
Definition of Conversion Rate and Why It’s Important for Businesses
Conversion rate is a term often used in digital marketing to refer to the percentage of visitors to a website who take a specific desired action. This action could be anything from making a purchase to filling out a form to signing up for a newsletter. Essentially, the conversion rate measures how successful a website is at achieving its goals.
For businesses, understanding and optimizing conversion rate is crucial because it can have a direct impact on revenue and growth. A high conversion rate means that a significant number of visitors are taking the desired action, leading to more sales and revenue. On the other hand, a low conversion rate may indicate issues with the website’s design or functionality that are preventing visitors from taking the desired action.
Improving conversion rate can also be a good indicator of the overall effectiveness of a website. If a high percentage of visitors are taking the desired action, it suggests that the website is providing value and effectively persuading visitors to take that action. This is particularly important for businesses that rely on their website as a primary source of revenue or lead generation.
In conclusion, conversion rate is an essential metric for businesses to track and optimize in order to drive growth and increase the effectiveness of their website.
Importance of Website Design in Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO)
The conversion rate refers to the percentage of visitors to a website who take a specific desired action, like making a purchase or filling out a form. It’s an important metric for businesses because it tells them how well their website is achieving its goals. A high conversion rate means a lot of visitors are taking the desired action, leading to increased revenue and growth for the business. On the other hand, a low conversion rate could mean there are issues with the website’s design or functionality that are preventing visitors from taking the desired action.
Improving the conversion rate is important for businesses because it can directly impact their bottom line. By making changes to the website design or other elements, businesses can increase the number of visitors who take the desired action, resulting in more sales and revenue. A high conversion rate is also a good sign that the website is providing value to visitors and persuading them to take the desired action. This can be especially important for businesses that rely on their website as a primary source of revenue or lead generation.
Essential Elements of a Conversion-Focused Website Design
A conversion-focused website design is one that effectively guides visitors towards taking the desired action, such as making a purchase or filling out a form. There are several essential elements that contribute to a successful conversion-focused website design.
1. Strong value proposition and clear call-to-action (CTA)
One key element is a strong value proposition and clear call-to-action (CTA). The value proposition is the unique benefit that a business offers to its customers. It should be prominently displayed on the website and clearly communicate the value that the business provides. The CTA is a button or link that prompts the user to take the desired action, such as “Buy Now” or “Sign Up.” It should be easy to spot and clearly communicate what the user should do next.
2. Effective layout and use of whitespace
Effective layout and use of whitespace are also important for a conversion-focused website design. The layout should guide the user’s attention towards the most important information and CTAs, and make it easy for them to find what they are looking for. Whitespace, or the empty space around design elements, helps to create a clean and uncluttered look that makes it easier for users to focus on the content.
3. Easy-to-use navigation
Easy-to-use navigation is also essential for a conversion-focused website design. Users should be able to easily find what they are looking for and access different pages and content. A clear and intuitive navigation system helps to keep users on the website and reduces the likelihood of them leaving.
4. Mobile responsiveness
Finally, mobile responsiveness is crucial for a conversion-focused website design. With the increasing number of users accessing the internet through mobile devices, it’s important for websites to be mobile-friendly in order to provide a good user experience and optimize CRO. A mobile-responsive website will automatically adjust its layout and content to fit the user’s device, ensuring that it’s easy to use and navigate regardless of the device being used.
Best Practices for CRO in Website Design
There are several best practices that businesses can follow to optimize the CRO of their website through design.
1. Testing different design elements to determine their impact on conversion rates
One key practice is to test different design elements to determine their impact on conversion rates. This could include testing different layout arrangements, color schemes, font choices, or CTAs. By testing different variations and analyzing the results, businesses can identify which design elements are most effective at driving conversions.
2. Using A/B testing to optimize design elements
A/B testing is another useful tool for optimizing design elements for CRO. A/B testing involves creating two versions of a webpage, with one key element changed on each version. The two versions are then shown to different groups of visitors, and the results are compared to see which version performs better in terms of conversion rate. This allows businesses to identify which design elements are most effective at driving conversions and make informed decisions about which changes to implement.
3. Using heatmaps and user analytics to understand user behavior and identify areas for improvement
Heatmaps and user analytics can also be useful for understanding user behavior and identifying areas for improvement in website design. Heatmaps show where users are clicking on a webpage and can help to identify areas that are getting a lot of attention or areas that are being ignored. User analytics can provide insights into how users are interacting with the website, such as how long they are spending on each page and where they are dropping off. By analyzing this data, businesses can identify areas of the website that may be causing issues for users and make design changes to improve the user experience and optimize CRO.
Measuring and Tracking Conversion Rates
1. Importance of regularly tracking and measuring conversion rates
Measuring and tracking conversion rates is an essential aspect of conversion rate optimization (CRO). By regularly tracking and measuring conversion rates, businesses can identify areas for improvement and make informed decisions about how to optimize their website design.
2. Tools and methods for measuring conversion rates, including Google Analytics and landing page software
There are several tools and methods available for measuring conversion rates. Google Analytics is a popular and widely used tool that provides a range of data and insights about website traffic and user behavior. It includes a conversion tracking feature that allows businesses to track specific actions that users take on their website, such as making a purchase or filling out a form. This can be a useful tool for understanding how well a website is performing in terms of CRO.
Another option is to use landing page software, which is specifically designed to track and optimize conversion rates. These tools often include features like A/B testing and heatmaps, which can be useful for identifying areas for improvement and making informed design decisions.
3. Strategies for analyzing and interpreting conversion rate data to identify areas for improvement
Regardless of which tools and methods are used, it’s important to have a strategy in place for analyzing and interpreting conversion rate data. This can involve looking at trends over time, comparing conversion rates across different pages or devices, and identifying patterns or correlations between different factors and conversion rates. By analyzing this data, businesses can identify areas for improvement and make informed decisions about how to optimize their website design for maximum CRO.
Utilizing Social Proof and Trust Signals
1. Definition of social proof and trust signals
Utilizing social proof and trust signals is an effective way to improve conversion rates and increase trust in a business. Social proof refers to the idea that people are more likely to take a desired action if they see others doing the same. Trust signals are elements that help to establish trust and credibility with users, such as customer testimonials and reviews.
2. Examples of social proof and trust signals, including customer testimonials, reviews, and ratings
There are several examples of social proof and trust signals that can be incorporated into website design. Customer testimonials are a powerful form of social proof, as they provide real-life examples of how a business’s products or services have benefited others. Reviews and ratings can also be effective social proof, as they provide unbiased feedback from real customers.
3. Importance of incorporating social proof and trust signals in website design
Incorporating these elements into website design can be an effective way to increase trust and improve conversion rates. By showcasing customer testimonials, reviews, and ratings prominently on the website, businesses can increase the likelihood that visitors will take the desired action.
Conclusion
In conclusion, designing a website that maximizes conversion rates is crucial for businesses looking to drive revenue growth and increase the effectiveness of their website. There are several key elements to consider when designing a website for optimal CRO, including a strong value proposition and clear call-to-action (CTA), effective layout and use of whitespace, easy-to-use navigation, and mobile responsiveness.
If you are interested in improving the CRO of your website, consider contacting Five Rivers Marketing for professional CRO services. They have the expertise and tools to help you identify areas for improvement and implement changes that drive conversions and optimize CRO.
It’s important to remember that CRO is an ongoing process, and it’s important to continue testing and optimizing the design of a website in order to maintain and improve conversion rates. Five Rivers Marketing can help you do this by using tools like A/B testing, heatmaps, and user analytics to identify areas for improvement and make informed design decisions.
Overall, by following best practices for CRO in website design and continually testing and optimizing the design, businesses can increase their conversion rates and drive revenue growth. Five Rivers Marketing can help you achieve this through their CRO services.
Why Mobile-Friendly Websites are Essential for SEO and User Experience
In today’s digital age, more and more people are accessing the internet from their smartphones and other mobile devices. In fact, according to data from Statista, over half of all web traffic worldwide comes from mobile devices. This trend shows no signs of slowing down, making it essential for businesses to have a mobile-friendly website.
Having a mobile-friendly website not only improves the user experience for your visitors, but it also has a significant impact on your search engine optimization (SEO) efforts. Google and other search engines prioritize mobile-friendly websites in their search results, meaning that a non-responsive website could be penalized and rank lower in search results.
In addition to the SEO benefits, a mobile-friendly website is essential for keeping visitors engaged on your site. If a website is difficult to navigate or takes too long to load on a mobile device, visitors are likely to leave and go to a competitor’s site. By ensuring that your website is optimized for mobile, you can increase the likelihood that visitors will stay on your site and explore your products or services.
Overall, the importance of having a mobile-friendly website cannot be overstated. Not only does it improve the user experience and boost your SEO efforts, but it is also essential for staying competitive in today’s digital landscape.
What Is Mobile Friendly Web Design?
Mobile-friendly web design, also known as responsive web design, is a design approach that ensures that a website’s layout and content are optimized for viewing on mobile devices. A mobile-friendly website will automatically adjust its layout and content to fit the screen size and resolution of the device it is being viewed on, whether it is a smartphone, tablet, or laptop. This allows users to easily navigate and interact with the website on a mobile device, without having to zoom in or out or scroll horizontally.
Mobile-friendly web design is essential because it ensures that your website is accessible and easy to use for the growing number of people accessing the internet from their mobile devices. It also helps improve your search engine rankings, as search engines like Google prioritize mobile-friendly websites in their search results.
To design a mobile-friendly website, web designers use techniques such as fluid grids, flexible images, and media queries. These techniques allow the website to adapt to different screen sizes and resolutions, ensuring that the website looks and functions properly on all devices.
Overall, mobile-friendly web design is an essential aspect of modern website design, as it ensures that your website is accessible and easy to use for the growing number of people accessing the internet from their mobile devices.
What Are Important Features for Mobile Friendly Website?
There are several important features that a mobile-friendly website should have in order to provide a positive user experience for mobile users. Here are a few key features to consider:
1.Responsive design
A responsive design ensures that the website layout and content adjust automatically to fit the screen size and resolution of the device it is being viewed on. This is important because it allows users to easily navigate and interact with the website on a mobile device, without having to zoom in or out or scroll horizontally.
2. Fast loading times
Mobile users expect websites to load quickly, so it’s important to optimize your website for fast loading times. This can include compressing images, minimizing the use of large, high-resolution images, and reducing the number of redirects and external scripts.
3. Easy navigation
A mobile-friendly website should have a clear and simple navigation menu that is easy for users to access and use. The menu should be prominently displayed and the buttons should be large enough to be easily tapped with a finger.
4. Readability
The text on a mobile-friendly website should be easy to read, with a clear hierarchy and sufficient contrast between the text and background colors. It’s also important to use a font size that is legible on small screens.
5. Touch-friendly buttons and links
Mobile users interact with websites using their fingers, so it’s important to design buttons and links that are easy to tap. This includes using a sufficient amount of space between buttons and making sure that the buttons are large enough to be easily tapped with a finger.
Overall, a mobile-friendly website should be designed with the needs of mobile users in mind, with features such as responsive design, fast loading times, easy navigation, readability, and touch-friendly buttons and links.
Conclusion
If you’re still on the fence about making your website mobile-friendly, consider these additional points:
- Mobile usage is only going to continue to increase in the coming years. By not having a mobile-friendly website, you risk missing out on a significant portion of your potential audience.
- A mobile-friendly website can also improve your brand image. In today’s digital age, users expect websites to be easy to use and accessible on their mobile devices. If your website is difficult to navigate on a mobile device, users may perceive your brand as being outdated or unprofessional.
- Investing in a mobile-friendly website can also save you time and resources in the long run. Instead of maintaining separate versions of your website for desktop and mobile users, you can have a single website that is optimized for all devices. This can save you the time and effort of managing two separate websites, as well as the cost of maintaining two separate sets of content.
If you are interested in making your website mobile-friendly or improving your website’s design, consider reaching out to Five Rivers Marketing for their website design services. The team at Five Rivers Marketing has the skills and expertise to create a visually appealing and user-friendly website that is optimized for all devices. By working with Five Rivers Marketing, you can take the first step towards improving your online presence and reaching a wider audience. Don’t hesitate – contact Five Rivers Marketing today to discuss your website design needs.
Designing for Accessibility: Best Practices for Inclusive Website Design
Accessibility is a hot topic for many web professionals these days. It’s important for your business to be accessible, but it’s not just about compliance. It’s about creating a better user experience.
Accessibility is the practice of making content available to everyone, regardless of ability level or disability. This means ensuring that content can be accessed by people who are blind or have low vision, deaf or hard of hearing, color blind or with cognitive disabilities like dyslexia or attention deficit disorders (ADD/ADHD). Accessibility is also about making sure people with limited mobility can use your website.
Accessibility isn’t just about compliance; it’s about creating an inclusive design that meets the needs of all users. In this article, we’ll delve into the key principles of accessibility and provide practical tips for designing an accessible website that meets the needs of all users.
What is ADA Compliance?
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities. The ADA applies to all organizations that offer goods or services to the public—including businesses, non-profit organizations, and government agencies—and requires them to make reasonable accommodations for people who have disabilities.
This means that websites must be designed and developed in a way that makes them accessible to people with disabilities and allows them to access and use the website’s content and features.
To ensure your website is ADA-compliant, follow the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). The WCAG is a set of guidelines and standards for web accessibility developed by W3C. Accessibility guidelines include text, images, videos, and other content.
Why Does Website Accessibility Matter?
Website accessibility matters because it allows people with disabilities to access and use websites and online resources. Without accessibility, people with disabilities may be unable to access important information and resources, or fully participate in online activities.
In addition to the moral and ethical considerations, there are also legal and business reasons why website accessibility is important. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities, and it applies to all organizations that offer goods or services to the public, including businesses, non-profit organizations, and government agencies. This means that websites must be accessible to people with disabilities in order to comply with the ADA.
Failing to make a website accessible can result in legal action and financial penalties for businesses, as well as damage to a company’s reputation and credibility. On the other hand, designing an accessible website can have numerous benefits, including increased traffic and sales, improved customer satisfaction, and a competitive advantage in the marketplace.
What to Avoid When Designing a Website for Accessibility
1. Ignoring accessibility guidelines
It’s important to follow the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and other accessibility standards to ensure that your website is accessible to users with disabilities.
2. Using inaccessible images and videos
Make sure to use alternative text for images and provide captions or transcripts for videos to make them accessible to users who are blind or have low vision.
3. Using color as the only means of conveying information
Color should not be the only way to convey important information, as it can be difficult or impossible for users with color blindness to interpret.
4. Using small or hard-to-read fonts
Make sure to use clear, legible fonts in a reasonable size to make your website easy to read for all users.
5. Creating pages with a lot of content without proper headings or structure
Use headings and other structural elements to break up long pages of content and make it easier for users to navigate and understand your website.
6. Using pop-ups or other disruptive elements
Avoid using pop-ups or other disruptive elements that can be difficult for users with disabilities to navigate or interfere with their ability to access your website’s content.
7. Failing to test your website for accessibility
It’s important to test your website for accessibility to ensure that it meets the needs of all users. Use tools like the WAVE Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool and manual testing to identify and fix any accessibility issues.
Tips for Designing a Website That Is Compliant With ADA Guidelines
1. Follow the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)
The WCAG is a set of guidelines and standards for website accessibility developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). The WCAG provides guidelines for designing and developing websites that are accessible to people with disabilities, including guidelines for text, images, videos, and other content.
2. Use clear and descriptive headings
Use headings and other structural elements to organize your content and make it easier for users to navigate and understand your website.
3. Provide alternative text for images
Use alternative text (alt text) to describe images and other non-text content for users who are blind or have low vision.
4. Provide captions or transcripts for videos
Provide captions or transcripts for videos to make them accessible to users who are deaf or hard of hearing.
5. Use descriptive link text
Use descriptive link text to describe the link’s destination and make it easier for users to understand where the link will take them.
6. Make sure your website is mobile-friendly
Design your website to be responsive and work well on mobile devices to ensure that it is accessible to users on the go.
7. Test your website for accessibility
Use tools like the WAVE Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool and manual testing to identify and fix any accessibility issues on your website.
8. Make sure your website is easy to navigate
Use a clear and logical navigation structure to make it easy for users to find what they’re looking for on your website.
9. Use clear and legible fonts
Use clear, legible fonts in a reasonable size to make your website easy to read for all users.
10. Avoid using color as the only means of conveying information
Color should not be the only way to convey important information, as it can be difficult or impossible for users with color blindness to interpret. Overall, designing a website that is compliant with ADA guidelines requires careful planning and attention to detail to ensure that it is accessible and user-friendly for all users.
Conclusion
In conclusion, designing for accessibility is an important consideration for any website. By following best practices for inclusive website design, you can create a user-friendly experience that is accessible to people with disabilities and meets the needs of all users. This includes following the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), using clear and descriptive headings, providing alternative text for images and captions or transcripts for videos, and using clear and legible fonts.
If you need help designing a website that is ADA compliant, don’t hesitate to reach out to Five Rivers Marketing. Our team of experts can help you create an accessible and user-friendly website that meets the needs of all users and complies with the ADA. In addition to the ethical and legal considerations, designing an accessible website can also have numerous business benefits, including increased traffic and sales, improved customer satisfaction, and a competitive advantage in the marketplace. By taking the time to design an accessible website, you can ensure that your website is inclusive and welcoming to all users.
What is a dofollow backlink?
Before we can go into what a dofollow backlink is, it is best that we understand what a backlink is and what it does for your SEO.
What is a backlink?
A backlink is simply a link from one website to another website. Backlinks are also called incoming links or inbound links. In essence, these links generate traffic to your website as they direct users from other websites to yours. They are one of the major factors that search engines like Google use to determine how high your site ranks in searches.
SEO is the process of increasing the quantity and quality of traffic to your website through organic search engine results. These results are not paid for. Therefore, you need to work on making your site more visible by using methods such as Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Search Engine Marketing (SEM).
The most important thing you can do when working on improving your rankings is to get more backlinks pointing to your site.
Why are backlinks important?
A backlink is a link that connects one website to another. This is also known as an inbound link, inbound link, incoming link, or inward link.
Backlinks serve as a vote of confidence from one site to another. Search engines interpret backlinks as a signal that others vouch for the quality of your content.
The more backlinks you have from quality sites, the more authoritative search engines believe your site to be.
This leads to higher rankings on SERPs for your target keywords. It’s important to note that this does not necessarily mean you’ll rank higher for any given keyword. Google uses more than 200 different factors when evaluating websites for its search engine results pages (SERPs), and nobody knows what they all are. But most SEO experts agree that backlinks are a significant ranking factor.
Dofollow backlink explanation
A dofollow link is a link that helps in terms of search engine optimization by passing the authority of the origin site to the destination site. This passing of authority is called, “link juice.” Acquiring dofollow backlinks will help improve a website’s domain authority, or domain rating, which in turn, helps to improve keyword ranking.
Dofollow links are not only important for SEO purposes, but also for a site’s overall traffic and referral rates. If a website has a high number of keywords ranking on the first page of Google, it will inevitably be found more often by people looking for information related to that topic.
A standard link is a dofollow link, here is an example: <a href=”http://fiveriversmarketing.com”>Website design and marketing company</a>
What is a nofollow backlink?
Website users cannot tell whether a link is dofollow or nofollow, but search engine bots can. A link containing the attribute rel=“nofollow” tells search engine bots not to follow it and not to pass on any PageRank.
The primary reason for using the nofollow attribute is to manage user-generated content. For example, if you have a blogging platform that allows users to drop links in comments, these links are often low quality or spammy. To keep them from negatively impacting your website’s ranking, you could use the nofollow tag in the comment section code.
Another common use of the nofollow attribute is when you want to link out to pages without giving them any SEO value. For example, you might want to link out to Wikipedia but don’t want to help boost its ranking. In this case, you would add a nofollow attribute to that link.
An example of a nofollow backlink is <a rel=”nofollow” href=”http://fiveriversmarketing.com”>Website design and marketing company</a>
When should you use a nofollow backlink?
Pages you don’t want to endorse
Sometimes you simply need to link to websites that you don’t want to endorse. For example, if your competitor has content that would benefit the user but you don’t want to improve their SEO score.
You may also wish not to link to sites that could offend some users, such as gambling websites. If a user found their way to your site via a nofollow backlink, they should be able to do what they need without running into issues with your website’s owner.
Sponsored links
Sponsored links are an important part of the way the web works. They allow businesses to advertise their products on other sites, and they allow webmasters to make money by referring traffic.
But you can’t just pay someone to link to your site! Doing so goes against Google’s guidelines, and could get you penalized in search results. So how do you reward someone for linking to you without getting caught? By using a nofollow link.
The nofollow tag tells Google not to use that link when calculating a page’s SEO value, or PageRank. This is why most sponsored content and advertising links use the nofollow tag – it keeps them safe from Google’s algorithms.
Are nofollow backlinks bad?
A nofollow link is a link that does not pass any “link juice” to the destination URL. Put another way, you won’t receive any boost in rankings from a nofollow link.
Nofollow links are common in blogs and other sites that allow for user-generated content. They’re also frequently used on sites with limited resources or time to spend on monitoring the quality of their inbound links.
So why do people still get nofollow links? Well, it’s not all about SEO; just because a link doesn’t pass authority or juice doesn’t mean it doesn’t have value. You can turn nofollow links into new relationships, brand mentions, traffic and more.
If your site is purely SEO-focused, then yes: Ignore nofollow links and focus only on dofollow links. If your site has other goals besides increasing search engine rankings, then acquiring nofollow links is not a bad thing. Although you do not get the full SEO benefits of a dofollow link, nofollow links can generate traffic to your website, as well as diversify your backlink portfolio. A natural backlink profile consists of a distribution of both dofollow and nofollow backlinks.
How To Create A Link Wheel For SEO
Creating a link wheel can be an extremely effective strategy for search engine optimization. A link wheel is a collection of links that point to the same page, which includes your website.
Webmasters use this technique in an effort to improve the ranking of their site. The more backlinks a site has, the closer it gets to being considered by Google as a source of good information. This means more traffic and higher rankings.
Link wheels are also a great way to generate traffic to your website without having to pay for ads or other forms of advertising. When webmasters find they have too many links on their own website, they will frequently use a link wheel to direct them elsewhere.
What Is Link Wheel?
Link wheel is nothing but a network of links from one website to the other and finally to the main site. In simple words, to create this, we need to create some blogs and link them with one another. Link wheel creation involves creating web pages and linking the pages to each other and to your main blog.
Tons of online blogging tools allow you to create blog pages and link them back to your main webpage. For a link wheel to be effective, you need to create a wide network of blogs, link them to each other using back links, and then link each of the blog pages to your main website.
Because if you want more traffic on your site, then it is important that you use different ways of promoting your site. And if you want better ranking in search engines like Google then creating a link wheel is one of the best ways.
How To Use Link Wheel Strategy
The idea behind the link wheel strategy is that if you have enough inbound links coming into your website, it will ultimately rank higher on search engine results pages. This is one of the oldest tricks in the SEO book, but it is still effective today.
Keyword analysis is critical for planning link wheel strategies because it helps you to understand what keywords will be used by your potential customers when searching for information related to your products or services online. It also gives you insight into which keywords are more popular than others and which ones are more likely to generate more traffic for your website.
In order to make a link wheel strategy work effectively, you should start with keyword analysis. After you have determined which keywords will drive traffic to your website, it is time to begin building links that point back at your own site.
Are Link Wheels Bad for SEO?
Are link wheels bad for SEO? In simple words, it is not illegal. However, if you are using trashy or duplicate content with incorrect intentions and poor SEO, it will be considered as illegal, and your site will be penalized by the robot.
This is why it is considered as a “Black Hat Style”. Also, we would recommend you not to use any automatic link wheel services as most of them will probably be spammed.
If you have read up on the different kinds of links earlier, you would know that the number of inbound links and the quality of those links determines how well a website ranks in search engine results pages (SERPs). This raises quite a few questions about link wheels: what does a link wheel do to your inbound links? What kind of effect does this have on your rankings? And, perhaps most importantly: is it worth doing at all?
Link Wheel Tips
Linking is an essential concept in SEO that is often seen as complex, but it doesn’t have to be. Link building is a key factor in SEO and should be done properly so that you can gain the most benefits from your efforts. However, if it is not done properly, you will not only fail to achieve your desired results but also run the risk of being penalized by search engines. Link building using link wheels is a popular form of link building and can be very effective for lower ranked sites who do not yet have the authority to attract quality links from other sources.
Link wheels are based on a few simple principles that anyone can follow if they want to build one themselves:
- Only use high quality content (no spun or automated content)
- Don’t use any kind of automation software to create your link wheel (manually create them)
- Diversify your anchor and link profile (don’t always use your targeted keyword as anchor and don’t always use no-follow)
- Create an information hub with unique content and relevant topic pages
- Monitor the website regularly in order to identify broken links, weak spots in the website structure etc.
Other SEO Strategies
Another great SEO strategy would be local SEO which applies to a lot of small businesses. One of the biggest factors is Google Business Profile. Google has many trusted business citations including local business listing sites such as Yelp, Facebook, Twitter, Bing, Manta and more. However you do need to claim your business profiles and fill up their information for them to show up in search engine rankings. Local SEO also includes building citations on the biggest city authority sites which includes the likes of CitySearch, Superpages, InsiderPages and YP (YellowPages).
Learn more about SEO by visit our Search Engine Optimization in Ohio page!
Digital Marketing Tips For Financial Advisors
With the digital age upon us, the way we communicate with prospects and clients has changed. Gone are the days of mailing newsletters and holiday cards; in their place, an infinite number of ways to connect and engage with people by having a online presence. As a financial advisor, your job is to build trust and create relationships with your clients and prospects. To do so, you need to know how people are communicating and what they expect from a professional like you.
Digital marketing for financial advisors starts with a strong website that reflects your brand and presents information about your business — including your work history, investment philosophy, product offerings, and any special offers or promotions you’re currently running. It’s also important to keep the website up-to-date as frequently as possible. Many consumers are turned off by outdated or poorly designed websites — especially if they’re accustomed to high-end design on every other website they visit. Continue reading to find out how you can make a website that will convert visitors into customers.
A strong digital presence can also be achieved through social media engagement on platforms such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram. These sites offer you the opportunity not only to connect with current clients but also to attract new ones. With an active presence on each site, you can share relevant company updates or announcements related to the products or services you offer. There are many ways a financial advisor like yourself can start gaining more awareness through digital marketing.
What Is Digital Marketing?
A lot of our time is spent online, whether we are searching for information, shopping, playing games or socializing online with friends and family. The term “Digital Marketing” is defined as “Digital marketing is the act of selling products and services through channels such as social media, SEO, email marketing, and mobile apps. Basically, digital marketing is any form of marketing that involves electronic devices.” by SEO expert Niel Patel.
Let’s take a look at how companies leverage Digital Marketing today.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO): SEO is the practice of optimizing a website so it ranks higher in search engine results pages (SERPs) like Google and Bing. For example, if you want to rank for the keyword “SEO” on Google, you would need to use SEO best practices to increase your chances of ranking higher than your competition.
Paid Search: Paid Search advertisements are typically displayed as text links or banner ads alongside organic search results on SERPs. The advertisement may be sponsored by a brand or a company promoting a service, product, or event they believe their target audience would find valuable.
Social Media Marketing: Social Media Marketing uses social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn to promote services, products, or events that are valuable to their target audience. Content Marketing: Content marketing is focused on providing valuable content to your target audience instead of selling directly to them.
Website Design: Having a well-designed website is important when creating an effective digital marketing plan. It is important to implement the best user experience to ensure that potential customers do not get discouraged when they are exploring your website.
Now that you have a better understanding of what digital marketing is, and some common categories that fit into the umbrella of digital marketing, let’s take a look at how your financial firm can be involved in these channels.
Build A Website That Converts
Let’s say you have an awesome video on your homepage that explains how you can use compound interest to reach your goals. If people enter their email addresses, they can watch the video. The page should also have a button that takes them to a form where they can download your free guide.
When you perform this method you are able to get their information by just providing them with an awesome video. They get to watch the video for free, but only after they’ve given you their email address by clicking through from the homepage. This is a great way to create a website that does more than just showcase your knowledge.
The website guidefp.com does a great job of having a clear CTA. This will help you generate tons of leads for your business.
Implement an SEO Strategy
Once the website has been set up, it is vital that it is optimized correctly for the search engines. How you set up your site will depend on what kind of content is on your site. If you are a financial advisor, you would want to optimize your site so that when someone searches for “Financial advisor” in Google, your website comes up as one of the top results in the SERPs (Search Engine Results Page).
What is SEO?
SEO stands for “search engine optimization.” SEO is the process of making improvements to your site so it shows up in search results when people search for products or services related to your business. The better visibility your pages have in search results, the more likely you are to attract prospective and existing customers to your business.
We will focus on four main categories of SEO that include on-page optimization, local search engine optimization, technical optimization, and backlinks.
On-Page SEO: On-page SEO refers to the actual text and copy of your website content. Optimizing the copy of your website could improve your rankings for specific keywords. Your first step is to do keyword research through Google’s keyword planner tool and start finding keywords that have a good volume that you would like to rank for. Once you have identified a few good keywords for financial advisors, you can start writing content around them.
You will want to focus on long-tail keywords rather than short phrases. These could include the location you are providing a service in. Instead of just trying to rank for a financial advisor, focus on ranking for a financial advisor in Ohio. When writing content you want to focus on 2-3 keywords max per page and write at least 500 words but typically around 1000 is best practice.
Local SEO: The first step in local SEO for a financial advisor is to optimize your Google My Business listing. This includes creating a unique profile page, uploading high-quality photos that help you stand out, and adding a link to your website. Below is a good example of how Libertas wealth management group has added photos, requested reviews, and added information about their business.
Once you’ve completed the basics, it’s time to look at how you can help Google find your site and make it the top choice when someone searches with related keywords. To start off, ensure that all of your business information is correct, including your address and phone number.
To fully take advantage of Google My Business make sure you add all of your services with description of each service. When adding your services keep in mind the keywords that you choose earlier and implement these into your services. Below is a great example of how a martial arts gym has added all of their service but went into detail of adding keywords like “silat in Springfield” to better support their rankings for that keyword.
Next, focus on creating content that’s optimized for both search engines and local customers. According to Search Engine Land, adding a location to your blog posts helps them rank higher on local searches. In addition, having a clear location on each blog post helps searchers find what they’re looking for faster.
When you’re considering which keywords to use in blog posts and other content, think about using long-tail keywords that are more specific to what you offer instead of broad terms that are more general. For example, a public relations firm might use “PR firm” as the main keyword but might also include “PR agency” and “public relations agency.” Learn more about how google local listings can help your business with local seo here.
Technical SEO: Technical SEO is the cornerstone of a successful SEO campaign, and it’s important to develop a good understanding of technical SEO before you start your campaign.
Knowing the right steps to take will help you create a foundation for your SEO strategy that can help your website rank higher in search engines.
Here are the main components of technical SEO:
Sitemaps, a sitemap is a file that helps search engines crawl and index your website pages. It allows search engines to better understand what pages are on your site, which pages are important, and how they should be crawled.
Schema markup, schema markup is code that uses structured data to help search engines understand the content of your website. When it’s properly implemented, schema will help make your content show up in rich snippets and other knowledge panels in the search results.
Schema can also help you collect more data about how people interact with your site.
Site navigation, having a well-designed website navigation structure is critical for many reasons, including performance, usability, and most importantly — helping search engines discover new pages on your website automatically through links from other sites (i.e., establishing link equity).
Site Speeds, having a website that load faster than your competitors could get your website to rank higher. Google has mentioned multiple times that this is a big contributor to website rankings.
Backlinks: For financial advisors, the search engine optimization (SEO) implications of inbound links are pretty obvious. Google and other major search engines want to show users the most relevant search results, so they place a large amount of value on which sites link to yours.
So, how do you get high-quality backlinks?
The best way to get backlinks is by earning them. Let’s say you write an article that’s really useful to a particular niche. Your readers will share it with their friends and followers on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter. If you have a great piece of content about financial planning for young adults, for example, your readers might share it with other 20-somethings they know. When those readers click through from their social media profiles to your site, Google notices that they just came from a “high quality” website (in this case Facebook) and that they visited your website after clicking on a link there. This helps your site rank higher in the search results than competing sites that don’t have backlinks from Facebook or other highly reputable sources.
Another great way to get links is to do guest blogs on websites that are related to your niche. For example, if you are a financial advisor you can visis the write for us page of the website personalfinanceanalyst.com to create content for them for exchange of you linking to your own website in the article.
Stay Consistent On Social Media
Having a social media presence is a great way to stay connected with your existing clients, connect with potential new clients, and help brand your business. But if you’re not careful, it can also be a major time suck and completely ineffective.
The key to success on social media is to stay consistent. With so many different platforms, it’s hard to know where to focus your attention. The best approach is to set specific goals for each platform and share valuable information that will help people.
For example, LinkedIn is great for connecting with potential new clients. Facebook is good for reconnecting with old friends and family, sharing industry news, and getting the word out about articles or blog posts you’ve written. Twitter is good for staying up-to-date on industry news, connecting with influencers, and engaging in conversations about topics relevant to your industry.
Put together a social media game plan outlining how you’ll use each platform. Then follow through on that plan consistently. Also, make sure you have someone monitoring each channel throughout the day so you don’t miss any opportunities or important posts from influencers. Social media can help your business by bring awareness to your firm.
Conclusion
As a financial advisor, your success is dependent upon the quality of the information you share with your target audience and how often you interact with them. The more frequently you can engage with prospects and clients and the more detailed that information is, the better chance to be successful with digital marketing.
For financial advisors, digital marketing means more than just having a website or sending out newsletters. It’s about building relationships that lead to new business opportunities. Successful digital marketing for financial services is about providing your target audience with relevant information in an engaging manner.
The most important aspect of digital marketing for financial advisors is creating content that solves problems for your target clients. The goal of this content should be to educate your audience so they are empowered to make better decisions and take action steps on their own without having to contact you directly. This type of article-based content strategy helps establish you as an expert in your field and increases engagement with your brand by pushing readers deeper into the sales funnel through effective messaging and calls-to-action (CTAs).
Can Social Media Marketing Really Help Your Business
What Is Social Media Marketing?
Social media channels can be an effective tool for business owners to raise brand awareness, increase engagement and drive traffic back to a website.
Social media marketing tactics include:
- Creating a social media marketing plan to outline goals and objectives
- Using social media platforms as a customer service tool
- Engaging with customers through Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and other social networks
- Promoting blog posts on social networks as a way to gain increased traffic back to a website
Social media marketing (SMM) is the use of social media platforms and websites to promote a product or service. SMM, or social media marketing, is becoming increasingly popular rather than e-marketing or digital marketing as stated by Investopedia.
Social media marketing has proven over the years to be a valuable asset in online marketing. In fact, social media is one of the most important marketing tactics when it comes to increasing engagement and awareness. Social media campaigns involves taking advantage of online platforms, such as Facebook and Google+, to promote a brand or a cause.
Get Specific
Why Is Social Media Marketing So Popular?
Many small businesses don’t consider integrating social media marketing into their digital marketing strategies. The reason behind this may be that social media seems so informal and improper.
TIP: you can use social media for more than just sharing photos of your cat. You can turn to social media presence to communicate with your audience, control your online image, and educate, entertain, and inspire visitors.
- Because social media provides so many opportunities for communication, it has become wildly popular.
At the end of the day, social media is all about being social and increasing brand awareness, and there’s no denying its popularity. Facebook has more than a billion users and accordingly, it is an excellent channel for you to build relationships with others and express yourself in a meaningful way.
- You have the ability to control how you present yourself online.
The advent of social media has given us all much more control over how we present ourselves online. If you have received bad reviews on Yelp, you know how devastating this can be to your business. Sites like Yelp may be great for consumers, but not so much for businesses that feel they were unfairly treated.
Social Media Content Marketing Explained
Social Media Content marketing uses the Internet, social media, and other digital channels to help a company publish its content. This content is created to help inform or educate consumers about a product, service, or industry.
Content marketing is used by companies to educate, inform or entertain potential customers or prospects. A content marketing strategy involves promoting your business through a variety of marketing techniques, including social media and blogging. Online marketing is usually done through web and social media platforms instead of direct email or television commercials.
Content marketing aims to interest consumers in a product or service and then convert that interest into sales. The type of content that is published varies depending on the purpose of the campaign.
Benefits of Social Media Marketing
Social media has become an integral part of the modern world. Today, every company has its own social media account where it can engage with customers. If you are serious about marketing your business online, social media can be an extremely effective tool for you. This blog post lists some interesting facts about social media users for you to take into consideration.
- The number of people on Facebook is more than the number of people in the USA
As of this writing, there are approximately 329 million people living in the United States. In comparison, there are over 2.89 billion people that use Facebook in some capacity sourced from statista.com. More people use Facebook than live in the United States. As mentioned above, one way to reach a wide audience with your business is through targeted social media accounts.
- There are more 18-year-olds on Facebook than 65+ year olds
It is often assumed that older people use Facebook because it is popular among young adults. However, the fact that it has been around for several years suggests that there are other factors involved. The truth is that there are roughly 580 million 18-year-olds on Facebook who have accounts.
- Nearly 80% of the users make their purchase decision with the help of Instagram.
While those with smaller followings may generally be cheaper, due to increased demand. A post by a micro-influencer will cost you anywhere between $1-$50. Between $250 and $2000 are the typical prices for posts from large and celebrity influencers.
- Social Media is a great tool to gain insight into your target customers
Social listening tools enable you to gain deep insight into the way customers and potential customers think about you, based on what they say on social channels.
How Social Media Marketing Can Help Your Business Grow
A social media marketing strategy promotes a business’s products or services on sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. It’s an effective way to promote your business, but it can be tricky to master. Here’s how you can get started…
Proving Your Expertise. The more you interact with your audience, the more likely they will view you as a knowledgeable source in your industry. Word-of-mouth marketing can take place when people like and share your content.
Helps Build Relationships. Social media is not only about sharing interesting links, photos, and videos with your followers. Social media can be used to build trust and encourage your audience to engage with the content you provide. Social media marketing is not only about being social but also helps you determine how you can stand out from the crowd.
Cost Friendly. Although social media marketing is not entirely free, it’s very economical. Yes, posting content throughout social media is free, but it’s the time that costs. Time is money; every hour spent learning a new process or task is an hour that could have been spent on making money for your company.
Organic Search Results. Believe it or not, social media has a significant impact on search engine optimization. If you want to optimize your website for organic search results, make sure that your content is shareable and engaging to people who may eventually visit your site via organic searches.
Conclusion
Social media is an important channel for communication with consumers and is therefore here to stay. It enables companies to communicate with customers, get feedback, and disseminate information about current and future products and services. As more major companies embrace social media, small businesses must follow suit. To keep your company competitive, devise a social media marketing plan that supports your business goals and satisfies your customers.
Five Rivers Marketing is a digital agency that provides the Dayton area with high-quality social media marketing services. Learn more about our expertise and services today!
How To Do Digital Marketing In Rural Areas in 2023
Rural communities are seen as a new untapped opportunity. Rural areas offer challenges to online retailers. For example, they have not been able to take advantage of business opportunities in the same way as urban shoppers. This also has to do with rural customers being hard to access, due to their locations.
Despite advances in technology, there are many challenges to marketing digital products to rural customers. This article describes some ways that marketers can apply to conduct digital marketing in rural areas.
One of the main challenges faced by marketers is reaching out to the rural customers base via digital channels. Since they are scattered across unconnected roads, mountains, and rivers, marketers have limited options for reaching them through traditional channels.
Here Are Some Ways In Which You Can Overcome This Challenge:
Young people living in urban areas today use mobile apps while commuting, doing household chores, and socializing with friends. Not that many rural customers are using their cell phones as much as urban customers, but advertisers can still reach them. Partnering with local businesses can help you reach out to rural customers through social media campaigns.
Try a campaign you have done in the past. Rural communities and rural businesses are becoming more connected to the online world as time passes. If a campaign failed a year ago, it may be more relevant now and may produce a positive return on investment.
Marketing and advertising should be done through social media in rural areas. Social media can help a business connect to its local customers, allowing for greater transparency between the business and its consumers. Start a Youtube channel and a Facebook page to market your business to large audiences. These two platforms are the most popular social media channels and offer businesses alot of growth potential.
Understanding The Importance Of Rural Marketing
Rural digital marketing research is an important part of modern business. There is a significant amount of the population who live in rural areas. This segment of the population is underserved in the digital world.
Rural Digital Marketing is a system that provides rural consumers with access to digital content through mobile devices and computers. Rural consumers do not have as large of a selection when it comes to products or services they can purchase. Rural Digital Marketing strategies provide this group with access to information and products that they would otherwise not have access to.
Rural digital marketing services provide information and products to consumers who do not otherwise have access to them. For example, many people living in remote areas of the country do not have high-speed internet access and therefore cannot visit most websites offering consumer goods and services.
People in rural areas can be provided with consumer products and services using technologies such as text messaging or email.
Digital Marketing in Rural Areas is Cost-Effective
All in all, it is worth your small business investing in marketing campaigns digital products and services to rural customers.Rural customers are often less familiar with what is available in your industry. This presents an opportunity for you to be the first to reach out and introduce yourself. By using a combination of the above mentioned ideas, you can go about digital marketing in rural areas successfully.
Five Rivers Marketing is a full-service marketing company located in Dayton, Ohio that focused on website design, social media marketing, PPC ads, and search engine optimization. Contact us at info@fiveriversmarketing.com if you need a business to take care of your marketing strategies.
