SEO Archives - GRIDNYC

Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test

While Google is still testing and fine-tuning its Local search page’s info structure and User Interface (UI), it is obvious that Google values “Mobile-friendly” as one of the major website attributes because it will offer a much better User Experience (UX) on mobile devices.

On a 11/18/2014 post by Google: A mobile-optimized site will get a “mobile-friendly” label on mobile search results, “We see these labels as a first step in helping mobile users to have a better mobile web experience. We are also experimenting with using the mobile-friendly criteria as a ranking signal” (source: Helping users find mobile-friendly pages)

To test if your website is “Mobile-friendly” by Google’s standard

Simply type your site’s URL in Google’s Mobile-Friendly Testing Tool, it will give you indication if the URL meets the requirement, it may even provide extra findings for you to address.

For example, below is a screenshot of our website homepage testing result:

Tags: Google, Highlight, Local, Mobile, SEO|

Best Time to Grow Local Business Online!

We added “Business Local” Website + Online Marketing service in 2014 because the internet/user environment and the necessary tools are all maturing. For businesses focusing on local consumer market, NOW is the best time to take action.

Please see our approaches (#1 & 2 below) and our comprehensive development steps (#3) in detail:

1. Develop an Actionable Online Marketing Plan

Local search on mobile devices and PCs are opening up marketing opportunities that have never existed before. (That is, a “game changer”. See 2014 Local search survey by moz.com)
Regarding social media: “Social (media) has proved it’s not just another fad and has proven to be a long-term online marketing solution. Each day you wait, you are missing out on new ways to engage new and existing customers” – LocalVox
Various online marketing tools and services are out there. Pick the ones that best fit your business.
The best part about social media and local advertising: many of them are FREE, some are “pay-per-use”, and all can start small until you are ready to scale up to meet larger needs.

“Google Places” case examples. Now named “Google My Business”, it’s one of the free tools.

2. Use a Flexible Web Tool that Can Adapt to the Fast-Evolving Online World

Websites are the hub of many online activities. More and more online functions and controls––many of them marketing related––can be integrated into websites. WordPress, the open source web-building environment, is the leading example with such adaptability. (See infographics and the video below).
We started using WordPress since 2010 and we highly recommend it:

WordPress is the fastest growing web platform, already powering millions of websites worldwide, including many FORTUNE 500 companies’. It is here to stay!
Its Content Management System (CMS) is great for site owners to have direct content control.
WordPress has thousands of plugins to extend website functionality. As a result, site development is often faster, more flexible, and less costly than other methods.

A super-brief intro of WordPress, listen to what “websmart” people has to say about it!

3. We Will Build Your Website within this Context

Business owners know their products, services, customers, and promotion methods best; but very often, they do not know enough about how to make use of online market drivers.

GRIDNYC, with more than 12 years of website-building, online marketing, branding, and UX/UI design experience, is now offering a unique service to small businesses and entrepreneurs in the Metro NYC, Queens, and surrounding areas.

We will co-develop with you, a website structure to meet your business requirements.
We will develop an understanding of your marketing needs, ideas, and even your marketing “wish list”; brainstorm other possibilities with you and identify/evaluate online marketing components for your website.
We will assist you in registering your own domain, hosting, setting up email and other accounts, if necessary.
We will suggest marketing and branding oriented site content, text and visuals, if necessary.
We will build your website in stages and fine-tune the site, all while promoting efficiency in establishing your website.
We will guide you through the CMS (Content Management System) so you will be able to update your website and have direct control of the site content
We will guide you through SEO* (Search Engine Optimization) basics and teach you the marketing concept behind it.
*SEO involves high level marketing strategy and is fundamental to online marketing. It is beneficial for the business owner or the head of marketing to understand the basics.

Business Local Website Pricing

Call us at 917-957-9323 or use email form to arrange a Free consultation!

Tags: Highlight, Mobile, Online Marketing, SEO, WordPress|

MOZ survey result: 2014 Local search factors

In 2013 Google released Local carousels and New Google Maps, in June 2014, released Google My Business, combined with the Pigeon algo update; these are all major factors changing the Local search landscape.

moz.com conducted an in-depth survey of industry experts and published The 2014 Local Search Ranking Factors result.

Below is a chart from that 9/15/2014 report which provides a summary:

Check your business citation: PowerListing’s diagnostic scan

Tags: Google, Local, SEO|

GRIDNYC offers multilingual SEO service

For advanced SEO, GRIDNYC has teamed up with SEO specialist Pedro Ramirez. Together, we offer professional web development and full-range of online marketing services*.

Mr. Ramirez holds a degree in Computer Engineering from the University of Malaga (Spain), and an MBA from the University Alfonso X el Sabio of Madrid. He has worked in Europe in the IT industry. Currently based in New York City, he works as SEO and digital marketing consultant for companies such as d-hairemoval US, Granite Finances, American Entrepreneurship Today, Thabuca Wine Tours, and Alegra Psychology Spain.

*If you are targeting multi-language market, in Queens locally or nationally…
GRIDNYC can add Spanish, Chinese, and Korean elements (and many other extras!) into search engine optimization. Feel free to contact us for a demo.

Pedro’s d-hairemoval SEO Case Example:
Pedro participated in the Search Engine Optimization of d-hairemoval US website in 2013. d-hairemoval belongs to a European beauty brand d-beautygroup which operates more than 120 stores worldwide. When they began their business in the U.S. (New York City and Miami), they didn’t have either a well ranked website on Search Engines or good Digital Marketing strategies, therefore their website had very little traffic.

After completing their new website with SEO implemented, the changes arrived quickly. Their old site ranked on the 21st page on Google. One week after the new site went live, it reached the 3rd page. After two more months it was ranking on the 1st page for one of the most searched keywords in New York City. Their team increased the daily and monthly traffic three-fold during the first three months and now they are receiving more than 20 times the traffic than in the beginning.

Tags: Highlight, Multi-Language, Professional Service, SEO|

How Google search works… explained in 3 minutes

Here is a short YouTube video that explains how Google search works, by Matt Cutts–one of Google’s star engineers. It is by far the most detailed explanation packed in 3 minutes.