Q. What Does SEO Mean?

A. SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. This is the process of developing a website onsite and offsite to attract search engine robots (aka: bots) to pull in traffic organically (without paid search advertising).  The more visibility your pages and posts have in the search results, the more traffic your site will receive. And the best part of SEO is (if done correctly) that it will pull in the most qualified prospects compared to almost any other type of digital marketing medium. And for the cost for SEO services is typically much less that what a business would spend in pay-per-click advertising campaigns.

Q. What is an SEO Specialist?

A. An SEO Specialist is a web development professional who focuses on helping web designers and developers to create websites that are SEO friendly. This means that the website will be built to meet the requirements necessary to attract search engine bots organically (without using paid advertising).

Q. How Does SEO Work?

A. SEO (aka: Search Engine Optimization) is the method of creating a user friendly website that attracts search engine bots organically. SEO friendly websites are carefully developed and structured to be user friendly and with content that consists of well researched and relevant keywords and phrases that presents an authoritative approach.

Q. What is On-Page SEO?

A. The process of SEO has different dimensions. The first (and most important) is what is referred to as On-Page SEO and involves the actual structure of the website template and also the content developed within the website. Before development of a website for SEO, major research is performed to select keywords and phrases based on the services and/or products that are offered by the site’s owner. The research results will guide the way to structuring the website and deciding upon what type of content to create throughout the entire site. This same method will be used to add on additional content throughout the existence of the website and to keep the site fresh and competitive.

Q. What is Off-Page SEO?

A.Another important part of SEO is what is called Off-Page SEO. In this phase of development, the SEO Specialist and the digital marketing team will establish backlinks to the website in process. This technique is performed in an effort to establish site quality. Backlinks are also referred to as ‘inbound links’ or ‘incoming links’ and are links (aka: uniform resource locators or ‘URLs’) that connect from one website to another. These links are similar to a referral. In other words, if a separate website allows or chooses to connect a link to another website (separate from its own), it very much acts like a suggestion (from another online entity) to visit your website for a specific type of information.

If the backlink is relevant to the content, the search engines appreciate this technique. However, in the case of what is called ‘Blackhat SEO’ backlinking, the search engines will frown upon it. Blackhat backlinking is the method of producing fraudulent or irrelevant interlinking. This is a technique that is used by the not-so-honest SEO pros out there. Often times, Blackhat SEO practices will work for a short time, but eventually, the search engines catch on and the consequences can be costly. In some cases, websites are completely blacklisted and the site owners are forced to start from scratch. They have to build a whole new website. This is why it is imperative to make sure you are hiring a credible, Whitehat SEO agency or consultant from the beginning. These are professionals who develop websites and content with integrity and play by the search engine’s rules.

Q. What is Local SEO?

A. Local SEO (aka: Search Engine Optimization) is the process of optimizing a website for a specific location or geographical area. This is extremely beneficial for businesses that are targeting primarily local residents and businesses to visit their site. Some good examples would be your local hair stylist, auto dealers and repair specialists, dentists,  medical professionals, restaurants, realtors, and companies offering repair, construction, HVAC, plumbing and other maintenance services.

Q. What is Technical SEO?

A. The term ‘Technical SEO’ refers to all of the technical strategies associated with building a website specifically for search engine optimization. This is also a part of the On-Page SEO process. Many of these tasks are performed by the web designers and programmers, but often are at the direction of an SEO Specialist or an SEO Consultant.  Technical SEO tasks typically involve correcting coding errors and other techniques to increase the speed of a website. A website’s site speed is another important part of what will attract the search engine bots.

Q. What is SEO Copywriting?

A. SEO copywriting is part of the process of developing a website to be optimized to attract search engine bots organically (aka: without paid advertising campaigns).  The written content of a website built for organic optimization is well researched for the top relevant keywords associated with the website in progress. The copy will also be written to provide informative and useful information for online visitors. As this is the primary intent of the search engines to provide an informative resource tool. The written content will also be structured with a breadcrumb approach to help guide the user carefully through a website encouraging longer visits (which in turn will help to increase more sales). At LMD in Miami, our SEO copywriters are experienced and skilled at producing top quality content and technique.

Q. What is Black Hat SEO?

A. The practice of Black Hat SEO is the system of utilizing bad techniques in the attempt to optimize a website for organic optimization.  The techniques that these dark digital marketers use are considered unethical by the search engines and are often just plain annoying for online users. One of the top strategies blackhat SEO strategists use to try to rank high organically on the search engines in search results is by establishing fraudulent or irrelevant backlinks. A good example is when you are browsing online and click on a link that draws your interest; only to find you have been directed to a page that has absolutely nothing to do with what you were looking for. Sites that utilize these types of blackhat strategies may receive a rise in organic traffic temporarily, but most often, it is only a matter of time before the search engines catch on. When they do, the website is penalized. It is not uncommon for a website that is caught utilizing blackhat to be taken down indefinitely.  The opposite of a blackhat SEO strategist is a whitehat SEO strategist, which is an SEO strategist who operates by abiding by search engine regulations and also keeps in mind making a website top quality for the best user experience.

Q. How Long Does it Take for SEO to Work?

A. Just like any other type of marketing strategy, SEO will work as effectively as the skills and efforts that are put into it. To answer as to ‘how fast SEO will work’ will depend on several factors:

1.) Competition. If a website’s industry is highly competitive, it will take more time than those industries that are not so saturated.

2.) What Are You Selling?  It is also important to look at what it is that your website is selling or promoting? Are you promoting businesses services or selling products? Some may say, “Both.” The process of implementing SEO for a business services website seems to pick up more quickly than for those who are promoting products to sell. This is for two reasons, because most business services are not as competitive as selling products. With products, (unless your product is highly unique) a seller is competing with similar products being sold online all across the globe. While many business services are focusing on local target markets (or smaller demographic regions).

3). Time Invested. Another critical factor in reaping from SEO efforts is, “How much time is being invested in your SEO strategies?” And notice we used the word ‘strategies’ as plural! Search engine optimization requires a lot of work utilizing many different techniques. Therefore, each and every technique is a well-thought out and part of the overall plan. Also, a well-designed website for SEO will allow for the traffic to flow through efficiently and thoughtfully. The writers and developers work together to make websites into money making machines. However, developing well built websites for SEO does take some time. If your site was already built and you have some already existing quality content, the redesign process may be a little faster. Nonetheless, once a knowledgeable SEO Specialist begins working on your website, you should begin noticing positive results within a month or two after launch. If you have been working with an SEO agency or have hired someone in-house and haven’t noticed any increase in organic traffic for multiple months, you should request a meeting with your SEO specialist or agency and discuss previous, current and future SEO strategies. You will want to make sure that your marketing goals and the strategist’s efforts are mutual.

Q. What is Digital Marketing?

A. Digital Marketing (Aka: ‘Online Marketing’, ‘Internet Marketing’ or ‘web marketing’) is the practice of marketing brands using websites, email, social media platforms, Smartphone texting, and other tools offered for advertising on the world wide web. Digital Marketing has advanced in the methods of relaying products, services, events and other available information to consumers and communities.

Q. Is digital marketing right for my business?

A. Yes! Even if your industry isn’t primarily an online business, in this day and age, everyone, from teens to grandparents, are online – and if your business isn’t visible on the internet, you may as well not exist to many customers.

Q. How can a media marketing team help me?

A. When you have a professional media management company helping with your digital marketing campaigns, you have more time to focus on what you do best – running your business. At LMD in Miami, we handle it all, from creating fresh new content for your webpages to making sure that your social media posts are current and have the right keywords to boost your visibility.

Q. What are keywords?

A. Keywords are words that many people use when searching for a particular business or topic. For example, people searching for a plumber may use the words “plumber” or “plumbing service” as part of their search string. Incorporating common keywords for your industry, in a natural manner, results in more people finding your website.

Q. Do I need to regularly update my website?

Q. So, do I need a business blog?

A. Having a blog that covers common questions about your business or industry, as well as analysis of trends in your field, gives website visitors a more robust experience when visiting your site. The more interactive, interesting pieces of content you have, the longer site visitors will stay on your site and the more likely they’ll perform certain lead-generation tasks.

Q. Why is Digital Marketing Important?

A. Digital Marketing is not only important for businesses and organizations to utilize for launching and promoting brands and information, it is downright just good common sense! There is a long list of reasons to why Digital Marketing is important to include in advertising campaigns and information resources. One of the top reasons for why Digital Marketing is important is; how the Internet has made it possible to get information out almost immediately! And unlike older advertising and marketing methods, when you are using this medium, you have the ability to make changes and corrections to your campaigns right away! There are some facets of Digital Marketing that do not offer as much resilience to modifications, such as email marketing and Smartphone Texting. But a great deal of online marketing options offer the wonderful feature that you can make any necessary changes AT ANY TIME! For example, the content of a website may be modified at any time. Social Media Marketing campaigns can also be modified easily, but in this case, you wouldn’t want to pull a post that has been getting a lot of response. In most instances, you are still able to make changes within the actual written content of the post. Nonetheless, the benefits of Digital Marketing go on and on. But the last point we will mention is the ability to track marketing preferences. There are tools available in online marketing that allow you to track consumers’ buying habits, information they are interested in and overall demographics. These features not only help those who are trying to get the word out, but they also help online users to find and receive what they are looking for more easily and efficiently than ever before.

Q. What Do Digital Marketing Companies Do?

A. Digital Marketing Companies provide a service in much the same way as traditional advertising and marketing agencies. However, most Digital Marketing Companies focus on advertising and marketing mediums that are web based. A typical Digital Marketing Company provides off-site support for brands and organizations by developing, redesigning and managing websites. They also develop and manage advertising campaigns using multiple sources online. Some of the top ways Digital Marketing Companies market brands is by using Search Engine Marketing (Aka: SEM). SEM is performed in two ways, with paid ads and organic optimization. These types of marketing companies also utilize other online marketing mediums, such as Social Media Marketing (these are also a combination of paid and organic posts).

Q. What are the Advantages of Digital Marketing?

A. There are many advantages of using Digital Marketing to promote brands and to push out information. The top reason would be its effectiveness and accuracy at targeting customers (and/or those who are interested in learning about what you have to say) is impeccable! Cookie and tracking options allow your campaign to reach exactly the right audiences who are looking for exactly what you are offering. There has never been a faster way of getting information out about business services, products, events and helpful information. Another benefit of Digital Marketing is that advertisers have the ability to make changes on a whim within websites, online campaigns and most Social Media posts.  Remember the more traditional ways to advertise, such as the newspaper and other advertising print mediums? If a mistake was made on an ad, there was nothing you could do to correct it until the next issue. That is not the case with most online advertising. However, keep in mind that when launching emails, there is no turning back. The last (but not least) reason that Digital Marketing is highly beneficial for any brand is because it is the most affordable resource for advertising today! Digital Marketing strategies are not cheap, but the ROI is almost always going to knock out the off-line competition because it is more effective! When you market products and services on the web, you have the potential to reach a significantly higher population and a more exact demographic than ever possible with any type of off-line medium.

Q. What is Search Engine Marketing?

A. Search Engine Marketing (Aka: SEM) is the process of marketing websites on the search engines. SEM mostly refers to organic search or paid search. Either way, both are dependent upon the search engines, such as Google and Bing, for pulling in online traffic (site visits).  Many website owners simply rely on SEO (aka: Search Engine Optimization) for organic search traffic while others rely on Paid Search Marketing (aka: paid advertising based on individual clicks).

Q. What are the Benefits of Search Engine Marketing?

A. Search Engine Marketing (Aka: SEM) is beneficial as all its techniques are prime ways to pull in traffic to websites by showing up on the top of search results within the search engines, such as Google and Bing. One of the most commonly used techniques referred to as SEM is pay-per-click advertising. These are the Ads you see listed on top of the search engine browser pages. Off-Page Search Engine Optimization (Aka:  Off-Page SEO)  is also a form of Search Engine Marketing, but this type of marketing focuses on building inbound links (Aka: backlinks) to improve the authority level of websites. Anyone who has utilized either (or both) of these SEM strategies will testify to their abilities to improve web traffic results; but more importantly, their abilities to increase sales!  Search Engine Marketing qualifies customers more precisely than most modern marketing methods. Some might confess that these marketing mediums may have surpassed qualifying prospects from any other previous method in history!

Q. What is SEM in Digital Marketing?

A. SEM (Aka: Search Engine Marketing) is comprised of a list of options for marketing brands and information resources on the search engines, such as Google or Bing.  The two most common options are called Pay-Per-Click advertising directly with the search engines and the other is by developing and marketing a website or landing page organically. The goal of both of these efforts is to come up high on search results within a web browser when an online user is interested in buying a product, hiring a service or simply looking for information.

Search Engine Marketing (Aka: SEM) is the process of marketing websites on the search engines. SEM mostly refers to organic search or paid search. Either way, both are dependent upon the search engines, such as Google and Bing, for pulling in online traffic (site visits).  Many website owners simply rely on SEO (aka: Search Engine Optimization) for organic search traffic while others rely on Paid Search Marketing (aka: paid advertising based on individual clicks). Both are highly responsive, but deciding on which is best for your campaigns will depend on various factors. A well prepared and thorough meeting with your digital marketing company will help to decipher which (or if both) are right for you.

Q. What is Paid Search Marketing?

A. Paid Search Marketing is an online advertising medium that offers sponsored (paid) listings that appear at the top of search engine results. This option works by paying for traffic based on a ‘pay-per click’ process. The advertiser selects specific keywords and keyphrases to bid on and matches them up with a series of relevant online advertising campaigns.