What is SEO?

SEO (Search Engine Optimization) can seem complicated and be very overwhelming to learn, but if it is utilized correctly, it can yield massive results for a business.

So what is SEO?

SEO or search engine optimization involves a ton of factors, but at its bear-bone meaning, it is a form of marketing that allows your business to leverage powerful search engines like Google, Bing & Yahoo to gain more traffic, customers, revenue, or whatever goals may be.

In order to leverage search engines like google, you must understand the algorithms it uses to decide which results to share on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th … 54th …etc page list (known as SERP- Search Engine Results Page).

These results are always changing because google is always crawling and analyzing data and consistently updating its algorithms to improve. Luckily for us, who cannot read complex coded algorithms created by the world leading, software developing geniuses of our time, that we only need to know what factors affect the algorithms and can work from there. These factors include the organization of your website.

Some sub-factors of an organized website can include a sitemap, proper headings, tagged images and links that work. Some other factors can include keywords you have in your text, quantity, consistency & correctness of your business’ NAP (Name, Address, Phone #) across directories on the internet, the number of positive and negative reviews there are, the trust level of other pages and sites that have links to your site and vise versa, just to name a few. Learning and mastering all aspects of these may be near impossible for someone who is also running a business, but just the proper implementation of a few of them can yield huge results.

3 examples of good social media

Social Media is hard. It may be free, which is great for small businesses, but getting social media right can be a bit of a chore. That’s why we’ve put together a few quick examples of good social media posts on the three biggest platforms: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Facebook — Bevel.      

Bevel is a razor company that specializes in shaving products for African American men. They pride themselves in knowing their customer and having a great design eye.

· This image is eye catching, designed for the customer demographic, and directly references the text below it.

· The “Like Page” call to action is key. It gives the viewer a way to act on their interest in the company.

· Use of Hashtags is important because it connects the post to other conversations and increases the opportunity for the post to be shared.

· Using caps is a great way to call attention to an important point in the post, though be careful not to put something in ALL CAPS!

Twitter — Atlanta Magazine

This tweet from Atlanta Magazine is great in just about every way. The tag line is short, pithy, and engaging, it includes a great picture, and has a link. It pretty much wins the Twitter Trifecta.

Instagram — WeLoveATL

WeLoveATL has exploded through the last few years on the strength of these sorts of Instagram posts that are at once beautiful, striking, and illuminating of the character of Atlanta. Use Instagram to call attention to the things that make your business unique, including geography.