How Do I Build Links?

Links can be built internally, by linking two of your own pages together, or externally, by connecting links with content from other websites. Of the two, external link building is decidedly more complex but can result in better domain authority. To build internal links, all someone needs to do is include the URL of one page in either the site’s menu or within the content of a page. This allows users, as well as Google, to understand the relationship between different pages on a site. As for external link building, look for authoritative figures in related industries who would benefit from linking your content on their website, and inquire about building a connection of links.

How is SEO Different from Paid Ads?

SEO, or organic results, differs from paid ads, or Pay-Per-Click, in two main ways. First, the position of organic results differs from ad results on a search engine results page (SERP). Ad results always appear at the very top and very bottom of the SERP. On average, around 2-3 will populate in these spots depending on the search. Organic results appear in between the paid ads. The second biggest difference is the cost of visitor traffic. PPC ads have a pre-determined cost that the site owner must pay Google each time a user clicks on one of their ads. Organic traffic, on the other hand, has no direct costs associated with the number of visitors that click on their site.

Why Does a 404 or Technical Error Affect Rankings?

404’s and other technical errors are a common and unavoidable occurrence on the internet. Typically, having a few 404 errors will not impact a site’s rankings in any significant way. However, if a site has too many 404 errors, search engines may develop a negative impression of the site and stop indexing this site’s pages. This can result in two serious issues: loss of traffic volume and dead links. Visitor traffic is one important factor in SERP rankings, and a considerable decrease can drop a site’s rankings by a large amount. 404 pages also do not pass on backlink authority, so any quality links from a page that 404’s will no longer contribute to the site’s authority and hurt rankings as well.

Does Social Media Affect SEO Actual Rankings?

Social media can affect SEO actual rankings but not directly. Google has stated in 2014 that direct social signals, such as likes and shares through social media platforms, does not affect actual rankings on the search engine results page (SERP). What social media can do, however, is be an amplifier for other important SEO factors, such as backlinks, click-through rate (CTR) and content quality and authority. Producing high-quality, consistent content that receives attention through the various social media platforms allows for better online visibility for your brand, and subsequently, your website. This helps create more backlinks if your content is being shared, and more visits to your website directly from a social post.

The Shark Tank

3 Useful WordPress Plugins

At BluShark Digital, we are always doing our best to help our clients boost their SEO rankings and overall digital brand presence. When developing a WordPress site there are a multitude of plugins available that can positively or negatively impact...

Best Practices for Google Business Profile Posts

What is a Google Business Profile Post? Google Business Profile Posts are a relatively new feature on the GBP profile, which allows businesses to connect with existing and potential customers by publishing short messages showcasing services, special offers, awards, announcements or community...

Google’s Storefront Requirement is Biased Against Professional Services

When setting up any Google Business Profile (GBP) profile, the requirements and steps to verification can be challenging to meet and, at times, daunting to complete. However, once things are up and running smoothly, your GBP profile can generate leads for...

JUST RELEASED: Google’s June 2019 Broad Core Update — What You Need to Know

On Sunday, June 2nd 2019, Google SearchLiaison tweeted that they would be releasing a broad core algorithm update. The June 2019 Core Update has now gone live and will be rolled out to Google’s data centers over the next few...

How to Build the Best Links for Your Business – And What to Avoid

Image by Diggity Marketing There are a multitude of tools and practices a business should implement to strengthen their online reputation and credibility. In one of our previous blogs, we discuss useful tools for having a successful SEO strategy. A...

What You Should Know About the Local Ads Coming to Service Industries

As Google adapts to allow for better integration and more interaction on the Search Engine Results Page (SERP), marketers are finding themselves trying to create new and effective search engine marketing (SEM) strategies, while also trying to stay competitive in...

Under Construction – Three Things We Hope Google is Working On

Google, like any business, is consistently updating, changing, and reworking its platform to optimize the user experience. With its algorithm, ad display changes, and search appearance changes, for example, it is hard for Google to keep up with them all...

Google Releases New Feature for Finding and Sharing Business Profiles

Recently, Google released a new feature for Google Business Profile (GBP) listings that offers users an easier way to search and share a business online. The new feature is called a profile short name, and it appears under the “Info” tab...

Up Your Pay-Per-Click Game with These Tools

Using paid ads and sponsored posts can be an extremely useful tool to drive traffic to your website. However, pay-per-click strategies can be especially costly if they are not executed in a logical and effective manner. The following are some...

Useful Tools for Technical SEO Audits

Tools are an essential part of any successful SEO strategy. Whether auditing after a site redesign or checking your technical optimization, tools give you important information that allows you to improve your website for the Google Bot and for users....

Our Blog