Google’s E-A-T: What Is It and How Does It Impact Your 2023 Marketing Goals
Nearly 50% of consumers report turning to Google when they are on the hunt for a particular service. If your business's online presence is lacking, you could be missing half of your target audience.
Luckily, a solid organic marketing strategy can help solve that problem. Organic marketing utilizes high-quality content (e.g., blog articles) that features search engine optimization (SEO) to increase a website's Google ranking.
But how exactly do you create this high-quality SEO content? In 2023, it is critical to use Google's E-A-T guidelines to produce content search engines will love and reward with a higher ranking. Here's why.
What Are Google's E-A-T Guidelines?
E-A-T is an acronym for expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness. It is an update to Google's search engine ranking algorithm that came out in 2014. Though E-A-T alone will not determine your Google ranking, it does affect it.
Expertise
Expertise is defined as expert knowledge or skills. People typically have expertise in a particular field (e.g., technology). However, generalists can have expertise in many different fields.
Why is expertise important to Google? People with expertise in particular subjects can think deeply and intelligently about problems in their field.
Authoritativeness
Being authoritative means someone or something has authority over a particular skill or field. In other words, an authoritative website can be trusted to give out correct advice or information.
Authoritative content inspires, motivates, and influences people. Readers know that the author of the article is providing valuable and reliable information.
Trustworthiness
In the age of clickbait and fake news, trust is increasingly difficult to foster online. That makes honest and reliable content, content creators, and content publishers more valuable than ever before.
And building trust with your audience will not just improve your search rankings. Readers will begin to think of you as a safe source of information and services.
E-A-T and Your Digital Marketing Goals
Now that you understand the basics of E-A-T, you may be wondering: why is E-A-T so important? Here are three ways Google E-A-T digital marketing trends can impact your business marketing goals.
E-A-T Determines High-Quality Content
The number one reason Google implemented E-A-T was to weed out low-quality content. More specifically, Google wanted to address high-ranking websites that provided irrelevant or incorrect information to readers.
E-A-T intends to do the reverse: reward websites that consistently turn out correct and relevant content.
As long as a piece of content abides by the E-A-T guidelines, the Google ranking algorithm will consider it high-quality. And as we will discuss next, publishing high-quality articles on your site can improve your Google ranking.
E-A-T Impacts Your Organic Search Ranking
Search engine marketing (SEM) heavily relies on organic search. Organic searches occur when a customer types a query into the Google search box. Then, they click on one of the pages that come up under their search.
The majority of Google searchers only look at the first three results. So, how does your site get ranked in the top three results for a search query? You have to improve search engine optimization (SEO).
Publishing high-quality content that adheres to E-A-T guidelines can help you do just that.
E-A-T Can Reduce Bounce Rate
Another benefit of E-A-T that has less to do with Google and more to do with your prospective clients is bounce rate. Bounce rate refers to the percentage of people who visit your website and leave after viewing only one page.
A poor bounce rate is usually a sign of a low-quality website. As such, Google may consider bounce rate when ranking your website. But this is not the only reason bounce rate is important.
A high bounce rate means something about your website is turning away prospective customers.
Tips for Improving E-A-T on Your Site
The number one thing to do to improve your site's E-A-T is to update your content. Focus on providing trustworthy and easily verifiable information to your readers.
It is also a good idea to update content regularly as new information comes out. Keeping up with changing trends will impress not only Google but also your prospective clients.
Yet, updating the quality of your content is only the beginning. You should also consider doing the following to improve your site's E-A-T.
Publish Contact and About Pages
Blog articles are not the only kind of content to consider when updating your website for E-A-T. Google will also take into account the other pages on your site, including your contact and about pages.
Your contact page should provide trustworthy contact info. That includes but is not limited to your company's email address, phone number, and physical address. Include as many customer support points of contact as possible.
Your business' about page should speak to your authoritativeness. Include any credentials or relevant degrees members of your staff hold. You can also talk about prior speaking engagements that speak to your firm's expertise.
Check Your Facts and Cite Them
An authoritative and expert business website should have factually accurate content. If you do not have the expertise to create this type of content, it is important to hire a content creator who does.
Another way to build authority for your online business presence is to link to other high-quality sites. Always search for high-ranking, authoritative, and trustworthy sources when creating citations to achieve this goal.
Work With a Digital Marketing Firm
Google's E-A-T guidelines can be tricky to understand. And even if you do get the basics down, you still might not outrank your competitors. That is where a professional digital marketing service can come in.
Digital marketing firms are experts in Google's algorithm and SEO. They can help improve your rankings, even if your own efforts have not achieved the results you want to see.
At Optic Marketing Group, we specialize in digital marketing strategies for home services businesses like yours. We can help you design a new website from scratch or update your old one to adhere to E-A-T standards.
Optic Marketing Group Is the Partner You Need
Google's E-A-T guidelines help distinguish high-quality content from low-quality clickbait. In 2023, it is critical to creating an expert, authoritative, and trustworthy website. If you don't, your Google ranking could suffer.
Do you need help updating your business website according to SEO best practices? Optic Marketing Group is the partner you need to get it done right the first time. Contact us today to learn how we can help you E-A-T.
New Year, New You? ..... Well, the Same Applies to Your Business. 2023 Is the Year to Focus On Building Back!
New Year, New You: Why 2023 Should Be When Your Business Builds Back
It is estimated that there are 32.5 million small businesses currently in America. It is also estimated that 50% of those businesses will fail within 5 years.
The new year is just starting, and your focus on your business should be building back. This new year provides an opportunity to grow your business and become part of the small businesses that succeed.
One mistake that business owners make is not having business goals. You will not be able to hit your target if you don’t know what your target is.
Keep reading to find out more about building back your business in the new year.
Review Your Expenses
A recession is looming and has become something that is weighing heavily on business owners. That is why your business initiatives should include analyzing your expenses.
You can counteract this problem by looking closely at your business operations and where your money is going. Chances are, there are a few areas where you could cut back and save.
The first thing you should do is review your pricing strategy. Do some research on your competition to see what rates your local competitors are charging their clients.
Sometimes it can be worth raising or lowering your prices depending on what is going on. No matter which option you choose, you will need to look at how it will impact the rest of your business.
You should also review unnecessary expenses in your business. There is a good chance that money is going to places that aren’t actually benefiting or growing your company.
This is a good time to review the areas where you lost money last year. By looking at the mistakes that you made previously, you can avoid losing money this year by trying other methods.
Create Goals
Part of building back your business in the new year includes business goals. You should take some time to sit down and figure out what the goals for 2023 are that you want to achieve.
You should have made goals last year, which you can compare to the goals you want to reach this year. If your business is growing, your goals should also grow and become more extensive.
You can also take the time to share these goals with your employees. This is a great team-building exercise and helps everyone to stay on the same page.
Nurture Your Clients
It's very easy to run into the new year with a goal to scale a business quickly. When you do this, it can be very easy to start to neglect your current clients.
Every small business wants to grow by collecting more and more clients that you can depend on. But you will need to be able to do this while nurturing the relationships you already have.
Many businesses neglect to do this and risk losing their current clientele. You want to make sure your clients continue to feel important and valued by your company.
One great way to do this is to send out emails for the new year to your clients. You can let them know how much you appreciate their trust and look forward to continuing to work with them in the new year.
Branch Out in Marketing
Building back your small business is going to require some new steps. If you really want to experience business growth in 2023, you need to experiment with marketing services.
Marketing is going to be your number one tool when it comes to growing your business. This is something that can be far too easy to neglect, but your business will ultimately suffer from this.
Handling marketing on your own can be quite difficult if you don’t know what you are doing. Juggling a business and trying to hit all of those marketing goals is not usually going to be a productive use of your time.
Companies like Optic Marketing Group make this much easier for your company. They will handle all of the marketing services that you need, so that you get guaranteed results.
Find What People Want
At the start of 2023, you should put the time into researching what people are looking for. In the HVAC, lawn care, and plumbing industry, there are plenty of statistics that you can dive into.
You will want to look at the services that people are predicted to need this year. You should also compare that to the types of services that were in high demand in 2022.
Predicting what people want is going to predict the services you offer. It will also help you to know where you should invest your money in your business.
Take Time Off
Something you may not have done in 2022 is taking enough time off of work. As a business owner, it is very easy to neglect yourself and throw yourself into your work.
The downside to this is that eventually overworking yourself will lead to burnout. This will result in a lack of motivation and less concentration when it comes to important business details.
You need to set aside time for yourself, so that you can recharge and regroup. Pushing yourself too hard will only damage your business operations in the long run.
Building Back Your Business in 2023
If your business goal for 2023 is building back your company, there are a lot of places to start. This is something that all small businesses should aspire to do for better growth in the new year.
Do you want to use marketing services to grow your company? Contact us today at Optic Marketing Group to create a marketing plan for your business.
Branding Strategies for HVAC Contractor
Branding Strategies for HVAC Contractors
Would you like to know about several branding strategies for HVAC contractors? Read on to learn what you need to know on the subject.
Keyword(s): Branding Strategies
Everyone will need to hire an HVAC contractor at some point in their life, especially if they own a house or building. HVAC systems not only keep an interior at a consistent temperature, but they help stop mold from developing. So why exactly do you need to know branding strategies as a contractor?
Without a branding strategy, you may find yourself falling behind your competitors. It'll take some investment, but it's essential if you want to earn new customers.
Here's a branding guide to get you started.
What Is Branding?
Branding refers to the promotion of a company or product through advertising or design choices. It can take the form of commercials, new logos, and how you interact with your customers.
This brand helps your business stand out from the crowd. As such, you want it to be distinctive and represent what you stand for.
Branding Strategies
Building a brand for any company takes time. Many HVAC contractors overlook branding because they believe the quality of their work should take priority. And they're not exactly wrong.
However, a brand sends a message to the public and helps you stick around in their minds.
Develop a Logo and Slogan
One of the first branding tips you'll get is to develop a unique logo and slogan. Both draw attention to your brand in different ways.
Consider some of the most recognizable logos and brands around. Apple's logo is a simple apple shape, but people know exactly what company it represents. Nike's slogan, "Just do it", is also easily recognized by its customers.
Stay Consistent
Stay consistent with your business's message. If you market yourself as an HVAC contractor for the everyman, then you should avoid pushing a customer to look at more expensive options. Likewise, don't claim to be the fastest option for HVAC repairs if you're not.
Targeted Marketing
It's impossible for your business to reach everyone, especially if you operate locally. Instead, figure out who your best customers are and go after them. Chances are good that you'll generate more business from homeowners, which will also help you generate new customers.
Social Media Presence
The best branding advice you can get is to use social media. Whether you're trying to stay connected with your current customers or to generate new ones, social media is where you should put your efforts.
You can share your special offers, give tips on saving energy, and show photos and videos of your work. Most social media networks also offer easy advertising and managed ads.
Talk to a Branding Expert Today
Trying to negotiate the world of branding strategies as a Tampa HVAC contractor can prove tricky, as it's difficult to distinguish your business from all of your competitors. However, it's also necessary if you want to create a lasting impression on old and new customers.
Optic Marketing Group is here to help shape your visual identity. We listen to your goals and vision to help develop marketing strategies that'll work. Contact us to learn more and tell us about your business.