How to Perform a Great SEO Audit of Your Ecommerce Site

How to Perform a Great SEO Audit of Your Ecommerce Site - v2 (updated 11.30.22)

How to Perform a Great SEO Audit of Your Ecommerce Site

By Stefan Smith

Search engine optimization (SEO) for e-commerce is critical for every store website as it helps to generate organic leads. These leads result in sales and help in revenue growth. Many e-commerce sites rely on organic traffic as it immensely contributes to their sales. Ignoring SEO can influence e-commerce sales.

A BrightEdge report revealed organic traffic generates about 36.4% of revenues for ecommerce sites. That is the reason why e-commerce platforms must perform regular audits of SEO for ecommerce. It helps them to check how the site’s SEO strategy is performing. The higher your position in the search result, there is your chances to attract traffic to your website. It helps you stay ahead of your competitors and increase conversions.

Many e-commerce site owners are not sure about SEO strategy and do not know how to perform an SEO Audit on their website. This article enumerates the best way to perform an SEO audit of Your ecommerce site, but before that, let’s understand what an SEO Audit is and why it is so important for an e-commerce website.

What is an SEO Audit?

SEO audit is the process of reviewing the website’s performance on the SEO parameters. It involves spotting problems on your website that result in poor ranking on search engines. An SEO audit of a website includes the following:

  • Technical SEO: It helps you check the technical aspects of your website that is if the search engines can crawl and index it.
  • Content gap and scope of improvements: It includes verifying the content quality that is whether the content is aligned with the search query. Besides, you need to check the content readability and plagiarism.
  • On-page SEO: On-page or on-site SEO involves optimizing HTML tags (title, Meta, and header), headlines, and images. It also checks if search engines understand the content’s relevance for the search query and are keyword optimized or not.
  • Off-page SEO: This step helps you understand issues related to backlinking, branded searches, reviews, etc. which is important to confirm a website’s authority and trustworthiness.
  • Website performance and user experience: Verifying the website or app performance like navigation, and user-friendliness.
  • Website security: The success of e-commerce websites largely depends on their security. No customer likes to shop on an unsecured website. The security checklist includes penetration testing, updated software, the presence of a valid SSL certificate, and monitoring traffic volume. If you are planning to purchase SSL certificate then, a wildcard SSL will be a great choice and you can get cheapest Wildcard SSL certificate from trusted provider.

Why is an SEO audit important for an e-commerce website?

As we know, e-commerce websites attract a significant volume of organic traffic, and these websites need to ensure they are performing well in SEO parameters. E-commerce websites also undergo frequent changes like adding new product pages and removing old ones, which can affect the SEO, and your site’s ranking can go lower suddenly. The changes also include product description, product category setup, customized recommendations, navigation menu, and others. Moreover, most e-commerce sites have a highly complex architecture and a simple change can affect the site’s performance. SEO audit helps you identify if there is any error that is leading to low ranking on search results. For all these reasons, an SEO audit is indispensable for every ecommerce website.

Tools required to perform an SEO e-commerce audit

Performing an SEO audit requires you to use some tools. The following are five essential tools you need to use for the purpose.

  • Google Analytics: This tool provides various metrics and data on how the website is performing in the search engine.
  • Google Search Console: It helps you verify if the crawler has indexed the website correctly. It also informs you about the failed attempts at indexing, and 404 errors.
  • Google Schema Markup Testing Tool: This SEO audit tool was earlier known as Google Structured Data Testing Tool. It is used for reviewing the site’s schema markup and allows you to verify that the schema is error-free.
  • SEMrush Audit Tool: SEMrush all-in-one digital marketing tool that encompasses multiple tools including keyword research, content optimization, rank tracking, social media monitoring, and many others.
  • Google PageSpeed Insights: Website speed is a critical factor for SEO. This tool measures the loading speed of your website.
  • Google SERP Snippet Optimization Tool (formerly SERPsim): This tool simulates Google’s search engine results pages (SERPs). It is an easy-to-use tool where you just need to type in the URL of your page, title, and Meta description and you will get a result.

How to perform an SEO audit of your e-commerce website?

Jemully Media SEO keywords
Jemully Media SEO keywords

Keyword Usage

Keywords are one of the most critical factors to consider while doing an SEO audit for your e-commerce website. Evaluating the keyword usage will help you find how your pages appear in relevant search results using the targeted keywords. It is very critical for e-commerce websites because how your website ranks on search results directly influences the number of people visiting the site and shopping.

Using the keywords in the right places and maintaining adequate keyword density throughout the content is very important. However, you should not fit keywords abruptly in the content and stuff anywhere on the page. A general rule is that the primary keyword should be 1-2% of the content; however, there is no hard and fast rule.

Sometimes, the primary keywords are used once or twice, yet the pages rank well. Make sure that the keyword fits naturally and spread them uniformly across the content. Also, use secondary and long-tail keywords at least once in the content. Google Search Console helps you evaluate your pages’ rankings and find which pages are not ranking well. Once you identify the page, check the usage of the keyword and make sure they are used correctly.

Check the title tags and Meta descriptions

While Keywords help in the better ranking of the webpage, you cannot ignore the Meta title and description. These are the first things that appear in the search results. A poor title and Meta description can affect the click-through rate (CTR) of your webpage. A compelling title and Meta descriptions persuade the visitor to click on the link. It significantly increases sales and revenue. Imagine you are looking to buy a dress and you search for it on Google. Will you click on a link that seems dull and not appealing? You will not; so think from the perspective of a customer and make sure the metadata is captivating enough to attract users to click the link.

Content quality check

Content is another critical factor in your SEO e-commerce audit. People usually visit the internet for two reasons – to get information about something or shopping. If you are creating content for an e-commerce website, make sure you provide the correct information about the product. In addition to this, you make sure the content matches the title and Meta description. Other factors to check in the content are simple language, and readability, and it should be well structured.

Check crawlability and indexability

Crawling means scanning the website by search bots to check the accessibility and content quality of the webpage. Whenever you create a new page on your website or make some changes, the crawler discovers and collects new information about the web pages for indexing. If the crawler cannot scan your website correctly, there will be indexing problems.

Indexing your web pages is critical for SEO on your e-commerce site. The crawler indexes every page on your website into a big registry. Whenever a user searches for a keyword on the search engine, the bot finds relevant pages from the index and displays them. If the crawler cannot index your webpage properly, it will not be indexed. So make sure to check the indexability of the pages.

Evaluate your page loading time

Page loading time is another crucial factor to check while auditing the SEO of your website. It is very critical for every e-commerce website. If your website loads slowly, it will affect user experience. No customer likes to wait for a long time for the page to load. They will move to other sites for shopping. You can use tools like Google PageSpeed to measure the speed. Besides, do a competitor analysis to compare the loading speed of your competitor websites.

Check for mobile-friendliness

Another crucial factor to check while doing an SEO audit is whether your website is mobile-friendly. Nowadays, most people browse the Internet using mobile phones. According to a recent report, about 59.72% of the global Internet traffic comes from mobile phones. Therefore, you cannot ignore mobile phone users and analyze the mobile-friendliness of your website.

Trustworthiness

Trust is critical for the success of any ecommerce store. No customer will shop on a website that does not have an SSL certificate. You must have noticed that Google warns users saying the connection is not private when they visit any website without HTTPS. Make sure to check if the website has a valid SSL certificate. Get an SSL certificate from a trusted provider and install it. If you already have one, check if it is still valid or not.

Conclusion: An SEO audit for e-commerce relates to allowing the best web presence with required best practices. The main purpose is to recognize issues related to technical SEO, website structure, On-Page SEO, User experience, and many other important things. We have tried to mention the above practices for the best SEO audit that can bring measurable results.

Palmilla Beach Resort: Pristine and Peaceful

Palmilla Beach Resort: Pristine and Peaceful

PALMILLA BEACH RESORT: PRISTINE AND PEACEFUL

A couple of years ago, our family was looking for a working vacation spot in Texas. We were seeking a destination that was a car trip away from our home. In addition, we preferred a destination that allowed us the option to combine some remote work with our leisure time. We learned of the Palmilla Beach Resort & Golf community in Port Aransas, Texas. On the web, it looked nice, so we booked a few days.

 

LOVE AT FIRST SITE

Upon arrival, we pulled off of Highway 361 into the well-manicured planned community. The streets were lined with palm trees and bordered with sidewalks that seemed to beckon with an invitation to take a stroll.  Next, we took in the visually serene pallet of the homes painted in the shades of the sea and their landscapes were lavishly appointed with picture-perfect detail. Furthermore, the wrap-around white porches enticed home owners and visitors alike to take time to relax and enjoy a bit of respite, perhaps to glimpse a sunrise or enjoy a pause at the end of the day while the sun sets over the Gulf.
The resort entrance
The resort entrance
Driving up to Palmilla Resort
Driving up to Palmilla Resort
Palm-lined sidewalks
Palm-lined sidewalks
Palmilla Beach Resort inviting porches
Palmilla Beach Resort inviting porches

The resort’s website entices visitors and homeowners. Provoking the promise of pleasure, it announces, the resort overlooks “the Gulf of Mexico and is nestled near the historic beach town of Port Aransas. Palmilla Beach’s DNA combines the relaxed personality of a beach town with the beauty and elegance of a luxury resort.” We found this promise to be true. 

 

Palmilla Beach resort – GUEST SERVICES intended TO SPOIL YOU

On the property, we found the Guest Services center. Immediately, we checked in and began to learn about the special events that would take place during the week we were there for our combined work and relaxation. The center was replete with Palmilla swag – t-shirts, visors, sunglasses, swimsuit coverups, beach bags and, to our delight, there was a freezer in the corner with ice cream. In addition, it was here that we could rent a golf cart for the day or for the week.  If we wanted, we could make arrangements to have a setup at a prime spot on the beach with chairs and a beach umbrella to make our day by the sea more enjoyable. Or, if the beach wasn’t to our liking on a particular day, we could rent a private cabana beside the community pool and enjoy a little pampering from the Guest Services staff and the Agave Poolside Cantina.
Palmilla Beach Resort Guest Services
Palmilla Beach Resort Guest Services
Palmilla Beach Resort Events
Palmilla Beach Resort Events
Palmilla Resort swag
Palmilla Resort swag
Resort golf cart rental
Resort golf cart rental
The Resort community pool
The Resort community pool

The resorts’ OUTSTANDING FOOD OPTIONS

Also, sure not to disappoint, there were many other amenities we discovered at the resort. First, there was the food.  The resort is home to the award winning Black Marlin restaurant. Next, also found on property is REDS. REDS has been called Port A’s best kept secret. Serving casual foods with a sophisticated island patio bar. The third option on property is the Agave Poolside Cantina. The cantina’s grill serves up the right delicacies and drinks. And don’t forget, at the resort, you can order food to be delivered to your chair – right on the beach! All three of these establishments are open to homeowners and guests at the resort.
Palmilla's award-winning Black Marlin restaurant
Palmilla's award-winning Black Marlin restaurant
REDS Cantina at Palmilla. A great "19th hole"!
REDS Cantina at Palmilla. A great "19th hole"!

FABULOUS FUN OPTIONS for staying fit

Not to worry, you can work off that scrumptious food by engaging in a variety of exercises and workouts. Undoubtedly, it goes without saying that there is swimming, walking, jogging, and playing golf. But, there is also scheduled Yoga classes and a fully equipped fitness center on property that is available for us 24/7. The facility’s equipment included Peloton, Echelon, a touch-screen elliptical, and a rowing machine.
Palmilla Beach Resort Fitness Center
Palmilla Beach Resort Fitness Center

Finally, at Palmilla Beach Resort & Golf community,  there is the 12-hole True-Links-style golf course, originally designed by Arnold Palmer.  The course, overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, is “fun for beginners and yet challenging for experts.”

Palmilla Beach Resort 12-hole golf course
Palmilla Beach Resort 12-hole golf course

palmilla beach resort has THE PERFECT VACATION RENTALS FOR WORK AND for PLAY

Delightedly, we made our way to the home we rented for the week. Upon entering, we found it was immaculately decked out with high-end appliances and plush island-themed furnishings. Undeniably, it was the perfect place to put in a few hours at the computer before hitting the beaches where we could leave our work far behind. The porch was complete with chairs for lounging and a table for dining. We would end up using the porch with its inspiring view as our work space of choice.
Palmilla Beach Resort beautifully appointed home interior
Palmilla Beach Resort beautifully appointed home interior
The master bedroom
The master bedroom
The 2nd bedroom in our rental
The 2nd bedroom in our rental
Relax on the rental's porch and leave your work behind
Relax on the rental's porch and leave your work behind
Resort rental porch is a good place for remote work
Resort rental porch is a good place for remote work

which is the icing? The resort or the beach?

Excitedly, we readied to make our way to the beach, we hopped in the golf cart we rented from Guest Services and made our way to the bridge – the Dunes Crossover. Beautifully crafted, the crossover is a nature boardwalk to the beach that is private, and exclusively for the use of homeowners and guests. Soon, we crested the top of the bridge. The beach came into view. It surely did not disappoint. As fabulous as the resort is, the Gulf at Port Aransas also delivers!

Looking from West to East, the perfectly clean beach stretched out its invitation as far as we could see. Families and couples dotted the shoreline, throwing frisbees, building sandcastles, gathering seashells, and splashing through the surf.  Many people had driven their cars and golf carts onto the sand, turning the north side of the beach into a welcoming thoroughfare. If one were to continue driving east down the beach, he could drive all the way in to town.

Resort cart
Resort cart
The Dunes Crossing bridge
The Dunes Crossing bridge
Palmilla Beach Resort Sunrise and Wild Indigo
Palmilla Beach Resort Sunrise and Wild Indigo
Palmilla Beach Resort Dunes Crossover wooden bridge
Palmilla Beach Resort Dunes Crossover wooden bridge
The Dunes Crossover with a cart on the beach
The Dunes Crossover with a cart on the beach
Palmilla Beach Resort fun on the beach kites
Palmilla Beach Resort fun on the beach kites
Bring along your electric bike. It's a good conversation starter.
Bring along your electric bike. It's a good conversation starter.
Masterful sand castles can be seen from time-to-time
Masterful sand castles can be seen from time-to-time
Families, including the dog, enjoy fishing together on the beach
Families, including the dog, enjoy fishing together on the beach
Beach chairs and umbrellas
Beach chairs and umbrellas

LEAVING THE RESORT AND HEADING TO TOWN

When we arrived in town, we found the grocery store where we stocked up on breakfast and lunch-type items to prepare in our rental. Continuing around the circle, we located the ferry landing and paused to watch a few boats cross over to the other side. Then, we discovered many locally-owned restaurants that we sampled during the week. Among our first favorites were Fins Grill and Ice House, Virginia’s on the Bay, and the Trout Street Bar and Grill. 

 

PALMILLA BEACH RESORT: AN INTERESTING BACKGROUND

Palmilla Beach Resort in Port Aransas is developed by the legendary Red McCombs and backed by McCombs Properties. McCombs was born in Spur, Texas, and gets the name “Red” from the color of his hair. Perhaps you have heard of McCombs from one of his many well-known ventures. He is the founder of “Red McCombs Automotive Group in San Antonio, Texas, a co-founder of Clear Channel Communications, former chairman of Constellis Group, a former owner of the San Antonio SpursSan Antonio ForceDenver Nuggets, the Minnesota Vikings, and the namesake of the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin. Plus, he is on the Forbes 400 list of richest Americans.” (source: Wikipedia)

According to the Palmilla Beach Resort website, “what lies at the heart of every decision at McCombs Properties is to create a lasting, positive legacy for generations to enjoy.” Having experienced the resort multiple times with three generations of our family members, I can assure you that McCombs’ dream will easily be a reality.

Palmilla Beach Resort sidewalk to Guest Services
Palmilla Beach Resort sidewalk to Guest Services
Guest Services at night
Guest Services at night
It doesnt get any better
It doesnt get any better

Marketing Tactics for Selling Domains on a Marketplace Website

Marketing tactics for selling domains on a marketplace website

SELLING DOMAINS IN THE MARKETPLACE

by Daniel Ng

If you’re interested in selling domains on a marketplace website, you can take some steps to ensure your domains are attractive to buyers and that they stand out from the competition.

 

In the discussion that follows, I will direct you through various steps to effectively selling domains. The process ranges from evaluating domain names to showcasing the domain names to posting to arranging and finally to bringing a deal to a close with a completely safe method for moving the space name to its new proprietor and the vender (that will be you) ensuring installment. Selling domains is not complicated if you will follow these steps.

For one, the practice of trading space names can yield extraordinary cash returns. Plus, you can do so without having to fabricate sites, learn subsidiary showcasing, or invest big dollars in constructing a business.

Being a space flipper is a proven and lucrative method for making generating automated revenue.

In this piece, we share 18 marketing tips for selling domains on a marketplace website.

jemully media selling domains as a business

1. Choose the right platform for selling domains:


Not all marketplace websites are created equal. Some specialize in niche markets, while others may have a more general focus. It’s important to choose a platform that’s well-suited to the types of domains you want to sell.

The opportunities are great, but the profession takes some skill. The competition can be fierce, and you’ll have to truly apply yourself to pull it all off. It doesn’t hurt to have some karma going for you.

Whatever your approach or your level of commitment, you’ll find that selling spaces gives you the opportunity to pioneer your own methods.

How about we take a look at some good angles you can adopt? We’ll explore how you can assess your space, and we’ll give you assistance on the best way to sell space names.

2. Create compelling listings:


Your domain marketplace listings should be clear, concise, and persuasive. Be sure to include all the relevant information that potential buyers would need to know, such as the price, expiration date, and any special features or benefits.

As with any great space closeout site, purchasers can make offers, and dealers can choose whether or not they need a “Purchase Presently” pricing. What makes Godaddy sales stand out, however, is the image they project.

It can be worthwhile to conduct selling through Godaddy.

First of all, you get the popular Godaddy information base, and prompt help. Besides, since Godaddy is likewise a record keeper, and a facilitating organization, you can deal with everything in one spot.

What’s more, Godaddy has a verifying cycle for bidders. So you’ll find you will not get spam or misrepresentations.

3. Use attractive visuals:

Make your listings stand out with eye-catching photos or videos. This will help potential buyers picture for themselves what the domain could be used for and will help them get a better sense of its value.

4. Promote your domains:

Once you’ve created your listings, it’s time to start promoting them. There are a number of ways to do this, including social media, paid advertising, and email marketing.

5. Make it easy to buy:

The easier you make it for potential buyers to purchase your domains, the more likely they are to do so. Be sure to include clear instructions on how to complete the transaction. Provide multiple payment options.

As with Godaddy, NameCheap has tons of services to offer besides their domain marketplace.

They also offer things like: area moves, WHOIS queries, Site and email facilitating, SSL Declarations, and ID Approval.

Furthermore, they offer a lot of different administration functions that website administrators need. So this makes their commercial center a great option if you seek an across-the-board administration. The site is deeply grounded, and you can expect remarkable help from NameCheap.

However, Namecheap is not without its shortcomings. They could do a better job on their evaluating, particularly for area moves and reestablishments. So Namecheap wouldn’t be our foremost recommendation. However, it’s still one of the outstanding outlets for selling space names.

6. Offer discounts and deals when selling domains:

Who doesn’t love a good deal? Offering discounts or special promotions can be a great way to entice buyers, especially if your domains are priced competitively to begin with.

7. Provide customer support:

If you want to build long-term relationships with your customers, it’s important to provide them with outstanding customer support. This includes promptly responding to any questions or concerns they may have.

8. Protect your reputation:

As with any business, your reputation is everything. Be sure to deliver on your promises and always act in the best interests of your customers. This will help you build trust and credibility in the marketplace.

9. Stay up to date on trends:

The domain industry is constantly changing, so it’s important to stay up-to-date on the latest trends. This will help you identify opportunities and adjust your selling strategies accordingly.

10. Be patient:

Selling domains can be a slow process, so it’s important to be patient. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t see results immediately. It takes time to build up a good reputation and attract buyers.

11. Persevere:

Even when times are tough, it’s important to remain steadfast. Remember, the market will eventually rebound and you’ll be in a better position to sell your domains when it does.

12. Diversify your portfolio:

Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Diversifying your portfolio will help mitigate risk and ensure that you’re able to sell your domains regardless of market conditions.

13. Be prepared to negotiate:

In many cases, buyers will try to negotiate on price. Be prepared for this by having a counteroffer ready or knowing when you’re willing to budge.

14. Know your buyers:

The better you know your buyers, the easier it will be to sell them domains. Take the time to understand their needs and wants, and tailor your listings and marketing accordingly.

15. Have realistic expectations when you are selling domains:

It’s important to have realistic expectations when selling domains. Remember, not every domain will sell and some may take longer than others. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t see immediate results.

16. Be flexible:

The domain industry is constantly changing, so it’s important to be flexible. This means being open to new ideas and willing to adjust your selling strategies as needed.

17. Stay positive:

Selling domains can be a challenging business. It’s important to stay positive.

18. Have fun:

At the end of the day, selling domains should be enjoyable. If it’s not, then you’re probably not doing it right. Don’t be afraid to experiment and try new things.

Conclusion:

Selling domains can be a great way to make money online. However, it’s important to remember that it’s not a get-rich-quick scheme. It takes time, effort, and dedication to succeed in the domain industry. But if you’re willing to put in the work, you can build a successful business selling domains.

For more startup businesses ideas, check out these articles – 16 Small Business Ideas for Small Towns, Part 1 and Small Town Business Ideas, Part 2

Online Marketing: Stand Out from the Herd

Be the Media - Leave Behind the Echo Chamber - Jemully Media
This post is an excerpt from our forthcoming e-book, Be The Media.
 

A herd mentality is the tendency of people to be influenced by their peers to behave in similar ways. Business people, if they are not cautious, slide into a practice that behaves like the rest of the herd while using the power of the online world to market their product or service. Be well advised to avoid walking that well-trodden path. Instead, they should generate messaging and content that sets them apart. Doing so will require more creativity and industry but in the end the results will be worth it.

 
What do we mean when we say “herd mentality”? Here’s a common instance. Perhaps you are familiar with the phrase “the internet echo chamber.” It’s the pass-it-along phenomenon. The “echo chamber” is the end result of so many sources simply passing along the day’s information is an internet that is filled with repeats and repackagings and other variations-on-a-theme. 
 

Social Sharing: Its Pros and Cons

The internet suffers today from a too-common practice of forwarding or sharing or “curating” or “aggregating” content that someone else wrote or compiled. Let’s be clear here. Sharing is good. Social media posts are often shared because it is a quick-and-easy way to engage and there is some element of an emotional connection to the content. The web, and social media in particular, is a social environment, and the business of creating community necessarily involves sharing and reciprocity. The problem arises when an individual or a business does little more than share others’ content. When enough businesses do enough recirculation of others’ content, the internet becomes that “echo chamber” that purveys vast amounts of sameness and precious little originality or real news, data, or reportage. It becomes a problem of shallowness, triviality, and irrelevance. 
 
So much of what passes for content today in blogs or on social media is simply material that the poster (that is, the person who posts) found online, after 15 minutes or less of browsing, and turned to his or her own purposes, often with no significant added contribution of his or her own.
 
In the early years of social media, when the social media experience itself was still novel to most participants and when the participatory universe was still relatively small, a little bit of “echo effect” was not so objectionable. That was then. Today, such echo effect is characteristic of unimaginative and unprogressive voices. Moreover, it can be a detriment to those who practice it. It’s perceived by consumers as too pat, too cute, too familiar, or just too bland. 
 

Happy Friday” and Its Ilk

People have less tolerance today for another “Happy Friday!” post or another “inspiring” quotation (auto-posted from a queued-up database of the same) or a shared link to some other source’s presumably-interesting content. 
 
The same is true in the blogosphere. 
 
If we go back far enough, we arrive at a time when the act of posting content—almost any content—was enough to ratchet one’s website domain authority higher than the authority of some competing domain that was posting less content. But that’s changed. Search engines are far more unforgiving when it comes to material that lacks originality, uniqueness, or purposefulness. 
 
It used to be that a poster could gain page-rank by consistently posting 300- or 600-word blogposts that furnished merely (let’s be honest) superficial treatments of subject matter. Such subject matter would likely contain the keywords that the poster hoped to rank for. But the content itself would fall largely into that “echo chamber” dimension, being based on little more than the writer’s quick, very recent perusal of someone else’s news or views.
 
We’ll say more about the solution to this, but let it suffice for the moment to recognize that work, real work, is generally the solution to this problem. Having something to say generally starts with having done some work. Reportage, for instance, is a beat-the-bushes endeavor. Delivering data means having generated data. There’s always work at the bottom of every good communications effort. But then, that’s good news, or ought to be, because the fact that doing groundwork can make one stand out in an internet where most are satisfied to merely pass along information—this is a opportunity waiting to be seized.  

Be the Media - Neil PatelNeil Patel on Originality to Stand Out

The phenomenon we addressed above, about regurgitated content on the web, was addressed by Neil Patel in a blogpost on his site, neilpatel.com.
 
Patel, co-founder of Neil Patel Digital, observed that the old days of content production were times when most anyone who was industrious enough in posting content saw good results. 
 
Writes Patel: “But as time went by, Google no longer had a shortage of content. I would even go as far to say that there is too much content for them to choose from.”
 
Patel observes that Google now can be pickier if they want to rank your website (that is, display your site among the ranked search results for a given search query) or not. He states that the issue is not one of creating ample backlinks or doing enough optimizing to one’s on-page code. He says, instead, that it is a matter of providing what’s best for the end user.
 
“That means Google is going to rank fresh content that isn’t regurgitated,” Patel writes. “If you want to take the route of just writing dozens of articles… and trying to rank for everything under the sun, you can. It’s still possible, but it will take more time and it will be harder, as there is more competition.”
 

Don’t Be Left Behind

Patel noted that Google, even as far back as six years ago (when Google released its Panda 4.2 update) had already taken steps to get rid of spammy sites with low-quality content and to be dismissive of sites that had thousands of 300-word blog posts with duplicate content.
What should our takeaway be?
 
We all need to apply ourselves to content that is original and useful and of sufficient depth. We must apply ourselves to material that is not content-for-content’s-sake.
 
Here’s to your first steps in a new realm—in your world of content that is more “you.”

Slicing the SEO Pie

Slicing the SEO Pie

In the world of online marketing, few terms bring more angst to business owners than the simply acronym SEO. But Search Engine Optimization does not have to be the bogeyman that so many have made it out to be.

Continue reading

The Oreo Twist

Oreo Twist

Imagine the perfect way to eat an Oreo. 

What picture and process comes to mind when you ponder the perfect way to eat an Oreo? Perhaps you twist the top layer, separating the cookie into two parts, and then eat them one by one. Alternatively, you could dunk the treat into milk to soften it just the right amount. Or maybe, if you’re a rheologist who studies complex fluids, you snack on the cookie while you test its mechanical properties in your lab.

In Physics of Fluids, by AIP Publishing, researchers from Massachusetts Institute of Technology characterized the flow and fracture of Oreos, finding the creme, which is officially “mushy” in rheological texture, tends to stick to one side of the cookie.

Twisting Oreos
The team affixed cookies to a laboratory rheometer and designed a 3D-printed Oreometer to study the influences of rotation rate, flavor, amount of creme, and environment on Oreos. CREDIT: Crystal Owens

Using Rheology

“Rheology can be used to measure the texture of food depending on the failure stresses and strains,” said author Crystal Owens. “We were able to characterize Oreo creme as quantitatively mushy.”

First, they placed Oreos in a rheometer, a laboratory instrument they used to measure torque as it fixed one side of the cookie in place and carefully twisted the other. After the filling failed and the cookie broke apart, they quantified the amount of creme on each wafer by visual inspection.

“I had in my mind that if you twist the Oreos perfectly, you should split the creme perfectly in the middle,” said Owens. “But what actually happens is the creme almost always comes off of one side.”

Investigating Other Influencers

The authors investigated the influence of milk, cookie flavor, amount of filling, and rotation rate on the final creme distribution. After being dipped in milk, the cookies degraded quickly, crumbling after about 60 seconds. Thereby they concluded, flavor and filling seemed to have little effect on cookie mechanics, but breaking the cookies apart cleanly did depend on the rotation rate.

“If you try to twist the Oreos faster, it will actually take more strain and more stress to break them,” said Owens. “So, maybe this is a lesson for people who are stressed and desperate to open their cookies. It’ll be easier if you do it a little bit slower.”

Furthermore, the creme may stick consistently to one side because of the way the cookies are manufactured and then oriented during packaging. Cookies from the same box often followed the same trends and varied from box to box, possibly due to different storage conditions.

By also designing an open-source, 3D-printed “Oreometer” powered by rubber bands and coins, the team hopes to encourage educators and Oreo enthusiasts to continue studying the cookies and learning about rheology.

“One of the main things we can do with the Oreometer is develop an at-home education and self-discovery plan, where you teach people about basic fluid properties like shear strain and stress,” said author Max Fan. Thus, an at-home user can determine the perfect way to eat an area.

The article, “On Oreology, the fracture and flow of ‘milk’s favorite cookie®'” is authored by Crystal E. Owens, Max R. Fan (范瑞), A. John Hart, and Gareth H. McKinley. The article appeared in Physics of Fluids in April 2022. 

More Smiles

Want some other enjoyable things to read? Try these posts that, well, just make us smile.

Choice Moments on the Set of The Chosen

When the dramatic series The Chosen shot scenes on June 7 for its upcoming Season 3 episode on Jesus’s feeding of the 5,000, my wife and I, along with four other family members, participated as extras in the production. What follows are some journal-type observations, in no particular order.
 
Details matter. At times it felt like being transported back to Bible times. In those moments when the multitude of extras stowed their cell phones and stashed any modern-day accoutrements that would “give away the game,” all you could see was what looked like a vast crowd of 1st century people gathered to hear the words of The Master. It was awesome. Just seeing the Roman soldiers in military garb mounted on horseback was by itself worth the trip.

It was hot. The conditions were trying. We were in the midst of a heat wave, and some attendees, including our group, were scheduled to be on the production grounds for a good 12 hours or more. Fortunately, the proceedings were rescheduled and our group’s camera time was moved up several hours, allowing us to get off the shooting set by midday, avoiding the hottest hours of the day. Some other mitigating factors: There was a bit of a breeze and some patchy cloud cover. The toughest temps we faced were just touching 100 degrees, while back home (in Abilene, Texas) the temperature that day soared to 108 degrees.

People behaved as Christians. It was hard not to notice the courtesies shown all around. My wife, Kit, noticed people helping one another with their costumes. We’re talking total strangers pitching in and helping others to get their outfits right before the taping. People maintained bright, friendly demeanors. This was all the more noticeable because the hot and humid weather was not exactly conducive to such politeness.

Texas makes a fine Palestine. The production location for The Chosen is land that lies just a few miles outside Midlothian, Texas, which is itself some miles south of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. The location is very rural, with rolling hills, broad pastures, and intermittent trees. Add in the blazing Texas sun and you have a good stand-in for the Holy Land.

Dallas Jenkins was impressive. The creator and director of the show, Dallas Jenkins, took time from the busy shooting schedule to mix and mingle with the thousands of extras on the set. He greeted us personally, and even took time to be in a selfie with our granddaughter, Kate. Dallas is tall—taller than I would  have guessed him—and he is every bit the person one sees onscreen in the show’s livestreams.

Our live tweets got some traction. Our family group shared, via our phones, some of the photos we were taking, and along about midday it occurred to me that I could use my Twitter account to do some live tweeting. So I uploaded some images, hashtagging them with #TheChosen. Within maybe an hour, the Twitter account for The Chosen was hitting their “like” button, and later even retweeting, those images, along with those of others at the event.

We saw ourselves on the June 12 livestream on TheChosen.tv.
Knowing that the production company was going to do one of its regular livestream events on Sunday night, June 12, we logged on to see what might be shared about the (prior) week’s filming activity. To our surprise, we saw, in the slideshow that immediate preceded Dallas’s livestream chat, some photos of ourselves that we had posted that week to social media. Then, during Dallas’s talk, we heard his own perspective on the events of that week (the “most difficult” and yet “most rewarding” stretch they had heretofore experienced).
Conclusion. All in all, a special experience. We look forward to seeing the episode we participated in, which currently is slated to be the eighth and conclusing episode of Season 3, which airs later this year.
 
—Jesse Mullins

More Info...

For more pictures and re-tellings of The Chosen’s event Feeding of the 5,000 (#F5K), visit Living as Disciples.
The Official Website – where you can watch the show for free or get the link to download the free app:

The Google Knowledge Panel – Stake Your Claim

What is the Google Knowledge Panel?

The Google Knowledge Panel is often called your “Google Business Profile”.  Regardless of which label you choose to give it, you will want to claim it for your business.

How do you find it? Whenever you’re on Google.com doing a search and you type the name of a company into the search bar and hit “enter,” the results you get back will often include something called a “Knowledge Panel.” Displaying somewhere on your computer or device screen, the Google Knowledge Panel is a box of information about that particular business. The basic panel is assembled by Google and includes location and contact information, a photo of the street view of the business, and a link to the business’s website.

Google describes the Panel in this way:

Knowledge panels are information boxes that appear on Google when you search for entities (people, places, organizations, things) that are in the Knowledge Graph. They are meant to help you get a quick snapshot of information on a topic based on Google’s understanding of available content on the web.

Knowledge panels are automatically generated, and information that appears in a knowledge panel comes from various sources across the web.

 

Where do you find the Panel?

Desktop View

On a desktop computer, the Google Knowledge panel is on the right side of the search results page.

Mobile View

On a mobile device, the panel is usually the first Google search result to display on your phone.

 

 

Why do you need the Google Knowledge Panel?

VISIBILITY

First, you need the panel because is that it is highly visible real estate on Google’s search results page. The images it displays and the box around the panel draw the attention of the user’s eye. If Google creates and displays a panel for your business, you’d be crazy not to take advantage of the opportunity to provide accurate, complete and optimized information that could bring you new leads.

LOCAL SEO

The second reason is equally important. There is a good chance that verifying your location will have a positive impact on your company’s SEO and local search results. (To learn more about SEO, read our article about a five-step process for SEO success.)

How to use the Google Knowledge Panel?

Claim-verify-Google-Knowledge-PanelClaim Your Knowledge Panel

To get started, if Google has auto-generated a knowledge panel for your company, Google lets you “claim” and verify your business information. The easiest way to begin this process is to click the link on your company’s knowledge panel that says, “Own this business?” This link takes you to your company’s listing on Google My Business(Note: If Google has not auto-generated a knowledge panel for your company, then go directly to Google My Business and register your company.)

Once you get to your Google My Business page, you will complete a very simple five-step questionnaire to confirm your business information.

After you confirm the business name and location, you will be asked a series of questions like “Do you also serve customers outside this location?” (Google supplies some help here by saying, further, “For example, if you visit or deliver to your customers, you can let them know where you are willing to go.”).

Then, you will be asked to choose a category/industry for your business and you will be given an opportunity to add your website address.

 

Migrating Away from Google My Business Interface

Of note, Google is migrating business owners away from the Google My Business interface to manage their knowledge panel. In July 2022, Google is giving businesses access to manage their profile directly on Google Search and Maps. You can even manage your profile right from the Maps app. Google states in the Business Profile Help page:

With a Business Profile on Google Maps and Search, you can:

  • Edit your profile: Easily update your business information, adjust your hours, or add a menu.
  • Promote your business: Add photos or updates to stand out on Google.
  • Connect with your customers: Connect with your customers by responding to reviews and questions.

Important: Certain features to manage your Business Profile may differ between Google Maps and Search, and the operating system.

 

Verify Your Business

The final step is the actual verification of your location. Google wants to verify the business address by mailing a verification code to the physical address you have listed for the knowledge panel. This usually takes five to seven business days. Once you receive the code in the mail, you will return to the Google My Business page, log in, and enter your verification code number. Then, your listing is verified.

 

Pro Tips for the Verified Google Knowledge Panel

Jemully-Media-Mobile-Verified-Knowledge-Panel-562x1024After you verify your listing, you will see additional features that are available only to verified businesses. Here are some suggestions for getting the most out of Google’s business panel.

  1. Pictures (or videos) – To show a potential customer what your business is like, add images showing the inside/interior of your location and some pics of your staff. Photos of your facility’s exterior, or of the grounds, can be helpful, too, for some businesses.
  2. Posts – We recommend adding short posts of 150-350 characters to your company’s panel. The posts can be up to 1,500 characters, but brief is often better. This is one more place on the web where your content marketing can live and work for you.
  3. Services – Highlight your business, services, and the benefits you provide to your customers.
  4. Reviews – When you have a happy customer, ask him to give you a Google review on your business panel. These reviews are quickly spotted by potential customers and could work in your favor to bring you leads.
  5. Hours – Let your customers know when you are open so they will be encouraged to call or drop by.
  6. Q & A’S – Use the panel to answer questions for and by potential customers.
  7. Facebook Reviews – Google gives value to a business’s social media presence. Here on the knowledge panel, Google displays the review/rating from your Facebook followers.

 

Playing the Google Game

Google commands 92 percent of the search engine market worldwide. Playing nicely with Google is to your advantage as a business. Some things, like exactly how Google weighs and measures your website for their search engine algorithm, are a highly guarded secret. Google lets you know some general things you can do to improve your SEO performance, but they keep the details to themselves.

On the other hand, Google business panel is one area of the Google universe in which you can have some control. Don’t waste an opportunity to shine on the Google results page and make a great first impression to those who search. Claim and optimize your knowledge panel today!

If you need help to claim, optimize, and maintain your business profile on Google, just give us a shout and we will take care of it for you.