What to do with no-index pages in Google Search Console

Did you receive an email from Google saying that some of your web pages got no-indexed?

I get this question a lot, and most people are scared because they feel that it means that the search engine will no longer show their website. Let me explain what is behind it and why it is not that scary most of the time.

What is no-indexing, and why is it useful?

No-indexing is the process of removing a web page from the search engine. This can be necessary for various reasons, including removing outdated or irrelevant content, duplicate content issues, thin content, or automatically created pages necessary for different technical problems.

As a website owner, you have the power to decide which pages should not be found. For instance, you might choose to no-index a PDF upload or landing pages for special occasions. There can be many different reasons for this decision, but the point is that you’re in control most of the time.

But sometimes Google finds pages that are no longer helping your visitors, and they get no-indexed without your permission.

That is the scary part.

Google Search Console, have you never heard about it before?

Google Search Console is a powerful tool for managing website indexing and no-indexing issues. It provides website owners with valuable insight into how their website performs in search results, including which pages are indexed, how often they are crawled, and any indexing error that may impact their visibility. Website owners can ensure their content is indexed correctly and optimized for search engine visibility, improving their online presence and user engagement.

When to No-index a Page

Google can no-index pages for various reasons, including outdated content, duplicate content, low-quality content, sensitive information, and pages with temporary purposes.

Outdated content, such as old news articles or outdated tutorials, is no-indexed to avoid cluttering search results and to avoid disappointing visitors. ( Would you hate searching for how to create a FB business page and find my article about it from 2010? Sure, it won’t be relevant anymore. )

Duplicate content, which is content that appears in multiple locations on the web, will be also no-indexed. For example, an e-commerce website may have multiple product pages with identical content, which can confuse search engines and lead to no-indexing to prevent the dilution of search results with redundant information.

Low-quality or thin content can get removed to maintain the quality of search results. For example, a website with numerous low-quality blog posts that offer little value to users may be no-indexed to improve the overall user experience.

Sensitive information, such as personal or confidential data, may prompt Google to no-index pages to protect user privacy and security. For instance, a website that inadvertently exposes sensitive customer information may have those specific pages no-indexed to prevent unauthorized access to private data.

Finally, pages with temporary purposes, such as event announcements or promotional landing pages for limited-time offers, will be no-indexed to avoid misleading users.

The impact of no-indexing

The impact of no-indexing on SEO can be significant. When pages are no-indexed, it can affect a website’s overall visibility and ranking in search results. If important or high-quality pages are no-indexed, it can decrease organic traffic and hinder the website’s ability to attract visitors through search engines. Additionally, no-indexing can impact a website’s overall relevance and authority, potentially affecting its overall SEO performance.

Therefore, it is important that you look at the no-indexed pages one by one and consider why they got no-indexed and what to do about it if those pages are important. ( Not all pages are important. If the contact page is deindexed, that is completely OK; visitors will find it on your website anyway. But if your home page gets deindexed, that is a big issue, and you must act. )

How to fix indexing and no-indexing issues

There are several ways to tell the search engine to remove certain pages from search results. I don’t want to discuss those in this article because they are technical topics.

Diagnose the issues and fix them

Fixing no-indexed pages involves identifying the cause and taking corrective actions.

Accidental deindexing can happen when certain tags or settings unintentionally block search engines from including your web pages in search results. By fixing any accidental noindexing, you can make sure that your content is visible to search engines, which can help improve your website’s visibility and attract more visitors.

Having high-quality content is crucial for doing well in search engine results. Suppose your content is thin, duplicated, or doesn’t meet Google’s standards. In that case, it is important to focus on making your content more valuable and relevant to users, providing helpful and comprehensive information. By improving your content, you can boost your website’s performance in search results and reduce the risk of being excluded due to poor content.

Technical issues like broken links or server errors can also cause problems with indexing and potentially exclude pages from search results. It is essential to ensure that your website is working correctly and accessible to search engines.

After you have done your best to fix the issue, use the URL Inspection tool in Google Search Console to request re-indexing, and wait.

Patience is the key here. Re-indexing doesn’t happen instantly. Allow Google some time to recrawl your site and update its index. Monitor your Search Console coverage report for changes.

Search Console coverage report for changes.

Understanding no-index page in the Search Console

Have you ever worried about the no-index page on Google Search Console?

A new client who just started using the Google Search Console emailed, asking if non-indexed pages would prevent her website’s ranking on Google.

As web designers and SEO expert, I often rely on Google Search Console to gain insights into our website’s performance in search results. One common concern that may arise when using this tool is the discovery of no-indexed pages. However, understanding why these pages are no-indexed and the potential benefits they offer can alleviate any worries and even contribute to a more strategic approach to SEO.

/ In simple terms, a no-index page is a web page that has been set up in a way that tells search engines like Google not to include it in their search results. This means that when people search for information online, the page won’t appear in the search results. /

First and foremost, it’s essential to recognize that no-indexed pages are not necessarily a sign of an issue with your website. In fact, no-indexing certain pages can be a deliberate and beneficial strategy. Let’s explore why seeing no-indexed pages in Google Search Console is okay and nothing to worry about.

  1. Purposeful No-Indexing: Many websites have pages that are not intended to appear in search engine results. These could include thank you pages, login pages, duplicate content, or pages under development. By no-indexing these pages, we can ensure that search engines do not waste resources crawling and indexing content that is not meant for public consumption.
  2. Content Control: No-indexing specific pages allows us to have more control over which content appears in search results. For instance, if there are pages with thin or duplicate content that could potentially harm the overall SEO of the site, no-indexing them can prevent such issues.
  3. Focusing Crawl Budget: By no-indexing certain pages, webmasters can direct search engine crawlers to prioritize crawling and indexing more important and relevant pages. This can help ensure that the most valuable content on the website is given priority in search results.
  4. Strategic Landing Pages: In some cases, web designers and marketers may create landing pages for specific marketing campaigns or promotions. No-indexing these pages until the campaign is live allows for a coordinated launch and prevents premature indexing of temporary content.

So, how can web designers and SEO leverage this understanding within Google Search Console to optimize their website’s performance?

  1. Monitoring and Analysis: Regularly checking Google Search Console for no-indexed pages can provide valuable insights into the indexing status of the website. This information can help identify unintentionally no-indexed pages or uncover potential issues that need attention.
  2. Strategic Implementation: Collaborating with marketers to understand the intent behind certain pages and their role in the overall marketing strategy can help web designers make informed decisions about which pages to no-index and which to keep indexable.
  3. SEO Optimization: Utilizing the data from Google Search Console, web designers and marketers can work together to optimize the indexing status of pages, ensuring that the most valuable and relevant content is being indexed and displayed in search results.

In conclusion, encountering no-indexed pages in Google Search Console should not be a cause for alarm. Instead, it presents an opportunity to understand the purpose behind these decisions and leverage them to enhance the website’s overall SEO strategy. By working collaboratively, web designers and marketers can use this information to improve content visibility, focus crawl budget, and drive more targeted traffic to the website. Understanding the nuances of no-indexing empowers us to make more informed decisions and ultimately achieve better results in the online landscape.

Massage Therapy Website Design

CASE STUDY – massage therapy website

Summary of services: new website design | responsible and mobile-friendly layout | SEO implementation

Challenges & Solutions

Turek Design recently undertook a transformative website redesign project for an esteemed massage clinic located in Northborough, MA. The client, boasting over 5 years of industry experience, approached us with the challenge of revamping their outdated, mobile-friendly website full of technical issues, hindering their online visibility and business growth. The project’s primary goal was to create a modern, user-friendly website that would attract more customers and streamline the appointment booking process.

Client Background: The client, Orthomed Massage Clinic, a seasoned business owner in the massage therapy industry, recognized the critical need for a contemporary website to showcase their services and attract a wider audience effectively. Despite their successful track record, the absence of a proper website had been a significant impediment to maximizing their online potential.

Research and Strategy: To ensure a comprehensive understanding of the client’s needs and industry landscape, we researched the client’s competitors and meticulously planned the site map to optimize the user experience. One of the key challenges was addressing the client’s fear about the potential loss of website ranking with the introduction of a new design and platform. We strategically planned the redesign process to safeguard their existing SEO standing and mitigate any negative impact on search visibility.

Design Process: The design process was carefully executed, primarily focusing on creating a visually captivating and responsive homepage to deliver a seamless experience across all devices. Collaborating closely with the client, we provided guidance for curating compelling content, emphasizing the importance of Google-friendly, search-optimized content to enhance online visibility. We stressed the significance of adequate content to engage visitors while ensuring it was Google-friendly.

Outcomes: Following the successful launch of the new massage therapy website in January, the client experienced an initial period of slower activity, which was followed by a significant surge in website traffic. Notably, Google swiftly indexed all pages, enhancing online visibility and potential for increased business. The client reported a notable increase in appointment bookings and positive feedback from both existing and new clients.

Client: Orthomed Massage Clinic, Northborough, MA

 

Turek Web Design has been a true asset for our company. Our new webpage is dynamic and professional. Working with Monika has been a true pleasure. She is extremely responsive, accommodating, knowledgeable and always comes to meetings with great suggestions while taking in the needs of our company and the design we were striving for. Our team would highly recommend Turek Web Design for all of your design needs!

Erin Broude

CEO , Tridome Structures LLC

How Much Does a WordPress Website Cost?

One question we get asked a lot is how much a WordPress website is going to cost. This is one of the most asked questions, and you can find the starting prices on our webdesign service page. What you don’t see on that page, is what really goes into the cost of your WordPress website. Let’s break it down.

What do you really need?
A website with requested functionalities, website hosting, domain name and great content.

WordPress Website

It’s one of the top Content Management Systems (CMS) available and one of the most affordable. The core software for a WordPress site is free, but how much the site will cost you depends on several factors. Ultimately, the cost of your website depends on your goals and the tools you need to add to achieve them. Let’s break down some of these costs to help you avoid overspending and help you maximize your efforts.

There are a lot of working pieces that come together to make a functional website. It is advisable to start small and then build the website out to accommodate your business needs. Here’s a look at the various elements that go into building a WordPress website and the associated costs.

How Much Does Website Hosting Cost?

Choosing a web hosting service is one of the most important choices you’ll make. Think of web hosting as where your site lives on the internet. Every website needs a web host, and there are tons of choices. There is a wide variety of hosting plans to choose from, you’ll just need to choose one that fits your requirements and your budget. WordPress can be used on most hosting environments and prices can range from about $15 per month to several hundreds of dollars. It depends on the package you choose. Shared hosting is cheaper than totally managed WordPress hosting. Choose your hosting wisely because you get what you are paying for.

We recommend using WPEngine; they are a dedicated provider for WordPress websites. Most of our clients need the Lite or the Startup package. If you don’t want to deal with a hosting provider, we offer website Care Packages, that include website hosting.

How Much Does a Domain Name Cost and Why Do I Need One?

Every business site will need its own domain name, and you’ll need to purchase it from a domain name registrar. Having your own domain such as yourbusinessname.com looks professional and helps search engines find you when a user searches for your business name or related services. You should be able to get a unique domain name for less than $20 per year. Some hosting plans do include a free domain name. We recommend Namecheap.com to register a new domain.

What will the Website Design Cost Me?

No matter what type of site you are designing eCommerce or a blog, your design can make or break it. If you are setting up a digital storefront, it’s essential to invest in professional web design. The cost of a professionally designed site depends on the features included. Expect to pay between $3,000 and $15,000. This is an investment that will pay off in time.

–          Website Template – There are free website templates and themes available from WordPress. There are also many available to purchase. The problem with using pre-designed templates is that you don’t have the variability you may need and it can limit the features and plugins that are available.

–          Website Features – A professional designer uses programming skills to provide you with the features you want. Themes and templates don’t always offer to add features like sliders, banners, a photo gallery, or a contact form.

Types of Free and Paid WordPress Plugins

You’ll have to have a web hosting service in place and a well-designed site before you start looking at plugins. There are a lot of great free plugins to enhance your site. Most of the free plugins provide a free version so you can use it for a while before deciding if it’s a good fit for your site. Plugins add advanced functionality to your site. Some are designed to enhance search engine optimization, provide site visitor analytics, book appointments, or process payments. Most of them have a free version that provides some functionality. They also offer premium versions with advanced functionally that you could not get from the free version. They usually range from about $5 to $100 per month. There are a few that are paid annually and some with just a one-time fee.

If you choose our monthly website care plan to guard your investment, our monthly fee includes the fee for all the plugins on your website.

Do I Need Copywriting Services?

Do you want to write your content? 
If you are good at writing and have the time to create your website content, go for it!
It would save you money for sure, but will take a lot of time. Most web designers are willing to guide you through a process to help you create your own content page by page. The advantage of writing your content is that you know your business the best, and you know your target market and how to talk to them. But you are not a copywriter. Writing for a website and being persuasive is different from talking to your customers. 
A good copywriter leads your visitors through a journey to encourage them to choose your service.


Website copywriting fees vary greatly. Expect to pay between $100 and $1,000 per page. That’s a broad price range that is the result of a number of factors. Some things that affect website copy price include the page length and topic. It also depends on the writer or agency. You’ll pay more for more experienced writers or copywriting agencies. Their background and skill levels also influence pricing.

( We include several pages of custom copywriting into our webdesign packages to make life easier for our clients)

Why Hire a Professional When You Can Do It on Your Own?

There are a lot of things you can do on your own when designing a WordPress website. Free options for templates and plugins make it very appealing to try tackling it on your own. The question is not so much if you can build your own website, but should you?

Your website represents you, your brand, your voice, or your company. It’s the way you interact with others on one level or another. If your website is difficult to understand or to navigate, you’ll lose that connection. If it’s a business site, you’ll lose business and revenue. Think about these four things when considering whether or not you should hire a professional website designer.

·         A designer can create a custom website that will meet all your needs, expectations, and capabilities you need.  Creating your own site with a provided template will limit your capabilities and restrict your text and graphics.

·         Web designers know how to do more than create a stunning fully functional site. They also know how to optimize your site for search engines so it can be found and made visible to potential site visitors.

·         Hiring a professional web designer who knows what they are doing can mean your site is completed quickly and efficiently. There are many roadblocks when designing your own site, especially if you haven’t done it before. A pro can save you lots of time and money.

·         Professional designers stay up with the current trends in website design and technology. They understand search engine functionalities and coding. When you hire a pro, you are ensuring your site is equipped with the latest technology needed for both the development and maintenance of your site.

Final Thoughts

It may seem like you are saving a lot of money to create a DIY website. Hiring a pro can seem like quite the upfront investment. But hiring someone who knows what they are doing increases the likelihood that your site will be a success and that outweighs your initial cost by a long shot. Having a stellar website helps your business, improves your visitor’s experience, and increases the lifetime value of your customers or visitors.

Once you decided to start a website project, it may be a good idea to get some quotes for a professional design. The extra cost would save you time and stress and give you a professional result.

The Impact of Website Redesign on Search Engine Rankings

A website redesign can be a pivotal moment for any online business. It’s a chance to refresh the brand, improve user experience, and potentially boost engagement. However, one crucial element often causes concern: the impact on search engine rankings.

In truth, the effect of a website redesign on rankings is a double-edged sword. It can either significantly boost visibility or lead to a drastic drop, depending on how it’s implemented. Let’s delve deeper into the potential positive and negative impacts and how to navigate them effectively.

Positive Impacts of Website Redesign:

An effective website redesign can lead to a range of positive impacts on SEO rankings. By prioritizing user experience and technical SEO, businesses can enhance their online visibility and attract more organic traffic. Here are some of the potential positive impacts of a website redesign on SEO rankings:

Improved User Experience:

A well-designed website with intuitive navigation and faster loading speeds provides a better user experience. This can lead to increased user engagement, longer session times, and lower bounce rates, signaling to search engines that the website provides valuable content and a positive user experience.

Enhanced Technical SEO:

A redesign can be an opportunity to address any existing technical SEO issues, such as broken links, crawl errors, and slow loading times. By fixing these issues, businesses can improve their website’s accessibility and visibility to search engines, potentially leading to higher rankings.

Fresh Content:

Redesigning a website often involves creating new content and updating existing content. This fresh content can act as a signal to search engines that the website is actively maintained and relevant, potentially boosting rankings for relevant keywords.

Increased Mobile-friendliness:

In today’s mobile-first world, a mobile-friendly website is crucial for maintaining search engine visibility. A website redesign can ensure the website is responsive and optimized for mobile devices, leading to better user experience and, consequently, higher search engine rankings.

Negative Impacts of Website Redesign:

While a website redesign has the potential to boost search engine rankings, there are also potential negative impacts that business owners need to be aware of. It’s important to carefully plan and execute a redesign to mitigate these risks and ensure a smooth transition. Here are some of the potential negative impacts of a website redesign on search engine rankings:

URL Structure Changes:

Changing the URL structure of a website during a redesign can be risky. Search engines may not recognize the new URLs as being related to the old ones, resulting in a temporary drop in rankings. Proper redirects and communication with search engines are essential to mitigate this risk.

Content Loss:

Removing or significantly altering existing content can have a negative impact on SEO. It’s important to maintain the core content that drives traffic and rankings while introducing new, valuable content.

Technical SEO Issues:

If the redesign process is not carefully planned and executed, it can introduce new technical SEO issues, such as broken links, duplicate content, and slow loading speeds, all of which can negatively impact rankings.

Temporary Traffic Fluctuations:

During and after the redesign, there may be a temporary drop in traffic as search engines adjust to the changes. This is typically short-lived and can be mitigated by proper planning and communication.

Mitigating the Risks:

To ensure a successful website redesign that doesn’t hurt search engine rankings, business owners should take proactive steps to mitigate potential negative impacts. By following these essential steps, businesses can navigate the website redesign process effectively and minimize any negative effects on search engine rankings:

Plan and Prioritize SEO:

Make SEO a key consideration throughout the redesign process. Conduct thorough keyword research, identify potential SEO risks, and implement a plan to mitigate them.

Crawl and Index the New Website:
Ensure Googlebot can crawl and index the new website easily. Submit the XML sitemap to Google Search Console and major search engines and monitor for any crawl errors.

Implement Proper Redirects:
If changing URLs, set up 301 redirects from the old URLs to the new ones. This helps search engines understand the relationship between the old and new pages and maintain your SEO rankings.

Monitor and Analyze:

Continuously monitor your website’s traffic, rankings, and SEO performance after the redesign. This allows you to identify any issues quickly and take corrective action.

In today’s competitive online landscape, the importance of a well-executed website redesign cannot be overstated. As a business owner with a website, it’s crucial to understand the potential impact of a redesign on search engine rankings and take proactive steps to mitigate any negative effects.

When approaching a website redesign, it’s essential to strike a balance between enhancing the user experience and maintaining or improving search engine visibility. By understanding the potential positive and negative impacts of a redesign, business owners can make informed decisions. If you still have questions about how to move forward with website redesign, Turek Web Design is here to help you.
Schedule your 20 min free consultation!

SEO help for a photograper

Lyndsay Hannah, a Boston photographer, is a family and newborn photographer whose images are full of love and creativity. Her passion and originality come through her beautiful and memorable images. Her subjects are not in typical poses, but authentic and unrestricted.

Needed help with SEO

Small business owners like Lyndsay wear many hats and need help when they are faced with technology issues. They could probably solve the issue on their own, but it would take them hours of learning, and more hours to implement. Lyndsay hired Turek Design for a 2-hour SEO consultation to help her with her photography website.

The main issue and her goal

Lyndsay’s target audience is Boston and its suburbs, but her business is located elsewhere.  She wants her website to show up for search terms such as newborns photography, or family photography in the Boston area and not where her business is located. She is posting new blog posts diligently on her website and has seen good SEO results.
Reading about how to make a website search engine friendly left her with a lot of question. Various articles or blog posts recommend different strategies because there are different ways to accomplish the same goal. Plus not all website are created equal, so there are different solutions for different sites.

What we did

By using any modern web design platform, (e.g., WordPress, Squarespace, Wix, Weebly, etc.,) one is not required to know coding (unless you are adventurous and wants to add something). Even though people don’t need to know coding to create a website, there are huge amounts of data behind every platform. These are important to Google to understand what the website is about.
An SEO consultation starts by understanding what is behind the website. 

We look at:

  • The H1 and H2 tags, descriptions and page title
  • On-page interlinking and links structure
  • Website speed
  • External and internal backlinks
  • Website usability
  • Social Media integration  

When all this is completed, we meet with the client to discuss our findings.

Why and how?

I firmly believe in the importance of fully explaining why and what I do. Explaining how to fix the issues helps everyone understand the basic of SEO and how Google reads any given website.

Small changes sometimes entail additional changes.

If we change the first line on the website from ”Welcome to my website” to ”Looking for a newborn photographer in Boston?” we also need to change the text in the subsequent paragraphs.

Result

Changes at the website do not show increased ranking instantly on Google. It takes time and patience and constant works to slowly increase the position.
When I met Lyndsay, her main keyword was 35th on Google, about 5 pages down. A little later she reached 28th, and after that 12th, which is second page on Google.

If she consistently puts the work into her website, she will reach the first page very soon.

Complete SEO guide for how to optimize a Photography website

Are you a photographer having a hard time optimizing your photography website?
You are not alone.
Most photographers find it difficult and subsequently get lost trying to make their photo website Google friendly. These are some tips that you should take into consideration in order to make your photography site better.

How to optimize your images for SEO

A photographer portfolio consists of beautiful images, so big part of optimizing a photography website means optimizing images.

What about the Image Alt Tags

Every modern platform allows you to add Alt Tags. What is an Alt tag? It is a description of the image. It comes from the time of slow internet, when people did not automatically download images, but read the Alt text first. (Nowadays it is also an important part of optimizing a website for screen readers for visually impaired visitors. )
Why do you need to add it?
Simple, Google can’t understand your images; Alt Tag descriptions translate your images for search engines.

Let’s imagine that a new mom is searching for a newborn photographer and finds your photographs on Google because you had a great image description. She might then add it to her Pinterest board so other new moms will see your great photography skills. There is a high likelihood that she will go to your site and see the rest of your photographer’s portfolio. She might become a new client or just a new follower on Facebook or Instagram. This is one of the reasons why Alt Tags can be so useful to your portfolio

Optimize your image file names

It is easy just to use the automated file name when you upload a new image from your camera. But what would Google understand from this; cunningham-sm.jpg or 3444577893-2019-04-12.jpg?

Nothing, right?

So you should take time and add file names that help your SEO. For example, Cute-Baby-Photography-Boston.jpg file name is much more descriptive, right?


Confused about how to optimize your photography website?
Hire us for a 2-hours SEO consultation!

Photographer with camera looking at you

Optimize your image file size

If you upload your image in its original size or high resolution slowly but surely, it will destroy your website and user experience.
Why? Because the bigger the file size, the slower your page is. People are eager to see your page, but if it takes a long time to load, they may click elsewhere.
Photographers’ websites are image-heavy, so you should be careful of the sizes of the images you upload.
If you want to check out how fast your site is, use this website. https://gtmetrix.com

If your website loads slowly, you should check the sizes of the images and files. ( Here is an article how to edit your images on WordPress platform.)

Make your images as big as needed, but do not go way bigger. In Google Analytics, you can see the average screen size your visitors use, use that knowledge to speed up your site.

Create good content to read

Most photography websites’ mistake is the lack of content

One common mistake found on most photography websites is the lack of content. While it’s understandable to believe that your images can speak for your value and artistic prowess, the truth is they alone won’t attract visitors to your site.

Here’s where Google comes into play – it prefers websites with plenty of text. So, having a stunning full-screen image with your logo as the homepage won’t suffice for Google to recognize your photography business in Worcester County. To ensure Google understands your target audience and location, make sure to prominently feature the desired location on your website.

Now let’s talk about your target audience. Most photographers aim to attract people within a 50-mile radius or less, as they prefer not to travel too far. Create a list of the major towns and cities in your area and prioritize adding these names to your website.

Remember, engaging content and strategic targeting will help your photography business thrive online and reach the right clients.
How we could help a Boston Photographer to optimize her website, read this case study.

to Blog or not to blog, that is the question

When it comes to optimizing your photography website, regularly adding new content is key. But here’s the catch: it’s not just about uploading new images, it’s about adding valuable text too. Search engines don’t recognize new images as fresh content, so it’s crucial to find engaging topics that provide useful information to your audience.

For instance, imagine the curiosity of new moms wanting to know how early they should schedule a session with their newborn. And what about families pondering over how to dress for a photography session? Oh, and don’t forget those who are concerned about what happens if it rains during an outdoor photography session.

You see, there are endless questions waiting to be answered, and by addressing them on your website, you’ll add immense value. This extra content will not only engage your audience but also boost your photography website’s ranking in search results. Exciting, right?

Get a good website hosting company

Invest into a good website hosting company with great service. Don’t pick the cheapest shared plan that doesn’t use the latest technologies. Website hosting is more important than just the price.
Your hosting will affect your website loading speed and your website security.

Invest in an SSL certificate

Online security has gotten a lot more attention recently. Visitors are looking for the “security sign” in front of a domain name, especially if sensitive personal information is collected from users. An SSL certificate, which is noticeable by the “s” here https:// , guarantees that all data is encrypted and securely stored on your website.

In conclusion, photographer websites tend to lack content and be full of images which are not ideal for SEO. To make sure you are getting the most out of your website, you need good long content that is location-specific. Additionally, it would be beneficial to include a blog as well on your website. There are a lot of digital marketing tips out there that can help you optimize your website and get the best traffic result. If none of this works for you, then perhaps it’s time for an expert touch. If you are a photographer and need help optimizing your website, schedule a chat to learn more about how to optimize your website.


Latest Blog Posts


Landing page vs Website

As a small business owner, it’s crucial to understand the difference between a landing page and a website. While many people use these terms interchangeably, they are wrong. These two web and marketing tools have key differences in functionalities and objectives. A website is a digital representation of your business, and acts as a gateway to your company’s entire range of services and offers. On the other hand, a landing page is a temporary page designed for a marketing campaign, focusing on selling one particular product or service. In this blog post, I will explain the key differences between landing page and a website and help you identify which one is suitable for your needs.

  1. Landing page and Website Functionality:
    The primary function of a website is to provide an overview of your company and direct potential customers to other sections of your website. A website usually has multiple pages and they can include blog, online store and contact pages. It should be designed with clear navigation and provide easy access to different parts of your website. On the other hand, a landing page is a single page that has a distinct purpose to capture leads or sales by focusing on one specific offer. It includes a clear call-to-action (CTA) that encourages visitors to take a particular action, such as subscribing to a newsletter or buying a product.
  2. Messaging:
    A website should feature a concise message highlighting your brand’s values and key offerings. It should address the needs of different user segments by providing a general overview of your company’s services. A landing page, on the other hand, should be laser-focused on one service or product. Its messaging should emphasize the unique value proposition of the offering and convince visitors to take action by using persuasive language and compelling visuals.
  3. Design:
    The design of your website should reflect your brand’s style and visual identity while being clear, intuitive, and easy to navigate. It should have a consistent layout, color scheme, and typography throughout the website. A landing page design, however, has more freedom to be creative and unique, as it’s designed with a specific objective in mind. It should grab the visitor’s attention and convey a sense of urgency with bold visuals, crisp copy, and a prominent CTA or action button. Another difference between a website and a landing page is the structure. Websites have a hierarchical structure, with the homepage as the starting point and various sections and sub-pages branching out. In contrast, landing pages are singular web pages with a clear focus and a linear structure designed to guide visitors to take action. Landing pages also tend to have fewer links than websites, thereby reducing distractions and keeping visitors focused on a single goal.
  4. Tone:
    One of the most significant differences between a website and a landing page is their tone. Websites are generally informational and designed to communicate a brand’s voice and style. In contrast, landing pages are sales-oriented and use persuasive language, engaging visuals, and a clear call-to-action. Landing pages are designed to elicit instant gratification from visitors and encourage them to act immediately. They are created to drive conversions and usually have a higher conversion rate than websites.
  5. Traffic source:
    A website receives traffic from diverse sources, such as organic search, social media, or referral links. As such, it needs to be optimized for search engines, target audience, user experience, and accessibility for all types of visitors. On the other hand, a landing page is often linked to a specific marketing campaign or ad campaign, and the traffic that it receives is targeted and intentional. Therefore, it needs to be consistent with the ad’s messaging, design, and CTA, or action button. A landing page life cycle are different than a website. Landing pages are temporary, some are used for one day only, or one week or one month, depending of the marketing purpose they were designed for.
  6. Analytics:
    Finally, the analytics for a website are focused on overall website performance, such as bounce rate, time on site, and user behavior across different sections. A landing page, on the other hand, has a more specific set of metrics that are related to its objectives, such as conversion rate, click-through rate, and lead generation.

Conclusion: As you can see, both home pages and landing pages are essential for a successful online presence. However, they have different purposes, audience, and functionality. Understanding how each of these pages works and how to use them to your advantage can make a significant difference in your digital marketing efforts. By having a clear objective, message, design, traffic source, and analytics, you can create a compelling online experience that engages your visitors and drives conversions. So, whether you need to boost your brand awareness or sell your latest product, choose the right type of page for your specific needs, and let your website do the rest!

Google Reviews and how to use them

I talk about the importance of Google Reviews all the time. If you read my newsletter, you know that reviews are a huge deciding factor for prospective clients when it comes to finding the right business.
By reading reviews left by other customers, you can get a sense of what a business is like before you even step foot inside. Did you know that you can actually embed Google Reviews directly onto your own website or to your social media?
It’s a great way to showcase your positive reviews and encourage others to leave their own.

If you are proud of your reviews, and I hope you are all, there are several different plugins that can be connected to your website and show your reviews like this.

google review blocks

If you would like to show your reviews on your website, let me know and I can make it happen.

3 ways to Add Google Reviews to Social Media

If you receive a fantastic review and you want to show it to your fans and followers, right?

First, copy and paste the review to Canva and create an image.

Second, is to add the review link to a post. Here is how to do it.

  1. Go to Google’s “Google Business Profile” page and sign in.
  2. Select the reviews you want to display on your website.
  3. Click the 3 dots at the top right corner and chose “Share reviews”
  4. Choose “Copy Link”.
  5. Go to your social media and find where you want the reviews to appear and create a new post by pasting the link there.

The third way is to use a third-party software like GatherUp, Reputation Stacker, or Embed Social,

With the variation of these tools, you can easily showcase your positive reviews and build trust with potential customers who visit your website or social media page.

Remember to encourage your customers to leave reviews and respond to any negative ones in a professional and helpful manner. Happy reviewing!

How to generate QR codes

I hear clients especially service providers and trade businesses complain about having difficulty getting clients’ reviews. So there is a trick to get more reviews easily.

Generate a QR code, and keep it on your phone as an image, or print it on a special business card, or add it to your last invoice. Scanning an image, that brings up your review page makes it easy to do it.
i am sure your clients are happy with your service and would be happy to leave you a review but they are busy and forget it. So let’s make it as convenient as possible.

This is a short video on how to generate the QR code. Let me know if you have any questions or need help!