Category: Internet Marketing

Why Are People Moving to Online Transactions?

Home Business Magazine Online

Nowadays, it’s hard to imagine your life without digital money. Many people are switching from using cash to a more modern way of paying and receiving funds. Also, there is a need to send money to loved ones who may be in another city or country. If you are considering different ways of money transfer service and want to understand the benefits of online payments, keep reading.

Advantages of online money transactions

If the user chooses a proven service, he can enjoy all the benefits of civilization. The advantages are manifested in maximum simplicity and brevity. It is possible to understand all the moments quickly, as there are hints everywhere.

The advantage of such transfers is that they are carried out instantly. You don’t have to fill in millions of fields with information and wait for a long time for confirmation. You just fill in the basic data, enter the amount, and press the button to confirm the transaction. No matter where the recipient is located, the money is credited quickly. It usually takes a few minutes, not a few business days like a bank transfer.

Another consideration is safety. Again, if you use a trusted resource, you don’t have to worry that everything will go well. Each user’s data is protected, so it doesn’t go outside the platform. To make sure you and your information are safe, follow common advice. Make sure you have a strong password and keep it out of the reach of others. If you receive a code from a transaction service on your phone, do not tell it to strangers. Be careful and do not take dubious measures.

Is it worth trying such a money transfer?

Referring to the above advantages, one can draw a positive conclusion about online transactions. A verified intermediary will not require an excessive amount of information from you. It is a convenient option to send money to another country that requires no extra effort. No one wants to spend unnecessary resources, so they look for such favorable offers that have already been tested for reliability by numerous users. Moreover, all data will be protected and inaccessible to fraudsters. Both the sender and the recipient will have no moments of worry and doubt. The mediator takes care of all the processes and performs his tasks with quality.

It’s worth trying this method of sending money to see how convenient it is. Moreover, this service is used by many people of different ages, professions, and ages. And for those who engage in this process regularly, individual conditions are offered. If you are going to make large transactions, familiarize yourself with the terms and conditions beforehand. In such cases, you may need more information about yourself, your line of business, etc. Therefore, be ready to provide additional documents, as it is stipulated by the legislation, and, as you know, the service operates legally.

The post Why Are People Moving to Online Transactions? appeared first on Home Business Magazine.

Original source: https://homebusinessmag.com/money/money-management/people-moving-online-transactions/

Microsoft Bing adds new Deep Search generative AI feature

Microsoft today announced Deep Search – a new, optional generative AI feature meant to help searchers with complex questions that don’t have simple answers.

How it works. Deep Search is built on top of Bing’s web index and ranking system. It then uses GPT-4 to discern all the possible intents and variations behind the query and compute descriptions for each of them to create an “ideal set of results.”

After using a combination of querying techniques, Deep Search will surface results that typically wouldn’t appear in Search results.

In an example query Microsoft shared, it showed a user searching for [how do points systems work in japan], Deep Search might identify these other relevant search terms:

  • loyalty card programs Japan
  • best loyalty cards for travelers in Japan
  • comparison of loyalty programs by category Japan
  • redeeming loyalty cards in Japan
  • managing loyalty points with phone apps
  • “By doing this, Deep Search can find results that cover different aspects of my query, even if they don’t explicitly include the original keywords. Regular searches on Bing already consider millions of web pages for each search and Deep Search does ten times that to find results that are more informative and specific than the ones that rank higher in normal search,” MIcrosoft said.

What Deep Search looks like. Here’s a GIF Microsoft shared to illustrate how Deep Search works on Bing:

Microsoft Bing Deep Search

Deep Search results ranking. The biggest factor is how well a page matches Bing’s expanded description. A few other relevance and quality factors mentioned were:

  • How well the topic matches.
  • Whether it has an “appropriate level of detail.”
  • Whether the source is credible and trustworthy.
  • Freshness.
  • How popular the page is.

Wait times. Deep Search won’t load as quickly as regular search results. It may take Deep Search up to 30 seconds to complete, Microsoft said. This makes the feature sound dead on arrival – as most searchers likely won’t have that much patience.

Limited availability right now. Only “randomly selected small groups” of Bing’s global users will see Deep Search while it’s in testing, Microsoft said in a blog post.

Why we care. This is another AI-driven SERP feature that will compete and could steal clicks from organic listings. That said, it’s hard to tell exactly how it works without testing it out, which we haven’t been able to do yet. But any clicks it steals could help users complete their tasks more quickly, as user intent can be ambiguous for many queries.

What Microsoft is saying. Microsoft said it created Deep Search to provide “more relevant and comprehensive answers to the most complex search queries”:

  • “Deep Search is not meant for every query or every user. … Deep Search is not a replacement for Bing’s existing web search, but an enhancement that offers the option for a deeper and richer exploration of the web.”

Original source: https://searchengineland.com/microsoft-bing-deep-search-435446

8 winning SEO A/B tests that boost organic traffic by Digital Marketing Depot

Angel and demon customers

Are you looking to improve your website’s SEO and increase organic traffic? This white paper from Search Pilot presents 8 real-world examples of SEO A/B tests that led to organic traffic increases between 3-29% for the companies that ran these tests.

Readers will discover real examples of:

  • What page changes help SEO rankings and what don’t
  • How to improve click-through rates
  • Getting content indexed faster

These are real test results from companies testing changes like removing page elements that slow load time, upgrading content formats and snippets, and optimizing title tags and on-page elements.

Learn more! Visit Digital Marketing Depot to download 8 New Winning SEO Tests.

Original source: https://searchengineland.com/this-white-paper-from-search-pilot-presents-8-real-world-examples-of-seo-a-b-tests-that-led-to-organic-traffic-increases-between-3-29-435431

Google Local Service Ads roll out impression share data

Google has rolled out impression share data for Local Service Ads (LSAs).

Impression share is the percentage of times your ad shows up compared to the total number of times it could potentially appear.

This data became available on LSAs in November, Ginny Marvin, Google Ads liaison officer, confirmed on X.

Why we care. Impression share is a key metric for assessing the visibility and effectiveness of an ad campaign, enabling marketers to better understand performance and optimize more efficiently.

First spotted. The impression share data for Google LSAs was first spotted by Google Ads expert, Ben Turner, who shared a screenshot of his findings on X:

ADS

As shown in the screenshot above, three new metrics can now be seen for Google LSA accounts:

  • Ad impressions: How often your ad showed up in search results within a chosen time frame
  • Top impression rate on Search: The percentage of your impressions displayed above unpaid results within a chosen timeframe.
  • Absolute top impression rate on Search: The percentage of your impressions that appear as the first ad in search results with a specific time range.

Commenting on the screenshot, Turner wrote:

  • “Seeing IS metrics in selected Google LSA accounts – could be useful. Metrics seem wildly different to an LSA ranking tool I briefly used. One of them must be off.”
  • “If you’re looking at anything other than November 2023 there is no data.”

Reactions. Digital marketing expert Anthony Higman commented that the rollout of impression share data could help improve the accuracy of reporting. He explained on X:

  • “[I] have been screaming for this. My whole thing since the intro of LSA is how can I accurately report on Google ads when LSA is in the mix and you have no idea how or when. I doubt this will actually help solve it but it’s a step in the right direction. Only took them 3 years.”
  • “Also what’s cool is that these are metrics I haven’t been able to see before. You can see a lot of data in LSA accounts from the account level if you are creative but haven’t been able to see positioning metrics before.”

Get the daily newsletter search marketers rely on.


See terms.

Deep dive. Read the Google Local Service Ad guide for more information on how this product works.

Original source: https://searchengineland.com/google-local-service-ads-impression-share-data-435380

Google expands video requirements for “Video mode” where video must be main content of the page

Google is expanding its video requirements where the video must be the main content of the page to show up as a video result in Google Search to also have that requirement with Google’s “Video mode” in search. Google said, “extending this change to search results in Video mode to better connect users with the video content they’re looking for.”

The change can take about a week to fully rollout but once it is done rolling out you should only see videos in Google Search and Video mode from pages that make their video the primary part of their content.

What changed. Google said it will only “show video thumbnails next to results on the main Google Search results page when the video is the main content of a page” and that it expanding this requirement for “video mode.”

Google explained “with this update, clicking a result in Video mode will only take users to a page where the video is the main content.”

What is video mode. The videos that show under the video tab are generally what is video mode. Google shared this illustration of video mode in the Google Search results:

Alphabet Inc.

Not primary video content. Google posted some examples of page types where the video is supplementary to the textual content, and not the primary focus of the page, they include:

  • A blog post where the video is complementary to the text rather than the primary content of the page
  • A product details page with a complementary video
  • A video category page that lists multiple videos of equal prominence

Search Console changes. Google said this change may have an impact on your video reports within Google Search Console. “You’ll see the impact of this change in your Search Console video indexing report,” Google wrote. Videos that aren’t the main content of the page will appear as “No video indexed” in Search Console.

“Since these videos will no longer be shown in Video mode, you can expect to see a decrease in the number of pages with indexed videos,” Google added. This decrease will also appear in the number of video impressions in the performance report, video indexing report, and the video rich results report in Google Search Console.

Google will also add a new reason to the report to explain why these videos are not indexed: “Video is not the main content of the page”, which simplifies the report by replacing the following issues:

  • Invalid video URL
  • Unsupported video format
  • Unknown video format
  • Inline data URLs cannot be used for video URLs
  • Video outside the viewport
  • Video too small
  • Video too tall

Why we care. If your pages have been ranking in video mode within Google Search, you’ll watch to watch the performance of those pages heading forward. This change also has implications for the video metrics you see reported in Search Console.

Original source: https://searchengineland.com/google-expands-video-requirements-for-video-mode-where-video-must-be-main-content-of-the-page-435382

All the things you can do if you can’t pay your energy bill

In the current financial climate many people can’t pay their energy bill and many of us are falling behind with payments.

Payment Plans and Supplier Support

A to D

First of all, if you fund yourself in this situation, the best thing to do is to get in touch with your supplier: regulator Ofgem makes sure your supplier helps you: most usually with an affordable payment plan. Also it’s good to know that under recent pandemic regulations, your supply will not be cut off if you fall behind on your payments.

As well as a payment plan review, you may in certain circumstances be able to arrange reduced payments or a payment holiday.

If you prepay your energy bills, similarly your supplier can help, including £5 of emergency credit on both your gas and electricity meter, accessible by entering the card or clicking a button when the option pops up – this will have to be repaid when you top up.

Friendly credit also means you won’t be cut off if your credit runs out on evenings, weekends and bank holidays when the shops are closed.

If you can’t afford to keep the meter topped up, you may be eligible for additional support credit (or extra support credit): again, contact your supplier. This may also apply to the vulnerable: pensioners, disabled customers or those with a long-term medical condition.

Ofgem has introduced protective measures to ensure customers have access to discuss this kind of help with their supplier, on a case by case basis.

If you outright can’t pay your energy bill, you may also be eligible for hardship funds, depending on your circumstances and ability to pay. Again, get in touch with your supplier to begin the process.

 

Charitable Trusts

How to make money online

There are also many charitable trusts and funds offering schemes and grants to help with your energy costs, faulty or old boilers, or to help make your home more energy-efficient.

A good starting point is the British Gas Energy Trust as they’ll help support not just their own customers, but those with any supplier.

There’s also more specific customer help from: EDF Energy Customer Support Fund / E.on Energy Fund / E.on Next Energy Fund / Ovo Energy Fund/ Octo Assist Fund / Scottish Power Hardship Fund.You may need to get help applying to these schemes as they can be fairly complicated procedures. Most require you to have spoken to a debt advisor and worked out your income and expenditure in detail, ready to present your case. You can get help from some charities to do this.

Government Support

British Gas Energy Trust

Some good recent news is that households in England, Wales and Scotland can claim Government support this year, including an automaticdiscount on your bills.

If you’re in council tax bands A to D, there is a council tax rebate coming into place soon, and also help being put in place for those who don’t qualify for this.

If you have a standard credit meter, the Warm Home Discount is a £140 rebate applied to your electricity bill between October and March. If your energy supplier is part of the scheme, you’ll br notified of how this will be applied to you.

Another way to save on bills is to pay by monthly direct debit, which earns interest on overpayments for the supplier, and assured them you’re a regular payer: it could also save you up to £90 a month.

Finally, it’s worth noting that doing things like leaving electrical products on standby, or the heating on all day, actually drives your bills up, so look around you home and see where you can cut costs by switching things off and carefully regulating your output.

What Jasmine Says

MoneyMagpie’s Jasmine Birtles says, “If you can’t pay your energy bill firstly don’t feel alone – you are one of many in the country who are really struggling to pay. Secondly get in touch with your energy provider immediately. They all have sections of the business that are there to help people who can’t pay their bills for one reason or another. It’s possible that they will be able to reduce your bill or spread it over a longer time period to enable you to pay. Also they might put you on a meter so that you only pay as you use the energy. This can help you with budgeting although the downside is that it tends to be more expensive than being on a contract.

“Also there are some energy-related benefits that you may be entitled to. Use the benefits calculator at Entitledto or Turn2Us to see if there’s anything you could apply for and also speak to your local Council to see if they have any hardship grants that could help you get over this particular financial pressure.”

MoneyMagpie also take a look at all the other things you may be eligable for financial help with here.

The post All the things you can do if you can’t pay your energy bill appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

Original source: https://www.moneymagpie.com/make-money/all-the-things-you-can-do-if-you-cant-pay-your-energy-bill

Tax Strategies for Small Business Owners: Maximizing Deductions and Credit

Home Business Magazine Online

As a small business owner, every penny you earn counts. The more money you have, the more you can spend on expanding and growing your business.

But how can you save more if you’ve got heavy tax burdens? If you want to learn how to reduce your taxable income in 2024 effectively, we’re here to help.

In this blog, we’ll explore how you can lessen your tax liabilities using different tax reduction strategies. We’ll discuss the deductions you can make on your next filing and how to maximize them for savings.

Nine Tax Reduction Strategies for Small Businesses

There are plenty of tax reduction strategies you can use for your small business, like:

Make Write-offs

The simplest way to reduce your taxes is by making write-offs or deductions on your filings. Depending on the nature of your business, you are entitled to several tax deductions, such as:

  • Home Office Deduction: This rebate is granted to small business owners who work from home. However, to qualify for this deduction, you must prove that your home office is used regularly and exclusively for your business.
  • Qualified Business Income (QBI) Deduction: This deduction allows pass-through businesses like sole proprietorships and single-member LLCs to deduct up to 20% of their taxable income.
  • Work-related Travel Expense Deductions: Any expenses you’ve made during a work-related trip can be deducted from your taxable income.

Before you include any of these write-offs on your filing, we recommend that you check if you’re eligible for them.

Invest in Equipment

Equipment is one of the biggest investments you’ll make as a business owner. Fortunately, you can write off any machinery you’ve purchased on your tax filings and get bonus depreciation.

Bonus depreciation is an accelerated business deduction that lets you offset a portion of your income to the equivalent of the equipment’s reduction in value. If you bought a truck earlier this year, you can deduct up to 80% of its price from your 2023 filing and the remaining 20% as a depreciation bonus the following year.

Now, you can claim this deduction in two ways: you can deduct them all at once or spread it out over several years. It’s also worth noting that there’s a limit to when you can claim this deduction, depending on your equipment.

For instance, you can only write off depreciation for cars and computers over five years. On the other hand, you can deduct depreciation for furniture and appliances for seven years.

Build a Retirement Plan

A retirement plan isn’t just good for your future; it’s also great for your business’s taxes.

According to this year’s tax codes, self-employed business owners can contribute up to $22,500 in a 401(k) created in 2023. Alternatively, if your retirement plan is set up as an IRA, you can add up to $6,500 to your account.

Small businesses that create 401(k)’s for their employees can write off up to $500 a year for each plan during its first three years.

Pay Your Debt

If you have any business loans you’re still paying off, you can write off their interest from your taxable income.

You’re eligible for this deduction if:

  • You’re legally liable for the loan.
  • You’re using the loan for business purposes, like buying new equipment or expanding your operations.
  • You and the lender intend that the loan be repaid.
  • There’s a true debtor-creditor relationship between you and the lender.

Is there a limit to what you can deduct from your loan interest? Yes. You can’t deduct any interest you’ll get from refinancing your business loan.

Pay for Your Employees’ Health Insurance

If you have a few employees and you’re paying for their health insurance premiums, you can offset some of these costs by claiming a tax credit.

To qualify for these deductions, you have to meet the following requirements:

  • You must have less than 25 full-time employees.
  • You pay an average wage of less than $58,000 annually per employee.
  • Buy a group health insurance through the Small Business Health Options Program Marketplace.
  • Shoulder at least 50% of the cost of coverage for each of your employees.

You can claim the credit for two consecutive tax years if you qualify.

Get Tax Credits

Tax credits are another strategy you can use to lessen your liabilities. What makes credits different from deductions is that they allow you to directly reduce the tax you owe.

Here are a few examples:

  • Work Opportunity Tax Credit: This tax credit is granted to small business owners who hire employees from a targeted group facing certain barriers when searching for employment. Some examples of this include veteran professionals with disabilities, ex-felons, and more.
  • Child & Dependent Care Credit: Child and dependent care credit is given to business owners paying for a family member’s child care or dependent care while working. This type of tax credit allows you to deduct 20-35% of your childcare expenses from your business’s taxes.
  • Research & Development Tax Credit: Contrary to popular belief, R&D tax credits are not exclusive to researchers and scientists. This tax credit is available to small businesses actively developing or improving products through research and development.

Defer or Accelerate Your Income

Deferring or accelerating income is another common strategy business owners use to lessen their tax burdens. There are two ways you can defer your income.

First, you can delay sending your invoices to clients or extend their due dates until the new year.

For example, if you haven’t billed a client yet for your work last December 2022, you can wait until January 2023 to send the invoice. This way, your 2022 tax rates will be much lower.

The second way you can defer your income is through accrual-basis accounting. This approach is perfect if your small business doesn’t charge your customers until you’ve fulfilled your service.

However, it’s worth noting that there are strict guidelines you have to follow in accrual accounting. So, before you proceed, we recommend you consult a business tax solution specialist first.

Aside from deferring your income, you can accelerate it if you believe your tax rates will drastically increase next year. Alternatively, you can accelerate expenses if you’re in a high bracket for this tax year.

You can invest in depreciable assets like machinery or computers. You could also start creating 401(k) plans for your employees. Accelerating your expenses could help reduce your business’s taxes.

Donate to Charity

Donating to charity is another easy way you can reduce your tax liabilities.

Typically, you can deduct up to 60% of your adjusted gross income for charitable donations. However, there’s a 20% to 50% limit, depending on your contribution and the organization you’ve donated to.

For example, if you’ve donated property to a local synagogue, it will be calculated based on its Fair Market Value during the time of donation.

It’s important to note that your contributions can only be deducted if they go to a qualified organization, like charitable organizations, churches and religious organizations, and private foundations.

If you qualify for this deduction, you must track every donation you make. This way, you’ll have a much easier time itemizing them on your filing.

Your records should show how much you’ve donated to the organization and identify whether the contribution was made via cash or not. For donations over $75, you’ll need to get a written statement from the receiving organization.

Consider Changing Your Business Structure

Changing your startup’s business structure could be the most effective way to reduce your tax burden.

Your chosen structure determines your tax status. For example, if you structure your business like a Limited Liability Company (LLC), the IRS will treat you as a pass-through entity.

Pass-through entities don’t have to pay business income taxes. Instead, their net profit passes through to their owner’s tax returns. So, if you decide to incorporate your small business as an LLC, you won’t have taxes.

Instead, you’ll report any income or losses your business made in your individual tax filings.

Other business structures with pass-through tax status are sole proprietorships, partnerships, and S corporations. The best structure for your business will depend on your needs and goals.

Takeaway

In conclusion, as a small business owner, navigating the complexities of tax obligations is crucial for maximizing your earnings and fueling business growth. In this blog, we’ve delved into various tax reduction strategies you can use for your small business.

From leveraging deductions to making smart investments in equipment with bonus depreciation, these are practical steps you can take to optimize your tax position.

By proactively implementing these tax reduction strategies, you can make the most out of your hard-earned money. Remember, every penny saved through prudent tax planning contributes to the growth and success of your small business.

The post Tax Strategies for Small Business Owners: Maximizing Deductions and Credit appeared first on Home Business Magazine.

Original source: https://homebusinessmag.com/money/taxing-times/tax-strategies-small-business-owners-maximizing-deductions-credit/

The Risk and Rewards of Real Estate Investment

Home Business Magazine Online

Real estate investment has long been heralded for its potential to generate substantial returns and build wealth. The allure lies not only in the prospect of property appreciation but also in the ability to generate passive income through rental properties. As investors explore the dynamic landscape of real estate, it’s crucial to recognize that, like any investment, real estate comes with its own set of risks and rewards. Understanding this delicate balance is essential for making informed decisions and navigating the complexities of the real estate market.

Navigating Mortgage Rates and Loan Structures

One of the perennial challenges in real estate investment is navigating the complexities of financing. Mortgage rates, loan structures, and lending conditions can fluctuate, impacting the affordability and feasibility of investments. Rising interest rates may increase borrowing costs, affecting the overall return on investment. Investors need to carefully evaluate financing options, consider interest rate trends, and factor in potential changes to loan terms. A nuanced understanding of financing dynamics is integral to making sound investment decisions and mitigating financial risks.

Balancing the Responsibilities of Ownership

Owning real estate involves more than just reaping the rewards of property appreciation. The management responsibilities can be extensive, particularly for landlords of rental properties. Property management encompasses tasks such as tenant relations, property maintenance, and addressing unexpected issues. Investors must weigh the potential passive income against the time, effort, and resources required for effective property management. Balancing these responsibilities is crucial for maximizing returns and ensuring a positive investment experience.

Strategies for Strategic Investment

Successfully navigating real estate investment involves an understanding of market timing and cyclical trends. Real estate markets are known to operate in cycles, including periods of growth, stability, decline, and recovery. Savvy investors recognize the importance of strategic timing, seizing opportunities during market downturns and capitalizing on property appreciation during upswings. Timing the market is challenging, but taking time to learn real estate investing can help investors make informed decisions in different market conditions.

Mitigating Risk Through Variety

Diversification is a time-tested strategy for mitigating risk in investment portfolios, and real estate is no exception. Investors who concentrate their holdings in a specific type of property or geographic location may be exposed to higher risks. Diversifying across different property types, locations, and investment strategies can help spread risk and enhance overall portfolio stability. Savvy investors understand the importance of a well-balanced and diversified real estate portfolio to weather market fluctuations and economic uncertainties.

Budgeting for the Unexpected

Real estate investments often come with unforeseen costs that can impact the overall return on investment. Property maintenance, repairs, and unexpected expenses can arise, requiring investors to have a financial buffer for contingencies. Prudent budgeting and a thorough inspection of properties before purchase can help identify potential issues and allow investors to plan for maintenance costs. A proactive approach to property upkeep is crucial for preserving asset value and ensuring the long-term financial viability of the investment.

Informed Decision-Making

In the realm of real estate investment, knowledge is power. Thorough market research and due diligence are essential components of informed decision-making. This involves researching local market conditions, property values, and potential growth factors. Investors need to scrutinize property histories, assess neighborhood dynamics, and anticipate future developments that could impact property values. By investing time in comprehensive research, investors position themselves to make informed decisions that align with their financial goals and risk tolerance.

In conclusion, real estate investment is a dynamic journey that entails both risks and rewards. From market volatility and financing challenges to property management responsibilities and regulatory changes, investors must navigate a multifaceted landscape. Success in real estate investment requires a combination of market knowledge, strategic planning, and a willingness to adapt to changing circumstances. By understanding the dynamics of real estate and implementing prudent risk mitigation strategies, investors can unlock the potential for long-term financial growth and stability.

The post The Risk and Rewards of Real Estate Investment appeared first on Home Business Magazine.

Original source: https://homebusinessmag.com/businesses/real-estate/risk-rewards-real-estate-investment/

9 SEO tactics for the holiday period

The holiday season brings a surge of searches around gifts, events, recipes and more. Savvy marketers can capture this traffic spike with targeted SEO strategies.

Below are nine ways to optimize your website for the holidays and make the most of this high-traffic period.

1. Capitalize on seasonal topics

Using tools like Google Trends and Semrush, look for trending keywords related to the holidays. You can use this data to write new content to capture this target audience. 

Things like gift guides are always popular, but if you are working on a website that isn’t product-based, there are still plenty of opportunities.

Here are a few examples:

  • For a local business, you could compile a guide of events in the area.
  • An ADHD coach might write a blog post about how to get through the holidays and offer coping mechanisms.
  •  A bank or financial advisor could talk about budgeting for gifts and create a savings calculator on the website.
  • A personal trainer could write some recipes for healthier versions of holiday treats, or talk about how to stay active over the holiday period.

Whatever the type of business, there is always a way to weave in a connection to the year-end holidays and create content around those topics.

2. Refresh and update existing content

Revisit your top-performing content from prior years and refresh or rewrite it with current information, new keywords and relevant links. This approach saves you time and leverages the existing SEO value of your content.

You can also add a Christmas twist to existing pages. This is especially useful for an e-commerce website. Create dedicated categories for Christmas to make it easy for users to navigate to seasonal items. 

Update product descriptions and titles and, if possible, images. This will help those individual products to rank for those all-important searches from potential customers. 

Direct people from a holiday-based blog post or content page directly to relevant product pages to help users navigate to the right place and strengthen the importance of those products with internal linking.

Dig deeper: Your guide to seasonal content marketing

3. Optimize for mobile users

During the holidays, there’s a significant increase in mobile searches as people are on the go or sitting on the sofa watching this year’s Christmas film.

Ensure your website and content are fully optimized for mobile, especially if you have added additional holiday-related content. This includes faster load times, responsive design and easy navigation to improve user experience.

You want it to be quick and easy for people to find what they need and then take action. People often make more impulse decisions during this time of year.

Lots of us feel overwhelmed and pressured with just how much there is to do, so ensuring that the mobile experience for users is good is even more critical than usual.

4. Utilize structured data for rich snippets

Implement structured data to enhance your content’s appearance in search results. Rich snippets can feature holiday-specific details like event dates, product reviews and special offers.

They aren’t necessarily helpful for rankings, but Google will often pull some of this additional information into the SERPs. This gives searchers more helpful information and helps make your listings stand out and look more attractive, leading to an improvement in click-through rates on your website.  

Get the daily newsletter search marketers rely on.


See terms.

Make sure to update your Google Business Profile and other local listings with business hours during the holiday period. You can also add any special events you are holding or any promotions related to the holiday period.

Optimizing for local search queries can drive both online and in-person traffic to physical business locations during the holidays. This can help you dominate the SERPs with your website, business listings and ads. Seeing your business more than once within the search results increases visibility, trust and clicks.

Dig deeper: 5 top tips to boost your local SEO efforts

6. Improve website performance

Website speed and performance are crucial for SEO, and with all this lovely traffic coming to the website, you need to ensure that it can manage a sudden influx.

For seasonal businesses, this can mean a large surge in increased holiday traffic, and as such, it’s important to ensure your site can handle it without compromising on speed.

The line between SEO and developer can sometimes be a little blurred when it comes to site performance, so make sure that the team is working together and testing as many scenarios as you can, as much as possible, before the Christmas period.

Where ecommerce is concerned, ensuring the website can manage increased transactions is also important. You must have offline processes in place just in case something goes wrong.

Reach out to other websites for holiday-themed guest posts or collaborations. For example, if you are a product-based business, look for websites featuring your products in a gift guide they are putting together.

Seasonal link building can expand your reach and improve your site’s authority. Focus on quality over quantity to ensure these links benefit your SEO efforts by offering to write blog posts and articles yourself.

It’s also a good time to try and leverage digital public relations. Are there online magazines or newspapers interested in featuring the business? Seek out inspiring stories to share rather than sales pitches.

Think about the benefits to their audience before pitching. There is always at least one good story in every business. PR is a great way to get backlinks from holiday-related articles. Just be mindful that these links are not often permanent.

8. Monitor traffic patterns

Keep a close eye on your analytics throughout the holiday season. Work out which strategies are working and where there’s room for improvement. Understanding real-time data allows you to adjust swiftly, capitalizing on what resonates best with your audience.

The holiday season can be a frantic time for some businesses, and it can be easy to neglect to keep an eye on what is happening on the website. Making these small improvements can help improve conversions immediately before the window of opportunity has gone (for another year at least).

9. Plan ahead for post-holiday SEO

Don’t let your SEO efforts drop as soon as the holidays are over. Plan a post-holiday strategy to maintain momentum. Many businesses may take a moment to regroup and leverage this space so that performance continues into the following year.

This could include adding content that helps with New Year’s resolutions or advice on using holiday gifts, recycling waste and preparing for the inevitable January blues. Again, plan for content that is very closely related to the services or products of the business.

Steps must also be in place to remove holiday elements from your product descriptions and categories, non-specific content and remove any special banners or graphics from the website and update any listings.

Think of it as putting the Christmas decorations away, ready to bring them out again next year.

Unwrap greater visibility and traffic for the holidays

The holiday season brings a surge of seasonal search queries and online shopping traffic. You can make the most of this critical period by: 

  • Optimizing your website for relevant seasonal keywords.
  • Enhancing site performance.
  • Leveraging structured data.
  • Monitoring analytics. 

Don’t let your efforts drop off once the holidays end – sustain momentum with post-holiday content and site updates. 

With strategic planning and execution, you can gift your website significant visibility and conversions this Christmas.

Dig deeper: How to create a successful holiday season SEO strategy

Original source: https://searchengineland.com/seo-tactics-holiday-period-435252

How to combine Google Ads with other channels to retarget, nurture and convert

Today’s buyers have thousands of options to choose from and hundreds of companies competing for their attention. Running an ad and expecting consumers to go directly to purchase isn’t a viable option. It’s entirely obsolete.

A much more effective strategy is to retarget and nurture. The goal is to stay top of mind with your target audience until they’re ready to make a purchase. 

When used strategically, retargeting and nurturing increase brand search and direct traffic, ultimately driving conversions and business growth.

Let’s take a look at how this all works together.

What is Google retargeting?

Retargeting is a method that uses Google Ads to bring users back to your website after they’ve taken a certain action, such as visiting the site from another channel (i.e., SEO) or engaging with an ad previously.

Display retargeting ads are the most common type. There are two primary formats: uploaded display ads and Google’s responsive display ads.

  • Uploaded display ads are ads that you create in GIF, JPEG, or HTML5 format.
  • Google’s responsive display ads are created in your Google Ads account. 

Other ad retargeting format options include video, app, and search ads or specifically targeting visitors who have completed a certain action on your website.

One popular variation of a display ad looks like this: 

What is Google retargeting?

How does retargeting relate to the buyer journey?

Many people get hung up on the idea that retargeting ads (especially display ads) must generate direct conversion (or even clicks) to be worth the investment. When they don’t, businesses turn them off because they think they’re a waste of money.

But direct conversions aren’t the purpose of retargeting ads. Rather, they maintain awareness for a specific product or service after a user has shown interest in it. Retargeting ads nurture those who engaged toward conversion. 

They keep your brand top-of-mind or incentivize a purchase with an offer such as a discount (ecommerce) or extended free trial (B2B). Then, in the future, when the user is ready to make a purchase, they’re more likely to come directly to your website rather than clicking on another retargeting ad. 

Remarketing is essential for your PPC campaigns because they:

  • Bring users who have abandoned carts back to complete purchases (which can be as high as 98% depending on the industry).
  • Increase brand searches, which majorly affects conversions.
  • Incentivize customers to make a final purchase decision due to a discount or special offer.
  • Drive awareness and consideration among new audiences, expanding the ROI potential of your campaigns.
  • Encourage brand loyalty by engaging with former customers to generate new purchases and upsells.

So even though retargeting ads require investment to your PPC campaign spend, the ROI can be tremendous.

Get the daily newsletter search marketers rely on.


See terms.

5 methods to combine Google Ads with other channels to retarget, nurture, and convert

While retargeting ads are great, they’re just one piece of the nurturing puzzle.

To create a more holistic strategy, you can use Google Ads in several different ways in combination with retargeting ads to drive conversions and brand visibility. Here are some methods I’d suggest trying.

1. Google Ads with email marketing retargeting

Create targeted email campaigns that correspond with Google Ads retargeting. Send follow-up emails to users who have opted in to receive email marketing updates, as well as who have interacted with your ads or website, but haven’t converted.

Example

A user visits your ecommerce site and looks at a particular product. You can retarget them with a Google Ad displaying the same product while simultaneously sending an email offering a discount on that product, reminding them of their interest. This method is particularly effective for generating purchases among previous customers.

Such a retargeting email might look something like this:

Google Ads with email marketing retargeting

2. Organic traffic with Google Ads retargeting

Combine your content marketing efforts with Google Ads. You can do this by retargeting users who engage with specific content pieces from organic search, such as blog posts or videos, with relevant ads on third-party websites that the user views.

Example

Say a user reads a blog post about “best camping gear” on your website but doesn’t buy anything. You can then retarget them with a retargeting Google Ad for a camping gear sale, driving them to make a purchase.

The retargeting ad likely appears something like this:

Organic traffic with Google Ads retargeting

3. Google Ads to cross-device and cross-platform retargeting 

Implement cross-device and cross-platform retargeting by tracking user behavior across different devices and channels to create a cohesive user experience.

Example

A user explores your travel website on their mobile device during their lunch break, so you implement retargeting ads so that they later see a Google Ad on their laptop while browsing other websites.

Maybe this ad offers a special discount for the destination they were researching, which ties together the two experiences and further drives conversions.

These types of ads span across many channels in a wide array of formats, including:

Google Ads to cross-device and cross platform retargeting 

4. Offline marketing to Google Ads retargeting

Combine traditional offline marketing with online retargeting, such as with direct mail. You can build and use custom landing pages in Google Ads for users who receive direct mail pieces, which create a sense of personalization.

Example

You send a direct mail postcard advertising your new restaurant’s grand opening. Include a unique URL or QR code redirecting them to a Google Ad landing page.

The landing page can offer an exclusive “first-taste” discount. This online component captures user data and helps convert recipients who engage with the postcard.

Here’s a quick visual overview of the process:

Offline marketing to Google Ads retargeting

5. Google Ads with social media retargeting

Use platforms like Facebook or Instagram to retarget users based on their interactions with your Google Ads to ensure consistent messaging and multiple touchpoints.

Example

A user clicks on your Google Ad for a fitness app but doesn’t sign up. You can retarget them with a similar ad on Facebook, highlighting the app’s benefits and offering a free trial.

This type of retargeting ad might look like this:

Google Ads with social media retargeting

Help guide customer actions to drive conversions

With retargeting, you can effectively nurture and convert users by leveraging Google Ads with various marketing channels.

The key is to maintain a cohesive and consistent message across all touchpoints, ensuring that users receive the right message at the right time to encourage conversion. Whether they’ve abandoned their cart or keep ending up on your website, retargeting ads help you drive conversions and increase PPC ROI.

Original source: https://searchengineland.com/google-ads-channels-retarget-nurture-convert-435236