Top SEO and Marketing Tips From Your Professional Marketing Experts

Google makes thousands of updates to search every single year. How do you stay on top of the waves when you’re trying to be the best spouse ever, a super parent, and a successful business owner?

We’ve got you covered with tips that, implemented with the help of FutureNow Marketing, have launched our clients into a new stratosphere in terms of ranking. We keep up on it all, so that you don’t have, spending hours every week testing new things and reading everything there is to read on Google, rankings, and all things SEO.

Based on our findings, here are the top SEO and marketing things you should be focusing on. But first…

🚀 Don’t Dismiss Email Campaigns

“Email’s dead!” has been cried more times than “The end is near!” …but the truth is, email is alive and well.

How alive and well?

• As of 2023, there are over 4.3 billion email users worldwide, and by 2025, it is expected that 4.6 billion people will be using email.
• Email marketing has an average return on investment (ROI) of $42 for every $1 spent.
• Data consistently shows that the large majority of consumers prefer email as their main channel for business communication.
• Personalized email marketing generates a median ROI of 122%.

So yes – email is still a strong form of communicating with customers.

Not to mention, email is currently the only communication channel you really own. Facebook owns your Facebook page and Instagram profile. Google owns your Google Business Profile listing. Hell, Google even owns the search results. But you own your email list.

Here’s the catch, though – close to half of email is spam, so how can you be sure your customer is even going to click what you send…and not send it straight to the trash bin assuming it’s junk?

Another important consideration? Over 60% of email opens are on mobile devices. We account for that, too, ensuring everything is readable and best suited for a smaller screen.

Well, that’s where we come in.

There’s are lots of things we do to ensure your email campaigns work, but here are a few insights into what we do to send better, more effective emails:

• Avoid Spammy Words: There are some words you should definitely avoid using in your subject line if you don’t want your emails to go to spam. Words like: free, money, and reminder. Studies show those can land you in the spam folder faster than you can say “unsubscribe.”
• Stay Familiar: Use a familiar send name/email address and be consistent. If your customer doesn’t recognize your email address or name, they’re not going to read your emails.
• Get Personal: Personal greetings make people feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Research shows that when you practice ongoing, personalized communication with your customers, you can expect to see a significant increase in revenue and customer engagement. Plus, your emails are more likely to be opened, which is always a win.

🚀 Boost Your Google Business Profile (GBP)

You may not officially own it, but you need to pay attention to your Google Business Profile. Why? Because Google loves it, and it’s one of the first things your potential customers are going to see in search results.

So first things first: If you haven’t already, claim your GBP listing and start filling out as much info as you can. Set your service area, add your website, create Google Posts, answer questions, and turn on messaging if you have the means to answer promptly.

And remember that Google is always adding and testing new features – some good, some bad – so regularly check in.

We can’t promise you that all your GBP efforts will have the ROI that good email can have, but you should definitely be utilizing everything Google gives you, given that Google has over 90% of search engine market share.

🚀 Don’t Underestimate Reviews

Reviews have been growing in importance for local businesses for the last few years, and they’re not going away.

Take a look at these stats from BrightLocal:

• As of 2024, 75% of consumers always or regularly read reviews when searching for local businesses…with only 3% saying they never do. (And most of these are read on Google.)
• If you respond to all reviews – both positive and negative – consumers are ‘fairly’ or ‘highly’ likely to use your business. That number drops dramatically the more you don’t respond.
• Almost 80% of consumers will visit at least two review platforms when doing their research.
• If seeing positive experiences in reviews, 69% of consumers would feel good about using that business.

So how do you get more of these trust-building reviews? Start by making your business the best it can be – 5-star service earns 5-star reviews.

Once you know you’re nailing the service and customer experience side of things, go ahead and ask your customers to review you – whether through email, text, face-to-face, or some sort of automated service or platform.

🚀 Strengthen Your Website

What’s the number one thing that consumers do after reading reviews?

They visit the company’s website.

So, don’t think, just because GBP is like a mini view of your business right there in search results, that you can forget about your website. It’s still super important!

Here’s a quick cheat sheet on what makes a good website:

• It’s secure. If you haven’t made the switch from http to https, the time is now. Hop to it!
• It’s mobile-friendly. It’s a mobile-first world and something like half of searches are performed on mobile. So if you have a wonky website that looks like trash on a smartphone, it’s time for a revamp.
• It has original photos and videos. Your customers don’t want to see that stock photo “blue collar guy.” They want to see you and your team. So upload high-quality, original photos to your website and show your customers who they’ll be working with. Also, the world can’t get enough video. Consider putting together a quick video to include on your homepage that introduces your company, answers common questions, and gives visitors the feeling that they’ve come to the right place for quality service.
• It contains helpful, informative content. You own your website, so make it a super helpful and useful resource for your customers. More details to follow…

🚀 Elevate Your Content

Your customers are doing more research than ever before, so be their #1 source of information and answers. How do you do that? By creating awesome content on your website, blog, and social profiles.

Despite the fast-paced world we’re living in, it’s been shown that more content is always better. It ensures Google has plenty to scan and index, and it shows to the search engine crawlers that your site is sure to have the answers people are searching for.

That said, while length is important, it isn’t everything. Lots of content that says nothing important won’t do you any good either! If you can provide more value by going deeper and writing more long-form content, do it! The length should fit the topic, need, and platform.

We can’t mention content without mentioning AI…while AI is a tool for writing content, relying only on it for everything is a mistake. Your voice still needs to be heard, and the world still needs real and original things for people to read!

And content isn’t just about writing! Videos are especially hot right now, and you don’t have to invest in super expensive equipment to create good ones. A smartphone, good lighting, and a tripod are all you really need to get started. So give it a shot.

What should you do in your videos? Answer customer’s questions. Introduce your team. Show them what it’s like to work with you. Show them how to do something or fix something. There are probably a million great ideas for video, so spend some time brainstorming.

Pro Tip: Purchase They Ask, You Answer by Marcus Sheridan for some expert-level tips on creating content and why quality content is important.

🚀 Do Your Keyword Research

Why are keywords crucial to your site’s SEO?

Keywords are words or terms that your target audience will use when searching for a particular service or item online. The more keywords you use on your site, the better your chances of Google putting it at the top your consumer’s search results page.

For example: If you own a hearth shop that offers fire appliance services, don’t be afraid to get specific about that in your content. Your target audience will most likely be searching for fireplace maintenance, fire appliance installations, and other specifics that relate to your sales and services.

By practicing incorporating good keywords into your website, you will be increasing the likelihood of a new online user finding your business, and increasing your online presence.

Need Help From the Best Marketers in the Biz?

When it comes to driving your business forward, having the best marketers on your side can make all the difference. Our team of industry-leading professionals is equipped with the skills, experience, and innovative strategies needed to elevate your brand and reach your target audience effectively.

Don’t settle for average – partner with the best in the biz (that’s us) and watch your business thrive. Contact us today to take the first step towards exceptional marketing success.