featured Archives - Geek Designs

What is Google E-A-T and why do you need it?

By Adminfeatured, Marketing, ResourcesNo Comments

One of the BEST ways to boost your online reputation.

No unfortunately it isn’t a new food delivery application by the Google giant (you’re safe Deliveroo). Instead, Google ‘eat’ is an effective type of organic SEO that we often forget about.

These 3 letters stand for some of the most sought after information by any website visitor.

1. Expertise

2. Authoritativeness

3. Trustworthiness

It’s basically the same principle of needing to eat to live, and this applies for your website.

Without ‘EAT’ on your site, then you can expect your site to die out amongst the sea of search results and be killed off by your competitors.

So, here’s what you need to know:

1. Expertise

It’s crucial that you’re an expert in your field, but on your website you need to demonstrate this. In your main content, this is where you should show the skills you have and how you can be trusted as a professional in your industry.

If you’re a blog post or a website that aims to gossip, then there’s no need to showcase your expertise. However, if you’re a professional who is expected to be trustworthy and honest then it’s crucial that you do demonstrate this behaviour.

If you’re in the financial, medicinal or legal industry then it’s paramount that you incorporate professionalism across your website, whether that’s through organic imagery or descriptive text.

Luckily, any site can demonstrate expertise.

As long as your content is truthful and useful then you’re all set. However, make sure you are being honest, because your customers need to trust you if you want them to stay.

2. Authoritativeness

It’s all-good if you’re PETA or the CIA, but if you’re a somebody like a new accountant looking to be authentic, then this is an important element that must be apparent in your site.

Basically put, you need to help your customers distinguish that you are the authoritative figure for the main content. They want to see that you have written this content personally.

Credentials are always necessary, but so are personal experiences like reviews. Reviews are one of THE best sources of authenticity to this day, you can never go wrong with them.

Unless you see some of the reviews for Ann Summers…yeah I wouldn’t, they’re OTT on details.

Anyway:

Try to turn customers into genuine acquaintances, provide useful information and back it up. If you say you’ve helped many people, show that or if you say you are cost effective, compare yourself.

In an ever-growing digital world, personal connection is scarce, so it can be hard to gain trust. However, by being honest, providing real content and supporting examples you’re already providing you’re genuine and worth the time investment.

3. Trustworthiness

One of the most important things with anything online is generating trust with the consumer or other businesses.

Your content is the key to gaining trust and building a working relationship. Ecommerce websites should definitely take note on this. If people will be providing their billing details and personal information then they need to be able to trust your site.

Everything about an ecommerce website should make the user feel safe. It’s especially important to add an SSL certificate to your site to make it ‘secure’.

A secure website also makes the Google algorithm like you more than your competitors without so it’s a good thing to invest in anyway.

More than 70% of first page results have an SSL too so if you want to be on top, it’s probably best that you build trust and page rank at the same time.

Google E-A-T doesn’t come up in most conversations – but it’s worth being the main topic.

A good way to look at this SEO tactic is the same way that you need to ‘EAT’ to live. If your content doesn’t ‘EAT’ then it won’t perform.

So rather than starving your content, add Expertise, Authoritativeness and Trustworthiness to boost it’s performance.

E-A-T is important. Much more than you think.

You may find this a silly question, I mean who would question trust and authenticity for being important? But there’s more to it.

Basically put, Google E-A-T determines the value of your website. ‘Quality raters’ keep E-A-T in mind when examine your content and make sure it provides what they came for.

Think of E-A-T as the reason why users would choose you over your competitor, it’s inevitable that anyone would more than likely choose the website that offers authority and trust.

This SEO method has a direct impact on how Google ranks your website too, therefore it’s never a bad idea to implement this tactic.

Google E-A-T vs ‘’Your Money or Your Life’’.

So how does E-A-T affect your site visitors?

E-A-T is closely related to something Google calls ‘YMYL’ pages. YMYL pages are webpages that feature content about medical advice, legal and financial advice and anything that helps you and your lifestyle.

Examples of YMYL:

Ecommerce store asking for credit card information.
A mum’s chat blog for parenting advice.
A blog offering legal advice
Health pages, listing symptoms of rare diseases.

High-ranking YMYL pages that you come across display a high level of E-AT. The safer a user feels on the website, and the more content that matches their query, the more it will meet the needs of Google E-A-T regulations.

Speak to a Geek

August 16, 2019

Let’s talk about Mobile Usability

By AdminDesign, Development, featuredNo Comments

Technology, you’re either sick of it or excited by it. Mobiles have become one of the most infamous things about humanity. Since their invention has enabled the world to connect as one.

Mobile phones have shaped the digital world immensely and now, mobile responsive websites rule the Google search results.

However, what we thought we knew about mobile phones is completely wrong. In recent studies, researchers found an important factor that we always miss – how the user holds their phone. Yes, it’s all great creating a great user experience but do we really do it for everyone?

People have adapted to the mobile phone profusely, with users handling the device differently to maximise comfort and readability.

In this blog, we’ll be discussing which audiences prefer which type of mobile responsive designs. Websites need a mobile view in order to rank effectively on Google and provide a seamless user journey to its users. Have you provided the best UX for the type of customer you sell to? Find out.

49% of mobile users operate the device one-handed.

That’s correct, the majority of mobile users today use their device, one-handed. However, what type of customers would you expect to find in this group?

Firstly, you can expect to find your teenagers and tweens in this quartile. The younger generation has adapted to the quick and effortless use of technology, as they’re the most common users of it today.

If your target customer is that of a younger persona, then it’s key that you research their behavioural patterns when it comes down to mobile responsive design.

Almost half of all mobile users result in using one hand to navigate Google and websites. If you or your web designers are optimising your website, it’s efficient for you to follow the diagram shown.

A large percentage of young users will only use a small section of the mobile screen to scroll; this forms from the bottom left-hand corner into the middle.

Mobile responsive websites are predominantly designed for one-handed users.

The green area is the section that is easiest to access. This area is where you should include your CTA (call to action) as it’ll be much easier for the user to reach them. Due to the ease of access, this will prompt them to take action.

Next, you have the orange area, which is the majority of the top of the mobile screen and a small section in the right-hand area. It would be most suitable to include your text or interactive elements here, as the user can still use these areas.

There is a small ‘unusable’ area of the phone at the very bottom of the phone. This is where you should keep other imagery, any elements that the users don’t have to interact with.

You can expect to find your 18-30-year-olds within this 49%. Therefore if you’re in the industry of technology, fashion or social media – you should definitely consider optimising your website for this particular type of mobile responsive design.

36% cradle their phone.

Within this gap, you can expect to find your 35-55-year-olds, most to which will commit to using one hand to support the phone and the other to navigate.

These mobile users have access to the majority of the mobile screen, especially the middle section. The top left hand and bottom right corners are the least accessible, however, you have most of the scene to work with.

In this demographic, you will find your adults and mature adults, therefore a lot of industries will need to consider this specific UX design.

You get the most of the screen by optimising your website for cradling phone users, thus accommodating the mature demographic.

Since the majority of the centre is easy to use, it would be easy for you to be innovative with your CTAs and scrolling interactions.

15% use two hands to scroll

A small percentage of mobile users result in using both hands to navigate their mobile phone. This is a small population, however, in this group, you will find over 55s and people who aren’t as familiar with touchscreen mobile phones.

In this category, the bottom half of the mobile phone is the easiest area to use, therefore you should put the most actionable elements in this section. It becomes increasingly difficult to use the site as we travel up the screen.

The older generation is much more patient with technology and therefore will use the majority of the bottom screen and navigate with both hands to ensure smooth movement throughout.

What about left-handers when it comes down to UX design?

All of these percentages apply to the right-handed population however, each of these diagrams is the opposite if they are left-handed. However since 5% of the world’s population is left-handed, it is more advised to optimise your site for right-handed customers.

As many of the people visiting your site will be right-handed, the left-handed population will improvise to navigate your site if they are certain they want the service or product you provide. UX design is all about appealing to the general population and providing seamless interactions online.

94% of people hold their phone portrait.

It’s important that if anything, you optimise your site for a portrait perspective rather than landscape. People will use their thumb to navigate most of their phone, remaining in the middle of the screen for the best comfort. It’s best to keep away from using the top and bottom half of the phone, as most mobile users will consider this poor user experience.

6% hold their phone landscape.

It’s rare but possible. Some mobile users access their phone for landscape view, using both of their thumbs to navigate. Businesses who are using apps, games or offering a read should consider optimising their site for a landscape perspective. It can be more costly and time-consuming however the end result will benefit your customer. A happy customer means a much more likely sale.

Sometimes people use the entire screen.

Every so often, you will find the minority of users who use a mobile, very precisely. These people cradle the phone in one hand and use their forefinger to scroll and navigate.

These users use all areas of the touch screen, everything is within easy access. This allows for websites to implement elements freely without interactive content being in inaccessible areas. The more screen you have to work with, the easier the mobile responsive websites are to generate.

As you can see, there are many factors to create mobile responsive websites.

As a business owner, you know your preferred customer better than anyone; you know exactly what kind of person you want to walk through your door.

Using that knowledge, search this blog to find the age demographic you want to market towards. There are so many different mobile users, each of which uses their device differently from the other.

If anything, what we recommend as UX designers, is optimising your website predominantly for portrait users and centralising your actionable items.

I know that many people will consider mobile optimisation time consuming and pointless but that’s far from the case. You want to deliver a website that provides a clear and thorough customer journey and if you haven’t provided one, they may go elsewhere.

June 25, 2019

Google’s Local Campaigns – What are they and how do they help you?

By AdminBusiness, featured, SEONo Comments

Google Ads introduces a new way to get customers to your storefront.

For people who don’t understand Google Ads itself, local ad campaigns are certainly going to go over your head.

People who are loyal to Local SEO will already understand how this technique can benefit your business by helping people find you in local searches. Local are basically the same, although this is a ‘paid SEO’ tactic.

This form of Google Ads campaign makes it much easier for you to promote your business across the search engine’s largest properties including Google Search Network, Maps, YouTube and Google Display Network.

All you really need to do is add some relevant text, a bid, a few assets and Google will optimise the rest to help your favourable users find you.

How do local campaigns work?

When you decide to set up a local campaign, the first thing you’ll need to define is the shop location you want to display to your customers. You can pre-set this by linking your Google My Business (GMB) account or selecting affiliate locations.

Affiliate locations are extensions that will help you reach consumers when they are deciding what and where to buy. They help searchers find nearby stores that sell your products.

Local campaigns – effective and easy to set-up.

Local campaigns are solely focused on being simple and driving your offline objectives. All you need to do is provide Google with your shop locations campaign budget and ad assets.

Google’s AI (artificial intelligence) will learn your goals and business. The AI will then automatically optimise your bids, ad placements and asset combinations. This is all to ensure you receive optimum performance.

Basically, put a computer will make sure that you get results, crazy eh?

The results you receive will aim to maximise the number of visitors you receive to your shop directly. The campaigns also promote the location of your business across Google’s different platforms.

Where do your ads appear?

Your ads will be approved to appear all over Google’s various properties.

Google Search Network: Groups of search-related websites and apps where your ad can appear. Your ad will appear when someone searches for one of your keywords.

Google Display Network: Your business will appear on various sites across the Internet to users who are interested in your product or services.

Google Maps: As the obvious states, your business will appear on the Google Map when a local search is made.

YouTube: It is frequently ignored when it comes to marketing, but honestly – YouTube can be a great place to display an advertisement for your business.

Localised campaigns are a great start for local business.

What better way to promote your brand by popping up on the search results and websites of interested Internet surfers?

However, we do understand that understanding the fundamentals of Google Ads can be challenging to let alone know how to set up a localised campaign to promote your business.

Luckily, you have these awesome guys called Digital Marketers who do all the complicated stuff for you.

All we need are your budgets and your goals, and we’ll do the rest. We highly recommend considering local ad campaigns if you want to get more customers through the door or ringing your phone.

If paid SEO is your preference for marketing, then feel free to give us a call:

CONTACT A GEEK

May 14, 2019

7 Important Google Ranking Factors

By AdminBusiness, featured, MarketingNo Comments

Does your website have what it takes to reach page 1?

Reaching the peak of Mount Everest isn’t going to happen without the right precautions, just like reaching page 1 of Google! Yes, both are entirely different, but both follow the same principles (in a way, it’s the closest analogy I could think of).

It’s everyone’s goal to reach page 1, and we’re not going to promise that we’ll get you there in a week. However, we can guarantee to get you there eventually. Eventually is the key word though, the length of this ‘eventually’ is all down to your digital marketing commitment and how your website looks.

Google’s algorithm is unpredictable; it continually changes each day without warning anybody. This is the issue many business owners don’t realise – you may be on page 1 now, but maybe not tomorrow.

Geek has the job of keeping up with the trends (sorry Kardashians) to check for what Google is looking for in websites. This way we know how to effectively market a site and get it up the search result pages.

So, without further ado, I present the 10 MOST important ranking factors:

1. Metadata keywords

This stuff is explained more in our SEO guide blog; however, for now, this is a KEY contributor to your Google ranking. You will need to optimise your metadata with the keywords that you want your website to come up under.

However, you must do this precisely, don’t go adding every keyword in your industry in the title and description; instead, keep it short and concise. But don’t forget to make sure your titles and descriptions make sense too!

2. Content Refinements

Google much prefers fresh content. Google is always on the lookout for regularly updated content, so much so that it will pay attention to the website who do this.

Having high-quality content is good, but it will need to be updated every month to ensure that your site is noticed amongst the crowd.

3. Linking

Internal or Outbound – links are a critical ranking factor and so why are so many businesses forgetting them? Internal links reference and link to other pages on the same website, whereas outbound links link elsewhere.

Implementing links into your content will get you noticed, this is because Google bots will analyse the information on your site and the connected pages or websites.

4. SSL

Now there are arguments as to whether or not SSL makes any difference to your Google ranking and it a way it definitely does. Google will see your website as ‘secure’ in comparison to a site that hasn’t an SSL certificate and therefore ranks you accordingly.

Users are also much more likely to click on a site that has an SSL certificate. Google alerts the searcher that your website isn’t secure if you haven’t an SSL certificate which will scare of customers, especially if you take online payments.

5. Mobile UX responsive design

In this day and era, people use mobiles much more frequently than computers and laptops – it’s all about convenience. Google ranks website well if they feature mobile optimisation; this is because they know they’ll be of use to an inquiring user.

Websites that aren’t updated to suit a mobile or tablet device will fall down Google’s pages after all new and useful sites have always been favourable.

6. Keyword in URL

Along with keeping the URL as short as you possibly can, it’s always very important to implement your ranking keyword in there too. Google actually crawls your URL also to find out more information about the page and what to rank it under.

It’s important not to stuff all your keywords into your URL as said before, the shorter, the better (in Google’s eyes). It also helps your customer; no user wants to type out a long URL – KEEP IT SHORT GUYS.

7. Image alt tags

Sticking any image on your website to make it look pretty isn’t going to help you get to the first page of Google by any means. Google appreciates imagery on a website, but for images to come up under the right keywords, it requires optimisation.

Implementing the right keywords into your photo and describing what’s in the picture will rank your website. Your image’s alt text can often be left out, remember to do this!

These are 7 of the most important ranking factors; however, these are also 7 of the most commonly missed factors. Google will admire a beautiful, seamless website, but you will also need to carry out these elements. This is all to ensure you remain noticed by the algorithm.

Reaching page 1 either runs on luck or consistency. However, unless you feel lucky and know that your competition is easy to beat, then we need to think about what to do.

Geek has many tricks up their sleeves to get your marketing plans the best they can be. If you need assistance or are curious to begin marketing your site, then we can certainly help.

Click ‘free consultation‘ to get your journey kick-started.

April 10, 2019

8 Funny and Clever 404 Pages

By AdminDesign, Development, featuredNo Comments

Is it a result of procrastination? Or pure genius? Take a look at some fabulous 404’s!

What’s the fun in perfection? I mean, we all strive for it, but we can’t really expect it every time.

The same situation occurs in the world of websites. But, as you will discover, many web designers have used their flaws to their advantage.

404 pages are our way of making light of server downtime or user error, however, this is also the perfect time for businesses to get creative.

We’re all clued up on 404 pages, right?

In case you don’t understand the cryptic language, a 404 page is an HTTP error message. Let me rephrase that again, basically, it’s the page that shows up when the page you were trying to reach can’t be found on a server.

In most cases, this page usually shows its face when the owner has removed the page, changed the URL or the user has spelt the URL incorrectly.

However, we’ve come across some very interesting and comical 404 pages that we think you will enjoy. Let’s take off our serious faces for 3 minutes and admire these great 404 masterpieces.

1. NOUVELLER

Our first contestant is a website design and development company based near Bristol.

Now, I can definitely say that this 404 page is something beyond creative.

No doubt we’ve all seen Jurassic Park® at one point in our life (if not, how!?) But now, thanks to Nouveller’s 404 page, we get to experience some nostalgia.

OK, eye’s too the left, let’s look at this script. This interactive 404 provides you with commands, which once selected, provide different conclusions.

But best of all, if you type in too many incorrect commands, Dennis himself will pop up with the infamous ‘HA HA HA’ accompanied by his wagging finger.

It’s pretty cool; you’ve got to admit.

2. Centresource

Next on our list is an agency dedicated to a comic 404 page with the oddest choice.

So you’re angry that you came across a 404? Why not punch a moose to show your anger? I mean, I’d recommend other remedies to de-stress but each to their own I guess!

Oh, and we can’t miss the typical tourist rep stating that the park is closed, you just can’t help but smirk – well-done CentreSource.

3. Blizzard Entertainment

What a capturing way to make someone who doesn’t understand 404 pages, panic.

Blizzard Entertainment decided to become a trickster by dramatically ‘breaking the screen’ when someone mistypes a URL.

There’s no re-direct, instead, the page is solely devoted to an innovative 404 which is sure to get a reaction.

4. William Csete

404 pages are full of surprises, William Csete’s website is a prime example. Dare to misspell a URL on the site and you will come face to face with ‘the wrong file.’

Yikes indeed! This is a comical way to scare your users into clicking the re-directing call to action.

Nonetheless, this frightful 404 will stick in one’s mind for the day. Effective marketing or nightmare stimulator?

5. RSPCA

The RSPCA has a funny way of covering up the inconvenience of a 404 page…by blaming their dogs!

This heartfelt company never fails to disappoint with all they do for both the dogs and us viewers. It’s quite clever to implement their purpose even in the broken link page.

It’s safe to say if that 404 didn’t pull some heartstrings, then it’s at least going to make you smile!

6. Bleugg

Bluegg has gotten ‘down’ with the younger generation by including the viral ‘screaming goat’ within their 404 pages. It makes sense, I mean we all tend to impersonate the goat perfectly when we misspell a URL and land on the 404.

The informal yet charismatic landing page is sure to brighten up your day. It’s the most straightforward idea yet but gives such hilarity; I’d raise a hand at saying this was pure genius.

Sometimes, it doesn’t hurt to be a little less creative, instead use general knowledge – it may just pay off better!

7. The Rolling Stones

For the finale, we give you The Rolling Stones! Back when the band were selling their tour tickets, the marketing team decided to get real cheeky yet cunning.

‘What could we make our 404 pages do?’ How about telling the users that they can’t always get what they want? Well, as cheeky as it is it’s advertising The Rolling Stones single and make the user smile.

I think the marketers behind this landing page really stole the show!

8. Carwow

It’s not just cars Carwow is astonishing us with. Their 404 page has even gone the extra mile, and this mileage isn’t something we question.

If you land on their 404 page you’ll be greeted with an interactive driving game where you’ll need to avoid everyday potholes and slow traffic.

Fail? Ah well, Carwow will even trust you enough to give you a real life test drive! Check it out.

Have you come across any smart 404 pages?

These were only 7 of the many fantastic 404 pages you can find on the World Wide Web. We haven’t even mentioned the landing pages that let you play minigames and re-direct you to funny YouTube videos.

If these pages haven’t made you smile then I’m hoping that you will impress us all with your ideas!

Remember, there’s always a silver lining. Don’t let a broken link page become a bounce!

January 7, 2019