Hey, knuckleheads! Still, using “Click Here” as your anchor text? Well, it’s time for a slap of reality from BlakSheep Creative, your digital marketing maestros from Denham Springs, LA. We’re here to drag you out of the dark ages of the internet and show you why “Click Here” is a colossal waste of space. Spoiler alert: it’s not 1999 anymore, and using ‘Click Here’ is not just outdated; it’s detrimental to your user experience, accessibility, and SEO performance. So, let’s get with the program.

Is your website stuck in the 90s? Don’t let outdated SEO tactics like keyword stuffing and link farms drag you down. Read our guide to modern SEO and avoid these digital disasters.

Why “Click Here” is the Worst Anchor Text Ever: Ditch the Dinosaur Tactics and Elevate Your Links

Let’s delve into the issues with ‘Click Here‘. It’s like wearing outdated fashion to a tech convention—it’s out of touch and ineffective.

Lack of Information

“Click Here” is as informative as a screen door on a submarine. It provides no context about the link’s destination. Your visitors aren’t mind readers. They need clear instructions. Imagine this: someone’s browsing your site. What would catch their eye more – ‘Click Here’ or ‘Explore Our Award-Winning Services’? It’s the latter. ‘Click Here’ is a dead end. ‘Explore Our Award-Winning Services’ is an exclusive invitation. See the difference?

Poor User Experience (UX)

Newsflash: web users scan pages faster than a cheetah on Red Bull. When they see “Click Here,” they’ve gotta stop and figure out what the heck you’re talking about. It’s like giving them a map without any street names. But when you use something like “Download Our Free SEO Guide,” it’s like handing them a GPS straight to the goods. Your users want to get in, get the info, and get out. Don’t make them work for it.

Accessibility Issues

Accessibility isn’t optional, Einstein. For users relying on screen readers, “Click Here” is a nightmare straight out of Elm Street. Imagine hearing “Click Here” over and over without any context. It’s confusing and downright annoying. Descriptive anchor text like “Read Our Latest Blog Post on Digital Marketing Trends” actually tells them what they’re getting into. Help them out, would you?

SEO Problems

Search engines use anchor text to figure out what your linked page is about. “Click Here” tells Google absolutely nothing. Zilch. Nada. You’re wasting prime real estate. Let’s say you’re linking to an article about killer SEO strategies. Use “Effective SEO Strategies” as your anchor text. This way, you’re not just helping Google; you’re rolling out the red carpet for users looking for exactly that content.

Anchor text is more than a link—it’s an opportunity to connect readers to valuable, relevant content. Just like in marketing, your links need to tell a clear and compelling story. This principle is the foundation of Non-Fiction Marketing, where every element of communication builds trust and engagement. Dive into our full breakdown on Fiction vs. Non-Fiction Marketing to see how authenticity can transform your strategy.

Not Mobile-Friendly

We live in a mobile-first world, and “click” is tied to mouse usage. On mobile devices, folks are tapping, not clicking. Using “Click Here” is like telling a mobile user to flip open their nonexistent laptop. Instead, use phrases like “Tap to Explore Our Services.” It’s modern, relevant, and doesn’t make you look like a digital dinosaur.

Non-descriptive links like “here”, “click here”, “more”. Which is not only bad for SEO, it is also pretty detrimental for accessibility. And as you know, accessibility and great SEO are usually going hand-in-hand. https://t.co/xeoe5NPsw8

— Anne Bovelett (@Bovelett) August 23, 2023

Better Alternatives to “Click Here”

Ready to graduate from the remedial class? Good. Here are some alternatives that will make your anchor text as compelling as a two-for-one happy hour. And don’t worry; implementing these changes is as easy as a few clicks. You’ve got this.

Use Descriptive Text

Instead of the bland “Click Here to learn more about our products,” spice it up with “Discover Our Range of Digital Marketing Solutions.” Not only does this inform, but it also intrigues. Your visitors know precisely what they’re getting and are more likely to engage. It’s like waving a neon sign saying, “This is what you need!”

Incorporate Keywords

If your link is about “dog training tips,” use that as the anchor text. Keywords help search engines understand your content. So, “Explore Dog Training Tips” is much more helpful than the vague “Click Here.” Not only does this boost your SEO, but it also shows your audience that you’re serious about providing value. It’s like handing them a gold-plated invitation.

Keep it Concise

Being descriptive is key, but don’t write a novel. Your anchor text should be brief yet informative. Phrases like “Get Started with Our SEO Tools” or “Join Our Marketing Webinar” are concise and actionable. This balance ensures your users understand your links without feeling overwhelmed.

Enhance the User Experience

Clear, concise, and descriptive anchor text improves usability and enhances the overall user experience. By providing context, you guide users through your content seamlessly, making their journey on your website intuitive and enjoyable. When users find what they need effortlessly, they’re more likely to stick around and explore further.

Boost Accessibility

Descriptive anchor text is a game-changer for users relying on screen readers. Instead of a monotonous series of “Click Here” links, they get meaningful, navigable content. This commitment to accessibility can significantly broaden your audience’s reach and improve user satisfaction. And let’s be real—making your site accessible is not just good practice; it’s the right thing to do.

Improve SEO Performance

Every time you use a keyword-rich anchor text, you’re signaling to search engines about the relevance of your linked content. This not only helps your site rank for those keywords but also improves its overall SEO health. Descriptive anchor texts like “Learn About Advanced SEO Techniques” can make a notable difference, driving more organic traffic and boosting your site’s authority.

Conclusion

Ditching “Click Here” is a small yet impactful change that can vastly improve your website’s user experience, accessibility, and SEO performance. At BlakSheep Creative, we specialize in crafting digital strategies that pay attention to these details, ensuring your website is functional and optimized for success.

Elevate Your Digital Game Even Further: While enhancing your anchor text is a step in the right direction, the overarching quality of your SEO strategies plays a crucial role. Don’t miss our in-depth exploration, “The Sudden Decline in SEO Performance: Don’t Let This Be You,” to see what happens when SEO isn’t handled with expertise. Learn from real-world mistakes to solidify your approach.

So, next time you’re about to type “Click Here,” stop and think. Choose anchor text that adds value, informs your users, and boosts your SEO. By doing so, you’re not just improving your website’s performance, but you’re also empowering your users with clear directions and enhancing their overall experience. It’s time to elevate your digital presence with smarter, more effective anchor text. And for those agencies still clinging to “Click Here” – we see you, and it’s time to step up your game.

Ready to Leave “Click Here” in the Dust?

It’s time to stop embarrassing yourself with outdated anchor text. Don’t be like those other agencies stuck in the past. Elevate your digital marketing game with BlakSheep Creative. We’re here to optimize your links, boost your SEO, and improve your user experience. Fill out the form below or view our services to see how we can transform your website into a powerhouse! Get started now and leave the competition behind.

Why “Home” Doesn’t Feel Like Home Anymore

The digital landscape is your 24/7 storefront, and your title tag is the neon sign that attracts users. Imagine walking down a vibrant street filled with enticing signs, only to find one that says “Store.” That’s exactly how users feel when they see “Home” in the SERPs. It’s not just uninspiring; it tells them nothing about your brand, services, or why they should click through.

The Cost of Being Generic

In SEO and digital marketing, being generic is akin to being invisible. A generic title like “Home” can have several drawbacks:

1. Lost Branding Opportunity: Your title tag is prime real estate for your brand name and critical services. Missing out on this is like leaving money on the table.
2. Poor User Experience: Users rely on specific, descriptive titles to guide their clicks. “Home” could be anyone’s home, anywhere – why should it be yours?
3. SEO Downgrade: Search engines like Google emphasize relevance and specificity. A generic title can signal low content value, pushing your site down in rankings.

BlakSheep Creative’s Guide to Title Tag Triumph

At BlakSheep Creative, we’re in the business of making your website not just visible but unforgettable. Here’s how you can revamp your title tags:

1. Be Descriptive, Be Unique: Reflect your unique selling proposition and services right in the title.
2. Incorporate Keywords Smartly: Help search engines understand your site’s relevance to user queries.
3. Keep It Concise: Search engines display only the first 50–60 characters of a title tag, so make every character count.
4. Brand It Up: Unless you’re a household name, place your brand at the end of the title. Let your services lead the way.

A Real-World Example of an SEO Misstep

Let’s take a real-world example to illustrate just how critical these SEO elements are. Imagine a snippet from a SERP where the title simply says “Home.” It’s not just a missed opportunity; it’s a glaring oversight in today’s SEO-savvy world. Here’s what’s wrong with this picture:

1. Title Tag Misuse: The title tag is the crown jewel of your webpage’s SEO. When it reads “Home,” it doesn’t convey any information about the content of the page or why it’s relevant to the user’s search query. A title should be descriptive and incorporate targeted keywords to improve rankings and user engagement.
2. URL Structure: Although we can’t see the full URL in the provided snippet, it’s a pillar of SEO. URLs should be straightforward, include relevant keywords, and give an idea of the page’s content at a glance.
3. Meta Description Ambiguity: In our example, the meta description is truncated, which suggests it may be too long. Moreover, it fails to make a compelling case for why a user should visit the site. A meta description should act as an ad for your page, succinctly summarizing the content and enticing users to click.
4. Overlooked Branding: The absence of clear branding in the title tag and meta description is a severe oversight. Your brand is unique, and your SERP snippet should reflect that by including your brand name and unique value proposition.
5. Security Concerns with HTTP: The use of HTTP instead of HTTPS in the URL could be harming your search engine rankings and user trust. Security is a top priority for search engines and users alike, and HTTPS is now considered a standard for all websites.

By overlooking these critical elements, a website risks falling into obscurity, buried under pages of competitors who’ve taken the time to optimize their digital presence. In contrast, by addressing these issues, you can transform your website from a SERP laughingstock to a competitive powerhouse.

Transforming “Home” into a Digital Haven

Your website is more than a set of pages; it’s the digital embodiment of your brand. Every element, from your title tag to your footer, should resonate with your brand’s voice, value, and vision. If your title tag is still stuck on “Home,” it’s not just a missed opportunity; it’s a digital distress signal.

At BlakSheep Creative, we specialize in turning digital woes into digital wins. Our team in Baton Rouge, LA, understands the nuances of local and global digital markets. We’re not just about getting you out of the “Home” era but about setting a new digital frontier for your brand.

Are you ready to revamp, rebrand, and revolutionize your website’s first impression? Say goodbye to “Home” and hello to a title tag that works tirelessly for your brand, 24/7. Reach out to BlakSheep Creative – where your digital transformation begins with a title tag that truly feels like home. View our SEO services, or fill out the form below to get started.

As of August 22, 2023, another one of these updates is making its presence known. But this time, it seems quieter than usual. If you’ve been keeping an eye on your website’s performance, you might be wondering: “Have I been hit by this Core Update?” Let’s explore the details and how you can navigate this evolving SEO terrain effectively.

Google’s Core Updates: A Brief Overview

Google’s core updates are significant changes to its search algorithm that can significantly impact search results and rankings. These updates are designed to improve the quality and relevance of search results, aligning with Google’s mission to provide users with the most valuable and authoritative content.

With the August 22, 2023, Core Update in the spotlight, webmasters and SEO experts are bracing themselves for potential turbulence in search rankings. However, it’s important to note that Google doesn’t always reveal the specific changes it makes during these updates, which can make understanding their impact a challenging task.

FAQ Schema Markup: To Use or Not to Use?

One SEO practice that has been scrutinized recently is using FAQ schema markup. This structured data markup has been a favorite among webmasters looking to enhance their search results by providing concise answers to frequently asked questions. But here’s the twist—Google has announced that it will mostly ignore this markup moving forward.

So, unless you are a high-authority medical or government site, you should rethink your efforts to mark up your FAQs with FAQ schema. While Google has yet to abandon this markup entirely, its significance has been reduced. So why the change, and how should you adapt your SEO strategy?

The Evolving Landscape of Schema Markup

To understand why Google is downplaying FAQ schema markup, it’s essential to grasp the broader context of schema markup itself. Schema markup is a structured data vocabulary that helps search engines understand the content of web pages more comprehensively. It’s a powerful tool for SEO, allowing websites to provide additional context and information to search engines.

However, schema markup overuse and misuse can lead to spammy and unhelpful search results as with any digital strategy. In the case of FAQ schema markup, Google noticed an abundance of low-quality and irrelevant implementations, which compromised the quality of search results.

In response, Google decided to reduce the importance of FAQ schema markup, especially for websites that need to possess high authority or expertise in specific fields. This move aims to filter out low-quality content and ensure users receive more accurate and reliable information.

Navigating the Core Update: People First Guidelines

With Google’s Core Update making waves, taking proactive steps to assess and improve your website’s performance is essential. Google has published “People First Guidelines” to help website owners understand what matters most during these updates.

These guidelines emphasize putting users first by delivering high-quality, authoritative, and user-friendly content. To ensure your website aligns with these principles, consider the following strategies:

1. Content Quality: Review and enhance the quality of your content. Ensure it’s accurate, well-researched, and provides genuine value to your audience.
2. User Experience: Focus on improving your website’s overall user experience. This includes mobile-friendliness, page loading speed, and intuitive navigation.
3. Expertise and Authority: Establish your website as a trusted source of information in your niche. Showcase your expertise and credentials where relevant.
4. Avoid Keyword Stuffing: Overloading your content with keywords can harm your rankings. Use keywords naturally and ensure they enhance the readability of your content.
5. Engage with Users: Encourage engagement through comments, social media, and other interactive features. Building a community around your content can boost your site’s reputation.

Using GA4 for Core Update Analysis

The latest Core Update has introduced a challenge for SEO professionals—Universal Analytics, the tool previously used for monitoring and analysis, has stopped collecting data for most websites. To analyze the impact of the Core Update effectively, we now have to rely on Google Analytics 4 (GA4).

However, transitioning to GA4 has its challenges. Here are some key considerations:

Google Analytics 4 (GA4) comes with its share of challenges:

1. Conversion Tracking Complexity: GA4 can be more challenging for basic conversion tracking than its predecessor, Universal Analytics (UA). Some tracking tasks, like external link clicks, are more complex in GA4, requiring users to adapt to new tracking methods.
2. Data Discrepancies and Disruptions: A primary concern with GA4 is the potential for data discrepancies and disruptions. This can impact data accuracy and consistency, making it challenging for users to rely on the data for decision-making.
3. Unfamiliarity: GA4 introduces significant changes compared to UA, leading to unfamiliarity among marketers and analysts. This learning curve can pose a challenge for those transitioning to the new platform.
4. Usability Issues: Marketers have reported difficulties in using GA4. Even experienced advertisers have found it challenging to navigate and utilize effectively.
5. Configuration Mistakes: Common configuration mistakes can hinder GA4’s effectiveness. One example is not correctly setting the data retention period, potentially resulting in data loss.

In summary, while GA4 offers advanced analytics capabilities, it presents challenges related to conversion tracking complexity, data discrepancies, unfamiliarity, usability, and configuration. Users should be prepared to address these challenges to leverage GA4 effectively.

Harnessing Screaming Frog Integrations for SEO Insights

When it comes to SEO analysis, having the right tools at your disposal is crucial. One such tool that deserves your attention is Screaming Frog. This powerful crawler provides comprehensive website analysis and integrations with various data sources, including Google Search Console (GSC), Ahrefs, and Page Speed Insights.

Here’s a glimpse of what Screaming Frog can do for your SEO efforts:

1. Page Speed Insights Integration: Use Screaming Frog to identify issues related to page speed. For instance, you can find images not being scaled down correctly and take corrective action.
2. Backlink Data: Access valuable backlink data to understand your website’s link profile and identify areas for improvement.
3. GSC Click Data: Integrate GSC data into Screaming Frog to gain insights into how users interact with your website in search results.
4. Custom Crawl: Configure Screaming Frog to crawl specific parts of your website for targeted analysis.

To get started with these integrations, download a copy of the tool on their website.

For a deeper understanding of how Google’s ranking system works and to stay ahead in the ever-evolving world of SEO, check out our comprehensive analysis of the Google Search Document Leak: Unveiling the Secrets of SEO.

Conclusion

In the dynamic world of SEO, staying informed and adaptable is essential. Google’s Core Updates will continue to influence search rankings, and your ability to navigate these changes effectively can determine your website’s success. Remember that SEO isn’t just about chasing algorithms; it’s about delivering valuable content and a great user experience.

By following Google’s “People First Guidelines,” making the most of GA4, and leveraging tools like Screaming Frog, you can keep your website’s SEO strategy in peak condition, even in the face of evolving challenges.

Moz, a leading SEO software provider, recently unveiled its newest Brand Authority metric. This metric aims to quantify a brand’s online strength and influence, providing marketers with valuable insights to enhance their SEO and marketing strategies. 

In this article, we’ll explore what Brand Authority is, how it differs from other metrics like Domain Authority, its potential applications, and why it matters to SEOs and marketers.

1. What is Brand Authority?

Brand Authority, now available in Moz Pro SEO toolset and API, is a score assigned by Moz to assess a website’s online brand strength. The score ranges from 1 to 100, with higher scores indicating a more influential brand.

2. Understanding Brand Authority Calculation

At its core, Brand Authority leverages Moz’s expertise in search intent and volume data to calculate a brand’s score based on its branded search terms. 

For example, popular searches like [iPhone 15] and [iPad Pro] strongly reflect awareness of the Apple brand. The metric aggregates this data and compares it to well-established brands, resulting in a comprehensive strength score.

3. Offline Influence and Online Brand Strength

While Brand Authority doesn’t directly tie to offline factors, it inherently reflects the overall influence significant brands possess, both online and offline. 

The metric goes beyond traditional SEO signals for search engines like Google and provides a broader view of a brand’s impact on the world (including offline influences previously not considered).

4. Global Expansion of Brand Authority

Presently, Brand Authority relies on U.S. data; however, Moz plans to incorporate data from other regions in 2024, broadening its scope and usefulness.

5. Frequency of Updates

The data points used in Brand Authority will be updated at different intervals, with the metric itself being refreshed bi-monthly. This ensures that marketers have access to the most current and relevant information.

6. Pricing and Access to Brand Authority

Good news for Moz Pro users – adding Brand Authority will not increase subscription fees. 

However, accessing Brand Authority data via the Moz API will incur additional charges, as communicated by Moz.

7. Why Should Marketers Care About Brand Authority?

Marketers using Moz’s services should explore Brand Authority to understand their brand’s online strength compared to competitors. It offers valuable insights that can inform SEO, PR, and other marketing activities.

8. Moz’s Motivation Behind Brand Authority

Dr. Peter J. Meyers, marketing scientist at Moz, emphasizes that measuring brand influence is vital for SEOs. The metric’s ability to encompass success signals beyond search opens up diverse use cases for PR and broader marketing efforts, all while rooted in Moz’s SEO expertise.

9. Understanding Brand Authority’s Applications

Moz users can leverage the metric to identify gaps in their marketing strategy, maximize ROI, evaluate the value of sales prospects and potential acquisitions, and measure the real impact of media brands that cover their stories.

10. Brand Authority vs. Domain Authority

Moz is renowned for its Domain Authority metric, predicting a website’s likelihood to rank in search. Brand Authority and Domain Authority are complementary metrics, each offering unique insights. The improved Domain Overview tool now visually displays the relationship between the two scores, helping users better understand their competitive landscape.

11. Brand Authority vs. Other Brand Metrics

In contrast to traditional brand metrics like NPS, share of voice, and sentiment analysis, Brand Authority is search-centric. It aims to capture people’s awareness of a brand even before they start their search or buyer’s journey. This makes it a valuable addition to the marketer’s toolbox.

12. Top 500 U.S. Brands by Brand Authority

Moz has released a list of the top 500 U.S. brands based on their Brand Authority score. Notably, five brands achieved a perfect score of 100: Google, YouTube, Facebook, Amazon, and Walmart. 

Check out the following brand authority comparison visualization for valuable insights into the online strength of these renowned brands.

13. Final Thoughts

Brand Authority marks a significant advancement in the SEO landscape. It enables marketers to measure and understand their brand’s influence and impact, making it an indispensable tool for optimizing marketing efforts and staying ahead of the competition.

Ready to harness the power of Moz’s Brand Authority for your small business’s online success?

Partner with BlakSheep Creative, the experienced Denham Springs, LA digital marketing agency. 

With our expertise and Moz’s cutting-edge metric, we’ll craft a winning strategy to elevate your brand’s online strength to enhance your marketing and PR efforts.  Don’t miss out on this opportunity! Contact us now, and let’s pave the way to greater online influence.

FAQs

1. How often is the Brand Authority metric updated? 

The Brand Authority metric is refreshed bi-monthly, providing users with up-to-date information about their brand’s online strength.

2. Can Brand Authority be accessed through the Moz Pro subscription without additional charges? 

Yes, adding Brand Authority will not lead to an increase in the Moz Pro subscription fees.

3. Is Brand Authority available for global data or limited to the U.S.? 

Brand Authority is based only on U.S. data, but Moz plans to include data from more regions in 2024.

4. How does Brand Authority differ from Domain Authority? 

While Domain Authority predicts a website’s likelihood to rank in search, Brand Authority captures broader signals of an organization’s influence, encompassing offline and online factors.

5. Can Brand Authority help identify marketing gaps and potential acquisition targets? 

Yes, Moz users can leverage Brand Authority to assess their marketing gaps and understand the true value of sales prospects and potential acquisitions.

In this blog post, we’ll delve into a crucial aspect often overlooked: the proper use of link text. Discover why bidding farewell to the generic “Click Here” can unlock new opportunities for your website’s success.

1. Enhancing Accessibility for All Users

Creating an inclusive web experience is paramount in today’s digital landscape. Replacing “Click Here” with descriptive anchor text can make your website more accessible to visually impaired users. 

Screen readers rely on informative link text to provide context and help users navigate seamlessly. Embracing descriptive hyperlink text is crucial to inclusivity and ensuring that all users can fully engage with your content.

Look at the image.  Do you see how screen readers output links that say “click here?”  Does this provide any value to the user using a screen reader?

Let me help you… No, it doesn’t

2. Boosting Search Engine Visibility

SEO is a vital component of any successful website. Optimizing your content to rank higher in search engine results can significantly impact your online visibility and organic traffic. 

When search engines crawl your website, they analyze anchor text to understand the relevance and context of linked pages. Using descriptive link text provides search engines with valuable information, leading to improved SEO performance and better rankings.

3. Enhancing User Experience and Engagement

User experience plays a pivotal role in determining the success of your website. Clear and descriptive link text helps users understand the purpose and destination of a link before clicking on it. 

#EllyTips – Descriptive Links

When adding links to a document or website, use descriptive text that clearly describes the link's address, rather than using "Click here" or "More info".

This way, people using screen readers can navigate more easily!#EllyForA11y #A11y pic.twitter.com/l5RCtr1qWL

— Elly (@EllyOrg) August 29, 2021

By incorporating meaningful anchor text, such as “Learn about effective marketing strategies” or “Discover our latest product releases,” you empower users to make informed decisions and navigate your website more efficiently. Improved user experience increases engagement, longer browsing sessions, and higher conversion rates.

Now Take Action!

Now that you understand the impact of descriptive link text, it’s time to take your website’s success to the next level. 

At BlakSheep Creative, a leading digital marketing agency in Denham Springs, we specialize in crafting exceptional online experiences. Our team of web development and SEO experts is passionate about creating engaging websites that deliver outstanding results. 

By partnering with BlakSheep Creative, you’ll benefit from our expertise and dedication to helping businesses thrive online.

Whether you need a website redesign, SEO optimization, or a comprehensive digital marketing strategy, we’re here to guide you every step of the way. 

Don’t let bad links destroy your website’s potential. Contact BlakSheep Creative today and experience the transformative power of tailored web solutions for your business.

FAQs about Using “Click Here” for Link Text

Ready to Revolutionize Your Website?

Explore our comprehensive range of services designed to skyrocket your online success. From web design and development to SEO optimization and digital marketing strategies, our team at BlakSheep Creative has a proven track record of delivering exceptional results. 

Visit our Services page today and witness the transformative power of our expertise and dedication.

That’s why we at BlakSheep Creative are here to guide you and provide the best solutions. With over 20+ years of experience as a leading digital marketing agency in Denham Springs, LA, we have the expertise and knowledge to help you navigate the digital world successfully.

Now, let’s hop right to it – 7 ways you may be sabotaging your website (and not even know it!).

1. Neglecting Keyword Research

Keywords are the foundation of any successful SEO strategy, and we understand their significance. Our team of experts will conduct thorough keyword research to ensure your website is optimized for the right keywords. By understanding the keywords your target audience is searching for, we can drive valuable traffic to your website.

2. Overlooking On-Page Optimization

On-page optimization is a crucial aspect of improving your search engine rankings. We know the importance of optimizing title tags, meta descriptions, header tags, and alt text for images. By carefully optimizing these on-page elements with relevant keywords, we provide search engines with the necessary information to understand and rank your content effectively.

However, one common pitfall that many websites fall into is using outdated practices, like setting their homepage title to simply “Home.” This not only impacts your SEO efforts but also your click-through rates.

Don’t let such a fundamental error hold back your site’s potential. Learn more about the impact of your homepage title and how to craft a compelling one in our recent post, “Is Your Website Stuck in the Past? “Home” in SERPs is No Laughing Matter.” Discover why updating from a ‘Home’ title to a more descriptive and strategic title tag can make a significant difference in your site’s online presence.

By addressing these seemingly small details, you can make a big impact on your site’s SEO performance. It’s not just about the content itself but how you present it to the world and search engines.

3. Neglecting Mobile Optimization

In today’s mobile-driven world, mobile optimization is essential for success. At BlakSheep Creative, we prioritize creating mobile-friendly websites that provide seamless experiences across different screen sizes. Our responsive designs ensure your website loads quickly and provide a user-friendly experience on mobile devices.

4. Ignoring Content Quality and Relevance

Content is the backbone of your website, and we recognize its significance. Our team of skilled content creators will craft high-quality, relevant, and informative content that engages your audience and aligns with search engine algorithms. We can increase user engagement and improve search engine rankings by providing valuable insights and solutions.

Bad Website:

Poor Design
Unresponsive or Slow
Confusing Navigation
Lack of Relevant Content
Ineffective Call to Action

— Sayed (@saidulsayid) May 21, 2023

5. Failing to Build Quality Backlinks

Backlinks play a crucial role in establishing your website’s authority and credibility. As a leading digital marketing agency, we understand the importance of building quality backlinks. Our team will actively pursue link-building opportunities from reputable sources within your industry, leveraging strategies such as guest blogging, influencer collaborations, and industry forum participation. We can boost your website’s authority and improve its search engine rankings by securing valuable backlinks.

6. Poor Website Navigation and User Experience

We know that a seamless user experience is vital for the success of your website. Our expert designers will ensure that your website’s navigation is intuitive, with a clear hierarchy and well-organized categories. By incorporating user-friendly features such as search bars, breadcrumbs, and internal linking, we enhance the overall user experience and encourage visitors to explore your website further.

7. Neglecting Website Speed and Performance

Website speed and performance are critical to user satisfaction and search engine rankings. Our team will optimize your website’s speed by implementing strategies like image compression, code minification, browser caching, and reliable hosting solutions. By regularly monitoring and optimizing your website’s performance, we guarantee a smooth and speedy browsing experience for your visitors.

Avoid Falling Behind: While avoiding these common mistakes can help maintain your site’s integrity, understanding the profound impact of overall poor SEO practices is crucial. Don’t miss our in-depth analysis in “The Sudden Decline in SEO Performance: Don’t Let This Be You,” which offers a real-world perspective on the dire consequences of neglecting professional SEO guidance.

To take your website to new heights and avoid these common pitfalls, claim your free website consultation with BlakSheep Creative. With our 20+ years of experience as a leading digital marketing agency in Denham Springs, LA, we have the expertise and knowledge to help you elevate your online presence and achieve your business goals. Let our team of experts guide you on the path to digital success.

What are 404 Errors?

A 404 error occurs when a user tries to access a webpage that cannot be found on the server. This can happen for various reasons, such as the page being deleted, the URL being mistyped, or the page being moved to a different location. When a 404 error is encountered, the user is typically directed to a default “404 Not Found” page.

Why 404 Errors Are Bad

404 errors are bad for small business website owners because they can hurt their users, SEO, and bottom line. Let’s break them down and see why this is the case.

Impact on Users

When a user visits a website and encounters a 404 error, it means that the page they were trying to access does not exist or is no longer available. This can be highly frustrating for users, as it interrupts their experience and makes them feel like the website is unreliable.

For example, if a user is trying to purchase a product from your website but gets a 404 error when clicking on the link, it could result in them never returning to the site and losing out on potential sales.

Why?

When people are in the buying portion of your sales funnel, if they encounter a 404 error page, it can feel like the website is unreliable and unprofessional. This casts doubt on your business which may, in turn, cause them to look elsewhere for what they need.

Or what if you’re a local services provider? Let’s say you’re a plumber, and someone has a water leak. If their home is flooding from a busted pipe, they don’t want to spend time searching for a plumber that can help them. If your website has a 404 page, users will likely look elsewhere for the help they need.

Sale = lost.

Impact on SEO

From an SEO perspective, 404 errors can also hurt a small business’s visibility in search engine results pages (SERPs).

Emphasis on can.

There are a lot of experts out there stating that 404s will ruin your rankings and that you should fix them as soon as possible. But 404s are a normal part of the web and can be helpful when used correctly.

Think about it this way: if a specific place didn’t exist, wouldn’t you rather know it than constantly be directed to other random sites? It’s the same on the web.

While it’s a good idea to redirect an old page that’s been deleted to a new, relevant page, it’s not such a good idea to redirect every 404 error to your homepage, for example. Some sites have implemented creative solutions to handle these errors, like redirecting users after a countdown timer which can create a better user experience.

In theory, 404s impact rankings only on individual pages since Google or other search engines do not index them.

Always make sure your pages exist if you want them ranked!

So why all the hype about ’em? Having thousands of 404 pages can certainly impact website performance and SEO overall because broken links containing URLs pointing to non-existent pages can create a bad user experience. If there were no broken links, then there wouldn’t even be any 404 errors at all – in fact, one could say that there is an infinity of 404s; just add a slash after your domain and type something!

Still with me? Let’s keep going.

Impact on Your Bottom Line

404 errors can hurt your bottom line by reducing conversions from organic traffic. If users encounter too many 404 errors on your site, they may become frustrated and leave without taking any action that could lead to a sale or conversion. This could result in lost revenue for your business.

Put yourself in your customers’ shoes. Would you stick around and buy something from a website that didn’t take the time to fix broken links? Probably not.

Whether people are making a purchase or booking a service online, they expect everything to work correctly and quickly. If your business isn’t meeting their expectations, you’re leaving money on the table.

Your job as a website owner is to make it easy for people to find what they are looking for on your website. If you’re constantly sending people to 404 errors, it won’t be a pleasant experience and will cost you more in the long run.

Prevention Strategies

To ensure that your small business website runs smoothly, it is essential to regularly check for broken links and fix any 404 errors you find as soon as possible. Doing so will help keep your users happy and ensure you get the most out of your organic traffic.

How to Identify 404 Errors on Your Website

There are several ways to identify 404 errors on your website. One way is to check your website’s analytics for any instances of visitors being directed to a 404 page. Using a website crawler or broken link checker can also help identify any broken links on your website that may be causing 404 errors.

One such tool is Screaming Frog’s SEO Spider tool.  We use it so much that it’s the first step in our site audit workflow.  Read our article on quick SEO wins to learn why this tool is so important.

Fixing 404 Errors

Once you have identified the 404 errors on your website, there are several steps you can take to fix them.

1. Redirecting: One way to fix a 404 error is to redirect the broken link to a different, relevant page on your website. This will ensure that the user can still access the information they were searching for, and it will also prevent the user from encountering a 404 error.
2. Recreating the deleted page: If the page was deleted accidentally, you can recreate it and republish it.
3. Check for spelling and typing errors: Make sure the URL is typed correctly, with no spelling errors.
4. Custom 404 page: You can also create a custom 404 page that includes helpful information, such as links to your homepage, contact information, or a search bar. This can help keep visitors on your website, even if they have encountered a 404 error.

Conclusion

404 errors can be frustrating for both website owners and visitors. However, by understanding what 404 errors are and how to fix them, you can ensure that your website runs smoothly and provides a positive experience for your visitors.

At BlakSheep Creative, we understand the importance of having a functional website for small business owners, and we are dedicated to helping you succeed online. If you have any further questions or concerns about 404 errors or any other aspect of your website, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about 404 errors:

Does Your Website Have a 404 Problem?

Your website may have a 404 problem, and you may not even know it. 

If you’re concerned that you may have a 404 problem, BlakSheep Creative can help. We provide comprehensive website analysis services to identify any potential issues with your website, including 404 errors. 

Contact us today to learn more about how we can help!

We hope this article has helped you understand what 404 errors are and how to fix them. If you have any further questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We look forward to hearing from you!

Unfortunately, a recent study found that 60% of marketers either don’t know or don’t understand their Core Web Vitals. This is an unacceptable statistic, especially for small businesses that rely heavily on their website to attract and retain customers.

In this blog post, we’ll explain why it’s critical for marketers and small business website owners to understand Core Web Vitals and what you can do to improve them. Furthermore, if you’re looking to deepen your understanding of digital marketing strategies that cater specifically to small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), we invite you to explore our comprehensive guide on Digital Marketing Strategies for SMBs. This resource is designed to help SMBs navigate the digital marketing landscape, optimize their budget, and leverage the latest online trends to their advantage.

Let’s get to it!

What are Core Web Vitals?

Core Web Vitals are a set of metrics that measure a website’s performance and user experience.

Google introduced them in 2020 to help website owners understand how their site is performing and identify areas for improvement. The three key Core Web Vitals are:

• Largest Contentful Paint (LCP): measures loading performance.
• First Input Delay (FID): measures interactivity.
• Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS): measures visual stability.

Why is it Critical for Marketers and Small Business Website Owners to Understand Core Web Vitals?

1. Improved User Experience: A website that loads quickly and is easy to navigate is more likely to retain visitors and convert them into customers. Understanding the Core Web Vitals allows website owners to identify and fix issues impacting user experience.
2. Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Google uses Core Web Vitals as a ranking factor in its search algorithm. A website that performs well in these metrics is more likely to rank higher in search results. Understanding and improving Core Web Vitals can help boost a website’s SEO.
3. Increased Mobile Performance: With more and more people accessing the internet on mobile devices, ensuring your website performs well on all devices is vital. Core Web Vitals can help identify and fix issues that may be specific to mobile.

Core Web Vitals are critical for ensuring your website delivers a seamless user experience, but for drone companies, the stakes are even higher. In an industry driven by visually stunning content and precision services, your website isn’t just a digital storefront—it’s a key part of how clients perceive your expertise. Discover why having a professional website is essential for drone companies and how it can help you dominate this competitive market.

How to Improve Your Core Web Vitals

Improving your Core Web Vitals may require a combination of technical and design changes. Some things you can do include:

• Optimizing images and other media for faster loading
• Minimizing the use of heavy third-party scripts
• Reducing the number of redirects
• Improving server response time
• Utilizing browser caching

Understanding Core Web Vitals is critical for marketers and small business website owners. Not only do they impact user experience and search engine rankings, but they are also becoming increasingly important as more people access the internet on mobile devices.

At BlakSheep Creative, we can help you understand and improve your Core Web Vitals to ensure your website performs at its best. Contact us today to learn more.

Frequently Asked Questions About CWV

Interested in learning more about Core Web Vitals? Here are some frequently asked questions:

Now that you know more about Core Web Vitals and how they can impact your website’s performance, you can start taking steps to improve them. Whether making changes to your website or engaging with a professional digital agency like BlakSheep Creative, improving your Core Web Vitals is essential to staying competitive in today’s digital landscape.

If you need help improving your Core Web Vitals scores, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. Our team of experts can help you identify issues and implement solutions to ensure your website performs at its best. Contact us today!

The third (and frequently overlooked) element of SEO is technical SEO or the way search engine crawlers and bots find and index your page to make it rank.

Here’s an overview of Google search straight from the horse’s mouth:

Many website owners focus on keywords and backlinks and neglect the technical aspect of SEO. The way that search engine crawlers view your site can boost or destroy your rankings.

The algorithm that identifies which pages are most relevant to a user’s search is complex. However, taking the time to understand what the crawlers look for beyond keywords will make you much more effective in your SEO strategy.

Here are some technical issues that could keep you ranking in the top 10 pages.

Not sure how seo works?

Watch our brief video for an overview of small business search engine optimization, or if you’d prefer, you can read our blog post: Small Business Search Engine Optimization Explained

Slow Loading Pages

Google places a major focus on page speed for a good user experience.

Users who want information won’t stick around if your web page takes more than 5 seconds to load.

This is a major piece of technical SEO that you have to keep in mind when building a page.

40% of people abandon a website that takes more than 3 seconds to load. If your page takes longer than 3 seconds to load, the user will go back to the search engine and try another site.

Luckily, Google has PageSpeed Insights to let you check the speed of your web pages. After entering the URL, it will give you recommendations to fix the problem.

The Most Common Page Load Issue – Image Optimization

Image Optimization is a major technical SEO problem for a lot of people. Especially if they are building your site on their own.

It’s really easy to grab that perfect photo that has a massive resolution (Like 4000 pixels by 2500 pixels – thanks, iPhone X) and just throw it onto your web page that is only 1366 pixels wide (a third of the size!).

Now WordPress is great in that it will help you and many times re-size those images for you, but that doesn’t mean the image file size changes.

Let’s break this down into simple math:

If your amazing photo from your iPhone or Pixabay or Shutterstock is 4000 pixels wide and close to a megabyte in size, that can take a second to load – but if you’ve properly sized it down to 1366 pixels before adding it to your page – that could cut load time by 60%.

Why? Because the file size is now down to 50kb instead of 1.2MB.

So what are Mb and Kb? These are the file sizes of the images – the amount of disk space that they take up on your server.

Smaller is better!

We’ve got 3 seconds to get all of your information onto someone’s screen – every single millisecond counts, or else they’ll bounce – and click on another website.

And they won’t be alone.  Google’s gonna see this too – and your site loses rank in search results because of this poor optimization.

So get those images to the right size – take the time!  It’s worth it, and your technical SEO score will show it.

Your Site Isn’t Mobile-Friendly

OK – this is also a big one for technical SEO. Google recently announced its mobile-first indexing of the web, and pages that are mobile-friendly will be indexed before the desktop versions.

While this change is being rolled out slowly, it still makes sense to have a responsive site that will adapt to whichever device the user is viewing your site on. Rolling out slowly means that Google is giving you a heads-up to get your site ready before they start penalizing people for not having a mobile-friendly site.

Penalizing? What do you mean by penalizing?  It means you start losing massive ground in search results and stop being a relevant search result simply because your site isn’t mobile-friendly.  This is a big deal for technical SEO.

Mobile Web Browsing Is Surpassing Desktop Browsing

This means that you’re impressing fewer and fewer people with your amazing desktop design, and you’re losing potential customers if your site isn’t looking as badass on mobile.

You’ve got to have a mobile site that is just as killer as your desktop site. Think simple but sharp. We have a saying at our office – “We make mobile sites for people who can barely see and have elephant fingers”.

It’s a fine line between usability and sleek design, but you’ve got to have both.

Want to make sure you’re not losing ground? You’ve got to use a tool like this one to ensure your site is mobile-friendly.

If you’re not passing this test – there’s a very high likelihood that you’re going to start losing page rank within search results. The good news is that Google wants you to win – they’ve got a clear output of information when you run the mobile checker to show you exactly which images or lines of code are causing the problem.

Still stumped? We’ve been there – shoot us an email or contact us.  We’ll take a look – no strings attached.

Your Site Doesn’t Have SEO-Friendly Architecture AKA Site Structure

Site architecture is just like the foundation and structure of a home, the inner workings if you will.

This is about making sure your site is secure by using the HTTPS protocol.

You should have a user-friendly URL system. Organize the hierarchy of your site consistently.

Make sure that your site is using a robots.txt file to tell crawlers what to look for and what to avoid.

Make sure to have a way to let users get back to the main site, called breadcrumbs. Google’s algorithm looks for sites that are easy to navigate and rewards them for that design.

OK – Where Do We Start?  How About Pen and Paper

That’s right – a good old pen and paper wireframe.

Sidebar: because we’re computer nerds and prefer to leverage technology, we use an online app called Mindmeister to create our wireframes.  As a matter of fact, the Great Oaks Academy image above was created using it.

By drawing out your pages as boxes on paper (or a computer screen),  you get a better sense visually of how your site may be currently structured and how you can potentially re-structure it.

You may be thinking, “I don’t need to take the time to draw this out,” but it is not something that should be so quickly dismissed.

This practice is an incredibly valuable process and can really help you with site structure. This is technical SEO on paper (or a computer screen).

Outdated Information

With more users using local searches and phone books being out-of-date, your web pages will not be found if you don’t have location-based keywords within your website.

You should have separate landing pages for each location of your business with unique addresses and phone numbers.

If you use the same address and phone number for multiple businesses – Google does not know which one to prioritize, and they all suffer in search results.

You’ve got to keep them separate.

Don’t Forget About Fresh Content

How often you add content to your site is also a major factor for search ranking as well.

Take time and make sure you’re posting new and relevant content at least once a month (At a minimum!).

You probably have amazing knowledge that you can share and use to attract potential customers.

You can start with something as simple as addressing some of the most common questions that you get asked every single day.

Why not write an article or create a page that addresses these questions?

Content is key!

Broken Links

Site errors not only harm the user experience, but they tell the crawlers that your site is out of date.

It’s not relevant. The longer a user stays on your website, the higher the page will rank.

You don’t want to bounce users off your site.

How do you check for broken links and fix them?

Start with a redirection plugin for your WordPress site.

There are some great ones out there that can quickly tell you what pages you have that aren’t being properly redirected.

This will make sure that when someone clicks on a link or a page, they’ll actually get there!

Not to mention that Google’s bots will be checking all of your links when they crawl your site, too.

Broken links will take your search rank down fast.

This is a relatively easy fix.

Technical SEO Is Vital to Your SEO Strategy

Technical SEO is not only the foundation of your site, but it’s also the nuts and bolts of a website.

These mechanical workings tell crawlers how to identify what’s on your web page and whether it’s relevant for a search.

Without good technical SEO, your content, no matter how viable, won’t be seen.

If you’re not sure where to start, or just feeling overwhelmed, we can help.  We can create the foundation for your website to boost your SEO strategy.

Get a free site audit.

Are you unsure whether or not your website is properly technically optimized?  Use our free audit tool to check what needs to be corrected.