Is Google Ads right for me in 2024?

Have you ever felt like you’re in the Wizard of Oz? Spun up by a tornado, and dropped without a semblance of where you are or where you should go? There are a ton of scenarios that put us in this position when small businesses get into the world of Google PPC marketing. So many different things to keep track of, so many people, companies, sales reps, family members and friends telling us to do 100 different things, and promising you’ll be the next Apple, Uber, Home Depot, etc.

We, at MediaWorks, want to put a stop to this head-spinning. We’ve talked at length about web design, development tactics, web functionality, and SEO. Now we want to give you a guide on paid digital ads, specifically Google PPC marketing. There are a ton of different ways to pay for ads online, but Google is still the enormous elephant in the room.

Your business isn’t a multi-billion-dollar international industry leader, so there’s no way it makes sense to actually pay for ads, right? Ehh…you’re probably leaving a ton of money, traffic, and market share on the table if that’s your mindset.

Granted, Google PPC marketing isn’t for everyone. There are scenarios where it absolutely makes sense to invest money in other places, but hear me out. These might not apply to you, but here are four reasons you should reconsider:

Google PPC Marketing is Accessible

Most brands hesitate to pull the trigger on SEM because they think the costs might outweigh the benefits. But the costs don’t have to be as high as you think they do. In fact, with the average keyword bid (across industries) is between 2-3 dollars per click so budgets don’t have to break the bank.

There are also hard ceilings on monthly budgets, so if you’ve got $100 in your marketing budget, you can make it impossible for it to cost you more than that. So with a low barrier to entry and control on your side, it can be easier to get started than you believe.

Google Ads Generate Quick Results

Unlike other forms of online marketing such as SEO that takes longer to deliver increased traffic, Google PPC marketing can provide immediate results. It will take you one business day to create and launch an ad. And after that, you can literally watch as traffic to your site increases. You’ll generate as much traffic as your budget allows, and is only limited by the number of searches for the keywords you’ve bid on.

Google PPC Marketing is Consistent

Here’s the thing about business…it’s nice when you know what’s going on. It allows you to plan, to properly allocate resources, and have the freedom to invest in your business when you know that everything else is taken care of.

The great thing about Google PPC marketing is it allows for consistency on two fronts: one, your ad budget is set, and you know you won’t overspend, and two, it allows for consistent traffic and (depending on industry and product/service) predictable revenue. Sure, there will still be fluctuation, but it allows you to tap a market/audience that you didn’t have before. One that will be there as long as your ads are running.

Google PPC Marketing = Qualified Leads

If there’s one thing we hear all the time, it’s: who even clicks on ads? I know I don’t…

This is where you’re wrong. In fact, the vast majority of search engine users are wrong. Most users can’t even tell the difference between paid and organic results. And, even when they can, the motivated buyers actually prefer paid results.

A recent study found that when someone is ready to purchase a product or service, Google Ads traffic is 35% more likely to convert. So what does that mean for you? It means when you run your ad campaign, (when properly targeted) the leads you get are 35% more likely to fill out a lead form or make a purchase and they spend nearly twice as much. Those are the results we see every day with our client’s paid ads.

Below shows the total clicks, leads (conversions), revenue (Conv. value) and cost of all of Mediaworks PPC clients combined from last year. As you can clearly see, our clients had a good year!

google ppc marketing roi

Final Verdict

I want to preface this by saying that Google PPC marketing is not the end-all-be-all of digital marketing. But is Google PPC marketing right for you? Probably, what I can say with certainty, is that it is a pivotal piece in the digital marketing puzzle.

Even if you’re a company with multi-million dollar products with a 24-month sales cycle, PPC marketing adds to the funnel. It gives fuel to the fire while an SEO campaign is ramping up. It allows you to precisely target demographics, geographic areas, time-of-day ranges, device types, and very specific keyword phrases that other forms of marketing can’t.

But most importantly, it gives you control and measurability where a lot of other campaigns can’t. You can see, in real-time, what works and what doesn’t. It lets you put a finger on the pulse of your audience, and hone in on (and assist with) the path to growth for your company.

MediaWorks Digital is a hometown agency focused exclusively on helping small businesses in Arvada, Denver, Aurora, Golden, Lakewood, Colorado Springs, and across Colorado. We specialize in effective web design, development, search engine optimization, Bing & Google PPC marketing, and content marketing.

Value is always a priority, and we don’t rely on one-sized-fits all web packages, quirky gimmicks, or hard sales. We are a partner in small-business success. Contact us today to see how we can help.

SEO vs SEM in 2024

Metadata? SERP? Ad spend? Conversion demographics? Head spinning? There’s so many terms and numbers to track when you’re looking at the performance of your websites and digital marketing campaigns. We’ll break down what the differences are between search engine optimization and search engine marketing. There’s a lot to consider, and it’s important you know what you’re looking at when evaluating what you are doing, or what you should be doing.

What is SEO?

SEO, from a high-level view is fairly simple to understand. The biggest question that’s being answered is “How trustworthy and relevant is this website in the area of ________?” But you also have to remember that it’s not your customers who are asking this question. It’s a cold, heartless, non-thinking algorithm that’s housed on thousands of Google servers around the world.

So pragmatically speaking, we’re really asking, “How trustworthy and relevant does Google think this website is?”

The answer to that question can be found in a number of checklist items, as well as a few vague points put out by Google. Is your site secured and encrypted? Is your site mobile responsive (note: this does not just mean that your site just works on mobile devices)? Does your site have content? Is your content relevant? Is your content current? When was your last update? How many other sites use your site as a resource? Are you adding value or using hard sales language?

SEO has more to do with you establishing an online presence and a reputation of credibility in the digital community than with anything else. Fortunately, it is not a pay-to-play environment, and anyone and everyone can have great SEO. That is a very different environment than the world of search engine marketing.

What is SEM?

SEM is also fairly easy to understand from a high level. Simply put, you’re erecting digital billboards that can only be seen when people search specific keywords. In this context, we’re going to focus on Google for the same reason as we did with SEO: they process roughly 90% of all online searches worldwide.

SEM, from a Google perspective, simply means you bid on keyword phrases in order to serve ads to those searches that include the keyword phrase you’re bidding on. As with any auction, the highest bid wins, and in this case, gets the top display spot on search results.

Here’s the thing about SEM…they are focused on those prospective customers who are already in the buying cycle, and are likely looking to make a purchase, or commit to a provider right now (or at least quickly, relative to the sales cycle time of your product/service).

And that’s great, because those are precisely the people who actively click on ads. In a recent study, 65% of people ready to buy chose to click on paid ads vs organic results. We’ll talk about bidding strategies in a later blog, but these visitors are generally using active search phrases vs passive ones (i.e. “where to buy widgets in Denver” vs “what do widgets cost”).

The other thing to realize about SEM is that you can see results quickly, and I mean really quickly. Whereas an SEO campaign may take months to mature and bear fruit, SEM campaigns can get you new customers in hours. Not only that, but with a properly executed campaign, the average return on ad spend (ROAS) is up to 4:1.

So which one is right for me?

Here’s the answer you weren’t hoping for…both. They both have different objectives, and different value points. They both help your business, but in different ways with different audiences.

A quick breakdown:

SEO

  • Long-term, brings in more traffic.
  • Grows sales funnel
  • It often will have a better return on investment over the long-term
  • Highly sustainable
  • It has a broader reach

SEM

  • Gives you more control over the results you achieve.
  • It allows you to achieve results faster and enables you to measure success.
  • PPC provides you with real-time feedback.
  • Unlike SEO practices that are updated or changed from time to time, SEM tactics are more stable and predictable. Even if there are updates, they won’t have a significant impact on your paid ads.
  • PPC agencies in Denver will help guide you to set your daily budget depending on what you want you to achieve and how much you are willing to spend.  The good news is that you can begin with a very small budget – and measure results – and expand from there at whatever pace you want.

Still not sure?

So there you have it…a beginner’s guide to SEO vs SEM. There’s still an entire universe of learning to do before being an expert in either arena. That’s why it’s so important to reach out to an agency with a verifiable track record of getting results in both areas. If not to have them set up campaigns for you, at least to walk you through what the heck you’re looking at.

MediaWorks Digital is a hometown agency focused exclusively on helping small businesses in Denver, Aurora, Arvada, Golden, Lakewood, Colorado Springs, and across Colorado. We specialize in effective web design, development, search engine optimization, search engine marketing, and content marketing. Value is always a priority, and we don’t rely on one-sized-fits all web packages, quirky gimmicks, or hard sales. We are a partner in small-business success. Contact us today to see how we can help.

Secure, Scalable, and Affordable: Introducing AWS Website Maintenance Plans at MediaWorks

Secure, Scalable, and Affordable: Introducing AWS Website Maintenance Plans at MediaWorks

Moving your website to AWS infrastructure is a smart step toward better performance, scalability, and security. However, maintaining your AWS-hosted site can be complex and time-consuming. At MediaWorks Web, we’ve designed two comprehensive maintenance plans to ensure your website runs smoothly while giving you peace of mind.

With our competitively priced plans, we offer the perfect balance of protection, performance, and cost-efficiency, so you can focus on growing your business.


1. Basic Maintenance Plan – $350/month

Perfect for businesses looking for essential support at an affordable price, the Basic Maintenance Plan includes:

  • Weekly Security Patching: We ensure your EC2 instances and essential services are up-to-date with the latest security patches.
  • Backup Verification: We confirm that backups are functioning and stored securely to protect your data.
  • Performance Monitoring: Monitor key performance metrics (like CPU usage and network traffic) using AWS CloudWatch.
  • Error Log Review: Detect issues early with weekly reviews of your website’s error and security logs.

Monthly Maintenance Includes:

  • Health Checks: Conduct detailed health checks on all your EC2 instances to ensure uptime and stability.
  • Cost Optimization: Identify potential cost savings by analyzing your AWS usage and recommending cost-effective adjustments.
  • Scaling Review: Monitor and review Auto Scaling configurations to ensure your site can handle increased traffic.

Quarterly Tasks:

  • Basic Security Audits: Review IAM roles, security group configurations, and other essential security settings to protect your data and infrastructure.

This plan is ideal for smaller businesses or websites with stable traffic who need reliable performance and basic security without the extra frills. At $350/month, it’s a cost-effective solution to keep your website secure and running efficiently.


2. Premium Maintenance Plan – $950/month

For larger websites or businesses that need more comprehensive support, the Premium Maintenance Plan is packed with advanced monitoring, performance tuning, and disaster recovery features.

  • Comprehensive Weekly Monitoring: Get detailed performance insights with AWS CloudWatch, monitoring not just CPU usage, but memory, disk I/O, and network traffic.
  • Complete Security Patching: From EC2 instances to RDS databases and other AWS services, we ensure everything is up-to-date.
  • Backup Verification and Testing: We don’t just verify backups — we test them to ensure quick recovery in case of a disaster.
  • Log Review: A thorough review of all logs, including error and security logs, for a proactive approach to troubleshooting.

Monthly Maintenance Includes:

  • Advanced Health Checks: A deep dive into the health of your EC2 instances, ensuring all components are working optimally.
  • In-Depth Cost Optimization: Beyond basic savings, we help you optimize your AWS spend with reserved instance recommendations and other strategies.
  • Database Optimization: Tuning your RDS or other databases to ensure efficient performance, reducing bottlenecks and improving speed.
  • Scaling Analysis: We assess your traffic patterns and adjust your Auto Scaling configurations to ensure your website can handle surges in traffic.

Quarterly Tasks:

  • Full Security Audits: Comprehensive reviews of your IAM roles, security group configurations, and S3 bucket policies to ensure your website and data remain secure.
  • Disaster Recovery Testing: We simulate recovery scenarios to ensure that, in the event of failure, your backups restore seamlessly and quickly.
  • Infrastructure Optimization: Recommendations on how to further enhance your infrastructure, such as adding a CDN (CloudFront) or improving redundancy through Elastic Load Balancers.

This plan is tailored for businesses that demand the highest level of security, performance, and scalability. At $950/month, you get enterprise-level support designed to keep your site operating at peak performance.


Which Plan is Right for You?

Both the Basic and Premium Maintenance Plans are designed to provide peace of mind and ongoing website management, so you can focus on your core business. Whether you’re a small business looking for essential coverage or an enterprise needing comprehensive, in-depth support, MediaWorks Web has you covered.

To find out more about our AWS website maintenance plans, contact us today and let us help you protect and optimize your website.

Use Metadata to Jumpstart Your SEO

You may have heard the term metadata bouncing off the tongues of SEOs and web developers and immediately put it in the back of your mind. After all, in the ever-evolving world of SEO, there always seems to be new techno-jargon to try to keep up with. Still, you know you need to improve your online presence. After all, there are 63,000 search queries performed every second! That’s 5.5 billion searches per day, according to Internet Live Stats, 2019. Let’s break down exactly what this bit of techy lingo means, and why your website needs it if it wants to climb to page one of Google.

What Is Metadata?

Metadata is all the background information hidden in your website’s code. While your customers may never see it, Google’s search engine will. That’s why metadata is a crucial component of SEO 101.

Think of metadata as the information that’s stored when you make a phone call. You can view the date and time of the phone call, the length of the call, and even the GPS coordinates of the place you made the phone call. However, the callers rarely view this information. It simply gets stored.

Why Is Metadata So Important For SEO?

Unlike your phone call, Google does view the metadata stored on your website. This data is used by Google to learn what your website is all about, how often its updated, and whether it’s a valuable website in your niche.

In other words, Google doesn’t just read the words you post on your website. It reads all the technical information stored in the background – information you might not know is there. That information can be updated by our Arvada SEO agency to reflect the front-facing content of your website. By updating the metadata, our developers can help your message be seen by Google. In return, Google will serve up links to your website more often to potential customers.

An Example of How Google Uses Metadata

Let’s say you’ve recently experienced a leak in your roof. You start to solve the problem by searching for “roofers in Denver metro.”

metadata is important metadata matters what is metadata seo agency mediaworks digital marketing

As you can see from this image, Google returned 2.8 million results for Denver roofers. Denver is a big city, but it’s certainly not big enough to warrant 2.8 million roofers!

This is an example of Google searching the content and metadata of websites to find all the sites that mention roofers in Denver.

It is important to note that Google doesn’t discriminate when it comes to metadata. These 2.8 million results are the result of Google finding all the sites that mention roofing, Denver, metro, or any combination of those keywords, and then ranking all of them. So if a site for an actual Denver roofing company has poor SEO, it’s entirely possible it could be ranked below a restaurant with rooftop seating in Denver!

In order for a roofing company to compete with those 2.8 million results, it would have to employ an SEO agency in Arvada like MediaWorks to get behind the scenes and leverage metadata.

Don’t Leave Your Metadata Blank!

By default, metadata is a blank field. The designers who made your original website may not have a thorough understanding of SEO. That’s why an Arvada SEO agency like MediaWorks is so important. We take the blank fields where metadata belongs and maximize it, making it easy for Google to read and understand.

SEO 101 states that search engine optimization is a competitive and technical field. There’s so much more to SEO than having a nice-looking website. Be sure to capitalize on all the components of your website, especially the ones you can’t see.

Amazing results come from incredible SEO knowledge. Let the experts help you grow your business so you can get back to managing it. After all, you have enough on your plate. We’ll take care of your online presence.

MediaWorks Digital is a hometown agency focused exclusively on helping small businesses in Denver, Aurora, Arvada, Golden, Lakewood, Colorado Springs, and across Colorado. We specialize in effective web design, development, search engine optimization, search engine marketing, and content marketing. Value is always a priority, and we don’t rely on one-sized-fits all web packages, quirky gimmicks, or hard sales. We are a partner in small-business success. Contact us today to see how we can help.

How and why to create content

Is content really that important to your site? Your business? A strong digital marketing strategy is made up of many different components. From social media to search engines, it can be difficult to know where you really need to focus your attention. While each piece of your digital marketing strategy is important for effectively promoting your business online, some elements will be more crucial than others.

The big takeaway here, is that content fuels everything else you’re doing. A cliché metaphor? Don’t mind if I do! If your business is a car, your website is the engine, SEO is the cruise control, PPC campaigns are the accelerator, a well-planned marketing strategy is the steering wheel. But what good is a car with no gas? You guessed it, content is what makes it all go.

So why is it so important?

Content Educates Your Audience

Today’s consumers are more likely than ever to fast forward the sales process for you by doing nearly everything but purchasing before they ever even think to contact a business. Downside for businesses, where are they getting the information that sales reps and literature used to provide? All from websites. In fact, 89% of buying decisions are made online, even if the customer purchases in a store or by phone.

This makes it all the more important for customers to come to YOU to get their information. That’s why the content you post should be valuable and educational.

Your educational content will likely take the form of blog posts, product pages, your home page, and your company’s ‘about’ pages. However, it may also include tutorials, reviews, and other content that provides your customers with the resources they need to make educated purchasing decisions. It should focus on teaching your target audience more about your business and offerings.

To educate your audience through the content you create, you want to focus on the questions or concerns they may have. When addressing your target audience, consider what problems they might be trying to solve and how your products or services relieve those issues. Your educational content should focus on the solutions you provide, and how you can make their lives easier.

Content Fuels SEO

Search engines are a go-to resource just about any time someone has a question or concern. This means that optimizing your content to appear in relevant searches can help you attract new leads to your website. However, in order to fuel your SEO strategy, you need to have strong content.

SEO revolves around keyword placement, backlinks, and website visitors, and your content enables you to create web pages that fuel each of these components. Without content, you’d have nowhere to place your keywords, no page for your visitors to read, and no information for other websites to link to. However, if you’re creating awesome pieces of content that your target audience is excited to engage with, you’ll find it’s not hard to reach the top of the search engine results lists.

Content creation and SEO should always go hand-in-hand. When you consider your readers first and foremost, you will be able to create something that provides clear value to your audience. If your target audience is engaging heavily with you, your SEO strategy will be that much more successful.

Content Drives Social Media Strategies

Your social media platforms are one of the best ways to connect with your target audience. As a powerful tool for establishing genuine relationships with your customer base, social media gives you a direct pathway to have conversations, get feedback, and push new leads to your website. However, this is all fueled by strong content creation.

Your content enables you to take your social media conversations deeper. While there is only so much you can say in a Tweet or Facebook post, great content encourages your audience to follow through to learn more. This helps you establish a better connection with your target audience. Plus, you can also gain more visitors to your website, where you can collect their information and bring them into your sales funnel.

Your social media strategy should leverage content that provides a high amount of value to your target audience. While content is crucial for developing strong connections, you also need to remember that your audience wants information they can participate in. If you’re simply posting links to your site, you can’t expect to see high amounts of engagement.

Content Builds Backlinks

Backlinks, or links from an external website back to your site, are an important part of bringing new traffic to your site. A backlink to your site can encourage a visitor of another article or website to click through and learn more about you.

Of course, you’ll only see backlinks when your content contains ideas, opinions, or information that is worth sharing. If what you’re creating is mediocre or simply relaying information that your audience can find elsewhere on the web, you’re going to struggle to get other websites to link to you. This means that you’ll have a more difficult time attracting new attention and establishing authority online.

Backlinks can also contribute to your SEO strategy. They show Google and other search engines that you create content worth recommending. The more backlinks you have, the more authority a search engine will assume your page holds:

To encourage backlinks, you want to ensure that your topics are unique. While there may be similar information already available online, you want to put your own spin on each piece. Adding your unique perspective can ensure that your information stands out, helping you attract more attention. You can also increase your number of backlinks by focusing only on creating high-quality content. This includes developing harder-to-create pieces like infographics or videos. Since they take more effort to create, other sites will be less likely to produce them as well, instead choosing to link to you.

Conclusion

Your content is the foundation of your digital marketing strategy. Without it, you’re going to struggle to attract the attention you need to collect leads and convert them into paying customers. When you create great pieces of content, however, you’ll be more successful in your other digital marketing efforts.

MediaWorks Digital is a hometown agency focused exclusively on helping small businesses in Denver, Aurora, Arvada, Golden, Lakewood, Colorado Springs, and across Colorado. We specialize in effective web design, development, search engine optimization, search engine marketing, and content marketing. Value is always a priority, and we don’t rely on one-sized-fits all web packages, quirky gimmicks, or hard sales. We are a partner in small-business success. Contact us today to see how we can help.

Unlock the True Value: What Should a Website Cost?

When considering website costs, remember the most expensive option isn’t always best, and the cheapest doesn’t mean compromise. You want value—a site that grows with your business and delivers results.

Think of your website as a 24/7 salesperson, promoting your business around the clock. With the right setup, it can improve over time with little supervision. This digital “salesperson” shares information, answers questions, and showcases your products or services, all without needing a salary. It’s a one-time investment that works tirelessly for years.

A great small business website can be your most effective tool, driving leads and converting customers. But what should a website cost, and what are you really paying for?

website cost

website design cost

Website Design Cost: What Are You Paying For?

When hiring a professional website design team, you’re not just paying for the finished product; you’re investing in time, expertise, and ongoing support. Just because someone charges a higher rate doesn’t always make them the best fit, but it does reflect their level of skill and experience.

Small business website owners seek expertise in a web developer or designer who understands their needs, can create a website that reflects their brand, and guides them through the process. Most reputable web design agencies offer free consultations to help determine if they’re the right fit.

Size and Complexity Matter

The cost of a website will depend heavily on the scope of your project. A website for a small business that needs only a few pages and basic functionality will cost less than a fully customized website with dozens of pages, complex features, and e-commerce integration.

Each website project begins with a basic concept. The more customization and functionality you require—such as a blog, product pages, or payment processing—the higher your website design cost will be. Many design agencies offer package deals, which may include a set number of pages and features for a fixed price. It’s a good idea to ask about these options.

Content and Graphics: The Heart of Your Website

Content is king when it comes to your website. It’s what communicates your brand’s message, services, and values. If your website needs fresh content—like blog posts, product descriptions, or updated company information—that’s something to consider in the overall website cost.

Beyond text, you’ll also need to factor in images, graphics, and even video. High-quality visuals help tell your story and engage visitors. Whether you provide these assets yourself or rely on your web design agency to source them, they will impact your final small business website cost.

Maintenance and Long-Term Costs

Your small business website isn’t a one-time investment. It’s important to remember that your website will need regular maintenance, updates, and perhaps new features as your business evolves. There are also recurring costs for web hosting, security updates, domain renewals, and licenses for any premium plugins or software you use.

Allocating a portion of your budget for ongoing maintenance is crucial to keeping your website functional and up to date. As technology advances, your site will need adjustments to stay relevant, fast, and secure.

The Bottom Line: How Much Should You Budget?

For small business websites, the cost typically ranges between $5,000 and $20,000. The final price depends on the size, features, and complexity of the design. This investment includes the design and development process, content creation, and customization to ensure your website is built to your specifications.

Keep in mind that many web design agencies offer payment plans or flexible packages to help spread out the costs. Don’t hesitate to ask about discounts, packages, or incentives that could reduce the upfront website design cost.

Helpful Tips for Managing Your Website Design Cost

  • Set a realistic budget and stick to it. Don’t be tempted by upsells unless they genuinely add value to your site.
  • Plan for long-term costs such as hosting, maintenance, and updates.
  • Do your research before hiring a web design company. Take advantage of free consultations to find a developer who meets your needs and budget.
  • Prioritize features based on your business goals, and don’t pay for unnecessary bells and whistles.

Value Over Cost

At the end of the day, your website is the digital face of your business. It’s the smartest, most consistent salesperson you’ll ever hire. When considering the cost of a website, it’s important to strike the right balance between affordability and quality.

At MediaWorks, we focus exclusively on helping small businesses in Denver, Aurora, Arvada, Golden, Lakewood, Colorado Springs, and across Colorado create effective websites. We prioritize value, offering customized web design, development, and SEO services to help your business grow.

Contact us today to learn more about how we can create a website that works for you.

Is SEO Blogging the Key to Better Website Visibility?

In today’s competitive digital market, having a visually appealing website is no longer enough to stand out. One of the most effective tools for enhancing your website’s visibility is SEO blogging. If your competitors are already blogging, they are likely ranking higher on Google than you.

If they aren’t, now is your chance to get ahead. By creating authoritative and informative blogs optimized for search engines, you can significantly improve your rankings, drive more traffic, and connect with your target audience.

What is SEO Blogging?

SEO blogging is the practice of writing blog content optimized for search engines. It involves crafting posts that not only engage your audience but also follow best practices to rank higher on search engines like Google. This way, your blog posts are more likely to appear on the first page of search results, driving organic traffic and increasing your website’s visibility.

Unlike personal blogs of the past, where people would share personal stories or updates, today’s blogs focus on solving problems for your audience. SEO blogs are written with the intent to answer the specific questions people are searching for online. The more helpful your content, the more likely it is that Google will prioritize your blog posts in search results.

Why Blogging is Essential for SEO

Blogging plays a vital role in improving your website’s SEO. By consistently posting high-quality content that answers your customers’ questions, you increase your chances of ranking higher for relevant searches. Google’s algorithms prioritize content that provides value and is relevant to the search query. The more your blog aligns with what your audience is searching for, the more likely you’ll rank higher in the results.

For example, if you run a lawn care business and regularly blog about topics such as “lawn mowing service cost” or “best grass for Colorado lawns,” you’re more likely to capture traffic from people searching for these specific terms.

SEO optimized blog posts

How to Create an SEO Optimized Blog Post

Crafting an SEO optimized blog post involves more than just writing well. Here are some key strategies to follow:

1. Keyword Research

Effective SEO blogging starts with keyword research. Find the terms your audience is searching for using tools like Google Keyword Planner, Semrush, or Ahrefs. Look for keywords with high search volume and low competition to increase your chances of ranking well. These keywords should guide your blog topic and content structure.

For instance, if you’re offering SEO blog writing services, relevant keywords might include “SEO optimized blog posts” or “SEO blogging.” Incorporating these into your content helps boost your visibility.

2. Write Compelling Headlines

Your headline is the first thing users and search engines see. Ensure it’s engaging and includes your primary keyword. Not only does this improve SEO, but it also attracts readers to click and engage with your content.

3. Create Engaging Meta Descriptions

While meta descriptions don’t directly impact rankings, they play a crucial role in driving clicks. Write a clear, concise, 160-character description that includes your target keyword and entices readers to learn more.

4. Structure Your Content for Readability

Google prioritizes content that is well-organized and easy to read. Use headings (H1, H2, H3) to structure your content, making it easier for both users and search engines to navigate your post. Additionally, keep paragraphs short and use bullet points or lists where possible.

5. Use Internal and External Links

Internal links direct users to other relevant pages on your website, helping pass SEO authority. External links to credible sources help establish your blog’s credibility, boosting its SEO value.

6. Optimize Your Images

Images enhance your blog visually, but they need to be optimized. Make sure to use descriptive alt text that includes your keywords, helping search engines understand the context of the images.

7. Publish Long-Form Content

Long-form content (600+ words) tends to perform better on search engines because it provides in-depth value. Google favors comprehensive content that thoroughly answers users’ questions.

8. Optimize for Mobile

With a growing number of users browsing on mobile, your blog needs to be mobile-friendly. Ensure your site has a responsive design that works well on all screen sizes.

seo blogging

Finding the Right Keywords for Your Blog

Understanding what your target audience is searching for is just the first step. To stand out from the competition, you need to focus on keywords with high monthly search volume and low competition. If you’re unsure where to start, reach out to MediaWorks—we have the tools and expertise to provide you with the best keyword strategy for your niche.

If your main keywords are too competitive, consider using long-tail keywords, which are more specific and easier to rank for. For example, instead of targeting the keyword “lawn mowing service,” aim for “lawn mowing service cost in Denver” or “commercial lawn mowing services for large properties.”

Optimizing Your Blog for SEO Success

Once you have your keywords, it’s time to implement them in a way that works for both search engines and readers. Here are some tips:

  • Include your keyword in your post title: This helps search engines understand the focus of your content.
  • Make your post at least 300 words: Longer content tends to perform better on search engines.
  • Simplify your URL: Keep your URL structure clean and include your primary keyword.
  • Use internal and external links: Link to relevant pages within your site and authoritative external sources.
  • Incorporate keywords naturally: Use your keyword in the post title, meta description, headings, and body content. Avoid keyword stuffing, as this can lead to penalties from Google.

How MediaWorks Can Help With SEO Blogging

SEO blogging can be time-consuming and complex, but it’s essential for your digital marketing success. If you’re struggling to find the time or expertise to create optimized blog content, MediaWorks is here to help. We specialize in SEO blog writing services that drive traffic, improve rankings, and establish your authority online.

Our team of experts can develop tailored, SEO-driven blog posts designed to engage your target audience and boost your website’s visibility. Whether you need a one-time blog post or ongoing content creation, we’re your trusted partner in digital marketing.

Contact MediaWorks today to learn more about how we can help take your SEO blogging to the next level!

Who is your website for?

We’ve established that having a website is important, and we know what it’s for; but there’s an even more important question to ask: Who is it for?

This question is even more important because knowing who your website is for determines essentially everything else about the site. It affects design, functionality, content, capabilities, web services staffed, sales integration, adjacent and dependent marketing…you get the idea. So, how do you figure it out?

Coverall + Generalities = Blah

If you don’t take the time to figure out who you want to/are speaking with, you can’t be specific with your content, and end up having to appeal to everyone that could possibly come in contact with your site. This creates the need for speaking in generalities and covering the spectrum in all or nearly all of your content.

You can’t dig into the meat of the issues your site visitors are having. You can’t show an understanding of the intricacies of problems they have. People want their problems to be solved, and digitally speaking, you have one first impression to convince them you can do it.

If people aren’t sure you can solve their problem, they have no reason to trust your brand. Sure, that doesn’t mean they’ll have a negative opinion, but are lukewarm and wary the feelings you want potential clients to come away from your site with?

Purpose + Persona = Success

We learned in the last lesson the different functions of a site. Is it going to be sales focused, service focused, investor focused? Any of these questions will drive the functionality of your site. But knowing who the core audience is determines what is on your site, where it is, and how much of it exists.

Many business owners take the mindset, “I don’t care who buys my stuff, as long as they’re buying it.” Which is fine, but you end up leaving tons of money on the table. By drilling down and specifically designing and marketing for a target persona, you end up with higher conversions and more sales.

So who is your target audience? Males? Generally too broad. Males living in the Rocky Mountain region? Still too broad. Male business owners based in the Denver metropolitan area, employing between 11-50 people, whose sales are between $1M-5M and have 1-24 fleet vehicles? Now you’re on the right track.

By getting specific with who you want to speak to, you’re not only able to better target your message, you’re able to speak to direct problems that your core audience is having. This is critically important because they don’t just read/hear/see your message, they connect to it.

Connecting to marketing messages and website copy and content is the gold mine of website success. This is the “it” factor of someone clicking an ad, adding a product to their cart, filling out a contact form, or being receptive to a sales call.

This ultimately leads to more interactions, better proportional web conversions, better sales, and higher revenues. Isn’t that kind of the point?

The Best Next Steps

Here’s your takeaways: First, figure out who you are talking to, and even if that’s the core audience you should be talking to. Second, figure out what the issues are plaguing that audience and what your solutions are to those issues (hint, it should be your product or service). Third, design your site and your content around those problems and solutions. Last, make sure you’re getting feedback about what you’re doing. Is the content connecting? Do you need to go deeper? What’s the best platform/channel to reach this audience? These are great feedback questions.

We cannot stress this part enough: all of these decisions need to be data driven! There is something to be said about gut feelings and intuition, but this process of determining target personas and curating content specifically for them is an ongoing process that is backed up or refuted with data. It is vitally important to follow the directions laid out by analytics and feedback in every stage.

So now you know. Persona is important and should be a part of any digital campaign. Find your audience and speak directly to them.

 

 

MediaWorks Digital is a hometown agency focused exclusively on helping small businesses in Denver, Aurora, Arvada, Golden, Lakewood, Colorado Springs, and across Colorado. We specialize in effective web design, development, search engine optimization, search engine marketing, and content marketing. Value is always a priority, and we don’t rely on one-sized-fits all web packages, quirky gimmicks, or hard sales. We are a partner in small-business success. Contact us today to see how we can help.

What is a website?

Ok, time for business 101. It’s not very controversial anymore to say that every company should have a website. Regardless of industry, business model, geography, or target customer, today’s world operates online.

 

As of 2018, nearly 90% of buying decisions start online, and the majority on search engines like Google. Despite this fact, close to 40% of small businesses don’t have a company website. From a business perspective, this represents an absolutely crazy number of missed revenue opportunities.

 

What is a website?

 

At it’s core, a website is simply a digital representation of your organization. A place with a digital “address,” where clients and potential customers can “visit” to learn more about a company or interact with it.

 

It’s a place where people can gather information about your products or services that informs the process in which they choose where to spend their money. So the question really becomes, do you want that site visitor to spend their money with you or your competition?

 

What is it for?

 

Deciding what the purpose of your website actually is will determine not only how it’s designed and built, but also how visitors interact with it.

 

Should they be able to purchase your goods and services directly from the site? Do you just want to show them who you are and what you stand for? Is your website going to serve in a strictly customer-service capacity?

 

This is where it gets a little more tricky. You see, there’s no right answer to this question. This is where you get to determine what is best for your business. There are extremely successful retail operations that have no ecommerce functionality on their site. There are customer-service firms that don’t offer online customer service. There are plenty of companies who have very simple sites that offer no online services.

 

But the possibility exists for you to add 100% of the capability of any brick-and-mortar location directly to your website. Quite literally, any transaction or communication can be completed over your site now.

 

How to decide?

 

Deciding to have a website is obviously the first step (is this even a decision, anymore?), followed closely by what it is you want the objective of your site to be. This decision could be an easy one for your company, depending on your business model. Or it could be much more complex, taking into account any number of factors. If you’re not sure exactly which features and functions would be beneficial to include on your site, you should contact an expert. They should use their experience in the digital field to translate your expertise in your company to an online medium.

 

Once you have your website up with it’s ideal functionality, you can optimize it to rank better on the search engines, and be back to the business of growing your organization.

 

 

 

MediaWorks Digital is a hometown agency focused exclusively on helping small businesses in Denver, Aurora, Arvada, Golden, Lakewood, Colorado Springs, and across Colorado. We specialize in effective web design, development, search engine optimization, search engine marketing, and content marketing. Value is always a priority, and we don’t rely on one-sized-fits all web packages, quirky gimmicks, or hard sales. We are a partner in small-business success. Contact us today to see how we can help.

Letter from the President — November 2019

SEO Image

 

Back in 1991, we decided to launch MediaWorks, specializing in producing video, multi-image, print, logo, and animated-graphic business presentations.  Keeping up with technology and communication trends was one of our biggest priorities. We were one of the first users of Avid Technologies Editors.  As a Beta Test site, we helped provide critical feedback for the user experiences.

I thoroughly enjoy working with new technologies and determining how they can best be implemented and translated into business success, and in 1999, we started our web design and development services to fulfill the needs of small and mid-size business owners who want a professional, yet affordable web presence.

At MediaWorks we solve this problem by providing professional websites, up-front, honest pricing, and great one-on-one interaction with our clients.

We expanded to offer additional services such as search engine optimization, marketing services, and mobile application development. But our core focus has always been on beautiful, effective website design.

As founder and President of MediaWorks, my sole motivation is to make sure we provide you with high-quality services at competitive rates, and to establish a long-term and trustworthy relationship that is coupled with an exceptional customer service experience.

We have been very fortunate to work closely with our clients to develop custom programs that  help them successfully establish their online presence.

I look forward to working with you and I truly hope you decide to get in touch with us and let our team of experts help you. Even if you are not sure how we can help, just give us a call and we’ll be happy to advise you on how to effectively establish a better online presence that will help you grow your company and increase sales. 

We will always strive to be a helpful, productive member of the small-business community here in Colorado. We love getting to know you and your business, and are always reaching to be better for you.

 

President
MediaWorks Digital