Local Houston small businesses need to consider their SEO strategy carefully. More and more people are using the Internet to learn about your business’s products or services.
Giving them an opportunity to discover you at the time when they are interested is far more likely going to create a good customer than any push marketing techniques. Though there are lots of things to consider for your Houston small business in regards to your SEO strategy, here are some good points.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1484928082164{margin-top: 15px !important;margin-bottom: 15px !important;padding-top: 20px !important;padding-right: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;padding-left: 20px !important;background-color: #b3ddeb !important;}”]
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
Before these Houston Internet marketing services became so popular, the techniques were very different. It was more “wild west” than today. As with any significant trend in business, SEO practices evolved from a relatively unrefined online tool into a sophisticated mixture of art and science. Every great movement in technology has a rich history. The history of SEO and its effects on Houston marketing services and elsewhere is as rich as it is deep. Let’s take a look, shall we?
As the first websites emerged in the early 90s, it became apparent that search engines would be needed to sort through the mass of information. So much information, and so little structure. Keyword searches made finding what a person was looking for great. That changed the Houston marketing landscape incredibly.
Having a search engine looking for keywords would soon lead to websites engaging in black hat SEO tactics. Some common actions that were getting flagged as spam were keyword stuffing and obsessive back linking. These were done to rank higher on search engines. Google began to work harder at creating a better user experience. They set out to connect users to more valuable content. In addition, punish websites that violated these policies.
Through best practices, Google managed to create a much more level playing field. They punished the cheaters. And rewards those who play by the rules. As time went on, Google added functions to create a more personalized and user-based experience: Google Universal Search; Google Suggest; Google Trends; and Google Analytics.
In the early 2010s, Google decided to force websites and internet marketing companies to earn their rankings. No more free rides! With this shift, localized SEO results could be found within SERPs, making keyword searches that much better for the user. Social media became a big influence of SEO. That made it even harder to accomplish good results.
In recent years, there have been some shifts in Google’s search engine algorithm. These changes affected poor quality websites negatively. These are some of the changes.
Google Panda was the first edition of this software. Panda would perform the tasks mentioned above and go after sites that were crowded with advertisements or were difficult to navigate.
Google Penguin was launched for sites that had spammy link portfolios. If a website used black hat SEO maneuvers or link schemes, they would be removed. Houston marketing companies and SEO companies in Houston are forced to take a long look at their link building techniques.
Google Hummingbird added to the base that had been established by Panda and Penguin. It added mobile responsive design. With mobile now in Google’s sites, SEO companies in Houston and elsewhere need to keep mobile web design and best practices in mind. These new rules become a major challenge for the Houston marketing industry in whole. They must elevate to these standards if they are going to provide results to companies.
The marketing agency you hire to help you with your SEO strategy needs to be trusted. How do you know? Ask them about their results with their own online campaign. Ask them how do they get their business. Leave their office if they don’t get their business from their own SEO strategy! Having a voice of confidence that can follow Google’s SEO rules is important. If you are looking to hire a marketing company in Houston, IMPROZ is your best choice. Does your Houston small business need help with your SEO strategy? Contact us today!