Most local businesses in DFW struggle to make their Google Business Profile stand out. You may have added photos and reviews but haven’t seen much change in visibility or calls.
This guide shows how to optimize your profile to attract more local customers and generate measurable results.

If you are a service-oriented business, add at least two to three geotagged photos per month to your profile. On an iPhone, go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services → Camera → While Using the App.
When requesting reviews, ask your customers to include their city name in the review text. Also, create location pages on your website that match your home page in design and tone.

If you haven’t yet set up Bing Places, visit https://www.bing.com/forbusiness. It can mirror your Google profile and extend your visibility across Microsoft’s network.

Optimize Your Google Business Profile for Local Results

Your Google Business Profile acts as your digital storefront for Dallas-Fort Worth customers. When people search for services in their area, your profile determines whether you stand out or disappear in the crowd.

Enhance Photos and Posts

Photos communicate your business story more effectively than text alone. Businesses with more than ten photos on their profile receive 142% more direction requests than those with fewer.

Add geotagged photos that show Google you are active in specific areas. For Dallas and Fort Worth service businesses, this is a powerful local signal. Turn on location services in your phone’s camera app before taking photos at job sites or your office.

Use a variety of photo types:

• Team and staff photos
• Before-and-after project images
• Your work vehicles with logos
• Local landmarks or recognizable areas

Posts also help your profile stay active and visible. Create weekly posts about:

• Special offers for DFW residents
• Updates or announcements
• Events or sponsorships in Dallas-Fort Worth
• New products or services available locally

Google rewards consistency. Schedule a weekly reminder to post fresh content for stronger local SEO results.

Pro Tip: Use AI tools such as ChatGPT or Google Gemini to generate local content ideas and headlines. Include location-based keywords like Dallas web design, Frisco marketing agency, or Fort Worth contractor services.

Build and Manage Google Reviews

Reviews build trust and improve search rankings. When customers in DFW see real reviews from nearby cities, they’re more likely to choose your business.

Ask happy customers to include their location in their review, such as “Excellent service in Plano” or “Highly recommend for Arlington homeowners.”
A simple review process helps maintain momentum:

1. Send a text or email after completing service.
2. Include a direct link to your Google review page.
3. Thank the customer personally after they leave a review.

When replying, mention the neighborhood. For example: “Thank you for letting us serve you in McKinney.” This reinforces your local reach to Google and potential customers.

Negative reviews happen occasionally. Respond quickly—ideally within 24 hours—and offer to resolve the issue offline. Consistent, professional responses demonstrate accountability and care.

Fresh, location-specific reviews can increase your local visibility by up to 35%.

Use the Q&A Section Strategically

The Q&A area of your profile is often overlooked, yet it’s one of the best ways to stand out. Instead of waiting for questions, add your own frequently asked questions and answers.

Think about what DFW customers ask before they hire you. Examples include:

• “Do you serve all of Dallas-Fort Worth?”
• “What are your operating hours?”
• “Do you provide same-day appointments in Plano?”
• “How quickly can you handle emergency calls?”

Use relevant service keywords and local city names within your answers. This helps Google associate your business with multiple service areas.

Track Insights to Measure Success

Your Google Business Profile Insights dashboard reveals how people find and interact with your listing. Regularly reviewing these numbers will help you fine-tune your strategy.

Focus on:

• Search Views: How often your profile appears in local searches
• Calls and Direction Requests: Signs of strong buyer intent
• Photo Views Compared to Competitors: Gauge visual engagement
• Post Engagement: See which content gets the most attention

Integrate these insights with Google Analytics or call tracking software to link online actions with real conversions. Understanding what drives results allows you to double down on what works best.

Keep Your DFW Profile Active and Authentic

Your Google Business Profile is not a one-time setup—it’s an ongoing local marketing tool. The most successful Dallas-Fort Worth businesses update their profiles weekly, add new photos, respond to reviews, and post relevant updates.

If you need expert help managing your profile, Platform Creator offers local SEO and Google Business optimization services designed to increase visibility, calls, and form fills.

👉 Request your free Google Business Profile audit today and start turning search views into real leads.

The post Mastering Your Google Business Profile in DFW: A Step-by-Step Guide for Local Success appeared first on Platform Creator.

Understanding Local SEO

Local SEO is the cornerstone of any successful small business marketing strategy. Let’s dive into what it means, why it matters, and how affordable local SEO services can transform your business’s online presence.

What is Local SEO?

Local SEO is a specialized form of search engine optimization that focuses on improving a business’s visibility in local search results. It’s about making your business stand out when potential customers in your area are looking for products or services you offer.

Local SEO involves optimizing your online presence to appear in location-based searches. This includes strategies like claiming and optimizing your Google My Business listing, managing online reviews, and ensuring your business information is consistent across various online directories.

For small businesses, local SEO is not just an option—it’s a necessity in today’s digital marketplace. It helps you compete with larger companies by targeting customers in your specific geographic area.

Importance of Local Focus

Focusing on local SEO is crucial for small businesses aiming to thrive in their communities. It allows you to target customers who are most likely to visit your physical location or use your services.

Local focus in SEO helps you:

• Increase foot traffic to your store
• Improve online visibility for location-specific searches
• Build trust and credibility within your community

By optimizing for local searches, you’re more likely to appear in the coveted “Local Pack” or “Map Pack” in Google search results. This prominent placement can significantly boost your visibility and click-through rates.

Remember, local SEO is not just about ranking; it’s about connecting with your community and establishing your business as a trusted local resource.

Affordable Local SEO Services Explained

Affordable local SEO services are cost-effective solutions designed to help small businesses improve their online presence without breaking the bank. These services typically focus on essential local SEO tactics that deliver the most value for your investment.

Key components of affordable local SEO services often include:

1. Google My Business optimization
2. Local keyword research and implementation
3. On-page SEO for location-specific content
4. Citation building and management

Many affordable SEO services offer packages tailored to small business needs, allowing you to choose the level of support that fits your budget and goals. These services can provide a significant return on investment by increasing your local visibility and attracting more customers to your business.

Maximizing Your Google My Business

Google My Business (GMB) is a powerful tool for local SEO. Let’s explore how to make the most of this free platform to boost your local presence and attract more customers.

Regular Posting on GMB

Consistently posting on your Google My Business profile is a crucial strategy for maintaining visibility and engaging with your local audience. Regular updates keep your profile fresh and signal to Google that your business is active and relevant.

Effective GMB posting includes:

• Sharing updates about new products or services
• Announcing special offers or events
• Posting helpful tips or industry insights

Aim to post at least once a week to keep your profile dynamic. Use a mix of text, images, and even short videos to make your posts more engaging and informative.

Remember to include relevant keywords in your posts naturally, as this can help improve your visibility in local search results.

Leveraging GMB Reviews

Customer reviews on your Google My Business profile play a significant role in your local SEO success. Positive reviews not only improve your visibility but also build trust with potential customers.

To leverage GMB reviews effectively:

1. Encourage satisfied customers to leave reviews
2. Respond promptly and professionally to all reviews, both positive and negative
3. Use feedback from reviews to improve your products or services

Actively managing your GMB reviews can significantly enhance your local reputation and search rankings. It shows both Google and potential customers that you value customer feedback and are committed to providing excellent service.

Effective Local Marketing Strategy

An effective local marketing strategy integrates various elements of local SEO to create a cohesive and powerful online presence. It goes beyond just optimizing your GMB profile to encompass all aspects of your local digital footprint.

Key components of an effective local marketing strategy include:

• Consistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone) information across all online platforms
• Location-specific content on your website
• Local link building and citations
• Engagement with local online communities and forums

By aligning these elements, you create a robust local SEO foundation that helps your business stand out in local search results and connect more effectively with your target audience.

Reputation Management Tools

In the digital age, managing your online reputation is crucial. Let’s explore the importance of online reviews, how to gather customer feedback effectively, and compare some popular reputation management tools.

Importance of Online Reviews

Online reviews are the digital equivalent of word-of-mouth recommendations. They play a crucial role in shaping consumer opinions and influencing purchasing decisions.

Key benefits of positive online reviews include:

• Increased trust and credibility
• Higher search engine rankings
• Improved click-through rates from search results

Negative reviews, while challenging, provide opportunities for improvement and demonstrate your commitment to customer satisfaction when handled properly.

“90% of consumers read online reviews before visiting a business.” – BrightLocal Consumer Review Survey

This statistic underscores the critical role reviews play in your online reputation and local SEO success.

Gathering Customer Feedback

Proactively gathering customer feedback is essential for maintaining a positive online reputation and improving your services. It allows you to address issues before they become public complaints and helps you understand your customers’ needs better.

Effective methods for gathering customer feedback include:

1. Email surveys after purchase or service
2. In-store feedback cards
3. Social media polls and questions
4. Direct follow-up calls for high-value customers

Remember to make the feedback process as simple and convenient as possible for your customers. The easier it is to leave feedback, the more likely customers are to do so.

Consider offering incentives, such as small discounts or entry into a prize draw, to encourage customers to provide feedback.

Comparing Reputation Management Tools

Reputation management tools can streamline the process of monitoring and managing your online reputation. Here’s a comparison of some popular options:

When choosing a reputation management tool, consider:

• Your budget
• The size and scope of your business
• The specific features you need (e.g., review generation, sentiment analysis)
• Integration with your existing systems

Remember, the best tool for your business will depend on your unique needs and goals. Many offer free trials, so don’t hesitate to test a few before making your decision.

The post Boost Your Business Locally: The Power of Affordable Local SEO Services! appeared first on Platform Creator.

Why Prioritize SEO, Organic Traffic, and Local SEO

Let’s break it down – think of these elements as the pillars of your online visibility:

• Search engine optimization (SEO): These are the behind-the-scenes tactics that help your website rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs) like Google. Imagine searching for a “bakery near me” – SEO helps your bakery’s website pop up first. We’ll explore effective keyword research, optimizing on-page SEO elements, and building high-quality links. These tactics signal to search engines that your website is a valuable and relevant resource.
• Organic traffic: This is the lifeblood of your website – those free clicks from users who find you organically through search engines. Unlike paid advertising, which drives temporary traffic, organic traffic is about sustainable, long-term growth. The better your SEO, the more qualified organic traffic you’ll attract, meaning more potential customers.
• Local SEO: For businesses with physical locations or those targeting a specific geographic area, local SEO is crucial. This involves optimizing your Google Business Profile, managing online reviews, and creating location-specific content. It’s about showing up when someone searches for “Italian restaurants in Chicago” or “plumbers in Manhattan”.

How to Win with Keywords: Keyword Research

Effective SEO starts with comprehensive keyword research. You need to understand the terms your target audience is actually searching for. Think beyond the obvious; try to get inside your ideal customer’s head:

• Identify High-Value Keywords: These are relevant to your business and have a significant search volume, indicating user interest. Use tools like Google Keyword Planner, Ahrefs, or SEMrush to find these golden nuggets.
• Analyze Competitor Keywords: What keywords are your competitors ranking for? Tools like SEMrush and SpyFu offer competitive analysis features that can help uncover valuable opportunities. By seeing what’s working for others in your niche, you gain insights to refine your own keyword strategy.
• Strike a Balance Between Short-Tail and Long-Tail Keywords: Short-tail keywords (like ‘coffee’) are broad and have massive search volume, while long-tail keywords (like ‘best organic coffee beans for espresso’) are more specific and have lower competition. A healthy keyword strategy incorporates both. Short-tail keywords help cast a wider net, while long-tail keywords often convert better as they reflect a more specific user intent.

On-Page SEO: It’s All About User Experience

So, you’ve got your keywords; now, it’s time to weave them strategically into your website’s content and structure:

• Craft Compelling Title Tags and Meta Descriptions:Think of these as your website’s mini-billboards in search results. A captivating title tag and a concise, benefit-rich meta description can significantly influence a user’s decision to click through to your site.
• Optimize Header Tags and Content Structure: Organize your content logically with H1, H2, and H3 tags for improved readability and SEO. Header tags not only make your content easier on the eyes but also make it easier for search engines to crawl and understand your content.
• Implement Schema Markup: This is a powerful way to help search engines better understand and present your content. For example, you can use schema to highlight your business’s location, reviews, and pricing directly on SERPs, making your listing stand out. There are many types of schema markup to choose from. Use resources like Schema.org or Google’s developer guides for more details on implementation.

The Power of Connections: Building Backlinks

In the world of SEO, think of backlinks like referrals from other websites – they add to your credibility and authority in Google’s eyes. Building a strong backlink profile is an integral part of off-page SEO:

• Create High-Quality, Linkable Content: This could be blog posts, infographics, videos – anything valuable enough that other websites would want to link back to as a resource. This will establish your site as a go-to hub in your niche, attracting backlinks organically.
• Reach Out for Guest Posting Opportunities: This is where you write and publish articles on other websites in your industry. Not only do you get valuable exposure, but guest posting allows for backlinks to your site, boosting your domain authority.
• Leverage Local Partnerships for Backlinks: Collaborate with local businesses or organizations to exchange backlinks or be featured on their sites. This could mean sponsoring local events or simply offering a discount for their customers. This symbiotic relationship not only boosts your local SEO but strengthens your presence within your community.

Location, Location, Location: The Ins and Outs of Local SEO

For local businesses and businesses that operate within a particular city or region, local SEO can make all the difference. It ensures you pop up when people nearby are looking for your offerings:

• Optimize Your Google Business Profile: Your Google Business Profile is often the first point of contact for potential customers, so keep it up-to-date and accurate. Ensure your business name, address, and phone number (NAP) are consistent across your website, social media, and directory listings. A complete Google Business Profile, replete with engaging photos and relevant local keywords, is non-negotiable. Encourage customers to leave reviews online, as positive reviews are a powerful form of social proof.
• Manage Online Reviews: Regularly respond to reviews – both positive and negative. Addressing negative reviews demonstrates transparency and your commitment to customer satisfaction, fostering trust among potential clients.
• Create Location-Specific Content: Incorporate location-based keywords throughout your website copy and blog posts. Feature local events, landmarks, or community happenings. Let potential customers know that you are a part of their area, fostering a sense of local pride and connection. Optimize content for mobile search, as many local searches originate from smartphones.

Monitor, Adapt, and Conquer: The Ongoing Journey of SEO

Here’s the reality of SEO – it’s an ongoing process. Algorithms change, competitors emerge, and user behavior evolves, necessitating constant vigilance and adaptation:

• Track Keyword Rankings and Organic Search Traffic: Tools like Google Search Console, Ahrefs, and SEMrush are your best friends here, providing insights into how well your website is performing in search engine ranking. Regular monitoring lets you see what’s working, what needs adjustment, and whether new opportunities for keyword expansion or content creation arise.
• Analyze User Behavior: Use Google Analytics to understand how users are interacting with your site. This could mean scrutinizing metrics like bounce rates, pages per visit, and average session duration, offering clues on user experience and where there’s room for improvement. Ensure your website is mobile-friendly, as this is crucial for both user experience and SEO rankings.
• Stay Up to Date with Algorithm Changes: The world of SEO is in constant flux. Subscribe to reputable SEO blogs like Search Engine Journal, Search Engine Land, and Moz. Following these industry voices ensures you stay informed about any significant shifts and remain at the forefront of the curve. Consider using Google Display ads or other forms of online advertising to complement your organic SEO efforts.

The Ultimate Guide to Search Engine Optimization – Conclusion

I know firsthand how overwhelming search engine optimization, organic traffic, and local SEO can seem. But I’ve also seen the remarkable transformations that occur when businesses crack the code and get their strategy humming along smoothly. Remember: your website is more than just an online brochure – it’s a powerful tool for growth, engagement, and connection. With the right strategies, commitment to quality, and unwavering consistency, your business can thrive in the ever-evolving digital world. And who knows, maybe we’ll cross paths at the top of those search engine results.

A strategic blend of search engine optimization, organic traffic, and local SEO can help catapult your business visibility, engagement, and overall success. By grasping the core principles and embracing ongoing learning and refinement, you unlock immense potential to attract the right customers at the precise moment they’re seeking your products or services. Leverage local business directories and citations to improve your online visibility and build brand awareness. Remember to track your progress using Google Analytics and make adjustments to your SEO strategy as needed.

The post The Ultimate Guide to Search Engine Optimization, Organic Traffic, and Local SEO appeared first on Platform Creator.

First, the fact is Google prefers fresh content. And, like it or not, Google is still the behemoth for search engine results.

Another consideration is marketing strategy. Assuming you have a clear one, you’ve likely made changes over time. You want your content to reflect those changes.

Evaluating and enhancing your web structure and content is a way of shoring up your online presence. And it helps ensure your new content is easy to find.

Now that you know why it’s important let’s look at how to go about a website refresh.

Step 1: Identify and leverage top-performing content

According to personal development expert Tom Ziglar, the fastest way to improve one’s life is to replace bad habits with good ones.

Ziglar’s advice is solid for making a positive life change, and you can do something similar to optimize your website. But rather than replace underperforming content, you’ll eliminate or update it.

Still, you want to make the most of the content already getting good results. Here’s how.

Assess your top-performing posts and make sure you understand why they’re doing better than the rest. Here are a few common causes:

• Are you using the right keywords? A simple and ridiculously inexpensive tool like Keywords Everywhere can help you with this. Trust us; it’s worth the learning curve.
• Is your content aligned with your audience’s search intent? In other words, are you speaking to the motive behind the words the user types into search? For example, if a post is performing well, it’s probably on target because you made it informational, transactional, or research-oriented. Use this knowledge to guide future content and media.
• Is your headline an attention grabber? According to advertising legend David Ogilvy:

“On the average, five times as many people read the headline as read the body copy. When you have written your headline, you have spent eighty cents out of your dollar.”

Now let’s take a look at a structural element.

Step 2: Check your website speed

Beautiful web design and great content won’t help if site visitors click away because your home page takes forever to load.

Go to https://pagespeed.web.dev/, type in yourcompanyname.com, and check both your mobile and desktop results.

Don’t pay as much attention to the performance score for now. Our is 87, but we know why and have reasons for being ok with it.

As for your site, pay the closest attention to the top two lines, especially TTI or “Time to Interactive,” which describes how quickly the homepage populates and allows visitors to navigate your website.

If it takes over 5 seconds to load, you’ll want to get some help. User experience (UX) studies show that 57% of folks leave if it takes longer than three seconds.

Step 3: Apply your findings to refresh your website

Remember, the goal here is to refresh your website, not revamp it. So here are some basics that don’t require a significant mental or financial investment.

1. Improve the writing quality – don’t underestimate the value of digital writing tools like the Hemingway Editor or Grammarly. AI writing tools such as copy.ai are popping up everywhere and can lessen the blank page woes, but don’t underestimate the power of developing your voice.
2. Re-Examine Your Keyword Strategy – If you’re not using keywords in your title tags, meta descriptions, page headers, and URL structure, now’s the time to start. You want to make sure your pages contain relevant keywords so they’ll rank higher when people search using those terms.
3. Update Your Images. Images are an essential part of your website design, helping users navigate your site more efficiently. In addition, a fresh image can give a unique appeal to an article, like the new paint in a living room.

As a busy business owner, you may not be ready to address all of these items at once. So take an incremental approach.

But do consider getting help on some of the important stuff, such as site speed. It won’t break the bank, and it will make a big difference in performance.

Making these small changes to refresh your website, and seeing positive results, will likely inspire you to learn even more.

The post Adopt this process to refresh your website and boost results appeared first on Platform Creator.

We get a lot of web design questions from our clients and people who call Platform Creator. Where do I start? Do I need several different domain addresses? What is web hosting? If you have a business in Dallas, Fort Worth or any metro area, chances are there is a wealth of freelance web design, SEO and brand strategists near me and you. In addition, there are several free online marketing tools that can help get you started with your online platform.

However, if you’re on a tight budget, here’s a free step by step web design resource that utilizes several professional tools and answers many of these web design questions. Even though we, at Platform Creator, are in the business of serving our web design and video production clients, we understand that not every business or individual has a large enough budget to launch a stunning website.

Nine Web Design Questions.

1). What change are your trying to create? Why is this critical? It’s important to know the reason why you are creating a website in the first place. This will determine your strategy for how it’s designed and on which platform it will be designed. A website should help accomplish many things. It should help you: build trust with whoever visits your site, get found, inform, engage, tell your story and differentiate from others. 

2). What platform should I use to have my website created? Many of the top websites in the world use WordPress. It’s where a large pool of talented web developers create and exchange ideas and tools to best bring businesses from a brick-and-mortal presence to a well-designed graphical representation of their brand online. Here’s another resource to help you determine which website platform to use.

3). Who is your persona? Not just age, income and gender demographics, but dig a little deeper into who your typical customer is. As an example: ‘What does their typical day look like?’, ‘What do they value most?’, ‘Where do they go for information?’, etc. Some of this information can be gathered through Google Analytics. Other info can be gathered through surveys (online and in store) and online research.

4). Once you find out who your ideal persona is, how are your going to develop your website (design, content and functionality) to create a positive user experience and to accomplish your goals? 10 Quick Fixes to Build Killer Landing Pages

5). How often will you need your website updated? This is were local talent comes in. It’s fine to work with someone outside your trade area, but it’s helpful if they understand your market. What’s good for web design in Dallas may not cut it in New York. But, it’s convenient to have a face-to-face meeting on occasion.

Consider price, quality and timing. Normally, you can have two of the three (low price, high quality, fast turnaround). If you want it done fast and at a low price, often the quality will suffer. If you want quality work and at a low price, it might not happen as quickly as you’d like. However, if you’re willing to pay the standard $100 – $175 an hour to keep your website properly maintained and secure, you should expect quality work with a fairly quick turnaround (24 – 48 hours, depending on the complexity of the request).

6). Are you using your site as a lead generation tool? If the answer is yes, it’s best to engage a digital marketing agency or freelancer who has multiple capabilities such as: building lead generating landing pages, designing your email marketing campaigns, marketing to and engaging your ideal persona with social media tools, optimizing your website with an effective SEO strategy and measuring progress through Google Analytics.

7). How will you know if it’s working? Creating your online platform is much more than just building a website. You are competing with hundreds or possibly thousands of other companies online who have had an established online presence for many years. It takes time, at least six to nine months, to make even a small impact online. Of course, it depends on your digital marketing budget.

If you don’t have that kind of time or thousands of dollars to spend on your monthly digital marketing budget, you might want to start with a free website builder like Wix or Strickingly. Are you trying to generate sales or donations online? What’s your baseline for sales now and by what percentage do you expect your sales or donations to increase. Consider times of the year and doing a year over year comparison.

8). How long before you lose patience? As mentioned in number 7, building an audience online takes time and money. Set reasonable goals, possibly a 10 – 15% increase over 6 – 12 months, depending on your ad budget.

9). Who is responsible for messaging? Are you hiring an agency to compose your story or are you handling this on your own? Does your content have good flow throughout each page (reading like a story)? And a bonus question, does your messaging help you accomplish your goals in question 1? Is your content telling your story in an engaging way, with keywords for effective SEO and does it help differentiate yourself from the competition? The message map below can assist you in getting started with your content strategy.

Help For Creating Your Message Map

Platform Creator is a Dallas Ft. Worth area web design and SEO company that also provides video production, social media and SEM services. Give us a call with your web design questions or email us if you are interested getting started with your online platform.

john@platformcreator.com

972-672-8805.

The post 9 Critical Web Design Questions appeared first on Platform Creator.

So you are looking for SEO services that will be effective and stay within your budget. Or maybe you’re an ad agency wanting to help your client get  traction online. You want to get found online and you’re having trouble getting visibility on the first page of search engines. We believe there are four pillars to an effective SEO program. But, first it’s important to have an SEO strategy. This starts by doing keyword research. SEM Rush has an excellent keyword tool, their keyword magic tool. Give it a try. This will help you target keywords in which there is less competition and high volume. Next, you’ll want to create content around your keywords. We suggest a plugin such as Yoast SEO for optimizing your posts and pages. In addition, you’ll want to promote your content through social media, email marketing and off-page SEO.

On-page SEO.

Another SEO service is on-page SEO. After generating an audit from SEM Rush, we work on page load speed, your on-page SEO signals, and optimizing your content around primary keywords and much more.

Off-page SEO.

Earning links back to your site can be a challenge. There are several networks out there who can provide links back to your site, but be careful that they are high domain authority links. Some of the tactics are: guest posting, tiered linking, press releases, and social bundles, to name a few.

Design and website functionality.

If you have a well-designed website, people will spend more time on your site. Page speed downloads, design and functionality are key. There are effective plugins, such as ‘Smush’ that effectively compress your images for faster download speeds. In addition, you should look at a caching plugin and a CDN (Content delivery network).

Without a CDN, every visitor to your website has to download all of your files from one location – your website’s data center.

Whether the visitor is located in Paris, Texas or Paris, France, they get your website’s data from the same place. A CDN changes that by creating multiple global versions of your data for faster load times.

Content Creation.

Your story is important to share. It’s a way to differentiate yourself from others and stand out from others. Formatting your web pages with compelling content that is centered around effective keywords is a great way to develop a strong SEO platform.

Let us know if you need help creating four strong SEO pillars for your company or just one of the four SEO services. Contact us today.

Email – john@platformcreator.com

972-672-8805

The post Four Pillars Of SEO Services appeared first on Platform Creator.

If you’re comfortable with self-guided learning there are pages of articles accessible at the click of a computer mouse. MOZ has a great brief overview that can be found here that might make you comfortable enough to start throwing the phrase SEO around in conversation. If you’re looking to try doing some SEO work yourself instead of hiring someone else to do it you might want to check out this longer ten-chapter article also from MOZ. But online, do it yourself learning isn’t right for everyone and it doesn’t necessarily help you get connected with someone who could help you out.

If you’d rather meet with people face-to-face to learn more about SEO marketing try looking for groups in your own backyard. Dallas has quite a few SEO, or even online marketing, focused groups that aim to educate, train, and connect people within the world of SEO. Follow this link to Meetup, a social networking site that connects people based on their shared interests, hobbies, skills, or activities, to discover all that Dallas has to offer regarding the world of SEO. Here you’ll find groups of educators, learners, and other SEO professionals setting times to connect in person instead of leaving everyone to fend for themselves. All you have to do is find a group that you think will best fit your needs and ask to join. There are groups that solely exist for the purpose of teaching others about SEO, like this one, and groups that drift in between teaching, to tricks and tips sharing, brainstorming, networking, and much more. What they all have in common, however, is that they should know what people are searching for around Dallas and how to maximize that into your own SEO. It’s important to know what your locals are looking for because chances are, it’s a lot different than what people are looking for in another city or another state. Meeting up with local groups gives you local perspective instead of the broad, far-reaching, and jam-packed Internet perspective. What’s best for maximizing SEO in New York might not be the best for Dallas. Don’t forget to check out some social media sites you might already be a part of too, like LinkedIn, to find SEO groups to connect with. They’re everywhere; all you have to do is look.

Hopefully after going to an in-person SEO based event you’ll not only feel more knowledgeable about the subject, but you’ll meet the perfect SEO professional to hire if you decide you want to outsource the work instead of doing it yourself. Here you’ll get to meet people before the financial pressure is anywhere near the conversation, so you can establish a relationship and get to know if you’d work well together before you shell out the cash and get stuck with someone you wish you’d never hired.

Either way, if you’re a DIY kind of person or someone who likes to pay the professionals, finding an SEO based group near you can provide you with lots of help at little cost. You may not find the perfect group right off the bat, but at the end of the day you should find that some of your questions have been answered and the world of SEO is less hazy than before.

Megan Freeman
Platform Creator contributor

The post Exploring the World of Dallas SEO appeared first on Platform Creator.

Since day one, the general game hasn’t changed. Pick out key words and phrases in which you want to rank and build content around those keywords. Each new indexed page is a new way for potential clients to find you on search engines. But, if you haven’t upgraded to a mobile responsive website you are being penalized by Google, Bing, Yahoo, etc. and more importantly your clientele is likely thinking, ‘they’re old school’.

So, you were an early adopter who is now a late adopter of new mobile technology. What to do? How much do I need to spend to update the website and start adopting some inbound marketing principals to attract new traffic to my website and nurture and engage potentially new clients online? It could range from $5,000 to $25,000 to get started. However, there are huge pools of talented content marketing resources to help develop your online content and effective inbound marketing campaigns are available for as little as $2,500 monthly.

We’ll cover more on inbound marketing in our next post. Want to connect to talented low-cost free-lance talent to help you get started? Email us at john@platformcreator.com.

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Have you ever wondered how to plan the biggest tailgate blow-out ever? I asked a buddy of mine what his secret was and he told me that it had to do with preparation, advertising, and the ultimate roll-out. You had to attract enough people to make it a great event and plans had to be flexible enough come rain or shine. He pulled out his checklist that he used to buy food, invite people, and coordinate the event. By using a checklist, he also managed to stay within a specific budget.

In a similar manner, you have to be prepared to create an SEO checklist to bring your fans in from all over the Internet to your website. If you’ve ever wondered why it’s important to create an SEO checklist, here are five good reasons to do so.

Here are some helpful SEO links:

• Five Ways to Grow Your Blog Without SEO
• Five SEO Tips for Beginners

1. To Make Changes After a Google Algorithm Change

• Just like the weather predicts what type of clothing you need to wear at a tailgate party, you are also going to have to keep track of the Google weather patterns when you own a website to keep up with algorithm changes.
• You won’t be caught by surprise when they release a new update.
• You can beat your competition by being on the leading edge of new Google SEO algorithm changes.
• You can learn how consumer preferences are changing by how Google changes it’s algorithm and then use that knowledge to change all your SEO strategies.

2. To Oversee Keyword Strategies

• You got to be rooting for your team with the right keywords so that the right fans show up.
• You can understand how to deliver content that is a Google magnet.
• Since keyword niches are also changing constantly, you have to learn to be flexible and have a keyword campaign strategy.
• You need to adopt new keyword strategies, like local keyword search, whenever necessary.
• Understand Keywords? Why do you need keywords?

3. To Increase Traffic Counts

• You have to constantly keep track of traffic counts on your website and see whether your advertising is working to bring more fans to your door.
• You can fix issues quickly on your website when you see traffic counts dropping.
• You can learn more about your demographics by watching traffic and its origins.
• To locate bottlenecks and remove them so that traffic can surge.

4. To Keep Your Website In Top Form

• Like a rip-roaring tailgate party that is the envy of the parking lot, your website will be the one in top form with an SEO checklist and budget.
• You can take care of broken links that drive traffic away even as you implement novel strategies like mobile marketing with local keyword searches to find new customers who are just driving by your big event.
• You can deliver content that appeals to your niche audience.
• You will be able to stay within budget with an SEO checklist that keeps you running smoothly.

5. To Set and Reach Important Goals

• An SEO checklist can help you set goals like increasing traffic counts, sales, and new marketing leads.
• It can help you track the return on the investment by measuring actual numbers.
• It can help you increase sign ups and implement an email marketing campaign.
• It can help you get more exposure online via social networking channels.
• It can help you figure out what strategies are working and which need to be abandoned.

To get the most out of your SEO campaigns, having an SEO checklist is vital. It can pinpoint what tasks need to be completed on a daily or monthly basis. It can help you figure out how to constantly improve your Internet presence so that when people drive by in cyberspace, it will seem like your tailgate party is the best in the lot. You won’t be able to keep away the fans that will line up to be a part of your online success story.

The post Why Create an SEO Checklist? appeared first on Platform Creator.

Hey website admins, ever seen this message: ‘Hello web admin, I noticed that your on-page SEO is missing some details. On-page SEO means more now than ever since the new Google update. Your keyword must appear in the title and URL. And you must have a keyword density of 3-5% and spread all H1, H2, H3 tags, etc.’?

While SEO is important and many of these suggestions will help optimize your blog website, I will show you how to become a platform creator without worrying about the technical aspects of SEO like meta tags or keyword density.

Consistency (this is one of the hard but key ways to grow your blog)

This past Saturday I met with a friend who has a successful marriage counseling business that has grown almost all from engaging potential clients online. Kevin’s business received around 3,000 Facebook likes the first year. While Kevin had several practical examples that led to him and his wife’s success, two primary early keys were consistency in social media posting and following the principals in Jeff Walker’s book, Launch.  Marriage Works  to date has over 410,000 likes on Facebook and has several online products and seminars. Kevin does not pay attention to the technical aspects of SEO, but he posts at least 5 – 7 times a week. While Kevin now employs many online tools and is continually honing his skills, their initial success was due to keeping consistent with posting engaging content. Boy, I really need to take his advice.

Build Your Network (another hard way to grow your blog)

Along with keeping fresh content on your blog, twitter feed, and / or social media pages, here are a few ways to build your network. Building your network can take some time. So, along with persistence, a bit of perseverance can help you build your online platform.

• Join a LinkedIn Group and engage with them. Don’t just push info out, but support and comment on others’ posts and be sure to include your link and / or blog URL in your signature line.
• Include links from your site to other experts. This is a great way to create relationships with people like you who could use additional traffic to their site. The hope is that eventually, others will link their posts to yours. (See post on how to be a thought leader.)
• Comment on other blogs with compelling questions. This is an excellent way to get noticed. I remember listening to Ray Edward’s podcasts and how generous he was to allow commenters to mention their blog websites. What a great way to connect with an interesting platform creator like Ray Edwards, but also get traffic from his followers.

Guest Post (Last hard way to grow your blog)

While not everyone may invite you to guest post initially, if you are diligent about connecting with likeminded people online, you can also ask them to guest post on your blog. Hopefully, they too will ask you to guest post on their blog or you can offer them that opportunity. This may take time, especially before you are asked to guest post on a blogger’s site in whom can help you gain real traction, but it’s a great way to get your name out there. The better your content, the more often you will be asked to guest post. Keep at it.

Cross Promote Your Blog (This is a fairly easy way to grow your blog)

Get a short link of your post from WordPress or Bitly or Bufferapp and post on Twitter and a LinkedIn Group. Also, consider putting internal links from keywords in your posts to other posts. You can use other social media sites and encourage your current network to share with others.

Re-purpose Older Posts (Easy way to grow your blog)

You can re-purpose older posts, updating the content slightly and just perfecting a few of the sentences to reflect current topics. By updating the content with relevant information, you can gain renewed exposure to older posts.

Do you have any practical ways to grow your Blog without attention to the technical aspects of SEO?

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