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5 Steps to Outrank Your Competitors Online Without Paying Google

Bassem Ghali is a 2-time winner of the Canadian Entrepreneur of the Year award and a digital marketing strategist with over 20 years of experience working with companies such as Canadian Tire, Vistaprint, Remax Canada, Alpha Laps, Xplornet, and Toronto Star.


The most important and difficult part of SEO is outranking your competition. You might be thinking of ranking your dream keyword that will be bringing you lots of traffic and leads. But these dreams are crushed very soon when you realize that there are big guns who are already sitting in their position where you want to be. And outranking them would seem impossible for you. However, you can outrank your competition.

It’s been done many times and you can also do it. You’ll have to put in some real and effective work before that happens. Organic website traffic is priceless. When you are able to attract traffic to your website 24 hours a day, those sales you generate have much higher ROI than the sales that are generated by high cost social media ads and Google Adwords PPC per click. Learn more about our digital marketing services for small business.

When SEO is done right, the traffic sales and eventually its value in terms of the SEO is priceless. So here are 5 tips to steal your competitors SEO glory:


1-Take charge of your on site competition



Fix technical issues or broken links



If you’re using authority websites for hyperlinks, you shouldn’t have to worry about the links. Bit it can still happen. Broken links can crush your SEO ranking. Plus it doesn’t look good when a link you provide to your visitors bring them to an invalid website. Replace the broken link immediately. This will drive more traffic to your website.


Keyword Research



Having a ton of keywords ranking on is great but when you’re trying to outrank your competitors, you need to focus your time and effort on the keywords that are going to help you to attract the most relevant traffic. You want to include keywords people will search for throughout your content. So you must do it sparingly. If you go over the board saturating your business website with keywords, Google will pick up on this and it will have an adverse effect on your Google ranking.


Optimize site content



Optimizing site content is the process of making pages on your website search engine friendly. The more optimized they are the higher rank they will get on search engines and the more traffic your website will generate. Top 5 factors to rank your websites in search engines are:


 

  • Title tags and URL must contain a keyword
  • Titles should be Heading 1 tags
  • Pages must contain all types of media.
  • Mobile friendly website
  • Long form content

 

2- Spy on your competitors



Spy on your competitors to understand the strategy they are using in a better way. Taking their approach into account, you’re able to organize a way to begin outranking them.


Backlink profile



Backlinks are the foundation of Google’s algorithm. This is where the domain authority is derived from. Yet so many businesses these days don’t have any sort of link building strategy in place.


There is a negative connotation with link building. Link building is referred to public relations. You essentially need to get high quality links pointing back to your site.


Keyword Ranking



Monitoring your competitor’s SEO can help you improve your own search engine ranking and optimization. When you learn more about the keywords they are bidding for, you’ll be better equipped to optimize your own website as efficiently as possible.


If your competitors have a better search engine ranking than you, this useful information can help you improve your own ranking. See what organic and paid keywords they are ranking for and use this to inform your SEO keyword strategy.


As a business owner, you always need to stay one step ahead of the competition and the best way to do that is to monitor your competitors online activities. Businesses need to be constantly aware of what their competitors are up to in order to grow and scale their business.


Competition is a good thing as it forces the business to grow and evolve and it helps build better products and services for the consumer. Monitoring your competitors is all about learning their strengths and their weaknesses, about what works and what doesn’t , its all about learning and growing.New Paragraph

3- Build domain authority and online buzz


Before you do anything about domain authority, you need to understand what are the elements which effect domain authority.


 

  • Search engine Submissions
  • Local directory submissions
  • Content and Blog submissions
  • Press releases
  • Monitor your links

 


Domain authority is a type of measurement used by google and other search engines to evaluate and rank a given website for a topic or keyword. When it comes to increasing your domain authority on your website the first thing you should know is evaluate your SEO strategy. If your authority ranking is low its probably there are some gaps in your local directory submissions or search engine submissions. Get rid of any duplicate content that might be lingering and put in place a strategy for repurposing and updating old content so that it’s fresh with the times.


Similarly you should roll out a keyword strategy. Identify keywords that are relevant to your brand. Find out what phases you’re already ranking for. You need to incorporate head and long tail keywords into your copy, your headers, metadata and more. View our SEO services for small business.


Monitor your links to establish authority. Link building is often the bane of a digital marketers existence. And that’s because it’s a time consuming process that requires great attention to detail and mass amounts of patience. Domain authority means that your website is a credible and authentic source. Therefore in order to boost trust in your website you need to monitor your links and incorporate links from a variety of sources and publications.


These links show search engines that you’re a website full of valuable insights because of the top notch sources you link to. Content and blog submissions as well as press releases are a major key to build domain authority. Google aims to find the best content and if your website doesn’t serve the purpose, Google would not be ranking your website. So if you would like to get ranked, you must keep your target audience in mind and write content that provides users with information and answers.


Not only your blog submissions has to be unique but it has to be content that provides value to your readers. You can also publish your case studies via press releases and let readers know about your findings.


This will help to prove your domain authority and how well you keep up with the industry. Remember domain authority does not improve overnight. It takes time as well as patience to improve your DA score. So allow time for your domain authority ranking to grow.

4- Optimize your SEO verticals


By optimizing the SEO Verticals you can fully enjoy the advantages of saving time and energy. Several typical vertical search solutions include image, video, news, books and blog search. Vertical search describes different way of traditional horizontal search outperforming the search process. In the traditional horizontal search, the search engine offers results from a broad spectrum of topics. As a result, the search results tend to be universal and blurry. People have to select the necessary information from various search results.


People have to spend more time to find the results that they really need. It means that a lot of time has to wasted. However vertical search is quite different. It is designed to only search down through one broad topic and focus on a limited data set.


The introduction of vertical search results has actually changed the landscape of SERPs. It also offers significant opportunities for SEO practitioners. Vertical search engine optimization is the process of optimizing your products and services for niche search engines rather than Google. There are thousands of vertical search engines on the Internet.


While content optimization is crucial for Google, your products and services often will benefit from vertical search as much as they will from flat search. For every industry, there are dozens of search engines that could be listed on. If you sell products at retail there are Amazon, eBay etc.


There also may be region specific search engines especially those operated by publications in the area. The first step in optimizing for vertical research is to understand which of search engines serve up results for businesses in your industry. A good place to start is googling your business name or the names of your competitors to help you see where are you already listed.


Some vertical search engines drive enormous amount of traffic. Others may drive targeted niches of traffic. Either may represent a potential opportunity for optimization. Devise a system for analyzing which vertical search engines make the cut in terms of time, effort and money. Understand the type of traffic that the search engine will be driving to your business and optimize your listing to reach that particular customer. Develop a target audience persona and write your product description for that individual. Avoid generalized optimization and instead a target specific niche.




5- Spend your PPC budget wisely



You don’t need a long budget for effective PPC strategy. The budget of a PPC campaign can play an essential role in its performance. However, it doesn’t guarantee you successful results without a proper planning first. View our PPC management services.


Forward planning is critical for when getting started with PPC. Having a predefined outcome for your paid search campaign will help you to avoid over spending and incurring unexpected costs.


Once you have set your goals, its now time to decide about the initial budget that you would like to use for your campaigns. The first question is to decide the number of leads that you’d like to gain through PPC. Further step is to make sure that you’ve clearly defined what matters as a lead for your business before you start calculating with potential Cost per action.


The next step is to aim for an improved CPA. A cost efficient CPA helps you become more strategic with your PPC campaign and allow you to determine the most effective ads to apply to your budget.


Performing keyword research is the most important step. Carrying out in depth keyword research should definitely help you spot the best opportunities for your business to reach your audience. A keyword list has to be enough , relevant and dynamic.


You want your list to include the most popular keywords that resonate and matches with your target audience but also the long tail keywords that offer a great opportunity for more specific targeting.


A good tip to maximize the effectiveness of your campaigns with a strict budget is to continuously review the performance of your keywords. By analyzing your keywords you can determine whether or not they are effective.


Optimize your content for mobile traffic. Mobile optimization is the process of adjusting the content of your website to ensure that visitors that access the site from mobile devices have an experience customized to their device.


An Optimized content flows easily between the desktop and mobile devices to provide the user with an outstanding user experience. Mobile devices have small screens and are easy to carry and users are often on the go. They might be on a train commuting, in a coffee shop or in a store.


Optimized content understands the mobile user. It easily adjusts to fit on smaller screens. It also adjusts the font so it is large enough to read on a small device.


Customers today spend an increasing amount of time exploring all types of content on mobile. Mobile operators now dominate a significant portion of the online space. To be effective marketers, you need to make sure that your content is ready for these users and easy to engage with regardless of device. Finally it’s all about a great user experience for your customers.

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Toronto's construction market is fiercely competitive. To stay ahead, you must keep up with the latest digital trends. One of the biggest game-changers recently is Google's AI Overviews. This new feature uses artificial intelligence to give people quick summaries of what they're searching for, which means they might need help to even click on individual results. So, how does this affect your construction business? It means you have to work even harder to stand out in search results. At Green Lotus, we help construction businesses like yours adapt to these changes and ensure you're still getting noticed by potential clients. We focus on making your website and content the best it can be, so even with AI in the mix, you come out on top. Deconstructing AI Overviews: How They Impact Your Construction Business AI Overviews represent Google's attempt to deliver quick and comprehensive answers to user queries directly on the search results page. This means that your online presence needs to be optimized not only for traditional SEO factors but also for these AI-powered summaries. Consider it a competition to become the "featured snippet" for various construction-related searches. If your business consistently provides the most relevant and authoritative information, you'll be well-positioned to capture valuable leads and drive business growth. Check our digital marketing services contractors, construction companies & SEO services home builders Content is King, Context is Queen, and Quality is the Kingdom: In-depth Content: Go beyond basic service descriptions. Toronto residents commonly encounter roofing difficulties, such as leaks and damaged shingles. To acquire confidence and demonstrate your competence, provide high-quality content that addresses these challenges and even more. A guide like "Navigating Your Roofing Options in Toronto" may appeal to your target audience. Alternatively, provide practical advice in an article such as "Top 5 Roofing Problems in Toronto and How to Prevent Them". Focusing on your audience's requirements allows you actually to connect with them. Keyword Optimization: Integrate relevant keywords naturally throughout your content. Use long-tail keywords that show the specific services you offer and the areas you serve. For example, if you provide "custom home building in North York," incorporate this phrase and related variations throughout your website and content. Schema Markup: Schema markup is like a translator between your website and Google's AI. It helps the algorithms understand the context of your content, making it more likely to be included in AI Overviews. Ensure your website uses schema markup to identify your services, location, customer reviews, and other essential information. Elevate Your Google Business Profile: Comprehensive and Accurate Information: Consider your Google Business Profile your digital storefront. It is frequently the first impression a potential consumer receives, so keeping it correct and current is essential. This includes ensuring that your company's name, address, and phone number are accurate. But don't stop there! Include your website, service areas, business hours, and any extra services you offer. A rich and accurate profile enables customers to easily find you and understand what your firm is all about. Visual Storytelling: A picture is worth a thousand words, and high-quality photos and videos can make all the difference in the world of online search. Showcase your completed projects, highlight your team's expertise, and give potential customers a visual tour of your capabilities. Customer Reviews as Social Proof: Encourage satisfied customers to leave detailed and positive reviews on your Google Business Profile. Positive reviews improve your local SEO and enhance your credibility and trustworthiness in AI Overviews. Consider implementing a system for collecting customer feedback and testimonials. Building a Robust Online Presence: Local Citations for Authority: Consider local citations virtual "votes of confidence" for your business. Ensure your business information is consistently listed across relevant online directories and platforms, including industry-specific directories, local business associations, and general online directories. Backlinks as Trust Signals: Boost your website's authority with high-quality backlinks. Think of backlinks as a much-needed vote of confidence from other websites. When reputable sites in the construction industry, such as suppliers, associations, or even local news outlets, link to yours, it signals to Google that your content is valuable. This increases your website's trustworthiness and improves its search ranking. Backlink development is essential for enhancing your website's search engine rankings. These "endorsements" indicate to Google that your content is trustworthy and deserving of promotion in search results. The better your website ranks, the easier it will be for potential clients to locate you. Social Media Engagement: Maintain an active and engaging presence on social media platforms relevant to your business. Share valuable content, engage with your followers, and join industry-related discussions. Social media signals fluctuate but might indirectly affect your SEO and increase your online presence. Harnessing the Power of AI and Automation: AI-Powered Tools for Efficiency: Digital marketing is evolving rapidly, and small businesses must stay ahead. AI-powered tools can help you streamline your efforts and uncover new opportunities. From content creation to social media management, AI offers valuable solutions. You can gain a competitive edge in your market by embracing these technologies. Sales Automation for Lead Nurturing: Use sales automation solutions to improve lead generation and customer relationship management procedures. This can help you generate more leads, build stronger relationships, and convert prospects into paying clients. Real-World Applications for Construction Businesses: Consider a Toronto-based construction company specializing in historic building restoration. By creating in-depth content on topics like "heritage home preservation techniques" or "restoring Victorian architecture in Ontario" and optimizing their Google Business Profile with relevant keywords, images, and customer reviews, they can increase their chances of being featured in AI Overviews for related searches.
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