What is Upcity?

UpCity is a digital marketing platform that provides tools and services to help small and medium-sized businesses improve online visibility and attract more customers. UpCity offers comprehensive digital marketing services, including search engine optimization (SEO), pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, social media management, website design and development, and content marketing. UpCity’s platform also includes a marketplace where businesses can find and connect with qualified service providers to help them with their digital marketing needs. UpCity is designed to be user-friendly and accessible to businesses of all sizes, and it has helped thousands of businesses improve their online presence and grow their customer base.

UpCity can help buyers in several ways:

1. Find the right service provider: UpCity’s marketplace connects buyers with a network of qualified digital marketing service providers. Buyers can search for providers based on location, industry, and services offered and compare reviews and ratings from other buyers to make an informed decision.
2. Save time: UpCity streamlines finding a service provider by providing a centralized platform where buyers can search for providers, read reviews, and request quotes. This saves buyers time that would otherwise be spent on research and outreach.
3. Ensure quality: UpCity vets each service provider before they are listed in the marketplace to ensure they meet certain quality standards. This means buyers can trust that the providers they find on UpCity are reputable and capable of delivering quality work.
4. Receive support: UpCity provides support to buyers through selecting a service provider and managing their digital marketing campaigns. Buyers can access educational resources and receive guidance from UpCity’s team of experts.

Overall, UpCity can help buyers find the right service provider quickly, easily, and confidently, allowing them to focus on growing their business.

Why use novi.digital as a result of their upcity listing?

We have chosen to list on UpCity to increase our visibility and reach potential customers actively searching for our SEO and PPC services. Listing on UpCity can help us to signify our credibility, stand out from competitors, and showcase our expertise. Additionally, we benefit from the support provided by UpCity to service providers listed in the marketplace, including access to educational resources and guidance from UpCity’s team of experts, which can help us continue to improve their digital marketing offerings and provide better service to their clients.

• Who are the best SEO agencies in the UK?
• How do I choose an SEO Agency in the UK?
• What metrics should I benchmark SEO agencies on?
• What should I pay for an SEO agency?

…These are some of the many questions you may consider in your search for an SEO Agency in 2023. This is why we’ve compiled our ultimate guide to choosing the best SEO agencies in the UK in 2023.

What to look for when choosing an SEO Agency in the UK?

Choosing the right SEO agency in the UK is crucial for the success of your online business. Here are some essential factors to consider when selecting an agency:

1. Experience and expertise: Look for an agency with a proven track record in delivering results for businesses in your industry or niche. Check their portfolio, case studies, and client testimonials to gauge their expertise.
2. Transparency and communication: A good SEO agency should be transparent about its strategies, tactics, and progress. They should provide regular updates and reports and communicate openly about any challenges or changes in the project.
3. Customised approach: Avoid agencies that offer cookie-cutter solutions. A good SEO agency should tailor its services to your unique business needs and goals, considering factors like target audience, competition, and industry trends.
4. White-hat techniques: Ensure the agency uses ethical, white-hat SEO strategies that comply with search engine guidelines. Avoid agencies that use black-hat methods or shortcuts, as they can lead to penalties or long-term damage to your online reputation.
5. Range of services: Choose an agency that offers a comprehensive range of SEO services, including on-page optimisation, technical SEO, link building, content marketing, and local SEO. A range of outputs ensures a well-rounded approach to improving your search rankings.
6. Pricing and value: While cost shouldn’t be the sole determining factor, finding an agency that offers a competitive pricing structure and delivers value for your investment is essential. Be cautious of low prices or promises of quick results, as they might indicate low-quality services.
7. Industry certifications and partnerships: Look for agencies that have industry certifications or partnerships with reputable organisations such as Google, Moz, or SEMrush. Certifications demonstrate their commitment to staying updated on the latest SEO best practices and trends.
8. Customer support and responsiveness: A good agency should provide excellent customer service and be responsive to your questions and concerns. Please pay attention to how they handle initial inquiries and ongoing communication.
9. Long-term partnership: Aim for an agency interested in building a long-term partnership with your business. A good SEO agency should proactively identify new growth opportunities and adapt to changes in the search landscape.
10. Reviews and recommendations: Check online reviews, ask for references, and contact your professional network for recommendations. Personal experiences can provide valuable insights into the agency’s working style, professionalism, and results.

Considering these factors, when you choose an SEO Agency, you will be better equipped to choose an SEO agency in the UK that can help your business achieve its online goals.

What are the risk factors when choosing a UK SEO Agency?

There are several risk factors to be aware of when choosing a UK SEO agency. Being mindful of these potential issues can help you make an informed decision and avoid negative consequences for your business:

1. Unethical practices: Some agencies might use black-hat or grey-hat SEO techniques to achieve quick results. These practices can lead to penalties from search engines, negatively impacting your website’s rankings and online reputation in the long run.
2. Inexperience: Agencies with sufficient experience or expertise in your industry or niche can deliver the desired results. They may need a deeper understanding of your target audience, competition, or the latest industry trends.
3. Poor communication: Lack of transparency and communication can hinder your ability to make informed decisions about your SEO strategy. An unresponsive agency may also need to address issues or concerns promptly, leading to frustration and suboptimal results.
4. One-size-fits-all approach: Some agencies may offer generic, cookie-cutter solutions that don’t address your unique business needs and goals. Standardised methods can lead to ineffective strategies and limited success in improving your search rankings.
5. Overpromising and underdelivering: Be cautious of agencies that make unrealistic promises, such as guaranteed rankings or fast results. SEO is a long-term process, and agencies that claim otherwise may not have your best interests in mind.
6. Lack of focus on long-term results: Some agencies may prioritise short-term gains over long-term, sustainable growth. Short-term goals can lead to a lack of focus on building a solid foundation for your SEO strategy, resulting in diminishing returns over time.
7. Inadequate resources or outdated tools: Agencies need more help or access to the latest SEO tools and technologies to deliver optimal results. Having a small team or not utilising the available software can limit their ability to stay ahead of the competition and adapt to changes in the search landscape.
8. Hidden costs: Be cautious of agencies that don’t provide clear pricing information or have hidden fees. Hidden charges can lead to unexpected expenses and make it difficult to assess the value of their services.
9. Overdependence on the agency: Some businesses become too reliant on their SEO agency and fail to develop in-house expertise. Calling on your agency for everything can create challenges if the agency’s performance declines or you need to switch agencies in the future.
10. Incompatibility: A lack of alignment in terms of communication style, working processes, or expectations can lead to an ineffective working relationship, ultimately impacting the success of your SEO efforts.

To mitigate these risks, conduct thorough research, ask for recommendations, and consider the factors mentioned in the previous answer when choosing a UK SEO agency. Doing so will increase your chances of finding a reliable, professional agency that can help your business grow.

What are the main considerations to review before choosing a UK SEO Agency?

When choosing an SEO agency, it is crucial to be careful and make a well-informed decision, as the success of your online presence depends on it. Here are some factors to consider and be cautious about when selecting an SEO agency:

1. Experience and expertise: Look for an agency with a proven track record and experience in your industry. They should have case studies, client testimonials, and a portfolio of successful projects to demonstrate their capabilities.
2. Realistic promises: Beware of agencies that guarantee immediate results or promise top rankings within a short period. SEO is an ongoing process, and improvements in rankings take time. In fact, no reputable agency offers any promises whatsoever.
3. Transparency and communication: The agency should be transparent about its strategies, tactics, and reporting. They should be open to answering your questions and provide regular updates on their progress.
4. Customised approach: Avoid agencies that offer one-size-fits-all SEO packages. A reputable agency will take the time to understand your business, target audience, and goals before creating a tailored SEO strategy.
5. White-hat techniques: Ensure the agency uses ethical SEO techniques and adheres to search engine guidelines. Black-hat techniques may deliver quick results but can lead to penalties and long-term damage to your online reputation.
6. Pricing and value for money: Compare the pricing and services of different agencies to find the one that offers the best value for money. Remember that the cheapest option may not always be the best, which might compromise quality.
7. Clear contract terms: Ensure the agency provides a clear, written contract outlining the scope of work, deliverables, timelines, and payment terms. This will help avoid misunderstandings and ensure you get what you pay for.
8. Ongoing support and maintenance: SEO is a continuous process, and your website will require regular updates and optimisations. Choose an agency that offers ongoing support and maintenance as part of their service.
9. Reputation and reviews: Research the agency’s reputation online, read reviews, and get recommendations from industry peers or business associates.
10. Cultural fit and relationship: A successful SEO partnership requires trust, communication, and a good working relationship. Choose an agency that aligns with your company culture and values and you feel comfortable working.
11. Beware of fake awards: Some agencies may claim to have received prestigious industry awards to impress potential clients. Verify the authenticity of these awards by checking the awarding organization’s website or contacting them directly. This will help you avoid falling for deceptive claims and ensure the agency’s credibility.
12. Client retention rate: A high client retention rate indicates that the agency provides consistent and satisfactory results. Ask the agency about their client retention rate and consider this factor when deciding.
13. Industry-specific knowledge: Some industries have unique requirements and regulations that can affect SEO strategies. Ensure the agency has experience working with clients in your industry to guarantee they can navigate these complexities effectively.
14. In-house expertise vs outsourcing: Determine whether the agency performs all its SEO services in-house or outsources some tasks to third-party providers. While outsourcing isn’t necessarily bad, it’s crucial to know who will be working on your project and whether the agency can ensure quality control.
15. Tools and resources: A professional SEO agency should have access to advanced tools and resources to perform thorough keyword research, competitor analysis, and website audits. Ask about the tools they use and their proficiency in using them.
16. Be cautious of all 5-star reviews: While positive reviews are a good sign, be cautious if an agency has only 5-star reviews. Authentic reviews should reflect a mix of client experiences. Look for reviews on third-party platforms like Google My Business, Yelp, or industry-specific review sites to get a more accurate picture of the agency’s performance.
17. Bigger isn’t necessarily better: Large agencies may have more resources and a bigger client base, but that doesn’t automatically translate to better results. Sometimes, smaller agencies can provide more personalized attention and better communication. Consider the agency’s size in relation to your business needs and preferences.
18. Cheap doesn’t mean value or ROI: Low-cost SEO services may seem attractive but can often lead to subpar results and poor return on investment (ROI). Quality SEO requires time, expertise, and resources, which the pricing reflects. Instead of focusing solely on cost, consider the value and potential ROI that an agency can provide.
19. Adherence to industry standards: Ensure the SEO agency adheres to industry best practices, such as those laid out by organizations like the Search Engine Marketing Professional Organization (SEMPO) or Moz. This will help guarantee that the agency’s strategies are up-to-date and effective.
20. Training and ongoing education: The SEO landscape constantly changes due to algorithm updates and new technologies. Ensure the agency invests in ongoing training and education for their team members to stay ahead of the curve and provide the best possible service.
21. Responsiveness and availability: Choose an agency that is responsive to your queries and concerns and available when needed. This will ensure that you can maintain open lines of communication throughout the partnership.
22. Be wary of excessive self-promotion on social media: While it’s normal for an SEO agency to promote their services and showcase their success stories on social media, be cautious if they spend an inordinate amount of time doing so. This could be an attempt to generate new business and demonstrate their expertise rather than focusing on delivering results for their existing clients. Look for an agency that maintains a balanced presence on social media, sharing valuable insights and industry updates alongside their promotional content.
23. Scalability and flexibility: As your business grows and evolves, your SEO needs may also change. Choose an agency that can scale its services and adapt its strategies to accommodate your changing requirements. This will ensure they can continue supporting your business effectively, even as your goals and the competitive landscape shift over time.
24. Collaboration and integration: SEO efforts often must be integrated with other aspects of your digital marketing strategy, such as content marketing, social media, and paid advertising. Choose an agency that can collaborate with your existing marketing team or other agencies you work with to create a cohesive, unified strategy.
25. Project management skills: Effective SEO campaigns require strong project management to keep tasks on track and ensure the timely delivery of results. Look for an agency that has demonstrated project management skills and can efficiently coordinate multiple tasks, resources, and stakeholders.
26. Proactive approach: A proactive SEO agency will continuously monitor your website’s performance, identify opportunities for improvement, and suggest new strategies to stay ahead of the competition. This forward-thinking mindset can help your business maintain a strong online presence and adapt to changing market conditions.

How do good SEO agencies stay ahead?

The best SEO agencies stay ahead of the curve by utilising the latest trends and technologies to enhance their services and deliver better client results. Advanced AI tools like ChatGPT, developed by OpenAI, can provide a competitive edge in SEO and digital marketing.

How could ChatGPT and Open AI be used for SEO?

Here are some ways SEO agencies can use ChatGPT:

1. Content creation and optimisation: ChatGPT can generate high-quality, unique, and engaging SEO-friendly content. Agencies can use this tool to create blog posts, website copy, product descriptions, and more while optimising the content for target keywords and search intent.
2. Keyword research: ChatGPT can help identify relevant long-tail keywords and phrases related to a specific topic or industry. Using keyword research insights to optimise existing content or create new content targeting these keywords will likely improve search visibility.
3. Content ideation: ChatGPT can generate content ideas and topics based on specific keywords or industry niches. Content ideation can help agencies brainstorm new content strategies for their clients, ensuring they cover a wide range of relevant issues to attract and engage their target audience.
4. Meta data optimisation: ChatGPT can generate optimised meta titles and descriptions for web pages, ensuring they are informative and engaging for users while targeting relevant keywords for search engines.
5. Social media content: ChatGPT can create catchy and compelling social media posts, captions, and headlines that drive engagement and improve click-through rates.
6. Link-building outreach: ChatGPT can help create personalised email templates for link-building outreach campaigns, increasing the chances of securing high-quality client backlinks.
7. Competitor analysis: ChatGPT can analyse competitors’ content and identify gaps or opportunities for clients to outperform them in terms of SEO and content strategy.
8. Improving user experience: By analysing user-generated content, such as reviews, comments, or questions, ChatGPT can provide insights into potential pain points or areas of improvement for a website, leading to a better user experience and increased search rankings.

By leveraging ChatGPT and other AI-driven tools, top SEO agencies can enhance their strategies, increase efficiency, and ultimately deliver better client results.

What are the most common mistakes when choosing an SEO agency?

Price: By thinking that a lower cost is better, this only works to justify the decision for a small budget, but does not satisfy in terms of ROI.

Company Size: thinking bigger is better can often be a mistake. Being a larger client to a smaller agency can place you higher on their roster.

Which are the largest SEO agencies in the UK?

Some of the biggest and most reputable SEO agencies in the UK include:

1. Impression: A well-known digital marketing agency providing services including SEO, PPC, digital PR, and content marketing. They have received numerous awards and have a strong client portfolio.
2. Koozai: An award-winning digital marketing agency that offers SEO, content marketing, PPC, and social media services. They have worked with diverse clients, from small businesses to large enterprises.
3. Absolute Digital Media: A full-service digital marketing agency specialising in SEO, PPC, content marketing, and social media. They have been recognised with multiple industry awards and have a strong track record of success.
4. Click Consult: An experienced search marketing agency that offers services including SEO, PPC, content marketing, and social media. They have been in the industry for over 15 years and have worked with well-known brands in various sectors.
5. Vertical Leap: A UK-based digital marketing agency with expertise in SEO, PPC, content marketing, and data analysis. They use a data-driven approach to deliver effective results for their clients.
6. Blue Array: A specialist SEO agency that offers a wide range of services, including technical SEO, content optimisation, and link building. They work with clients of all sizes and have a reputation for delivering solid results.
7. Reboot Online: A digital marketing agency specialising in SEO, content marketing, and online PR. They strongly focus on creative strategies and have won numerous awards.

This list is appropriate as of 2023 and may update as the digital marketing landscape evolves. To find the most current list of the biggest SEO agencies in the UK, consider conducting an online search, checking industry directories, or consulting recent rankings and reviews. Please note that this list is not exhaustive and doesn’t account for your business needs.

Where does novi fit in?

We aren’t one of many; we see ourselves as one-of-one.

Novi.Digital – operating as an agency since 2009 has given us a plethora of SEO experience and knowledge. During this time, we have provided training to many of the countries leading universities, educational establishments and blue-chip companies. We also provide Managed Services, Audits and Consultancy. As an agency, we have won several industry awards, produced industry-leading processes, thought leadership pieces, and methodologies. During this time, we have trained a number of the industry’s most well-known experts.

Why would you consider novi.digital?

• Non-compete: At novi.digital, we offer a single client per sector specialism policy.
• No-long-term tie-in: Our contracts are less than 12 months, with most offering 30-day notice periods.
• Sustainability: we believe that sustainability is more than just planting trees. This is because we focus on the sustainability of people and organisations. To our very core we believe that every actions should be with the future in mind.

Novi Digital is proud to welcome Porsche Centre South Lakes to its portfolio of prestigious clients. Porsche Centre South Lakes hopes to utilise Novi Digital’s PPC (search) management service to improve the efficiency of its marketing spending and drive sales.

Novi Digital Managing Director Aaron Crewe said: “We’re delighted to be working with Porsche Centre South Lakes on their PPC campaigns. Between our expertise amounting to over a decade in the field of digital marketing and our experience within the automotive sector, we’re confident we can achieve the same calibre of award-winning results as we have done with our other highly successful clients.”

Porsche Centre South Lakes Marketing Manager Richard Smith said: “We were really impressed with Novi from the outset. They went above and beyond in their pitch to us, showing that they not only knew our business but also cared to put the time and effort in, not just in the big aspects but in the small details. Novi have also been in constant contact through virtual meetings and email to keep us informed on how our campaigns are progressing and they are constantly coming up with ideas to improve our ROI. Communication was one of the biggest factors in picking a new PPC provider and Novi have not disappointed, from Tom our account manager who I have regular meetings with all the way up to Aaron the MD.”

PPC (search) management is a fundamental service offered by Novi Digital, helping to improve the conversion rates that companies achieve when using Google Ads. As companies only pay per click when using this form of advertising, better targeting can lead to higher conversion rates, with each click having a better chance of leading to a sale. Not only does this increase the efficiency of the advertising used, it can also result in higher revenues.

Porsche Centre South Lakes, located in Carnforth, is a family-run operation that prides itself on creating a friendly and positive environment, with experts offering personalised guidance for each buyer. The partnership with Novi Digital is likely to see Porsche Centre South Lakes grow its audience and evolve, increasing site traffic and driving sales.

Novi Digital will use a range of measurable metrics as part of its PPC (search) management service, informing Porsche Centre South Lakes of their progress throughout, from higher conversion rates to greater exposure and accuracy. This is thanks to the Novi Digital team of experts, with all staff having comprehensive training and experience in PPC services.

What’s more, Novi Digital already has a lot of experience implementing and running highly successful PPC campaigns and would encourage any organisation seeking a greater level of growth to consider its training services to improve the efficiency of its advertising campaigns.

With offices in Lancaster, London, and Manchester, Novi Digital is an award-winning data-driven and psychology-focused B2B SEO and PPC specialist agency, using automation, AI, and machine learning to deliver SEO and PPC campaigns for over 300 clients in the UK and across the world. Contact the Novi Digital team if you have any enquiries and be sure to consider Porsche Centre South Lakes for your next vehicle of choice.

After a rigorous application process, novi.digital have been awarded the highly coveted B Corporation Certification.

The B Corp Certification is awarded when a business or organisation meets and can demonstrate high standards of performance, accountability, and transparency in practices such as employee wellbeing, environmental sustainability, and charitable efforts.

These certifications are determined by a series of goals, each of which earns points if met by a company. The average score for businesses is 50.2 and a business must hold a score of 80 to qualify for a B Corp Certification.

There are only 3000 B corporations globally, only 14 PPC agencies, and less than 50 SEO agencies worldwide, which novi.digital is now a part of with a score of 92.

We have done extensive work with a number of businesses that hold environmental sustainability as a core company value and we have always been committed to having a positive impact on the world and the people they work with. The application process has taken novi.digital six months to prepare for and we have invested over 100 hours of time in order to achieve this certification. In doing so, novi.digital have made significant advancements to their company practices.

Aaron Crewe said: “We have learned a great deal as a business throughout the application process and have taken strides to building a more sustainable and charitable business. We knew the process would highlight areas for improvement for novi.digital, but we will continue to push ourselves to grow and improve even further. Our goal is to hit a score of 120, and we’re already well on our way!

“We are constantly balancing the 3 Ps at novi.digital; People, Planet, and Profit. We hope that, in achieving this certification, we can continue to grow and work with more like-minded businesses who care about the planet and want to make a difference.”

With a team of 20-employees across the UK, novi.digital is an award-winning B2B SEO and PPC specialist agency, using automation, AI, and machine learning to deliver campaigns for over 300-clients in the UK and around the world.

Click here for more information on novi.digital’s B Corporation certification, or to learn how novi.digital’s services can make a difference to your business.

North-West-based digital agency Novi Digital, with offices in Lancashire, Cheshire, East Midlands and London, has won a contract to provide SEO and PPC for Siemens Financial Services following a 10-way competitive pitch.

Siemens Financial Services provides a wide range of flexible finance solutions including cash flow solutions and leasing options to suit a variety of business sizes. Operating across a broad number of sectors, it provides businesses with specialist support including asset finance, working capital finance, financing for Siemens products and structured debt financing.

Novi Digital Managing Director Aaron Crewe said: “With over 50-years in finance, over 3000-employees globally, and more than 200 UK finance specialists, Siemens offers financing solutions in sectors including bus & coach, construction, healthcare, manufacturing, public sector, technology, and transportation”.

“We are very excited to be delivering digital marketing solutions for Siemens and we have agreed ambitious goals and KPIs that will help customers and partners find the solution they need from one of the world’s most established and prolific providers.”

With a team of 20-employees across the UK, Novi Digital is an award-winning B2B SEO and PPC specialist agency, using automation, AI and machine learning to deliver campaigns for over 300-clients in the UK and around the world.

Here are the novi.digital 4 SEO Tips to Help Your Site Get Better Search Rankings

Search engine optimization (SEO) can be a very powerful tool in your digital marketing arsenal. And Whilewhile advanced SEO strategies require a lot of hard work and probably the help of an SEO management agency to pull off, there are tons of basic tips and tricks you can follow to help boost your site’s SEO. Here are some 4 our top tips for maximum impact for them.

1 – Start with a website SEO Audit  

Get your site audited

The best way to know where you stand when it comes to your site’s SEO is to have your website audited. Digital marketing agencies often offer an SEO audit service. An SEO audit is where an SEO company audits your site, where they’ll look at your current search engine performance site’s rankings across multiple search engines, as well as looking for any SEO problems on your website that should be corrected or improved. A good SEO audit can give you a very clear picture of what you should do in order to improve your site’s ranking on Google rankings moving forward. 

It is also useful to get an SEO audit before you move on with more time-consuming, complex, complicated or expensive SEO practices. This ensures there aren’t any obvious small on-site issues holding back your campaign. 

A more comprehensive is where you will see the real benefit. An advanced SEO audit compares your website to that of your competition. Once a comparison can be made, only then can a prioritised list of SEO actions can be proposed. 

Not all SEO metrics are equal, and some are more prevalent than others, depending on the target keyword, the sector and the website in question. For example, a website with a high domain authority may be able to compete with more competitive keywords. 

Tools such as SEMrush and Screaming Frog are both particularly useful for obtaining the necessary data to form a comprehensive site audit. The key is to prioritise your SEO actions based on the maximum amount of impact. This can be established by looking at what the top 10 competing websites are currently doing.

What you are looking for here is high-impact / low-effort SEO changes. These can include adding the target keyword to the title / meta description or improving the internal linking to the target page. 

2 – Create quality content

A lot of SEO is related to making your site more valuable and useful to general readers. That’s because while the mechanisms search engines use to rank websites are seen to be mysterious, the goals of those mechanisms are obvious. Search engines want to offer the best possible result for any given search query, so writing great content is a must. It’s not just about getting people to click on your site, it’s about giving something that will keep them engaged after they click. Focus all your SEO efforts on the same end goal as Google, to provide a relevant and high-quality user journey that solves the problem or need of the person searching.

Good quality content often focuses on answering a question or solving a problem. If it’s a feature-led selling approach, then people will often buy based on price, whereas if it’s a benefit-led sell, then customers will buy based on want rather than need and often be willing to pay a premium for it. 

Fundamentally, content needs to be more insightful and beneficial than any other of the websites currently ranked within the top 10. Combining and expanding on their content can be a great place to start. Add to this tools such as AnswerThePublic and Ubersuggest and you have content ideas that the search engines will love.

With this in mind, make sure that your content appeals to the audience, we will explain how to do so in the next point. 

In addition, your article should go into more detail and provide more value to the reader than any other article and you can only do this by having more words on the page. Check the total number of words used on average and exceed this with your content. 

Good content gets shared and that’s what generates links. 

Of course, quality content is more useful when the topics you’re broaching are also relevant to your target audience. A medical supply company doesn’t gain much by having the #1 ranked article for the search “how do I fix a flat tire”.

 3 – Target the right keywords

We prefer to call them “search queries”, but for the sake of consistency, we will call them keywords. 

Keyword research can be a complicated science, that’s true. But However, in short, it comes down to finding keywords that are both relevant to your target audience and are under-served in terms of quality content and then writing content targeted for those keywords. 

To perform well in SEO, you need better quality content than the next website. With this said, ranking for certain keywords is not as simple. There are many factors at play when it comes to how a website ranks for a particular keyword. 

To begin, you need to find keywords that your customers will use when trying to find your product or service. You can use Google Keyword Planner or Uber Suggest for potential keyword ideas, or connect to Google Search Console to see how you are already performing on Google. Alternatively, SEMrush will show you what your competitors are generating traffic from with regards to keywords. 

The key focus with keywords is ensuring that the volume is sufficient to make it worthwhile. 

1. Keywords need to have sufficient search volume.
2. Keywords need to not be too competitive.
3. Keywords need to produce more qualified potential customers. 

In order to ensure that a keyword is appropriate, consider where your keyword falls in the Phase of Intent (Idea, Browse, Compare or Buy). 

Following, this, check the competitiveness of the keyword using Search Operators such as Allintitle, allinanchor and allinurl. You are looking for low numbers here. 

Lastly, use Google Trends to ensure that your keyword isn’t decreasing in popularity. You want to ensure that you are operating in a growing market. 

Or you can check valuable and competitive keywords in your niche and see what the first page results for those keywords look like, so you can try to create content that is better than what is currently on the first page.

Either way, keyword targeting and keyword research are two important parts of SEO. And learning about both can help you rank higher.

4 – Focus on the user Be consistent

Whether it’s Pagespeed, mobile usability, click-through-rates or on-page analytics, it always comes down to one thing, the user. Great SEO isn’t about trying to beat Google, it’s about providing the very best for the searcher / the website visitor. 

This is why user-generated content works so well from an SEO perspective. It is why Q and A websites do so well in terms of SEO, such as Reddit or StackOverflow. Create a platform for users to engage, reward them for doing so and Google will love it. 

By focusing on the user first above and beyond anything else, you are creating an optimal user experience and your SEO will improve. 

In summary

One of the main downsides of SEO is just how long it can take. You may spend months on a campaign while seeing very little progress on your rankings across multiple keywords. On the other hand, when changes do happen in a noticeable way, they often happen within a week or even overnight. There are plenty of reports of sites that spent months working on SEO with little results, only to suddenly find their organic traffic exploding when search engines finally started bumping their site up the ranks. Note, only the most deserving of websites achieve good SEO performance and retain it. 

This means that SEO marketing requires patience and consistency. Few companies have the resources and patience needed to constantly put out content for months, but it is an important step for long-term success. 

This is why balancing your SEO efforts with PPC is highly beneficial, as you can find out which keywords work on PPC before targeting them in terms of SEO. 

How to improve SEO? Here are the 10 ways to improve SEO in 2021…

Search engine optimisation is a topic that shows no signs of slowing down in popularity or methodologies. SEO is more vital than ever to rank well for keywords and drive traffic to your website.

To continue offering true value with their website, most companies will need an SEO agency to help them stay ahead of the curve in search.

1) Increase social media activity and grow followers: This could be through Twitter, Facebook or Instagram and you should ensure you are sharing information on there about your brand regularly. If people cannot connect with you and find out what you offer at first glance then they may not consider looking further into your business.

2) Optimise content: You should always be looking for ways to improve your Google ranking for search terms that are relevant to your business. Use tools such as a Rank Tracker tool to monitor keyword rankings and content performance. By monitoring changing trends, you can identify gaps in the market and develop content accordingly.

3) Build new links: Links remain one of the most important aspects of SEO, and you must work on earning more high-quality backlinks from well-known sites (for example, using link building services). You should also remain focused on removing bad links pointing at your website. An analysis should be done to ascertain which are good and which are bad links.

4) Focus on conversion rate optimisation: To convert a visitor into a customer, there must be a clearly defined marketing funnel that leads them via their path to purchase. If this is optimised for SEO purposes, it increases the chances that a website visitor will click through to your site and purchase something from you.

5) Multilingual support: If you have users in other countries, then internet searches can be done in other languages than English. You need to ensure your website can perform well when non-English language search queries are input. This is vital if you want to take advantage of international markets.

6) Reduce broken links: It’s essential that all links on your website work. Otherwise, this can lead to visitors getting frustrated with your lack of care or attention and leave your site before they convert. Therefore, we recommend using a link checker tool such as Link Detox, which can identify which broken links exist on your site and help you investigate solutions for fixing them.

7) Maintain a high mobile-friendliness score: With the number of visits from people using their mobile devices is growing every year, your website must appear well in mobile search results. You can check how well your website performs in Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test Tool, ensuring your business is ready to adapt to changing trends in mobile compatibility. 

8) Optimise videos: Videos have significant potential when ranking your website. This is because they can answer questions users have and draw them into your brand. The more time people spend watching videos about you (on YouTube or elsewhere), the more likely they are to remember you, share information with others, and ultimately, buy from you. For example, if you sell wedding dresses, your video could feature the latest trends in bridal wear. This increases your chances of reaching potential customers who have not yet decided which dress they will choose.

9) Handle reviews well: Depending on the type of business you are running, handling reviews can be critical to how successful it is. There are many ways of ensuring users leave good quality reviews and feel motivated to share information about their experience with others. You could use a tool such as Feedback Five, or offer incentives for positive feedback (such as store discounts). The most important thing to remember is that reviewers must feel valued by receiving an answer to their query within 24 hours (if possible). If you can’t answer them that quickly, then you should use a review management tool to identify and respond to all reviews. [VIDEO]

10) Advertise effectively: You can use the free Google AdWords Keyword Planner tool to find keywords that have high search volumes but low competition. By identifying these opportunities, you can use Google’s advertising platform (or another form of paid advertising). Focus on specifically targeting users who are actively seeking what your business offers. This also gives you direct access to the businesses searching, increasing your chances of being seen by a potential customer.

If you’re thinking about getting started with SEO in 2021 – or if you want to do better than last year – it’s worth considering taking action now.

There is a digital skills shortage in the UK and many businesses are struggling to fill key roles.

Lancaster and North-West-based digital marketing experts novi.digital are providing digital marketing training to help solve the digital skills shortage issue.

Commencing in September, novi.digital, funded by Department for Education (DfE) and in partnership with We Are Digital, are delivering a comprehensive SEO, PPC and Social Media Marketing programme aimed at those wanting to secure a career in Digital Marketing.

Are you 19 or older? Unemployed, looking for a change in careers or looking to start your own digital business? Are you based in the Northwest?

If the answer is yes to all or most of these, then novi.digital have the solution to help you to achieve your goals.

This 12-week intensive training programme is fully funded for those currently unemployed. For those currently employed, the course is £750 + VAT for employers to pay for each employee put through the course.

At the end of the course, all attendees will have passed several of the Google certifications for Google Analytics and Google Ads, as well as certifications from other providers such as Microsoft and HubSpot. In addition to this, all participants that complete the course will be presented with a novi certification and be interviewed for an internship with novi.digital commencing in 2022.

Aaron Crewe, Managing Director says, “our aim is to upskill at least 30-participants, creating a higher-calibre of digital marketer and in turn helping digital entrepreneurs to flourish and businesses to grow.”

Nicola Pickup, Digital Marketing Trainer, says, “Having worked on previous digital bootcamps, I can see the real impact on former students’ lives.  It’s incredible to watch them absorb so much knowledge, grow in confidence and start new careers in such a short space of time. Digital Marketing skills are in high demand, and the course will open up many opportunities for those wanting to start a new career.”

Limited Availability

Novi.digital only have a limited number of places left for September’s intake. Space is being filled due to high-demand.

How can YOU help?

1. Share the opportunity across your network. Everyone knows someone looking to advance their career and this opportunity could help them to achieve this.
2. Refer the link to someone specific, explaining how and why this could help them.
3. If you are a digital marketing expert looking to help the next generation of digital entrepreneurs and digital nomads, you can help by showing off your expertise. Each course will include a frequent ‘ask an expert’ segment. Whilst the novi.digital team have extensive agency expertise, we would particularly like to speak with people who have in-house experience they would be willing to discuss with students.

How can businesses and educational establishments can help?

Novi.digital are looking for partnerships with leading colleges, universities and businesses to refer students to us. In return, novi.digital will share your involvement on our social media.

Stronger together

Together we can collectively work toward upskilling more people, enabling further careers in digital marketing and filling roles that help businesses to prosper.

Interested parties can visit www.novitraining.com for further details.

Novi.digital have been contracted to provide SEO and PPC management to Arriello across its global business, in order to increase the number of clients they secure from Google Ads., The partnership between Novi and Arriello will help to open up opportunities around the globe, entering new markets, and developing even more business prominence within the industry.

Mike Kilburn, digital marketing consultant for novi.digital, says: “As a market leader in digital marketing and PPC management, we are able to provide Arriello with further expertise to help grow its pharma and biotech consulting business in key markets worldwide.

Arriello and novi.digital partnership

Both companies believe that partnering with individuals and businesses that understand the importance of clear communication and collaboration is crucial to long-term success.

Arriello has been at the cutting edge of risk management and compliance services primarily for the pharmaceutical and biotech industry since 2008. Aiming to “make the process from development to market faster, better and smarter”, their global services span the product life cycle from Clinical to post-submission Regulatory Affairs and Pharmacovigilance, Quality Assurance and Auditing, and innovative automation solutions. Headquartered in Ireland, with operations across Europe, Arriello consults, creates, and provides solutions across the EU, US, LATAM, CIS, MENA, Asia, and South Africa.

Our Digital marketing training sessions, running throughout 2021.

We are delighted to extend our series of digital marketing training session webinars and share our deep technical knowledge with you. Our training courses were designed to help you maximise your returns and achieve your business goals. We will be delivering these sessions every second Thursday at 2pm, and we will be focusing on a range of digital marketing topics that incorporate the many aspects involved in achieving successful PPC and SEO.

Follow the links below to register for your FREE online place:

8th April – How to use Google Analytics 4? https://www.trybooking.co.uk/BAEO

22nd April – What are Google AdWords Scripts Alerts? https://www.trybooking.co.uk/BAEP

6th May – How to get links, what are the best tools to use? https://www.trybooking.co.uk/BAEQ

20th May – How to manage a website migration? https://www.trybooking.co.uk/BAER

3rd June – How to create content to achieve high-performing pages? https://www.trybooking.co.uk/BAES

17th June – How to create and manage Google Shopping Campaigns? https://www.trybooking.co.uk/BAEU

1st July – What are Analytics Alerts? https://www.trybooking.co.uk/BAEV

15th July – How to use LinkedIn Ads Manager? https://www.trybooking.co.uk/BAEW

29th July – How to use Google Ads Performance Planner? https://www.trybooking.co.uk/BAEX

19th August – What is PageSpeed and how to improve it? https://www.trybooking.co.uk/BAEZ

2nd September – What are Google Alerts? https://www.trybooking.co.uk/BAFA

8th September – How to use Facebook Ads Manager? https://www.trybooking.co.uk/BAEY

16th September – How to create effective Keyword Research? https://www.trybooking.co.uk/BAFB

30th September – How to get the best from your agency? What do clients really want in terms of effective account management? https://www.trybooking.co.uk/BAFC

7th October – What are Google Trends and how do I use them? https://www.trybooking.co.uk/BAFD

21st October – Website Analytics Training: Google 4.0 vs Microsoft Clarity https://www.trybooking.co.uk/BAWV

About Us

We are the UK’s leading Data-driven and Psychology-focused B2B SEO and PPC agency. As an agency, we put employee well-being and client satisfaction at the forefront. We innovate, communicate and learn in order to achieve a high level of performance. A leading Google Premier Partner.