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4 Ways SEO Has Changed in 2015

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Anyone who keeps an eye on Google’s activities is aware, to some degree, of the sea change when it comes to ranking. Long gone are the days of keyword-stuffing, shoddy backlinks and content farms. Google’s value depends upon the relevancy of the search results it provides to its legions of advertisers, so it stands to reason that they would do everything they can to deliver the most relevant results. As such, 2015 has already seen some big changes to SEO, and there are certainly more to come.

1. The Death of Keywords?

Keywords have been the backbone of SEO ever since Google stormed onto the internet search scene. In fact, it wasn’t so long ago that many modern-day, million-dollar websites ranked at the very top of search results with practically no effort. Such days are long gone for new webmasters and marketing teams. Spammers all but took over the keyword platform, using it to make their clients’ sites appear more relevant to Google’s algorithms than they really were. Google’s Arctic updates (Panda and Penguin) represented the death knell for such techniques, and the content farms that heavily employed them have lost nearly all of their traffic and credibility. [Read more…]

How to Go About Selling Your House

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Statistics show that at least 80% still go for the traditional route of selling their homes which is through real estate agents.  Because of the high rate of agent’s commission however, many are starting to look into other possibilities.  A lot of people are now considering selling their own homes on their own which is not exactly a bad idea especially with a little help from real estate agents who are willing to do some work at a greatly decreased rate of commission.

Let us first go through the steps which I will do if I were to sell my home:

1.  Clean the Home from Top to Bottom

This step is always the first one to do when considering the option of selling a home.  Owners will of course be interested in getting the best price for their property.  This is not possible unless owners are able to show their homes in the best light.  Nothing can cover up a dirty house.  A clean house has more appeal and is more welcoming of appreciation.

2.  Have the House Inspected by Professionals

Buyers will want to inspect a house for sale, so it would be proper to ensure that required repairs are done before the house is offered in the market.  Professionals can do the best in the aspect of inspecting the house for required repairs.  Homeowners are expected to act accordingly depending on the results of the inspection.

3.  Have the Property Appraised

Most homeowners will have their own idea of what constitutes as a suitable price for their properties.  It is highly possible though that homeowners are not basing their price on realistic assumptions.  An appraiser can quickly provide a realistic range of prices based on prevailing rates in general and value of homes in the neighbourhood in particular.

4.  Prepare to Market the Home

Marketing the home does not only mean putting up a “For Sale” sign.  It is doing everything that is needed to make known that the house is for sale.  The most important thing is to create awareness on all forms including the online environment.  Homeowners need to discover their property’s best points and focus in this.  Be prepared to show buyers your own home or at least have someone ready to do it for you.

5.  Be Prepared to Negotiate

Homeowners will need to be flexible enough to negotiate with prospective buyers and agents whose assistance they may need along the way.  It helps to be aware of possible financing options that can be suggested to serious buyers.  Some homeowners have also discovered the art of sweetening the deal which basically consists of putting add-ons such as furniture which a buyer may have shown particular interest in while viewing the house

About the Author

Roger is a marketing executive who is contemplating in selling his present house due to an impending job transfer.

 

 

 

 

Marketing is important for smaller companies

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The smallest companies in Britain look like the firmest believers in marketing.

A study made by Chartered Institute of Marketing has revealed this startling finding. Based on the study, small firms are more likely to see marketing as an essential part of their business, invest in marketing, and quickly recognise why it is important to put a marketer at senior level. In simpler terms, the smaller the business, the more important the art of marketing is to them.

The study said that in 90 percent of companies that have a turnover of less than £1 million cited business process as a high priority.

Contrast this to companies with an annual turnover of more than £100 million. Less than half of these firms had rated marketing as a top priority in their respective companies.

The study said that larger firms have a tendency to restrict the powers of marketing operations. Two-thirds of in-house marketers have admitted that they are finding difficulty in getting a budget for supporting their marketing projects.

But among companies with less than 1 million in turnover annually, it was reported that 10 percent of their expenditure is earmarked to marketing exercises. This is a significant improvement over the national average of 7.2 percent.

This tactic is working because smaller business are more optimistic about the prospects of their businesses compared to the larger companies. These small firms have also expressed more confidence that their investments in marketing will eventually pay dividends.

Business solutions and Company formation experts have also cited the importance of marketing in business. Marketing, they stressed, is a crucial tool in helping a company increase its profits and should not be ignored. Marketing efforts, they said, eventually pay for itself.

Competitor One-upmanship: Devise the Plan

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One of the most common pitfalls for business owners is to make marketing plans without any competitor information. This is akin to devising a battle strategy without knowing who your enemy is! An effective marketing plan is based on information. The better the information, the more effective the plan.

Analyse your competitors’ strengths and weakness. Their strengths are the threats to your business, and their weaknesses are your opportunities. Be as objective as possible, since this will be the backbone of your whole plan. A subjective view can break even the most well-thought out plan because it does not address the reality of the situation.

Now look at the market. Try to determine if there are emerging trends that might be perceived as either a threat or an opportunity for your business.

One important rule about devising a marketing plan is to make one that is appropriate for your business and your market. An extravagant plan is not always effective because it may not address the key factors that will determine your success. Identify your target audience/market and devise your strategies around it – your “sales-pitch,” so to speak. After this, determine what kind of media you would want to use to bring your “sales-pitch” to your target market.

A common, yet highly effective, strategy is to use people’s emotions in making your pitch. This is a potent approach because you do not address your audience’s logic but their hearts. An emotional response is more impulsive and immediate than a logical response.

All the factors needed to understand the competitor and the market consumes a lot of time and attention. It is for this reason that there has been an increased demand for company formation and business solutions professionals. By outsourcing certain functions of setting up and maintaining a business, owners can focus on more crucial battles, like sales and marketing strategies.

Competitor One-upmanship: Resource Management

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Now that you’ve done research and devised an impregnable battle plan the final step would be to “amass your forces”, so to speak. This is where your available resources and how you manage them will come into play.

At this stage, it will be important to determine how your competitors are using and managing their resources . But this is not a battle to overwhelm a competitor with sheer numbers, rather it is a conscientious allocation of available resources. Use just enough to get the job done and follow your marketing strategy without any wastage.

The question you should ask yourself at this juncture is: What resources are available to my competitor in terms of finance and people? Try to find out if these are increasing, pegged at a certain level or declining. Credit reports are a good resource in finding out these data. Also try to find out if your competitors outsource some of their business functions. Outsourcing is an effective strategy in keeping business maintenance costs down. In fact, accountancy and payroll functions are increasingly being outsourced by many companies.

Company location, especially in a retail business, can also be considered an important resource. A strategic location can be advantageous in that it can attract more customers or clients. An inconvenient spot will certainly affect a business’ viability. There may be some instances where the competitor is not easily reached but is still attracting good business. Find out what makes them successful because it may be a strategy that you can also use.

Staffing is an important resource. Getting the best possible manpower is advantageous to any business. In fact, company formation experts advise that business owners pay ample attention in hiring their employees.