Category: Blogs

Our top takeaways from BrightonSEO 2022

Now BrightonSEO 2022 has wrapped up for the year, we’ve written up about some of our favourite talks and key takeaways from the week.

October 2022 brought around the second BrightonSEO conference of the year. This is a huge event in the SEO industry, and we saw it as the perfect opportunity for Steve, our SEO Specialist, to experience the talks, booths, training, and networking with other like-minded SEOs.

With a packed-out agenda across the week full of amazing talks, and 1-2-1 in-depth training, there’s way too much to talk about in just one blog post, but here are some of the key takeaways and some examples of how they’re going to help our customers.

What is the BrightonSEO conference?

BrightonSEO is the biggest SEO conference in Europe, with 8000 attendees across the three days. It brings together people from across the world, in person and digitally, to listen to talks from industry leaders in content, search, technical, and more.

Held at the Brighton Centre, it’s at the beating heart of Brighton – known for its fantastic creative industry and passion for art and culture.

What were our favourite talks?

Anna Gregory-Hall – How to get more traffic with less content

Anna shared her tips on how less can mean more when it comes to content on your website. She talked about not getting sentimental with existing content on your site and gave some great actionable tactics on how to run an audit and produce a ‘keep, redirect, cull’ list.

To keep up with Google’s helpful content updates, it’s important to remember that your content has to serve a purpose and must benefit your audience.

“Removing unhelpful content could help the rankings of your other content.” Google Search Central

Tim Soulou – The Elusive ROI of Content Marketing

In his talk, the CMO at Ahrefs, Tim Suolo, explored the meaning of ROI and whether or not it’s actually possible to measure this for the success of your content marketing.

Tim explained that whilst there are factors that are somewhat measurable such as leads, conversions, and sales, there are so many other aspects to be aware of and that “content cannot not bring value if it talks about your product and gets impressions”.

Image credit: ROI of Content Marketing

Martin Splitt – a guided tour of JavaScript for SEOs

A really insightful talk by Google’s Martin Splitt, talking about what exactly happens when a page gets rendered, how JavaScript can impact that render, and how that affects us as SEOs.

Some of the key takeaways from this talk were not only a better understanding of how Google renders our pages, but also how to better use some of their tools to find potential errors or areas for improvement.

How this new knowledge will impact our clients

The training sessions and talks have provided some invaluable knowledge and actionable tactics that we’ve already started putting into our day-to-day activities.

From content optimisation to becoming a certified Google Sheets Wizard, not only can we make sure that our customers will continue to get good results, but we can also speed up some of our repeating tasks so we can spend more time on what really matters.

SEO is only becoming more important for those looking to grow their business online and capture the traffic that’s hunting for their services.

If you’d like to learn more about how you can level up your online presence with SEO, then get in touch with us today, we’d love to hear from you.

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Why you should care about SEO

We know you’re busy – so we’re going to keep it short and give you the essential knowledge you need to understand the power of SEO and what it can (and will) do for your business.

SEO isn’t just a buzzword in digital marketing. You probably knew that by now – as it’s been kicking around for long enough. It’s responsible for helping businesses old and new to generate more leads online and, as a result, grow their business and their brand.

Now, honestly? This blog could have been a lot longer. But we know you’re busy – so we’ll keep it short and give you the essential knowledge you need to understand the power of SEO and what it can (and will) do for your business.

Let’s dive in.

What is SEO and how does it work?

Search engine optimisation (SEO) is the process of assessing and formatting your website in a way that fits as many of Google’s specifications as possible. By doing so, it means you’re more likely to appear higher on searches and generate more traffic as a result.

Google are the de-facto king of search – so you need to be in their good books if you want to build a brand on the internet.

SEO is a fine art. There are both on-page and off-page SEO factors that will help determine how high your page is ranking on Google compared to your competitors. There are over 200 factors that Google looks at when deciding where they’re sending your searchers. (That’s a lot.)

It’s going to bring you more visitors, customers and revenue

If you’re higher up the rankings, you’re then sat in prime position for some serious increased traffic. But what does that mean?

With SEO, you’re writing and optimising content for people actively hunting for your products or services. These are people with a high level of intent, meaning they’ll need little convincing of your actual service – you just need to tell them why you’re the answer they’re looking for.

More visitors means more customers. More customers means more money for your business. Having a website is only the first step, and ongoing SEO work is the best route to making the most money for your business online.

Every day you’re not doing SEO, you’re losing out on business

Take a second now, open another tab and Google your service and location. I.e. web designer in Southampton.

Are you there? If you are, great! If you aren’t, then somebody else is eating your lunch. And you probably don’t want to go hungry. 

Your competitors are probably investing in SEO, but you can find out who by doing this search. Next, it’s up to you to dethrone them and take your rightful place as the leading expert in your field, according to Google.

This is a long process, make no bones about it. But if you invest in great SEO support and continue adding new blogs/news content to your site, you’re laying the groundwork for a more successful digital marketing campaign in the months and years ahead.

Everyone started somewhere – let us get you up the rankings

We boast SEO expertise in-house as well as a copywriter who loves making content that Google is a big fan of (that’s me typing this, but it’s definitely true.) 

Want to chat with us and get started? We’re always available to chat at [email protected] or on 023 80 000 212.

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5 reasons you should be regularly updating your website

Got your website sorted? Job done. Except – it’s not that easy. Regularly updating your content is essential to make the most of your website. Here’s why.

Got your website sorted? Job done. 

Except – obviously it’s not. We wish it was that simple, but there are a lot of factors that can positively and negatively affect the impact of your new website. It’s important that if you’re investing in a new website, you’re aware of what is required to generate the most traffic and business for your organisation.

Regularly updating your content is a valuable way to keep your website looking great and build your audience as time goes on. Here’s why.

Helping people find you

The more content on your site, the more customers are going to find you. How? SEO. Search engine optimisation is the art of optimising the content on your site so that Google shows your website to more and more people.

Content can be optimised around certain keywords that your customers are searching for. For example, ‘web design agency in Southampton’. This will help your website rank higher when your customers search for a web design agency in Southampton. (That’s us, by the way.)

If you’re finding that your traffic is low, more content should be the first thing you try. SEO is a long-term strategy and you won’t get results overnight, but when you do – they can be astounding.

Showing people you’re still trading

COVID has hit businesses hard. If people are searching your website because you’ve been recommended, it’s important to let them know you’re still alive and kicking.

By posting regular content updates, visitors will know you’re trading and taking on new customers. Blog content can also provide value to the customer and be specific to the month or season to be more relevant. For example, a local fencing company could post a blog about storms in the Autumn.

Positive brand image

The more active you are with your customers, the better brand image you’re going to have. Obviously, that won’t be the case if you’re posting nasty content or being mean to your customers. They probably won’t like that.

Content should be useful and present your business as an authority within your industry. The more personal you can make it, the better. People will always be more inclined to buy from people, so don’t be afraid to reach out from the screen and show the people behind your business.

Delivering free value

Similar to the point above, it’s not just about what you’re posting. To make your content as valuable as possible is a necessity. Whether someone is reading your blog after seeing it on social media, from an ad campaign or via organic search – they’re going to want to know they can trust you.

How do you prove you know your stuff? You tell them. Yep, for free. Once they know you’re reliable and have seen the value, they’ll be more inclined to buy or keep buying.

Repurposing content

Once you’ve written the content for your site, the fun doesn’t stop there. This content can be reused to talk to your audiences over social media, used within internal/external newsletters or even as an aid in customer service. Your how-to guide could be driving traffic but also helping your existing customers. How handy.

Blog content can be cut up, spliced and used to make multiple social media posts. Or you can just post the whole lot. It’s totally your choice – but the opportunities are endless when it comes to sharing your content with your audience.

You don’t have to do it all yourself

Now, you might be thinking “that sounds great, but I’ve got no time to do all that guys”.

That’s what we’re all about. We help make the most of your website, both during the build and with ongoing content and SEO packages. So you don’t need time, nor ideas about content – we take care of the whole bleedin’ lot.

Sound good? You can call our office to find out more info or get started straight away if you fancied. The number is 023 80 000 212. We can’t wait to hear from ya.

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Five things customers demand from your website

Websites are great at bringing in new customers, but having a catchy domain name and colourful branding isn’t enough. Here are 5 key elements that every successful website needs to make an impact.

Most businesses have a good level of web traffic, especially if someone like us has built their site (shameless self-plug). But that’s only half of the job.

You’ve not got a lot of time to impress a new web visitor. It’s a matter of seconds, depending on who you ask.

When they land on your page, you’ll need to quickly grab their attention and hold it. There are plenty of ways to do this – and they don’t all involve having whacky pictures or gimmicks.

We’ve laid out five key elements that a website simply needs to have in order to convert more customers.

Content that’s engaging and valuable

Imagine what your customers want to hear and then tell them. It really is that simple. Too often people overthink what’s going on on their website, through fear that giving away advice for free will reduce the value of your service.

Instead – it’ll help build trust, and trust builds sales. More often than not, visitors aren’t going to start doing their own accounts because you’ve given them a tip. More likely, they’ll decide you clearly know what you’re talking about and enquire about your services.

Keep it simple, keep it helpful and keep it focused around them, not you.

Customer stories

Showing customers what they’re missing is important. If you’ve got some amazing testimonials from your clients, they NEED to be on your website.

Whether it’s just a few, or a collection – their story needs to be told. Like on our website, we build testimonials into a more personalised story that tells what the customer needed, how we did it and what they had to say about it.

When a success story resonates with a visitor, they’re going to keep reading. And if they want the same results? They’ll be in touch.

REALLY easy contact options

The contact button shouldn’t be hidden at the bottom of your site. It should take pride of place and give your customers an option to get in touch no matter what part of your site they’re reading.

Because of this, we encourage our customers to integrate a Messenger bot, WhatsApp messenger bot or ‘call’ button that floats on their site or is easily accessible at all times. It is often the difference between someone considering inquiring and them actually inquiring.

Creating content that engages and invites conversations is only effective if your customers reach out to have the conversations. So you should make it easy as possible for them to do so.

Your brand and your people

Sometimes people don’t want to have their team on the website. And we get that.

But consider the buying process from your own perspective. You hear about a company, check them out online. They’re local, trading and seem all good. But you’re still not convinced. There are no pictures of anyone that works for the company, just a website that looks impersonal.

Adding a bit of personality and showing off your team is a great way to help people understand your company and values before they’ve spoken to you. Building a little bit of trust before they reach for the phone is invaluable – so get snapping.

Fast and easy to use

User experience is key. Website not loading? Buttons not working? Phone number nowhere to be seen? You’re missing out on customers.

Having a simple interface that’s easy to use is essential in giving your visitors a pleasant experience of your company before they’ve even worked with you. Make the conversion easier by giving them everything they need in an easy to use format.

As we said, you’ve got a limited amount of time to get their attention. You definitely don’t want to waste that time having your homepage load or have them getting lost in huge, endless menus.

Think it’s your time to shine online?

We’ve offered some advice. Any web developer should be able to help you implement these changes to your existing site and ensure you’re making the most of your online presence.

But if you’re ready for a new website and want our help to make something tip-top that your competitors will be whispering about, then you probably want to talk to us.

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5 mistakes to avoid when building your website

Building a website yourself isn’t easy. No way, nuh-uh. But, if you want to do it yourself – we salute you. We’ve laid out some common mistakes people make, so you can do your best to avoid them.

The temptation to build your own website is something business owners tell us about all the time. Ultimately, fortunately, we normally talk them out of it and they end up working with us.

Maybe it’s something we said. Maybe it’s just that we’re super cool and they want to be our friends. (Don’t laugh – it really could be that, ok?)

If you’ve decided you’re going to build your own website, then that’s a big task. But – we aren’t going to abandon you. We’re going to make sure you’ve got some of the most essential advice we can think of, helping you avoid the most common pitfalls people fall into along the way.

Lack of clear communication or contact options

This all comes back to user experience and the user interface you’re presenting your web visitors with. Can’t find a quick way to contact you? That’s an issue that’s costing you business.

People don’t have the time to hunt around for five minutes looking for a phone number or email contact form. We’d recommend that you have a button that scrolls with the page, allowing for people to call you immediately once they’ve seen you’re providing what they need.

Alternatively, you can also integrate WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger within your website to allow for 24/7 messaging to someone from your company.

No search engine optimisation (SEO)

SEO is a vital part of getting your brand new website found by potential customers. Not got your SEO sorted? You guessed it. You’re missing out on customers.

However, whilst it is difficult to get your SEO tip-top, and there are varying levels of success when it comes to SEO, you can at least lay the groundwork and do the basics yourself. Using the WordPress plugin Yoast will help you optimise your main pages and help build your domain authority, rank for terms you’re relevant for and keep Google happy.

Reaching a page one or two ranking isn’t going to be easy though. Yoast will get you some of the way, but then it might be time to talk to an SEO specialist to help you rise up even higher.

Trusting Wix or GoDaddy

These platforms are not bad at what they do. But they’re pretty limited in their potential. Critically, they’re very difficult to move away from if you want to keep your existing website.

As a new business, it’s not a bad way to go. But eventually, you’re going to want something a bit more bespoke. You’ll have to be prepared to leave that first website behind, as you’ll struggle to get it away from these hosts.

A fresh start is always good though, and we’d encourage you to try these websites out as a new business to see what options are available on the market for you.

Lack of responsiveness

This one is obvious. You probably already knew that making your website look great on mobile was an important part of modern website building, seeing as more people than ever are using their mobile internet to look up your business.

When people are laid in bed at night, blue light from their screen illuminating their face, they may remember about your business. Now they’ve got some downtime, they’ll look you up. If your website doesn’t work properly, you may be losing that customer forever.

Making a website mobile responsive isn’t easy. There are tricks that many website builders such as Wix or Elementor (for WordPress) may be able to help with, but it’s difficult to get it spot on. You have been warned!

Inconsistent branding

Whether you’ve got the best logo in the world or the worst, people will still need to see it.

It should take pride and place on your website, which is why we probably recommend you get some seriously good branding done.

Sticking to your brand colours and fonts will help create more of an identity that extends to your website, your social media and any print materials you create.

The first step to becoming a bigger brand is taking every effort to look like one.

What’s the best tip to avoid all these mistakes?

You should talk to us. Yep, this is the sales-y bit. But it’s honest – we’re really good at building custom websites that are fully bespoke, super-fast and built to last.

We’ve built over 500+ websites for clients all over the globe, giving them the best chance to be found online, as well as impressing their potential customers when they find them.

Want to see some proof? Boom. Check these out for size.

Ready to talk to an expert? Let’s talk about what we can do for you.

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How your business can make the most of social media.

When it’s done properly, social media can generate new customers, retain existing customers and help your business brand become more positive. Here are the key things you need to think about when you’re setting out on a journey to social stardom.

So – what’s social all about?

It’s not about posts where you’re ramming your products down people’s throats, hoping they’ll start throwing money at you.

It’s not about a single Facebook post showing off your latest macchiato. Even if it’s got an extra-cool logo in the foam.

It’s about nurturing your existing audience, growing it and reminding people why they can trust you. Importantly, using social media effectively as a business requires effort, consistency and commitment.

We know. That doesn’t sound awfully fun. But here’s the thing. When it’s done properly, social media can generate new customers, retain existing customers and help your business brand become more positive.

Here are the key things you need to think about when you’re setting out on a journey to social stardom.

Who you’re talking to

Firstly, we’ve got to figure out who you’re talking to. This is a biggie.

If you’ve got personas of your audiences, great! If you haven’t, then it’s time to start thinking about your ideal customer.

Importantly, depending on what platform you’re using, you’ll need to consider if they’re actively using it. For example, if you’re a business reaching out to 16-18 year olds to sell the next big thing in useless fun (see fidget spinners) – you’re probably not going to find them on Linkedin.

What you’re saying

Your core messaging should be pre-determined and consistent. That’s going to offer the best chance of success, but also allows for a set of call-to-actions that can be measured on their effectiveness.

After a few months, you might realise that the hard sell isn’t working, and nobody is knocking on the door begging to buy your latest eBook. Which is a shame, because we’d heard it was really good.

But you may realise that the softer sell, pushing customers towards your FAQ section or video content, is proving more effective.

Social media content is always changing, but it’s important that you try and determine your voice and your intended targets for your content as early as possible.

How you’re saying it

Are you being too forceful? Too casual? Similar to your messaging, it’s important that you’re getting the tone of voice correct within your social media posts.

When you’ve got five different members of staff, who all communicate differently, posting to your social channels, it can be hard for your audience to get a grasp of your brand identity.

Prior to any social media campaign, you should ensure you’re talking in one clear voice that is targeted at your ideal customer.

Why you’re saying it

In a world with plenty of fluff, fodder and nonsense – don’t add fuel to the fire.

You should be communicating clearly to your audience, providing a mixture of free value, education, engagement and sales content that will generate emotional responses that, in turn, generate sales.

Don’t lose sight of your goals just because you’re focused on engagement. As we said at the start of the blog, you might get plenty of likes on a picture of a coffee but, vanity metrics aside, is it making them any more likely to buy from you?

What may make them more likely to buy is a sense of value and entertainment from following your page.

So – what’ll it be?

Nurturing your audience in the long term with a perfect cocktail of content is our jam. Our bread and butter. Our…. yeah, ok, that was probably enough anyway.

If you want to carry on doing your own social media posting, using our blog as a guide – that’s great. We love being able to help businesses get seen online.

But if you’re thinking maaaaybe you’d rather let us take care of it. Y’know, save time, get better content and get to work with us every month – we’d love to chat.

Give us a call on 023 80 000 212. Rather a callback? Drop us an email at [email protected].

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Everything you need to know about the swap to Google Analytics 4

Google Analytics 4 is the next-generation of Google Analytics, replacing Universal Analytics. The sooner you transition to GA4, the sooner you can start collecting new data.

Google know their stuff. And they also know your stuff, too. Google Analytics has been the most popular tool for tracking the traffic on your website since its inception in 2005.

It’s now time for Google Analytics 4. From the 1st of July 2023, they’ll be switching to their latest Analytics tool that will help them track data more effectively.

What is GA4?

Google Analytics 4 is the next-generation of Google Analytics, replacing Universal Analytics (UA). This is a modern take on the original analytics tool, with an increased focus on mobile and app tracking rather than solely desktop web browsing.

In a world where the way we search and browse the internet is changing, it’s important that the way that data is tracked changes too.

Why are they making the swap?

In today’s measurement landscape, businesses need to navigate new challenges when trying to make sense of the complex, multi-platform journeys of their customers. User privacy is more important than ever, too.

According to Google’s press release, Google Analytics 4 “is designed with privacy at its core to provide a better experience for both our customers and their users. It helps businesses meet evolving needs and user expectations, with more comprehensive and granular controls for data collection and usage.”

Why does it matter?

After 1st July 2023, their Universal Analytics tool will cease to operate. For the six-month period that follows this, you’ll be able to access your old data. However, after this date, you’ll lose access to ALL of your old data. That means Google won’t be storing it on their servers.

The sooner you transition to GA4, the sooner you can start collecting new data. That gives you over a year of new data to collect before you lose access to the old collection.

We are encouraging clients to make the switch ASAP and start building a new analytics database to help with their future research and marketing.

What happens to my data?

Six months after 1st July 2023, your data will be removed from Google’s servers. Until this time, you’ll be able to access it and download your historical data and reports.

It is highly recommended that you download this data before it is removed from Google’s servers.

How can freestyle help?

For our clients, it’s our responsibility to update their GA tool to GA4. We will be working through our list to ensure you’re building your new database within GA4 as soon as possible.

Got a question? That’s ok. It can be a little confusing. Give us a call and we can talk you through what these changes mean. If you want to be prioritised, talk to our team and we can make it happen.

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SEO vs PPC – What’s going to be the best for your business?

You might not know much about these two terms; after all, our world is full of crazy jargon and acronyms, it can be hard to keep up. Put simply, SEO and PPC are both great methods of generating traffic to your website.


You might not know much about these two terms; after all, our world is full of crazy jargon and acronyms, it can be hard to keep up. Put simply, SEO and PPC are both great methods of generating traffic to your website.

When utilised efficiently, both SEO and PPC can deliver the goods. We have plenty of experience at Freestyle in both SEO and PPC, and our expert team works hard to make sure your campaign is as good as it can be.

Not sure which one your business needs? We can help there, too.

Maybe you’re brand new to the concept of SEO, or you may have dipped your toes in the PPC pool before now. Below you can find some facts and advice regarding both SEO and PPC to help figure out the best solution for your business.

SEO – Search Engine Optimisation

SEO is a process built around increasing the visibility of your website in search engines such as Google. By creating content that contains the search terms people are actively looking for, you can find yourself higher up the Google rankings and get more people clicking on your website.

The positives of SEO are that you will garner consistent results in the long run. Organic traffic generation has great staying power and once you’ve built a reputation, you can keep it up by simply continuing what you’re doing. Also, by researching trending keywords or specific keywords more likely to generate conversions (see our blog here), you can optimise your website for what people are actively searching. Become the best answer to their searches

However, SEO takes time. It’s not always an overnight success and it can take consistent content and optimisation to achieve real benefits. You’ll also need to be creating regular, authoritative content which ranks well in order to maximise your chances of success.

Sometimes this can be off-putting but will be worth it once you’ve earned your place at the top of Google.

PPC – Pay Per Click

PPC, also known as paid search, is the process of using Google Ads to garner increased traffic to your website. These are the adverts you see at the top of Google when you search ‘local pizza delivery’ or ‘amazing web design agency in Southampton’

PPC generates results quickly. When you find yourself on the first page of Google overnight, you’d better be ready for increased traffic and leads. If you’ve got your website looking great and a marketing budget to match your business aspirations, this could be your ideal route forward. Similarly to SEO, you can also research search traffic, but with PPC you can bid on the search terms you feel will generate you the most leads.

But, as the name suggests, paid search costs money. And after long campaigns, the price of your PPC campaign can begin to cost more and more. It’s a fantastic solution to generate quality traffic quickly, but unless you have a big budget – it may not be the best choice in the long run.

Overview

So right now you’re probably thinking ‘whoa, they both sound pretty good guys!’

That’s a bingo.

As you can tell, SEO is great for long term strategy and PPC is the #1 choice for quick returns. There is a great solution for every business when it comes to search – you just need someone to help you figure out what that looks like.

Enter, Freestyle Digital. Call us the digital lollypop men, because we love directing traffic. 🚦

If you want to chat with one of our team about SEO or PPC, we’d be happy to talk it over. Give us a call on 023 92 062 194 or drop us an email. We promise we won’t make any more terrible jokes if you do.

P.S. Apparently we have a habit of comparing stuff on our blog. If you haven’t already, we’d encourage you to check out our recent blog discussing UI vs UX.

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The good, the bad and the ugly – what your website says about you

Your website says an awful lot about you. Are you providing the right message?

Your website is your digital shopfront. Open all hours, taking orders, answering questions and generating leads. It’s pretty important, right?

Many people think it’s as simple as setting up a preset website, adding a logo and a phone number and waiting for the leads to roll in. If only. Whilst it’s great to have a top of the range, flashy new website – it’s most important that it is suited to your business and built for your needs.

How many times have you visited a website and judged a company based on what you’ve found? We’d wager quite a few. This is why your website needs to showcase your brand accurately.

We’ve compiled a list of website quirks we encounter, both positive and negative, and how they can affect the public opinion of your business.

An outdated, malfunctioning site ❌

We get it. Sometimes there are other things to prioritise, or maybe you’re far too busy to sit and worry about a new website. But this is your digital shopfront. Would you open your shop on the high street every morning with a rickety old sign out front and a smashed glass door panel?

What it says about you
It indicates that you’re not too fussed about being online. It’s not for everyone – that’s ok. But if you are bothered about being online, you shouldn’t be happy with this. Visitors may even think you’ve ceased trading. Imagine turning customers away the second they walk in…

A modern, professional site ✅

A modern website is a necessity in the new digital world we find ourselves in. But it’s not just having a website that’s important. A website that represents your brand, is optimised for the growing mobile audience and has relevant, important info about your company? That’s the ticket.

What it says about you
You want to show the world what you can do. Building your business and getting your services seen by the right people is a priority. You’re a modern business that understands the digital world and values communication with its audience. Go you!

Random colours, fonts and images ❌

It can be easy to go crazy during the design process and throw in some lovely looking fonts and colours. But people expect to see something recognisable and we love a consistent brand identity. People may enter your website and not be sure they’re in the right place.

What it says about you
You have a scattergun approach to branding. Maybe you aren’t proud of what you do, or don’t really care about your own identity. Gulp.

Logo, colour scheme and imagery matching your branding ✅

Showing off your brand name with pride and matching any other branding is a must for your website. It lets people know they’re in the right place, most importantly, but also shows a level of care for your brand identity. The more committed you are to your brand, the more memorable you will become.

What it says about you
You own your brand. Your branding is wicked and you want to tell the world about it. From the logo all the way to the random social media post, you’ve got this.

Irrelevant content, not specific to your business ❌

Investing in a swanky new website will be great for your business, and you will definitely reap the benefits. But, if you don’t fill it with the right content – you’re going to be in trouble.

Poor copy or low-quality imagery can put people off and make a bad first impression to your visitors. There’s no doubt that spelling mistakes, irrelevant information and dodgy photoshops are not going to do you any favours when trying to show off your brand.

What it says about you
You’ve got a good website, but it’s impersonal. You might have not got around to getting the copy or images sorted properly, but you just wanted to get your website live anyway. You may be doing more harm than good.

Relevant, up to date content about YOU ✅

By using great copy and high-quality images, you can make your website pop. Standing out from the crowd is important in the modern market and personal, professional content built around your business goals benefits both you and your customers.

What it says about you
You value your brand, the people behind it and want to talk to your audience rather than at them. This goes a long way to building a relationship with a potential new customer.

As a web design agency, it’s our job to make sure your business is represented as well as possible online. But, there is no one size fits all solution. If you’re unhappy with your website or how it is performing – let’s chat.

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SEO Keyword Intent – Why Aren’t We Talking About It?

Different searches are often going to present different results. But – how important are the keywords you’re choosing? Very.

Keyword intent in SEO. Haven’t heard much about it? You’re not alone. Put simply, keyword intent is the concept of why people are searching for what they search. This can be important in making sure you are targeting the right people, who want to ‘buy BMW’ rather than know what ‘BMW’ stands for.

It is hard to gauge what EVERY searcher is looking for. But there are general rules of thumb that give us clues about what people actually want.

We bet you’re thinking “yeah, keyword intent is cool, but what’s it got to do with me, Freestyle?”

We bet you’re also thinking “hey – I didn’t say that!”. But we needed a segue, so…

Here is an example of how important keyword intent can be in changing the quality of traffic visiting your website.

Example: The Southampton Accountancy Company

Imagine you own an accountancy firm in Southampton. Maybe also imagine that it isn’t the start of the year, so you aren’t buried under copious amounts of tax returns.

You’re looking to boost your website hits using SEO and are toying with a few ideas for keywords.

Accountants Services

Whilst this may explain what you do, it is awfully vague.

It is more likely that people searching this term are interested in knowing more about what accountants do, rather than being ready to work with you. This is known as informational intent. It’s generally worth avoiding, in our opinion.

Accountants in Hampshire

Some quick research will tell you that the search volume for this term is big – that’s good, right?

Not necessarily. It is easy to be drawn towards targeting terms with bigger search volumes as the numbers are often appealing. But it is always about quality over quantity when it comes to SEO. You may get some rankings with the help of some SEO experts (ahem…), but it might not lead to the most leads. More likely these searchers are just exploring their options, which is known as commercial investigation.

That being said, it can be better to target traffic at a county-level but it just really depends on the industry. At Freestyle, we make data-driven decisions in how we target your SEO, bringing you the best possible results. 

Accountants in Southampton

This search term is similar to the above but, by pinpointing their location, the searcher has given away that they are seriously looking to get in touch with someone. This is where you come in!

The search volume may be lower for this term. But by ensuring you’re at the top of the list when someone searches for this term, you’re increasing the quality of your website visitors.

TL; DR: Keyword intent and your business

If you’re B2C – try to rank for ‘buy [your item]’. These people want to buy – and they probably want it right now.

B2B? don’t be afraid to target a more accurate search term with a smaller volume. Those visitors may be fewer, but they will be much more inclined to contact you.

We are always happy to talk about SEO with businesses – it’s what we do. We try to make the process simple to understand and explain how we can help you. Contact us or book a meeting to chat about search intent.

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