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Why Local Businesses Must Invest in Online Marketing in 2023

In SEO by Ryan Freeman

Hello, local business owners! We know times are tough, and the economy is a bit shaky. But guess what? This is not the time to be timid and pull back on your online marketing. In 2023, it’s more important than ever. Here’s why. The Power of SEO First off, let’s talk about SEO. That stands for Search Engine Optimization. Sounds fancy, right? But it’s actually pretty simple. SEO is all about making your business show up when people search for things online. Imagine someone in your town is looking for the best pizza place. They type “best pizza near me” …

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Bloom and Grow Online: A Local SEO Offer for Retail Florists

In SEO by Ryan Freeman

Hey there, floral friends! You know the thrill of receiving a fresh bouquet, the rich aroma of the blooms and the instant uplift they provide. You make that magic happen every day in your shop, but what about on the web? Making your floral business flourish online requires some gardening of a different kind, and that’s where Local SEO comes in. Let’s dive into it, petal by petal! A Seed of Thought: Local Organic Search First off, let’s chat about local organic search. It’s like the sun to your digital flowers – the key element helping your online presence bloom. …

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Why Review Gating Is a Bad Idea for Your Business

In Tips by Ryan Freeman

Online reviews can make or break your brand. This is why businesses feel the pressure to manipulate the review process through practices such as “review gating.” But this can cause more harm than good in the long run. Keep reading to find out how review gating can undermine the integrity of your reviews and negatively impact your online presence and brand credibility. What Is Review Gating? Before we discuss why review gating is a harmful reputation management practice, let’s first take the time to understand what the term actually means. Review gating is a process by which companies cherry-pick positive …

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Google Shops Info for Ecommerce Sites

In Ecommerce by Strider Writing Team

Every second, Google introduces a substantial fraction of the world’s buyers to new products and retailers that might otherwise go unnoticed. Each and every hour. Every single day. In fact, the search engine is the source of 36% of all product queries.Businesses who wish to be seen by customers as they shop online must first create a trustworthy online store. Using a website builder with comprehensive business features and a range of online store themes, merchants may do so without difficulty. Once a store is up and running, a good eCommerce marketing plan that emphasizes products throughout the whole purchase …

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The Truth About Google Business Profile Keyword Spam

In SEO by Ryan Freeman

According to the 2021 Local Search Ranking Factors report, your Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business/GMB) is the most heavily weighted factor that influences your Local Pack ranking. (It even has a not-insignificant influence on your organic ranking, too!) It’s understandable, then, that making the tweaks and pulling the levers that optimize your GBP can be very valuable. And the temptation to transgress Google policy can be very strong indeed. Tempting for business owners, yes. But tempting also for SEO agencies looking for cheap quick wins to justify their fees. Which is why I’m so grateful that the first …

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How Google Processes URL Changes

In SEO by Strider Writing Team

Most people know that search engines like Google index the URL to specific pages on websites rather than simply primary website addresses. As you can appreciate, if you make changes to any URL structures on an indexed site, those URLs can become invalid and result in HTTP 404 “not found” error pages. The answer, of course, is to mitigate those issues by having a website migration strategy. You can apply it to URL structures on a single website or if you move an entire website to a new domain name. Here’s what you need to know about making URL changes …

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Tips For Canadians Attending GLFEE

In Tips by Ryan Freeman

It’s no secret that the Great Lakes Floral & Event Expo is my favourite event of the year to attend. And as someone with very little appreciation for cold weather, that says I lot that I look forward to travelling to Grand Rapids in March each year! The education programming is always top notch (and not just because they sometimes let teach a session or two!), and the attendance is always strong. GLFEE draws a good crowd of great people from several surrounding states, and also from Canada. This year, though, travel to Michigan might give Canadian florists an extra …

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6 Website Design Trends for 2021 and Beyond

In Ecommerce by Strider Writing Team

The web is constantly changing and evolving. if you want your ecommerce site to stay ahead of the curve, it’s essential to know what trends are coming down the pipeline to be prepared for them. That’s why we’re taking a look at six key website design trends that will shape the future of websites in the months and years to come. 6 Ecommerce Website Design Trends for 2021 and Beyond 1. Augmented Reality (AR) The capabilities of Augmented Reality are becoming more and more impressive. As a result, AR will play a crucial role in mobile marketing moving forward, allowing …