And when you're looking for the closest shoe store, tax accountant or dentist, Google Maps swings into action, showing you the top businesses in your area. 

Making sure your business is listed on Maps is a must. 

If you haven't already set up your Google Business Profile, here's how you can get started: How To Optimise Your Google My Business For Local SEO

Google Maps API takes that one step further, putting the map on your business (website). So, let's find out exactly how you can take advantage of that. 

What is Google Maps API?

Picture this: a user lands on your website, looking for your services. They find a sleek, interactive map highlighting your location, they can zoom in, view the area, and get a feel for what's around. This is Google Maps API at work. It's more than just showing a location; it's about creating an experience, a connection. 

It's a way to integrate Google Maps on your site, with personalised directions, in a matter of minutes. 

How is a Google Map integration going to help my business?

With the integration, you could showcase delivery routes and service areas, plan out itineraries, show off upcoming events and so much more. The best part is, you can customise it to match the look and feel of your site, fitting in seamlessly with your current user experience. 

It's also a powerful tool for local SEO. By integrating Google Maps, you're telling search engines exactly where you're located, boosting your chances of appearing in local searches. And in the world of digital marketing, visibility is key.

Still not convinced? Then let's talk stats. 

• Intoscana saw visitors spending 30% more time on average exploring site content after interacting with the Map
• Opodo users were 2x as likely to make a purchase as those that didn't use their Map
• NSCPCC saw a 54% conversion rate when they integrated the map with their form fills

And there are a lot more use cases, examples and evidence - the opportunities are endless. 

What is a Google Maps API key?

This is a bit of personalised code that actually allows the integration. Currently, the Google Maps Platform offers several API keys depending on what fits your business best. Some of these include:

• Maps Static API for a simple embedded Google Map - this feature doesn't allow much interaction but is a good way to just show one location with a map marker
• Maps Javascript API for more customisable options that allow user interaction
• Places API which can show off multiple points of interest, for example, if you have multiple offices or branches
• Directions API which, as the name suggests, gives you directions for a set route 
• Street View Static API which offers a non-interactive panorama of your location in a "real-world" view

And the list goes on. If you're not quite sure what API is right for you, check out Google's own API Picker to get you started!

How to set up Google Maps API

Before you can integrate, you'll need to create a Google Maps API key. This is free, though the use of the API does technically have a cost. But don't worry, Google also offers a very generous $300 trial credit in the first 90 days, and an additional $200 credit every single month. 

This covers you for 100,000 static map requests (views) each month, or 28,000 dynamic requests. So there's a lot of free usage to get through before you need to worry about being charged. 

So, let's get started!

The post How to set up Google Maps API: A step-by-step guide appeared first on Dilate Digital.

But doing a technical audit is no small feat. So let's break it down.

What is a technical SEO audit?

Put simply, it's a pulse check on whether you've got your technical SEO down pat. Often overshadowed by its more popular flashy cousins, off-page and on-page SEO, technical SEO is the unseen backbone of your SEO campaign.

It’s not just about identifying problems but also about finding opportunities to improve and optimise your website for better user experience and search engine rankings.

What is technical SEO?

While on-page and off-page SEO impact your site's relevance and authority, technical SEO actually determines how easy it is for search engine crawlers to read your site and understand, to even judge those other SEO elements.

It looks at your site architecture, speed, security, URL structure and so much more. All the on-page optimisation in the world won't help you get higher on Google search results if the search engine can't even see the good work you're doing!

Good technical SEO means:

• Improved website visibility on search engines
• A better user experience for people who land on your website
• Better search engine rankings
• Less crawl errors so that web crawlers can efficiently scan your site
• Optimised mobile performance for users who like to browse on their phones
• Faster site speed (which also helps user experience)
• Secure browsing for all visitors

Why should you do a technical SEO audit?

As we said, you can't set-and-forget when it comes to digital marketing, and technical SEO is no exception. The world, and search engines, move fast. Things are always changing and those who think that good implementation is enough, are going to be left behind very quickly.

Your technical SEO audit can be as regular as you need and as detailed or quick as you want. It depends on your strategy, time, current organic traffic, goals, algorithm updates and more. Things like how frequently new content is added to the site, how hefty the site structure is, and so on can also demand more regular audits.

It may sound like a lot of work, but don't worry. We're going to simplify it all for you, so you can get as efficient as possible.

Tools you'll need for a technical SEO audit

Before you get started, make sure you have all the tools in place. You may need to sign up for accounts or subscriptions with some of these services, depending on how detailed you need to do your audit. We've compiled a handy list to get you started but we'll name a few more specific ones as we go:

• Screaming Frog for crawling your site (free up to 500 URLs)
• Google Search Console for insights on keywords driving traffic to your site, search performance and more.
• Google PageSpeed Insights tool to tell you about individual page performance
• SEMrush Site Audit tool for performance analysis and finding errors
• Lighthouse audit extension for analysing the core web vitals score of each page
• Checkbot extension for quickly picking up any errors or broken links

How to do a technical SEO audit in 10 steps

Alrighty, let's get into it. We've created a comprehensive guide on everything you need to know to do your first technical audit. Your audit process may change in the future as not every item needs to be checked every time. You'll need to find the right balance for your site audit, and come up with your own up-to-date audit checklist as you go.

The post Mastering technical SEO audits in just 10 easy steps appeared first on Dilate Digital.

Whether you’re an SEO newbie or a tried and true marketer, one thing is clear. The digital space is fast-paced and ever-changing, and reading the best SEO blogs is crucial to your business success. Advances in technology, updates to search engines' algorithms, improvements in AI, evolving consumer behaviour– all of it impacts the way we do marketing as businesses.

It’s not easy, this constant change. To survive, your SEO strategy needs to be both proactive and adaptive to such changes. Businesses that can embrace change and creatively respond to it are more robust by light years.

Knowing that you need to stay on top of your SEO game is one thing, but putting it into action is another. You have to go beyond keeping up with industry trends... you have to stay ahead of them. And what better way to do that than reading & following some of the best SEO blogs written by the top dogs in the SEO game? 

To help achieve our goal of being the go-to people for SEO in Perth, we appreciate the many blogs that we currently rely on for the digital down low. Over the years we’ve filtered through the many (and we mean many!) SEO blogs on the web. 

So if you want some good reading material to follow, but don’t know where to start, you’re in luck. We’ve compiled a list of our personal top 30 SEO blogs that we reckon are some of the best SEO blogs out there. 

But first– let’s officially kick this blog off with a few FAQs we get about learning SEO…

Where can I learn SEO for free?

We get it. The term 'Search Engine Optimisation' alone can sound a bit intimidating to most newbies (and sometimes even veterans) in the digital space. This really doesn’t have to be the case. There are so many great and informative blogs out there today, making it fairly easy to get your hands on decent content. Well, at least a tonne easier than it was a decade ago! Websites such as Moz and Builtvisible, are even generous enough to share a bunch of tutorials catering for a range of different SEO skill levels. If you want to dive into self-directed SEO learning, we recommend starting with the best SEO blogs listed below!

How long does it take to learn SEO?

Like with most skills, before you see a great result you need to invest in the learning process. No one's born knowing how to ride a bike and the same goes for SEO. Learning SEO is different for everyone, but it does come down to one major thing: practice! The more time you spend practising riding your bike, the sooner you’ll be competing in the Tour de France. 

While practice is vital to your growth in the SEO atmosphere, ongoing learning is equally important. If you're looking to conquer the search engines in 2024, you have to be eager learners ready to adapt and thrive. 

In summary: you never really stop learning SEO. But to get to a solid working knowledge that you can start applying to your website– it’s largely dependent on YOU. Your dedication. Your commitment. And your hunger to launch your website to the top of the SEO atmosphere. It’s in your hands.

What makes for good SEO blog content? 

Good question. There's a lot of content out there on the internet and it's hard to know who is giving you the right advice. When we're looking for new quality content and doing our own research, we're picking blogs that offer:

• Easily understood breakdowns on search engine algorithm updates
• Actionable insights on every aspect of SEO from website optimisation to content creation
• Consistent updates on changes to best practice
• Personal experiences, learning and case studies
• In-depth how-to guides

And more! All of which can be found in our cherry-picked list below. 

The best SEO blogs to follow & read in 2024

The post 30 Best SEO Blogs you should be reading in 2024 appeared first on Dilate Digital.

A crucial element of achieving and maintaining a strong online presence is having an understanding of the subtleties of SEO. SEO is influenced by a number of things, however search intent is one of the most important, as it allows you to better understand how and why users are landing on your website, and therefore better shape your online content around this.

The post The power of search intent in refining your content strategy appeared first on Dilate Digital.

Efforts towards better SEO will benefit your website, even if you don’t see results with your ranking straight away. Improvements in user experience, speeding up your website and making high quality content are smart moves regardless of ranking and good for any brand. 

However, getting true and lasting results with SEO is a big process, requiring a high time commitment. You see, SEO is a long term marketing strategy that requires nurturing to grow into something fruitful. The good news is, when you put in the time and effort, you’ll get a bountiful harvest that keeps nourishing the growth of your brand long into the future.

The post How to start SEO yourself in 2023 the Dilate way appeared first on Dilate Digital.

In today's digital landscape, where competition is fierce and attention spans are barely attentive, businesses must employ effective marketing strategies to elevate their online visibility and brand awareness to capture the attention of their target audience. One such strategy that has proven to be indispensable is the integration of search engine optimisation (SEO) and content creation.

With SEO-driven content, businesses can increase their online presence, attract organic traffic, and enhance brand awareness. So let’s explore the digital world of SEO-driven content and how it can help businesses achieve their online visibility goals:

• Understand the role of SEO in online visibility
• Crafting engaging SEO-optimised content
• Understanding the power of long-tail keywords
• Building backlinks for authority and credibility
• Leveraging social media for content promotion

SEO-driven content is THE WAY to do content marketing moving forward. SEO and Content should not be considered separate marketing tools anymore, and instead, they need to work hand in hand to smash brand awareness and organic traffic. So let’s get into the meat of it all.

The post Elevating Online Visibility and Brand Awareness with SEO-Driven Content appeared first on Dilate Digital.

We know what you're thinking: PR and SEO are like two separate worlds, right? When these two forces join hands, magic happens: you can boost your business’s online visibility, your brand reputation skyrockets, and organic traffic starts to pour into your website. Sounds like a dream, doesn't it? So, let's dive headfirst into:

• How traditional PR outreach can become your secret weapon, strengthening your online presence and brand awareness like never before
• 4 ways you can implement traditional PR in your SEO strategy
• And 5 tips on finding SEO-friendly PR opportunities

The post Traditional PR can supercharge your SEO. Here’s how! appeared first on Dilate Digital.

In today's digital age, the market is overwhelmingly shopping and choosing providers online, which is why having a strong online presence is absolutely crucial. If you want to achieve your goals and stay ahead of the competition, it's essential to invest in an effective SEO strategy.

But we know it can be tough to know if it's working, especially if you’ve taken on an agency to run it for you. We’ve put together an easy-to-understand guide to help you:

1. Determine if your SEO strategy is paying off
2. Know what questions to ask your SEO agency for better transparency
3. Create a better SEO strategy yourself

The post How to know if SEO is working for my website appeared first on Dilate Digital.

Very rarely, if at all, right?

As consumers, we decide to make a purchase when we feel confident in our decision. Therefore, if businesses want their customers to take a particular action, they need to make their customers feel confident about it.

But what does confidence look like? How do you get a potential customer to feel confident in your product or service?

You build trust.

And how do you build trust? I thought you’d never ask.

Introducing *Cue Friends intro song* online reviews.

Positive reviews are really powerful for local businesses and could help increase conversion rates by up to 270%! The majority of consumers use reviews to check out if a business is trustworthy before deciding to buy their products or invest in their services.

In particular Google Business Profile reviews are a really big deal. You could call them your best friend for creating online trust and confidence in your customers and their purchase decisions.

The post How To Successfully Ask Your Clients For Google Reviews appeared first on Dilate Digital.

It’s no secret that marketing is an essential function of any business. In today's digital era, it’s all about digital marketing. Why? Because digital marketing reaches a larger crowd, gives you more bang for your buck, and measures results more accurately. But with the increasing competition and digital noise, the question in all business owners and marketing managers arises:

Should you invest in organic or paid marketing?

The right choice depends on many factors such as the nature of your business, target audience, and marketing objectives. 

We say to invest in both as the short answer. But as usual, there’s more to it. Let’s take a closer look at Organic Vs Paid Marketing and how you can use both in your next digital marketing strategy.

The post Organic VS Paid Marketing: Where to put your money in 2023? appeared first on Dilate Digital.