https://efferentmedia.com/blog/topic/seo/ Technical SEO, local search, map pack rankings and town-level landing pages for Long Island businesses. en-us Tue, 06 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://efferentmedia.com/blog/holiday-hours-costing-you-calls/ https://efferentmedia.com/blog/holiday-hours-costing-you-calls/ Tue, 06 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Six weeks where your hours change twice and half the internet still shows the old ones. A customer who calls a number listed as open and gets nothing does not conclude you are closed. Jennifer Marlowe https://efferentmedia.com/blog/service-area-not-radius-long-island/ https://efferentmedia.com/blog/service-area-not-radius-long-island/ Thu, 27 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000 A circle on a map includes water, parkland and towns you would never send a crew to. Long Island punishes radius targeting harder than almost any market in the country, and the fix is a list of towns rather than a number of miles. Mike Roberts https://efferentmedia.com/blog/google-business-profile-winter-contractor/ https://efferentmedia.com/blog/google-business-profile-winter-contractor/ Thu, 23 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000 The profile is a storefront that decides whether you appear in the map pack, and most contractor profiles here are half filled in. What to complete, what to post, what to ignore, and the three fields that only matter in winter. Mike Roberts https://efferentmedia.com/blog/debunking-seo-myths/ https://efferentmedia.com/blog/debunking-seo-myths/ Thu, 28 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Search Engine Optimization and Digital Marketing are industries that have spawned their fair share of misinterpretations and myths. Years of interacting with esoteric rules, invisible algorithms, and surface explanations for website ranking phenomena… it has led to various beliefs and answers for. Staff Writer https://efferentmedia.com/blog/google-changes-e-a-t-to-e-e-a-t/ https://efferentmedia.com/blog/google-changes-e-a-t-to-e-e-a-t/ Thu, 25 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000 In SEO, E.A.T. isn’t about food. It’s Google’s guidelines for quality content and website ranking factors. However, Google recently updated its guidelines and the name so now its “E.E.A.T.”. Besides making the term more distinctive, it’s also adding additional considerations and nuance to how. Staff Writer https://efferentmedia.com/blog/no-one-can-guarantee-google-rankings/ https://efferentmedia.com/blog/no-one-can-guarantee-google-rankings/ Thu, 11 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Nobody controls Google, so nobody can guarantee a position in it. The useful question is not whether a guarantee is real. It is what a company promises when it cannot promise rankings. Staff Writer https://efferentmedia.com/blog/what-is-duplicate-content-and-why-is-it-bad/ https://efferentmedia.com/blog/what-is-duplicate-content-and-why-is-it-bad/ Thu, 16 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0000 The duplicate content problem that actually costs local service businesses money is not plagiarism. It is fifteen town pages that differ by one word, and it is self-inflicted. Staff Writer https://efferentmedia.com/blog/why-do-you-need-google-ads/ https://efferentmedia.com/blog/why-do-you-need-google-ads/ Thu, 23 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0000 You want to promote your business… but with ads everywhere, it’s hard to decide what to use. Not only are there Google Ads, Facebook ads, and conventional print and TV ads – but you can also find ads inside apps of all kinds and even at the pump while getting gas. With all of these Staff Writer https://efferentmedia.com/blog/navigating-the-google-business-profile-dashboard/ https://efferentmedia.com/blog/navigating-the-google-business-profile-dashboard/ Thu, 01 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0000 One of Google’s best-known tools for businesses across the world and local marketing efforts is Google Business Profiles. But you might better remember this as “Google My Business.” Though, in actuality, this tool has changed its name numerous times… starting out as Google Local Business Center. Staff Writer https://efferentmedia.com/blog/google-loosens-restrictions-for-some-medical-ads/ https://efferentmedia.com/blog/google-loosens-restrictions-for-some-medical-ads/ Thu, 13 Oct 2022 00:00:00 +0000 In recent months, Google Ads has implemented substantial changes to its platform and policies. The advertising juggernaut eliminated Expanded Text Ads, updated Smart Shopping campaigns to Performance Max, updated ad accounts to data-driven attribution, and announced that the much-feared, often. Staff Writer https://efferentmedia.com/blog/tips-for-marketing-your-dental-practice/ https://efferentmedia.com/blog/tips-for-marketing-your-dental-practice/ Thu, 11 Aug 2022 00:00:00 +0000 Most dental marketing advice optimizes for new patient volume. The practices that grow optimize for chair time, case acceptance and the patients who come back. Here is the difference, and what to change first. Staff Writer https://efferentmedia.com/blog/featured-snippets-3-things-that-digital-marketers-need-to-know/ https://efferentmedia.com/blog/featured-snippets-3-things-that-digital-marketers-need-to-know/ Thu, 10 Mar 2022 00:00:00 +0000 Featured snippets have become an essential SEO factor in increasing traffic to your website without having to pay for ads. This helps businesses stand out as an authority and leader in their industry. If you’ve never heard of a featured snippet, don’t worry. We’ll dive into this more for you below. Staff Writer https://efferentmedia.com/blog/why-cant-i-find-myself-ads-site-on-google-a-quick-faq/ https://efferentmedia.com/blog/why-cant-i-find-myself-ads-site-on-google-a-quick-faq/ Thu, 23 Dec 2021 00:00:00 +0000 As a Search Engine Optimization team, we spend most of our time improving a client’s profile so users can find it for specific keywords on search engines – and by search engines, we mean Google. As the default browser for most Internet users, Google controls the lion’s share of search traffic. Staff Writer https://efferentmedia.com/blog/online-reputation-management-for-the-healthcare-industry/ https://efferentmedia.com/blog/online-reputation-management-for-the-healthcare-industry/ Thu, 10 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Responding to a patient review is the one reputation task where the obvious reply is the dangerous one. Acknowledging that someone is your patient is itself a disclosure. Staff Writer https://efferentmedia.com/blog/top-healthcare-digital-marketing-tips-for-2021/ https://efferentmedia.com/blog/top-healthcare-digital-marketing-tips-for-2021/ Thu, 22 Apr 2021 00:00:00 +0000 The past year was difficult for many. Yet here at Efferent Media, our healthcare clients had a good year, unlike many of their competitors. As circumstances change for 2021, here are marketing tips to make it the best year yet for your healthcare practice. Staff Writer https://efferentmedia.com/blog/google-guaranteed-everything-you-need-to-know/ https://efferentmedia.com/blog/google-guaranteed-everything-you-need-to-know/ Thu, 18 Mar 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Local Service Ads sit above every other result, charge per lead instead of per click, and carry a Google-backed guarantee. They are the best first dollar for some businesses and a poor fit for others. Here is which is which. Staff Writer https://efferentmedia.com/blog/what-is-white-hat-seo-and-why-should-you-care/ https://efferentmedia.com/blog/what-is-white-hat-seo-and-why-should-you-care/ Thu, 18 Feb 2021 00:00:00 +0000 The difference between legitimate SEO and the cheap version is not ethics in the abstract. It is whether the work survives contact with an algorithm update, and who is left holding the damage. Staff Writer https://efferentmedia.com/blog/google-guaranteed-ppc-seo-100-local-marketing/ https://efferentmedia.com/blog/google-guaranteed-ppc-seo-100-local-marketing/ Thu, 04 Feb 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Marketing a local business can be stressful and difficult. As a business owner, you need to ensure that every dollar you spend on marketing is invested wisely. Hundreds of services “guarantee” an unbelievable ROI (return on investment) and an unprecedented new business volume. We would advise. Staff Writer https://efferentmedia.com/blog/your-website-is-a-form-of-reputation-management/ https://efferentmedia.com/blog/your-website-is-a-form-of-reputation-management/ Thu, 07 Jan 2021 00:00:00 +0000 What is reputation management? Essentially, it’s making sure that your brand is squeaky clean (or as much as possible) in the eyes of your prospective customers. This doesn’t only involve your Google and Facebook reviews though; in fact, a major component to your brand’s online reputation is your. Staff Writer https://efferentmedia.com/blog/google-my-business-hijacking-what-to-know-and-how-to-prevent-it/ https://efferentmedia.com/blog/google-my-business-hijacking-what-to-know-and-how-to-prevent-it/ Fri, 20 Nov 2020 00:00:00 +0000 Google My Business (GMB) pages are a vital component of local and overall SEO. When GMB pages are optimized, they provide critical information to customers including contact information, reviews, service catalog, and more. As the pandemic continues, the value of GMB pages has never been more vital. Staff Writer https://efferentmedia.com/blog/what-is-content-marketing/ https://efferentmedia.com/blog/what-is-content-marketing/ Fri, 13 Nov 2020 00:00:00 +0000 While the term may sound self-explanatory, many people are reluctant to admit that they’re not sure what content marketing actually is. Content marketing is defined as a form of marketing which focuses on creating, publishing, and distributing content for a targeted online audience. Seems simple. Staff Writer https://efferentmedia.com/blog/5ish-tips-for-seo-blog-post-writing-from-an-seo-blogger/ https://efferentmedia.com/blog/5ish-tips-for-seo-blog-post-writing-from-an-seo-blogger/ Fri, 30 Oct 2020 00:00:00 +0000 Most contractor blogs are an expense with no return. A few are the cheapest lead source the business has. The difference is entirely in what the posts are about. Staff Writer https://efferentmedia.com/blog/major-changes-shake-up-google-ads-and-what-they-mean/ https://efferentmedia.com/blog/major-changes-shake-up-google-ads-and-what-they-mean/ Fri, 18 Sep 2020 00:00:00 +0000 Despite the ongoing turbulence currently engulfing the world, Google Ads has rolled out several new changes to the Internet’s largest ad distribution system in recent months. Staff Writer https://efferentmedia.com/blog/e-a-t-what-is-it-and-why-is-it-so-important-for-seo/ https://efferentmedia.com/blog/e-a-t-what-is-it-and-why-is-it-so-important-for-seo/ Mon, 24 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000 For SEO, staying up to date with Google’s recommendations is the name of the game, and while the EAT guidelines aren’t new, they’re taking on increased importance. In regards to SEO, EAT stands for Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness. It was first referenced in leaked documents from. Staff Writer https://efferentmedia.com/blog/how-to-boost-seo-using-schema-markup/ https://efferentmedia.com/blog/how-to-boost-seo-using-schema-markup/ Thu, 21 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000 Most schema advice lists forty types you could add. For a local service business, four of them do the work and the rest are noise. Here is which, and what schema does not do. Staff Writer https://efferentmedia.com/blog/verifying-your-google-my-business-listing/ https://efferentmedia.com/blog/verifying-your-google-my-business-listing/ Fri, 02 Nov 2018 00:00:00 +0000 !!! Please note that an online marketing company in California is placing ads to recruit people to receive Google My Business verification postcards. When applicants ask questions, they’re given the link to this article. Efferent Media is NOT associated with any such efforts, and we’re based in New. Staff Writer https://efferentmedia.com/blog/your-non-mobile-friendly-website-and-seo/ https://efferentmedia.com/blog/your-non-mobile-friendly-website-and-seo/ Thu, 12 Feb 2015 00:00:00 +0000 Mobile usage has taken over as leader for total web usage. I remember hearing that prediction in 2008 and thinking, “That’s just insane!”. In 2008, Mary Meeker, an analyst at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers said that mobile would surpass desktop usage for online browsing. She couldn’t have been. Staff Writer https://efferentmedia.com/blog/will-spelling-errors-hurt-my-seo/ https://efferentmedia.com/blog/will-spelling-errors-hurt-my-seo/ Thu, 13 Feb 2014 00:00:00 +0000 This week, Matt Cutts (@mattcutts) released a quick 1-minute video on YouTube, answering the question, “Should I correct the grammar of comments on my blog?” While the focus of the video is about misspelled comments or comments that use bad grammar, the bigger takeaway was the acknowledgement that. Staff Writer