Story: Disclose a result of SEO practice

I wrote a blog, Digital Marketing 101 for Graphic/Web Designer – Local SEO, in March 2019. I mentioned Google Business Profile(ex. Google My Business) on it and I applied it myself.

Since then, I gradually received inquiries from local customers. I ask people all the time, how did you find my service? All most all the time, they searched “web designer, freelance, vancouver” “webflow, web designer, freelance, vancouver” on Google search and Google showed my business somehow. Normally email, sometimes they call me directly. These images are some of the recent proofs.

As a freelance, I sincerely appreciate the local customers. There are many people/agencies offer graphic/web design service in the city. A local customer has a lot of choices when they search for a graphic/web designer. How can we take different positioning from graphic/web designer Mr. A, Ms. B or digital design agency C?

Before we compete with other graphic/web designers, we have to be chosen on Google bots, ideally the 1st page, 2-3 page would be okay. Page 5 or below is as same as no exist in the world. You can understand that based on your experience on Google search.

If you haven’t registered Google Business Profile(ex. Google My Business) yet, it’s time to do it. If you already have it, let’s review it right now.

Problem: I have not updated Google Business Profile(ex. Google My Business) since I registered it
Goal: Review the quality of Google Business Profile(ex. Google My Business) and increase local presence

Google Search Console

*Update: August 13, 2022

Before talking about Google Business Profile, you must connect a website to Google Search Console. Many people know Google Analytics, but Google Search Console is equally important. If you are client position, you need to ask how web designer uses Google Search Console. If the web designer doesn’t know how to use it, you have to be careful.

Checklist:
– Index/Coverage
– Sitemaps
– Performance
– Error
– Queries

🌎 Digital Marketing 101 for Freelance Web/Graphic Designer – Google Search Console

Google Business Profile(ex. Google My Business)

How can we find a client? In other words, how can potential clients find us?

In my 2 years of practice, the answer is clear. It’s on Google. Sometimes reference works, but very few for me. People search, “web designer, freelance, Vancouver“. I intentionally use the word, web designer, as a keyword, rather than a graphic designer. I have 8+ experience as a graphic designer. I don’t have any worry about graphic design service, but the market has changed. People do not feel much value in graphic design. I also feel I cannot give much value to a client by graphic design. In addition, a client can find graphic designers online, somewhere in Asia. I am in Vancouver, BC, Canada. I cannot compete with people who live in developing countries.

I shifted my service to digital. Google shows my business on page 3.

Google likes Google. If you want Google to love your business, you have to use Google platform. Google My Business is fundamental.

©Wes McDowell

– Ideally, the Business name includes business type/category and location ✓✓✓
ex: Vancouver Web Design Inc. Vancouver Immigration & Visa Service Agency, Webflow Development Seattle Co.
*Looks silly, but it works. I tested it with other businesses. The main service+location is good for the early stage of business.
– I chose the country, but it doesn’t show up on Google Maps. I am not sure whether should I include the country on the website or not.
– Fill in service & description with keywords that people may search on Google
– Write business description with service name and location
– Add video if possible
– Geotag, I wrote this on the other blog
– Create a post for SEO ✓✓✓
*This is a tiny effort, but we need to appeal our existence to Google

©Wes McDowell

– Domain authority
– – Backlinks ✓✓✓
– Citation, business name, address(Must be exactly the same) and phone number
– Review ✓✓✓
– Reply to fake reviews professionally, We always dedicate us for provide the best customer experience. We love to make sure our customers satisfaction, but we have no record of working with you. Could you give us more details?
– Popularity, build a company’s reputation.
– Embed Google Maps on the website
– On-site SEO
– Proximity

Maintain regularly at Google My Business

©Zanet

– Regularly post photos
– Regularly post articles with relevant keywords and locations
– Add video

People may not read or click it, but that’s okay. Google knows what you do. I do post every 2 weeks for my business and for clients. I do include search keywords and location intentionally.

Google My Business Optimisation

©Ranking Academy

– Profile short name can change 3 times a year.
– Ask review, https://g.page/openbookmarksco/review
– Appointment links
– Photo increases engagement
– Don’t just add photos once. It should be regularly

©Ranking Academy

– Request a quote button, Google my business APP, message option
– Question and answers auto-suggests
– Create regular Google posts with rich content relevant to your business
– Increase your number of followers with an offer

How to Build Backlinks

©Ahrefs

– Backlink: Links from a page on one website to another

– Backlink quality
– – Topical relevant
– – Authority of backlinks, domain rating/URL rating

– How to check your backlinks
– – Google Search Console
– – Ahrefs

– How do you get Backlink?
– – Earn
– – Create
– – Build

©Neil Patel

– Check the competitor’s backlink ✓
– Write a better article that is popular(you can ask it a third party)
– Email?

©Wes McDowell

– Guest posting, be personal and give ideas
– Link roundup
– Links form Podcasts
– Become a go-to source
– Mini mulch media post

There are many tips and it’s advanced. I cannot do this right now.

©Brian Dean

– Link roundups
– Broken link building
– Podcasts
– Build links from authority
– Pre outreach
– EDU resource page
– Guest posting

There are many tips and it’s advanced. I cannot do this right now.

Conclusion: Built website, what’s next?

As I showed, I received an inquiry from local clients. It’s not enough, but not too bad. I work with any people if the budget fits us. Then?

I declare that building a website is not my work. It’s not the reason why clients want to build. The client wants to build a website to reach a target audience and get a new customer. It’s the value that I can provide.

Therefore, I hesitate to just build a website. I don’t have to work for digital marketing for each client, but I would like to help the client as much as possible. I am thinking about how to do it.

Digital marketing is huge and SEO has never ended. I prioritize it, 1. Google My Business, 2. Facebook Business Account, 3. Instagram/Pinterest/YouTube Channel etc. I don’t think Twitter lead new customer. It leads to more traffic if you build audience. Anyway, I provide value to a client as much as I can.

Reference:

APP: Google My Business – Connect with your Customers
Hootsuite: How to Use Google My Business to Get More Customers
HubSpot: The Ultimate Guide to Google My Business