Search engine optimization (SEO) is an essential part of any digital marketing plan. Not only does SEO help increase website visibility and improve site rankings on Google, Bing, and other top search engines, but it can also help improve UX, drive site traffic, help elevate your other digital media tactics, and more.

Hosted within Google Search Console (GSC) is an SEO gold mine. Not only does GSC offer performance metrics and site ranking enhancements, but it has also evolved to a new focus—User Experience (UX).

First launched by Google in the summer of 2014, Google My Business gives your business the opportunity to promote on both Google Search and Google Maps, in addition to its website. By utilizing your personalized Google My Business account, you can add and update basic business information such as working hours, phone number(s) and addresses. But it doesn’t stop there! You can even connect with customers through reviews and messaging, add social media links, even post business updates as well as products and services. So, with all of these options (for FREE might I add) the question that comes to mind is - why not?!

Congratulations! You’ve been tasked with increasing online traffic to your website. There is just one little wrinkle — your boss wants focus on search engines to achieve this goal. You will need some help from your PPC and SEO professionals. But what exactly is the difference between these two strategies? How can these strategies help point those online eyeballs to your business and its awesome online products and services?

Developing a marketing plan with data rather than intuition allows you to learn more about your target audience, understand what content and resources are driving these visitors through your website, and identify how to continue earning business from this audience.  The most widely used tool across all websites to gain this data is Google Analytics.  Google Analytics allows you to measure the right metrics, according to your business, and use these metrics to form future marketing strategies, objectives, and tactics.

If you’re looking for a quick fix when it comes to ranking on the first page of Google search results, this article is not for you. After all, appearing within the top 10 search engine results takes time and patience, and the harsh truth is there’s no exact formula for making your way to the top.