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Future-Proof Your Website for AI Search

zach@summitmediasolutions.com (Zach Huffman) — Fri, 27 Jun 2025 19:23:26 GMT

Ranking in Google, Bing, or Yahoo search through Search Engine Optimization (SEO) has been a go-to marketing strategy for getting new leads to find and buy your products or services. While today, SEO is still a reliable and proven strategy, a "new kid" is on the block, and its name is AI SEO. Since the launch of AI technology, large language models (LLMs) like OpenAI's GPT-4, Google Gemini, Meta's LLaMA, and Anthropic's Claude are reshaping how people find information.

Unlike old-school search engines that match your words to websites, modern AI tools understand what you're asking. They don't just list links; they read through real content, pull out what matters, and give you precise, human-like answers. When connected to live tools, they can find fresh info, read it, and explain it in plain language. Less "here's ten blue links" and more "here's exactly what you need to know."

This shift marks a monumental transformation, shaking up the search landscape, proving it's no longer just about Google. In this new era of AI-driven search, you might ask: Is my website ready to communicate with AI? That's precisely where the llm.txt file comes into play.

Understanding llm.txt: Your Website's Instructions for AI

Think of llm.txt as the modern-day cousin of robots.txt. While robots.txt tells traditional search engines what they can and can't index, llm.txt explicitly instructs AI crawlers (Open AI's GPTBot or Google's GeminiBot) about how they can interact with your website content.

llm.txt can:

Specify which parts of your site LLMs are allowed to crawl

Provide guidelines for attribution, paraphrasing, or reuse

Direct LLMs to key data sources or pages you'd like emphasized

Prevent delusion by giving LLMs clean context

In short, it's how you extend a digital handshake to AI, inviting it to understand your business on your terms.

Why it Matters (Especially in 2025)

AI has become the fastest-adopted technology in history. When ChatGPT launched, it skyrocketed to 100 million users in just two months. Fast-forward a couple of years, and AI is everywhere—integrated into daily life, with more people relying on it than ever before.

AI changed the buyer's journey and now sits between your company and the customer. If you're not actively managing how these AI tools interpret your website, you're letting AI guess, and that's a dangerous game to play. When you let AI guess, your brand integrity, marketing strategy, and conversion will suffer.

The key reasons to implement llm.txt into your website.

Control your narrative: With llm.txt, you get to tell the LLMs what you want to highlight and how they should be highlighted and framed.

Improve visibility: Not showing up in AI search is like being on the second page of Google or possibly worse. With llm.txt, you ensure your key services, products, and value props appear in AI answers.

Reduce fabrication: When using llm.txt, you can direct LLMs away from certain website pages that may have become outdated or irrelevant, helping prevent being summarized or quoted incorrectly.

Future-proof SEO: AI search is already becoming the default for Gen Z, Tech-forward industries, and AI-focused individuals.

How AI Search Differs from Traditional SEO

As AI increases its market share as a dominant interface between consumers and information, it is critical to understand how different AI search is from traditional search channels.

While traditional SEO emphasizes ranking and click-through rates, AI search focuses on relevance and contextual clarity. Yes, relevance and clarity matter in traditional SEO, but they're not the foundational rules the algorithm follows.

Think of it this way: Traditional SEO is like leaving breadcrumbs on a trail — the search engine follows the path and decides where it leads. AI search is like a detective walking into your website and immediately scanning the room for clues, tone, and relevance.

Instead of surfacing a list of links, AI synthesizes information across the web, pulling pieces from web pages to generate a natural language response. That means your content needs to be clear, trustworthy, and easy for LLMs to understand. AI might skip you altogether if your website content is vague, buried in poor structure, or outdated. Even worse, quote a competitor who explained your products and services better.

Summit's Strategic Edge

We've been in the game long enough to know how fast technology can flip the script. When the internet took off, many Yellow Pages-era companies didn't leap; we did. That experience taught us to stay agile, keep our ears on the ground, and evolve quickly so the businesses we support don't have to endure the kind of disruption we did.

That's why, as an SEO-first agency, we care about traditional search ranking and AI ranking. Every website we build is optimized for both traditional and AI-powered search. This includes implementing the new llm.txt standard, an emerging best practice for helping AI systems understand, access, and properly handle your site content. We optimize not just for Google but for GPT, Gemini, Claude, and whatever comes next.

llm.txt files are built to:

Grant access to valuable content that improves the quality of AI-generated responses

Block sensitive or non-public pages from being crawled

Guide AI bots to canonical sources to reduce duplicate content and SEO cannibalization

Set clear expectations for attribution and data usage

The bottom line is that we future-proof your website so it's ready for the next wave, not just the current one.

Want to see if your website is ready for AI Search?

Type in your website URL, www.example.com , then add /llm.txt to the end of the URL in the address bar. If nothing happens, your website may not be structured for AI search.

Reach out , and we'll spring into action to prepare your website for AI Search.

A Brief History of AI

zach@summitmediasolutions.com (Zach Huffman) — Fri, 27 Jun 2025 18:19:47 GMT

THE HISTORY & CURRENT STATE OF AI

These days, it’s almost impossible to have a conversation without AI coming up. Whether you realize it or not, it’s made its way into nearly every part of our lives. Maybe your kids are using it to help with homework, your company is exploring it to boost efficiency, or — if you’re anything like my wife, it’s become your interior decorating assistant. You’ve probably even heard the question, “Did you try using AI for that?” more times than you can count.

Here’s the thing, AI might feel like a brand-new technology, it has roots dating back to the 1950's just 5 years after the development of the worlds first computer ENIAC. It has a surprisingly rich backstory that shows us how we got here and hints at where things are headed. So before we look at what’s next, let’s quickly look back.

The 1950s

During this time, interest in AI grew within the computer science community. Alan Turing published his landmark paper “Computing Machinery and Intelligence,” where he posed the now-famous question, “Can machines think?” Around the same time, Arthur Samuel developed a checkers-playing program that could learn and improve independently — one of the earliest examples of machine learning. And in 1956, John McCarthy organized the Dartmouth Workshop, where he coined the term “Artificial Intelligence.” That workshop is widely considered the birth of AI as a formal field of study.

The 1960s & 1970s

This timeframe showcased some massive progress in the industry. The first industrial robot, Unimate, began working on a General Motors assembly line in New Jersey, an enormous step toward automation in manufacturing. Around the same time, Joseph Weizenbaum developed ELIZA, a program designed to mimic a psychotherapist by responding to typed text. He called it a "chatterbot" — which is honestly a better name than the one we stuck with: "chatbot. We also saw early experiments in autonomous vehicles, most notably The Stanford Cart, a robotic system that could navigate obstacles independently. This era is often seen as the foundational phase — laying the groundwork for much of the AI innovation we see today.

The 1980s & 1990s

As breakthroughs in AI continued to accumulate, public interest and funding started to waver, until a few landmark moments brought the spotlight back. One key moment you may remember is the legendary chess match in 1997, in which IBM's Deep Blue defeated world champion Garry Kasparov, marking the first time a computer beat a reigning champion under standard tournament conditions.

Around this same period, AI systems began tackling increasingly complex tasks. For example, expert systems like ALACRITY were developed to analyze thousands of rules for strategic decision-making.

The 2000s

The 2000s ushered in a wave of technological innovation, with AI playing a quiet but critical role behind the scenes. This decade gave us the first generation of the Roomba. This robotic vacuum could navigate rooms and avoid obstacles on its own. NASA successfully landed two Mars rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, both used onboard AI systems to autonomously explore and navigate the Martian surface without constant human control. Meanwhile, companies like Facebook, Twitter, and Netflix began integrating AI into their business to personalize content, recommend media, and optimize user engagement, laying the foundation for much of what we experience today.

The 2010s-Present Day

This period aligns most closely with what we experience in our everyday lives — the rise of AI-enhanced consumer tools, more intelligent search engines, and the widespread use of terms like “Deep Learning” and “Big Data.” The 2010s saw major milestones, including the release of virtual assistants like Siri and Alexa and rapid advances in machine learning. In 2015, public concern around AI’s military applications gained traction when Elon Musk, Steve Wozniak, Stephen Hawking, and over 3,000 others signed an open letter urging world governments to ban the development of autonomous weapons. Around the same time, Facebook conducted an experiment in which two AI chatbots tasked with negotiating started using a non-standard form of English to optimize their communication.

Perhaps most notably, OpenAI released its public language model — GPT-3 — which wasn’t the first of its kind but was by far the most powerful and realistic. It could generate human-like writing with uncanny fluency, marking a turning point in public awareness and the adoption of generative AI.

*The Future

*Looking forward, the future of AI isn't just about faster algorithms or smarter chatbots — it's about redefining what’s possible. In the next 5 to 10 years, we’ll likely see AI woven into nearly every business function — from fully autonomous customer service agents to AI-augmented strategy teams making data-driven decisions in real time. Personalized AI assistants will become as common as email, capable of scheduling, writing, researching, and even managing digital relationships. Creative industries will be reshaped as AI co-authors stories, designs, videos, and music at scale. In the medical field, AI will help diagnose conditions before symptoms arise. Education will shift toward AI-powered, hyper-personalized learning. And as AI grows more capable, regulatory frameworks, ethics debates, and AI-human collaboration will move from tech circles into boardrooms and households alike. The future isn’t just automated — it’s intelligent, adaptive, and increasingly collaborative. The only question is: are we prepared to lead it, or be led by it?

To showcase how powerful AI is this final "The Future paragraph was written and copy/pasted solely from ChatGPT4o. "We asked AI what it considered the future of AI will look like"

The Power of Website Design and Content Creation For SMBs

zach@summitmediasolutions.com (Zach Huffman) — Mon, 14 Apr 2025 20:11:43 GMT

● Effective website design blends aesthetics, emotion, and functionality to create an engaging experience, using visuals, storytelling, and interactive elements to connect with visitors on a personal level.

● Prioritizing user experience through intuitive navigation, fast loading times, and accessibility allows for inclusivity while enhancing engagement and customer satisfaction.

● Leveraging analytics and personalization tools lets SMBs tailor content and design to their audience for a consistent and memorable brand presence that drives measurable results.

For small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), a website acts as a digital address but also as a storefront, a handshake, and that all-important first impression. When competition is just a click away, your website needs to do more than simply exist—it needs to captivate.

Creating a visually stunning and content-rich website that pulls in visitors and holds their attention requires a blend of artistry and strategy. The true power of website design and content creation lies in weaving stories and visuals together in a way that feels effortless but resonates deeply with your audience.

The Intersection of Design and Emotion

Great design is a blend of aesthetics and emotion. Every color, font, and image on your website has the potential to evoke a response. Think of your homepage as a stage and your visitor as the audience. The layout, imagery, and typography all play roles in setting the mood and tone.

Choosing the right color palette, for instance, can make your site feel welcoming or sophisticated, playful or serene. The font you use for headings and body text speaks volumes about your brand’s personality. Even whitespace—those blank areas often overlooked—creates breathing room for your content, allowing visitors to focus on what matters most. For SMBs, an emotional resonance can set you apart from faceless corporations and show potential customers the human touch behind your business.

Beyond the visual, sound design is another frontier in web design. Subtle background music, sound effects tied to interactions, or voice-guided navigation can add layers of depth to a visitor’s experience. Used sparingly and thoughtfully, these auditory elements make your website stand out in the digital crowd.

Storytelling Through Content

Words have power. They inform, inspire, and persuade. The content on your website is also the voice of your brand . If you’re an SMB, this is your chance to share your journey, showcase your expertise, and connect with customers on a personal level.

When crafting content, think of it as a conversation. Your audience doesn’t want to wade through jargon or robotic-sounding text. They want stories—real, relatable narratives that explain who you are, what you do, and how you can help them.

Your storytelling doesn’t have to be linear. Micro-stories embedded throughout your website—whether in testimonials, product descriptions, or blog posts—invite visitors to explore at their own pace. For example, a fitness studio might tell the story of a customer’s journey toward health in a testimonial, while blog posts highlight expert tips and trends. These snippets work together to create a narrative tapestry that keeps visitors engaged.

Imagery and Multimedia as Storytelling Tools

A picture may be worth a thousand words, but on your website, it’s worth so much more! High-quality images, videos, and graphics are tools you can use to tell your story and hold your audience’s attention.

Consider your imagery as an extension of your content. A restaurant’s website isn’t complete without tantalizing photos of signature dishes. Similarly, an artisan jewelry shop can captivate visitors with close-ups of handcrafted designs. For SMBs, authentic visuals—whether professional photos or behind-the-scenes glimpses—build trust and make your brand more relatable.

Video, in particular, is a powerful medium for storytelling. Whether it’s a founder sharing their vision or a short demo of your product in action, videos can quickly engage and inform your audience in ways that text and static images cannot.

Interactive content, such as quizzes, calculators, or immersive virtual tours, takes engagement a step further. Imagine a home renovation business offering a tool where users can visualize different kitchen layouts or a financial planner providing a savings calculator. These features provide value while immersing users in your brand experience.

The Role of User Experience in Captivating Visitors

Even the most beautiful website can fall flat if it’s a nightmare to navigate. User experience design is the unsung hero of captivating web design. It’s about making sure that every click, scroll, and interaction feels intuitive and rewarding.

Think of your website as a journey. Your visitors should be able to find what they’re looking for effortlessly, whether it’s a product description, contact information, or a blog post. A cluttered, confusing layout can frustrate users, leading them to abandon your site before they’ve had a chance to engage with your content.

Fast loading times, mobile-friendly designs, and clear navigation menus aren’t just technicalities; they’re necessities. A well-optimized website not only keeps visitors happy but also boosts your search engine rankings, making it easier for potential customers to discover you in the first place.

User experience design can also have an emotional twist. Subtle animations, such as a button changing color when hovered over or a smooth scroll effect, create micro-moments of delight. These small touches, though seemingly insignificant, enhance the overall experience and encourage visitors to linger longer.

Creativity That Converts

While creativity fuels engagement, it’s the strategy that makes for conversion. The ultimate goal of captivating website design and content creation is to turn visitors into customers for your SMB. This means thinking beyond aesthetics and focusing on action-oriented design. Every element of your website should guide visitors toward a specific goal, whether it’s signing up for a newsletter, making a purchase, or scheduling a consultation.

Crafting compelling calls-to-action (CTAs) is an art in itself. These are the nudges that encourage your audience to take the next step. The trick is to make them feel natural and enticing. Instead of generic phrases like “Click Here,” opt for action-driven language that highlights the benefit to the user, such as “Discover Your Perfect Fit” or “Start Your Journey Today.”

Beyond CTAs, lead magnets such as free guides, webinars, or exclusive discounts can drive conversions while adding value for your visitors. For example, a digital marketing agency might offer a free SEO checklist or a boutique hotel could provide a travel guide to the local area.

The Importance of Consistency

Your website is a living entity that needs regular care. Outdated content , broken links, or slow-loading pages can quickly erode the trust you’ve worked so hard to build. Regular updates, fresh content, and periodic redesigns mean your website can remain relevant and engaging.

Maintaining a consistent voice and visual identity across your website and other online platforms is key to keeping your SMB in the minds of your customers. It reinforces your brand and helps customers recognize and remember you.

Harnessing Analytics for Creative Insights

Data can be a goldmine for creative strategy. Tools like Google Analytics reveal how visitors interact with your site—what pages they visit, how long they stay, and where they drop off. Analyzing this data allows SMBs to refine their approach. For instance, if a blog post on a specific topic receives significant traffic, consider creating related content or expanding on the theme. If visitors frequently abandon a page, revisit its layout, content, or loading time to improve engagement.

Creative design and content decisions informed by data not only captivate but also deliver measurable results.

Leveraging Personalization to Enhance Engagement

Personalization starts with understanding your audience. Tools like customer relationship management (CRM) software or website analytics can help identify user behaviors, preferences, and demographics. With this data, SMBs can create dynamic content tailored to each visitor. For instance, a clothing boutique could showcase season-specific products based on a user’s location, while a tech company might highlight relevant blog posts based on browsing history.

Beyond content, personalized design elements—such as greeting returning visitors by name or recommending products based on past interactions—foster deeper connections. Even small touches, like suggesting a user’s recently viewed items, can make a website feel more intuitive and customer-centric.

The trick is to have balance. Over personalization or invasive tactics can deter users. Strive to create an experience that feels organic and genuinely helpful so that your brand remains trustworthy and approachable.

The Role of Accessibility in Modern Web Design

A truly captivating website doesn’t just look great and tell a story—it’s inclusive and accessible to all users, regardless of their abilities. Accessibility is a legal, ethical, and strategic consideration that broadens your audience and enhances user satisfaction.

Key accessibility practices include designing with screen readers in mind, using alt text for images, and keeping color contrast meeting web accessibility standards. For SMBs, these changes demonstrate a commitment to inclusivity and can help establish a reputation as a brand that values every customer.

Interactive elements, such as videos and forms, should also be accessible. Providing captions for videos and ensuring form fields are clearly labeled can significantly improve the experience for users with disabilities. Additionally, keyboard navigation should be seamless for those who cannot use a mouse or touchscreen.

By prioritizing accessibility, SMBs can tap into a wider audience, foster goodwill, and create a user experience that resonates with everyone.

The Future of Captivating Websites

As technology advances, new tools and trends will emerge, offering even more opportunities to captivate your audience. To stay ahead of the curve in this aspect, your SMB should embrace innovation while staying true to your brand. Whether it’s incorporating interactive elements, leveraging AI-driven personalization, or exploring new forms of storytelling, the possibilities are endless.

Ultimately, the strength of website design and content production resides in its capacity to create genuine, enduring connections that go beyond the digital screen. Businesses willing to invest in creativity and strategy have limitless rewards.

Ready to harness the power of website design and content creation to better your business? Our team at Summit Media Solutions can help. Don’t waste any more time— contact us today to get started!

The Importance of a Website and Why Your Business Needs One

Wed, 03 Aug 2022 21:18:41 GMT

Keller, C. R. (n.d.). 9 Reasons Why Having a Website Is Important. Www.Profitworks.Ca. https://profitworks.ca/blog/297-why-having-a-website-is-important

Since there are about 576,000 new websites going live every day , have you ever questioned their importance, and whether your business needs one? This blog post will explain what websites are and why they’re essential for businesses and organizations. We’ll also give you tips on creating a website that represents your brand well. So, let’s get started!

What is a Website?

A website is a group of web pages related to each other, typically linked and hosted on the same domain. It can be created and maintained by an individual, group, corporation, or organization.

The site, often known as your online storefront, acts as a digital home for your company by providing customers with information about your products, services or organization. It’s an essential component of any business or organization that serves as the hub of a company's online presence.

Websites can also be useful for sharing information, selling products or services, communicating with others, etc.

According to one survey 86 percent of people rely on the internet to find a local business. This meaningful statistic indicates how critical a high-functioning website can be to your marketing arsenal.

Why are Websites Important?

Websites are essential for various reasons. They can function as a hub for your online presence, serve as a 24/7 online storefront, establish credibility and trust with your audience, and convert traffic into leads.

1. Hub of Online Presence

Your website should be the centerpiece of your online presence. It's where people will go to learn more about your business, and should be linked to all of your social media accounts.

It should also be designed to funnel traffic from your online channels (including social media, directories, and paid advertising) to your website to convert them into leads or customers. Your website is the one place where you have complete control over the look and feel of your brand, so make sure it accurately reflects who you are and what you do.

2. Online Storefront Working 24/7

If you sell products or services online, your website is effectively your 24/7 online storefront. It's open for business even when a physical location is not, and it never takes a day off. This allows potential customers to learn about your products or services, contact you at their convenience, and potentially make purchases.

Even while you're sleeping, your website can generate leads and sales! Having a solid online presence is essential for driving traffic to your site and converting visitors into customers.

3. Establish Credibility & Trust

Your website is often the first impression you make with potential customers or clients. It's crucial to have a well-designed site that accurately reflects your brand and conveys the message you want to communicate.

By including easy-to-find contact information, business hours, location (if applicable), testimonials, and links to reviews and social media sites, a good website demonstrates to potential customers that you are serious about your business. This helps to develop trust and credibility. If you don't have a website, many potential customers may view your business as less credible and trustworthy.

4. Converts Traffic into Leads

Lead generation is the process of attracting and converting strangers into leads (prospective customers) and is a necessary component of any effective marketing strategy.

A well-designed website will do more than showcase your products and services. It should also be designed to capture leads with clear calls to action that prompt visitors to take the next step in the buyer's journey. By including calls to action, contact forms, and lead capture forms on your website, you can generate leads that you can then follow up with and convert into paying customers.

Additional Advantages

When people talk about the importance of a website, they often focus on the marketing benefits. But a website can also be a valuable tool for other parts of your business, such as customer service, human resources, and even accounting.

You can, for example, utilize your website to:

Offer online customer support
Post job openings and accept applications online
Send invoices and take payments online
Serve as a portfolio of your company's most important information, such as contact information, photos, etc.

If you're not sure whether or not your business needs a website, consider these advantages and how they could benefit your business.

Tips for Creating a Website that Effectively Represents Your Brand

It's important to take the time to create a visually appealing website that also showcases your brand's unique personality. Since it can be difficult to know how to create a website that accurately represents your brand when you first get started, here are a few tips:

Define your brand's purpose and message: What are you trying to achieve with your website? And what do you want your visitors to take away from their experience? Answering these questions will help you determine the overall tone and approach you need to take with your website.
Choose a design that reflects your brand's personality: Your website design should be an extension of your brand's personality. If you're aiming for a sleek and modern look, then your website should reflect that.
Use high-quality images that capture your brand's essence: Instead of using generic stock photos opt for original images that are unique to your business. This will help your website stand out and give visitors a better sense of what your brand is all about.
Write compelling content that tells your brand's story: Focus on creating content that is easy to read and understand. Avoid using jargon or technical terms that might confuse or alienate your audience.
Optimize your website for search engines: Use relevant keywords throughout your website's content, and include links to your website on your social media profiles.

The Takeaway

Websites are an essential part of doing business in the 21st century. Effective website design will help you achieve your business goals by providing a platform to provide information, showcase your products or services, reach your target audience, build relationships with customers, generate leads, capture sales, and much more.

We're a professional website design and development company that specializes in creating high-converting websites that drive results. Contact us to learn more about our services and how we can support your business growth.

Earthweb. (2022, July 10). How Many Websites Are There In 2022? https://earthweb.com/how-many-websites-are-there/

WebFX. (2022, June 16). Local SEO Stats: 35+ Stats to Prove You Need a Local Strategy. https://www.webfx.com/local-seo/statistics/

6 Benefits of a High-Performing Website

Mon, 27 Jun 2022 19:22:10 GMT

No matter the size of your business, organization, or non-profit, having a website offers many benefits. A well-designed, visually appealing, user friendly, SEO-optimized site that is maintained regularly funnels users to your store, organization, or office, and helps increase brand awareness.

Your website is often the first place people engage with your business. It’s the first impression you give to the public as your digital storefront, and it’s also the hub of your entire online marketing strategy.

Site design should focus on welcoming customers and engaging them with information, products, special offers, promotions, and other useful or helpful content. You can then capture their interest as your site moves them along the sales funnel toward your conversion goal.

Unfortunately, for some businesses, one study shows that “ 88% of online consumers are less likely to return to a site after a bad experience ”. Read on to find out how the following 6 benefits can help provide a positive website experience for your organization, and the users it serves.

Improve Search Rankings

Have you ever wondered why some websites have better search rankings than others? Or why some blogs consistently rank in the top 5 spots on Google while others are stuck on the back pages of a generic search? The answer to these questions is that lower ranking websites don't use common SEO tactics, while the higher-ranking sites consistently create unique content, take advantage of social media opportunities, and generate quality backlinks.

With the proper optimization, your website can move up in the search rankings and appear at the top of search results for a set of keywords without spending exorbitant amounts of money on pay-per-click ads.

Responsive & Stable

The best-performing websites are stable, have a low load time and high uptime.

Fundamentally, the most crucial part of your site is the code it’s built on. The code is the foundation of your site. If your coding doesn’t keep up with ever-evolving internet demands, becomes corrupted, or isn’t revised following specific updates, your site can suffer serious issues like lack of functionality, slow load times, or vulnerability to hackers.

If your website takes too long to load, you can lose out on potential readers, viewers, and customers. Users who visit a slow or non-functioning site are likely to leave and never return, which is detrimental to both users, and companies that rely on returning visitors for repeat business.

Happier Customers & Higher Sales

High-functioning websites often result in happier customers and higher sales. A high-performing page is not just a pretty face; it's a page that has been designed, coded, and structured to deliver relevant, meaningful content to users’ needs in a few seconds.

Higher performing websites have undergone usability and performance testing and are designed with search engine optimization and the target client in mind. The superior performance of these websites can convey your messages, increase brand awareness and trust, and improve your company's conversion goals.

Converts More Leads

Highly optimized websites increase lead conversions when a site provides the best possible experience for visitors. The conversion process is considered a success when a visitor engages in a targeted activity on the site, such as making a purchase, requesting an estimate, clicking to call your business, scheduling an appointment, visiting your business, or completing a form fill.

Web marketers have found different ways to monetize websites, but that is only part of the equation. A site that converts well is visually appealing and easy to use. It is built to improve its position in search results so that prospective customers and returning clients can easily find it. It also tracks how effective its advertising efforts are so that improvements can be made in the future.

Improves Brand Credibility

There is a strong relationship between your website's usability and your business’ credibility. When users visit your website, they are looking for information, answers, and reassurance that they’ve found the right company with whom to do business. Your website's users must be able to trust you if they’re going to engage your services or invest in the products you sell.

If your site is hard to use or doesn't provide easy access to information that the user is seeking, they are likely to leave. A high-performing website offers quick access to information through straightforward navigation, clean layouts, consistent design elements, and evidence of social proof.

24 Hour Service

No matter the time of the day, customers will be searching for your business, or one like it, online. Ensure your site is functioning 24/7 so customers can interact with your business whenever it's best for them.

Whether you have an eCommerce, B2C, or B2B site, 24/7 accessibility is the new standard. And to this point: 75% of people prefer live chat over any other channel . When using live chat, visitors shouldn’t have to wait longer than 30 seconds to reach someone, even if that “person” is AI.

Now you have the benefit of knowing why high-performing websites support the purpose of achieving your business goals. And high-performing websites don't just benefit businesses; they also provide tangible benefits to Internet users.

If you’re concerned your website may not provide all 6 benefits listed here, the professional website team at Summit Media Solutions is available to build an optimized website for your business!

What Is SEO & Why Is It Important?

Wed, 08 Jun 2022 20:23:17 GMT

What Is Search Engine Optimization?

SEO, short for Search Engine Optimization, is a set of tactics implemented to escalate your website’s organic traffic and rankings to the top of search results for your business’ targeted services on search engines like Google, Bing, Yahoo, Ask.com, and Duck, Duck, Go.

The majority of people begin their online journey with a search engine. Google’s search engine is users’ top choice, receiving 89% of mobile search traffic . The second closest search engine gets a mere 7.8% of mobile traffic. First page search results, rendered from individual searches, get the most attention with over 25% of clicks going to the first organic result in Google Search .

With the right SEO approach, it's possible to increase the visibility of your website, generate leads, drive conversions, and improve brand awareness for your target audience. With these goals in mind, let's take a closer look at SEO.

It’s important to understand the different types of SEO in order to customize your marketing plan so it will achieve your desired results.

The three types of SEO are:

On-page SEO uses specific tactics to improve the content on a website in order to make it more appealing to search engine crawlers . These tactics can include adjusting metadata, providing valuable information in content, implementing keywords, adding internal links, and more.

Off-page SEO utilizes strategies which are implemented outside a website or "off" a site to improve its rankings. Citations, backlinking, guest blogging, social media marketing, and brand building all play a part in off-page SEO.

Technical SEO improves the technical aspects of a website so it’s easier for search engines to crawl and index. These changes are the least visible changes made to a site for SEO purposes. Some examples of technical SEO include optimizing your site for mobile devices, decreasing page loading time, fixing duplicate content issues, creating XML sitemaps, and many more.

It's important to remember that while the key goal of SEO is to achieve higher rankings, you should keep your target audiences' needs in mind. By making a website practical, informative, and user-friendly, the site should gain favor with Google and rise on search engine results pages, known as SERPs.

How Does SEO Work?

Search engines use hundreds of different ranking factors to evaluate websites and generate search results. Every time crawlers visit a website they check it against numerous criteria. They will then index the information in order to serve it up later when it’s most relevant to a searcher’s inquiry. The majority of web pages will be crawled, however, irrelevant, unsolicited, or duplicate content rarely gets indexed.

Search engines have ever advancing AI-powered algorithms that are regularly updated to suit users' needs. It's up to business owners and managers to make sure their site stays up to date with algorithm changes and adjust their SEO efforts.

No matter how well website content answers a searcher's query, poor design or excessive loading speed could keep it off the top search result page. A well-designed SEO strategy makes sure all aspects of a website are in sync, while implementing a variety of tactics that make a site more appealing to searchers and search engines.

Why Is SEO Important?

Search Engine Optimization is a foundational piece to a successful digital marketing strategy. With most buyers' journeys taking place online, in whole or in part, it's imperative to draw your target audience to your website. Doing this without improving your website rankings is nearly impossible.

The benefits of a high-quality SEO strategy include:

More organic leads: The higher your website climbs, the more users you can reach. The more users you reach, the more potential clients are exposed to your business. More exposure gives you more chances to convert potential prospects into customers.

Better brand awareness: Websites that appear on the top spots of SERPs are considered more trustworthy and credible. When your business appears at the top of searches, clients and prospective clients gain assurance in choosing you for future business or referring others to you, bringing more people to your virtual doorstep.

Improved PPC campaign: Superior SEO practices seamlessly complement your Pay Per Click (PPC) advertising , and paid search tactics help move your target audience through the sales funnel. SEO can also help lower your PPC program's CPA (cost per acquisition).

Competitive advantage: Since your competition is likely to be using an SEO strategy, improving yours can help you maintain, and may even grow your market share, increasing revenue.

Cost-effectiveness: SEO can be a highly cost-effective practice. With numerous free online tools, it's possible to handle some aspects of a campaign on your own. Also, unlike a PPC campaign that will lose its benefit once your budget ends, SEO offers ongoing, long-term benefits.

While SEO is only one tool used in digital marketing campaigns, it's irreplaceable. When implemented in tandem with paid search marketing, social media marketing, email marketing, and other tactics, it can directly affect your company's bottom line, moving it in a positive direction.

Important to know: SEO is a marathon, not a sprint. Don't expect immediate results after beginning an SEO campaign, it could take several months for your strategy to kick in fully, however once it does, you can start reaping ongoing benefits.

The Takeaway

Search Engine Optimization is an integral part of a successful digital marketing strategy. By implementing proper SEO tactics, you can push your website to the top of SERPs, where it can reach a broad target audience.

The best time to start your SEO campaign is now. Summit offers the right tools to help develop and manage effective SEO tactics. “Move toward your customers and the first page of Google search” with the help of our SEO team!

Why You Need to Consider Review Generation for Your Business

Fri, 15 Apr 2022 14:05:02 GMT

The general consensus is that reviews are important, but just how pertinent are they? And when was the last time you read your customer reviews? If you can’t remember consider this: Statistics show that 98% of consumers feel that reviews are an essential resource when making purchase decisions.

It only takes a few clicks to view what other people are saying about a business. Whether it’s on Google, Facebook, Yelp, or a business website, customers often feel inclined to leave a review; either from an excellent experience or a not-so-stellar one. On average, a consumer reaches a purchasing decision after reading around three business or product reviews. Highly rated reviews can help your products and services appear more appealing, while lower ratings can deter potential customers.

Let’s begin with the fundamentals, then we’ll go into detail as to why consumer reviews are essential for your business, and how to leverage them to your advantage in the remainder of this article.

What is Review Generation?

By definition, review generation is the process of actively encouraging positive reviews anywhere product or business reviews appear across the internet. Opportunities exist on company websites, sites tailored to specific industries like TripAdvisor and Angi, or popular sites like Google, Facebook and Yelp.

There are many ways you can generate reviews if you include website or other review site links in emails, on invoices, or point of sale transaction receipts.

Why Consider Reviews for Businesses

Reviews aid consumers in their searches for reputable companies and products, and businesses can benefit from this. In fact, research conducted by Dixa this year indicates that 93% of customers will read online reviews before making a purchase . Whether a review is posted on a social media site, a website, or on Google, the reviews help grow online reputation and can have a positive impact on potential customers' likelihood of making a purchase.

Reviews may also provide feedback you may not have previously had access to. By appraising review content, you may be able to gain valuable insights on how to improve products and customer service that will best meet your customer's standards, and help ensure customer satisfaction.

In addition, reviews can be essential in building trust. When a consumer has a bad experience with one business they may begin to search for a new option. If your business has superior reviews, you may appear more reputable to potential customers who are looking for a different choice.

Now, let’s discuss the main reasons you should consider developing a review generation strategy.

(2021, December 1) 2022 Report: Online Reviews Statistics and Trends. Blog. https://www.reviewtrackers.com/reports/online-reviews-survey/

Importance of Review Generation for a Business

#1 Opportunity for Growth

Positive reviews offer a perfect opportunity to promote a new product or work in a little free PR for your business. Be sure to respond to positive reviews and mention the business name in the response. Your responses are being found in search results, lend to your credibility, and can guide customers to your business.

Less than favorable reviews may reveal areas where a business needs to improve. So instead of viewing this as a detriment to your overall presence, use the opportunity to show consumers how much you care. This is a great time to reach out and try to rectify negative situations and convert negative customer experiences into positives.

Respond promptly and gather information on why someone was dissatisfied. Be personable and professional, and remember that customers want to be heard. Empathy goes a long way!

#2 Reviews Offer the Opportunity to Add a Human Touch

Technology makes communication between consumers and businesses possible, but it can also leave a disconnect between the two. As more consumers reach out to businesses online there’s an opportunity to add a human element to the interaction.

The response you provide to online review contributors reveals how you care for them. If you take the time to interact with reviewers, you show that you appreciate them, are listening to their concerns, and you give yourself the chance to identify areas needing improvement.

When businesses dedicate time and energy to communicate with consumers who are disgruntled, and facilitate appropriate action to resolve issues, it can be very encouraging; so much so that some people may even be willing to try a company’s product or service again as a result of the interaction.

In addition, some reviewers will edit their initial submission, leave additional (often positive) comments, and increase their previous star rating. This shows potential customers that we are all human, and humans make mistakes. It’s how you address and resolve issues that matters.

#3 Review Generation Helps Build Your Reputation

Having no reviews online can be worse than having bad reviews. When a business has no reviews online, there is no trust. You can help build a good business reputation and increase visibility with several organically generated reviews. The easiest and simplest way to do this is – ASK!

A good time to request reviews is at the end of an interaction with a customer. By including Google, or other reputable review site links when you send out emails or follow-up texts you provide a simple, efficient way to leave your business reviews.

#4 Reviews Complement SEO Strategy

Online reviews are vital to SEO ranking. A business looking for traction in the online community will benefit from positive reviews. Highly relevant reviews on frequently visited review sites speaks to your credibility and trustworthiness, which may lead Google to prioritize you in search results.

Online reviews are critical to both businesses and consumers. It is crucial to consider generating these reviews to manage your online reputation if you have a business. Positive reviews signal that your business delivers a positive experience.

To make a long story short, with a solid star rating, you will receive more qualified leads from searchers who are more likely to click on your website, driving your SEO traffic and sending a signal to Google that you are authoritative and trustworthy.

Conclusion

Most consumers prefer to reach out to a business with a 4 or 5-star rating, hence the need for a good rating.

The timing of reviews is important as well. The more recent a review is, the more credibility Google assigns to that review. The world is ever-changing, so ensure your business is viewed as viable and credible by continually generating new, fresh reviews that reflect your current offerings and capabilities.

Review generation requires skill, expertise, and consistency for the best results. Summit Media Solutions excels at providing review generation and other reputation management services. Contact us for a free consultation.

To join our Blog Mailing List, or to learn more about how we can help you grow your business, connect with our team now .

What Are Social Listings & Why Are They Important?

Mon, 21 Mar 2022 14:11:43 GMT

As internet engagement continues to rise, social media is the biggest beneficiary of the growing traffic. According to Statista, an internet user spends 145 minutes per day on social platforms; the time being shared amongst platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Social media popularity and wide usage is an excellent opportunity for businesses to increase sales and website traffic. Businesses can utilize social listings to showcase their brands, promote new products, communicate with clients, and improve visibility. For example, a business that seeks to target professionals can list on LinkedIn to access decision-makers like Sales Managers, CEOs, CFOs, and others. Instagram is another option, where 75% of users take actions, like visiting a company's website after viewing a post.

So, why is a social presence beneficial to your business, and more importantly, what are social listings?

What Are Social Listings?

Social listings are online profiles that showcase important business information. Essentially, social listings provide information about locations, business hours, products, descriptions, and company updates.

Each social platform serves a unique purpose and demographic. Instagram provides businesses with a channel to showcase products and services through imagery, videos, and stories. Twitter is an ideal site for businesses looking to drive conversations or listen to their customers. Commanding the largest share of users is Facebook, with over 2.89 billion active users per month. (If your business doesn't have an active presence on Facebook, you are missing on the opportunity to reach a variety of users/potential customers.) In addition, LinkedIn is ideal for promoting your company to business professionals with over 740 million users and 55 million registered companies. You can create a LinkedIn company page to share news, connect with potential employees, expand the company network, and enhance your visibility.

Ultimately, different social media sites offer varying benefits and features. It's advisable to have listings on some or all of the sites, to tap into the unique strengths and diverse users of each.

Why Are Social Listings Important?

1. Gain a Better Understanding of Your Audience

Social media allows you to connect directly with your audience, gaining insights from them. Knowledge of your audience is critical in shaping your marketing strategy, product development, and continuous brand awareness. When you use various platforms to learn about different types of followers and general visitors who interact with your posts, you may benefit from these valuable insights.

As a brand, you can create polls, quizzes, or general posts to get reactions from social users, who freely express their thoughts and opinions. For example, you can create a poll to gather vital feedback on new products and apply the results to make necessary adjustments.

In addition, social media platforms have analytics tools you can utilize to learn about your audience's behavior, demographics, or interests.

2. Enhance Brand Reach

According to Statista, there are over 3.6 billion users on social media. Social listings provide an opportunity to tap into this traffic and potentially gain additional audiences.

Here are two ways businesses can enhance brand reach:

Post Evergreen Content: Creating organic content that remains relevant regardless of the season, just as the Evergreen tree, never losing a leaf of importance. Y ou can explore industry topics, news, humor, or posts that solve everyday problems.

Utilize Hashtags: Hashtags enable social media users to contribute to a topic or a current trend. You can leverage an existing hashtag or create a branded hashtag to attract genuine followers or boost engagement.

Generally, a business can improve brand reach by optimizing its profile for local SEO, creating regular posts, targeting specific audiences, and promoting social profiles.

3. Enhanced Communication & Interaction

Social media offers a quick, transparent way to reach brands. It’s now possible for a customer to lodge a complaint on social media, and potentially receive an instant, or quick response from a customer care representative.

A business can create live stories about a product and receive real-time feedback from their audience. The quick feedback helps make communication seamless and practical. You can also rectify mistakes if and when they happen, using input from your followers.

In addition, your employees can use social media to find prospects. If you search for a company on LinkedIn, you'll also get employee profiles, which can boost prospecting. You can also initiate conversations using direct messaging before arranging physical meetings or a discovery call.

4. Lead Generation

The massive number of users that social media attracts can be a foundation for lead generation. These leads can greatly benefit business-to-business marketers when they’re able to identify those who are truly interested in their brand. Simply stated – a more qualified audience produces more highly qualified leads, which can come in the form of email addresses, phone numbers, or specific information like occupations.

Another great social profile feature is that you can optimize the ways visitors contact you by activating platform call-to-action buttons like “Sign-up,” “Call Us Now,” or “Contact Seller.”

Try Our Listings Management Service

Social media attracts enormous traffic and usage. These are great reasons for businesses to utilize social listings since they can assist companies by enhancing communication, gaining customer insights and helping to achieve brand growth.

It's wise to partner with Online Presence Management experts, like those at Summit Media Solutions . We'll optimize your pages to deliver complete, accurate information in order to provide value to potential customers. Contact us to get your free listing audit today.

Why Google Reviews are Important for Your Business.

Mon, 07 Feb 2022 18:40:42 GMT

Online reviews have existed for quite some time; now more than ever, their importance to the success of a local business is increasing. Reviews are essential for your local SEO ranking and help improve the credibility of your business. Google allows your customers to leave feedback about your products or services, even if you haven't claimed your Google business listing. However, to respond to these reviews your Google Business Listing will need to be claimed. Whether positive or negative, Google reviews can be used to your advantage to rally your customer retention rates and conversions.

If you haven't taken the time to audit reviews where your credibility could be compromised, you might be missing out on prospective clients to your competition. One recent survey found that 86 % of consumers go through reviews before purchasing from a local business! When you roll out Google reviews for your local business, be transparent with consumers, and gain insight to improve using their feedback.

This comprehensive guide and post will help you understand why you should start using a review generation system to monitor your Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business, GMB, or Google Places) ASAP.

1. Build Brand Trust with Google Reviews

Nothing makes your business appear tangible more than real customers freely leaving their feedback about your business. This feedback ties your digital presence to your business out in the "real world." If you are trying to grow the number of your online reviews in general, you may wish to target the 18-34-year-old client since "80% of them have previously written an online review." If you are trying to grow the number of your positive reviews, you may want to focus your solicitation of reviews from the 35+ population as they are prone to leaving more positive reviews.

Whether positive or negative, your Google reviews and responses show prospective customers your business policies, ethics, and customer service in a transparent manner. This transparency is critical for shoppers purchasing decisions, with 72% saying they trust a business when they read positive reviews about it.

Potential buyers feel they'll receive the same level of high-quality service they see on your review pages since 91% of 18-34-year-old shoppers trust online reviews as much as they would trust a friend's referral. People love quality and a great customer experience! When your reviews reflect this experience, they can increase your conversions!

2. Google Reviews Improve Your Local SEO

Google provides 89% of local searches. With reviews worth over 15% of your local pack score with Google, it's safe to say reviews play a big part in your overall ranking. Without ignoring other SEO strategies like keywords, user experience, and quality content, reviews can contribute to your movement in local rankings.

Additionally, the increasing trend of people searching for local things through "item/service + near me" tells business owners that more work is required to rank in local listings. The number of reviews one business has can determine how Google will rank you. For example, if your local competitor has 45 reviews, and you have 15, they might rank higher.

Another factor to appear in the Google Local Pack is whether your reviews are positive. Local search results display the first three high-ranking businesses near the search er's location at the top of the page along with their location and contact details. With more and more consumers likely using contact details from a local listing to call the business directly (instead of visiting their website), appearing on it can reward you handsomely. Besides, Google now includes snippets of reviews in the search results below the business information, which further illustrates the importance of having relevant reviews in large quantity.

3. Reviews are a Great Way to Improve Customer Experience and Showcase Your Brand

Reviews are a two-sided coin; you can fully leverage both sides to work for you with the proper review management strategies. Google reviews specifically allow you to know how you're performing and what needs improvement in your customer experience (CX). (CX covers everything from how your products/services are, how you handle customers when selling or delivering services, and how you resolve customer complaints or concerns.)

You can easily learn what you can do to optimize CX through the negative reviews you receive. Negative reviews are inevitable for businesses. The difference is how you handle these reviews, with timely and appropriate responses.

One crucial thing is that you should always respond to negative reviews with a calm and wise, solution-based approach and with steps to alleviate the problem in the future. Never shift the blame or argue (even if the customer is totally wrong). Remember that most people follow bad review threads to see how the issue was resolved; thus, any negative signal is detrimental, while a well-thought-out resolution might actually drive more conversions.

On the other hand, don't forget your positive reviews! These should be responded to as an excellent opportunity to showcase your best. Who doesn't love good PR? Positive reviews offer a great way to spotlight products or services that you excel with or offer suggestions for repeat business! Be sure to include your business name in your responses so the search algorithm can find your name and recommended product or service easily.

4. Google Reviews Can Act as Great Testimonials on Your Site

Testimonials are a distinctive way to show your site visitors what others are saying about your company. GBP reviews can be a great resource to include authentic and credible testimonials on your site. You can choose to either embed the Google reviews directly onto the website or opt to reach people who have left positive reviews to give you a more detailed testimonial. Our guess is that you'll have smooth sailing in convincing them since they already like your product or services.

Ready? Let's Get Started!

Download t his step-by-step infographic PD F to use when helping your customers leave Google reviews for you. If you would prefer to focus on what you do best and have a team of experts monitor your reviews or assist you in soliciting more reviews, then Summit Media Solutions is here for you! We take care of other things like optimizing your online presence and digital marketing so our clients can give time and attention to their business.

To join our Blog Mailing List or to learn more about how we can help you grow your business, connect with our team now .

What is Google Business Profile & Why is it Important?

Tue, 28 Dec 2021 19:01:35 GMT

Originally Published Nov 8, 2021

Have you ever entered an address into your phone, or asked Siri to find a location, only to find yourself in the wrong location? Were you inconvenienced? Did the experience leave you late for a meeting or appointment? Given that nearly everyone now possesses a smartphone, tablet, or computer (and many have multiples), can you imagine the missed opportunities businesses are losing out on by not being easily found online?

Per Brightlocal, 96% of all people used a digital search in the past 12 months. Therefore, it's a necessity to have accurate business information in front of the people performing online searches. By the end of this article, you'll have an understanding of the benefits of Google Business Profile, or GBP (formerly known as Google My Business, GMB, or Google Places), and why it's vital to businesses.

What Is Google Business Profile?

Google Business Profile or GBP is a tool that generates a listing for a business that includes vital company information such as the company's name, phone number, address, website, customer feedback, products, services, categories, service areas, videos, photos, logos, hours, COVID information, delivery information (if relevant), and additional items that are being introduced regularly. GBP makes it simple for customers to contact, visit, or receive directions to your company.

GBP includes reporting metrics called Google Insights to assist businesses in making informed marketing decisions. The insights will tell you whether your business is being found through Direct, Indirect, or Brand searches. Furthermore, these insights will indicate whether you are found by Google Search or Google Maps users on mobile devices or desktops. You can then determine if a user clicked to call, obtained directions, or visited your website down to the date and time of each search.

The Benefits of Google Business Profile

Why should you use Google Business Profile? Well, GBP is a practical and creative alternative to traditional advertising. Thanks to technological advances, marketing your services, products, or brand is relatively quick and straightforward. Google's business listing is often the first place a potential customer will see your business; therefore, accurate information is of the utmost importance. Additional benefits you can receive from an accurate and fully built out GBP follow:

Become Part of Google's Local Pack

If you’ve utilized Google's search results over the past few years you may have noticed the limited number of listings to the left of, or under the Maps results, but above the organic results. These special listings are called the Google Local Pack. Many don't realize that their business can show up here when they build out their GBP.

Local Pack listings are the first things users see on a search engine results page (SERP). As this pack is the prime-time spot for local exposure, “above the fold”, as some would say, placement in the Local Pack can boost your local rankings. Per MomentFeed, "the first thing users see on a SERP 93% of the time" is the Local Pack listings, and users trust these listings.

Improve Your Digital Exposure

More than 90% of the world uses Google, so your GBP profile can be viewed and accessed by a significant number of people. The more prominent you are in the search results, or the more frequently your business appears in search results, the higher your chances are of attracting new and returning clients' attention.

A GBP listing makes it simple for companies to market their products and services online by enhancing exposure and raising the likelihood of appearing in search results, so it may make it easier for potential consumers to locate and contact you. In fact, 60% of mobile users make direct contact with businesses using the GBP interface.

Benefit from Reviews

90% of people read reviews before making a purchase, and reviews are a vital part of a business's online presence that many consumers rely on to help them make an educated decision before they make a purchase. As a result, businesses with GBP reviews are more likely to receive clicks and conversions than those without these reviews. A verified GBP profile also allows you to monitor and track your reviews.

Google Reviews are the largest review platform accessible today, and when potential consumers explore a company, customer reviews may hugely influence whether they become a client. A product with 50 or more reviews has a 4.6 percent boost in conversion rates. Google Reviews can also help improve your business's reputation, customer experience, and even internal processes and procedures.

Increase Your Lead Insights

Google Business Profile insights look at how people see your listing on Search and Maps, as well as what they do after discovering it. The Insights tab in your GBP dashboard give company owners' consumer engagement statistics obtained from their GBP listing, such as clicks to your website, clicks to call, and clicks for directions. Google Business Profile also allows you to see where those calls are coming from and if your team answers them.

Raise Your Sales

According to Search Engine Watch, 50% of individuals who use their mobile phones to search for local businesses end up visiting a store. This same report found 4 out of 5 people are conducting searches for a local business either on their phone, computer, or tablet. When your business is found during one of these searches, it can translate to increased sales! Plus, you won't have to guess where the sales are coming from since Google Insights provides an understanding of where new leads and sales traffic originates.

Improve Your Local SEO

If you plan to invest in a Search Engine Marketing program of any type (Google Ads, SEO, etc.), your GBP will be one of the essential pieces to bolster your success! Google Business Profile makes it simple for consumers to access information about your business across various platforms, such as hours of operation, contact information, and directions – all of which is valuable content.

When utilized effectively, your GBP may help improve your search results, website traffic, and generate leads and income, while also providing important insights on your client base.

Now That You Know...

With an expanded knowledge of what Google Business Profile is, how it works, and how to use it, hopefully you now understand that using this free service for local marketing is not only a good idea, but a necessity. Set up your Google Business Profile account now so your Business Profile will be able to outperform your competition, and attract more consumers via the world's most popular search engine!

Partner With Summit

Summit Media Solutions partners with businesses to create a solid foundation for your company in the digital realm. As your business evolves Summit will monitor your GMB to ensure it’s always up to date. In addition, we will educate you on Google updates, how they may affect your business, and provide tips to improve your GMB listing and digital presence.

Request your digital presence evaluation today to find out how you compare with your competition!

For more information on claiming and optimizing your GBP listing click here . And if you found this article helpful, join our email list to be notified when similar topics are published.

What Are Business Listings & Why Are They Important?

Tue, 14 Dec 2021 16:53:21 GMT

In today’s world a significant percentage of shoppers begin their search for goods or services online, directly benefiting companies that have online listings. According to Google, 46% of all search traffic has local intent, and business location is one of the top items referenced in these searches.

A business listing is the foundation of an online presence for any enterprise, yet many businesses overlook the initial step of listing their business online, despite the potential benefits. Other companies may have a few listings but they are incomplete, out of date, or lacking crucial data.

What Is a Business Listing?

A business listing is an online summary or a public profile that contains essential information like name, address, business hours, contact details, website, and social media links. It acts as a virtual doorway to local businesses.

Businesses can be found on listing sites like Facebook, Yelp, Houzz, Foursquare, Yellow Pages, LinkedIn, Google Business Profile (formally known as Google My Business or Google Places), and many others. These sites may list your business by using tax information, details from your website, or other sources.

Business owners have the option to claim their listings and update missing or incorrect information, and the public can suggest 'edits' that can override existing data if ignored. As a result, it's essential to regularly monitor your listings to ensure all of the information remains accurate.

Importance of Business Listings

The most common sources of business listing information include Google, Facebook, Instagram, Yelp, and Siri. In fact, 94% of consumers used an information site to find a local business in the last 12 months. That’s a huge statistic, which is incredibly relevant to most businesses, as explained in the following sections.

#1 Enhance Local Visibility

Search engines favor local businesses whenever consumers look for solutions. If you type "restaurants near me" Google, along with many other search engines, will crawl their databases to serve up what they find as the most relevant local solutions.

Most directories have advanced filters that enable consumers to find local search results, which provides advantages to businesses that provide complete listing data.

Pro Tip: If your business appears in relevant searches it’s optimal to ensure your listings are accurate, complete, and engaging.

#2 Better Online Presence

Every business directory has a unique set of internet users a business can tap into. Google commands 88% of all search traffic . And according to Statista, over 25% of Facebook users are 25-34 years old, and 18% are 35-44 years old.

The above statistics indicate the diversity of two directories local businesses can leverage, and there are many more. An auto service company may find Facebook appealing because a big percentage of their target clients have a Facebook account. Other online directories offer additional services, like reviews, that increase marketing opportunities.

A business with 5-star ratings on Yelp is perceived positively by consumers. Therefore, the initial step of listing management creates opportunities to boost a brand's reach and awareness.

#3 Superior Ranking on Search Results

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a collection of work that’s executed to improve a website's domain ability to rank better in search results. Listing in directories can positively enhance your local SEO results, which can subsequently result in higher search engine relevance, providing consumers with choices that offer products or services relevant to a location.

The ability to rank higher on search engines is a culmination of numerous SEO tactics, including local listings. As more people find your business, it results in increased search volume. Eventually, Google recognizes the positive signals and rewards your site with higher rankings in search results. The benefits of superior ranking include the likelihood of more traffic, increased credibility or trust, and higher chances of achieving sales conversions.

#4 Improved Brand Awareness

After performing a search in any online directory, a list of relevant searches appears, and only the listed businesses benefit by being discovered by consumers with ease.

If only a small percentage of customers know the name of your business, those who don't will use relevant keywords to find you instead. A typical customer will type "best restaurant in Austin", "internet marketing services near me", or "ladies' shoes". To that end, a quality business listing can improve online visibility, ease of discoverability, and brand awareness.

On the other hand, each business directory has a different strength or unique aspect. For example, the modern consumer visits Yelp to understand how other consumers perceive a specific business. As such, companies with a solid review management policy stand to benefit from the site. Ultimately, business owners should cross-list in multiple directories to tap into the unique strengths of each, and enhance their brand awareness.

Need Help With Your Listing Management?

Savvy business owners are constantly looking for beneficial marketing strategies, which include building a strong local digital presence. Business listings provide numerous opportunities to boost a businesses’ ability to be found by consumers when they’re searching for products or services. As such, having your listings professionally managed is an investment in your future.

Summit Media Solutions can create your business listings, then monitor, conduct audits, and optimize the listings. Contact us to get your free listings audit today!

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Stop Getting Crushed By Your Competitors Online!

Fri, 08 Oct 2021 17:32:58 GMT

Running a business has drastically changed over the past 30 years. Heck, even the last 5 years has been an ongoing roller coaster ride. Business owners must now keep up with the constant change of consumer habits, technology and Google algorithms, along with everything else the digital world has to offer. All of these are important, but you also need to continue to focus on everything it actually takes to run your business. As a result, you may find yourself with little to no time to do everything required to ensure your success.

Running a business used to be a little less complicated: Show up, offer good customer service, get listed in the phone books, and hope everything falls into place. Nowadays that just doesn’t cut it. The internet has forever taken stake in our lives and how we run businesses. That said, don’t lose hope.

Start Beating Your Competitors Today!

We’ve compiled a list of the three most important web-based solutions needed to improve your customer reach, and stay competitive in your local market. They’re listed in order of importance.

Business Listings

First off, let’s make sure your business is getting the most out of the internet by focusing on a foundational piece of the equation - your business listings. They’re a key component in how potential customers find you in search engines.

What is a Business Listings?

A business listing is an internet profile which contains businesses’ NAPD Data (Name, Address, Phone number and Domain). Listings can also include other pertinent business info such as hours of operation, services, a business bio, and much more. There are well over 300 listing sites across the internet for businesses to use. Some sites are industry specific, others like Google, Facebook, Yelp (and many more) are available for any business to use.

Why are They Important?

Consistent business information across all sites validates you as a credible business. Without listings anyone looking for your products or services may be unable to find your information and become a patron to your business. If you want to be considered for Google's first page of a search, you’ll need accurate listings across as many sites as possible. Having incorrect NAPD Data across many sites and search engines may lead potential consumers to believe your listings are for separate businesses, which may negatively impact your rank against competitors in search engines.

Make sure your business has accurate business listings across as many sites as possible to ensure you’re on the right path to the top of the search engines. Without them you may slowly but surely lose out on potential client acquisition, which is far less than ideal.

Here's a great video diving deeper into Listing Distribution

Websites

Now that you have your business listings taken care of the next step to ensure you’re competitive in your local market is a high performing website. Websites act as virtual doorsteps to your business. They require upkeep, just like your physical brick and mortar locations. Having weeds, trash and a broken rundown sign in front of your storefront is similar to having a website without mobile phone capabilities and old photos and ads displayed on it. It’s not a winning proposition.

A mediocre, old, low functioning website is vastly different than a good or great website; especially when you’re trying to compete within your local market. So, what does a good website look like you may ask? Well, it is easier if we explain what makes a bad website:

Lack of Mobile Capability

Over half of the population uses their mobile phones when browsing the internet. If your website isn’t mobile-friendly now, it needs to be. It may be hard to believe something so minuscule can have a huge impact on your bottom line, but a non-mobile site can cause potential customers to get frustrated, leave your site, and move right along to a competitor’s website.

Slow Speeds

Consumers expect information to be delivered quickly. A slow loading website can have the same effects as a non-mobile friendly website. The leading causes of slow websites are huge photos or tons of videos. The visuals are really nice to have, unless they drag down your load time and cause consumers to jump off your site to go elsewhere.

It’s Just Plain UGLY!

As we said earlier, you wouldn't want trash and clutter along your storefront. The same goes for your website. Lime green and hot pink typically wouldn't be main color choices for your website. (Apologies if you do have a lime green and hot pink website!) Low quality photos, poor organization of information, and unreadable fonts may cause consumers to jump ship due to the negative experience.

Never fear though! Even the worst websites can be improved by hiring a professional to assess needed improvements. Once they’re made it’s possible to have a fast, high performing, mobile-friendly website that’s as beautiful as the Mona Lisa herself!

Here's a great video diving deeper into Website Development

Reviews

Reviews are a huge part of businesses’ online presence and reputation. Thoughtful customer reviews provide honest feedback on items you are doing well, in addition to areas needing improvement. Too many bad reviews, and you’ll likely lose credibility amongst current or potential customers. On the other hand, a huge number of good reviews can lead to a growing base of happy customers.

In the past we used to hear business owners say, “We do fine with word of mouth. We don't care about our online reviews”. Here’s the thing: They fail to realize reviews are another form of word of mouth, only on a much broader scale. It pays to find ways to encourage clients to post reviews. If your company asks the right questions and compiles the data effectively, your management team can learn how to improve products and customer interactions.

Here's a great video diving deeper into Reviews

When you’re ready to take control over your online presence and stop getting crushed by your competitors, trust our professional team at Summit Media Solutions. We’re here to bring your vision to life. Contact us for a free consultation to learn how we can fix your online presence and get you more business today!

Why Managing Your Listings is Important for Your Business

Fri, 08 Oct 2021 17:32:57 GMT

Every Business Needs A Strong Foundation!

Digital marketing is a complex process with many moving parts, including social media management, website development, and review management. Yet one of the most important aspects of online marketing is often one of the least considered, and that is business listings management.

Correct Listings Attract New Customers

Say you’re promoting your product online and a random user becomes interested and wants to purchase it from you. They will search for you online, get your business’s phone number or address, and contact you. If your contact information is out of date, incorrect, or just non-existent, your would-be customers will struggle to contact you and may lose interest in your product.

Not having a correct business listing is a serious problem for businesses because it weakens customer trust in your brand. In fact, 73% of customers said that an incorrect listing impacted how much they trusted a company and if they would purchase from them.

What Summit Media Solutions Offers

Summit Media Solutions understands all of the challenges that small businesses face when promoting their products and services, and our team of experts will make sure that your business can be found in all corners of the internet.

Our full-service system includes solutions for business of all sizes, and includes:

● Correcting your core data on the world’s top listing sites

● Monitoring your listings to ensure they stay up-to-date and relevant

● Claiming and optimizing up to 3 of your listings with photos, videos, and links

● Delivering your data to the top listing providers that support over 300 listing sites

● Integrating your business into GPS and navigation systems

Our experts also understand the importance of search engine optimization and will work to make sure that your business isn’t just seen and considered by customers, but by search engines like Google in order to be presented in any search related to your industry or community.

Having the most attractive product or service in your industry is a great way to draw potential customers and grow your business, but it can be a moot point if your customers can’t find you. Give our listing experts a call today at 816-628-5492 or visit us online to see how we can take your business from the Google page into the minds of your new and current customers.

Check out this great video on Listings Management

Does Your Business Website Need a Facelift or a Rebuild?

Fri, 08 Oct 2021 17:32:55 GMT

3 Signs Your Website Needs A Rebuild!

Having a business website is one thing. Having an old, slow, or outdated website is hurting your business! In fact, Google states 50% of people won’t consider purchasing from a brand that has a poorly designed mobile website.

A few years ago, the typical mindset for small business owners was, “I have a website. Great! I am good to go.” That is no longer the case.

The online world is constantly changing, often more than you think and sometimes more often than you know. Professionals recommend a new site or website overhaul every 2-5 years. If your website is over 3 years old and hasn't changed since then, it is a good indication your website is lacking in more than one area.

Since 2020 and the impact of Covid-19 on online shopping and buying habits, it is imperative that you stay up to date with the latest changes and trends to remain at the top of search engines results (SERPS).

A common question asked at Summit Media Solutions is “How do I know if my website is good or bad?” Well let's find out.

Design

Your website design may not seem like a high priority, but a study from Stanford found that 75% of users make judgments about a company and its credibility based on the design of their site. If your site is cluttered, not easy to navigate, contains annoying pop-ups, or is visually unappealing, your prospective clients are leaving your website as fast as they got there and going to someone else.

Since your website is often the first thing potential clients see, it is your 1st chance at a good impression. It is your online storefront. Imagine you drove to a new brick and mortar business your friend recommended and saw trash out front, broken, ugly signage with dirty windows, and you got lost 5 times on your way. Would you want to walk in to do business there? Do you think this business would get enough foot traffic to remain open for long?

Your website may not be the reason for your business to close its doors, but it can be the difference of having a struggling business, a successful business, or an expanding business. Hopefully, you now understand the part design plays in your business presence. Take some time to go to several competitor and non-competitor sites. Does your site look better? Things like color scheme, font sizes, font choice, as well as the overall navigation of the site should help you identify some design areas your site is lacking in. If you don’t think your site looks or functions as well as theirs. It may be time to look into a new website.

2. Slow Load Time

Load time is one of the main reasons potential customers leave websites. Say, “supercalifragilisticexialidocious;” did your site load in that time? You have less than 3 seconds for your site to load before consumers start hitting the back button and choosing another company. For every second over 3 it takes for your site to load you lose 50% of potential clients.

That is not a lot of time. The biggest culprits are oversized images, too many images, cheap web hosting and Javascript plugins/downloads. A good number to shoot for is approximately 2 seconds.

Here is a tool we use to check website speed. https://tools.pingdom.com

3. Mobile Friendly

Having a mobile friendly website is a must. According to Statista 52.2% of all worldwide online traffic was generated through mobile phones. Websites that are not mobile responsive give the potential customer a difficult time navigating the site and converting into valuable clients. Having to navigate a site that is not mobile friendly is more than frustrating.

Here is a tool we use to check is a site is mobile friendly.

https://search.google.com/test/mobile-friendly

As of October 2018 there are over 4.2 billion active internet users world wide. (Statista)

While these are the top 3 signs your website is overdue for a rebuild, they are not the only indication one is needed but the easiest to identify. If you are still unsure, reach out to the friendly Summit Media Solutions website team to run a complimentary website audit which will give you invaluable insights about your current website.

Why You Need a Website for Your Business

Fri, 30 Jul 2021 16:34:35 GMT

Don't overlook the importance of a business website.

In today’s world it’s more important than ever to have a website. Your website is one piece of marketing that works 24/7/365. It’s there promoting your business whether you or your team are asleep or awake. When potential customers perform a quick search, compare you with competitors, need emergency service, or submit a request for information via a convenient fillable form, your website is there to represent your business.

Your business builds or loses credibility as a result of the quality of your website, and not having a website is detrimental to how you appear to the public, which can negatively impact your credibility. So, it’s surprising that even in our highly focused digital world in 2021, “28% of small businesses in the US don’t have a website”. Source

Most components of a business's online presence integrate with, or rely on their website: SEO (search engine optimization), reputation management, social, PPC (pay-per-click), and more. All of these are great reasons why you need a website. Think of it as a hub that stores all the products, promotions and service information that you want to offer to the world.

A website is a great way to display social proof in the form of reviews and testimonials. The public loves reviews, which helps build trust in a business. Short video testimonials are another great option, as they are highly viewed, and help give the user a sense of “knowing” a business, and what they might expect when they interact with a business. The same goes for promoting social activity. When a business appears in articles, blogs, or posts by other businesses or community organizations, that information should be shared via helpful links or plug-ins, which are highly beneficial proof that a business is active, thriving, and trustworthy.

A website provides an opportunity to showcase your work. When someone visits your website, they should be able to get a feel for your company, which may build trust in the work you do. You can display images and video of past work, which will provide a glimpse of what you and your team excel at, and/or specialize in. Whether it’s an installation, service, build, etc., consumers feel more at ease with a company when they can view authentic images that are unique to a business. When you pour your heart and soul into a project, be sure to take photos, and post them.

A website is also a great place to house frequently asked questions (FAQs), which are not only important to prospective customers, but also to Google search. When someone searches for a product or service, they are looking for answers. Your website should be equipped with answers to common questions: What are your hours? How can your business be reached? Do you offer specialized services or special appointment times? Do you have a Facebook page?

Think of a website as a cost-effective marketing tool. When a website is properly optimized it will work around the clock. Who, or what else on your team works 24/7?

When you’re ready to build a new website, or have an existing site that needs an upgrade, trust our professional team at Summit Media Solutions. We’re here to bring your vision to life. Contact us for a free consultation to learn how we can design and build a website that works for you.