by actovision | Mar 26, 2020 | Website
What is your worst nightmare?
For many website owners, it is invariably the de-indexing of their websites by Google. After all, you put in all that effort, time and money to develop your website and then went through the entire process of SEO to get a good organic ranking. But in one fell swoop, you find your website is no longer visible on Google. This can happen for a number of reasons.
But thankfully, getting de-indexed is not an irreversible situation. You can, with time and diligent effort, recover your previous position in the Google SERPs (and maybe even improve upon it). And the first step to recovery is to determine why exactly your website was de-indexed. This is where you (or your website development services) should begin.
The following is a detailed discussion of the various reasons for which your site may have been de-indexed, along with the recovery procedures for each of them.
Poor Quality Content
Low-quality content can get you de-indexed from the Google SERPs. If you are using content that is machine-generated, such as those spun using automated article scrapers and content spinners, then beware. These are a direct violation of Google’s guidelines and can get you dropped from the SERPs. Another reason that you may be de-indexed is if you are using copied or duplicate content, or content on multiple pages which vary from each other only superficially.
If you are indulging in such practices, then it is time to stop. Delete the duplicate or machine-generated content first, and then invest some time to develop your own, original content. If you feel pressed for time, consider hiring a top website development company to do it for you.
Improper Linking Practices
Google frowns upon practices such as link buying or link exchanging. So, if your site has recently added a large number of links in a short period of time, it may be seen as a violation of Google’s guidelines and may result in your site getting de-indexed.
Further, if your website has a large number of hidden links or broken links, Google can penalize you as it views these as signs of improper website maintenance and design.
To recover from such problems, make sure your links are built naturally over time. Also, ask your website design services to perform periodic link audits of your site to remove broken or spam links that are harming your website.
Page Cloaking
Page Cloaking refers to the practice when different pages are seen by Google and users when they click the link. Google considers this to be a black-hat practice and will most certainly penalize your website by de-indexing it.
To recover, simply ask your website development services to remove such pages so that Google can view the same pages as your site visitors.
Google Updates
It is common knowledge that Google frequently updates its search algorithm to provide a better user experience. Often, this results in the changing of ranks of certain websites. In the worst-case scenario, your website may be entirely de-indexed as a result of an update. This is something over which you have no control.
If you find your website has vanished from Google just after an update is announced, contact your website design services to learn all about that particular update, understand what changes are needed to get your site indexed again, and then make sure that the same is applied.
Server Issues
If your web server experiences frequent crashes and outages, this can also result in your site getting de-indexed. Keep a close watch on the performance of your web host server. If you feel your site is getting de-indexed due to server issues, consider switching to a more reliable service. With time, your website should get re-indexed.
Expired Domain
Your site may have disappeared from Google simply because your domain license has expired! Be sure to make your domain payments on time so that your site continues to be live on the web.
And Finally…
Be patient. If your site has been de-indexed, it will take time for it to reappear and climb the SERP ladder again. Once you have identified the reason(s) for your website’s de-indexation, you need to take the proper steps, rectify the problems, and then submit a sitemap or reconsideration request with Google, depending on your situation. And if all this seems too much work, consider hiring a top web development agency to help you.
by actovision | Mar 24, 2020 | Uncategorized
Appealing, user-friendly and super fast websites are not just created out of thin air, for web hosting solutions have a great role to play in delivering the final results! Whether it is a comprehensive e-commerce website or a simple blog-based site, the web hosting services do the heavy lifting of tasks at the backend. Primarily, a website is a bunch of HTML files, whereas website hosting refers to the process of how and where those files are stored. Web hosting is as important as web development services, for it can enhance the scalability and user experience of a website. The security, speed, uptime, and performance of the website certainly depend on the robustness of the web hosting services.
Types of web hosting
Web hosting is a complex process comprising two types: Shared hosting and cloud hosting. When multiple websites are stored in a single server wherein they share several resources such as bandwidth, disk space, etc., it is known as shared hosting. On the other hand, cloud hosting involves the storage of multiple websites across multiple servers. It offers exclusive features like reliability, increased speed of accessing resources, faster bandwidths, high uptimes, and security when compared to shared hosting.
Cloud Hosting vs Shared Hosting – which one is the winner?
Availability of website based on high uptime
A blank screen instead of the website on display is the last thing you would want your visitors to see when they search for your brand, products or services. To pre-empt such a scenario, you should focus on implementing the best web hosting solution for your website. Although both hosting services – shared and cloud, have their respective pros and cons, their utility can be best understood during server outages. For example, the shared hosting services can let the computer screens to go blank during server outages.
However, for cloud hosting services, since the applications and databases are stored in multiple servers, there is no downtime or blank screen should any of the servers go down. For shared hosting, it is difficult to prevent downtime challenges in their entirety save minimizing them with the help of CDN – Content Delivery Network comprising distributed servers offering web content based on the user’s geographical location. In the overall analysis, shared hosting may not ensure the availability of your website at all times based on the physical environment of the server when compared to cloud hosting.
Scalability to avoid redundant usage and investment
In the case of shared hosting, customers need to pay a fixed amount to hire a bundle of space, which they may not always require. However, the cloud hosting solution offered by any best web development company provides the much-needed flexibility through the allocation of virtual space. Here, you get to pay on the basis of what you use. Sounds feasible, right? Apart from that, cloud hosting also helps you to manage any sudden website traffic surge instantly, which ishttps://www.webguru-india.com/website-development-company not possible in a shared hosting solution. So, sharing does not always amount to caring! For you need to select the hosting services wisely to achieve ROI.
Speed of the website
The servers used in shared hosting are always filled to capacity. Thus, should one of the websites receives an unexpected surge in traffic, all other websites stored there face a negative fallout in the form of increased load times. On the other hand, cloud servers ensure a robust performance for your website by balancing it among multiple server environments. Moreover, the superior server hardware, low density and several caching layers of cloud hosting drive the loading speed of the websites.
Here, the winner turns out to be cloud hosting! For it gives you access to more resources besides letting your website to run at excellent speeds.
Security
Websites get compromised all the time even when we think they do not contain anything worthwhile to hack! In shared hosting, if one is able to access a server it becomes easy to gain access to other websites as well. However, cloud hosting services offer different types of controls that are corrective, preventive, detective and deterrent in nature to combat any security issues such as illegal invasion and network eavesdropping. This again proves that cloud hosting has an edge over shared hosting.
by actovision | Mar 20, 2020 | Uncategorized
Is your business struggling to meet its objectives and project deadlines? Is the quality of your products or services not meeting the prescribed standard? Chances are your workforce may need to be retrained to fully understand and execute the various processes of your operational workflow. It is possible that a lack of quality training has left the workforce bereft of ideas or skills to address the challenges they come across. In today’s competitive business landscape where high attrition rates have become the norm, it is important for businesses to invest in quality training using an eLearning management system. In fact, statistics also point to the growing importance of eLearning. According to Research and Markets, the global eLearning market is expected to touch $325 billion by 2025.
Although classroom training might appear convenient, the outcomes are not always viable. In an organization comprising various departments or processes located at different places, centralized classroom training is not feasible. Since each process shall have its special training needs, one-size-fits-all classroom training can easily be replaced by a customized eLearning solution.
Issues with classroom training
- Notwithstanding the face to face interaction between the trainees and trainer brought about in-classroom training, it is not always feasible due to the nature of some businesses.
- In a fast-paced business environment, namely, retail or hospitality where employees have to be always on their toes and continuously engage with their end customers, taking time out for classroom training can be a difficult proposition. Rather they would need short term training courses in an easy to understand format, which can be accessed in their chosen time.
- In organizations where departments or teams are spread across geographic locations with their specific work timelines, arranging classroom training at a common location is just impossible. This is where a comprehensive eLearning solution can be of help, for trainees can access it at different times, locations, and by using the device of their choice.
Benefits of an Elearning management system
With digital transformation gaining pace, businesses need to adopt the latest technologies and streamline their process workflows. And the evolving nature of technologies requires the workforce to be up-skilled continuously. The challenge is not only to understand the new technological paradigms but to adapt to the new methodologies brought about by their implementation as well.
Value addition: As the workforce gets trained using eLearning software at its chosen time and pace, the business gains a competitive advantage. Training can lead to positive outcomes such as reduced operating expenses, streamlined workflows, reduced redundancies, optimized resources, and value addition.
Quick time to market: To beat the competition, you must bring out your products or services on time. This can only happen when your workforce knows about the latest technologies, market dynamics, business processes, and objectives. A well-trained team can deliver better performance by using optimum resources. Since the workforce is likely to work in tandem across departments and locations, the product development process shall get streamlined thereby making the time to market more focused and predictable.
Cost-saving: Classroom training would need additional expenses towards setting up the infrastructure, printing training materials, and travel and accommodation (if trainees come from other centers that are geographically distant.) On the other hand, an eLearning software containing the training modules can be accessed by employees across geographies, processes, teams, and time zones.
Webinars: An important part of classroom teaching is the face-to-face interaction that trainees have with their trainer(s). In eLearning, this can be easily achieved by conducting webinars. This will help trainees to achieve a faster learning curve and enable them to apply their skills to the jobs.
Better Tracking: Similar to classroom training, an eLearning management system allows the trainers or business stakeholders to keep track of the learning curve of each trainee. This helps them to focus on the laggards and bring them up the learning curve fast.
Better learning engagement: Prolonged sessions of classroom teaching can lead to a drop in the attention span of trainees. This drop can impact the learning outcomes in due course. On the other hand, since eLearning courses are accessed by the trainees at their chosen time, they can regulate their learning hours as well. This leads to better learning engagement.
by actovision | Mar 16, 2020 | Web Development
Once it comes to PPC (Pay-per-Click), you seek for instant results. And according to a survey by Blue list, paid search ads can increase brand awareness by a whopping 80%. However, as the trends in digital marketing are changing rapidly, you need to spend your budget efficiently in order to meet your business objectives. The only way to do this is by adopting the latest PPC strategies.
No worry. We have got you covered. Learn these PPC trends you are going to witness in 2020 so that you can implement the right hacks to improve your ROI.
# PPC Trends in 2020
During the initial phase of PPC, search engines like Google and others used to run search listing ads only. But with time, display and video ads along with various social media channels, and popular e-Commerce platforms are coming to the forefront. These are gradually changing the PPC landscape. Check these out.
1. Automation and Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Digital marketing has not simply revolutionized the advertisement landscape, but also brought about a renaissance in the manner we receive, handle, and process the humongous sets of data available in the cyberspace.
In other words, PPC automation is reshaping marketing.
PPC automation is the use of AI and machine learning to optimize search engine marketing (SEM) efforts. It can manage the bidding procedure with more accuracy thereby saving both time and money.
AI’s machine learning capabilities can collect and identify the users’ search patterns, web browsing activity, and purchase history. Thus, Artificial Intelligence automates the optimization procedure and offers optimum results. Here’s how AI can be beneficial for you:
- Pausing Low-Performing Ads
AI allows you a respite from constantly monitoring everything. AI can identify the low-performing ads and suggest you stop them while prioritizing those offering the most returns. It recommends you to bid more on the best performing ads while reducing the budget for poorly performing ones. Thus, it can improve the ad performance based on your set goal while effectively saving money.
- Adopt the Right Bidding Strategy
AI can also determine the best bidding strategy to accomplish different goals. Therefore, you can choose whether you want to prioritize clicks, impressions, or conversions and allow the system to make intelligent bidding actions on the campaigns.
Another significant automation to help you increase the CTR (Click-Through-Rate) is the Dynamic Search Ad. It uses the search engine’s organic web crawling technology to target relevant search queries. Dynamic Search Ads pull content from your website and display the same in the ad. Then it directs the ad to your most relevant web page containing that keyword. Let’s simplify it with an example.
If you own a hotel in Mumbai and someone searches for a luxury hotel in Mumbai, the search engine will automatically generate a relevant headline by taking information from your website content and allow you to reach audiences that you could have missed otherwise.
Thus, AI helps to create powerful, optimized, and relevant ads that can drive more conversions.
Why Should You Care?
With a massive amount of information swirling around, search engines use automation systems that are built to capture the patterns of user behavior and can be advantageous for advertisers like you. With more user-centric and relevant ads you can catch the attention of your target audience and increase the conversion rate.
2. Alternative Platforms To Google Search Listing Ads
The scope, impact, and cost-effectiveness of digital marketing coupled with the rising cost of advertising in the print and electronic media has led companies to invest in Google Search Listing Ads. However, this huge influx of advertisements has cluttered the Google Search Ad space and limited its scope in drawing eyeballs. This has resulted in a higher cost per conversion ratio as multiple companies are fighting for the same ad space. Thus, as per the expert PPC service providers, the Google Search Listing Ads Space is no longer the sovereign ruler in the PPC market.
In fact, by diversifying your PPC campaign, you can access multiple channels to draw the eyeballs of your potential customers. You may need to remind consumers about your service or product several times before they make a purchase. This can allow your ad to frequently appear in front of them if you advertise across multiple platforms they use.
Several platforms are increasingly becoming crucial to the advertisers. Here, we will mention the five most important alternative platforms you should check out in 2020:
Display or banner search ads can promote your business when people are watching YouTube videos, browsing online, checking emails, or using any web or mobile application. Since it reaches 90% of global internet users, these can be your best bet as far as drawing customer eyeballs is concerned.
You can use the social media giant, Facebook to advertise your business in its Marketplace section. Here, you can create advertisements in the form of stores to be seen by people in their news feed, search, and other areas. Such stores can reach more customers with buyers’ intent.
Even a few years ago, in 2013, Instagram had nearly 130 million monthly users. But currently, with over 1 billion monthly active users (source: Oberlo), Instagram has become one of the most favorable ad platforms.
Visual appeal is a crucial element for Instagram ads to draw more attention. Therefore, it’s important to make your ads visually attractive to get more leads in 2020.
Quora is a question-answer forum where people come to ask questions and read and share useful answers. This also includes people searching for reliable information about a company, products, or services. Thus, it provides advertisers with the opportunity to promote their business and influence people to purchase their products.
According to Thee Digital, Amazon is the third-largest advertising platform right after Google and Facebook. Though the latter ones have a wide audience, the users are not always looking to purchase something from these sites. Whereas in Amazon, the buyer intent plays a prominent role. Most of the users searching the site are planning to buy something. Therefore, the conversion rate is usually high on Amazon.
Other than these three, other platforms like Reddit, Pinterest, and Tiktok among others also have a wide user base.
Why Should You Care?
Publishing your ad on diversified paid media platforms is a step to acquire more leads and boost your business. Not convinced yet? According to a recent study by Foundation Inc, Quora has over 300 million monthly active users. Do we need to say more?
3. The surge in Video Advertising
According to HubSpot, 72% of consumers prefer to learn about a service or product with the help of a video. Video is an amazing resource that businesses should utilize and is sure to dominate the market in the coming years.
The video ad is a great tool to enhance your business reach and add to your brand’s appeal. Videos also evoke a sense of reliability and a compelling video can effectively make a brand go viral.
The Bumper Machine tool of Google helps video advertisers in this regard. Powered by machine learning, it can select a few catchy moments from a longer video and conjoin them to produce multiple 6 seconds bumper ads.
Why Should You Care?
Videos allow the brands to communicate their story to the target audience. With the increasing popularity of video advertising, you should leverage its advantages by integrating it into your marketing strategy.
by actovision | Mar 10, 2020 | SEO
So you have your website running. Business is good, the sales are coming in, and everything is on track…
Then you notice something.
Your site analytics show that for some reason, your website is not getting as many visitors as it used to. True, all businesses strive for more traffic. Human nature (and SEO services!) drives us towards getting more and more traffic to our web property. This is simply because more traffic to your website means greater customer outreach, quality engagement, more sales and ultimately more business. After all, that’s what we strive for. So obviously a drop in site traffic is something that should be taken very, very seriously.
What can cause your website traffic to drop?
Drop-in web traffic can be the result of many factors, but broadly they can be classified into two types:
- Direct factors
- Indirect factors
Let us look at some of these in detail:
Direct Factors
These are factors that are directly related to your website, and can benefit should you or the digital marketing services engaged by you act upon promptly.
Ask any digital marketing company the one factor that drives traffic, and they’ll give you the same answer: high quality, relevant content. In 2019, there are 1,518,207,412 websites on the internet (source: millforbusiness.com). That’s a pretty big number! So you can imagine that the only sites which will be able to drive quality traffic are the ones providing rich and useful content to the customers. So pay close attention to your content strategy, post regularly and be active on social media.
If your site has been active for many years, chances are that you are still targeting keywords that have become obsolete. Appropriate and targeted keyword research by competent SEO agency in India will help to improve your site’s ranking on SERP’s.
Often, a site’s performance online is affected by technical glitches. Broken links, server overloads, recent site overhauls and more can affect how search engines index your site and drive traffic. So be careful.
How your users experience your site is vital to whether they become loyal patrons or not. According to Matthew Martin of Spade Design, your UX directly affects your site rankings and hence the business. To be sure to deliver a solid UX, consider hiring a professional website development company.
- Think As Your Customers Do-
would you rather visit a site with a clean, pleasing design and lightning-fast pages which clearly defines what you want from it, or a sluggish, cluttered mess that hurts your eyes? The choice is no choice at all.
Indirect factors:
This refers to factors that are not directly related to your website but can still contribute towards bringing down your traffic.
Search Engines (especially Google) are always looking for ways to deliver the most relevant results to users by making changes to their search algorithm. For example, on 12th March 2019, Google launched the March 2019 Core Algorithm Update. As with any update, the changes will have an effect on the rankings and traffic of most sites. While you can do very little regarding how search engines update themselves, you can always consult with a digital marketing company that provides SEO services in India to make sure you can take advantage of the changes and improve your traffic.
Industry trends and customer preferences will always change over time, and while you may not be able to control how they change, you can always build your marketing strategy around it. Share your brand info with your digital marketing services, and they can help you to identify the latest trends and how to leverage the same to your advantage.