Meta Removes 63K Instagram Accounts Linked to Sextortion Scams!

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Approximately 70,000 cumulative profiles, Pages, and groups have been removed from Facebook and Instagram as a result of Meta’s significant action against a well-known sextortion group operating out of Nigeria. Additionally, the mechanisms to prevent them from returning have been strengthened.

Meta says that these accounts were associated with a group called “Scammers,”.

These scammers originally relied upon the old “Nigerian Prince” type of scam, where they’d try to dupe unsuspecting marks with promises of riches. But more recently, they’ve switched to romance scams, where they create fake profiles, then convince their targets to share money and/or personal details to maintain the relationship.

Meta says :

”We removed around 63,000 Instagram accounts in Nigeria that attempted to directly engage in financial sextortion scams. These included a smaller coordinated network of around 2,500accounts that we were able to link to a group of around 20 individuals. They targeted primarily adult men in the US and used fake accounts to mask their identities. 63k profiles is a lot, and you can imagine how this group could look to use a coordinated effort of this size to intimidate targets.”

In addition to this, Meta also notes that it detected a coordinated network of around 2,500 accounts through a combination of new technical signals and processes. The majority of these accounts had already been detected and disabled by our enforcement systems, and this investigation allowed us to remove the remaining accounts and understand more about the techniques being used to improve our automated detection.

In other words, Meta has effectively been able to use this research to gain additional knowledge on the ways in which these ”Scammers” and other groups plan and collaborate in order to put pressure on users.

Which should put Meta in a better position to prevent such incidents in the future, but as is always the case, as detection systems advance, so do the strategies used by these groups. Although it’s still a cat and mouse game, Meta appears to have prevailed in some of the bigger, more significant (at scale) incidents overall, according to its continuous reporting.

Meta eliminated 5,700 groups and 1,300 Facebook pages that had been disseminating advice on how to pull off online frauds in addition to these profiles.

But again, the scammers will evolve, and in the age of AI, there are now all new vectors for them to tap into to initiate their schemes. Hopefully, Meta will also be able to evolve its systems in line, in order to maintain some kind of balance in enforcement.

What do you think about this initiative ?

The Future of Web Development: What to Expect!

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  Web development is in a constant flux. It changes with technology and dynamic user expectations. Moving into the future, several trends and innovations are going to change the way in which websites and web apps would be developed and consumed. Here is an inkling into what one should expect in the future of web development.

7 Key Trends Shaping the Future

1. Progressive Web Apps Progressive Web Apps are web applications that provide a native app-like experience by working offline, loading fast, and being installable on the user’s home screen. This closes the gap between web apps and mobile device apps by providing a native user experience across devices. Notice an increasing number of businesses implementing PWAs to enhance engagement and accessibility. 2. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning are finding their way to changing web development. From chatbots and virtual assistants to customized content recommendations, AI and ML offer a rich experience for users and make complex tasks easier to handle. Only then will developers integrate these technologies to make web applications wiser and more responsive. 3. Voice Search Optimization Optimizing websites for voice search is going to be imperative as devices that are voice-activated, including smart speakers and voice assistants, begin to proliferate. That means understanding and responding to voice inquiries through NLP. That basically means that voice search optimization is going to play a very big role in enhancing accessibility and user convenience. 4. Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality AR and VR are in the process of changing the way users experience and interact with web content. These technologies aid in creating extremely immersive experiences—majorly in industries such as e-commerce, real estate, and entertainment. For instance, a user could see what a product might look like in his or her space using AR, or how a virtual tour may turn out using VR, thus building engagement and decision-making. 5. Single Page Applications A single page application loads only a single HTML page, which is then dynamically updated based on user interaction with the app. SPAs really provide a native-like user experience, so they are very suitable for complex applications. Viewed by many as the future of frontend development, SPAs are becoming ever more prevalent, and React, Vue, and Angular are leading the charge to help developers efficiently and scalably develop web applications. 6. WebAssembly (Wasm) WebAssembly is a binary instruction format designed for high-performance on the web. It empowers developers to write code in languages like C, C++, and Rust and executes it in browsers at near-native speed. Wasm boosts web applications to be faster and more powerful. 7. Improved Cybersecurity As cyber threats become sophisticated, enhancing the cybersecurity measures will be essential. The developers will need to focus on secure coding, using HTTPS, Content Security Policy, and keeping themselves updated on the latest security measures and protocols. Without protection of the user’s data and trust, success for web apps will be elusive.

Future Predictions for Web Development

  1. The Rise of the JAMstack and Serverless Architecture The JAMstack is gaining immense popularity. It makes use of pre-rendered static sites to deliver content and APIs for dynamic data and functionality. There are a number of advantages of this approach of serverless computing.
  • Performance: This means a user can have promptness like a static content. Scalability: As a result of it, it is capable of handling as many traffic volumes as possible without having a limitation on servers.
  • Security: It is, therefore, critical to note that static sites are way more secure compared to traditional server-side applications.
  • Reduced Development Costs: Therefore, one will not have a case of the ongoing maintenance for any client using a serverless infrastructure.
2. The Metaverse and Web 3.0 Of major influence on web development will be the concepts of Metaverse—the persistent virtual environment—and Web 3.0, a blockchain-driven decentralized web. Imagine engaging online experiences where users can own digital assets, interact with 3D settings, and move with seamless continuity across platforms. Therefore, that may be new frameworks and tools required for making safe and participatory experiences inside the Metaverse.   3. Democratization of Web Development The introduction of low-code/no-code platforms and user-friendly tools is likely to further democratize web development. This may further diminish the boundary between citizen developers and formally trained developers since, with the help of these tools, persons with zero coding experience will be in a position to build simple websites and applications. Complex functionality creation and high-performance application development will still have to involve professional programmers.     4. Ethical Considerations and User Privacy Even while AI and machine learning find a place, increasingly, in web development, user bias and data privacy ethics have to be factored in. Developers will have to make algorithms that will ensure equity, non-discrimination, and transparency in the judgment-making process. In addition, the developers shall give top priority to secure data storage and let users have control over their information since the laws governing user data privacy are probably going to get harsher.     5. The Evolving Developer Landscape The developer landscape is also likely to change in tandem with the new trends. Few might have predicted a rise in extremely specialized jobs related to themes like blockchain development, AI integration, and metaverse experiences, among others. Moreover, it shall be indispensable for developers who want to remain relevant in a world changing at high speed in terms of technology to upskill and continue learning. In that respect, certain fabulous opportunities will keep developers and enterprises that want to remain at the forefront of future, evolving paths in web development on their guard. Get ready to future-proof your web presence. With Seoghana, you’re always on top of the latest trends in web development, so you’ll never be passed by those who are ahead of their time. Our team can develop anything, from Progressive Web Apps and AI-driven features to seamless Single Page Applications. Do not be left out in the new digital revolution. Let us show you how we can transform your web today to give your business a facelift. Building together a better future!  

SEO Ghana has been honored with an award at the MEA Markets’ seventh annual African Excellence Awards- 2024.

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Big News !!
 

SEO Ghana has been honored with  the prestigious award at the MEA Markets’ seventh annual African Excellence Awards- 2024.

We are happy to announce that SEO Ghana has won the African Excellence Awards 2024 for Most Reliable Digital Marketing Company in Ghana. This prestigious award emphasizes our dedication to quality, creativity, and major contributions to the economic growth of the African continent.

In its sixth year, MEA Markets has presented the prestigious awards program known as the African Excellence Awards. It honors companies that have made a significant contribution to the economic and social progress of Africa and celebrates their exceptional accomplishments. This year’s awards program addressed a wide range of companies in different industries and sectors, from start-ups to major international firms.

Seoghaa for the third time has been recognized for our unwavering dedication to Digital Marketing , showcasing our resilience and adaptability in the face of global challenges. This award is a testament to the hard work and commitment of our team, and our continuous efforts to drive innovation and excellence within the Digital Marketing sector.

The Company CEO, Evans T. Ampofo expressed, “We are incredibly proud to receive this prestigious award from MEA Markets.” In addition to honoring our accomplishments, this acknowledgment also celebrates our shared goal of promoting the growth and development of companies around the world. We are motivated to pursue our goals and keep improving the communities we work in by it.

Showcasing exceptional standards and accomplishments within the various business environment of the continent, the African Excellence Awards 2024 bring together the greatest minds in African industry. With the goal of honoring companies that are committed to the economic and social development of Africa, MEA Markets seeks to promote resilience and growth.

As we celebrate this significant milestone, SEO Ghana remains committed to pushing the boundaries of innovation and excellence. We look forward to continuing our journey, driving progress, and making meaningful contributions to the African business community.

For more information about the African Excellence Awards 2024 and the complete list of winners, please visit MEA Markets Awards.

About SEO Ghana

SEO Digital is a multiple award winning  creative media and inbound marketing firm operating from Ghana and the UK. Staffed by digital marketers and marketing professionals with international expertise, the company excels in digital advertising and social media marketing. Our mission is to improve search rankings, attract niche-based customers, and build brand trust for businesses in Ghana, Africa, and globally.

We specialize in
  • Digital Marketing
  • Media Advertising
  • Public Relation
  • Branding
  • Web & App Development
  • PPC Advertising
  • Social Media Management
  For more information, please visit SEOGhana.  

Understanding customer journey and key touchpoints

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customer journey You may have heard about the customer journey, now before a purchase happens, each interaction with a brand during a customer journey is called a touchpoint. Customer Touchpoints are important to monitor because they reveal the kinds of decisions customers are making during their customer journey to purchase your product or service. Touchpoints occur when a customer engages with your website or mobile app. But they also include customer interactions on all media channels before a customer discovers your website. This reading explains how to classify touchpoints for media channels, and how to use these touchpoints to learn more about your customers. customer journey

Touchpoints relate to a specific context or need

When you identify touchpoints, you may be tempted to list social media or display ads. These channels may be the mediums in which touchpoints occur, but actual touchpoints provide much more information. When you identify a touchpoint, think about how the interaction might satisfy a customer’s need. For example, instead of classifying social media as a touchpoint, classify a customer’s response to a flash sale announcement on Twitter as a touchpoint. When they click the link, they are interested in knowing what they can purchase at a discounted price. From the example, notice how much contextual information is lost if you simply lump every social media interaction under a single touchpoint called social media. Touchpoints have context and reflect customer needs. In the example, the context was curiosity, and the need was saving money.

Touchpoints are customer-centric

Touchpoints should also be customer-centric. Going back to the previous example, imagine if you viewed touchpoints from the perspective of the business instead of from the customer experience. If increasing sales is a business goal, touchpoints can easily become part of a rolling calculation, like a ratio of touchpoints to purchases. While a ratio of touchpoints to purchases is still informative, notice how a customer-centric versus a business-centric analysis can provide more insights about buyer motivations.

Key takeaways

Use touchpoints to your advantage. To get the most from touchpoints, carefully define them for all media channels. Touchpoints that are customer-centric and relate back to their needs will yield the most useful data about customer motivations, preferences, and behaviors

What is inclusive Marketing?

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inclusive marketing As a digital marketer, being inclusive is an essential part of making deeper connections with your customers. Inclusive marketing is the practice of improving representation and belonging within the marketing and advertising materials that an organization creates. In this reading, you’ll discover why inclusive marketing is important and how a company can make inclusion part of their marketing and advertising strategies.

Why inclusive marketing matters

In digital marketing, the creative choices a company makes can impact how people view themselves and how they view other people. Sometimes marketing campaigns (especially those that are older or more traditional) can reinforce stereotypes and leave out the perspectives of underrepresented groups of people. Inclusive marketing, on the other hand, seeks to represent a variety of perspectives, particularly those that have been marginalized in the past. If a company focuses its marketing exclusively on a specific age group, gender, ethnicity, or other identity traits, they’re likely missing out on reaching potential customers. By approaching marketing decisions with a focus on inclusion, a company can positively and authentically market to the diversity that exists in their audience, and the world.

Making inclusive choices and avoiding stereotypes

Digital marketing requires getting to know your audience in a deeper way. With inclusive marketing, you can take this a step further by seeking to understand how parts of your target audience have been excluded, stereotyped, or misrepresented in the past. Sometimes you might unintentionally overlook certain aspects of diversity, even if you remember to consider others. Here is a list of some identity traits that are helpful to keep in mind when you’re creating marketing or advertising materials for the people you’re trying to reach:
  • Race
  • Socioeconomic status
  • Age
  • Ability
  • Gender
  • Sexual orientation
  • Religion
  • Geographic location
  • Culture
  • Political perspective
  • Military status
  • Languages spoken
Gathering information about your audience’s demographics can help you broaden your perspective. It’s also important to consider the demographics of people who are not currently customers. These people may not use or even know about the products or services your company provides because the company’s marketing efforts haven’t reached them. By understanding their needs and desires, you can find a way to reach this group of people in a way that matters to them. As an example, at least one billion people in the world live with a disability. If your product or service isn’t accessible to these people, they likely don’t use or even know about your product or service. And if your company’s marketing efforts don’t feature people with disabilities or address their needs, they may not view your company’s products or services as relevant to them. That’s why it’s important to think deeply about your audience and their needs and to make sure their perspectives and stories are brought to life through the company’s marketing and advertising materials.

Key takeaways

Whether you’re developing marketing goals, researching your target audience, planning a marketing campaign, or analyzing data, keep in mind the principles of inclusive marketing. Maintaining a broader perspective of your audience will help you establish a deeper connection with your customers.

Resources for more information

You can learn more by reading the inclusive marketing guidelines and principles provided by Google.

Tips To Receiving Enough Facebook Business Page Likes

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Success-on-your-Facebook-business-page

Succeeding on your Facebook business page

In order to achieve success on your Facebook business page, you need an engaged community. Without it, no one will see or read your content, making it difficult to build brand awareness and deliver ROI. New social networks crop up all the time, generating buzz and excitement among businesses and tech media, but Facebook remains the giant, with has 2.80 billion monthly active users. To keep up with changing needs and trends, Facebook continues to evolve, introducing new features and functionality for users and advertisers. If you are unable to keep up, you could miss out on potential customers. However, it’s not just about the quantity of Facebook Likes, it’s about the quality. You need to attract the right audience and engage them in ways that align with your business goals. Here is the latest checklist to ensure you have enough quality likes and following on your Facebook business page.
  1. Optimize your Facebook Page Information

First things first! Most of the time, the only thing people see from your company’s Facebook Page is the profile picture, cover image, and short description. Make sure your brand’s images and description are engaging, encapsulate what your company does, and encourages people to like your page. Don’t stop there, make sure you fill out as much of your Page Info as you can. Select the categories and subcategories that best describe your company, include your website URL, list your address, phone number, and hours of operation (if applicable). All of this information will help your page appear in Facebook & Google searches when people are looking for companies like yours, which can increase your Facebook likes even more!
  1. Post engaging content

It’s important to post engaging, entertaining, and compelling content on your business Page. Facebook constantly updates its Edgerank algorithm and rewards posts that receive engagement (likes, comments, shares) with increased reach. Facebook will reward your content by letting your engaged users’ friends know on their newsfeed that they’ve engaged with your content.  Recently Facebook announced that it will update its algorithm to track how long users spend reading posts. Videos are the best type of content to post on Facebook for capturing attention and driving engagement. But make sure the videos are at an optimal length to grab your followers’ attention and keep it long enough to digest the content.
  1. Page URL

Take a quick look at your Facebook business page now – what does the URL in the browser bar look like? If it’s something like this: https://www.facebook.com/kente-house-ghana -162166373456878/ (see all the numbers at the end?) then you’re missing an opportunity. In less than a minute you can easily change the web address of your Facebook page to something a bit more memorable, like www.facebook.com/kente-house-ghana. Click the ‘About’ tab below your Facebook cover photo, then click the Facebook Web Address option and type whatever you’d like to appear after the Facebook.com URL.
  1. Make your Facebook business page easy to find

People looking for your brand on Facebook will be searching for your brand name. Keep things simple and make it easy for them to find you by using your brand name as your Page name. Don’t add unnecessary keywords—these will just make your Page look spammy rather than like a legitimate business presence for your brand. Your username should be consistent with your handle on other social channels will make it easier for people who already follow you elsewhere to track you down on Facebook. Like your Page name, your username should be closely related to the name of your business. Someone who has just discovered a valuable tip or strategy on your website or blog is primed to want to hear more from you. Make it easy for them to connect with you on Facebook by adding Facebook follow and Like buttons to your site.
  1. Know when to post content on your Facebook page

Think about how often you post on Facebook. Is it once per day? Once a week? Only once a month? You also need to analyze the time of day you’re posting on Facebook. All of this matters when it comes to increasing engagement and getting more likes. Research shows that higher engagements happen later in the week and on the weekends. If you think about it, this makes sense. People have jobs and are usually busier during the week. But as the weekend nears, they may be getting a little bit antsy and slack off if they are ahead of schedule. So they can spend more time on Facebook. People are also happier on the weekends so they are more inclined to like, share, and comment on your posts. You also need to consider who likes your Facebook page. For example, if 90% of your followers are from Ghanaian, posting at 3 AM EST isn’t going to yield high engagement rates. Use automation tools to schedule your Facebook posts at the most optimal times so you won’t have to do it manually each day. Your posting schedule also needs to remain consistent. Stick to your strategy. Don’t post regularly for a month or so and then go silent. But you don’t want to spam your followers and post too frequently either.
  1. Posts on your Facebook page should be kept short and concise

Nobody is going to read massive blocks of text on social media. There is just too much for them to see from their friends and family. Reading long posts from brand pages won’t be at the top of their priority lists. Social media platforms such as Facebook are designed for users to scroll through content quickly. You also need to consider how many Facebook users are accessing content from their mobile devices: Paragraphs on your computer screen will appear even longer on mobile devices. Plus, long blocks of text are difficult to read. If you’re currently posting long content, it may be the reason why you’re not getting enough likes. A good rule of thumb is that shorter is always better. If people see your posts aren’t long, they will be less hesitant to like your page.
  1. Invite your existing community

You have a community that’s easily within reach: employees, friends, current customers, business & industry partners. They are likely to be your first advocates and find your content interesting and shareable. Why not send a friendly personal invitation to ask them to like your company’s Facebook Page if they haven’t already? One way to do this is by simply adding a call-to-action in a personal e-mail (i.e. “P.S. Like us on Facebook”). Add a slide at the end of your presentations or webinars to encourage customers and business partners to remind them to like your Facebook Page, if they haven’t already. As for your industry ‘buddies,’ find their Facebook Pages and Like them as your brand. To do this log into Business Manager > click the Use Page button > click the Use Facebook As Your Page link (top right, in a skinny grey bar). It’s a great way to Like your industry partners, colleagues, & other influencer brands. Plus you’ll be able to view your News Feed as your brand and keep watch on what’s happening in your industry on Facebook.
  1. Use Facebook Ads to reach more people

Facebook offers very detailed ad targeting, so you can laser-focus your advertising efforts and make the most of your ad spend. Putting your brand in front of your ideal audience is a great way to pick up more Facebook Likes. By boosting a post, you can extend the audience beyond people who already like your Page. This can be a great option for a post that’s already proved to be compelling. It can bring in a large number of Facebook likes from people who already follow your Page. Facebook also offers campaign objectives relevant to every type of business. Since this post is about how to get Facebook Likes, we’ll focus on the Engagement objective, which is designed to expose your ad to a wide audience to increase the number of posts or Page Likes. Go to your business manager page for options on running a campaign or boosting posts.
  1. Run competitions, or promotions on your Facebook page

Your business can run competitions or promotions on its Facebook to build an audience and get more likes. Even better, liking a post is a popular form of contest entry and one that’s allowed under Facebook’s contest rules  If you decide to do so, make sure your competition follows Facebook’s Promotion Guidelines. Also ensure your competition is fun, easy, relevant to your audience, and encourages users to share their participation with friends. Don’t forget to utilize Facebook Ads to promote your contest. And If you use an app to run your contest, make sure it’s mobile-optimized.
  1. Use social media monitoring to measure, analyze, and learn

Use Facebook Insights or other automated apps to find useful metrics on your Page performance. You can view metrics like reach, the number of engaged users, engagement rate, and new Page likes. These metrics will help you understand what’s driving your likes and engagement so that you can adjust your posts accordingly.   Did I forget anything? Have a question about any of the suggestions above? Please add a comment and, if you like the post, feel free to share it with your friends. Now that you know how to get more likes for your Facebook Page, it’s time to increase your Facebook reach content. Contact us today! Please Don’t forget to Like us on Facebook if you haven’t already.          

Alt Tag and Its Use For SEO Optimisation

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Alt tags

What is an alt tag?

An alt tag or “alt attribute” is an HTML attribute applied to an image tag that describes the function of an image on a page. Applying images to an alt tag such as a product photo can positively impact an eCommerce store’s search engine rankings.

What role do alt tags play?

  1. Its primary purpose is to describe images to visitors who are unable to see them using screen readers and browsers that block images.
  2. Visually impaired users using screen readers read alt attributes to better understand an on-page image. Including alt text with your images ensures all users, regardless of visual ability, can appreciate the content on your site.
  3. Alt text will be displayed in place of an image if an image file cannot be loaded.
  4. Alt text provides better image context/descriptions to search engine crawlers, contributing to how the page is indexed and where it ranks.
With on-page keyword usage still pulling weight as a search engine ranking factor, it’s in your best interest to create alt text that both describes the image.

Optimal Alt Text Format

The best format for alt text is sufficiently descriptive but doesn’t contain any spammy attempts at keyword stuffing. If you can close your eyes, have someone read the alt text to you, and imagine a reasonably accurate version of the image, you’re on the right track.  Let’s look at this example of alt text for this image of a delicious bowl of jollof rice: A plate of delicious jollof rice with loaded meat and salad Okay: <img src=”rice.png” alt=”Jollof”>  This alt text is only “okay” because it’s not very descriptive. Yes, this is an image of a plate of Jollof. But, there’s more to be said about this image. Good:  <img src=”rice.png” alt=”A plate of delicious jollof rice with loaded meat and salad”> This alt text is a better alternative because it is far more descriptive of what’s in the image. This isn’t just a rice plate of “Jollof” (as the first alt text example demonstrated); it’s a plate of delicious jollof rice with loaded meat and salad.

Where is an alt tag located?

Alt text is contained within the image tag: <img src=”myimage.png” alt=”nike_air_zoom” />.

Best practices

  • Keep product image optimised for site speed and use the same keyword as the product page itself.
  • Keep it (relatively) short. The most popular screen readers cut off alt text at around 125 characters, so it’s advisable to keep it to that character count or less. 
  • Refrain from keyword stuffing.  You’ll be in trouble with Google if you use your alt text as an opportunity to stuff as many relevant keywords as you can think of into it. Find the best keywords to use here.
  • Don’t prioritize alt tags over SEO deliverables such as titles, inter-linking, and meta descriptions. Alt tags should only be prioritized for image-heavy pages that are very light on text.
  • Describe the image as specifically as possible. If an image truly doesn’t convey any value, it should live within the CSS, not HTML.
  • Alt text provides you with another opportunity to include your target keyword on a page. Thus, an opportunity to signal to search engines that your page is highly relevant to a particular search query. While your first priority should be describing and providing context to the image, include your keyword in the alt text of at least one image.
  • Don’t include “image of,” “picture of,” etc. in your alt text. It’s already assumed your alt text is referring to an image, so there’s no need to specify it.
  • Don’t neglect form buttons. If a form on your website uses an image as its “submit” button, give it an alt attribute. 

Favicon: Small But Mighty For Brand Awareness

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favicon

What is a favicon?

A favicon (pronounced “fave-icon”) is a small iconic image that represents a website in web browsers. If you take a look at the address bar of your browser right now, I’m sure you’ll see several favicons. Well-designed ones are styled to feature a logo, the first letter of the company name or simply an image that reflects the specifics of the website it represents. In the small chance that a website doesn’t have a favicon, the browser will display a generic browser symbol. Here are examples from famous brands: Favicons: Examples from world-known brands Which of these favicons do you recognise? While favicons may seem small and insignificant, having one can make a huge difference in terms of user experience and online branding. In this post, we’ll figure out where favicons come from, what kinds are used in modern browsers, and how to create one for your website.

Why is a favicon important for your brand?

Favicons attract user attention and boost brand awareness. If users visit a website with a memorable favicon a couple of times, they will then easily distinguish it from others in the future. Think about a famous brand you interact with daily—like Facebook or Instagram—you should be able to easily picture its favicon with your eyes closed. Again, If you‘re like me and tend to keep dozens of tabs open simultaneously—ultimately being unable to read their names—favicons are your best friends that make finding the website you need much easier. The favicons for Facebook and Twitter have look exactly like their respective logos. So, does it mean that all you need is to minimize your logo image and upload it onto your website? Let’s dive deep into all the technical details and talk about what it takes to create a favicon.

What type of image is a favicon? 

Although most modern browsers will recognize PNG, GIF, and JPG formats for favicons, Internet Explorer currently does not. It is recommended to use the Microsoft ICO format, which works in all browsers.

What size should your favicon be? 

Another good reason to use the ICO format is that it can contain multiple favicons of different sizes in one ICO file. It is best to have, at minimum, a 16×16 pixel version. I usually include 32×32 and 48×48 versions as well. That way, if users drag the bookmark to their desktop they will see a nicely scaled version of the icon instead of the 16×16 version stretched out. Google recommends going with the largest possible resolution of 192×192. At the moment, Google simply stretches existing low-resolution favicons when a bigger size is required. As a result, all of the images look blurry and take away from the user experience.

General tips to consider

So, if you don’t want to lose out on clicks, consider “upgrading” your site’s favicon. And here are some general guidelines you should stick to:
  • Use a square icon.
  • A favicon should represent only your brand and not contain inappropriate symbols (like swastikas) — otherwise, Google will not show it and will use the generic symbol instead.
  • Favicon file should be accessible to Google crawlers.

How to create a favicon

Although there are many ways to create favicons, the easiest is to use an online tool. Use an existing image of, for example, your logo and upload it to an online generator like a site heaalth checker. Once you download the generated favicon, all that’s left is to add it to your site. 

How to link to your favicon

Now that you’ve created a nice little favicon, you need to tell web browsers and other applications where to find it. Adding this line to the <head> section of your HTML will ensure that your favicon will be found: The location of the favicon isn’t really important, as long as the href attribute is accurate. Most are, however, placed in the root directory (the directory that contains the homepage). Keep in mind that it is not necessary to have multiple instances of the same favicon on one website. If you add a favicon without linking to it within your HTML, you may notice that some browsers will still find and display it. This only occurs if the favicon is in the root directory. It isn’t good to rely on this method, so if you want to make sure that applications will see your favicon, <link> to it!

Conclusion

Favicons help websites stay afloat in the vast ocean of online resources, plus make them more attractive and professional in the eyes of the visitors. If you need any help with yours, turn to our website audit for help. Among other things, it can run a full technical check-up for your website that includes finding your favicon. Well, your favicon is a very small detail that can affect the public perception of your site and brand, their recognition and even the volume of traffic it gets from search, so don’t underestimate it.  It’s worth every second that you invest in it.  

Meta Description: Writing The Perfect One

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Writing the perfect meta description

If you have already audited your website and have walked here to understand how meta-description works, I’m here to help remove that confusion. This article will cover everything you need to know about the basics of meta- descriptions and what makes a perfect one. You’ll also learn why your site’s meta descriptions are so important, as well as the best length for your meta descriptions (especially taking into account Google’s changing policies) and some great meta description examples.

What is a meta tag?

A meta tag is an HTML element that provides information about a webpage for search engines and website visitors. Two elements must be placed as tags in the <head> section of an HTML document. These elements are:
  • Title tag
  • Meta description
We’ve already discussed title tags in a separate post, and now, let’s move straight into meta descriptions

What is a meta description?

The meta description is the short paragraph of text placed in the HTML of a webpage that describes its content. This is also known as a snippet. The meta description appears under your page’s URL in Google’s organic search results. The meta description will often appear when people share your articles across other websites and social channels. 

Where is meta description added?

You can add a meta description in the <head> section of your site’s HTML. It should look something like this: <head> <meta name=”description” content=”Here is a precise description of my awesome webpage.”> </head> Here are examples:   "<yoastmark   "<yoastmark If you use an SEO plug-in, that comes with a content management system, you can add a meta description to the ‘meta description’ section, and you can preview an example of how it will look in search engine results pages (SERPs): Preview of meta description in WordPress  

Why is the meta description important?

Since meta descriptions appear with your title and URL on the results pages, they have the power to influence the decision of the searcher as to whether they want to click through on your content from search results or not. The more descriptive, attractive, and relevant the description, the more likely someone will click through.  Research has shown that having your content focus keyword in the meta is a relevant signal for search engines to discover you. 

How to write a perfect meta description?

A great meta-description will compel the reader to visit your website and read more. Here’s an example of what it usually looks like. 

1. Keywords

Do make sure your most important keywords for the webpage show up in the meta description. Often search engines will highlight it in bold as a clue to where it finds the searcher’s query in your snippet.

2. Write legible, readable copy

This is essential. Keyword stuffing your meta description is bad and it doesn’t help the searcher, as well as robots, discover you well. They’ll assume your result leads to a spam or phishing website, so make sure your description reads like a normal, human-written sentence.

3. Treat it as an advert for your web page

Make it as compelling and as relevant as possible. The description MUST! match the content on the page, but you should also make it as appealing as possible. That is what we call SEO copywriting.

4. Length

Google cuts off the displayed description tag at about 150 characters but may index up to 185 characters. Other engines may index up to 250 characters, but will still only display about 150. Therefore, try to say what you’ve got to say in 150 characters or less, but feel free to use up to 180, and even up to 250 if you’re not concerned with the entire thing getting indexed by all the search engines. Aim for about 1-2 sentences (140-160 characters) long

5. Keyphrase

Use your primary keyphrase at the beginning of your description tag, giving it higher “keyword prominence”. Don’t overuse your keyphrase though, or it can be considered “webspam”. Higher than zero keyword prominence is good, but higher still is not always better.

6. Use natural-sounding language

Use proper grammar, and try to peak interest in the subject. Also, consider making an actual “offer” in your description tag. Remember, you want the reader to click your ad, but not just to record impression. Now let me ask you? how many times have you skipped over a search result because the two lines of text you see (the description tag) in the SERPS looked gibberish?

7. Do not duplicate meta descriptions

As with title tags, the meta descriptions must be written differently for every page. Google may penalize websites that indulge in mass duplicating of meta descriptions.

 Examples of good meta descriptions

Since you only have 160 characters to work with, writing a great meta description takes more than just throwing a few words together. To help you get your creative juices flowing, here are some examples for your inspiration.

Helpful online tool for checking your meta descriptions

Below is a helpful tool that you can use to test your meta descriptions as you write them. SEO Analyzer— This tool analyses the health of a website. It will provide you with a list of issues that makes it easy to see where exactly a website is struggling, including missing and duplicate meta descriptions:

Conclusion

Remember, the primary reason for a perfect description tag is NOT so you can rank higher, (since Google, for example, is currently not using the description tag in their algorithm). The primary reason for a good description is to compel the reader to click on you, instead of the competitor.  

Use Heading Tags (H1) To Improve Your Google Rankings

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Use Heading Tags (H1) To Improve Your Google Rankings

What are heading tags (H1)?

Have you ever wondered what heading tags (H1) are? If you’ve thought about either of these questions, this article is meant to teach you all about using the h1 tag to improve your onsite SEO. Heading tags (H1) are pieces of HTML code that allow you to make certain words stand out on a page. Content must be useful and unique to attract your target audience. But if it’s not visible, people will not know about your compelling, informative content. Thus, before you can have your audience’s eyes, search engines must see your content. To attract search engines, you need to think about your heading tags (H1). To understand how headings work on a web page, let’s consider a writeup in a Microsoft word document. The title of the article is usually bigger and more pronounced than other words. It may be bold, coloured, or have some other format quality that makes it stand out. Whatever the case, this allows you to scan a word document and pick out the sections you want to read. They differentiate the heading <h1> and sub-headings <h2> to <h6> from the rest of the content. The number from 1 to 6 determines the importance and the position a heading has in the overall hierarchy of the heading structure. Header tags and H tags are some other ways to describe the same thing. What are heading tags (H1)?

Why are heading tags (H1) important?

An H1 tag is critical. The heading acts as an information guide for the search engine bots. It makes certain words stand out, which allows readers of your website to see what the page is about immediately, and determine whether or not they want to read it. It also helps tell search engines what your page is about, and when used in conjunction with the page title, meta description, keywords and keyword-targeted content, it helps improve your search engine ranking. Search engines generally give this tag more weight over other headings.

Heading tags (H1) SEO tips

  • Always include an H1 tag.
  • Use only one per page.
  • Include the primary keyword for your content.
  • Avoid populating the tag with too many keywords.
  • Ensure that your target audience can easily read the H1 tag.
  • Use up to 70 characters in the tag length.
  • Make the tag unique.

What about H2, H3, H4, etc? 

Whereas your H1 tag is used for your document’s main heading; Your main points are wrapped in subheadings known as H2s.  In other words: A <h2> tag defines the second-level headings in your webpage. But, heading tags don’t stop at H2s. Sub-points below your <h2> tags use <h3> heading tags Sub-points below your <h3> tags use <h4> heading tags Sub-points below your <h4> tags use <h5> heading tags Sub-points below your <h5> tags use <h6> heading tags Types of headings H4, H5, and H6 tags are used less frequently. They are useful for breaking up content in long reads. But be careful about using too many H tags, as that could be interpreted as spammy and decrease the value of all the headings in the eyes of search engines. Google treats such content as less informative.

SEO tips for your headings

  • Write a brief, well-articulated H2 through H6 tags.
  • Do not use other tags within your H tags.
  • Don’t use links in heading tags unless you want to take readers away from your content.

Conclusion

To make your content effective and actionable, heading tags optimization is vital. In short, make sure to: Use one <h1> tag. Don’t forget about hierarchy <h1> through <h6>. Apply keywords within headings based on their search volume. Keep headings brief and to the point. Don’t overuse H tags. Clear styles and format headings within the CMS to avoid unexpected/extra symbols within the tags. Do you have additional tips for creating SEO-friendly headings that convert and meet the target audience? Please share them in the comments below.