SEO IS DEAD FOR AUTO SHOPS! THE BIRTH OF MOBILE MARKETING

Search Engine Optimization — We’ve all heard of it, and as auto shop owners competing with other local small businesses online, we all know the importance of that coveted top spot of the search engine results on Google.

Even if you aren’t familiar with specific SEO tactics, you probably have heard about SEO’s dark past, filled with of cheats and questionable tricks, and Google’s Panda and Penguin algorithm updates means the SEO strategy we once had is over. Now, we don’t over-use keywords and spammy backlinks, instead we build quality content, link to the right types of websites and receive high quality links in return. We stay on our best behavior and walk the straight-and-narrow right to the top of Google search results. Right? Wrong.

I am sad to inform you that (once again) SEO is dead.

On Thursday, February 26, 2015 Google announced the end of SEO as we know it. Gone. Kaput! Google search ranks will no longer revolve around the same factors on your website. Will good quality content, good quality backlinks, and anti-spammy practices still matter? Yes they will, but not purely for ranking purposes as they did before. They matter because of one thing: quality user experience. While being a trustworthy source still matters, Google and other search engines are no longer putting as much emphasis on links and SEO “tricks” that used to rank a site; Google’s Panda and Penguin updates have already taught us that. Now, it’s all about the end user experience on your website.

Beginning April 21, 2015 Google will be broadening its algorithm scope to increase the importance of mobile usability in its ranking factors. What does that mean for small businesses? Your websites needs to be responsive.

Responsive design means your auto repair shop website will automatically fit to the smaller screens of tablets and smart phones in a way that is easy to see, easy to read, or easy to navigate like in the image above. Websites that are not responsive mean users have a hard time getting to the information they need. Any clickable buttons on the website will be too close together to select, the content on the website will be too small to read, and thus the website leads to a negative user experience.

Mobile Website Search Statistics

Why is everyone making such a fuss about mobile marketing? Now, more than ever, mobile search traffic is taking over the internet. According to Smart Insights, currently 80% of internet searches are made on a smart phone and Google wants to make sure they are offering those users the best experience on their mobile devices. So much so, the search engine giant has begun warning users if a  site is not mobile friendly before they click on it, and unresponsive websites will fall in Google’s rankings. However, auto repair shop websites with a good quality responsive website design will rank higher in Google search engine results, as they offer a better user experience on smaller mobile devices.

Bottom line, SEO has died, and mobile usability has been born.

If your auto repair shop website isn’t mobile friendly, if your website doesn’t have responsive design, you will very soon start to suffer on search engine results – meaning fewer people can find your website and turn into customers for your auto shop.

For more information on mobile usability or to find out whether your website has a responsive design, contact the our team at 303-703-8000.