Carnell is asking Australian SMBs to come forward with what she’s calling their SEO “horror stories.” She intends to use the information to help spawn new SEO industry regulations. She described the current state of SEO scammers as “a minefield of dodgy practitioners.”

Australia SEO Scam Agenda Could Prompt Global Change

In the United States, SEO scammers will often target small businesses. Dishonest SEO companies will go so far as to claim they have control over getting your content onto the first page of Google rankings.

Larger businesses have also fallen prey to nefarious SEO setups. Back in 2011, retail giant J.C. Penney participated in an SEO link scheme that was later exposed by the New York Times. J.C. Penney claimed no knowledge of the link building activity and fired their provider of SEO services shortly after the news broke.

For J.C. Penney, their global name brand helped to soften the blow. Google fixed their rankings rather than apply any penalties.

But that’s not typically the case for lesser-known businesses who partake in an ill-advised SEO campaign or link building scam. Google often penalizes a domain, lowering or wiping out a company’s rankings and online presence. As a result, the agency hired to improve the penalized company’s SEO exits stage left (with checks in hand).

Small businesses often have little in the way of SEO scam recourse. That’s what Australia’s ASBFEO aims to fix with the new legislation. While Australian businesses only reported roughly 100 SEO complaints, the ASBFEO believes many more exist.

At the current time, no formal regulations against SEO exist in the United States. Quick research doesn’t appear to indicate there is anything else comparable around the rest of the English-speaking world, either. That said, regulations around “surveillance advertising” have been proposed and adopted (think GDPR in Europe).

While privacy issues related to advertising appear to be a bigger priority for foreign governments, Google has taken some initiative to mitigate the prevalence of scammers in the past.

In 2018, Google filed a lawsuit against Supreme Marketing Group for allegedly scamming businesses. Supreme Marketing Group is now out of business as a result of the litigation.

Update 2019: More Reports and Research on Digital Marketing in Australia

Since Ombudsman Carnell issued these statements on SEO scams and dodgy practitioners in early 2019, no additional news or updates on the issues have been reported by the ASBFEO.

However, in July 2019, The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) released a report after an 18-month investigation of search engines, social platforms, and content aggregators. Inside the report’s 600 pages, the ACCC’s research found that:

• 98% of searches done within the country start on Google
• $47 of every $100 spent on digital advertising in Australia is invested in Google Ads campaigns
• $21 of every $100 spent on digital advertising in Australia is invested in social media marketing like Facebook campaigns

In addition to the in-depth research, the ACCC also provided 23 recommendations to the Australian government. By the end of 2019, a response was expected after three months of consultation.

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Update August 2021: New Laws, But Not For Australian SEO

If any of the above regulations happened, we can’t find any mention of them on the internet. But that doesn’t mean the Australian government took the recommendations from the ACCC seriously. In February of 2021, the Australian Parliament passed the Treasury Laws Amendment (News Media snd Digital Platforms Mandatory Bargaining Code) Bill 2021 (Cth). This bill creates a “mandatory code of conduct that applies to news media businesses and digital platform corporations when bargaining in relation to news content made available by digital platform services.”

Boiled down to its main impact, this law requires news aggregators like Facebook and Google to pay local Australian news sources whenever they link to a story. The amount of this fee is up for determination by government representatives but will be negotiated by both the aggregators and the sources they use. The intention here is to help Australian journalism by making Facebook and Google pay them directly for linking to them.

If you are an international exporter looking to grow your business in Australia, or you want to leverage SEO strategies to expand your business outside of Australia, learning how to avoid SEO scams is important before starting your journey for global domain-ation!

How To Avoid Scams From Australian SEO Consultants (Or In Any Country, Really)

Direct Online Marketing has dealt with many SEO penalized websites. In most cases, the penalized company was lured in by false, unrealistic marketing.

Here’s a handy short-list to use when vetting an SEO consultant or agency.

They Guarantee Rankings

If an SEO consultant assures they will rank you in the top spots for specific keywords, that’s a red flag. No SEO agency or consultant has inside information on Google’s algorithm. Because of this, they can’t promise top search engine rankings. Meaning you should never trust anyone who makes such bold claims.

A legitimate SEO agency helps build a Google-optimized on-page environment. It complements that with the production of thoughtful keyword research, web design updates, and relevant content marketing.

They Use A Bad Link Building Strategy

For SEO, backlinks remain a primary driver for improved rankings. But it isn’t the number of backlinks, rather, the quality of backlinks that fuels success.

Scammy SEO consultants sometimes utilize shady backlink building strategies. These unethical practices put your domain’s health at risk. While there are a variety of risky practices, backlink purchasing, and bot-driven link building are the most notable.

These poor practices often result in an initial boost in organic traffic. But over time, Google snuffs out link building that violates its TOS. This can result in a Google penalty, something not easily fixed.

Additionally, some SEO agencies use complex link building strategies to keep the company hostage.

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For example, a dishonest SEO consultant might build links using a blog network created for the sole purpose of nefarious link building. The company receives an initial boost to their SEO. However, when the company decides to leave, the SEO consultant pulls the links. This results in a rankings drop off. The company observes the rankings loss and runs back to the SEO consultant.

To prevent putting your domain at risk, always vet their approach to backlink strategies. If an SEO company in Australia is buying links, it may be best to continue your search. If the company is spamming your links on useless websites, run for the hills.

They Provide No References

A legitimate SEO company should provide you with a list of accomplishments for other clients. You should contact those website owners or executives and learn more about the SEO company. If they can’t provide references, consider looking elsewhere for digital marketing services.

Final Thoughts On Australian SEO And Avoiding Scams

SEO scams run rampant in the digital age. Australia is taking steps to better protect businesses from falling prey. It may prompt not only change in Australia but change around the world.

However, there are steps that businesses can take to better protect themselves from being fleeced. It’s essential that you vet all potential digital marketing companies in the ways listed above. Otherwise, you expose yourself and your company to long-term risks.

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Want to learn more about international search engine optimisations (optimization here in the US) and international search engine marketing? Check out any one of these helpful resources written by our team below:

• 27 International SEO Tips To Conquer The SERPs And Emerge Victoriously
• How Online Marketing Helps Global Exporters Grow
• How Google Search Console Sets Your Course With International Targeting
• Our General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Compliance Checklist

To get more information on this topic, contact us today for a free consultation or learn more about our status as a Google Partner Agency before you reach out.

The post Former Ombudsman: ‘Dodgy’ Australian SEO Practitioners Need Regulated (Updated 2022) appeared first on Direct Online Marketing.

America wouldn’t be the country it is today without the hard work, fortitude, and resilience of small businesses. To this day, America is still seen as one of the few places where if you can go with enough determination and hard work, you can do anything.

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), “small businesses represent 99.7 percent of all employer firms. Since 1995, small businesses have generated 64 percent of new jobs, and paid 44 percent of the total United States private payroll.”

Since Direct Online Marketing is also a small business, we want to take this opportunity to recognize how critical small businesses are to our economy as we celebrate Small Business Week 2017! While the SBA uses this time to highlight the impact of outstanding entrepreneurs, small business owners, and others from across the nation through National Small Business Week, we wanted to share the love and take a look at our favorite small businesses.

Cilantro Latin Grill (Adriana’s pick)

Website: http://www.cilantrolatingrill.com/

Wheeling, WV

(Facebook, Twitter)

Do you like South American cuisine? If you are passing through or live in Wheeling, you have to stop by Cilantro Latin Grill!

You can find burritos, salads, chips, soups, rice bowls and if you’re feeling adventurous, arepas – made with a corn flour. With Cilantro’s build-your-own style, you can choose ingredients made fresh each morning, making your dish exactly the way you want it.

My perfect combination is a Guadalajara Seak Bowl, Mexican rice, queso, onions & peppers. Don’t forget to add an order of Guasacaca & Chips to go along with your meal! Not familiar with Guasacaca? It’s a savory Venezuelan sauce made of avocado.

So, if you are ready to leave your food comfort-zone, you definitely have to try Cilantro Latin Grill. I love to go there and eat with Latin background music. Also, when my family is in town we have to stop there.

Drover’s Inn (Mike’s pick)

Website: http://www.droversinn1848.com/

Wellsburg, WV

(Facebook)

Located in Wellsburg, WV Drover’s Inn was originally opened in 1850 to provide rest to travelers along the toll pike. The inn was purchased and converted into a restaurant/bar in 1967 and is still serving up great food today.

The menu at Drover’s offers something for everyone, from bar favorites like hot pepper cheese balls to baby back ribs. The main staple and hometown favorite, however, are the jumbo wings served in a variety of sauces (my favorite is garlic parmesan with atomic. Try it!). With outstanding food and great service, Drover’s can’t be beat!

Harrisburg Wall & Floor (Bentz’s pick)

Website: https://www.harrisburgfloor.com/

(Facebook)

Harrisburg Wall & Flooring is my favorite small business on the planet. Why? Because my grandfather founded it in 1946, and it is still owned by the Bentz family today! “The store,” as those in the know call it, provides full-service sales and installation of flooring products for both residential and commercial projects across Central Pennsylvania. They also offer a complete range of wallcoverings and window blinds.

Some online reports indicate the store is so famous that the state capital of PA is actually named after the store. Debate still lives on about that… however, I can confirm that the icon of two men carrying a carpet roll (shown in the photo above on the awning) was designed by my mother. I’m totally biased, but for a totally good reason!

Hoppin’ Frog Brewery (Nikki’s pick)

Website: http://www.hoppinfrog.com/brewery

Akron, OH

(Facebook, Twitter)

Hoppin’ Frog is a small Akron, OH, craft brewery making high quality, flavorful beers. Their award-winning beers are always in our fridge from the year-round Silk Porter to my favorite seasonals – Turbo Shandy and Frosted Frog Christmas Ale.

There is also a tap room next to the brewery that delivers top-notch food and a fun, fantastic staff. We make a point to visit every Small Business Saturday for their special waffle brunch!

Lebanon Bakery (Blanche’s pick)

Wheeling, WV

(Facebook)

The first Lebanese to arrive in Wheeling in 1888 is recorded to be Roger Saad, a dry goods merchant. By 1900, Wheeling had approximately 300 Lebanese that called it home. At the time, they were called Syrians by both locals as well as the US Census.

They settled mostly in Center Wheeling between 20th and 23rd Streets, from Eoff Street to Main Street. The center of this Lebanese community today is the only Maronite Catholic church in West Virginia, Our Lady of Lebanon Church, located in the 2200 block of Eoff Street. The Maronite church is in full communion with the Roman Catholic Church, and is considered the most Latinized of the Eastern Catholic churches. Today, Maronites make up over 20 percent of Lebanon’s population, but there are thousands of other Maronites scattered throughout the world, including in Wheeling.

It was their mastery of retail that most Wheelingites think of when they consider the city’s Lebanese heritage. Everybody has come to love the Fadul family’s Lebanese Bakery still operating on Main Street in Center Wheeling.

Nate Smith Basketball School (Leland’s pick)

Website: https://www.natesmithbasketballschool.com/

Morgantown, WV

(Facebook, Twitter)

Located in Morgantown, WV, the Nate Smith Basketball School helps kids of all ages take their basketball game to the next level. From fundamentals to advanced skills, the instructors have the knowledge to help basketball players at any level.

The school holds a special place in my heart because I interned there during my senior year of college. I might be the worst basketball player to ever set foot in their gym, but the time I spent there giving lessons and helping coordinate the travel teams’ schedules was a fantastic way to spend my last semester of college.

The way Nate, Cody, and the rest of the staff give their all to improve each player that steps into the gym is impressive in its own right, but factor in the success of the travel teams and you can see why the school attracts players from all over WV, PA, and MD.

If you or anyone you know plays basketball and wants to improve their game, I highly recommend going to see Nate and his staff!

SMART Centre Market (Haley’s Pick)

Website: https://www.smartcentremarket.com/

Wheeling, WV

Facebook

Nestled between East and South Wheeling is a spectacular little strip called Centre Market. This area is a veritable treasure trove of locally owned businesses. Moving back to Wheeling after living in Columbus for the better part of a decade, I was thrilled to find this vibrant destination, oozing with local talent, pride, and food.

Strolling down the streets (adorned with brightly painted parking meters, courtesy of the locals), you can find antique stores, restaurants, a brewery, a gallery featuring local artists, quaint restaurants, mouthwatering pastries, a wine bar, hair studio, and so much more. Perched on the corner is one of my favorite places- and not just in Wheeling. Like, one of my favorite places ever.

SMART Centre Market is bursting at the seams with the wonder of science. As soon as you step through those glass doors, you are surrounded by dinosaur fossils and replicas, crystals, telescopes, geodes, and a spectacularly toothy Megalodon mouth. The owners, Robert and Libby, are easily two of the most delightful, enthusiastic people I have had the pleasure of meeting. Their passion and knowledge of science is contagious, and an afternoon can pass by in the blink of an eye.

Every Saturday, at 1:00 p.m., they do a science demonstration for the kiddos. This can range from building paper rockets the kids can launch in the alley to making a tornado in a bottle. The kids not only get to make super freaking cool experiments, they also learn the how and why behind their creations. Robert and Libby are top-notch at explaining the complexities of science in a way that children (and adults) can understand and get excited about.

If that’s not incredible enough, they also have an entire room dedicated to science-based games and toys, including surprisingly adorable germ stuffed animals. To further enhance your enjoyment, they even serve ice cream.

For the past 4 years, my daughter and I make a point to swing by to visit our buddies Robert and Libby regularly, and every time we walk through those doors we see something new to discover. Robert and Libby always take the time to answer any questions my daughter has (and she’s 7, so that equates to roughly 578 questions per visit) and demonstrate how things work.

I cannot oversell SMART Centre Market enough. It is awesome. They have, quite literally, everything – from fossilized dinosaur poop, to take-home experiments and beautiful hand-crafted jewelry. If you haven’t stopped in there, do yourself a favor and go. I promise you will not regret it.

PS – In the summer (and on First Fridays) they bust out the telescopes and you can star gaze. WHAT! Amazing. Also they have sweet jam sessions. Just… stop reading this and go there immediately.

Spicy Gringos (Christina’s pick)

Website: https://www.spicygringos.com/

Weirton, WV

(Facebook, Twitter)

Spicy Gringos is an authentic Mexican restaurant that has been serving fresh, local deliciousness since 2011. We visit this unique spot often and can’t get enough of their tacos (literally any of them), calzones, salads, chips & salsa – with a side of that fantastic garlic sour cream.

The staff is down to earth and ensure you have an awesome experience. They have a sign in their restaurant that reads “Love people and cook them tasty food,” so it really doesn’t get any better than that.

Ye Olde Alpha (Hoops’ pick)

Website: http://yeoldealpha.com/

Wheeling, WV

(Facebook, Twitter)

Ye Olde Alpha, or simply known as “The Alpha,” has a special place in my heart. This unassuming bar and grill in the heart of the Woodsdale area of Wheeling looks like a relic of decades past. When I first moved to Wheeling, my fiance and I had no idea what the city had in store for us. So on our first night, we decided to give it shot and try out The Alpha. I had extremely low expectations and figured, “If this was the best Wheeling has to offer, I might as well give up on the whole city.”

Boy, was I wrong.

With an adventurous, exciting menu, I was floored. I mean, just who was crazy enough to think up The Blue Suede Burger? A glorious bacon cheeseburger with grilled onions and peanut butter.

My experience and subsequent (multiple) meals at The Alpha gave me hope about the potential Wheeling has with a storied past yet forward thinking enough to move into the future.

Virginia Lee (Anna’s pick)

Website: https://www.shopvirginialee.com/

Charleston, WV

(Facebook, Twitter, Instagram)

I love it because the owner has similar taste in clothing to myself, the store offers discounts and promotions through both their website and in store, it is in a cute location of my hometown, and is owned by a young woman. They are a boutique retailer that offers women’s clothing, accessories, and eclectic items. The owner graduated with my sister and she also runs another business through the storefront named The Initialed Life. I think the business has done an impressive job maintaining social media engagement.

From all of us at DOM, Happy Small Business Week 2017!

The post DOM Celebrates National Small Business Week 2017! appeared first on Direct Online Marketing.

I’m talking about GYBO!

Still confused?

Well, let me introduce you to Google’s Get Your Business Online team (otherwise known as GYBO). This team was formed in 2011 with a single mission: to get every business (big or small) online.

The team has traveled to all 50 states and helped thousands of businesses. However, there is much more help to be had, as only 37% of businesses have claimed a local business listing on a search engine.

Did you know that 4 out of 5 people use search engines to find local information, such as business hours, directions, and reviews?

How often are you out and about and simply whip out your phone to check the hours of your favorite local establishment? Or possibly for directions to that great new restaurant you heard about?

We were shocked at the small percentage of claimed listings!

As DOM’s local optimization guru, I committed to partnering with the GYBO team to help spread the word and get your businesses “on the map!” Since DOM is already a certified Google Partner in the Managed Agency Program, we were eager to join hands with Google once again to help businesses grow.

Has Your Business Been Googled?

When was the last time that you Googled a business online?

Have you ever Googled your own business?

What do you see?

You would probably be amazed to learn that much of what is shown in search results is information pulled directly from your Google My Business (GMB) listing.

Here is an example of branded local search results for Direct Online Marketing. I have highlighted all the information that is pulled in from our GMB listing.

That’s some pretty important information. And we absolutely want it to be correct!

Is yours?

Can your customers find your information?

Here is an example of generic local search results for “online marketing companies west virginia.” Once again, I’ve highlighted the information that is pulled in directly from GMB.

It is imperative that you ensure your information is correct and optimized for local search.

Google actually bases its local search results on relevance, distance, and prominence. Businesses can’t pay or request for a better ranking because Google Maps and Google My Business are both free services. Storefronts and service area businesses can appear on Google Maps by setting up a free Google My Business account.

Where to Begin?

What if you have no idea how to do that?

What if you have a GMB page but it’s not optimized?

No worries, you are in luck! During our Grow with Google event in Frederick MD, you will have the opportunity to sit with me or one of my awesome teammates to ensure that your listing is claimed and up to date!

The really great part about this, we have a communication line directly into Google My Business. We can help get your listing verified within 24–48 hours, rather than the 2 weeks that it can take otherwise.

“Swag,” You Say?

As GYBO partners, Google has armed us with some awesome swag specific to each city!

We’re talking t-shirts, tote bags, note pads, pens, and much more! So not only will we be offering free expert assistance and advice, we’re going to give you free stuff to show some love for Frederick, MD!

Oh, and breakfast is included too!

Why would we do this?

Because we are passionate about helping companies grow their businesses online and we actually enjoy it!

The post Let’s Put Frederick on the Map! …Another reason to attend Grow with Google! appeared first on Direct Online Marketing.

I think we’ve talked quite a bit about the geo-targeting capabilities of pay per click accounts like Google AdWords (although it bears repeating that you can draw any kind of coverage map you’d like, including picking a 20-mile radius around your physical location).  And while the ability to place AdWords ads within local business listings is potentially interesting, that option is still in beta for folks in the San City Twins (San Francisco and San Diego).

What we’ve been somewhat remiss in discussing (at least me, maybe not Paul as much) is local SEO.  So, whether you’re looking for a Pittsburgh SEO firm or to rank in Pittsburg, Kansas, this article will explain a bit about how the process works.  Many of these same principles work in other countries as well as we’ve used them on clients in the UK and Germany, but let’s focus here on the good ol’ U.S. of A. for simplicity’s sake.  Learn more after the jump.

Local Business Listings Can Put You on the Map

Each search engine has its own form of local business listings to index and call attention to organizations of all sizes in their local towns or cities.  Each is cleverly named: Google Local Business Listings, Yahoo! Local Listings, and bing Local Listings.  Got that?  I can wait until you’ve had time to digest.  Good?  Good.

You’ve already seen these when you’ve done any kind of geographic search:

Here’s your ‘What’s Interesting about that Picture’ quiz.*  The pay per click ads are at the top, but then what’s next?  The map, or Google Local 7-Pack as it’s known fondly in some circles.  10-pack sounded a lot better, but then the big G had to change the number of listings.

*Having kids allows you to experience things you hadn’t thought about in years.  Like Highlights magazine.  If I’m sitting with the buckaroos at the doctor’s office, and assuming I’m not playing with those shape roller coasters, I’ll open up that magazine and immediately flip to the ‘What’s different between these two pictures’ page.  For my kids, obviously.  It’s not like I sit there and time myself in my head as I see how many I can find.  And the kids danged well better not spot a difference before me or that magazine’s going to end up in the fish tank!

What that means: you may have a perfectly optimized site and rank #1 for your most important geographic term, but still not get first crack at searchers in the organic section.  That’s because…

Local SEO Plays by Its Own Rules

Local search results utilize their own formula.  Some of the ranking factors are the same as your daddy’s Web search, but many are different or weighted differently.  Just like Web search, the search engines may pick up your site without your doing anything, but you have the opportunity to claim this listing (or create a new one) and own another piece of the Web like you would with a twitter or LinkedIn profile.

While local SEO is becoming big business in many industries and locales, it still presents a huge opportunity for many of you to better compete against the big boys in your local market.  Plus – you don’t even need to have a Web site to have a local business listing (although it helps your local search optimization efforts tremendously).

If you’d like to learn more about local SEO, please give our Pittsburgh Marketing Agency a call at 800.979.3177.  We have packages available for organizations ranging from pizza shops on tight budgets to national law firms with multiple physical presences.  In some instances, value packages with small one-time fees are available.  So call now – operators are standing by.  Unless it’s night time, in which case we’re sleeping, but will call you back first thing the next business day.

The post Understanding Local Search from Pittsburgh PA to Pittsburg KS appeared first on Direct Online Marketing.