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  • Maintaining a Good Website: 8 Signs that its Time For an Update

    Maintaining a Good Website: 8 Signs that its Time For an Update

    In today’s world, everyone has their hands on high-tech electronic devices and spends a lot of time online. Businesses see this as an opportunity to reach customers in the market by making websites for their companies. An outdated website can have an adverse effect. Read on to learn signs it’s time to update your site design. 

    1. Your Website is Not Regulated Properly

    One of the most obvious signs it’s time to update your site design is if you see that there is a problem with the regulations. This will hamper the company’s workflow while wasting a lot of time.

    Putting out regular and relevant updates is a must. If you cant push out content because the time for that is spent on fixing technical issues in the website instead, then chances are that it’s outdated and calls for a redesign.

    WordPress maintenance might just be the help you need, as it will help tackle all the technical issues that you might be struggling with on your own.  

    2. The Website Design Doesn’t Match With Trends

    If your website is not updated according to the current market trends, then chances are you will be driving away potential customers. The trend is volatile and constantly changes with time, and if you are focused on pulling in customers to your business, then the design must be relevant to current trends.

    Having a unique visual design that matches your brand’s image is very important in satisfying customers. This also helps you stand out from the competition and appeal to your web page’s visitors.

    3. Low Traffic & Poor User Experience

    The primary goal for most businesses is to make a profit out of all their assets, and so the website should help you make a profit online. Having low traffic on the site makes it difficult to reach this objective.

    Suppose the content published is irrelevant, and the user experience is negative due to different reasons such as slow page load speed and lack of Search Engine Optimization (SEO). In that case, your customers will be unsatisfied, and you will see that there are fewer visitors to your webpage. Furthermore, the bounce rate for the website will also be high as users will leave if the design functions poorly.

    4. Incomplete Business Objectives

    Drawing in customers is key to achieving the business goals of growth and generating profits. If you see that your visitors are not converting into customers, then this is another one of the signs it’s time to update your site design. This is often done by getting the customer involved with emails and forms.

    The website needs to stay relevant to the business. If the business grows, so should the website and its capabilities. Otherwise, an outdated impression will drive away customers. Hence, any significant change in the company should apply to the website.

    5. Incompatible With Mobile Devices

    With advancing technology, people can now access almost everything with their mobile devices and spend a lot of time surfing through social media pages and other entertainment media. If your website functions poorly on smartphones, you will be missing out on many potential customers interested in your business.

    This calls for some redesigning in the coding. Make sure that the site is responsive and adjusts to the devices people use, allowing them to have a smooth experience navigating through your site.

    6. Ignoring the Power of Branding

    As mentioned before, the website should portray an accurate image of the business. If it does not, this falls along with the signs that it’s time to update your site design.

    The colors, logos, images, and typography format should all align with the company and its aesthetic visuals. These are important for telling the brand’s story and delivering a long-lasting impression to the customers who want to check out your products.

    7. Outdated Security and Technology

    Keeping your website secure from any outside interference is a must as your website is a running 24/7 marketplace for your customers. This means any downtime is an opportunity lost.

    Furthermore, the page must be in line and secured with HTTPS protocols. If the webpage is not secure, then potential customers will be driven away. This will also affect the SEO ratings of your website.

    8. Lackluster Functions

    A good website will offer great functions to its visitors and make it a breeze to go through the site. In contrast, a website that provides outdated functions will displease the audience. An outdated website can also limit the tasks you can implement.

    People always expect top-notch services when entering a company website, and disappointing them will severely affect your brand image. A lot of the time, a poorly designed website will also make adding good functions costly while consuming a lot of time and effort to get the job done. This puts you at a disadvantage against your fierce competitors.

    You should also make sure not to overcomplicate the website with too many plugins, as it might cause performance issues.

    In Conclusion

    The key takeaway here is that to make a successful website you should pay attention to the current preferences of the people and the technical aspects. Additionally, you may not need a complete redesign of your website unless it negatively impacts your business. Installing some new plugins and applying the current trends will be enough. We hope that this article helped you understand the signs it’s time to update your site design, and we wish you good luck in your future business endeavors.

    FAQs

    How Often is Redesigning Needed?

    Although you don’t need major redesigning often, you should try to stick to the ever-changing trends and deliver your business’s latest updates.

    How Can You Improve SEO Performance for Your Website?

    You should properly analyze the on and off-page SEO factors, use the best-suited keywords, and apply your analysis findings to the new and existing content.

    Why is Redesigning Your Website Necessary?

    To meet current trends, boost traffic, and meet business objectives with your website. Furthermore, redesigning is the key to delivering the optimum user experience and staying relevant. 

  • Find Out About How A Business Can Greatly Benefit from A Lawsuit

    Find Out About How A Business Can Greatly Benefit from A Lawsuit

    Nowadays, a lot of people get involved in class-action lawsuits to settle their differences with a company or the state, when they claim they have been harmed physically or financially in some way. By definition, class-action lawsuits represent a number of people who have decided to bring a matter to court pursuing the same goal, basically to be financially reimbursed for the loss they have had due to a company’s (or the state’s) wrongful actions. However, in some cases, such as antitrust lawsuits, both firms and consumers may be harmed as a result of the same claimed violation. In that case, because businesses face different economic consequences than consumers, your company may need to treat class-action litigation differently. Let’s take a look at some instances when it’s probably worth filing a suit.

    A Breach of Contract

    A “breach” of contract occurs when one party fails to perform any of its contractual duties deriving from the contract. These include the terms of the agreement, bringing results in the specified deadline, or even the total absence of action from the other party, depending on the circumstances, of course. If that is the case for your company, then you might want to have the contract enforced according to its terms, or seek compensation from the other party for any financial losses incurred as a result of the purported violation.

    If informal attempts to resolve a contract disagreement fail, the most typical next step is to file a lawsuit. You may be able to settle the dispute with the other company in small claims court if the amount in dispute is below a predefined figure (depending on the State). Sometimes, you can agree to have a contract disagreement reviewed by a mediator or to have a contract issue resolved through binding arbitration. Other times though, you may have to resort to filing a lawsuit for “payment of damages”.  The most common damages include “Compensatory”, which are intended to put the non-breaching party in the same situation as if the breach had not occurred, and “Punitive”, which are payments that a breaching party is required to provide in excess of what would completely recompense the non-breaching party, “Nominal” which are paid only when the damage is small and no actual money can be proven and “Liquidated”, which are a fair approximation of the actual damages that could occur as a result of the breach.

    These are all very useful legal tools that you can use to receive compensation from another company (or an individual) that has breached their contract with you in any way and so, you should seek out the best law firm who can undertake this type of case.

    Consumer Finance And Consumer Protection Litigation

    Some financial organizations use their power to intentionally damage consumers and profit themselves. Most customers have little means to try and get even or attempt at safeguarding their financial future. Litigation is a significant tool for forcing these organizations to develop appropriate procedures to redress consumer harm. 

    This powerful legal tool can also be used by small companies that have been affected adversely by these large institutions. With a reliable Fair Credit Reporting Act Lawyer by your side, it is much easier to effectively fight back. Just make sure to find someone who is properly experienced with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and who will potentially recover even significant sums of money for damages that your company has incurred.

    Collecting Damages or Preventing Ongoing Damage

    Another case for filing a lawsuit is when your company has damages incurred by the actions of an individual. These damages may simply be the result of the individual defaming your firm, causing an infringement on your intellectual property, or failing to fulfill a contract, as we described in the first paragraph. If it is easy to locate the individual (because they might have left the state), then you must first consider if it is worth filing the lawsuit. That is if it’s worth the time, worry, and money if your organization has sustained minimal damages or if proving your damages is challenging. 

    To be successful in a case, your company must have sustained genuine financial losses, such as lost income owing to the unauthorized use of your intellectual property, financial losses due to reputational damage, or attempted fraud. 

    It’s one thing to obtain a judgment; it’s another to collect on it. You might not be able to collect the money you’re owed if the defendants have few or no assets. Another reason having an attorney on your side is vital is that they can investigate the individual you wish to file a lawsuit against and determine if they have the required financial capacity that will allow them to compensate you.

    Suppose you finally reach the conclusion that the damages are significant and you think the individual is wealthy enough to pay for the damages. In that case, it stands to reason that filing this type of lawsuit can turn out to be beneficial to your company, as not only will you be compensated for the actual financial losses, but you will probably receive a large amount of money for the unauthorized use of your intellectual property or damage to your reputation.

    As you can see, there is a wide variety of legal tools at your disposal should you decide it’s the right time to file a lawsuit, defending your company. As long as you’re willing to withstand the economic and psychological burden that this procedure could entail, especially in regards to your budget, as well as the time you will have to wait for the courts to reach a decision. 

    It’s up to you to hire the most suitable and experienced lawyer (or law firm), who will bring the matter to court. Don’t forget: the higher the damage to your company, the bigger the rewards will be for you in the end. Besides, most legal disputes never reach a court of law, because usually, companies (or individuals) want to settle to avoid the bad publicity which will follow this kind of suit. One’s reputation is probably the most important thing in today’s society, after all, don’t you think?

  • 6 Tips That Will Help You Make A Profit Online

    6 Tips That Will Help You Make A Profit Online

    There is much more to making money than 9 to 5 jobs and steady monthly incomes. The emergence of the internet gave rise to a huge and thriving market that reaches all corners of the world and embraces every industry imaginable. The transcending nature of the internet and its accessibility to most citizens make it a very favorable route to earning money. Breaking away from the confines of your spatial boundaries makes the whole world a potential target audience for your profit-making ideas.

    It is true that the world out there is big; to reach it may prove quite challenging. However, there are countless ways in which you can earn money. Below are essential tips to help point you in the right direction.

    Know What You’re Good At

    The first thing to start with involves a bit of self-reflection. Learn about yourself, what you can do, and how valuable that can be. Identify your skills and competencies and figure out how you can put them to use, in relation to the market’s in-demand skills. This way, you can focus on enhancing your existing skills and staying on the lookout for opportunities. The greatest thing about the internet is that knowledge is now more abundant than it’s ever been in the entire human history. Online courses, tutorials, e-books, and plenty more resources can help you become the best version of your skilled self.

    Additionally, you can look up stories of successful individuals who started with nothing but a few skills and managed to turn their lives around. You have to realize that even your wildest dreams can have very realistic goals, perfectly attainable with the right determination and the know-how. Your talent matters and it should be the basis of your profitable aims, rather than the duck soup tasks everybody can do.

    Create Content (And Let Everyone Know)

    No matter what your areas of interest are, creating online content is one of the surest ways to earn income. Unique content is beneficial in so many ways, and the more it reaches people, the better your chances are to gain profit. There are many cases where you can earn money continuously by putting things out there with no intention to sell someone anything. This includes sharing stuff on your own website, writing your own blog, and creating multimedia content, among other things. There are other cases where you can showcase your skills with the aim of attracting interested parties such as customers and employers. The two methods aren’t mutually exclusive and can significantly support one another.

    The trick is to figure out how to reach an audience and make the world aware of how good you are at what you do. While the right circumstances and a bit of luck can help in that regard, a very valuable and universally applicable practice is to use the power of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) to increase your reach and search engine rankings. Santa Barbara, CA boasts a number of dependable SEO strategy-specialized companies that can help you start integrating suitable strategies into your business’s workflow. According to this Santa Barbara SEO company, the effective use of SEO techniques should be at the heart of every marketing strategy. Once you get a decent audience, you’re closer than ever to generating steady amounts of income. For instance, you can make money from the ads you introduce to your pages. You may also join an affiliate network and generate revenue from referring visitors to other products and services.

    The most important thing to bear in mind, in order for all that to be rewarding, is to focus on quality and consistency to grow and retain your audience.

    Sell Stuff

    The most basic money-making instinct has always been to trade something of value in return for money. Technology makes the process much more straightforward. You’re provided with plenty of options to choose from depending on what is available to you.

    1. Products

    These can be physical or digital. An idea would be to use the most popular e-commerce platforms such as eBay and Etsy, or you can launch your own eCommerce website if you can ensure a consistent number of products over time. There is no limit to what the products can be. Unwanted goods, craft items, software, or in-app purchases, basically anything that can be sold is an option.

    2. Services

    If you have skills and can provide in-demand services to companies or individuals, consider freelancing, taking part in short or long-term projects, getting remote jobs, or reaching out to clients who may use your services. The things you’re good at can be of use to people across the net willing to pay you money.

    3. Creative Works

    You may be a brilliant musician, filmmaker, painter, photographer, writer, or designer. Every creative individual deserves an audience. Why not share samples of your work and put them on sale? You can use the many dedicated platforms for your specific talent, or your own.

    Share Your Knowledge

    The best teachers you come across in your life get paid for it. They deserve to, and so do you if you can teach someone something. You get bonus points if it’s something you’re good at and passionate about; you’ll do it almost effortlessly. Depending on your field of interest, you can attract people of all ages, individually or in groups, in the form of structured teaching, coaching, conversational tutoring, or consulting. Consider uploading online lessons, which are significantly more popular than school books nowadays, and earn money in many ways. For instance, you can continuously generate revenue from subscriptions, intellectual property, or simply viewers of your content on the appropriate platforms.

    Invest

    While most of the points above require some kind of investment, mostly time, we’re talking here about the good old saying use money to make money. If you have an interest and a basic understanding of the stock market, you can learn more about and invest in stocks. These types of investments potentially offer the highest rewards, albeit not without risks. Assessing the risks and making well-informed decisions are crucial in this respect. The internet allows real-time monitoring of the stock exchange, which is much better and more reliable than reading newspapers every morning. No matter what, don’t go broke; decide beforehand how much you are prepared to invest.

    Alternatively, buying products and reselling them is arguably the more popular form of investment. You may get a good deal on something and sell it for more. You can buy something you can customize or refine, adding significant value to it.

    Sell Yourself

    Not the same way you would sell your products and services, though. The idea is to put yourself out there. Dedicate the right amount of time to enhance your social media presence and work on your image. Showcase your skills and talent and give people reasons to hire you, use your services, buy from you, or continue to watch the hilarious videos you put online. Every idea, project, skill, service, or product can attain its maximum prospects with some form of marketing strategy.

    There is no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to earning money online, but there sure are lots of answers. Although it may take time and be challenging at first, it is definitely within your grasp. You might feel an impulse to want everything and want it now. You might get anxious because you’re not exactly where you want to be. Our advice is simple, don’t. Do things one at a time, and work methodically and efficiently. By setting realistic and achievable goals, you’re sure to earn small victories as you pave the way for more and more profit. 

  • Tips to Help Kickstart TikTok for Your Small Business

    Tips to Help Kickstart TikTok for Your Small Business

    1. Do Proper Research 

    It can take time to get used to new technology. It can, therefore, take you time to master TikTok. It is not necessary to be good at video creation. It is possible to use your smartphone to create the best videos for TikTok. 

    It is, however, more important to spend more time doing proper research on TikTok. You want to see what your competitors post on TikTok. If you see what your competitors post, it can inspire you. It can even help you come up with content ideas for your videos. Create better videos to help you beat your competition. 

    It is easy to download TikTok, and it is free to register for an account. Once you create your account, you can now log in and search for users. TikTok recommend videos. You can watch these videos. Then, tap the “+” button to create your content. Once you create your content, you can use the editing effects and filters to make your video more appealing. 

    It is best to search for businesses in your niche. Do not just use TikTok to watch funny videos or look for clothes. You want to use TikTok to grow your business. So, spend more time researching your competitors. You want to check out your competitors to get more ideas. 

    Spend some time browsing the app to see if you can find similar business owners and see how they use TikTok to promote their businesses. 

    2. Target Younger Audience 

    TikTok is a new social media app, so the TikTok users are younger. The majority of users of the social media platforms, such as Twitter and Facebook, are much older than the users of TikTok. According to a study, the average age of TikTok users is around 18 to 24 years. TikTok users watch 89 minutes of TikTok videos every day. 

    The audience of TikTok is younger. You, therefore, need to consider them if you want to attract them. You need to make your marketing effective for the younger audience. 

    It is easy to use TikTok to experiment with tone. A lighthearted approach can work better on this app. Change your approach to make your videos more fun. If you appear cool on TikTok, you are more likely to get more views. Do not use TikTok the same way you use Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn. 

    You can come up with new ideas and try new things. If you want to use TikTok to promote your shop, you can create virtual tours of your shop and record your bestselling products. Do not forget to mention why your products are special. 

    In addition, you can share your behind-the-scenes videos and offer helpful tips. You can even teach your viewers how to create an excellent atmosphere for your customers and how to wrap presents perfectly. If your videos are fun, you can attract more people. 

    3. Stay on Top of Trends 

    If you really want to succeed on TikTok, you must stay on top of trends. You must know the topics that are currently trending on TikTok. You can use these topics in your marketing strategy. 

    For instance, the recent heatwave can make the “British Summertime” trend. You can use the theme of summer to create your content. Link to your business from your content. If you create content about the popular topics on TikTok, you are more likely to get more Tik Tok views

    If you sell flowers, you can create informative videos about flowers for summer. You can even show your viewers what they can plant for autumn or winter. If you are a butcher, you can teach your audience how to prepare BBQ food for the summer.

    Staying on top of trends can get you more views. 

    4. Influencer Marketing

    Influencers are very popular on social media. Business owners use influencer marketing to promote their businesses and build their brands. If you work with the right influencers, you are more likely to get more views and grow your business. Influencers can share your videos to help you get more views. 

    It is, however, more important to find the perfect influencers for your brand. For instance, if you are promoting your construction business, you can choose influencers, such as Paint Warriors. They can show paintings on various buildings. 

    Influencers do, however, work for free. You will have to pay them to promote your brand. If they share the links to your products or services, you are more likely to make more money. If you can even partner with some influencers, you will make more money in the long run. 

    5. Create Authentic Content 

    People use TikTok to share videos about their lives. TikTok users mostly use their smartphones to film their videos. Therefore, you do not need perfect lighting, a script, or fancy equipment to create your videos. 

    Keep your TikTok videos lighthearted and authentic. Use your videos to entertain TikTok users. You can create different types of videos. If you share different types of videos, some videos might get more views. Create similar videos since you now know that your audience wants these types of videos. 

    It is even better to take vertical videos since they are the perfect format for TikTok. You can even add trending songs to your TikTok videos.

  • 7 Reasons To Build Your Online Business Reputation Using Social Media

    7 Reasons To Build Your Online Business Reputation Using Social Media

    Online reputation management is the single most important way to raise brand awareness and ensure that consumers are aware of the advantages of dealing with your company. Most savvy business owners are well aware that using social media platforms is the smartest and most straightforward way to build a better reputation for their brands online.

    What Is Online Reputation Management?

    Online reputation management is the act of monitoring and noting the conversations that people hold pertaining to your brand and its products. Reputation management also includes actively pushing quality content and information in regards to your business while hiding damaging content that can negatively impact your reputation.

    1. Create Brand Awareness

    Social media can single-handedly allow you to build an overall better awareness of your brand by employing the use of different platforms. You have the ability to narrow down your target audience and to learn more about their online shopping habits by compiling data through your social media traffic. Having a regular presence on popular social media platforms enables brand awareness and recognition in the eyes of consumers.

    2. Respond To Comments

    Social media is a place where people share feedback and vent frustrations pertaining to their transactions with a business. Make it a point to moderate all of the comments on your social media posts, and do respond to criticism or problems voiced by consumers. By conducting yourself in a professional manner in your responses, other consumers will find that you take your reputation seriously and you handle all complaints.

    3. Build A Relationship With Customers

    Staying active on social media websites where your consumers are most likely to hang out will allow you to engage with them, gather feedback, and build a better relationship with your audience. Knowing how your consumers feel about your products or services can help you build a better brand. Buy Instagram likes through Social Plus to build your following. Most importantly, create an open forum where customers can share how your products have improved their lives, and if someone voices a complaint, make sure to resolve it adequately.

    4. Select Brand Ambassadors

    Having brand ambassadors that regularly comment about your products on social media can enhance brand awareness. Look no further than your own trusted return customers to become ambassadors for your brand! They can help spread word that your products and services are reliable, while their comments are also easily used on a testimonials page for your business to gain trust.

    5. Become An Expert In Your Industry

    People are twice as likely to trust and order from a company when their owner is seen as an expert in their industry. Write short blog posts and longer length articles that help you highlight details of your products and share insider information pertaining to your niche industry. Facebook, Twitter, and Google are just some of the more popular platforms that enable you to share your content regularly.

    6. Rank Better In Search Results

    Your search result rankings are greatly impacted by your social media presence. In fact, most companies have an easier time ranking with their social media profiles than they do with their own websites! Make sure you keep your profiles updated and display your contact information in a prominent manner where everyone can access it. Search engines such as Google will have an easier time picking up your contact details based on your social media presence.

    7. Increase Your Sales Revenue

    The reason you’re considering social media is to simply drive sales through different channels to your business. The better your social media presence, the more chances you have to get people to publicly recognize your brand. When consumers search for your products, having glowing reviews and a solid online reputation will help persuade them to make a purchase based on trust. Almost all businesses partake in online reputation management, and if your company is choosing to ignore the importance of investing in it, you’re missing out on a great opportunity!

  • Top Tips For Revamping Your Online Reputation Management

    Top Tips For Revamping Your Online Reputation Management

    A big element associated with reputation management has to do with your online reputation. Nowadays, with everything being digital, it’s more important than ever to maintain your reputation online. According to BrightLocal, as many as 75 percent of all shoppers say they trust online reviews as much as they do asking friends and family. This, combined with 89 percent of them looking at reviews before buying, make managing your reputation online a must. These reviews have become an integral component of the customer buying journey.

    While negative reviews across the board are bad, they don’t have to be a death sentence. By effectively spending more time and energy on your online reviews, you can make it much easier to maintain a healthy reputation online. You want to make it easy for customers to leave reviews online. This can get you more positive reviews and help you enhance your online image.

    There are numerous questions you need to be asking yourself to see where your online reputation stands. Some of them include: 

    – Do your positive reviews outnumber your negative?

    This is an important question to answer. You need to figure out whether or not you have more positive than negative reviews. This can give you a good feel for your current situation.

    – Did you respond to the negative reviews? 

    Responding to any negative feedback is crucial. It’s important to not only show that you care for your customers but to prospective customers alike. Customers want to see that you made an effort to fix the problem whether it be caused by shipping delays, poor service, or something else.

    – Do you have a common theme in your negative reviews? 

    This can tell you a lot about your business. Check to see if there is a common theme going on within your negative reviews. You can generally tell if something needs to be addressed at the root of the problem based on whether or not the reviews have commonalities associated with them. For instance, if everyone is complaining about the service, you likely need to address it with your staff. 

    – Where are you getting the majority of your negative reviews? 

    Look to see where the majority of the reviews are coming from. You can generally tell a lot about where the reviews are being posted. You also want to check to see when they were posted. Are they from a long time ago? Are they recent?

    – Do they look like they came from customers? 

    This is a common problem when it comes to online reputation management. A lot of companies will pay to spam their competition with bad reviews. These reviews are typically easy to spot. They generally come from accounts with no picture attached and have a lot of spelling errors or grammatical errors in them. 

    It can be very daunting to deal with negativity online in a timely manner, this is why many companies employ the help of Summon or similar agencies who offer online reputation management.

    Here are some good tips that you can use to improve your online reputation management quickly. 

    1. Respond To Every Negative Review

    One of the worst things you can do with a negative review is to ignore it. You want to respond to reviews as quickly as you can. You want to not only acknowledge the customer’s experience but do your best to remedy the situation. A prospective customer wants to know there are people behind the scenes that care about their customers. They want to know if they have a bad experience, they aren’t going to be ignored. Who wants to be ignored? A lot of times, if you can remedy a bad customer’s experience, not only will they retract their bad review, but they will change it to a positive one. This gives prospective customers much more confidence in becoming a customer of yours.

    2. Have Contact Information Readily Available

    One of the biggest ways to guarantee that you are going to get a lot of negative feedback posted online is by not having your contact information available. A customer wants to be able to remedy their problem with your business. If you make it difficult to find contact information, they will use whatever means they have available to get their problem heard. Because of this, you need to claim all of your Google My Business pages as well as pages with third-party review sites like Yelp and Trip Advisor. This will ensure that your customers can get their voices heard.

    You’ll also want to put all of your contact information readily available on your website. Have it on every page so a customer will be more likely to contact you than leave a bad review.

    3. Ask For Reviews

    One of the best ways to get more reviews is by asking for them. Believe it or not, Search Engine Land found as many as 70 percent of customers will happily leave a review when they are asked to do so. Don’t make the mistake of being scared to ask. Ask your customers for a review. You can even offer an incentive if needed. This can be an easy way to get more reviews written for your business. This will allow you to generate more reviews which can help you drive more organic traffic to your listings and website.