SEO for Small Businesses: How to Compete with Big Brands Online

Let's talk all things SEO!

What is Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)?

Search engine optimisation refers to measures that aim to improve a website’s position in a search engine’s natural search results. Link for all SEO definitions

SEO can level the playing field against big brands, but small businesses need to create strategies so that they can use their powerful online presences so even the smallest business can come out on top.

There are so many ways businesses can use SEO so that the right clientele can find your products or services.

1. Keywords are key:

Keywords are one crucial way to optimise a high-ranking SEO. This is in your headings, subtitles, and bios. Using longer titles for businesses so there is more chance for your business to appear, be careful not to go too far fetch with words as Google can get confused as to what your product or service may be.

2. Optimise your Google Business Profile (GBP):

Filing out your GBP can really optimise local searches with up-to-date accurate information and adding primary and secondary categories to push your business out more.

3. Prioritise customer reviews:

Having your wellsite mobile PC and tablet friendly so that work seamlessly on all devices.

4. Work alongside AI; don’t lose the human touch

With the launch of open AI, this can allow smaller businesses to optimise their SEO with up-to-date content, but remember to work with AI content and not just use what is generated, as people still seek out the human element of information and content.

With small businesses implementing a strategic SEO plan, small businesses can complete with big brands and target the correct clientele. Remember that you are a small business and use that to your advantage to connect with your customers on a more personal level!

One company that uses SEO to understand their customers better by gathering information from their web activity. This data can allow Netflix to show users what they are interested in, and this data can drive traffic organically to improve SEO strategies and engagement.

For videos for more info to stay on top:

How to outrank 99% of local businesses on Google 

The new way to do SEO in 2024 

Small Businesses are under attack by Hackers!

In today’s world how many businesses are online? If businesses are not online well thats a different issue, they are missing out on potential customers, markets, exposure and so much more. With this growth of businesses that have websites or stores the question around cybersecurity is increasing. Look at our university last week got attacked by a cyber-attack and the knock-on effects I would not want anyone to go through. The added stress, fear of unknown, potential data breach, loss of business current or potential. Moral of this is to invest in cybersecurity especially if your small business. Don't think your being overprotective or untouchable, there is people out there who get a rush off gaining accesses into data they have no reason being in. 

I read in an article that also 50% of traffic a business receives can be bots, scammers or hackers. That figure is too high not to invest in cybersecurity. Link 

What is it? Cybersecurity is software that protects data, and network from attackers or anyone with bad intentions. It can act like a fort around your business. 

5 Cybersecurity tips

1. Use strong unique passwords, and don’t store them online, seems small but could be the difference of hacker getting access or not. Do not reuse passwords as if a hacker gets your password they can get access into multiple apps. 
2. Perform routine security checks- Links below to cybersecurity businesses. 
3. Keep your eye out for cyber tips due to constant changes and treats. 
4. Tools to safeguard website eg. Antivirus, Firewalls, encryption softwares. 
5. Install and validate website with SSL (secure sockets layer) Cert
6. Train staff as many security breaches are caused by human error.

Irelands leading cybersecurity firms check out what they do:

Intregrity360

Smarttech24/7

Ekco

BH Consulting 

Evervault

Why are small business are easily targeted?

 

Evolution of Internet Technologies: From Web 1.0 to Web 3.0

Did you know the World Wide Web (WWW) and the Internet were not the same thing? Me, neither I only recently learnt this so lets learn together! We don’t use www really anymore and we call everything the internet, but the web and internet are two separate things but also work hand in hand together under the same roof.  

If you image the internet is the whole system and the software that connects computers and all the invisible wire connecting everything, but the web is all the pages and links and websites, apps that are use internet to function but ideally different elements. Or how I figured it out, the internet is a shopping centre, and the web is the stores within the building. 

Like everything in this world, the Web evolved as time went on and software developed. It has transitioned through three phases: Web 1.0, Web 2.0, Web 3.0. Let’s break them down: 

Web 1.0 was the primary version and "read only" style. It was a static and text-based form of the web that we see today which is mainly only information focused. When it was first established advertisement was not permitted, and images could not be linked. This Web 1.0 was built with CGI and was developer generated.

Web 2.0 this is where we currently reside for the main part as it is more interactive that Web 1.0. This would be social media like Facebook and YouTube for example as people can comments and interact with each other. This benefits site owners as people can leave reviews and communicate with them rather that the “read only” format of Web 1.0.

Web 3.0 is where we are going with a lot more focus taken away from big companies like Apple or Google with our data and more and interconnection between sites and apps to give the user the best experience possible. Four key areas of Web 3.0 is the decentralisation of data, trustful and permissionless, AI and machine learning and connectivity and Ubiquity. This has also been seen with Siri on Apple products being able to understand and communicate like humans.

Learn more with links below:
Explained in Detail Web 3.0
Web 3.0 5 minute explaination
WEB 1.0,2.0,3.0 Explained: Past, present, future

Cloud-Based Analytics for Small Businesses

Are you a small business? Or do you have dreams to being an inspiring business owner? Let’s investigate what cloud-based analytics is and what this service could do for you to allow you to go from small business to multinational corporation. It starts with an idea that you develop but behind the scenes cloud-based analytics software to grown and scale your business.

Cloud based analytics could really benefit your business if you have:

• Small teams
• Limited revenue
• Unknown future demand

While traditional on-premises options are available, they have high costs and limiting features and adaptability for business. This can result in heavy losses with infrastructure and maintenance costs while cloud-based analytics can save physical space and with third party suppliers to remove costs and stress.

Data security can also be a major issue with traditional and if data gets lost has proven return of data to be very low, unlike with third party suppliers usually store the data on their servers.

What is cloud-based analytics?

Cloud based analytics is a flexible, subscription or pay-as-you-go, cost effective solution that allows businesses to monitor and manger their data through a variety of different models:

Deployment models:

• Public 
• Private 
• Hybrid 

Service Models:

• On-Premises- Business must cover and control every aspect of data analytics 
• IAAS (Infrastructure as a Service)- Basic computer infrastructure is supplier to business; this allows businesses to build and adapt to their needs of business.
• PAAS (Platform as a Service)- Third-party provider cover everything other than application and data. 
• SAAS (Software as a Service) - Fully covered software by third-party provider

Main Providers:	Businesses that implemented this software
AWS (Amazon Web Services)	Netflix
Microsoft Azure	Pinterest
GCP (Google Cloud Platform)	Instagram
IBM (International Business Machines)	ETSY
Ocp (Oracle Cloud Platform)	Canva

For an video explaination tap here. 

Till next week!!!! 😁

SaaS ERP: The Affordable Solution Empowering SMEs

Hello, fellow bloggers! 

This week’s blog is on the topic of SaaS ERP (software-as-a-service enterprise resource planning), which is actually a relatively new solution to help SMEs manage their businesses and support their ambitions. Traditional ERP systems include capital investment along with hardware, which requires space that SMEs may not have. SaaS ERP is cloud-based, which removes the hardware and allows access via an internet connection. Linking this with hybrid working can benefit businesses in so many ways. 

There are so many advantages with this software and the removal of hardware one, as well as the affordability of the software, as most businesses opt for a basic subscription as they may not have the capital required.

This, along with cutting time, which from talking to business owners’, seems to be more valuable than money, so imagine having this option to save in both areas, cut out mundane tasks, and allow focus on business growth. Win-Win. 

For a growing SME, communication can potentially be an oversight, so having this SaaS EPR system can allow for data visibility across multiple departments, allowing for more informed and data-driven decisions. Think about it—financial, supply chain, inventory, CRM, procurement, and many more—all in one location. The possibilities are endless!

The main goal of this updated system is to allow businesses to stay ahead and be able to manage their resources to the highest capacity. Do you have or want to own a business? What systems do you use? Tell me below! 

READ MORE!

https://www.sage.com/en-ie/erp/small-business/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEHdYNXiIUU&pp=ygUIc2FhcyBlcHI%3D

The Rise of Digital Payment Systems

Hello, my fellow smuggling academic weapons and welcome back. 👋

This week we are hitting off the topic of digital payment systems and how they have become so common. Before you turn off and stop reading think for a moment have you ever thought about how much we reply on them? Tapping our phones and online shopping. These new technology and payment systems including mobile wallets e.g. Apple pay, Google wallet, bank transfers, contactless payments and many more. These payments methods have made peer to peer transactions, retail and e-commerce so much easier that most transaction can be done in one tap or scan. 

Is cash still king like we were always told? I am 23 and personally I rarely have cash now due to the convenience of having everything I need on my phone, and this is the way most younger people think (I am talking about under 55). 

Digital payment systems and the use of online banking, shopping and payments is growing and if we wanted would never have to leave our homes most day to day items can be sources online e.g. food shopping and home delivery.

They increase security through encryption and two-factor authentication. This can reduce fraud which allows customers to feel more comfortable. Business also benefits from this shift due to faster transaction, higher security and being able to reach a more global market.

The growth in shift from cash to digital was seen when Covid-19 hit as the fear of passing the infection increased. This transition along with smartphones and digital devices being more accessible than traditional banking infrastructures allowed for digital payments systems succession the market. 

Here is to the future of digital! What do you think of digital payment systems? Do you miss cash? 

Till next week! 😁👏

Read more:

https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/people/arid-41259700.html#:~:text=Half%20of%20those%20between%20the,on%2Dthe%2Dgo%20refreshments.

https://www.emarketer.com/insights/digital-payment-services/

Why the Sunny South East is the best for Tech firms to invest in!

👋  Welcome back, my fellow weapons. 

I hope you all are having a great week, and whatever you’re up to, keep slaying! As I mentioned in my previous post, I’m in university in the southeast of Ireland. I moved two hours from my home village, and it’s been my greatest decision.

This week we will investigate why so many tech firms are looking to set up in the Sunny South East. (SSE)

Why is the South East the place to be?

The south east, in my opinion, is the up and coming of Ireland since the colleges merge together to create a multi-campus university hosting diversity courses in a range of areas. The SSE also has gateways of support to help businesses and start-ups in a multitude of ways. The two that could benefit tech firms are:

1. Design+ develops and formulates fresh concepts and products in a very innovative way, utilising the wide range of technical, business, and marketing know-how that is available.
2. Walton Institute, which has a broad range of information and communications technologies (ICT) research that is supported by industry, especially in regards to technologies that enable communications and information services.

These gateways make the South East a tech hotspot along with.

1. The ICT cluster of Ireland that’s primarily based in the SSE.
2. 
   Better Wearing: Known to be slightly better, which means you will need it.
3. Proximity to Dublin: Dublin is 1.50 hours away, which isn’t bad since if you lived closer to Dublin, it would take as long with traffic. 
4. Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) wind D-MAP was released in January, and the SSE could be the future of ORE, which aligns with needed new innovative tech firms to back the industry. Dare I say an opening in the market? 🤔 
   

With great infrastructure, two ports, an airport getting a facelift, and also a lot of investment already being generated in the area. The SSE is the place to be and invest in it sooner rather than later because you can feel the buzz coming back for business and entrepreneurship. 

As always, my struggling academic weapons, you’re all great! Till next week.😁

For more info on the dMap, click here. 

Or click the video to see what's on offer.