Thrive Internet Marketing Blog

As we kick off the year 2020, we decided to look back at 2019 and curate a list of the 10 best YMCA websites.  We all know a good website when we see one, we just might not know exactly why. We will be laying out the FACTS of what (we think) makes an appealing YMCA website. 

According to eMarketer.com, "For the first time ever, US consumers will spend more time using their mobile devices than watching TV, with smartphone use dominating that time spent.  Consumers’ use of smartphones will continue to make up the majority of their media consumption, but we predict that use will plateau by 2020, as consumers become increasingly uneasy about overuse of mobile devices."

Landing pages are more important than ever. When a consumer clicks on a link today, they expect to be taken to a page that explains the solution they were searching for.

Last week I said that we were going to take some time off from talking about SEO. I was wrong. Focus on your members, focus on your audience

As usual, Google has the last say in effective SEO tactics. Concerning the Latest Google Algorithm Update we see the following in an interesting article on INC.com: "Each day, Google usually releases one or more changes designed to improve our results. Some are focused around specific improvements. Some are broad changes. Last week, we released a broad core algorithm update. We do these routinely several times per year. As with any update, some sites may note drops or gains. There's nothing wrong with pages that may now perform less well. Instead, it's that changes to our systems are benefiting pages that were previously under-rewarded."

Registration Length Matters. Another item thought to be a factor in SEO is the length of your renewal for your domain name. While it is a minor point, renewing your domain name for five years tells Google that you plan on being in business for five more years. Renewing for one year says you plan on being in business for one year. See the connection?

In SEO Tip #4 we reviewed how Google wants to be able to independently verify your business information across the internet. The results can affect your search rankings.

You spend a lot of time fine tuning your business's touch points so consumers know they are dealing with a world class, professional business. You look at the building exterior to make sure it looks sharp. (I wonder if we should stripe the parking lot?) You make certain that snow is removed so your clients have a place to park. 

Google has published a clear indicator that website load time is important to rank towards to the top of search results.

About 65% of your YMCA website traffic comes from smartphones. Tuning up your website to be mobile friendly ensures that your members are having a good experience when using the site.