13: Common Mistakes with your Calls-to-Action (the Buttons)

Summary

The main topic of the podcast episode is SEO strategies for website owners, with a focus on simplifying complex SEO concepts and improving user experience on websites. Meredith's husband offers practical advice for website optimization, domain management, and effective use of calls-to-action (CTAs).

Key insights include:

1. Domain Name Strategy: Website owners are encouraged to buy variations of their business names, like .com, .org, or .info, to prevent competitors from purchasing and using them. He shares his personal experience of how another company acquired one of his unused domain variations to gain traffic. By securing multiple domain names, website owners can protect their brand and avoid potential SEO issues.

2. Exact Match Domains: Meredith's husband explains that buying domain names with specific keywords (like "bestphotographersinbrooklyn.com") no longer benefits SEO. Instead, website owners should focus on building a brand presence with their own business name. Google has evolved to prevent the abuse of keyword-stuffed domain names.

3. Calls-to-Action (CTAs): He stresses the importance of non-generic and enticing CTAs. For example, instead of using "Contact Us" or "Sign Up," website owners should craft CTAs that reflect what the user wants, like “Get a Free Quote.” The text on the CTA should be clear, specific, and user-oriented. Additionally, avoid overwhelming visitors with too many options. Offering multiple ways to contact (e.g., email, phone, Calendly) can confuse users. Instead, choose a single clear action to streamline the decision-making process.

These strategies aim to make websites more effective at converting visitors into clients, enhancing both SEO performance and user engagement.

Resources:

• Google Domains for purchasing and managing domain names.

• Tools like Calendly for scheduling meetings, though it should be used carefully as the sole CTA.