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Five Content Mistakes That Make You Invisible Online
Hi everyone, Ted Yeatts back with you here from Local Content Marketing in Tampa, Florida. It's a frustrating reality for many small business owners: you put effort into creating content for your website or social media, but it feels like nobody is seeing it. Your business is doing great things in the community, yet online, you remain invisible. Today, I want to talk about five common content mistakes that lead to this exact problem and what you can do to get back on the map.
The first major mistake is ignoring local relevance. Your business is in Tampa, but your content could be for anywhere. If your blog posts, podcasts and videos are too generic; and they fail to mention local issues, landmarks, or events, search engines will have a harder time connecting you with the local people who are searching for your services. Your content needs to be about and for your community. It should address the specific needs and interests of customers in Tampa, using local keywords and topics to build a powerful local connection.
Another major mistake is being inconsistent. This is a pretty common problem. You might start a blog or a podcast with a burst of energy, publish a few pieces, and then stop for months. This sporadic effort doesn't build momentum or trust. Consistency is key because it signals to search engines that your website is active and a reliable source of fresh information. It also trains your audience to expect new content from you, which keeps your business top-of-mind. A steady stream of content, even if it's a short weekly update, is far more effective than an occasional flood of articles.
A third mistake is creating low-quality, or "thin", content. This is content that offers no real value. It might be a short blog post that barely scratches the surface of a topic or an article that is simply a sales pitch in disguise. It might also be things like memes or shallow trends. Content needs to be genuinely helpful, insightful, and comprehensive to earn a reader’s attention and a search engine’s trust. Content that merely skims a topic or isn’t really connected to what you do at all, is a wasted opportunity. It will not rank well and it will fail to build the authority necessary to be seen as an expert.
Next, a common error is focusing on yourself, not your target audience. Many businesses make the mistake of creating content that is all about them, their products, or their latest achievements. While that has a place, it should not be the main focus of your content marketing. Your content should answer your customers’ questions, solve their problems, and provide information that benefits them directly. It should speak to what they want. When your content is a resource for your community, it organically earns trust and brings people to your business.
Finally, a huge mistake is neglecting your Google Business Profile. You might be spending time on social media content, but the two most important places to post are your own website and your Google Business Profile. An inactive Google Business Profile with no recent photos, posts, or responses to Q&A can hurt your visibility. Google prioritizes businesses that are actively engaged on its own platform. Regularly posting updates and photos to your profile is a simple, free way to signal to Google that your business deserves a top spot in local search results.
By avoiding these five mistakes and focusing on creating consistent, high-quality, and locally relevant content that serves your audience, you can make your Tampa business visible and trusted online.
Until next time, this is Ted Yeatts reminding you that local content builds trust, and trust builds business.
How a Custom Jingle Can Make Your Local Business Instantly Memorable
When we talk about building a memorable brand, we often focus on things like logos, taglines, or social media presence. But there is one element that can cut through the noise and embed your business in the minds of your customers faster than anything else, and it might surprise you. A custom jingle.
A jingle is a short song or tune used in advertising. You've heard countless ones over your lifetime, from national brands to local businesses. That catchy tune and simple melody can get stuck in your head and, in an instant, recall your business and what it does. In our digital-first world, a jingle might seem old-fashioned, but its power for creating instant memorability is timeless.
A custom jingle is a highly effective, low-cost investment that can pay dividends for years to come. It’s a tool that works on an emotional level, creating a powerful link between a simple tune and your business. And, in today’s world, you can even use A.I. to create your jingle for you. A.I. has made harnessing the power of music for your brand easily affordable for every business.
AI: Your Secret Weapon for Killer Content (Even if You’re Not a Writer!)
We've talked a lot about the importance of consistent, high-quality content for building trust and getting found online. But, I hear a common refrain from a lot of small business owners, and that’s some version of: "That all sounds great, Ted, but I'm not a writer! I don't have the time or the skills to be a content creator." Well, I'm here to tell you that there's a powerful tool now available that can be your secret weapon for killer content, even if you’re not a writer and that’s artificial intelligence.
Ultimately, AI removes the barriers that have prevented many local businesses from leveraging content marketing effectively for far too long. It empowers you, the expert in your field, to share your knowledge with your community without needing to be a professional writer. When used correctly, it allows you to amplify your expertise to be seen and trusted by more people in Tampa and your local community.
Three Ways to Become the Go-To Expert in Your Local Market
Today, I want to discuss the ultimate goal behind all those efforts: becoming the go-to expert in your local market. When customers in our community think of your industry, your name should be the very first one that comes to mind. That level of top-of-mind awareness doesn’t happen by accident. It’s built through a thoughtful and intentional strategy. Here are three ways to make your Tampa business the undisputed local authority on whatever you do.
Ultimately, becoming the go-to expert in your local market is a long-term strategy built on a foundation of trust and consistent value. Demonstrate your expertise every day through online content creation. Invest in and be active in your community. Be transparent about your work and processes. By following these three steps, your Tampa business will not only get found online but will become the trusted authority that customers seek out by name.
Why Your Tampa Small Business Isn’t Showing Up on Google (And How to Fix It)
Ted Yeatts back with you here from Local Content Marketing in Tampa, Florida. Today, we're tackling a frustrating issue that many Tampa small business owners face. In fact, it’s one of the most common questions I get asked. And that’s: "Why isn't my business showing up on Google?"
And the frustration behind the question is understandable: You've got a great service, happy customers, and you're a vital part of our community, but when people search online, you're nowhere to be found. Let's break down the common reasons this happens and, more importantly, what you can do to fix it.
What Is Local Content Marketing (And Why It Works So Well for Local Businesses)?
What exactly is local content marketing, and why does it work so incredibly well for businesses like yours?
Well, at its core, local content marketing is about creating and distributing valuable, relevant, and consistent content that speaks directly to the needs, interests, and questions of the people in your specific geographic area. Yes, it is marketing, but it’s even more so about becoming an indispensable part of the daily lives and decision-making process for your local customers.
Think about it this way: traditional advertising often shouts at people, hoping to interrupt them long enough to make a sale. Local content marketing, on the other hand, shares a helpful answer, offers a solution, or provides useful information exactly when someone needs it. Instead of a blanket message that’s all about you, it’s much more like a personal conversation with your neighbors.
Why Every Local Business Should Have a Podcast (Even a Short One)
We’ve talked about the power of blogs and the importance of content consistency. Today, I want to shine a light on another powerful tool that might seem intimidating but is incredibly effective for local businesses: the podcast. You might think podcasts are only for big names or national brands with large studios. I’m here to tell you that every local business in Tampa should have a podcast, even a short one.
Podcasts possess a unique power that other forms of content can’t quite match: the power of intimacy. When someone listens to your podcast, they are inviting your voice and your message directly into their ears. This creates a personal connection that is far more profound than text on a screen. A podcast allows you to convey your personality, your passion, and your genuine care for your customers in a way that truly resonates. This builds a foundation of trust and familiarity that is invaluable for a local business looking to forge strong relationships within its community.
Why Consistent Content Is More Important Than Keywords for Your Local Business
Hey everyone! Ted Yeatts back with you here from Local Content Marketing in Tampa. Today, I want to emphasize a principle that, in the long run, outweighs any single keyword strategy when it comes to getting found online. And that’s: consistent content is more important than keywords for your local business.
Now, don't get me wrong. Keywords are still important. They're the language your customers use to tell search engines what they're looking for. They're the starting point in the search. So, you absolutely need to know what those local search terms are. But simply stuffing keywords into your website, or only focusing on ranking for a handful of terms, is a short-sighted approach in today's digital landscape.
Why Local Tampa Businesses Need To Build Google Backlinks
Hey everyone! Ted Yeatts back with you here from Local Content Marketing in Tampa. We've talked about how important it is to know your local search terms and why blogs and podcasts are vital for getting found in an AI-driven search world. Now, let's dive into another crucial piece of the puzzle that often gets overlooked by local businesses, yet carries immense weight with search engines: Google backlinks. You might be thinking, "Backlinks? Why should I, a local Tampa business, care about links from other websites?" And that's a fair question. Let me tell you exactly why you should care.
In the simplest terms, a backlink is a link from another website to yours. Think of it as a digital "vote of confidence." When another reputable website links to your business's site, it signals to search engines like Google that your website is a valuable, trustworthy, and authoritative resource. For local businesses in particular, these "votes" from other local businesses, organizations, or media outlets are incredibly powerful.
Talking SERP: Getting Found Online Starts with Knowing Your Local Search Terms
Today, I want to talk about the absolute first, foundational step to getting found online and that’s knowing your “SERP terms.” SERP is an acronym that stands for Search Engine Results Page. It’s the page you see when you type a keyword or query into Google or any other search engine. Conquering the SERP begins with knowing your local search terms.
The AI Search Revolution: Why Your Local Business Needs Blogs & Podcasts to Thrive
For years, "SEO" has been about optimizing websites for search engine algorithms using specific keywords and technical tweaks to rank higher on the search results page. But the future, and increasingly the present, is all about AI search. People (including your potential customers) are and will be using ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini, Anthropic’s Claude and other AI bots to provide direct, summarized answers. So, instead of getting a list of search results, they are getting personalized recommendations and even engaging in conversations to find places to do business with. Here’s where the massive shift I’m talking about comes in: AI bots aren't just looking for a keyword match. They're trying to understand user intent, context, and ultimately, provide the best answer or solution, which might involve recommending your business directly.
Local Businesses: Stop Wasting Money on SEO That Doesn’t Work
Hey everyone! Ted Yeatts back with you here from Local Content Marketing in Tampa, Florida. Today, I want to talk about something that frustrates me quite a bit. And that’s when local businesses waste good money on SEO that simply doesn't work. I hear too many stories of small business owners pouring their hard-earned cash into services that promise the moon but deliver nothing but frustration and a lighter wallet. Today, I want to shine a light on where your money might be disappearing and how to redirect it towards strategies that genuinely move the needle for your local Tampa business.
The Secret to Ranking Locally Without Paying for Ads
In this episode of the Local Content Marketing podcast, Ted Yeatts discusses four keys to improving your search engine ranking for local businesses.
The Power of Podcasts for Local Business and Why Your Tampa Business Needs One
In this episode of the Local Content Marketing podcast, Ted Yeatts discusses the importance of podcasts for local businesses and why your Tampa business needs one.
