How Do I Change My Location on Google

If you are here, you sure will know why keeping the right location is important in your Google. Location settings on Google play a huge part in providing the users with apt information especially based on the geographical context. For example, if you are searching for good restaurants, receiving restaurant information from somewhere else won’t help you in any way. You need to receive the information based on your location. It goes for anything, such as when searching for local news, weather updates, or targeted advertisements, receiving accurate details is important that will align with your current surroundings and preferences.

There are many instances in which users need to change their Google location. For example, those who travel a lot want to receive search results for their current destination rather than their home location. Expatriates may like to get information from their country of residence, which allows them to stay connected to local events and resources. Also, those exploring specific products, or services, such as job listings or some else, would like to modify their location accordingly to get the options that are available in different areas.

It’s not just about convenience, location data is key to making search results and ads more effective. When Google knows where you are it can deliver more relevant results and increase user engagement and satisfaction. For businesses it means being able to target their audience with precision and get higher conversion rates. But it also raises privacy concerns, users may not always be comfortable sharing their location data. So understanding how to manage and change location settings is important for users who want to get the balance between getting personalized content and keeping their privacy. In short location settings are how we navigate the digital world so it’s a big part of the Google experience.

Why does Google track your location?

Google tracks your location to make its services more relevant and accurate. By knowing where you are Google can give you local search results, tailored recommendations and targeted ads that match your context. For example when searching for nearby restaurants or services location data helps Google give you more precise suggestions. It also helps features like real time traffic updates, weather forecasts and location based reminders.

But with location tracking comes privacy concerns as users may feel their personal data is at risk. Google gives you options to manage your location settings so you can control how and when your location is tracked. This lets you balance personalization with privacy by adjusting your settings or turning off tracking altogether.

How to change your location on Google

You can change your location on Google in several ways. Here are:

  • Using a VPN (Virtual Private Network):

With a VPN it will redirect your internet traffic to some other region, so it will appear as if you are in some other place. By this you can access content that may not be available in your actual location.

  • Change Device Location Settings:

Change your location in your device settings on Android, iOS or Windows to some other region. This will affect Google’s search results and other services; it will give you information only for the location you choose.

  • Manually set a location in Google Chrome

Use Google Chrome’s Developer tools to set a location and see how the results are displayed.

  • Update Google account location settings

Change location settings of Google account’s services like Google Maps and other localized search results.

How to change your location on Google Maps

Access Location Settings on Your Device:

  • Android: Go to Settings > Location, then enable or adjust location settings.
  • iOS: Go to Settings > Privacy & Security> Location Services, or you can directly go to the google map in setting > location, and make sure Google Maps has access to your location.

Update Location Accuracy:

  • Android: Go to Location > Advanced and turn on

Improve Accuracy to allow Wi-Fi and Bluetooth scanning for more accurate location detection.

  • iOS: Make sure Precise Location is enabled under Google Maps settings.

Check Google Maps Permissions:

Make sure Google Maps has full access to your location by checking app permissions on your device settings.

Set Home and Work Locations:

In Google Maps, go to Saved > Labeled and set your home or work location so you can easily navigate to frequently visited places.

Use Manual Pin Drop:

If auto location detection is off, drop a manual pin on the map by long press on the desired location to update your location.

Keeping your location settings accurate is important for navigation, directions, traffic updates and local recommendations. Updating your location also helps improve suggestions like nearby restaurants, shops or attractions so you have a better experience with Google Maps.

How to turn off location tracking on Google

On Android/iOS:

  • Go to “Settings” > “Location” and toggle off location for Google apps.
  • Or go to your Google account, then “Data & Privacy” and turn off location history.

On Windows:

Go to “Settings” > “Privacy” > “Location” and turn off location for Google apps.

Impact on Google Services:

  • Turning off tracking will disable personalized features like local search results, recommendations and real-time navigation.
  • Google Maps, weather updates and localized ads may not work as well, user experience will be affected.

Risks and benefits of changing your location on Google

Changing your location on Google has its risks and benefits. One of the risks is inaccurate search results which may block access to local services like restaurants or events. On the other hand, changing your location can give you access to region specific content and ads which will enrich your user experience with more information. But using VPNs or other methods to change your location raises privacy and security concerns as it may expose users to data tracking or breaches. So while the benefits can enhance your online interactions, you must consider the privacy implications to have a secure browsing experience.

How to Build High-Quality Backlinks for SEO

Backlinks are one of the major factors for most search engines, including Google. If you are someone or part of an organization wanting to get genuine and relevant organic traffic, backlinks should be at the top of your priority list in SEO.  The more quality and relevant backlinks you get from relevant and authoritative domains, the higher your reputation will be on the ‘good books’ of search engine algorithms and it will open ways for you to top the SERPs.

Truth to be said, link building doesn’t have a decent reputation nowadays since it is more associated with link spamming. But let me say this. It shouldn’t be like that. You can build good backlinks with smart techniques without spamming on other shady sites. We know getting quality backlinking be quite challenging, especially if you have a boring niche ( oops! 

But you just are in the right place. Reading along our blog to find the top 7 smart strategies that will answer the ultimate question of How to Build High-Quality Backlinks for SEO by our seasoned professionals at Inter Smart, the top SEO company in Kochi.

What are high-quality backlinks?

Going by the definition and in the context of Search Engine Optimization  ( SEO), backlinks are a form of acknowledging the authority and the knowledge of another website. Basically, when others are using your link, they are trusting their visitors to come to your website. It’s like telling them that you are a very good source for them, and you have enough knowledge if they want to know more about a particular topic. 

High-quality backlinks are links that come from very good and quality websites. It acts as a parameter for the search engines to understand how reputable your site is.

What is the value of high-quality backlinks?

As we all know, search engines are continually searching for methods to decide how reliable the website you run is and whether people accept whatever data you provide. Algorithms frequently utilize backlinks to figure out the value of your website.

Backlinks from quality sites are seen by Google as a major indicator of another excellent, reputable website. As a result, building a strong backlink profile can undoubtedly help you rank among the top search results.

Backlinks might help you get more traffic, particularly if they’re high-quality. As more and more people link to your site, viewers are bound to arrive from these other online domains, ready to find out more about the topics at issue. This will improve your brand exposure and can further boost your search engine performance through more visitors.

The Top 7 Strategies to Build High-Quality Backlinks for SEO  2024

Now, take a look at the top 7 strategies that can help you to build a high-quality backline for your website recommended by our SEO pros at Inter Smart. 

  • Replicate competitors’ best backlinks

SEO is a bit like playing roulette with your competition, with Google as the dealer. And everyone has to play with their cards on the table. In our scenario, the cards are the backlinks, and anyone can access them. You can quickly collect a list of your competitor’s backlinks and attempt to replicate the best ones with your preferred tool. 

Trust us when we say this, replicating your competitor’s backlinks is one of the most effective strategies to discover fresh link-building possibilities and boost SEO. 

You can begin with your direct competitors, usually the sites that occupy the first five positions in terms of the priority keywords. 

And that if they are ranking higher than you, it is due to the reason that they have a stronger link profile and higher-quality backlinks. Thus, identify your competitors first and you can check their backlinks.

  • Guest Blogging 

Guest blogging is still one of the most effective methods to make yourself recognized online. You can reach out to existing audiences and communicate with others in your niche. It’s an excellent approach for gaining more social media followers, boosting traffic, and creating high-quality links. 

Well, contrary to popular opinion, guest blogging existed long before Google began utilizing backlinks as a ranking signal. If we have to be more specific, guest blogging began during the time when newspapers were prevalent.

Google allows guest writers on its site, so there’s no reason to be concerned about a penalty as long as your guest contributions aren’t spammy or poorly written. However, if you are going with the guest post route, make sure it is of good quality. 

  • A solid internal linking structure

Internal links are an important aspect of backlink management and can improve the general readability of your website. While they will not provide a significant SEO benefit, they can be a successful way to gain links while using your choice anchor text. 

Just be careful not to misuse this strategy; generating more than 100 internal connections per page may make your website appear suspicious

  • Become a Source For Reporters and Bloggers

Yes, you read that right. If you want to rank on the first page of Google, you certainly need to build backlinks from authoritative news sites and blogs. 

( I’m referring to white hat links from authoritative news websites and blogs.)

All you have to do is use services like Help a B2B Writer ( Which is 100% free) and Featured.com (A freemium). Help a B2B Writer and Featured.com are public relations platforms that can certainly do wonders for backlinks. They connect people who need sources  ( especially bloggers and journalists ) to people who want links and exposure as well. 

  •  The Secret of “Skyscraper” Content

You can use “Skyscraper” content to get backlinks from authority sites such as Entrepreneur.com. All you need to select a piece of content in your niche that has already performed well  (in terms of backlinks).

Do you know the simplest way to do that?

A basic Google search.

Simply search for your keyword.

Next, develop a piece of content that is 5-10 times better than what you just discovered. Finally, market the “Skyscraper” content.

This is very important!!!

In order to maximize the impact of your material, you must actively market or promote it.

There are millions of ways to promote your material. One of the best ways to promote the skyscraper content is to promote it to the person you mention the work. It is important to remember to be not pushy or spammy in their emails or DMs. That’ll certainly work out in favour of you.Want to know more effective strategies that are tested and proven by the SEO gurus at Inter Smart, the best SEO Services in Kochi ? Connect with us today!

How to Set Up Google Alerts: 4 Easy Steps for Monitoring and Tracking

Everyone would like to be notified if there’s something that comes up. In this busy digital world, staying up to date is important, whether its for personal growth or professional growth. For this purpose, Google has introduced a tool called Google Alerts, an effective way to stay informed about important matters on the internet. By setting up alerts in the Google settings, and by providing proper keywords, the users will be able to receive alerts whenever there is similar content published online. These quick updates can help you with timely responses to growing trends, discussions, or potential crises; developing an engaged and informed digital presence.

 

The advantages of using Google Alerts extend beyond just the monitoring purpose. For example, for individuals, it gives a way to track the personal mentions. Like to stay updated on industry news, or follow the activities of competitors. By receiving alerts tailored to their interests, users can cultivate a sense of awareness about developments that may affect their personal or professional lives. For job seekers, this can particularly benefit or for the professionals looking to network within their field. Because they can quickly engage with relevant opportunities.

 

For business purposes, Google Alerts is an invaluable resource for reputation management and market research. Companies can keep tabs on customer feedback, industry developments, and competitor activities, which enable them to make informed decisions. Moreover, by monitoring brand mentions, businesses can identify potential PR issues before they surge, ensuring a timely response that safeguards their reputation. The insights that you gained from these alerts can also inform content strategies, helping businesses customise their messaging to resonate with their audience.

 

4 Easy Steps for setting up Google alerts

How to set up Google Alerts

  1. Go to: https://www.google.com/alerts
  2. Enter your keyword
  3. Alter the settings for your alert
  4. Create your alert

Step 1: Accessing Google Alerts

To begin using Google Alerts, navigate to the Google Alerts homepage by visiting **  google.com/alerts**. Once on the page, you will be prompted to sign in with your Google account, which is necessary to manage and receive alerts. 

Google Alret interface

The interface is straightforward, and designed for ease of use. At the top, there’s a search bar where you can enter the keyword or phrase you want to track. Beneath the search bar, you’ll find a list of “Alert suggestions,” which provides sample topics that might be of interest based on your browsing history. On the right-hand side, there’s an option to customize each alert, which includes the frequency of notifications, preferred sources, language, region, and more. Below this section, you can view and manage your existing alerts, ensuring that you can modify or delete them as needed. This clean and minimal interface makes the setup process seamless for users at all levels.

 

Step 2: Set Up Your Alert

set up alert

To set up a Google Alert, enter a search query that matches what you want to monitor. This can be as broad or as specific as you like. For example if you are monitoring your company name, just type it in. If you want to monitor industry trends or competitor activity, add relevant keywords.

When choosing keywords, focus on ones that are relevant and specific to avoid getting irrelevant alerts. It’s also helpful to try long-tail keywords that target specific areas of interest. And always use quotation marks around phrases to get exact results. This tells Google to search for the exact phrase rather than individual words in any order. So you get alerts that are highly relevant to you, not a bunch of irrelevant notifications.

Step 3: Customize Your Alert Settings

Customizing your Google Alerts is key to getting the most relevant and manageable updates. One of the options is the frequency of alerts, where you can choose to get notifications “as it happens”, daily or weekly. This gives you control over how often you get notified, depending on how immediate or periodic the information needs to be.

You can also customize your alerts by choosing specific sources. Google gives you options like news, blogs, discussions or web content. This lets you narrow down your alerts so you only get info from the platforms that matter most to you.

Language and region also give you more options to customize. By choosing a language you get alerts in the languages that matter most to you. And by choosing a region you can narrow down results to a specific area so you can monitor news or trends in a particular country or location.

 

Step 4: Managing and Modifying Alerts

Here’s how to edit or delete Google Alerts:

  1. Go to: https://www.google.com/alerts
  2. Select the alert you want to edit
  3. Update your alert
  4. Delete your alert

Once you have set up your Google Alerts, it’s essential to know how to manage and modify them to maintain relevance and effectiveness. View your existing alerts is easy. Go to the Google Alerts dashboard and you’ll see a list of all your current alerts. Each alert has settings to adjust the frequency, sources, language and region.

To edit an alert click on the pencil icon next to the alert you want to change. This will open the settings and you can tweak the criteria based on your evolving needs. For example, you may want to expand an alert by adding more keywords or limit the results to a specific region for more local tracking. If an alert is no longer relevant delete it. Just click the trash bin icon next to the alert and it will disappear.

It’s recommended to review and update your alerts periodically to make sure they are still delivering valuable insights. Over time certain keywords may become outdated or your business goals may change and you’ll need new tracking parameters. By refining your alerts you can stay focused on what matters. Regularly reviewing your alerts also means you won’t get overwhelmed by irrelevant notifications making the process more efficient and goal-aligned.

By following these steps you can enable Google Alerts in your browser and get updated frequently.

5 Tips for Tagging YouTube Videos

Millions of videos are being submitted every day on YouTube and the platform has grown from a simple video-sharing website to one of the biggest search engines in the world. If you are a content producer, you undoubtedly know how important it is to deliver material of the highest quality. But did you miss another significant detail: labeling your recordings correctly? When discussing YouTube SEO, tagging might literally be the difference between life and death (Search Engine Optimization). Now let’s dive into the top 5 tips for tagging YouTube videos that can help increase your account’s exposure and optimize performance.

YouTube Tags Are More Than Just Labels

You can use tags on YouTube videos-the kind of information for the platform to understand what is taking place and what the video actually holds. However important they are in the SEO even though YouTube algorithms aren’t entirely based on hard parameters such as titles, descriptions, and interaction. They help your YouTube algorithm get an accurate recommendation and categorization for your videos.

Tags are the secret ingredients that get your video ranked higher in searches so it comes up for visitors searching for relevant subjects. Like keywords in traditional SEO, YouTube tags both the viewer and the algorithm understand what the video is about.

Always use Targeted Long-Tail Keywords to Entice the Right Audience

The first step towards a successful YouTube tagging is to target niche long-tail keywords. Long-tail keywords are longer and more specific phrases than your general keywords. This increases their likelihood of ranking and decreases competition. Target keyword terms such as “beginner fitness routine for weight loss” or “how to start a successful travel vlog” instead of broad terms like “fitness” or “vlogging,” which might attract you.

Focusing on long-tail keywords increases your chances of appearing in searches for niche terms. Since there will be fewer competitors for that specific term, your video is likely to appear when someone searches for those very phrases. And since viewers are more likely to view videos that exactly fit their requirements, these niche keywords not only better match the intent of the user but also increase audience retention.

Add Frequently Misspelled Spelling Variations for Keywords

The second piece of advice that most producers fail to pay attention to, but it could truly be a difference-maker in regards to your visibility, is the use of often misspelled variants of your primary keywords. It’s a fact that typos happen to the best of us, particularly while typing quickly. While viewers frequently search for keywords, they sometimes misspell them. This is where smart tagging comes in.

If your video is about “Ayurveda,” you can add a tag with “Ayurvdea” because that is the most commonly misspelled version of “Ayurveda.” Misspelled tags ensure that the users will still be attracted to your video even when they may have misspelled the word while searching on YouTube. It’s a clever strategy you can adopt that boosts the number of views for your video with a little extra effort. Just avoid using the misspelling more frequently than it is actually misspelled. That is most impactful when used sparingly.

Use the Competitor Tags for Inspiration

Sometimes, watching your competitors is going to give you the best tags for your YouTube videos. These competitors must be doing something right if their videos are ranking so well. Analyzing competitor tags will therefore help you find competitor tags that you may otherwise not have discovered, while at the same time giving you a great insight into what the market is focusing on.

There are many solutions which allow you to see what tags your competitors are using in their videos. Look through and find trends you can adapt to your content by viewing these tags. Instead of appropriating tags, however, adapt them so that they fit the topic and audience of your film.

Use YouTube-Specific tags to optimize

Even though this sounds obvious, many authors make the critical mistake of misunderstanding the significance of using platform-specific tags directed to the internal search algorithm of YouTube. As straightforward as this might sound, keywords such as “YouTube tutorial,” “vlogging tips,” or even “best video editing software” are most relevant to both the content of your video and how users interact with the form.

If your video topic is “how to get more views on YouTube,” then using tags of the form specifically related to the ecosystem of YouTube — like “YouTube algorithm” or “YouTube growth hacks” — will be there to help visitors who would be actively searching for that sort of guidance on-site find your material more easily. It is a focused approach to engage with viewers who are already pretty interested in YouTube-related material.

Do not stuff tags too much

The problem is that it’s tempting to put in as many tags as possible so you have the chance of answering all the imaginable search queries. When it comes to tagging, though, YouTube’s algorithm seems to be a case of quality over quantity. Too many or unneeded keywords on your movie can confuse the system and even bring its score down. According to YouTube itself, it is better to use only those tags really related to the content of your video.

As a general guideline, concentrate on a central pool of 5-8 effective tags that best represent the main themes of your movie. These can consist of a mix of general, catch-all industry phrases and long-tail keywords which we discussed above. It is suggested that you concentrate your focus relatively specifically as applying too many extraneous tags can actually dilute the effect of your best tags.

Best Practices in YouTube Tagging

There are two aspects of YouTube video tagging: art and science. While labelling might seem to be a small part of the creation of video content, when it’s done correctly, that slight difference may mean the video does well or is lost in the sea of massive video collected on this platform. You can make that huge impact between discoverability and performance and improve your YouTube videos by applying the advice mentioned in this article. These include long tail keywords focus, misspelling play, rival sites studies, optimization on YouTube, and especially, overstuffing tag prevention.

Understanding the Importance of Branding for Businesses

What comes to mind when you think of the brand Amul? Probably the most popular phrase of “The Taste of India.” But how did that become such a powerful phrase? The answer is branding.

Brands are much more than a logo or a tagline, they are the soul of a business and what makes a business memorable, trustworthy, and distinctive. In a world where visibility is one’s boon or bane, branding matters even more in this modern digital era.

But, why does branding hold such significance for businesses? If you have ever wondered why you must pour so much effort into it or what it can do for your business, this blog – ‘Understanding the Importance of Branding for Businesses’ is for you. Also, we will cover how digital marketing services in Kerala help in branding.

What’s Branding?

When you hear “branding,” you might think of logos, taglines, and color schemes. While these elements are a part of branding. However, branding is more than that. Branding happens to be an emotional connection with your target audience. That promise you make to the customers includes everything: the value, culture, and mission of the company.

A Simple Example

Think of Apple. When you look at the sleek products or minimalist ads, you do not see a phone or a computer. You envision innovation, luxury, and simplicity. This is branding in action. The company does not sell just gadgets but sells an experience.

In simple words, branding will help you stand out in such a competitive market. It is more about creating a connection, telling a story, and developing a reason that makes people come for you or invest in you.

Why is Branding Important for Businesses?

Now that we understand better what branding is, let’s find out why it is important to businesses these days.

Creates Recognition and Awareness

The first reason branding is important is recognition. Good branding puts the public’s mind on your business and helps people recognize your company by simply seeing a logo or color scheme. Consider Nike or Coca-Cola the logo is so strong that there is no need for words to tell you what company it is.

Gains Trust

In the age of millions and millions of options, trust is the way to go. People will connect more with your brand if they can trust it. Branding will give your business a professional look due to consistency, and customers are highly confident in choosing your business when it has stunning yet authentic branding.

Enhances the Value of Businesses

Good branding increases a company’s value because it gives it more leverage in the marketplace. The top brands, normally associated with high customer loyalty, enable businesses to charge premium pricing for their products or services. This is especially important for business growth and expansion.

Attracts and Keeps Talent

Your brand does not only speak to customers, it also speaks to potential employees. Always a good brand will tend to attract talented people who want to work for the company. Many companies, including startups and MNCs, exist where people eagerly wish to work with them. In such cases, all the credits shall be given to branding. 

Provides a Competitive Edge

To stand out in the modern competitive market, it is important to have distinctive branding strategies to attract an audience very easily. Imagine two companies selling the same product. A company with a compelling brand story, engaging visuals, or consistent messaging may have a better chance to win the customer over.

The Role of Digital Marketing in Building a Brand

In terms of branding, the digital world has revolutionized businesses. Today, being relevant in the real as well as the virtual world is something that a business should be. Hiring a digital marketing agency Kochi is no longer an option, but a necessity nowadays digital marketing can do wonders for your business! Let’s see how it works:

Social Media Presence

Social media platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn, have changed branding as such. Brands can engage with their audience on a personal level; this has been possible through sharing interesting content, listening to the customers, and being present online.

For example, consider Nike’s Instagram account. It is neither about shoes nor athletic gear; it is about motivation, perseverance, and celebrating diversity. Such digital marketing can create a devoted community for your brand.

Content Marketing

Creating valuable information content is going to be another very important aspect in building a brand. Whether in the form of blogs, videos, or a podcast; content marketing will allow you to communicate your messaging, demonstrate your expertise, reveal your brand’s values, and connect with the people.

Search Engine Optimization

SEO plays the most important role in getting your brand online. If people are looking for services you offer, for example, digital marketing, it would mean your business will come up under the first pages of the search results, which makes it even better. A higher market size and improved visibility results when all your website and other content are optimized with the right keywords.

How to begin to build your brand

Building a brand can appear like a monumental task, but, in reality, any business can build a strong brand presence with the right kind of approach.

Define your Brand Identity

What does your company stand for? What are your core values? Define your brand identity clearly first. Make sure that your mission and values are reflected in everything you do, from your logo to customer service.

Create a Consistent Brand Voice

Brand consistency is always paramount. Whether posting on Facebook or any other social media website, creating advertisements, or sending out newsletters, your brand’s voice needs to be consistent. This way, you ensure that your message is consistent and develop the need for trust when allowing your audience to understand what you are all about.

Invest in Professional Help

Sometimes branding is a piece that requires an expert’s touch. Agencies offering Digital Marketing Services in Kerala like Inter Smart can prove very helpful at such times. Our professionals can guide you through creating captivating visual elements, a compelling brand story, and more, which would ensure the prominence of your brand on the crowded platform.

How to Recover from a Google Penalty: A Guide to SEO Recovery

Google penalty!!!

A nightmare for SEO experts. There is nothing worse than getting a Google penalty on your website if you are an SEO professional. You do not want to lose the momentum of your website on a steady rise by getting penalized by a Google algorithm update or even manual errors right?

If your website is falling off of the SERP ranking or your traffic is suddenly taking a hit, you have more work to do. But dont worry, it is not the end of the world. Bouncing back from a Google penalty is possible. But it does take a few techniques and tips to get back on track again.

Fixing the penalties should be your first priority since the drop in your search engine ranking can cost you customers and sales. In this blog, ‘How to Recover from a Google Penalty: A Guide to SEO Recovery our SEO experts at Inter Smart the best SEO services in Kochi will give tips and techniques to recover from a Google Penalty, but first let’s start with an explanation.

 

What Is a Google Penalty?

When a website violates Google’s Webmaster Guidelines, the search engine will penalize the site. It also means your site won’t be listed on the search engines and your target audience won’t find you. 

There are two types of them:

Algorithmic Penalties: This results from modifications or upgrades to algorithms.

Manual Penalties: Google auditors have introduced the system to guarantee better standards. Usually, you get these if you break Google’s terms of service.

Besides, you can see if you have got a manual penalty in your Google search console. 

To check it go to the security and manual actions and ->  then Manual Actions.

If you dont have any notifications and have a green checkmark that says ( No issue detected) then you are good. 

However, if you are seeing notifications to review something, you got things to fix. 

What Are Common Causes of Google Penalties?

  • Keyword Stuffing –  It is known as the practice of spamming/ repeatedly using the same keyword in an attempt to manipulate search engine rankings 
  • Hidden Links – The process of adding links to a webpage that are not visible to users is known to outsmart the algorithm.
  • Irrelevant keywords – Using unrelated terms in an attempt to influence search engine results pages. 
  • Bad redirects – When a user gets sent to a different web page than they wanted to visit. These were done to farm clicks and traffic.
  • Spyware/Adware/Virus – They are examples of harmful software-distributing websites.
  • Data Issues – Technical issues that occur due to robot.txt files/sitemap etc
  • Bad Links  – Spam links or low-quality Links
  • Spun Content – The content that offers no value to the reader

Other Causes for a Fall in SERPs

A sudden or mysterious drop in search engine ranking is going to be devastating for business that greatly rely on high traffic, sales, and conversions. Even though Google penalties are some of the common things for a website, there are also some factors that are affecting the cause. Following are some of the reasons for discussed in detail : 

Seasonal variations: Websites may see an abrupt drop in traffic during their off-peak hours, which could result in a decline in search engine rankings.

Increasing online competition: Your business could be pushed further down the SERPs by competitors. Every year, 252,000 new websites are launched worldwide. If you are not upgrading and optimizing your website, it is far too easy to lag behind the competition.

Content quality: You’ve probably heard the expression “Content is King,” which applies to everything on the internet. Google emphasizes that it values great content more highly than badly written, pointless postings created just for search engine optimization.

How to Recover From Google Penalties : Restore Rankings With Inter Smart

Let’s take a look at some of the ways recommended by our SEO professionals at Inter Smart to recover from Google penalties.

1.Check the Rankings

First thing first. The first step to recovering from ranking fluctuation is to understand if the penalty is the source of your problems. You can use The Website Penalty Indicator for this. It allows you to see exactly where and how it is hurting your site.

 

2. Check the Recent Algorithm Update.

To check if you have been affected by the algorithm rollout, you have to log in to your Google Analytics dashboard. Then detaily assess the traffic declines to any recent Google algorithm adjustments. If you haven’t checked your dashboard in a while, it’s worth it to see if an earlier change has impacted your search ranking

If your traffic drops at the same time as a known core update, it’s most likely due to a Google penalty.

For more information further, you can select your website from the Google Analytics dashboard and then click Acquisition > All Traffic > Source/Medium. From there, select Google/Organic. This displays a report on the number of visits your website receives from Google searches. Then you can compare the traffic drop to the dates of the core update.

 

3. Run an SEO Audit

SEO audits should be part of your regular marketing strategy, but they can also assist you with assisting traffic problems. But, if you are concerned that your website is suffering from a Google penalty, a technical SEO audit will certainly help you to identify any SEO issues that are affecting your site.

When completing a technical SEO audit, you should focus on the following three factors such as  

 

  • Back-end hosting, 
  • Indexing Front-end content, metadata, and keywords
  • External references and link quality.

4. Content Audit

A content audit thoroughly analyzes your existing content performance and can help identify the source of your Google penalty if it is due to content concerns.

You can start by using tools like Ubersuggest to assess your overall website performance and identify content update opportunities.

Simply select Search > Site Audit.

Content inventory tools like Blaze and DynoMappe can also help you identify content issues. Connecting with our experts at Inter Smart, the top SEO services in Kochi.

5. Double-check backlinking

Healthy link-building activities are very important for SEO, but bad backlinks are a huge negative and might have the reverse impact.

Bad backlinks can result in both human and algorithmic penalties.  Google has already introduced improvements targeting spammy, low-quality links.

 

The Role of Chatbots in Enhancing Customer Experience

You might have experienced chatting with a friendly virtual assistant on a website or an app. It means that you have experience with the vast possibilities of chatbots. Computer programs that can understand and respond to human queries, called chatbots, can simulate natural conversation without the help of an actual human on the other end. More and more industries and brands have started using this advanced technology to connect with and help their customers with ease. Various industries, such as retail, banking, healthcare, travel, education, and more, can make great use of and benefit from chatbots.

Companies with the best service in web design Kochi has to offer can help you integrate chatbots into your website and mobile applications. You can enhance customer experience and satisfaction while staying updated with the latest trends and innovations in chatbot technology with the help of the best website developers in Kochi. We will take a look at the role of chatbots in enhancing the customer experience for any kind of personal or commercial purpose.

How Chatbots Enhance the Customer Experience

You might have thought about why chatbots are so important for businesses and customers and their benefits, like enhancing customer experience and satisfaction. The coming session of this blog will cover that, along with the latest trends and innovations in chatbot technology.

Chatbots and Customer Experience: Why They Matter

A brand should have a great connection with their customers. All interactions that a customer has with a brand, from the first contact to the product or service support after the purchase, could be termed the customer experience. Creating a better customer experience is a key factor in building customer loyalty, retention, and revenue.

People always prefer brands that offer quality products with good customer service rather than top brands with poor interaction with customers. Numerous people who were loyal customers of brands for years stopped buying from them just because a competitor of the company provided a better experience.

Personalized service is an effective way to increase customer satisfaction. Chatbots could be used to facilitate fast, convenient, and personalized customer service that benefits both businesses and customers.

Quick Help Anytime

Chatbots can be an available point of contact for your customers by being active 24/7 to answer customer queries and provide assistance. They can reduce the waiting time and frustration among the customers by having conversations with numerous customers at the same time.

Any repetitive tasks like booking appointments, checking order status, or updating account information could be automated effortlessly through chatbots.

Customized Chats

Being available all the time is not the only benefit chatbots have for your business. They can also personalize the customer experience by using data to provide relevant and customized reactions to customer inquiries.

Highly programmed and advanced chatbots can also learn from customer feedback and behavior and improve their performance over time. They will use customer preferences, history, or location to automatically recommend products or services to the customer they are interacting with.

Accurate Answers

Human errors are inevitable in most cases when it comes to offering good customer service. Chatbots use natural language processing (NLP) and artificial intelligence (AI) to understand customer intent and circumstances. This leads to a more accurate and consistent answer to common questions asked by people by mitigating the chance for errors.

Chatbots have the advantage of the ability to quickly access various sources of information, such as databases, websites, or documents, to provide factual and reliable information.

Engaging Conversations

Being interactive and conversational using natural language generation (NLG) with the users is another major benefit of chatbots. This helps them to react and reply by producing human-like responses according to the situation and questions asked by the user.

Other elements like emojis, gifs, images, videos, or audio are also used by Chatbots to enhance the chat experience. Moreover, some chatbots can even use humor, personality, or emotions to create closeness with customers.

Keeping the user engaged using interactive features falls under the abilities of chatbots. They can use features like quizzes, games, surveys, and polls to keep a user on the platform for a longer period of time. This will increase customer loyalty and retention by becoming a part of the user’s lifestyle. Customer feedback and insights could be collected through chatbots, which can help the business improve its products and services.

Driving conversions

Businesses always struggle to guide customers through their sales funnel without losing their interest in the brand. This could be easily resolved by using chatbots since they can guide customers through the buying process, from product discovery to checkout, by understanding them better through their online behavior. Things that could be done through chatbots include answering product questions, providing comparisons, offering discounts, and upselling or cross-selling related items.

The latest advancements in chatbot technology

Chatbot technology is one of the many things that is being improved along with the changes happening in AI, NLP, NLG, machine learning (ML), computer vision (CV), and more.

Chatbots with generative AI abilities can now generate creative and original responses according to the queries asked by the customer. This provides a new method of connecting with people despite relying on predefined scripts and templates. They can adapt to various situations by being versatile and flexible.

Chatbots that can communicate using multiple mediums, such as video, audio, text, image, gif, and more, can be categorized as multimodal chatbots. Their information processing structure is different from a normal chatbot and can provide richer and more immersive experiences for customers with smart devices.

Let a chatbot make your work easy

A transformation in how businesses interact with their customers is being done with the help of chatbots across every industry. You can employ fast, convenient, personalized, accurate, and engaging customer service within your business with the help of a chatbot. Reaching out to the prominent web design agency Kerala has to offer can give you a better understanding of the subject, along with support from expert professionals in web design and development.

E-commerce Trends to Watch for 2024

E-commerce, which is the purchasing and selling of products and services, has nowadays gained more popularity than before. The ease of shopping from home and the huge variety of goods offered have attracted more and more online shoppers to e-commerce. In 2024, it is evident that several e-commerce trends are materializing. If you are curious about what the future holds for online shopping, read the blog ‘E-commerce Trends to Watch for 2024’ to discover the e-commerce trends to keep an eye out for this year 2024. Whether it is emerging technologies or changing customer behaviours, the e-commerce world brings a lot to discover. As such, with our E-commerce development company in Kerala, let’s get started by exploring what the future will look like for online shopping.

Top E-commerce Trends of 2024

Our experts in e-commerce web development Kochi are updated with all the latest trends of e-commerce to watch for 2024 to ensure a seamless online shopping experience. This blog is a comprehensive guide to some of those latest trends.

AI Integration for Personalization

E-commerce platforms utilize Artificial Intelligence (AI) in 2024; it has become a common practice to provide customers with a more personalized experience. Ensuring consumer habits, buying behaviour, and individual preferences by applying AI algorithms, companies are enabled to deeply sieve through the extensive volume of customer data. This way of personalisation is beneficial to the data-driven approach of highly personalized product recommendations, adaptable and adjusted marketing messages, and custom shopping experiences. AI platforms that e-commerce business owners implement in their customer approach technique can help them anticipate customer needs, and connect with their customers better, thereby fostering long-term relationships with the audience.

Enabling Voice Search

The dominance of voice search technology in 2024 is going to change the way consumers use eCommerce sites. Therefore, from the way they are used now, it will be redefined As there are more portable devices and electronic assistants, more consumers are ordering goods and services just by speaking into the device. The e-commerce companies are using voice search capability to improve their user experience and thus developing software that will be able to intelligently present the products through this convenient interface which is also intuitive. Through providing voice search companies can give possibility to people who find it difficult to operate, be more dynamic (i.e. serving the audience most broadly) and wither away competitors who are controversial in the rapidly changing digital world.

Short-Form Video Marketing

In light of the fact that short-format video marketing remains the primary tool to attract the attention of online buyers in 2024, it is not surprising to conclude why one can see this trend anywhere on social media networks. The reach of media platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels demands brands integrate it into their marketing plans by creating short and attractive videos to display products, and stories, and even connect with their audience. Brief videos are capable of both conveying the enterprise’s messages to the consumer in a succinct way and telling the user how the product works and can make a purchase decision in a fast-moving digital environment. By infusing short video marketing into their strategies, e-commerce retailers on the other hand could boost brand recognition, involvement, and sales.

Blockchain Technology

Blockchain technology is transforming supply chain management in e-commerce, as it turns visibility, transparency and traceability from a blind spot to a main source of information for the entire product lifecycle. E-commerce companies can safeguard their transactions by using blockchain’s immutable cryptographic ledger, thus facilitating the process involving raw materials sourcing to delivery. This very high transparency empowers consumers since they can verify it themselves and see the authenticity and ethics of origin used in the manufacture of products. Moreover, blockchain provides for speedier, more effective and streamlined supply chains as the result of which costs are cut down and threats of deception and counterfeiting are also eliminated.

Omnichannel Experiences

The consumer of tomorrow wants a unified multichannel experience that allows shopping in different directions. However, it is very complicated to provide a unified experience for e-commerce businesses in 2024, hence, they are focusing on multichannel experiences. Through the combination of online and offline channels, brands can close this gap and create (customers) a uniform omnichannel experience that connects digital and physical shopping spaces. Clients are engaging with businesses in webpages, mobile applications, social networks or in a physical store. Customers are looking for seamless branding, consistent messaging and top-notch service. These businesses are now able to provide personalized interactions that are easy to start and complete the way buyers want while building a stronger affiliation with their brand and fostering customer loyalty and sales.

Prioritize Privacy and Transparency

Privacy and openness are crucial to clients but their consideration nowadays is a big way for the e-commerce enterprises to safeguard their data and to be transparent. Data privacy is becoming a great concern, and laws that protect it are being passed more frequently as people become more and more aware that they have a right to their personal data. Therefore companies need to be certainly transparent regarding collection, storage and usage of customer information. Through establishing cemented privacy policies, explicit permission, and transparent disclosures, e-commerce brands could be able to generate trust and credibility among the targeted audience. First of all, constantly taking into account privacy is one of the conditions of coping with regulations, but, in my opinion, it is also essential to create strengthened relationships between companies and customers who value transparency and respect for their private information.

Mobile Responsive Design

In e-commerce, the 2024 year is including mobile responsiveness onto the list of website design fundamentals as the number of online shoppers using mobile swelling due to the growing popularity of smartphones and tablets. With busy modern life and the dominance of mobile devices being responsible for approximately 35% of online traffic and transactions, we can’t afford to have “mobile-friendly” and “adaptive design” disappear from our vocabulary. Responsive design of mobile will make websites adaptive to various devices, as these will scale down the layout to that of mobile, along with improving navigability and functionality for mobile users. Through a mobile-responsive approach, e-commerce providers could make sure that their customers have the best experience with no bounce rates and similar or better conversion rates which would directly lead to gaining more profits and better competitiveness on the digital market.

The Scope of E-commerce in 2024

In 2024 the digital market pace has gone along with the technology, and consumer behaviour in a rapid progression rate as technological advancements and changing consumer behaviours are forming the major driving forces for significant changes in this industry. Another trend that is rolling out these days is Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) technologies in e-commerce along with the digital arena. These innovations are designed in a way that users can experience fashion garments, house decoration or even makeup products before they buy them. This shop 360 degrees concept and personalized shopping experience attracts customer engagement and better supports reduced purchases of returning items in this rate thus greater general contentment and loyalty will occur

Therefore, the rise of voice commerce could be seen to be even wider in the last couple of years. Recently, voice shopping gained popularity with the likes of smart speakers and virtual assistants, including Amazon’s Alexa and Google Assistant, among other devices such as Smart TVs. Consumers can shop by using voice commands. It is an advantage because these shoppers are freely wandering around and it is mostly convenient for busy individuals and those having disabilities. Hence, they buy the goods for different kinds of people therefore making it more accessible to a range of consumers. This substantiates the fact that with the voice recognition technology advances, we will have retail shopping via voice commerce with less hassle in a more personalized way. In a broad sense, e-commerce in the year 2024 is clearly under the influence of innovation and convenience through technology and developing trends of consumer tastes.

Website Redesign Checklist + 7 Handy Website Redesign Tips

Renovation and redesign of a website take a lot of effort, and you might have to deal with the anxiety that many feel from the overload of work and decisions to be made. Knowing all the things to change, to keep, and to avoid on and off the website is an imperative aspect when you consider a website redesign. The most effortless way to revamp an old website or develop a new one is to choose the best web designing company in Kochi to assist you with experts. It is also important to make sure that the design you choose and the content strategy you adopt during the website redesign are better than the old ones.

The coming section of this article will cover a ‘website redesign checklist + 7 handy website redesign tips’ that will help you avoid common mistakes people make when redesigning their website and help you achieve your goals.

Website Redesign Checklist

A proper plan curated after thorough consideration of every aspect of web design should be ready before you go all in with your website redesign process. The following section includes some of the major points that your plan should include.

Define your objectives

You may have several reasons that led you to think of redesigning the website. Or, you may have some objectives like more conversions, traffic, a better user experience, top ranking, and more to reach with the redesigned website. Write down every one of those reasons and goals that are the root cause of the redesign of your website. List each of the factors included in it according to the priority and urgency it has.

Analyze your current website

Several weaknesses and strengths led you to the requirement of a website redesign. Getting a complete idea of the strengths and weaknesses of your website is important. You can perform a website analysis to get demographics on the performance and effectiveness of your website. Several tools, like traffic, bounce rate, conversion rate, user feedback, and more, along with Google Analytics and more, are available to collect and analyze data about your website.

Identify your target audience

Knowing the people you want to reach and serve with your website, along with their needs, preferences, pain points, and expectations, has the utmost importance. The online behavior of your target audience and their preferred channels and devices are also something that you should not overlook in this case. Creating buyer personas that represent your ideal customers can serve as a reference for your website redesign.

Research your competitors

Knowing those who are competing directly with your website is one way you can improve the standard of your redesigned website. Do complete research on every aspect, including the design, functionality, user experience, and content strategy they use for SEO. Get an idea about the effectiveness of those they use across their website. Use the report you make after the competitive analysis as inspiration to do the best for them or better than them. You should always make sure to adopt uniqueness across every aspect of your web design, even when taking inspiration from competitors.

Plan your content strategy

You need a perfect plan for the type of information and content you are about to convey through your website. The content should be valuable yet resonate with the objectives of your target audience. You need to organize, create, update, and optimize your content for search engine optimization and a smooth user experience.

Going through the already-written content on the old website can give you a better idea of what you need to add and avoid in the new content you write or create for your redesigned website. Using a content strategy that is applied with the perfect incorporation of a content calendar provides you with better and more effective content ideas for your website.

Choose your platform and tools

Opting for the perfect tools is the next step after gathering every resource you need, including the design structure, content layout, and the right strategies. All technical requirements as per the functionalities and features you need to adopt should be considered in this. An analysis of the previous website along with the websites of competitors can help you gain a proper understanding of what technical elements you need and do not need.

Budget is also an important element in choosing the right tools and platforms for the development of your website. You can go with high-end platforms that need coding and professional assistance, or you can use tools like WordPress, Shopify, Squarespace, and more. However, it is always recommended to use the help of website designers and developers who know everything about the website-building process.

Hire a web design agency or freelancer

You might know how to use tools like WordPress, Shopify, Wix, etc., but you should be able to utilize a major portion of your time to create a website to its fullest. Getting assistance from a major web development company Kerala has to offer might be the right way to go if you have no time, skills, or resources to build or redesign one yourself. Hiring is not enough; you need to communicate well and collaborate with the team to get the best output from them.

Mistakes to Avoid When Redesigning Your Website

Another major thing you should take care of is to avoid mistakes that people commonly make when redesigning their websites. Ticking all the above aspects of website redesign will do no good if your approach is prone to mistakes.

Not setting a realistic timeline and budget

Always plan for the time and cost it will take to complete the redesigning process. Not setting a practical and realistic timeline for the project is a common mistake that leads to ineffective adaptation of the web design strategy.

Not testing your website before launching it

Finding bugs and encountering errors after the launch of the website is not a good sign. It is imperative not to make the mistake of not testing the website thoroughly before the launch. You can use tools like BrowserStack, GTmetrix, and more to test the website before the launch.

Redesign and keep your website updated

Keeping your website updated with relevant content and functional elements is an important thing to be aware of. You can get complete professional assistance in every one of the aforementioned website redesign steps from prominent web development service providers in Kerala.

Mobile App Testing Best Practices: Ensuring Quality and Performance

The success of building an app ends only when it is usable seamlessly by its customers. So, app developers in Kerala pay attention to every detail during the process of mobile app creation. As the expectations of the users increase day by day, it has become important to focus on mobile app testing with the best strategies. Here arises the question of how to transform the app you build from just a mere app to a masterpiece which integrates into the life of the user. Well, let us explore more about this with the blog ‘Mobile App Testing Best Practices: Ensuring Quality and Performance’.

The Significance of Mobile App Testing

In the world of mobile app development, app testing cannot be underestimated as every touch and swipe can play an essential role in a user’s experience. Consider developing an application with amazing features and a smooth appearance that fails to run smoothly or performs poorly when users are using it. It is kind of like preparing a fancy meal only to find that you missed the salt, it can result in something forgettable. Mobile app testing is the secret ingredient that guarantees your masterpiece which looks amazing and delivers a smooth user experience.

Testing does not merely involve bug hunting; it entails ensuring that your app meets and satisfies users’ expectations. A perfect user experience is an indispensable component in the rough and tumble world of the apps market where users have numerous choices at their disposal. It is the contrast between being a one-off download and becoming an indispensable part of a user’s home screen. When investing time and resources in thorough mobile app testing, you confirm the code and the trust that users make in having it installed. It is the guarantee that when they use your app, it will be a loyal companion in their digital journey; one that has many good reviews and ends up being placed on top of the charts. In the mobile app world, perfection is not an aspiration; it is a locked door that eventually leads to user satisfaction and stable success.

Top Mobile App Testing Practices

The perfect functionality of the app developed by a mobile app development company in Kochi is no easy task in the ever-changing mobile app environment. The need for robust mobile app testing cannot be underestimated due to evolving user demands which include faster and more intuitive experiences. Now, let us look into the best mobile app testing for masterpieces to be created!

  • Object-Oriented Approach
  • Test both Client and Server Side
  • Proper Platform
  • Split into Smaller Units
  • Understand Your Customer Behaviour
  • Use a Real device
  • Incorporate Manual Testing and Automation Testing
  • Conduct Test Often

An Object-Oriented Approach 

The object-oriented approach enables you to consider each element separately from the bigger picture. It is more in the way of closely examining every button, animation or functionality to ensure that they work well individually and blend perfectly into a whole. Such an approach does not only find bugs but creates a comprehensive picture of how your application functions from the inside, preparing for error-free interaction with users.

Test Both Server and Client Side

The customer-server relationship within the mobile apps world can be compared to a dance. The fact that both sides of this equation are tested enables them to move in perfect synchrony. By focusing on the client side, you identify problems that may interfere with user flow. At the same time, server-side evaluation ensures that data transfer, an integral part of most applications – takes place without any hiccups. It is like a symphony, with both the orchestra and conductor in sync producing an enjoyable user experience.

Proper Platform

The diversity of mobile devices and operating systems is a challenge, but it also serves as an opportunity to demonstrate the versatility of your app. The right platforms are important to test, it is about ensuring compatibility with the system and optimizing user experience in every environment. Knowledge of the details of iOS and Android, as well as different device models guarantees your app will look marvellous on whatever screen it features. Moreover, a user’s navigation should be seamless regardless of the device, either an iPhone X or any latest model Samsung Galaxy.

Split into Smaller Units

Dividing your app into smaller components that can be tested is similar to taking apart a machine and inspecting each component. If we consider each component in isolation, it is possible to recognize and correct errors more easily. This approach helps you make the testing process more efficient and it also gives a clearer direction for improvement. It is focused on the contrast between analyzing an entire forest and scrutinizing every tree, with attention to detail, which guarantees a strong application with minimal errors.

Understand Your Customer Behavior

The heartbeat of your app is the customers. Empathizing with their path is more than just data analytics. Go more into details of user feedback, follow their flows and understand how they use your app. With audience insights into their needs and pain points, you can adjust your testing strategy to accommodate real user scenarios. It is not just about the quality of features that you can test, but rather how your app fits into people’s everyday lives.

Real Device

There’s a call for simulators and emulators in testing, but there is no alternative to real situations. Physical device testing gives a better reflection of the behaviour your app exhibits in users’ hands. It is the distinction between an imagined road trip and setting off on a journey. Real devices reveal details you may have missed in a lab setting so that your app is prepared to face the wild and wonderful circumstances which users will throw its way.

Combine Manual Testing and Automation Testing

The argument between manual and automated testing is not one of choosing over the other: it is about balancing out their strengths. Manual testing allows the ability to simulate real human user scenarios and also pick up on very nuanced things that automated scripts might miss. Meanwhile, automation provides pace and accuracy in processing repetitive work. Combining two methodologies creates a powerful testing environment, which capitalizes on the best aspects of both worlds. It’s the dynamic two that makes sure your application does not only work but works at optimal efficiency.

Conduct Tests Often

Testing is not just an event; it is a winding road to improvement. Frequent testing throughout the development cycle equals a regular health check for your application. It refers to the need for early detection of problems before they turn into major ones. Regular testing ensures your application remains agile and geared to the varying terrain of user requirements and new technologies. It is the relentless pursuit of perfection that turns your app from a stagnant entity into an ongoing living organism growing with demand for it.