We just recently saved a home services company with exceptional rankings and lead flow from certain and sudden SEO death because they went through a re-branding.
This would have been a catastrophic, high-stress event for a company that has been thriving in a soft economy.
Seriously folks, the stakes can be high and anyone that has hired a new marketing or branding company and has experienced the stress and sadness that comes with ranking and web traffic annihilation knows what I am talking about.
But if you’ve never had great SEO rankings, ignorance is bliss I guess.
I have a love hate relationship with branding companies.
Their work is important.
I love what they do.
But they kill SEO rankings, traffic and lead generation more than any other marketing service provider.
This means we get a ton of rescue and recovery work – and it’s happening more, not less.
For the love of profit, leads, sales, growth and existing SEO equity, please hire an SEO expert to guide your brand update.
You have no idea what you’ve lost online until it’s gone.
Here are 12 things you can do to avoid becoming our next SEO recovery project as a result of you re-brand:
Operate Within Your Existing Website Footprint
Whenever possible, try to implement your brand changes within your current website structure. This will reduce the impact on top-performing pages and help you maintain your SEO equity. Avoid unnecessary restructuring or page deletions that could lead to broken links and the loss of valuable search engine authority and without without risking a significant drop in rankings or organic traffic.
When you operate within your existing website footprint, you maintain the internal linking structure that search engines have already recognized and indexed. This consistency allows search engines to understand the relationships between your web pages, which contributes to higher visibility in search results.
Moreover, by avoiding unnecessary restructuring, you minimize the chances of encountering broken links. Broken links not only negatively impact user experience but also signal to search engines that your website is unreliable and poorly maintained. By preserving the integrity of your internal and external links, you maintain the flow of link equity and avoid any potential penalties from search engines.
Operating within your existing sitemap also helps to maintain the user experience that your visitors are familiar with. Sudden and drastic changes to website navigation or layout can confuse and frustrate users, leading to increased bounce rates and decreased engagement. By keeping the structure consistent, you ensure that visitors can easily navigate through your site and find the information they need.
Preserve High-Performing Pages and Content
Preserving high-performing pages and valuable content during a brand update is essential. Your branding company should understand the significance of retaining these elements and the potential negative consequences of stripping out content gold.
High-performing pages are the backbone of your website’s success in terms of SEO. They are the pages that consistently attract a significant amount of organic traffic, generate leads, and contribute to your overall business goals. These pages have likely achieved high rankings in search engine results due to their relevance, quality, and engagement and trust Google has bestowed on your website.
When you undergo a brand update, there may be a temptation to start fresh and discard existing pages or content that may no longer align with your new brand identity. This happens all too often – throwing the SEO baby out with the bathwater. However, removing high ranking pages will have a detrimental impact on your SEO rankings and organic traffic.
Search engines have already recognized and indexed these pages, associating them with specific keywords and topics. Removing them abruptly sends a signal to search engines that your website has undergone significant changes, leading to a potential loss in rankings and visibility. Additionally, you risk losing the valuable backlinks and social signals that these pages have acquired over time, which further contribute to your SEO success.
Instead of discarding high-performing pages, work with your branding company to find creative ways to integrate them into your brand update. This could involve updating the design elements, optimizing the content to align with your new brand messaging, or leveraging these pages to establish a smooth transition between the old and new brand.
By preserving these pages, you not only maintain your SEO rankings and organic traffic but also provide a seamless user experience for visitors who are familiar with and rely on the information and value these pages offer. It demonstrates continuity and trust, reinforcing your brand’s authority in the eyes of both search engines and your target audience.
Optimize or Remove Low-Performing Pages
During your brand update, it is a golden opportunity to assess and optimize the performance of low-performing pages on your website. By strategically rewriting or removing weak pages, and implementing a comprehensive redirect strategy, you can enhance the user experience, preserve your search engine authority, and prevent unnecessary traffic loss. However, it is crucial to plan and execute this step carefully to achieve the desired results.
Identifying low-performing pages requires a thorough analysis of your website’s analytics and metrics. Look for pages that have consistently underperformed in terms of traffic, engagement, and conversions. These pages may have outdated or irrelevant content, poor design or usability, or simply do not align with your brand’s objectives.
Once you have identified weak content, you have two options: optimize or remove them. Strategic rewriting involves revamping the content, design, and structure of the page to make it more appealing, relevant, and useful to your target audience. This could include updating the messaging to align with your new brand identity, improving the visual elements, and enhancing the overall user experience. By optimizing these pages, you have the opportunity to breathe new life into them and potentially turn them into valuable assets for your SEO efforts.
On the other hand, if a low-performing page is beyond salvaging or does not serve any significant purpose, it may be best to remove it entirely. However, you must redirect the deleted page to a relevant, existing page on your website. This ensures a seamless user experience and preserves the search engine authority and link equity that the original page might have accumulated over time. Properly executed redirects also prevent users from encountering frustrating “404 Page Not Found” errors and maintain a favorable impression of your website.
By optimizing or removing low-performing pages during the brand update, you streamline your website’s content and enhance its overall quality. This results in a more user-friendly experience, improved search engine visibility, and increased organic traffic to the pages that truly matter. Careful planning and execution will help you avoid unnecessary traffic loss and ensure a seamless transition for your audience.
Balance Design and Page Experience Signals
When it comes to revamping your brand and updating your website, finding the right balance between design and page experience makes all the different. You want your website to look visually stunning, but at the same time, you don’t want to compromise on the factors that contribute to a great user experience. It’s important to strike that balance and how you can do it effectively.
First, let’s talk about textual content. While minimalistic designs can be appealing, it’s important to remember that search engines rely on text to understand the context and relevance of your web pages. So, if your design minimizes or eliminates textual content altogether, it can confuse search engines and negatively impact your SEO rankings. It’s like speaking in code that search engines can’t decipher. That’s why it’s crucial to ensure that you provide enough textual content to clearly convey your message and make your website search engine-friendly.
Now, let’s chat about readability. We all know how frustrating it can be to visit a website and struggle to read the tiny, barely visible text. It’s like trying to decipher hieroglyphics! Using small fonts with low contrast might seem trendy, but it can create a barrier for users. Remember, you want to make it easy for your visitors to engage with your content, not strain their eyes. So, prioritize legibility by choosing font sizes and colors that offer sufficient contrast and make reading a breeze for everyone.
But here’s the good news: achieving a visually appealing design doesn’t mean sacrificing user experience or SEO. It’s all about finding that sweet spot where aesthetics and functionality come together harmoniously. You can have eye-catching typography, captivating color schemes, and engaging visuals while ensuring that your website remains user-friendly and search engine-friendly.
Oh, and don’t forget about mobile responsiveness! In this mobile-driven world, your website needs to look great and function flawlessly on all devices. So, make sure your design is responsive and adapts seamlessly to different screen sizes. Whether your visitors are browsing on a desktop, tablet, or smartphone, they should have an equally amazing experience.
To strike that perfect balance between design and page experience, it’s essential to collaborate with both your branding and SEO teams. They can work together to create a brand update that captures attention visually while ensuring a positive user experience and maintaining your SEO rankings.
In a nutshell, when revamping your brand and website, remember to prioritize both aesthetics and functionality. Provide enough textual content for search engines to understand your pages, choose readable fonts and colors, and optimize your design for mobile devices. By finding the right balance, you can create a website that wows your audience visually and delivers a seamless and enjoyable user experience.
Accept & Prepare for Traffic Fluctuations
When undergoing a brand update, it’s important to accept and prepare for the inevitable traffic fluctuations that may occur. It’s like sailing through ever-changing waves in the vast sea of search engine rankings and Google algorithm updates. By acknowledging this reality and taking proactive measures, you can navigate these fluctuations with confidence and minimize any negative impact on your organic traffic and SEO rankings.
During a brand update, search engines need time to adjust to the new signals and changes you’ve implemented. As a result, your website’s visibility in search results may experience temporary dips or surges. Don’t panic! Fluctuations are a natural part of the process, and they don’t necessarily indicate a permanent decline in your SEO performance.
To manage the inevitable traffic fluctuations, it’s crucial to anticipate and plan for them. Take a holistic approach by closely monitoring your website’s performance before, during, and after the brand update. Keep a watchful eye on your organic traffic, conversion rates, and keyword rankings. By doing so, you can identify any significant shifts and react promptly if necessary.
Implementing monitoring and adjustment strategies is key to mitigating any adverse effects on your traffic and rankings. Continuously analyze your website’s data using tools like Google Analytics and Search Console. These insights will provide valuable information about user behavior, keyword performance, and potential areas of improvement.
If you observe fluctuations in rankings (or traffic and lead flow), resist the temptation to make knee-jerk reactions. Instead, take a measured approach and give it time. Analyze the patterns and trends that emerge during the transition period. Isolate the specific pages or keywords that may be more heavily impacted. This information will enable you to fine-tune your optimization strategies and make informed decisions to regain stability.
It’s important to keep in mind that patience is key during this phase. Search engines need time to re-evaluate and reindex your updated website. Be prepared for a reasonable adjustment period as they catch up with your brand changes. While fluctuations may cause some short-term disruptions, maintaining a long-term perspective is crucial.
Throughout the brand update process, stay committed to providing high-quality content, optimizing your website for user experience, and implementing SEO best practices. These efforts will contribute to the overall success of your brand update and help you regain any lost ground in terms of traffic and rankings.
In conclusion, accepting and preparing for traffic fluctuations during a brand update is vital for maintaining a positive outlook and minimizing any negative impact on your organic traffic and SEO rankings. By anticipating these fluctuations, implementing monitoring and adjustment strategies, and staying committed to SEO best practices, you can navigate through the waves of change with confidence and emerge stronger than ever.
Use Proven Methods for URL Updates
When it comes to updating your URLs during a brand change, it’s crucial to use proven methods and follow established best practices. This ensures that your coding team maintains the integrity of your website’s structure while minimizing the risk of encountering broken links and other technical issues. Let’s dive deeper into this topic and explore some strategies you can implement to handle URL updates smoothly.
First and foremost, it’s essential to ensure that your coding team is well-versed in the best practices for URL updates. This includes understanding the specific requirements and guidelines for your website platform, whether it’s WordPress, Shopify, or any other content management system (CMS). Each platform may have its own recommended methods and tools for managing URL updates effectively.
One commonly recommended approach is to utilize configuration files. These files act as a centralized location where you can define and manage your URLs. By updating the configuration file, you can ensure that all relevant links on your website are modified accordingly. This method provides a streamlined and efficient way to update URLs, minimizing the risk of overlooking any crucial pages or links.
If you’re using WordPress as your CMS, there are additional methods specifically designed for this platform. WordPress offers built-in features that allow you to update URLs without causing broken links. One popular technique is using the Permalink Settings feature, which enables you to customize your URL structure and automatically redirects old URLs to their new counterparts. This ensures that both users and search engines can seamlessly navigate to the updated URLs.
During the URL update process, you must pay close attention to maintaining the integrity of your website’s structure. Broken links can have a detrimental impact on user experience and search engine rankings. To mitigate this risk, implement a comprehensive plan that includes thorough testing and quality assurance procedures. This involves checking and validating all internal and external links, ensuring that they are properly redirected to the new URLs (more on this below)
Another important aspect to consider is preserving your website’s backlink profile. If you have acquired valuable 3rd party backlinks from external websites, it’s essential to implement proper redirects to ensure that the link equity is preserved. This not only helps maintain your SEO rankings but also ensures a smooth transition for users who click on those backlinks.
Create a Comprehensive Redirect Map and Strategy
Yet another important step in ensuring a smooth transition during your brand update is to create a comprehensive redirect map and implement a well-thought-out redirect strategy. This helps guide both your users and search engines from the old URLs to their corresponding new URLs, safeguarding your search engine authority and preventing the frustrating experience of encountering broken links. Let’s dive deeper into the importance of a redirect map and how to develop an effective strategy.
First and foremost, creating a detailed redirect map is essential for managing the complex web of URLs affected by your brand update. This map serves as a roadmap that outlines the relationships between the old URLs and their corresponding new URLs. It’s like having a reliable GPS system that ensures everyone arrives at the right destination without getting lost along the way.
When implementing redirects, utilizing 301 redirects is highly recommended. A 301 redirect is a permanent redirect that informs both users and search engines that the requested page has moved permanently to a new location. This type of redirect is search engine-friendly and ensures that your search engine authority and rankings are preserved during the brand update process.
With a comprehensive redirect strategy, you can ensure that users who access your website through old URLs are seamlessly redirected to the appropriate new URLs. This not only prevents the frustration of encountering broken links but also provides a positive user experience by guiding them to the relevant content they are seeking. Remember, user experience plays a crucial role in keeping visitors engaged and converting them into loyal customers.
When developing your redirect strategy, it’s important to consider all the URLs that are affected by your brand update. This includes not only the main pages but also subpages, blog posts, product pages, and any other URLs that may have changed. Leaving any URLs unredirected can lead to a poor user experience and negatively impact your search engine rankings.
To ensure the effectiveness of your redirect strategy, it’s crucial to meticulously test and validate each redirect. Use tools like web crawlers and link checkers to identify any broken or incorrect redirects. It’s also a good practice to monitor your website’s performance and analytics after implementing the redirects to detect any unexpected issues and make necessary adjustments.
Moreover, it’s important to communicate the changes to search engines by submitting an updated sitemap and utilizing the Google Search Console. This helps search engines recognize the updates and expedite the process of indexing your new URLs, ensuring that they are properly reflected in search results.
In conclusion, creating a comprehensive redirect map and implementing a well-planned redirect strategy are vital for a successful brand update. By guiding users and search engines from old URLs to new ones through 301 redirects, you preserve your search engine authority, maintain a positive user experience, and prevent the frustration of encountering broken links. Remember to thoroughly test and monitor the redirects to ensure their effectiveness and promptly address any issues that may arise. By executing a solid redirect strategy, you can navigate your brand update with confidence and minimize any negative impact on your online presence.
Monitor Google Search Console Closely
Throughout your brand update process, you MUST use Google Search Console (GSC) and monitor it diligently. Think of GSC as your trusty sidekick that provides valuable insights into the health and performance of your website. By closely monitoring GSC, you can quickly identify and address any issues, crawl errors, or penalties that may arise, safeguarding your SEO efforts and ensuring a healthy online presence. Let’s dive into why monitoring GSC is crucial and discuss specific sections within GSC that you should pay attention to.
First and foremost, the Performance section in GSC deserves your full attention. It’s like peering into a treasure trove of data that reveals how your website is performing in Google’s search results. Here, you’ll find valuable metrics such as impressions, clicks, average position, and click-through rate (CTR). By regularly reviewing this section, you can gain insights into the impact of your brand update on organic search visibility. Keep an eye out for any significant fluctuations or trends in these metrics. If you notice unexpected drops in rankings or traffic, it’s time to roll up your sleeves and investigate further. Understanding the root causes of these changes will empower you to take corrective measures and ensure that your website’s performance remains strong.
Next up, the Experience section within GSC is a vital area to monitor. It focuses on the user experience of your website, which plays a pivotal role in attracting and retaining visitors. Within this section, you’ll find reports on Core Web Vitals, mobile usability, and other factors that contribute to a positive user experience. Core Web Vitals, for instance, measures crucial aspects like page loading speed, interactivity, and visual stability. By assessing these reports, you can identify any areas where your website may need improvement to provide a seamless and enjoyable user experience. Prioritize optimizing these factors to positively impact your SEO rankings and overall website performance.
The Indexing section of GSC is another key area to keep a close eye on. It provides insights into how Google is indexing and understanding your website’s content. Within this section, you’ll find reports on crawl status, sitemaps, and coverage. By regularly reviewing these reports, you can identify any crawl errors, indexing issues, or pages that are not being properly indexed. Addressing these issues promptly ensures that your updated website is fully recognized and indexed by search engines, improving its visibility and accessibility to potential visitors.
Last but not least, the Enhancements section in GSC is worth your attention. It offers reports on opportunities to optimize your website’s presence in search results. This includes reports on structured data, rich snippets, and other markup implementations. By leveraging structured data and other enhancements, you can provide more detailed information to search engines, potentially resulting in enhanced search listings and improved visibility. Regularly reviewing these reports allows you to identify any missing or incorrect implementations, enabling you to fine-tune your website’s markup and increase its chances of standing out in search results.
By monitoring GSC closely and paying specific attention to the Performance, Experience, Indexing, and Enhancements sections, you can stay on top of your website’s health and proactively address any issues that arise during your brand update process. Promptly resolving these issues helps prevent long-term SEO damage and ensures that your website maintains a healthy online presence. So, keep an eagle eye on GSC, be proactive in identifying and resolving issues, and make data-driven decisions to maintain the effectiveness of your SEO efforts.
Have a Responsive Team of Proven SEO Experts on Call
Having a responsive SEO team means having professionals who are readily available to address any challenges or complications that may occur during the brand update process. These experts understand the intricacies of SEO and can swiftly troubleshoot and fix issues that may arise, ensuring that your website maintains its visibility and performance in search engine results.
By having an SEO team on call, you ensure that any unexpected drops in rankings, sudden traffic fluctuations, or other SEO-related issues can be promptly addressed. They have the knowledge and experience to analyze the situation, identify the root causes of any problems, and implement the necessary strategies to mitigate the impact. In other words, the faster you address an SEO crises, the better your chances are for a complete recovery.
During a brand update, there may be instances where unforeseen issues arise, such as broken links, technical errors, or unexpected changes in search engine algorithms. Without a responsive SEO team, these issues could go unnoticed or take longer to resolve, potentially resulting in lost leads, diminished organic traffic, and missed opportunities for growth.
The proactive nature of a responsive SEO team is invaluable in safeguarding your online presence during a brand update. They can monitor the performance of your website, analyze key metrics, and identify any deviations or anomalies. By continuously monitoring the situation, they can act swiftly to minimize any negative impact on your SEO rankings and prevent potential losses.
Additionally, a responsive SEO team can provide valuable insights and recommendations throughout the brand update process. They can offer guidance on optimizing content, implementing effective keywords, improving user experience, and staying aligned with SEO best practices. Their expertise ensures that your brand update aligns with your SEO goals and maximizes your online visibility.
Ultimately, a responsive SEO team acts as a safety net, ready to tackle any SEO challenges that may arise during your brand update. Their timely intervention can make a significant difference in preserving your website’s rankings, leads, and overall organic traffic. Their presence allows you to navigate the brand update process with confidence, knowing that you have professionals who are prepared to address any SEO risks that may come your way.
In conclusion, having a responsive SEO team on call is essential during a brand update. Their expertise, prompt attention, and proactive approach are crucial for troubleshooting and fixing unforeseen issues that may impact your SEO rankings and lead generation. By engaging a dedicated SEO team, you can ensure that your brand update proceeds smoothly, minimizing risks, and maximizing the positive outcomes of your efforts.
Update Your Citations / Directory Listings
During a brand update, you need to update your citation profile and ensure that all online directories, listings, and third-party platforms accurately reflect your new brand identity. Consistency across the web not only enhances your brand’s credibility but also plays a significant role in SEO. Let’s dive deeper into what citations are in terms of SEO and discuss how you can effectively update your citation profile.
In the realm of SEO, citations refer to mentions of your business name, address, phone number, and other relevant details on various online platforms. These platforms can include local business directories, review websites, social media profiles, and industry-specific listings. Citations serve as a crucial ranking factor for local search results and help search engines verify the legitimacy and credibility of your business.
When undergoing a brand update, it’s essential to ensure that your citation profile accurately reflects your new brand identity. Outdated or inconsistent information can confuse search engines and potential customers, leading to a negative impact on your SEO rankings and customer trust. Updating your citation profile is an opportunity to align your online presence with your updated brand, ensuring that all information is up to date and consistent across platforms.
To update your citation profile effectively, consider following these steps:
- Conduct a comprehensive audit: Begin by conducting a thorough audit of your current citation profile. Identify all online directories, listings, and platforms where your business is mentioned.
- Update your information: Update your business name, address, phone number, website URL, and any other pertinent details to reflect your new brand identity. Ensure that this updated information is consistent across all platforms.
- Remove duplicate or inaccurate listings: During the audit, identify any duplicate or inaccurate listings that may exist. Duplicate or inconsistent information can confuse search engines and harm your SEO efforts. Request the removal or correction of these listings.
- Utilize tools or services: Depending on the size of your business and the number of citations to update, consider using tools or services to streamline the process. Citation management platforms can help you manage and update your information across multiple platforms, ensuring consistency and saving time.
- Optimize your citations: As you update your citation profile, take the opportunity to optimize your listings for SEO. This includes adding relevant keywords, selecting appropriate categories, and providing detailed and engaging descriptions of your business. Optimal optimization can help improve your visibility in local search results.
- Monitor and maintain consistency: Once you’ve updated your citation profile, it’s important to monitor and maintain consistency moving forward. Regularly review your listings to ensure that any changes or updates are reflected accurately and promptly.
Remember, consistency is key when it comes to your citation profile. Ensure that your business name, address, phone number, and website URL are consistent across all platforms. This consistency not only helps search engines understand and verify your business information but also instills trust in potential customers who come across your listings.
In conclusion, updating your citation profile during a brand update is crucial for maintaining a strong online presence and optimizing your SEO efforts. By ensuring that all online directories, listings, and third-party platforms accurately reflect your new brand identity, you establish consistency and credibility across the web. Take advantage of tools or services to streamline the process, optimize your citations for SEO, and regularly monitor and maintain consistency moving forward. By effectively managing your citation profile, you enhance your chances of ranking higher in local search results and attracting potential customers to your newly updated brand.
Manually Update Key Social & Association Profiles
When it comes to your brand update, don’t underestimate the significance of manually updating your key social media profiles and industry memberships. There is a bit of overland with citiations listed above, but what we mean here is more specifically to site that are beyond directories, such as social media, BBB, industry and charity sites, Amazon author profiles – place that typically are not covered by directory listing services.
While it may seem like a small task, ensuring consistency across these platforms can have a significant impact on your online credibility and reinforce your SEO efforts. So, let’s dive deeper into why manually updating these profiles is crucial and how it contributes to the success of your brand update.
Social media platforms and business directories are essential touchpoints where potential customers and clients interact with your brand. These platforms act as extensions of your online presence and play a vital role in shaping how your brand is perceived. Therefore, it’s crucial to manually update these profiles to reflect your new brand identity accurately.
By manually updating your social media profiles, you ensure that your brand information, including your new logo, brand name, tagline, and any other relevant details, aligns with your updated brand identity. Consistency across platforms enhances your brand’s online credibility, as customers encounter the same cohesive brand image, messaging, and contact information across multiple channels. This consistency helps establish trust and reinforces your brand’s legitimacy in the eyes of your audience.
Furthermore, updating your social media profiles manually provides an opportunity to optimize your profiles for SEO. By strategically incorporating relevant keywords, descriptions, and hashtags, you increase the visibility of your brand in search results. This optimization helps search engines understand the nature of your business, improving your chances of appearing in relevant searches and attracting targeted organic traffic.
In addition to social media profiles, it’s essential to update your business listings on platforms like Google My Business, Yelp, and industry-specific directories. These listings often appear prominently in search engine results and provide potential customers with crucial information about your business, such as your address, phone number, and website. Manually updating these listings ensures that customers have access to accurate and up-to-date information, improving their experience and increasing the likelihood of engagement.
Consistency across social media profiles and business listings not only reinforces your brand identity but also strengthens your SEO efforts. Search engines value consistent and accurate information across various online platforms, as it signifies a trustworthy and reliable brand. This consistency improves your chances of ranking higher in search results, attracting more organic traffic, and increasing your online visibility.
Time Your Re-Brand Launch Strategically
When it comes to launching your re-brand, timing is everything. It’s important to strategically coordinate your web launch with other marketing activities to effectively manage your brand signals and ensure a smooth transition. By avoiding immediate promotions and allowing search engines ample time to crawl and index your updated website, you can identify and troubleshoot any potential issues before making public announcements. Let’s delve deeper into the importance of timing your re-brand launch and how it can benefit your overall marketing strategy.
Timing your web launch strategically is crucial for several reasons. First and foremost, it allows search engines to crawl and index your updated website properly. When you launch a new website or make significant changes to your existing one, search engines need time to discover and understand these changes. By refraining from immediate promotions, you give search engines the opportunity to crawl and index your updated web pages, ensuring that they are accurately reflected in search results. This helps maintain your SEO rankings and ensures that your target audience can find your updated website through organic search.
Furthermore, timing your re-brand launch strategically provides you with an opportunity to troubleshoot any potential issues that may arise during the transition. By allowing some time between the website update and public announcements, you can thoroughly test your website’s functionality, user experience, and compatibility across different devices and browsers. This gives you the chance to identify and resolve any technical glitches, broken links, or design inconsistencies that could negatively impact your users’ experience. By addressing these issues before going live, you can ensure a seamless transition and minimize any potential disruptions to your marketing activities.
Another benefit of strategically timing your re-brand launch is the ability to coordinate it with other marketing activities. By aligning your web launch with other promotional efforts, such as social media campaigns, email marketing, or offline advertising, you create a cohesive brand experience for your audience. This synchronization strengthens your brand messaging and increases the impact of your marketing efforts. It allows you to create a buzz around your updated brand while ensuring that all your marketing channels are in sync, reinforcing your brand identity and creating a unified customer experience.
Bonus Tip: Have “The Talk” with Your Branding Agency
You got to sit down and have “The Talk” with your branding agency, because when it comes to your brand update, clear communication and alignment between your branding and SEO efforts are paramount. Your branding company must understand the potential SEO risks associated with the update and has a plan in place to mitigate them. Here’s a bonus tip: Engage in an open conversation with your branding agency to address these concerns and establish a collaborative approach to safeguard your SEO performance.
Start by asking your branding company about their strategies for mitigating SEO risks during the brand update. Inquire about the specific measures they have in place to ensure a smooth transition without sacrificing your hard-earned SEO rankings and organic traffic. It’s important to understand their approach and how they plan to navigate any potential challenges that may arise.
Inquire about the SEO person within their team who will be responsible for addressing SEO risks and losses during the brand update. Having a dedicated SEO expert who understands the nuances of search engine optimization can be invaluable in promptly identifying and resolving any SEO-related issues that may occur. Knowing who will take charge of these matters ensures that there is a clear point of contact for troubleshooting and resolving any potential catastrophes.
Consider establishing a benchmark to measure the impact of the brand update on your site traffic and leads. By creating a benchmark before the update, you can compare the performance of your website and evaluate the effects of the brand change on key metrics. This data will help you assess the success of the update and identify areas that require further optimization or adjustment.
In the event of a catastrophic SEO failure, it’s essential to determine the responsible parties and take immediate action to save your leads and sales. Have a plan in place that outlines the steps to be taken in such a scenario, whether it’s initiating an immediate roll-back to a previous version of the website or implementing real-time troubleshooting measures. Quick response and resolution are crucial to minimize the impact on your business.
Remember, “The Talk” with your branding agency is not about assigning blame but rather fostering a collaborative approach to mitigate SEO risks. It’s an opportunity to align expectations, establish clear responsibilities, and ensure that everyone is working towards the same goal of preserving your website’s visibility and generating valuable leads and sales.
By engaging in open and transparent communication with your branding agency, you can create a solid foundation for a successful brand update. Collaborate with them to address potential SEO risks, identify the SEO expert within their team, establish benchmarks for performance measurement, and develop a contingency plan to handle any unforeseen catastrophes.
In conclusion, “The Talk” with your branding agency is a vital step in ensuring the success of your brand update. Engage in open communication, ask about their strategies for mitigating SEO risks, identify the responsible parties, establish benchmarks, and plan for potential catastrophes. By fostering a collaborative approach and aligning your branding and SEO efforts, you can navigate the brand update with confidence and safeguard your leads, sales, and online visibility.
Brand updates can be treacherous for your SEO rankings and lead flow, but with careful planning and the guidance of SEO experts, you can mitigate risks and successfully navigate these transitions. By following the 12 essential steps outlined in this article, you can safeguard your SEO equity, maintain online visibility, and ensure a smooth brand update that drives continued growth and success. Don’t underestimate the value of professional SEO expertise when it comes to preserving your hard-earned SEO rankings and generating consistent organic leads.
