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Punkt Digital

Handcrafted websites for artists and the organizations that support them.

SEO Ranking: Quality Content

November 8, 2019 By Greg Wilder

SEO Ranking: Quality Content

Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder but in the case of search engines, quality is in the eye of the search engine algorithm.

Search Quality Rater’s GuidelinesRecently, Google released a document called the Search Quality Rater’s Guidelines. Essentially, it’s Google’s detailed guide to assessing the quality of websites. Human experts use the guide to analyze the quality of a group of websites and Google uses that data to judge how their algorithms are doing.

Usually this would just be dismissed as bedtime reading for nerds like us, but this document is different. It provides an unprecedented look at how Google thinks of website quality. It’s a road map for how to get on Google’s good side — something all artist websites need to do.

Not sure you want to read all 160 pages of the Search Quality Rater’s Guidelines? Don’t worry! We’ve read it for you. Here’s what Google thinks makes for wicked good web content:

  • Expertise / Authoritativeness / Trustworthiness
  • Supplementary Content
  • Focused Page Design
  • Security

OK, so let’s take each of these individually…

Expertise / Authoritativeness / Trustworthiness


In short, this means that effective websites provide solid expertise and contain content from trustworthy sources. Sounds obvious, right? Well, it’s worth asking yourself if you website sends strong signals of your domain expertise and trustworthiness.

Punkt’s website expertise and trustworthiness checklist:

  • Are your credentials or artistic history readily available?
  • Do you offer information that might be helpful to your other artists? (This blog is a good example of this.)
  • Is your artwork categorized, described and easily searchable?
  • Do you demonstrate expertise across social media?

Supplementary Content


Offering site visitors supporting content in a sidebar or footer is critical to providing a rich web experience. Something similar to the ‘if you enjoy this, perhaps you’d be interested in this‘ approach. If your artwork doesn’t naturally generate web-friendly content, consider linking to external well-established (trusted) content sources.

Focused Page Design


Once again it sounds obvious, but take another look at your home/landing page with a critical eye for clutter. It’s crucial that your primary call-to-action is sitting front and center, above the fold. Sliders and an abundance of photos can be a distraction that lessens the impact of your work.

  • Are ads clamoring for your site visitor’s attention?
  • Is your site footer stuffed with badges, associations, and awards?

If so, consider moving this stuff to an internal page.

Security


https encrypted artist web hostingIf your website accepts potentially sensitive data (through forms and/or a web store) security is critical. Web users now expect to see the familiar green security padlock when sharing private information online — especially when their credit card is involved. As important, web browser will soon be warning users by default when they are visiting sites that are not secure. If you haven’t already, consider getting and maintaining an SSL certificate through your web host.

Baby Steps

If your artist website is suffering in these areas, don’t despair! The web is a constantly evolving medium. Consider each guideline separately and take action in tiny increments. Small adjustments like these can make a huge difference to Google’s search engine algorithms!

Greg Alison and Zorro
Do you have specific questions about SEO or web design you’d like us to answer?
Drop us a line and tell us about it.
We’d love to hear from you!

Filed Under: Marketing, SEO Tagged With: Content Marketing, SEO, SEO ranking

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What Our Clients Say

  • Peter Erskine, legendary drummer

    Working with Punkt Digital has been an enjoyable and productive experience. Communication with the design team was timely, fluid and responsive. My website’s design and functionality exceeded my expectations. While the site has a totally professional look and feel, the add-on/editing process is very “hands-on” and easy for me to do whether I am traveling or am at home. And, for those moments when gremlins come to visit, the Punkt Design team deals with them swiftly and effectively. In short, we are 100% happy with Punkt Digital, and I’m very glad that I made the switch to entrusting my website to them.

    Peter Erskine, legendary drummer
  • David Balakrishnan, founding member of the Grammy-winning Turtle Island Quartet

    As we enter our thirtieth year of music making, we are well aware how important it is to keep a close eye on the current trends in the wide world of internet media. Working with Punkt Digital has been exactly what we needed to retain our pole position in the forefront of the chamber jazz music scene. We have our sheet music sales going strong, we can do our own updates on our site with ease, it looks great, works great, simple, no fuss, Turtles swimming smooth in the digital sea, thanks Punkt!!!

    David Balakrishnan, founding member of the Grammy-winning Turtle Island Quartet
  • Adam Roberts, Composer

    I went to Punkt Digital because I wanted to revamp my site, make it sleeker, more user friendly, and easy to update myself. Alison and Greg surpassed all of my expectations in terms of both product and process. Finally, the price is extremely reasonable. In summary, I couldn't recommend Punkt Digital more highly.

    Adam Roberts, Composer
  • Jeremy Gill, Composer

    I love my new website. Punkt Digital does brilliant, efficient, and sensitive work, and was able to integrate all my needs into a cohesive and aesthetically compelling whole. They also prepared detailed notes to guide me through the process of updating my site — something I have to do regularly. Truly an invaluable product!

    Jeremy Gill, Composer
  • Tamara Roberts, Musician

    I had a great experience working with Punkt Digital. Being not-so-tech-savvy, Alison and Greg were great at talking me through the site building process and thinking creatively about my unique needs. The site is beautiful and perfectly captures my style and personality. And it’s a breeze to update whenever I get new gigs or have media to share. I’d recommend Punkt Digital to anyone, especially artists who have a hard time fitting their work into existing one-size-fits-all platforms.

    Tamara Roberts, Musician
  • Adam Vidiksis, Composer

    Punkt Digital listened to my ideas and incorporated them brilliantly in their design. They are thorough, creative, and consistent. Punkt produced a site that really embodied the artistic vision for my music. I am very happy with the result.

    Adam Vidiksis, Composer
  • Joel Friedman, Composer

    Working with Punkt was a delightful collaboration from start to finish and I couldn't be happier with the result. In a market crowded with designers how many can boast being active artists, serious tech mavens, and have a terrific aesthetic sensibility to boot? This means they have the firepower to imagine, successfully execute, walk in your shoes, and shepherd your design from beginning to end. They earned my trust and appreciation. Wow.

    Joel Friedman, Composer
  • Jon Russell, Clarinetist

    Excellent on all counts. Punkt was always very responsive, in both the speed and thoroughness of their replies to any questions or requests. They also struck just the right balance between aiming to understand and fulfill my vision for the site, while also using their own expertise to offer suggestions for alternatives. They were also very patient and responsive when I (frequently!) changed my mind about what I wanted partway through the process.

    Jon Russell, Clarinetist
  • Deborah Sherr, Executive Director
Avaloch Farm Music Institute

    Let me sing the praises of Punkt Digital! Absolutely every aspect of their work has exceeded my expectations. From the first inquiry they have been extraordinarily responsive, positive, and SO smart. They understand every request, have a great eye for appropriate design, listen and guide with equal patience, and have created tutorials which are easy and intuitive. The platform they have created for adding and editing is terrific, so that even an amateur can maintain the website with ease. I have been extremely impressed with their commitment to an ongoing relationship, even months after they finished creating the actual website. Alison and Greg are the greatest!

    Deborah Sherr, Executive Director Avaloch Farm Music Institute
  • Judith Jennings, Art x Culture x Social Justice Network

    I love working with Punkt Digital! First, Alison and Greg Wilder are thoroughly grounded in the latest technology and constantly upgrading their skills and services. Secondly, they are visual artists with keen aesthetics and strong design talents. Most of all, they are great people who care deeply about the quality of their work and the satisfaction of their client and are willing to take extra time and care for the best possible results.

    Judith Jennings, Art x Culture x Social Justice Network
  • Peter Erskine, legendary drummer

    Working with Punkt Digital has been an enjoyable and productive experience. Communication with the design team was timely, fluid and responsive. My website’s design and functionality exceeded my expectations. While the site has a totally professional look and feel, the add-on/editing process is very “hands-on” and easy for me to do whether I am traveling or am at home. And, for those moments when gremlins come to visit, the Punkt Design team deals with them swiftly and effectively. In short, we are 100% happy with Punkt Digital, and I’m very glad that I made the switch to entrusting my website to them.

    Peter Erskine, legendary drummer
  • David Balakrishnan, founding member of the Grammy-winning Turtle Island Quartet

    As we enter our thirtieth year of music making, we are well aware how important it is to keep a close eye on the current trends in the wide world of internet media. Working with Punkt Digital has been exactly what we needed to retain our pole position in the forefront of the chamber jazz music scene. We have our sheet music sales going strong, we can do our own updates on our site with ease, it looks great, works great, simple, no fuss, Turtles swimming smooth in the digital sea, thanks Punkt!!!

    David Balakrishnan, founding member of the Grammy-winning Turtle Island Quartet
  • Adam Roberts, Composer

    I went to Punkt Digital because I wanted to revamp my site, make it sleeker, more user friendly, and easy to update myself. Alison and Greg surpassed all of my expectations in terms of both product and process. Finally, the price is extremely reasonable. In summary, I couldn't recommend Punkt Digital more highly.

    Adam Roberts, Composer
  • Jeremy Gill, Composer

    I love my new website. Punkt Digital does brilliant, efficient, and sensitive work, and was able to integrate all my needs into a cohesive and aesthetically compelling whole. They also prepared detailed notes to guide me through the process of updating my site — something I have to do regularly. Truly an invaluable product!

    Jeremy Gill, Composer
  • Tamara Roberts, Musician

    I had a great experience working with Punkt Digital. Being not-so-tech-savvy, Alison and Greg were great at talking me through the site building process and thinking creatively about my unique needs. The site is beautiful and perfectly captures my style and personality. And it’s a breeze to update whenever I get new gigs or have media to share. I’d recommend Punkt Digital to anyone, especially artists who have a hard time fitting their work into existing one-size-fits-all platforms.

    Tamara Roberts, Musician
  • Adam Vidiksis, Composer

    Punkt Digital listened to my ideas and incorporated them brilliantly in their design. They are thorough, creative, and consistent. Punkt produced a site that really embodied the artistic vision for my music. I am very happy with the result.

    Adam Vidiksis, Composer
  • Joel Friedman, Composer

    Working with Punkt was a delightful collaboration from start to finish and I couldn't be happier with the result. In a market crowded with designers how many can boast being active artists, serious tech mavens, and have a terrific aesthetic sensibility to boot? This means they have the firepower to imagine, successfully execute, walk in your shoes, and shepherd your design from beginning to end. They earned my trust and appreciation. Wow.

    Joel Friedman, Composer
  • Jon Russell, Clarinetist

    Excellent on all counts. Punkt was always very responsive, in both the speed and thoroughness of their replies to any questions or requests. They also struck just the right balance between aiming to understand and fulfill my vision for the site, while also using their own expertise to offer suggestions for alternatives. They were also very patient and responsive when I (frequently!) changed my mind about what I wanted partway through the process.

    Jon Russell, Clarinetist
  • Deborah Sherr, Executive Director
Avaloch Farm Music Institute

    Let me sing the praises of Punkt Digital! Absolutely every aspect of their work has exceeded my expectations. From the first inquiry they have been extraordinarily responsive, positive, and SO smart. They understand every request, have a great eye for appropriate design, listen and guide with equal patience, and have created tutorials which are easy and intuitive. The platform they have created for adding and editing is terrific, so that even an amateur can maintain the website with ease. I have been extremely impressed with their commitment to an ongoing relationship, even months after they finished creating the actual website. Alison and Greg are the greatest!

    Deborah Sherr, Executive Director Avaloch Farm Music Institute
  • Judith Jennings, Art x Culture x Social Justice Network

    I love working with Punkt Digital! First, Alison and Greg Wilder are thoroughly grounded in the latest technology and constantly upgrading their skills and services. Secondly, they are visual artists with keen aesthetics and strong design talents. Most of all, they are great people who care deeply about the quality of their work and the satisfaction of their client and are willing to take extra time and care for the best possible results.

    Judith Jennings, Art x Culture x Social Justice Network

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