I would like to hear your thoughts on how to improve the SEO of my website

[Talktime]

This is a follow on from this thread:

Hiring an SEO expert that uses AI - Heads up!

So, I took a leap of faith and hired an SEO whiz. Their mission? To sprinkle some digital magic on our website, boost traffic, and send sales skyrocketing to the moon! They did their thing, tweaking the site's content and sprinkling tags like confetti. After the revamped site went live, all...

www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk

I had a rather disappointing experience with an SEO for my website. The use of AI, while promising, didn't quite deliver the results I was hoping for. Specifically, the tags it created and the way it re-phrased my site content didn't align with my SEO goals.

I have since rolled back the updated site to its pre-SEO state.

National Bailiff Advice

www.nationalbailiffadvice.uk

I am eager to hear your thoughts on how to improve the SEO of my website. Alternatively, I'm also considering the option of starting fresh with a new website and creating unique, SEO-optimised content. Your advice on either approach would be greatly appreciated.

 

[fisicx]

Lets begin with the fundamental element on your homepage: the title.

You have:

"National Bailiff Advice"

The first line of content is:

"Clear and precise about bailiff matters."

We then have:

"Got bailiffs? Do the following:"

None of the above indicates the purpose of the site. If I can't work it out neither can Google.

I'm assuming you are targeting those who already have the bailiffs knocking at the door. Which means they are probably panicing and under a lot of stress.

You need the words on the page to tell your visitors (which includes Google) what you do and how you can help them.

Calm them down and tell then there are all sorts of fixes.

You have a checklist. Why do I have to go to a new page to see this? But it's not really a checklist, it's just a list of options and links.

On the various help pages you have very curt paragraphs which really need explaining. You then quote the legal schedules without explaination. It's not an easy read. Certainly not "Clear and precise about bailiff matters"

And then there is the form. Long, poorly formatted and difficult to complete.

Start writing for people for are worried. Stop using short sentences. Add explanations. Have a search box. Be helpful.

And you need a proper navigation system and your contact details.

Google is looking for answers to a search query. You need to provide the best answer the query:

"Can the bailiff tow my car"

"Can the bailiff enter my house"

and so on.

The more authoritative the answer the better your chances to ranking.

The site structure and styling also need a major overhaul. Trying to copy gov.uk isn't working

 

[Talktime]

Your advice suggests the site needs a complete rebuild. Maybe with a new domain name.

I have kept the advice content short because people receiving bailiffs have a shorter concentration span and cannot hang on to the TL/DR.

I acknowledge the grammar needs work.

I found that Google points to individual pages that deal with a specific search query - such as "Can the bailiff enter my house?", rather than the homepage.

An earlier version of the site didn't have the legal quotations, but users questioned the authority, so I added them.

The authority is quoted on this website for the same search query: https://stopthebailiffs.uk/can-bailiffs-enter-my-house-when-i-am-not-there-not-at-home.htm. It appears at number 17 on Google.

Other links that appear before it answer a different question from what the user is looking for.

However, the same website has a page that answers the precise question "Can the bailiff enter my house?"
https://stopthebailiffs.uk/can-a-bailiff-enforcement-agent-enter-my-house.html
But that page is not on Google at all.

 

[fisicx]

Nothing wrong with having the authority but not just quoted verbatim. Offer guidance and explanation. Demonstrate your expertise.

As an aside, get rid the grey sidebar and make the font all the same size.

You also have a lack of any clear calls to action. If someone does need help all they see is a £35 phone call.

As to the attention span. Use the opening of every page with a clear message that you can help but you need to understand the problem. This will slow them down so they can read the words.

And you really really need some case studies and testimonials. You don’t have any trust marks anywhere.

 

[UKSBD]

Only had time to look at 2 pages so far, but if all like this one you are in trouble

Bailiffs and Locksmith

www.nationalbailiffadvice.uk

You are basically telling Google to ignore that page and see the homepage instead

Check your canonical tags

 

[fisicx]

You are basically telling Google to ignore that page and see the homepage instead

Check your canonical tags

Even if that ware fixed, the page title is "Bailiffs and Locksmith"

Which means nothing when the H1 is:

"When bailiffs can get a locksmith and break entry"

Is 'break entry' the correct wording? Google doesn't think so. It's suggesting I'm looking for the definition of 'breaking and entering'.

 

[Karimbo]

I dont like how you have hmrc theme on your website. Looks kinda scammy like you're trying to pass off that you're official when you're not

Hmrc style isn't very good for you anyway. It's very formal, unemotional. You want thr site to look reassuring. Even stock images or reassured people, happy people will go along way then no image site

 

[Karimbo]

i thought i gave the wrong advice earlier, i was working off a phone and it was incredibly tedious to try and copy the tld and i got confused with the two sites.

i checked the latter and was sure you dont have .co.uk, then rechecked again and dint notice there are two sites mentioned and i checked the formers .co.uk and saw it is registeed.

the second site on the list, the .co.uk is still up for grabs. it's a ballache now with the introuction of .uk. you must register both tlds, dont build a site with just one of them you are paving them way for absolute nightmare.

the .uk looks better optically, we never should have had .co.uk it should have always been .uk

but those who arent tech savvy dont even know .uk is a tld and you will for sure have people typing in the .co.uk address or emailing .co.uk and you're going to be shafted.

register both.

 

[Talktime]

Allow me to highlight the unique value of my consultancy. I specialise in post-enforcement redress, a service that stands out from others in the field. My expertise lies in investigating enforcement breaches and providing guidance on how to recover damages, a crucial step that many other services tend to overlook. This unique focus is what sets my consultancy apart and I believe it can greatly benefit our clients.

I acknowledge that other websites focus on pre-enforcement advice, such as negotiating a payment plan with bailiffs or buying a debt management product, without conducting a fact-finding investigation into whether the enforcement is compliant and lawful.

My online advice should convey the message in the shortest time possible.

When you say "get rid of the grey sidebar", do you mean the page footer?

I have experimented with adding a Call to Action in some of my articles; however, apart from saying, "Call me now!!" a Call to Action involves telling visitors how to solve their bailiff problem and the legal process. They can take that to their solicitor, which means I could potentially lose the client. I'd like to hear an example of an article with a Call to Action so I have something to follow when re-writing the site content.

I have case studies, but they are linked from the footer of the website to my personal home page, which shows a list of them and testimonials from previous clients: https://jasonbennison.com/about.php. Do you recommend I put them on the website itself rather than link to my own page?

UKSBD, could you please enlighten me about Canonical tags? I recently discovered that I have some on my website, but I'm not entirely sure about their function and how they affect my site's SEO.

Fisicx, what is an HI? The expression "Breaking and entering" is bailiff terminology for entering using "reasonable force", The law is silent on the definition of "reasonable force", so bailiffs interpret it to mean Breaking and Entering, be breaking down a door or having a locksmith break the locks.

Karimbo: I am reluctant to get both .co.uk and .uk for the same website. While having both domains could potentially increase my online presence and protect my brand, it could also lead to confusion among users and dilute my SEO efforts. I have several other brands, as well as National Bailiff Advice, and I want to focus on improving this website.

Fisicx mentioned that my website's structure and styling need a complete overhaul. Specifically, the layout is not user-friendly, the colour scheme is not appealing, and the font choices are inconsistent. Given my comments so far, I am interested to hear how you would overhaul it.

 

[fisicx]

Allow me to highlight the unique value of my consultancy. I specialise in post-enforcement redress, a service that stands out from others in the field. My expertise lies in investigating enforcement breaches and providing guidance on how to recover damages, a crucial step that many other services tend to overlook. This unique focus is what sets my consultancy apart and I believe it can greatly benefit our clients.

None of that comes across on the website. You don't use those words anywhere.

My online advice should convey the message in the shortest time possible.

It doesn't

When you say "get rid of the grey sidebar", do you mean the page footer?

No, I mean the grey bar to the left of the legal clauses - which need all sorts of rework if they are to be useful

I have experimented with adding a Call to Action in some of my articles; however, apart from saying, "Call me now!!" a Call to Action involves telling visitors how to solve their bailiff problem and the legal process. They can take that to their solicitor, which means I could potentially lose the client. I'd like to hear an example of an article with a Call to Action so I have something to follow when re-writing the site content.

In the header, content and footer you need to tell people what to do and what they will get. There are umpteen different ways to do this - you won't know which works best until you test. At the very least just have the message to 'fill in the form to determine if you have a case to answer'.

I have case studies, but they are linked from the footer of the website to my personal home page, which shows a list of them and testimonials from previous clients: https://jasonbennison.com/about.php. Do you recommend I put them on the website itself rather than link to my own page?

YES!!!!

(where is this link. I see nothing in the footer linking to your personal site)

Fisicx, what is an HI? The expression "Breaking and entering" is bailiff terminology for entering using "reasonable force", The law is silent on the definition of "reasonable force", so bailiffs interpret it to mean Breaking and Entering, be breaking down a door or having a locksmith break the locks.

H1 - the primary header on the page. It doesn't say "Breaking and entering" it says "break and enter" In any case, my point was that the title and h1 and content do not all align and you don't have a meta-description.

Fisicx mentioned that my website's structure and styling need a complete overhaul. Specifically, the layout is not user-friendly, the colour scheme is not appealing, and the font choices are inconsistent. Given my comments so far, I am interested to hear how you would overhaul it.

Start with the domain name - it suggests you are offering advice to bailiffs.

You don't have a meaningful tagline, primary navigation or introduction to each page. Look at this for example:

How to stop bailiffs

www.nationalbailiffadvice.uk

As already suggested, stop trying to look like gov.uk

Categorise your articles. Suggest further reading (related articles).

Get rid of the pointless 'Is this page useful?' thing.

Allow people to comment on the articles (can be a useful source of leads).

Add in your contact information - this is a key component of any site as it provides trust and legitimacy.

Simplify the form. Even better, make it a multistep form with conditional fields. Even better still, have a simple callback form on every page (a good CTA) where you respond with an email setting out your fees and processes and a link to a part 2 form where you collect all the additional information. Doing it like this will improve conversions.

Add a search function to the site.

 

[WaveJumper]

There seems to a case of listening but not hearing here @fisicx knows what he's talking about you asked about improving SEO and have been pointed in the right direction so personally I would take it on board.

I would agree with previous comments on the "look" of the site, I am not in anyway saying you don't have the knowledge or skills in your field, but if a website looks anything like a "knock off" government website I am off that site quicker than you can blink an eye.

 

[Mark T Jones]

I'm not an SEO expert (to put it mildly), though several on here are, and should definitely be taken seriously.

As a site visitor, my overriding feeling is that you need to take a big step back and clarify to yourself what your actual business model is from the POV of your customer. Universal rule 1 - talk the language of the customer, not of your industry.

Your narrative is somewhat rambling and inward-facing without any clear benefits, outcomes or CTA - culminating in this:

I also specialise in tax-efficient estate planning and family wealth retention, including will writing and drafting property and asset protection trusts for people with challenging needs including high-risk exposure to business failure, bankruptcy and disinheritance by predatory spouses.

What the actual? I'm £20K in debt, the bailiffs are on the driveway & you want to write me a will? (Perhaps a sub-text?). Golden rule 2 - you can only be an expert in one thing at a time. Everything you add to the list dilutes what went before.

I should add that you contact page actually adds value in the sense of expectations - but why will I go there?

My advice would be to talk yourself through the customer journey, When they will want you, how they will find you, why will they call you, what will be the outcome?

 

[AlanJ1]

As already suggested, stop trying to look like gov.uk

Think this in a nutshell for me.

Site is trying to mimic somethig it shouldn't in any way.

 

[Karimbo]

Karimbo: I am reluctant to get both .co.uk and .uk for the same website. While having both domains could potentially increase my online presence and protect my brand, it could also lead to confusion among users and dilute my SEO efforts. I have several other brands, as well as National Bailiff Advice, and I want to focus on improving this website.

do not build a big business around a domain if you can only get the .co.k or just the .uk. you need to secure both because someone else can snap the other domain and cause problems for you later when yu've established the business.

you dont need to build two sites, just build one and then 301 everything from the other domain to the one you use.

this is so that you dont lose customers from type in traffic and send them to a competitors site.

its just an extra £6 a year to have the other domain and if you do eventually build a really big site later - it could bite you in the ass.

I have a .uk and spoke to suppliers, clients and gave them my email and they just assume its .co.uk not .uk - when i tell them, no it's just .uk they ask are you sure?

 

[UKSBD]

@Talktime

A canonical tag is generally used if you have similar content spread accross different URL's but want Google to prioritise 1

See - https://developers.google.com/search/docs/crawling-indexing/canonicalization

What you are doing is saying to Google that you would like to prioritize the http:// version of you home page over every single page of your site.

Fortunately, only see the canonical tag as a guide, but you are better of having none than having it wrong

 

[Talktime]

According to their enquiry, Google puts visitors onto a specific page, adding the words "My expertise lies in investigating enforcement breaches and providing guidance on how to recover damages, a crucial step that many other services tend to overlook." on every page might be excessive unless you meant to put that on the homepage.


When you mention that my online advice should convey the message quickly, could you provide an example of what you mean? This will help me tailor my content.


I agree with your suggestion to remove the legislation quotations. They did make the content a bit too wordy. Initially, I included them in response to feedback that my advice didn't align with legislation. However, I believe I can address this concern without directly quoting the legislation.


I'll add case studies to the site from my homepage and put them in the footer. An example of a link to my homepage is here: https://www.nationalbailiffadvice.uk/Boot-in-Door-Bailiffs-Threshold-Maneuver.html. Go to the bottom.


I might change the slogan to "Clear and precise about stopping bailiff action." Using the slogan "How to stop bailiffs" might be trading on stopping the bailiffs in UK territory.


Stop looking like the Gov. uk website. I'll change the colour and the font.


Is this Page Useful? Provides me with user comments and criticism. It's a collapsible form inviting users to comment, good or bad. I'd like to keep it.


The contact form is collapsible. I have no way of knowing what kind of enforcement breach the client faces, so it's made collapsible to identify the type of debt and the nature of the breach. The information gives me a starting point for the client's fact-finding.


What is a CTA?


Adding a search function to the site might be duplicitous with Google because users tend to land on a specified page according to their Google search query. I am open to comments on the benefits of a search box.


Mark T Jones, your comments are acknowledged, I think I should take them on. You have a point in changing the language used on the website. Your final paragraph wouldn't apply because clients come to me post-enforcement, so I am not someone who is already in their address book.


Karimbo, I dont use domain emails; I use old-fashioned Gmail for client contact. I know it might sound unprofessional, but clients who need me to bring proceedings for them are okay with it.


Before I start rewriting the site content and making the list of instructions for the SEO, does anyone else have any further comments?

 

[UKSBD]

Before I start rewriting the site content and making the list of instructions for the SEO, does anyone else have any further comments?

I would say the most important thing is, knowing the phrases that people will search for and then using those phrases in the titles, headers and anchor text, in a natural, not spammy way.

one page as an example

from homepage your link to "Complaining about a bailiff"

Nice anchor text of a nice searchable phrase, but then get on the page and no mention of the phrase (plus you have spelt complaint wrong in the title)

 

[fantheflames]

Thank you for sharing @Talktime!

There is solid advice here for SEO. I would also like to add that you might want to consider a rethink on the design. As others have mentioned, it is too similar to the gov website.

There's still ways you could incorporate those elements without drowning the content and appearing like a shadow or potential fraudster. And I'm sure that's not what you want to convey!

The links you're highlighting deserve a small section on the homepage and perhaps you could add icons or other media? You're a new website to users, so perhaps a video explaining what NBA is would be useful to users.

Like @fisicx mentioned, your headlines need to make more sense.

I do think that the content you've produced is very helpful, but the FAQ system is very compact. Perhaps more spacing and structure is needed, perhaps grouping questions/information into categories rather than grouping them into one large list.

The easy you make it for the user and Google, the better!

 

[fisicx]

According to their enquiry, Google puts visitors onto a specific page, adding the words "My expertise lies in investigating enforcement breaches and providing guidance on how to recover damages, a crucial step that many other services tend to overlook." on every page might be excessive unless you meant to put that on the homepage.

You add a suitable introduction to everypage. Your tagline should make it clear about the purpose of the site.

When you mention that my online advice should convey the message quickly, could you provide an example of what you mean? This will help me tailor my content.

Look at this:

Bailiffs and Locksmith

www.nationalbailiffadvice.uk

I want to know if a bailiff can enter my property and if not what can I do about it. The anchor text leading to the page is different to the title of the page. Why even mention a locksmith? What if it's a lockup or business premises?

"if the bailiff is at your door they can only gain entry for a limited number of reasons (see below). For anything else they have no rights to cross the threshold. You need to do the following...."

I'll add case studies to the site from my homepage and put them in the footer. An example of a link to my homepage is here: https://www.nationalbailiffadvice.uk/Boot-in-Door-Bailiffs-Threshold-Maneuver.html. Go to the bottom.

No, make them part of the page. Then add a link to see more case studies.

The contact form is collapsible. I have no way of knowing what kind of enforcement breach the client faces, so it's made collapsible to identify the type of debt and the nature of the breach. The information gives me a starting point for the client's fact-finding.

Then make it a conditional form. Q1: what do you need help with? List the options and then step 2 would be questions relevant to the reason. IE: Q1 car has been towed > Q2 when was the car towed. Carry on in the same way. Multistep forms are far less daunting and arduous to complete.

But only collect the minimum information needed to get started. You can ask further questions later.

Right now the form looks like it was created to make your life simpler not the person needing help.

What is a CTA?

Call to Action

Adding a search function to the site might be duplicitous with Google because users tend to land on a specified page according to their Google search query. I am open to comments on the benefits of a search box.

But adding search along with a primary navigation helps those who landed on a page but it wasn't quite what they wanted.

The service you provide is no doubt excellent but you don't make it easy for someone to get help. What does your analytics say about bounce rate?

 

[ericson]

Just wanted to hop in here to say that this thread has some solid SEO advice, that I will also use in my website. Thank you!

 

[Talktime]

The FAQ page, which initially started with ten common bailiff questions, has significantly expanded since 2017. This growth is a direct result of the valuable contributions of our users, who have played a pivotal role in shaping the page to what it is today.


I read that Google will give AI-created search results, which is inconsistent with de-listing my website for AI use. Google is saying not to practice what they preach.


All the collapsible enquiry form fields are optional, except for one crucial field-the email address. This field is mandatory as it ensures we can maintain communication with our clients. The rest of the fields can be skipped, allowing clients to proceed straight to the payment page.


I am going to experiment with adding CTAs (Call to Actions) to my website articles. I cna see that CTAs are designed to guide potential clients towards the next step in their journey with me and I am eager to see how theyrespond.


I dont have any analytics on the website.


I will prepare and post a numbered list of proposed changes to the website for comment.

 

[Talktime]

Here is the list of proposed changes to nationalbailiffadvice.uk, and I invite your comments.


Change the website's name. The name, 'National Bailiff Advice,' suggests it's a website helping bailiffs rather than people aggrieved by unlawful bailiff action. I am eager to hear your thoughts and suggestions on a better name. My initial ideas were things like 'Bailiff Remedy Experts' and 'Bailiff Action Group,' but I am open to your input. Perhaps BailiffClaims.uk or BailiffVictimSupport.uk could be more fitting.



Another significant change we're considering is a new slogan. The current one, 'Clear and precise about bailiff matters,' has received some critique. A more explanatory motto on the homepage could better communicate our mission. For instance, 'We provide expert advice and support to help you recover damages from improper bailiff actions' or 'We offer professional guidance to ensure you receive compensation for any improper actions taken by bailiffs.' I am eager to hear your suggestions on this crucial aspect.


Change the colour scheme and the font; otherwise, create a new website template with generic pictures. I'm looking for some website templates I could use.


Include on-website testimonials and client case studies instead of linking them from another website.


Add a contact page and an about-us page.


Develop all H1 anchor texts to match the text on the destination page.


Redesign the enquiry form from collapsible to multistep.


Rewrite the website articles, removing the text of the authorities (legislation) and including a Call to Action. I'd like some examples of articles with Calls to Action, so I have something to follow.


Once I have re-written the text of the website articles, I will instruct an SEO expert to create the website. I am open to suggestions on an SEO expert who can do this and how much this will cost me.

 

[Talktime]

I have re-written one of the articles on the website to include, what I think it a Call to Action and I invite your views:

I have used the Bailiff locksmith article because this was brought up on this discussion

The original article:

https://www.nationalbailiffadvice.uk/Locksmiths-Bailiffs-Breaking-Entry.html

The revised article

https://www.nationalbailiffadvice.uk/Locksmiths-Bailiffs-Breaking-Entry TMPNewVersion.html

 

[fisicx]

It’s better but what question is it answering?

I don’t want to understand anything. I want to know if the bailiff (or enforcement officer) can enter my premises and what to do if they try to gain entry.

Or is the page about what to do if they have already entered?

You have lots of technical words that need explaining. Many won’t even know what a writ is.

 

[Talktime]

The question the page is answering is


"When Can Bailiffs Enter Using a Locksmith"

Can anyone tell me how to SEO this page?

 

[fisicx]

Is that a question often asked on Google? Do you get lots of visits to this page?

You SEO the page by answering the question. You give lots of examples. You quote the relevant legislation. You tell them what actions to take if the bailiff is at the door with a locksmith. You have a form on the page with questions relevant to the situation. You also have content relating to occasions where a bailiff can enter without a locksmith.

Is this a situation where a £35 phone call will help? If so, explain why.

 

[Shopclicks]

"When Can Bailiffs Enter Using a Locksmith"

Can anyone tell me how to SEO this page?

And here is your problem. Nobody is searching that question. It has next to zero search volume.

There is a very similar question which does have search volume:

'can bailiffs force entry with a locksmith'
or even better
'can a bailiff force entry'

Your H1 page title shouldn't be a statement for a query like this. It should be in the form of a catch-all question:

How does the law apply to bailiffs entering my property by force?

Then you would have a section with a H2 title like:

When can a bailiff force entry to my property using a locksmith?

And then you proceed to answer the question but you need more context around the answer:

There are circumstances which allow bailiffs to enter your home by force. Bailiffs can enter private homes with a locksmith when any of the following apply:

Executing a warrant or writ of possession to evict tenants or squatters

Installing a pre-pay gas or electric meter

Enforcing commercial debt at a commercial premises

Unpaid business rates at a commercial premises

Money owed to HMRC​

You should expand on the answer with your expertise and experience and make sure your content is unique.

You can answer several questions on the same page in the same manner. But only if they are relevant to the H1 page title.

If I were you, I would create a new page with the URL: /bailiffs-entering-my-property and using the page title (h1) above. When the page is ready, add the new link and 301 redirect the old page.

There is a lot more you could do with this page.

You SEO the page by answering the question. You give lots of examples. You quote the relevant legislation. You tell them what actions to take if the bailiff is at the door with a locksmith. You have a form on the page with questions relevant to the situation. You also have content relating to occasions where a bailiff can enter without a locksmith.

Is this a situation where a £35 phone call will help? If so, explain why.

And you definitely do everything @fisicx has suggested.

 

[Fagin2021]

@fisicx , @Shopclicks and others have given you some excellent advice but rather than take it on board piecemeal, you really need to start again from scratch - sit down with the advice given, your expertise, a marketing person and a web designer/seo professional and build a new site. Then come back here for a review.

Yes, it'll cost you time and money.

And get rid of those pesky canonicals now !

 

[Fagin2021]

Addendum...

..and possibly a psychologist. Your potential customers include those who expect a visit from bailiffs, those in the midst of a visit from bailiffs and those who've had a visit from bailiffs. Each will need something different...

"Bailiffs at the door ? Call our hotline NOW !"

 

[Talktime]

The search phrase "can bailiffs break into my home" commonly brings visitors to my site. A user, whose input I greatly appreciate, singled it out on this thread, so I used it to rewrite my example article.

When you mentioned 'more context around the answer', I assumed you were referring to the legal context of a bailiff entering a property for the purpose of installing a pre-pay gas or electric meter, which is governed by Section 2 of the Rights of Entry (Gas and Electricity Boards) Act 1954. Could you please explain how providing this context can improve SEO?

Could you please explain what a '301 redirect old page' is? I'm not familiar with this term in the context of SEO.

Fagin2021, when you suggested I should 'start from scratch ', did you mean to create a completely new website? If so, I would appreciate SEO advice on what kind of template to start with.

Could you please explain how I can 'get rid of the pesky canonicals'? I wasn't aware that I had any. Could you also provide a brief explanation of what 'canonicals' are in the context of SEO?

Hiring a psychologist is beyond the technical scope of SEO.

I think using the expression "Bailiffs at the door. Call out hotline now!" is not the way to go. My experience shows that clients approach me after the enforcement event. For example, today, I was called by a very stressed school headteacher who had bailiffs enter her premises in front of children. The bailiff was tooled up in body armour radio loops, and he was flashing a police-like warrant card, roaming from room to room and upsetting the children. When the client found me online, the bailiff was long gone. I examined the bailiff's document and the Writ of Control (WOC), which had a different debtor and address, although the name was similar to the trust the school belonged to. I was instructed to bring the bailiff into court for cross-examination and recover damages for unlawful interference with equipment not belonging to the debtor named on the Writ of Control. I think a "Call Now" looks tacky and cheap.

 

[Shopclicks]

The search phrase "can bailiffs break into my home" commonly brings visitors to my site. A user, whose input I greatly appreciate, singled it out on this thread, so I used it to rewrite my example article.

I'm sure it brings you some traffic. However, it is a low volume search term and you don't rank particularly well for it.
There's no reason you can't write it into your content though:

There are circumstances which allow bailiffs to enter your home by force. Bailiffs can break into your private home with a locksmith when any of the following apply:

Or rewrite that paragraph and expand on it. What you need to do, is include those search terms in your content. It doesn't have to be word for word but you need to tell Google 'here is the answer to that query'.

When you mentioned 'more context around the answer', I assumed you were referring to the legal context of a bailiff entering a property for the purpose of installing a pre-pay gas or electric meter, which is governed by Section 2 of the Rights of Entry (Gas and Electricity Boards) Act 1954. Could you please explain how providing this context can improve SEO?

More context around the answer, simply means expanding your one liners to show that you are an expert in your field and you have the experience required to help people with this problem.

In my example I changed this line: Bailiffs can enter private homes with a locksmith when:

To this short paragraph: There are circumstances which allow bailiffs to enter your home by force. Bailiffs can enter private homes with a locksmith when any of the following apply:

I'm no expert in this field, so I'm sure you could use your knowledge to expand further or rewrite if you deem it necessary.

Likewise, the various circumstances list could use more context:

Your line: Installing a pre-pay gas or electric meter

Could become: For the purpose of installing a pre-pay gas or electric meter, which is governed by Section 2 of the Rights of Entry (Gas and Electricity Boards) Act 1954.

And if there is more relevant information, include it.

Could you please explain what a '301 redirect old page' is? I'm not familiar with this term in the context of SEO.

The 301 is a permanent redirect which sends traffic which would have been taken to your old page, to your new page. This tells Google to stop crawling the old page and start crawling and indexing the new page. If there is a likelihood that the old page is linked to from other sites, anybody clicking on the old link will be taken to your new page which avoids 404 errors.

 

[Talktime]

It's important to avoid puffing up the one-line text with unnecessary words. Instead, I focus on conveying the message with fewer words. Following your advice, I have re-worked the article using more words as shown here:

https://www.nationalbailiffadvice.uk/Locksmiths-Bailiffs-Breaking-Entry TMPNewVersion.html

Striking the right balance between the number of words used is crucial. I've always avoided writing TL/DR articles, especially considering that many of my clients, particularly those in the low-income sector, have a short attention span.

What meta tags should I use for this example page?

 

[fisicx]

It's important to avoid puffing up the one-line text with unnecessary words. Instead, I focus on conveying the message with fewer words.

Have you tested this theory?

Constantly rewriting on article is tinkering. The structure of the site needs rethinking as does your marketing plan.

It’s not SEO you need to worry about, it’s the marketing fundamentals.

Stop using template and install a CMS like Wordpress. This will allow you to implement all the suggestions made in this thread.

And get analytics installed! You can then see which pages give the best ROI.

 

[Talktime]

I have considered WordPress previously but didn't go through it because it requires a multi-gigabyte installation on the server, takes a long time to render the page, and uses AI for its search tags (Yoast SEO) when I am told to avoid AI. I am not trained in WordPress, and my website uses old-fashioned HTML and PHP for faster response times.

While I'm confident in my marketing efforts, I'm fully committed to improving my website's SEO. My client base often turns to online searches to find solutions, and I'm determined to optimise my website to meet their needs, which is the primary focus of my enquiry.

I have yet to test the theory that a verbose article works better than a concise one, but I'm inquisitive about Google's approach. Specifically, I'm interested in understanding if Google's algorithms favour longer articles, or if there are other factors at play. I'd like to hear if you have any insights on this topic.

I would greatly appreciate it if an SEO expert could suggest the recommended meta tags for the example article. Specifically, I'm looking for your expert advice on the form of words.

I am almost resigned to committing to an entirely new website and brand, leaving my current one as is. The reason for this is that since I rolled it back, it's starting to generate sales again. I believe a fresh start might be beneficial, but I'm open to your expert opinion on this matter.

 

[fisicx]

Your assumptions about Wordpress are totally wrong.

Articles don’t need to be verbose but they do need to be informative, interesting, authoritative, trustworthy and add value.

You don’t need any meta tags. What you do need is schema.

Note also that the layout, structure, content, navigation, trustmarks, calls to action, social proof, reviews, case studies, SEO and everything else is all part of marketing.

 

[Talktime]

Schema is all new to me. I searched online, and from the information shown, I have made the following script, which is a schema for the above example article.

Can anyone comment on whether I did it right? and confirm whether Google favours a schema over meta tags in a webpage.

{
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "LegalService",
"name": "National Bailiff Advice",
"url": "https://www.nationalbailiffadvice.uk/Locksmiths-Bailiffs-Breaking-Entry TMPNewVersion.html",
"logo": "https://www.nationalbailiffadvice.uk/images/logo.png",
"image": "https://www.nationalbailiffadvice.uk/images/bailiff-entry.jpg",
"description": "Expert legal advice on bailiff actions and locksmiths breaking entry in England and Wales. We help individuals and businesses recover damages from improper bailiff behaviour.",
"address": {
"@type": "PostalAddress",
"streetAddress": "22 Wenlock Road",
"addressLocality": "London",
"postalCode": "N1 7GU",
"addressCountry": "GB"
},
"contactPoint": {
"@type": "ContactPoint",
"telephone": "+4407988226048",
"contactType": "Customer Service",
"areaServed": "GB",
"availableLanguage": ["en-GB"]
},
"areaServed": {
"@type": "Place",
"name": ["England", "Wales"]
},
"founder": {
"@type": "Person",
"name": "Jason Bennison",
"jobTitle": "Founder",
"description": "Jason Bennison is a seasoned lawyer with over 16 years of experience in bailiff law and a commitment to helping clients recover damages from improper bailiff actions.",
"image": "https://www.nationalbailiffadvice.uk/images/john-doe.jpg",
"sameAs": [
"https://jasonbennison.com/",
"https://m.facebook.com/jason.bennison.96"
]
},
"author": {
"@type": "Person",
"name": "Jason Bennison",
"jobTitle": "Founder"
},
"mainEntityOfPage": {
"@type": "WebPage",
"@id": "https://www.nationalbailiffadvice.uk/Locksmiths-Bailiffs-Breaking-Entry TMPNewVersion.html"
},
"publisher": {
"@type": "Organization",
"name": "National Bailiff Advice",
"logo": {
"@type": "ImageObject",
"url": "https://www.nationalbailiffadvice.uk/images/logo.png"
}
},
"datePublished": "2023-05-18",
"dateModified": "2023-05-18",
"potentialAction": {
"@type": "SearchAction",
"target": "https://www.nationalbailiffadvice.uk/?s={search_term_string}",
"query-input": "required name=search_term_string"
}
}

 

[Shopclicks]

I have considered WordPress previously but didn't go through it because it requires a multi-gigabyte installation on the server, takes a long time to render the page, and uses AI for its search tags (Yoast SEO) when I am told to avoid AI. I am not trained in WordPress, and my website uses old-fashioned HTML and PHP for faster response times.

This could not be further from correct. If you are going to build a new website, learn more about Wordpress and use it. You still have the option to use your html skills and you can get even faster load speeds. And no I don't recommend Yoast.

 

[fisicx]

Schema is all new to me. I searched online, and from the information shown, I have made the following script, which is a schema for the above example article.

Can anyone comment on whether I did it right? and confirm whether Google favours a schema over meta tags in a webpage.

It’s a start. You need to spend time here:

Schema.org - Schema.org

Schema.org is a set of extensible schemas that enables webmasters to embed structured data on their web pages for use by search engines and other applications.

schema.org

It’s complex and need lots of careful research but very beneficial.

However, do not focus on this to the neglect of everything else that has been suggested.

Content creation is not your strong point. Might be worth getting expert help.

 

[Shopclicks]

Striking the right balance between the number of words used is crucial. I've always avoided writing TL/DR articles, especially considering that many of my clients, particularly those in the low-income sector, have a short attention span.

Content creation is not your strong point. Might be worth getting expert help.

I agree with @fisicx here.

For example, these two short paragraphs:

Installation of a Pre-Pay Gas or Electric Meter: In this scenario, bailiffs may engage locksmiths to facilitate the installation of these meters. This collaboration ensures payment for utility services provided to the property.

Collection of Money Owed to HMRC: When tax debts are owed to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), bailiffs, in conjunction with locksmiths, may be authorised to enter the premises to facilitate the collection of the outstanding tax liabilities.

You don't need to sound like an academic to display your expertise. Use simple English, not what you think makes you sound like an authority. This may well be the way you normally write but you are on the verge of sounding like A.I.

to facilitate the installation = to install
collaboration ensures payment = ...the installation of these meters to ensure ...
in conjunction with locksmiths = with a locksmith

 

[UKSBD]

Despite everything your site is really good and well-liked by Google.

Before you do anything you really need to make a note of all the URL's, think about the phrase they are targeting.

You need to research the phrases that people would actually use, then rewrite the page titles, main headers, content, etc. based on your research. (DO NOT CHANGE THE URL's THOUGH)

If you do decide to move to Wordpress you need to make sure all the URL's you made a note of are either the same or are redirected to the relevant URL on the new system.

You need to really plan the navigation system well and build this in to your menu.

The best person to do this is you not an SEO