Social media is everywhere today, and its easy to rely on it to drive traffic to your website. But it can be overused, making it difficult to stand out. Only 23% of businesses say they are satisfied with the results of their social media marketing efforts. (Source: Social Media Examiner)Your website is your most valuable asset, but its often underutilized.  Here are 11 proven strategies to get more visitors to your website and take better advantage of this powerful marketing tool:1.     Crafting High-Quality ContentHigh-quality content is the foundation of your website. Its what draws visitors in, keeps them engaged, and helps you establish yourself as a trusted expert in your field. It also makes your website more visible in search engine results, meaning more people will find you when they look for your product or services.             Actions To Take:        Research your target audiences interests and pain pointsHigh-quality content can help you generate 55% more traffic to your website. (Source: HubSpot)         Create informative, valuable, and well-researched contentEngaging content generates 3 times more leads than paid search. (Source: Content Marketing Institute)        Publish consistently to keep your audience engaged2.     Understanding Your AudienceTake the time to get to know your audience. What are their pain points? What kind of content do they find helpful? What are their goals? Once you understand their needs, you can create content that speaks directly to them. As a result, your visitors will be more likely to return, which can lead to increased brand awareness, trust, and sales. Actions To Take:        Conduct audience research to identify demographics and preferences80% of consumers are more likely to do business with a company that understands their needs. (Source: Salesforce)         Create user personas to guide content creation        Seek feedback through surveys and engagement metrics60% are willing to pay more for products and services from companies that understand their needs. (Source: McKinsey & Company) 3.     Providing Helpful SolutionsTrust is essential for any business. One of the best ways to build trust is to solve your audiences problems. When you do this, you show that you understand their needs and that youre an expert in your field. This makes them more likely to return to your site and refer you to others. Actions To Take:        Identify common pain points within your niche        Craft content that offers practical solutions75% of consumers say theyre more likely to trust a company that creates informative content. (Source: Edelman Trust Barometer)         Encourage user engagement and feedback for continuous improvement4.     Embracing Long-form ContentSearch engines love long-form content because it provides more value to users. You should love long-form content because it allows you to showcase your expertise and provide your readers with in-depth insights they cant find anywhere else.            Actions To Take:        Explore comprehensive topics related to your niche        Aim for in-depth articles exceeding 1000 wordsBlog posts between 2,000 and 2,500 words drive the best SEO results. (Source: SEMrush)        Include rich multimedia elements to enhance user experience5.     Master Guest PostingGuest posting is a great way to improve your website rankings through backlinks, reach a new audience, and build your credibility. Why?Backlinks are links from other websites to your own. Theyre one of the most important factors in search engine rankings. Guest posting gives you a stamp of approval from other websites, which can boost your search engine results. The average first-page ranking result on Google has over 3,800 backlinks. (Source: Ahrefs)Guest posting exposes your brand to a new audience, making it more likely they will visit your website to learn more about what you have to offer. Finally, guest posting can help you build credibility in your industry. When you write high-quality content for other websites, youre showing that youre an expert in your field. Actions To Take:        Find websites in your niche that are trusted and reliable sources of information        Craft valuable guest posts with a link back to your siteBusinesses that guest blog regularly generate 55% more traffic to their websites than those that dont. (Source: HubSpot)        Foster relationships with other bloggers for future opportunities6.     Building an Email ListHaving an up-to-date email list is like having a direct line of communication with your customer. Its one of the best ways to stay in touch, share new content, and drive traffic to your website. When someone subscribes to your email list, theyre telling you they want to hear from you, so send them engaging and valuable content. Actions To Take:        Offer incentives for email sign-ups        Send regular newsletters and updatesRelevant and timely email marketing can help you increase sales by up to 150%. (Source: OptinMonster)        Segment your list for targeted messaging7.     Navigating the SEO (Search Engine Optimization) LandscapeBy optimizing your website and content for search engines, you can boost your visibility, attract more visitors, and generate better brand awareness, quality leads, and more sales. Seniors Bue Book can provide you with keyword research (for you and your competitors) and share with you how your website is performing. Together, we will strategize a plan to boost your results. 93% of online traffic comes from search engine results. (Source: SEMrush)8.     Analyzing Competitor StrategiesStudying competitors websites can unveil effective SEO strategies and content ideas. What keywords are they targeting? What kind of content are they creating? Analyze their backlinks. Dont just copy your competitors! Instead, use their strategies as inspiration to develop your own unique approach. Actions To Take:        Identify your main competitors in the niche        Analyze their keyword choices and content topics, using one of the keyword research tools previously mentioned (SEMrush, Ahrefs, etc.)        Adapt successful strategies to your own content plan9.     Leverage Local SEOLocal SEO can help your business get more website traffic, especially if you have a physical location or serve a specific geographic area.  It ranks your website higher in local search results, making it easier for potential customers in your area to find you.Additionally, it will help improve brand awareness and build trust with potential customers. 76% of consumers use local search to find businesses. (Source: BrightLocal) Actions To Take:        Claim and optimize your Google My Business listing        Encourage customers to leave reviews        Collect and showcase positive local reviews        Create location-specific content and landing pages10. Commenting on Industry BlogsCommenting on other industry blogs can lead to backlinks, exposure, and referral traffic.  Its a great way to get your name and website in front of people who are interested in the same topics as you.When you offer insightful and informative comments, you establish yourself as an expert in your field, and people are more likely to visit your website to learn more. Dont just comment to promote your own website! Instead, focus on adding value to the discussion. Actions To Take:        Engage with relevant industry blogs and websites        Add insightful comments that contribute to the discussion        Include a link to your website when relevant11. Creating Engaging MultimediaMultimedia content enhances user engagement and keeps visitors on your site longer.Actions To Take:        Incorporate videos, infographics, and podcasts91% of consumers want to see more online videos from brands. (Source: HubSpot)96% have watched an explainer video to learn more about a product. (Source: HubSpot)        Ensure multimedia elements are relevant and informative        Optimize multimedia for quick loading and ease of useBONUS TIP: Consistency and PatienceIt is important to be consistent with your SEO strategies and patient with the results.  There is no quick fix. It will take time and effort to see consistent traffic growth. Tracking your website traffic can help you understand how visitors find you, what pages they visit, and how long they stay on your site. SEO can be tricky, but its worth understanding and learning if you want to get more people to visit your website and grow your business. Actions To Take:        Develop a content calendar for consistent publishing        Continuously monitor and adjust your strategies        Understand that significant traffic growth may take time86% of businesses use web analytics tools to track their website traffic (Source: Statista) with the most common tool used by businesses being Google Analytics. (Source: W3Techs)Conclusion:You now have eleven proven strategies to increase website traffic without social media. But remember, there is no quick fix.  It will take time and effort to drive sustainable traffic to your website. Dont be afraid to experiment and try new things. What works for one website may not work for another. The best way to find out what works for you is to test different strategies and track your results. Written by Patty Toner, Director of Marketing, Seniors Blue Book of Greater Pittsburgh. You can contact her at patty@seniorsbluebook.com.  

What is Medicares Open Enrollment Period?From Oct. 15 to Dec. 7 each year, its when Medicare beneficiaries can make changes to their Medicare Advantage or Medicare Part D Prescription Drug coverage for the coming year.Why is open enrollment and reviewing my plan so important?Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D Prescription Drug plans can change each year, meaning the amounts you pay in premiums and deductibles could increase. Insurance carriers also can change their drug formularies, meaning a drug that costs you a few dollars each month could double or triple in price next year if dropped from your carriers formulary. Reviewing your plans is one of the best ways to manage your long-term retirement plan because you can identify any changes that could add up expenses over time, or that could quickly lead to financial hardship. Plus, you could even find a plan with better coverage.Can I change my Medicare Supplement during open enrollment?Yes, if you have a Medicare Supplement plan instead of Medicare Advantage, it can be a good idea to review your plan because Medicare Supplement premiums and plans also can change. However, be advised that switching Medicare Supplement policies could require you to submit to a medical underwriting process that could result in a higher rate or denial based on its findings.Why is an annual review of my Medicare Part D Prescription Drug coverage especially important each year? If you have new medications, have switched medications or your insurance carrier changes its drug formulary, your costs could skyrocket if you dont carefully review your current plan. And switching to a plan because you can save on the monthly premium could be costly, too. The plans with the lowest premiums are not always the better financial choice. The cost of one months worth of one drug thats not on your plans formulary could exceed an entire years worth of your monthly premiums. Many plans now have diabetes prescriptions for $35 even through the coverage gap.I can help simplify your Medicare plan choices and evaluate the right plan for YOU.Editors Note: Crystal A. Manning Licensed Medicare Advisor 412-716-4942 or crystalmanning33@gmail.com

If you're looking to collect life insurance proceeds as the policys beneficiary, the process is fairly simple. However, during the emotional period immediately following a loved ones death, it can feel as if your entire world is falling apart, so its helpful to understand exactly what steps you need to take to access the insurance funds as quickly and easily as possible.Not to mention, if youve been dependent on the person who died for financial support and/or you are responsible for paying for the funeral or other expenses, the need to access insurance money can be downright urgent. Plus, unlike other assets, an estates executor typically isnt involved with collecting life insurance proceeds, since benefits pass directly to a beneficiary, so this is something you will need to handle yourself. With this in mind, weve outlined the typical procedure for claiming and collecting life insurance proceeds, along with discussing how beneficiaries can deal with common hiccups in the process. However, because all life insurance policies are different and some involve more complexities than others, consult with us, your Personal Family Lawyer if you need any support or guidance.Filing A ClaimDeath benefits are not automatically paid out from a life insurance policy. In order to collect the proceeds, you must first file a claim with the life insurance company. But before you start the claims process, you must first identify the beneficiary of the policy: are you the beneficiary, or is the policy set up to be paid to a trust?We often recommend that life insurance proceeds be paid to a trust, not outright to a beneficiary. This way, the life insurance proceeds are protected from lawsuits, creditors, and even a divorce that a beneficiary may be involved with at the time they collect the funds.In the event a trust is the beneficiary, contact us, your Personal Family Lawyer, so we can create a certificate of trust that you (or the trustee, if the trustee is someone other than you) can send to the life insurance company, along with a death certificate, when it becomes available.In any case, you (or the trustee) will notify the insurance company of the policyholders death, either by contacting a local agent or by following the instructions on the insurance companys website. If the policy was provided through an employer, you may need to contact the insureds workplace first, so they can put you in touch with the appropriate insurance representative.Many insurance companies allow you to report the death over the phone or by sending in a simple form and do not require the actual death certificate at this stage. Depending on the cause of death, it can sometimes take weeks for the death certificate to be available, so this simplified reporting option can dramatically speed up the process.From there, the insurance company typically sends the beneficiary more detailed forms to fill out, along with further instructions about how to proceed. Some of the information youre likely to be asked to provide during the claims process include the insureds date of birth, date and place of death, their Social Security number, marital status, address, as well as other personal data.Your states vital records office creates the death certificate, and it will either send the certificate directly to you or route it through your funeral/mortuary provider. Once youve received a certified copy of the death certificate, youll need to send it to the insurance company, along with all of the other forms the insurance company requires you to complete.Multiple BeneficiariesIf more than one adult beneficiary was named, each person should provide his or her own signed and notarized claim form. If any of the primary beneficiaries died before the policyholder, an alternate/contingent beneficiary can claim the proceeds. In that case, however, he or she will need to send in the death certificates of both the policyholder and the primary beneficiary.Minor BeneficiariesAlthough policyholders are free to name anyone as a beneficiary, when minor children are named, it creates serious complications, since insurance companies will not allow a minor to receive life insurance benefits directly until they reach the age of majority, which varies between statesin some its 18, and others its 21.If a minor child is named as a beneficiary, you would need to go to court to be named as the child's legal guardian in order to manage the funds until the child comes of ageand this is the case even if youre the childs natural parent. This is because unless you are specifically named as the guardian of the minors estate, you are not automatically considered the guardian of the childs financial assets, even as their parent. This is why you should never name a minor child as a life insurance beneficiary, even as a backup to the primary beneficiary. Rather than naming a minor as the beneficiary, its often better to set up a trust to receive the proceeds. In that case, the proceeds are paid into the trust, and whomever is named as trustee will collect the insurance proceeds and manage the funds for the childs benefit until he or she comes of age. Moreover, within the terms of the trust, you can also spell out exactly how youd like the trustee to manage the money for the child and even how the child can use the funds once theyve reached adulthood.In any case, you should consult with us, your Personal Family Lawyer to determine the best options for passing on your life insurance benefits and other assets to minor children. Insurance Claim PaymentsProvided you fill out the forms properly and include a certified copy of the death certificate, insurance companies typically pay out life insurance claims fairly quickly. In fact, some claims are paid within one to two weeks of the start of the process, and rarely do claims take more than 60 days to be paid. Most insurance companies will offer you the option to collect the proceeds via a mailed check or transfer the funds electronically directly to your account.Delayed PayoutsThe payout of life insurance proceeds can be delayed for a number of reasons. Beneficiaries often face delays if the policyholder dies within two years of the policy being issued. This is due to the fact that most life insurance policies contain a contestability period. Most contestability periods are typically between one to two years, and if the insured dies during this period, the insurance company can investigate the claim to ensure that the policyholder didnt commit fraud on the policy application by lying about underlying health problems, family medical history, or other conditions.That said, provided the insurance company doesnt discover fraud or other issues with the application, it will most likely pay the claim once the investigation is wrapped up. If problems with the application are discovered, the insurance company might pay a reduced benefit or even deny the claim, depending on what is uncovered.Payout may also be delayed when homicide is determined to be the insureds cause of death and the beneficiary is a suspect. In this case, the payout is typically delayed until the beneficiary is cleared of any involvement in the insureds death. A few other common reasons insurance payouts may be delayed include:The insured committed suicide within two years of the policy being issued.The insured died during the course of illegal or criminal activity, such as a robbery or driving while intoxicated.The insured omitted risky activities, such as smoking or skydiving, on the policy application.Additional InformationSometimes an insurance company will request you to send in a completed W-9 form (Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification) from the IRS in order to process a claim. Most of the time, a W-9 is requested if there is some question or issue with the records, such as having an address provided in a claim form that doesnt match the one on file.That said, a W-9 is simply a way for the insurance company to verify certain information in order to prevent fraud, so dont be alarmed if youre asked for one. This is a common verification practice, and it doesnt automatically mean the company suspects you of fraud or plans to deny your claim.Were Here To HelpWhile collecting life insurance proceeds is often a simple process, dont hesitate to reach out to us if you have questions or need support in any way. As your Personal Family Lawyer, we are here to ensure the process goes as smoothly as possible for you during what is likely to be an extremely trying time. Contact us today to learn more.This article is a service of Sharek Law Office, LLC. We dont just draft documents; we ensure you make informed and empowered decisions about life and death, for yourself and the people you love. That's why we offer a Life and Legacy Planning Session, during which you will get more financially organized than youve ever been before, and make all the best choices for the people you love. You can begin by calling our office today to schedule a Life and Legacy Planning Session and mention "this article that was listed on SeniorsBlueBook.com" to find out how to get this $750 session at no charge.

The constant demands on your time.  The never-ending worries. The kind of stress that wakes you up in the middle of the night. Does finding balance while juggling the demands of work, family, and caring for aging parents sound overwhelming?  Where do you even start to look for answers?At Seniors Blue Book we understand your challenges.  We are committed to providing you with the resources you need to navigate these issues. With years of expertise in elder care and a deep understanding of the emotional and logistical elements involved, we are your go-to resource and companion on this journey.Our comprehensive directory of local resources is available 24/7 to make sure you have the knowledge and guidance to navigate the challenges of caring for your aging loved ones:- Free Printed Community Resource Guide with all the resources you need- Chat for free with a Resource Specialist on our Free Referral Line at 412-551-5951 or on our Live Chat on our website- Online educational articles and videos to walk you through key topics- A monthly newsletter to keep you up-to-date on the latest information- An Events Calendar filled with local programming and education, support groups, health fairs, and webinarsAs your trusted resource on this important journey, we will share practical tips, key questions you need to ask along the way, and offer the compassionate guidance of a supportive community so you can make informed decisions that work for you and your family.When it feels like youre carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders, remember that you are not alone. Seniors Blue Book is your trusted companion, guiding you through the complexities of caregiving, and offering a compassionate hand along the way so you can restore balance in your life.Your role as a caregiver is invaluable and you deserve the support and guidance to succeed. Seniors Blue Book is here for you, every step of the way.Subscribe to our monthly newsletter today and make sure you have these valuable resources and support for your caregiving journey by calling 412-551-5951.This article was written by Patty Toner, Director of Marketing with Seniors Blue Book Greater Pittsburgh Area.  She can be reached at Patty@SeniorsBlueBook.com.  Visit our local page at www.SBBPgh.com.