

Recently, Indigo’s very own Hugo Fernandez was featured in a webinar with Schwab Advisor Services. As CEO of Indigo Marketing Agency and author of The Client Acquisition Blueprint, Hugo has a wide range of knowledge about marketing for financial advisors. He discussed his top tips and tricks for incorporating SEO into your marketing strategy and how to make your website more visible to the A+ clients you’re trying to attract. If you missed the webinar, be sure to check out Hugo’s top takeaways below!
1. Advisors Need a Written Marketing Plan
Just as you would tell your clients that a written financial plan, or written investment policy, is key to reaching financial success, a written marketing plan is the foundation for organic and sustainable lead generation. A common misconception is that advisors who partner with well-known industry leaders (like Schwab) don’t need as much on the marketing side. But the truth is, all advisors need a strong marketing foundation that incorporates your ideal client persona and your value proposition.
Just take a look at the graphic below, which highlights findings from Schwab’s 2021 Benchmarking study. They found that firms with written marketing plans, ideal client personas, and client value propositions saw a remarkable 42% increase in clients and a 45% increase in client assets.
Median results for all firms with $250 million or more in AUM. Past performance is not an indicator of future results. 2022 RIA Benchmarking Study from Charles Schwab, fielded January to March 2022. Study contains self-reported data from 1,218 firms. Participant firms represent various sizes and business models categorized into 7 peer groups by AUM. |
2. Understand the Importance of Keywords, Title Tags, and Meta Descriptions
Did you know that Google uses over 200 ranking factors to determine who and what ends up on the first page of results?! No wonder most advisors feel overwhelmed at the thought of developing an SEO strategy. In today’s digital age, if you are not up to date on the importance of SEO, you will find yourself behind the curve when it comes to client acquisition.
To put it into context, studies show that 95% of prospects first research a firm online before initiating contact. On top of that, 75% of internet users don’t scroll past the first page of search results! Landing on that first page of results is key to reaching prospective clients, but it doesn’t come by happenstance. Keywords, title tags, and meta descriptions are the tools advisors can use to boost their visibility.
Keywords
There are three types of keywords advisors should be familiar with:
- Branded keywords include things like your firm name or advisor name.
- Location-based keywords include geographic inputs that make it easier for local prospects to find you (e.g., Financial advisor in Los Angeles, CA).
- Service and industry keywords are those that indicate your specialty or niche as well as any unique services you provide. (Think: Financial planning for veterans or active-duty service members)
A successful SEO strategy will incorporate all three types of keywords, making sure they’re always geared toward your ideal client and clearly communicating your value proposition.
Title Tags & Meta Descriptions
Title tags and meta descriptions are HTML elements that provide information about a web page to search engines and users. The title tag is the title of a web page that appears on search engine results pages and at the top of the browser tab when the page is open. The meta description is a brief summary of the content that appears below the title tag on search engine results pages.
These elements are important for financial advisors because they are the first thing potential clients see when they search for financial advice online. A well-crafted title tag and meta description can act as attention-grabbers and entice prospects to click on the link to your website.
Make Data-Driven Decisions
As with most things in the financial industry, it’s important that your SEO keywords are coming from a data-driven place. Don’t just take a guess. Instead, be sure to use existing tools to research appropriate keywords and track their performance after implementation.
Google Analytics is a free tool that tracks website traffic and provides insights into user behavior, such as how visitors navigate the site and how long they spend on each page. This data can help you optimize your website for better user experience and engagement. Another useful tool is Google Search Console, which provides data on how your website performs in search results and can identify any technical issues that may be affecting its performance.
Additionally, tools such as Semrush and Ahrefs can provide keyword research, backlink analysis, and competitor analysis.
3. Optimize Your “Off-Page” Content
Off-page content is what you can do outside of your website to improve your SEO and increase visibility in search results. The most impactful strategy financial advisors can take is to optimize their Google Business Profile. This is because Google provides preferential SEO treatment to firms that have registered with Google My Business, even if the actual content of your profile is lacking in terms of SEO. Those who register with GMD and optimize their content will be much more likely to land on the first page of search results.
Take a look at the image below to see how you can better optimize your profile.
First, you’ll want to make sure all your information is up to date and accurate. Business name, address, hours, contact information, and website are critical categories since these are the first things prospective clients will see. Next, be sure to include data-driven keywords in your business description and business category. Lastly, don’t forget to add photos and links to your social profiles. This helps to humanize your profile and makes you much more appealing to prospective clients.
4. Putting it All Together
Implementing a strategic content strategy can have a significant impact on your SEO rankings. The more high-quality, keyword-rich content you produce, the easier it is for search engines to rate your site’s relevance. Content comes in many different forms, including written content, videos, podcasts, and frequently asked questions on your website.
If it sounds overwhelming to create that much content, we suggest focusing on one high-quality piece of content per month that you can post about and email to your contacts. Sustain this content plan for 12 months and track your marketing metrics along the way.
Indigo Can Help
At Indigo Marketing Agency, we specialize in custom marketing solutions for independent financial advisors. From SEO, web copy, and branding, to custom blog posts, webinars, and social posts, we provide start-to-finish marketing services that tell your story. If you have more questions about your SEO strategy, or would like to chat about your marketing needs, reach out to us for a free consultation.