SEO, or search engine optimization, falls into three categories, on-page SEO, off-page SEO, and technical SEO. Generally, when we talk about website optimization, we're referring to on-page and technical SEO. Both impact user experience and significantly affect how search engines crawl, index, and rank your website.
Technical SEO includes all the SEO elements not included in on-page or off-page SEO. The most important technical SEO elements, like site speed, page load times, visual stability, mobile-friendliness, safe browsing, and ADA compliance, affect your website's user experience and performance.
If you want your company to show up in search results and generate more leads from Google, you need to work with a digital agency that builds websites on high-performing platforms and optimizes for Core Web Vitals.
On-Page SEO includes SEO elements that affect things you can see on a website or in search results PLUS, things that tell search engines what your website is about and how you provide value to visitors and customers.
Traditional on-page SEO elements like keywords, anchor links, URL structure, and schema markup are important to indexing. Now, however, with Google's BERT and MUM updates, there is significantly more importance on content, sentence structure, and user experience.
That means developing a wide variety of content (text, videos, graphics, white papers, photos, etc.) that addresses and engages customers at every stage of their journey and matches search intent.
The answer to how long SEO takes depends on a lot of factors. Some factors are in our control, like on-page, off-page, and technical SEO. Other factors like Google algorithms and updates are not.
With the right local SEO agency, your business should start to see progress within 3 to 6 months and, with ongoing optimization, a significant increase in quality customers will follow.
The primary goal of SEO is to increase visibility, drive traffic, and improve website conversions - over time. We like to say organic SEO is not a race; it's a marathon. Rankings and results take time. Understanding your highest converting traffic and how customers use your website takes time.
With the right tools and technology, an experienced SEO professional can refine its targeting and content to reach more people with greater interest in your services. With continual optimization, your website will convert more leads and grow significantly more revenue than any other channel. You'll spend less time with customers who are not a good fit and not ready for your service and more time taking care of customers who can help build your reputation and grow your business.
If you're a new business or have no digital footprint, investing in an optimized website and SEO package might seem like a marketing "expense." But, when you consider that 97% of people start their search for local businesses online, SEO is a worthwhile business "investment."
The only way to reach those customers is to be at the top of search results and in Google Maps when they are searching online. That starts with a fully optimized website and ongoing SEO.
Even if you have an established word-of-mouth business, you still need to compete online. When customers look your business up online (and they will,) your business will be displayed among other businesses Google recommends. A business listing with great reviews and a professional website will help you keep those referrals calling your phone.
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Yes, if you want to compete at the top of search results, you'll need the help of an SEO agency with the right tools, the right technology, and experts who specialize in local SEO. Customers expect professionally written, high-quality content and an exceptional experience, and search engines will only deliver websites that provide it. We are long past the days when savvy business owners could do a decent job building and optimizing their websites.
In the hands of an under-experienced marketing person, or a skilled owner dividing time between customers, operations, and marketing, your website and SEO can quickly turn from an investment to an expense. High Level Marketing, is a reputable digital agency, with local SEO and small business marketing experts. Partner with us and grow your business with a fast, technically optimized website for your business, they will provide the ongoing on-page and off-page SEO tactics that generate more qualified leads and reduces your cost of acquisition.