Frequently Asked Questions About SEO
What is SEO?
“Search engine optimization (SEO) is the practice of increasing the quantity and quality of traffic to your website through organic search engine results.” – Moz
SEO can take many forms but is rooted in keyword research, content creation, technical improvements, and building trust – all significant factors that influence how a page or domain will rank on a search engine without paying to show at the top. Search engine optimization should be a mix of on-site, off-site, and technical SEO best practices.
On-site or on-page SEO is the practice of updating content and HTML source code directly on your website. This can include keywords, metadata, structured data, or other markups. Off-site or off-page SEO is the action taken outside of your website to increase your ranking in SERPs. Local SEO refers to managing business listings and can also be grouped in off-site SEO. Technical SEO refers to how your website performs and improvements needed based on a site audit. See our Web Audit Series blog posts for more information on what audits entail.
Do all businesses need SEO?
Do you need SEO to have a fantastic product or service? No. Do you need SEO to drive traffic to your website to sell that product or service? Yes. Even among seemingly niche areas like “St. Louis real estate agents,” competition to rank in search results is fierce. SEO is needed to outshine your competitors and get eyes on your brand. Here are a few stats to prove why it’s crucial to rank highly in search results:
- The top page listed in a Google search has an average click-through rate of 32%. – Search Engine Journal
- Nearly one-third of consumers in the U.S. use the internet to search for local businesses every day. – Statista
- 75% of people never scroll past the first page of search engines. – HubSpot
Without implementing an SEO strategy, your best chance of ranking for relevant search terms for your business is by running paid search ads. SEO helps maximize the benefits of search engines and their algorithms as another channel in your marketing mix. The best SEO strategy for your business depends on your unique needs and industry challenges.
How much do SEO services cost?
SEO services can range wildly in costs, even within the United States. You can choose to hire a freelancer or an agency, which can mean an hourly rate or a set monthly retainer. SEO pricing isn’t standardized because “SEO services” vary significantly in scope between providers. To give you an idea of SEO cost, small businesses that spent under $500 per month on SEO were less satisfied with their results than those that spent over $500 a month.
Essentially, our bid is based on how many hours we think it will take to do your project right the first time. SEO is truly one of those areas where you get what you pay for. If someone gives you a number that is too good to be true, it probably is. You may find the content is not high-quality, there is no research involved, or they use black hat tactics that get penalized by search engines.
Why choose a St. Louis SEO team?
SEO for your business may look completely different from your neighboring businesses’ SEO needs or even your competitors. Still, it should be a top priority for your marketing efforts. Although SEO is important on its own, it should work cohesively with the rest of your marketing efforts to help achieve your business goals.
Our values are communication, craftsmanship, and transparency. We approach SEO the same way – we communicate with you to understand your strengths and pain points, then strategize and build the right solution just for you. We also do ongoing reporting so that you can see your results along the way. If you need SEO from a trusted local team, reach out, and we’ll be happy to answer your questions!