General SEO questions
Q: What is Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and why do I need it?
A: The definition of what SEO work entails has changed drastically over the years. The components that are needed to host a search engine friendly website has shifted, as well as the algorithms that these websites use to sort the internet. Optimization ensures that your website is not only listed competitively on the major search engines, but is also present in many local business listings, has organized and clear pages, and the content contains those words which can help your sales.
Q: Does this mean I will be ranked #1 in my market?
A: Ranking #1 is nearly impossible, because search results nowadays are organized not only by geographic location, but also based on a person's search history. If someone searches a lot for hunting boots, businesses that sell hunting boots in their area might be clustered closer to #1. Google's ranking system uses numerical placements (with a website ranking 100 is very low for example), so even being in the 10-20 range is superb for your keywords and market.
Q: How soon do I see results with SEO?
A: Usually within 30 days, search engines will have crawled your site enough to know how it has changed. You can "force crawl" using Google, which will re-scan your website. However, this is not an important step as the more your site gets updated with changes, the greater recognition it gets from search engines for content changes. One area in which these companies strive for is improving the speed at which they can index sites, as blogs or articles often get updated on the internet.
Q: Does SEO include social media optimization as well?
A: Generally, no. Optimizers are not social media experts (though they can be trained to work with both). They focus on ensuring that you reach the right audience, and certainly social media-based targeting could be a part of that (Google plus places, local review aggregation), however they do not play a major importance in SEO unless you have purchased the proper add-on package for this work.
Q: Isn't SEO dead?
A: As long as humans are not the ones feeding results to a search engine, this field will always exist. Old techniques for performing SEO have certainly changed, and those familiar with "old-school" tactics might see the new challenges as having "killed" the industry. We assure you that the complexities of the internet will always ensure that new trends will come about which will push your site and business forward.
Q: What is site and analyzing a target audience refer to?
A: When we create your initial report, we look at who your target audience might be, and how your site "stacks up" against the competition and in quality. These include aspects focusing on broken links or images, pages that might use too many keywords, and other signs that computers could see as spammy. Your target audience will be specifically geared to your business and those products which people in YOUR area might be searching for, so defining it also requires tools and expertise which our optimizers have at their disposal.
Q: What are keywords?
A: Keywords play a less significant importance in SEO, but are nevertheless integral to a good website. There are multiple types of keywords people might use to search for a product or specific information. Keyword research determines which ones have the best competition and bid, and how often competitors use them when ranking their sites in that category.
