Many business owners are so busy and wrapped up growing their company that it is often hard to keep up with the latest marketing trends, including Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Unfortunately what happens is that they often hear bits and pieces about SEO and believe it to be the truth. Let me explain a few things about SEO that are NOT true.
SEO DOESN’T WORK
This is often what I hear from people that hired a less than reputable SEO Company, or unfortunately had a bad experience. Does expanding your presence online work? YES. Does making it easier for your clients to be found online work? YES. Here are excerpts from emails I received from 3 of my SEO clients this week:
- HVAC Contractor: Hey Tyson, things are great the phone is starting to ring got a couple of calls in the past five days (I’ve been working with the client 1.5 months)
- DENTIST: Had a patient come in this morning who said she looked us up online and we had some good reviews and she lives close, no other contact with existing patients. That’s a “cold call” type of patient, which are rare for us. But that’s the kind we would be pursuing with the internet presence.(Been working with this client 3 months)
- LANDSCAPER: Things have been very busy around here the last few days. Overall, things must be working since I have been running around meeting people and cranking out bids. Hopefully, someone will sign a contract soon.(His organic traffic is up 50% in the past month). (Been working with this client for 3 months)
SEO done incorrectly or using ‘blackhat’ methods doesn’t work long-term. SEO done by incompetent firms or scammers doesn’t work either. But SEO done by a professional that knows what he or she is doing? You better believe it works.
SEO IS EASY
The perception is often that anybody can do SEO and get the same results as an SEO Professional. While it is true anybody can ‘do SEO’ if they put in the time it takes to learn. To be truly good at it takes a serious amount of dedication that most people don’t have the time and desire that it takes. Anybody can paint a house right? Yes if they undergo the proper training. Anybody can fill a cavity right? Yes if they go to the right amount of schooling.
It is the same with SEO. To learn it yourself be prepared to spend hours and hours learning and implementing, and then hours and hours keeping up on the latest algorithm updates and the latest trends, etc. Or, hire a pro
fessional SEO consultant and you’ll most likely get better results AND you’ll free up your own time to build your business using the strengths that you currently have.
ALL SEO IS CREATED EQUAL
Just because you received a quote for SEO in the past for X amount of dollars, that does not mean that that is necessarily the appropriate price for SEO for your business. SEO prices vary so greatly and SEO methods can vary greatly.
I’ve worked on clients sites (the HVAC and Landscaper above) who have previously worked with SEO companies. They paid considerable amounts of money ($500+ per month) and weren’t getting results. They moved over to my business and both of them within a couple months were seeing the effects of the work I am doing. So, don’t think that just because one company offers SEO, that they speak for all companies and you will get the same results with each company.
Need some help with your local SEO? Mention this article and I’ll give you a special discount.