Local SEO Wrap-Up – What to Keep in Mind When Starting Out
Since October, we’ve been discussing local Search Engine Optimization, and before we move on, a reality check is in order.
Sure, viral lightning could strike, but please remember that SEO is a “best practices” kind of thing. Experts predict outcomes based on recorded data, and your mileage may vary, as they say. This is another great reason to set meaningful business goals and measure your own results for data-gathering and personalized predictions.
As you work toward improving your website’s Search Engine Optimization over the months ahead, keep this list handy as a reality check reminder:
Reality Check #1 – SEO takes time
While the world has become blasé about how the internet works, remember that it’s an amazing and complicated machine. Those little changes you make to your website need to be discovered, indexed, and linked appropriately to give you the boost you are trying to achieve. SEO professionals commonly quote a minimum of three to six months before actions see results. Be prepared for this time lag and don’t panic.
Reality Check #2 – Advertising boosts SEO
Effective ads can provide more immediate results and also support your SEO work, if you have the budget. That said, once you stop advertising, your visibility drops just as quickly. Good SEO, however, is an investment that keeps delivering even when you aren’t actively working on it.
Reality Check #3 – SEO is not “set and forget”
Blink, and the internet landscape has changed. This is why you can’t just do SEO and mark it off the list. Once the biggest problems are solved, the work may ease up, but you will always need to reevaluate the competition and tweak your strategy regularly.
Reality Check #4 – Sometimes SEO is not the problem
All the lipstick in the world can’t change a pig, and even great SEO may not make a business successful. Having a really good business plan in hand is vital for ensuring that your product or service is viable and that you are reaching the correct target market. The better your plan, the easier marketing and optimization becomes.
While it’s exciting to imagine how awesome business could be by the end of this new year, hoping for lightning to strike is not the answer. Instead, focus on small, steady steps forward. They may be less dramatic, but they will surely move you toward your goals. If you are ready to move forward, call us today to find out how we can be your SEO partner.
Photo by Tara Winstead
Kate Gingold
I have been writing a blog with web marketing tips and techniques every other week since 2003. In addition to blogging and client content writing, I write books and a blog on local history.
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I have been writing a blog with web marketing tips and techniques every other week since 2003. In addition to blogging and client content writing, I write books and a blog on local history.
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