I have been doing SEO for over 17 years. It started out as a hobby. I wanted to make a little money on a website so that I could stay home with my children, but it’s turned into my passion. Before you work with me, I want to explain what SEO is in a way that you understand.
SEO stands for search engine optimization. It is all the things you do to make your website rank better in search engines. It includes on-page optimization, off-page optimization (link building), technical SEO, site speed, and a number of other factors.
Before you work with a web design company that offers SEO services, you should know what SEO is and what it isn’t
Paying a one-time FEE is not SEO
I have looked at tons of web designers’ websites. A lot of web designers offer “search engine optimization”, but what you are really getting is on-page optimization. And, sometimes an initial set up of Google Analytics, and a Google My Business account.
While this is certainly a good start, I want you to understand that a one-time on-page optimization of your website will not make you rank better in Google. I have watched so many business owners that don’t really understand SEO think they are getting and receiving ongoing SEO services. Most web design companies do not provide monthly SEO services and I am not convinced that they even know how to do on-page SEO.
To truly compete in search engines, you need to be working on SEO regularly. Not just once. And, you need to work with someone who knows what they are doing.
Many web designers don’t understand the fundamentals of basic search engine optimization. How do I know this? I have been hired by numerous web designers as an outsource for search engine optimization. Many of them list SEO as one of their website services, yet don’t actually know how to do it. While I don’t have a problem with outsourcing, the services they are offering are usually a one-time optimization of your website. It takes a lot more than this to rank well.
So, what is SEO?
Search engine optimization is not the same as SEM (search engine marketing). A lot of business owners confuse the two. SEM is when you pay to have your website featured in Google (or other search engines). It’s basically an advertisement on Google. If you are paying for SEM, you are not getting organic (FREE) traffic from Google. You are getting a paid ad. As soon you stop paying, you’ll no longer be found in Google.
Search engine optimization (Or SEO) is what you really want! When you pay for SEO services, you are paying to move your website (or pages on your website) up in Google. Once they move up, it may be easier for you to maintain your position in Google.
Search Engine Optimization involves
on-page SEO
There are two parts to search engine optimization, on-page SEO and off-page SEO (or link-building). On-page SEO is probably what you are most familiar with. Basically, when someone optimizes a page (or blog post) for search engines, they do specific things on the page to tell Google what the page is all about. So when Google bots visit the page, they know where the page belongs in its index.
If you would like a better understanding of what’s involved in on-page optimization, see my blog post Actually Easy On-Page SEO.
And Off-page SEO
Off-page optimization is the more challenging aspect of search engine optimization. Off-page SEO is also called link-building. One of the biggest ways Google decides how important a website is is by the number of backlinks it has. Backlinks are just another way of saying some other website is linking to your website. So, if you have a lot of backlinks to your website and your website is on-page optimized for search engines, you will rank better in Google.
There are quite a few other factors that affect how a website ranks in Google like site speed, user experience, site security, and how long someone stays on your site, but the two main things a website needs to rank well is on-page optimization and backlinks.
Sounds simple right?
The principles of search engine optimization are pretty easy to understand, but getting results is not as easy. How do you know what keyword to optimize for? How do you get backlinks? If you’ve tried to do it yourself, you might already see how frustrating, complicated, and time-consuming SEO can be.
I have been doing this for a long time, and I can tell you there is a lot of work that goes into SEO. If you ever want to know why SEO companies charge $500-$1000 a month for their services, it’s because it takes hours and hours of work to get a website to rank well in search engines. Many web design companies are hiring someone like me to do the work and charging you extra to pay for it.
By working with me, you are eliminating the middle man and the extra fees that go with that. As an SEO consultant, I work directly for you. If you found me in a search engine, that’s not coincidence or magic. I am good at SEO and can help your website rank better in Google too.
If you are not working with an SEO company or consultant, you should be. It is an investment in your business, but unlike paying for ads or paying for leads, once you start ranking well organically, you will be getting FREE traffic from Google.
Why should you be working on SEO?
Because your competitors are. Ranking well in Google is a lot like being physically fit. You can’t just do one workout and be in great shape, right? Every month your competitors are improving their position in Google because someone is working on search engine optimization behind the scenes.
I provide information on my blog to help business owners learn about SEO. It is something anyone can learn how to do, but to be really good at it, you need to do it full-time. Most business owners don’t have the time to learn SEO and even if they do, they don’t have the time to commit to working on an SEO campaign.
If you want to learn more about how to rank better in Google, download my FREE badass guide to generating leads from Google. I genuinely like helping business owners succeed in Google. My guide provides a lot of useful information (not fluff like most freebies) to help you get started.
You don’t just magically rank well in Google, but if you want to learn more, follow my blog or follow me on Facebook. And if you’re ready to start getting traffic to your website or business give me a call or text me at (505) 302-5408.
I am Patty Malowney, the creator of Badass Web Goddess. I am an Albuquerque SEO and digital marketing consultant. I started my first internet business in 2004 with a $40 garage sale computer and a whole lot of determination. I sold my first website, JustMommies.com to the dating company eHarmony.com in 2008. My website was acquired by another company where I worked as a consultant and editor until July, 2019.
After encouragement from friends and family, I decided to branch out on my own and start my own consulting business. I offer advice and services to local businesses on how they can rank better in Google.
In addition to running Badass Web Goddess, I am an avid blogger. I run several blogs including my internet marketing blog here at Badass Web Goddess. If you love my blog, Follow Me on Facebook or Twitter!