Wow! Where do I begin? It’s so important that the client and the SEO consultant are on the same page before any website optimization begins. Let’s start by defining SEO. SEO is an acronym for “search engine optimization.” We all want to appear on the first page of Google when customers are searching for our products/services. But let’s be realistic, the first page real estate is limited—only 10 spots.
According to MOZ, Google changes its search algorithm around 500–600 times each year! That’s nearly twice a day!
Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo! Your website is on page 1 of Google!
Let’s talk about what SEO is NOT:
SEO is NOT in the paid section of the SERP (Search Engine Results Page). That’s SEM (Search Engine Marketing) or Pay-per-click (PPC).
SEO is NOT a quick fix.
If you’re looking for immediate results on the search engines, then SEO is not the answer. Try SEM (Search Engine Marketing) or PPC (pay-per-click). SEO is like running a marathon. Slow and steady wins the race.
SEO is NOT a magic wand.
Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo! Your website is on page 1 of Google!
If you think SEO is the magic wand that will magically have your website appear on the first page of the search engines immediately, then clearly you need to understand how SEO works.
How to Set Proper SEO Expectations
Construction Optimize SEO Best Practices
No guarantees
We will never guarantee first position, and we will never guarantee your website or company being ranked before your “competition.” Our ultimate goal is to increase and improve your rankings on the search engines.
No keyword stuffing
Here’s a MYTH: If we use a keyword many times, we will rank higher in the SERPs (Search Engine Results Page). This can actually lead to Google labeling your site as keyword spamming which could lead to an over optimization penalty. We avoid keyword stuffing.
Meta descriptions
In December 2017, Google increased the search results snippets from 160 characters to 320 characters. For our construction clients, we are writing compelling meta descriptions that focuses on project specialization with a call to action.
Related articles:
12 SEO Tips
3 SEO “Strategies” That Once Worked
Secure websites
Google has announced a deadline of July 2018 as the date for when Chrome will begin explicitly warning users if a site is insecure. Every website we build is secure.
Social Media
We create good content for our clients on social media platforms. If you create good content, it will most likely be popular on social media, and people are probably going to like it and link it to — which does boost your rankings.
Transparent Reporting
If at all possible, know where you rank on the search engines before you hire an SEO consultant. If you don’t, you can only measure from the start of the SEO enhancements. We provide our customers monthly reporting.
So in conclusion, SEO is a complex, multidimensional, ever-evolving science. Clear communication and realistic expectations are key to a successful SEO campaign.
