You hear a lot of talk about new digital marketing trends, but one stands out as the hottest; SEO. At least, so we're told. Did you know that 28% of businesses still don't have a website, let alone an SEO strategy?
Luckily for you, that means there isn't much standing in your way from ranking at the top of search engine positions. You just need the right help. Let's talk about what professional SEO services can do for you and your business!
What Is SEO?
Briefly, let's discuss what SEO is. Search engine optimization is the process of optimizing the content on your website to rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs). Essentially, the goal is to be seen by more users organically when they search for keywords that are relevant to your industry.
This is one of the best strategies for building positive brand awareness, new customers, and more. By appearing in the organic results, users will likely trust your content more than paid advertisements. Believe it or not, 94% of users skip over the search ads in favor of the organic results.
Over time, this strategy can help decrease your dependence on ads and build a new strategy with higher conversion rates. You just need the right services!
What Do SEO Services Include?
In theory, SEO is free, right? Technically, yes. If you have the means of carrying out an entire SEO strategy yourself, then it's entirely free.
However, SEO takes a lot of time and consistency to come to fruition, and a lot of research to get it right. Without professional SEO services, you'll be left with a "guessing game" and a lot of wondering if your strategy will ever work. That's why SEO services are so popular, so let's see exactly what they offer.
Keep in mind that different SEO companies will offer different services, but these are some of the most common!
Site Audits
In most cases, SEO agencies will offer some type of website audit. Without that, they may be building a house on a broken foundation, so to speak.
By auditing your website's existing content using various SEO tools, they can spot issues within your website's code, UX/UI design, or servers. Without an understanding of what needs fixing, it's challenging to build a successful SEO strategy.
Web Design Services
After a site audit, some agencies will offer web design services. Not all SEO agencies work with web design, but they really should. Your website is the foundation of your entire digital marketing strategy, and Google uses over 200 ranking factors dedicated to the quality of your website.
If they don't directly offer web design services, they may refer you to an affiliate. However, having a one-stop shop and one line of communication is far more beneficial for an SEO strategy!
Keyword Research
Keywords are essential for any SEO strategy, as they're the primary factor that matches users with your content. With proper keyword research, you can greatly expand your keyword strategy to find your target audience organically as much as possible.
There are obvious keywords in every industry like "cybersecurity" or "used car". While these short-tail keywords have high search volume, they also have a lot of competition. It's unlikely a new strategy will see any success when only using these types of keywords.
However, with a diverse list of long-tail keywords, you can greatly expand your reach to the most relevant users. Users who search for a word like "car" could do so for hundreds of reasons. Conversely, users who search for "used Camry near me" are far more likely to convert.
Diversifying your keywords is essential for long-term success, and that starts with thorough keyword research and competitor analysis!
Content Marketing
Some SEO agencies will offer graphic design, video production, and more. However, most managed SEO services will offer blog-writing services. Blogging is the most common form of content marketing because it's the easiest to start, the easiest for Google to index, and the most likely for users to click on.
The reason content marketing is so important for your SEO strategy is simple; how else will users find you? If you only have 5 pages on your website, how will anyone find them without searching your business name and "contact page". In most cases, they won't.
From a user's perspective, how likely are you to search for brands you've never heard of? Most of us typically search for answers to questions. Well, that's where content marketing comes in.
By offering answers to relevant questions, you'll have a unique opportunity to build organic traffic, establish trust, provide useful and engaging information, and promote your products or services as a solution.
For example, a mechanic could have an article about "how to change the transmission fluid on a Subaru Outback". From there, they could go through the details step by step, note all of the pain points involved in the process, and position their services as the solution. With a strong call to action (CTA), they can then direct traffic to their services page.
Link-Building
Some services may offer link-building services, but you have to be wary of who you choose. Organic link-building is a great way to boost your domain authority, but some of the "blackhat" tactics can harm your strategy in the long run.
If someone is offering you "1000 backlinks in 2 weeks", then you should stay away from them. Scammers and blackhat tactics are a major problem in the industry, and they'll only serve as a waste of your money.
The point of link-building is to show Google that you're a credible resource. Google can't fact-check everything on the internet, so they rely on other sites to vouch for your credibility by linking to your content. The more of these quality backlinks you build over time, the better.
However, link-building isn't always necessary. With a quality website and a killer content marketing strategy, you should build organic backlinks over time. If you want a boost, then professional (and organic) link-building services can help you.
Local SEO Services
Local directory listings, Google Maps listings, and location-specific keywords. These are just a few aspects that separate local SEO from national or international SEO. If your business relies on local traffic, you'll require different services than an eCommerce store or online blog.
Benefits of Hiring an SEO Company
Now that you understand what's included in SEO services, you can see why SEO is so valuable. SEO covers a lot of niches within your online presence, which offers plenty of benefits to your bottom line. Here are just a few!
Faster Returns
There's a learning curve with SEO, and it's unlikely that a DIY strategy will see results nearly as quickly as with professional services. If you want to build your SEO strategy from scratch, then professional SEO services are the way to go.
Long-Lasting Results
Not only will you see results quicker, but those results last for a long time. Once you have content on your website, it's yours to keep, and there's no limit to how much you can earn from it.
Even one successful page that ranks at the top of a Google search with decent search volume can keep a business afloat for years to come on its own. This can help you loosen your reliance on PPC ads and other paid marketing tactics.
Professional Web Design
If you want to build positive brand awareness, establish a brand identity, and make better conversions, then professional web design services are the way to go. SEO and UX go hand-in-hand on everything, so a boost to your SEO will ultimately help your other digital marketing strategies!
Marketing Integration
By improving your website, you'll see a noticeable difference in conversion rates on your ads, email, social media, and other campaigns. Any campaign that directs traffic to your website will see better results with an optimized site.
High ROI
Professional SEO services typically come with a higher ROI than paid ads, and why wouldn't they? Ads charge you for every click, so without a high conversion rate, they can quickly become money sinks. However, there's no limit to your earnings with SEO, as long as you build a strong foundation!
Choose the Right Professional SEO Services Today
Now that you know what professional SEO services can do for your business, why wait? The sooner you find an agency that offers the services you need, the sooner you can reap the rewards mentioned above and Outsource Digital Marketing. SEO takes time to come to fruition, but the rewards last indefinitely, so there's no time to waste!
Stay up to date with our latest digital marketing tips, and feel free to contact us with any questions or for help with your SEO strategy!