What is SEO?
SEO stands for search engine optimization and is defined by the techniques that improve a website’s ranking in search engine results pages (SERPs). The more comprehensive your SEO, the more likely your site will appear to people actively looking for solutions that your product or service can provide.
Due to constant algorithmic revisions by search engines, the techniques used to decide how SEO functions also change. However, by optimizing your web pages, conducting accurate keyword searches and earning inbound links (sometimes called backlinks), you give yourself the best chance of being found by potential clients.
SEO is crucial because it ensures that your audience’s biggest questions are answered, and only relevant content is shown to prospective customers.
Does my website need SEO?
Yes. At the very least, you want your website to be found when potential customers are searching for your brand. When getting found is half the battle, SEO plays a crucial role if you sell your services or products on your website. Think of a search query as a highway to your offering. If your competitors use similar keywords, this highway becomes a traffic jam. Optimizing your site for SEO and using keyword-rich content puts you at the front of the queue, and you are more likely to have engagement.
Research shows that 75% of people never scroll past the first page after undertaking a search query. So, it stands to reason that if your business is not on that first page, you miss out on a lot of potential traffic.
It is possible that your barrier to entry is high because you sell a product or service that is also sold by a much larger competitor such as Amazon. At the very least, you still want to rank for your brand name or product name so that people can find you after your networking and advertising efforts.
How long does it take for SEO to work?
Although there is no concrete answer, research suggests that SEO takes around six months to show an increase in traffic, while a more comprehensive SEO strategy starts to take effect between 12 and 24 months.
Results depend on several factors such as:
- The content you have already.
- The competitiveness of the keywords you are targeting.
- How established your brand is.
Of course, the above estimate is precisely that—an estimate. Sites without optimization require more dedication and, therefore, could take longer to see the effects. In addition, SE is never ‘done’. SEO is an ongoing process that requires multiple iterations and constant tweaking.
What is the financial benefit?
Employing an organic SEO strategy can take some time to bear fruit, but when it does, you can rank highly without having to pay expensive advertising costs. All you will need to do is continue to create high-quality content, create new backlinks from relevant websites, and ensure your site is technically optimal to stay highly ranked.
Can you guarantee SEO Rankings?
No, and you should run for the hills if an SEO company claims they can. Google themselves expressly warn against companies who claim to have a magic pill when it comes to SEO.
Papaya Search endeavors to boost our client’s confidence with education, clear expectations, and business goal alignment to achieve results. While we cannot guarantee top-of-the-page SEO rankings, we can speak to our historical data, evidence of success, and expert credentials.
SEO is a two-way relationship that requires a lot of client input. It is not an undertaking you can just outsource and expect to see results. Remember, no SEO agency invents or administers the algorithms that dictate how search engines display results. However, we stay connected to the latest changes and work with your business to implement the tested strategies that will give you the best opportunity to drive traffic to your site.
How much does SEO cost?
Many factors are considered when determining the cost of SEO. It includes, but is not limited to: the number of pages on the site, the severity of technical issues, and the amount of content necessary, to name a few. At Papaya, we suggest starting with an SEO audit which will provide a roadmap for optimal SEO and give a clearer understanding of the total cost.
What is the difference between SEO & SEM?
SEM (search engine marketing) is the term to describe types of paid search or pay-per-click (PPC) advertising. In contrast, SEO is the process of optimizing your website so that it ranks highly in organic, non-paid SERPs. Together, SEO and SEM fall under the umbrella of what we at Papaya call ‘search marketing’.
SEO is generally divided into three categories:
On-page SEO
This is the method of optimizing your website by using keywords that your target customer search engine queries. It includes your site’s copy, title tags, meta description and webpage URL.
Off-page SEO
This is all about building website authority by creating backlinks to your site. Social media and its interaction with your site are vital factors in off-page SEO.
Technical SEO
It helps search engines crawl and index your site to make it more visible. Performing technical SEO includes making pages load faster and improving the overall site architecture.
Does advertising in Google Ads allow me to do better in SEO?
The short answer is no. Although you might see your organic results spike after running ads on a platform like Google Ads, it is probably because more people know about your business now. A search engine’s algorithm does not favor those who spend money on advertising by giving website owners improved organic results.
However, there is a caveat. If you employ a dual strategy of SEO and PPC, prospective clients may recognize your website’s authority as you occupy more space on the search results page. In addition, using a platform such as Google Ads to run PPC advertising will give you access to more keywords you can use to optimize your organic content.
Organic results receive 90% of all first-page clicks, so although running PPC ads may give you access to quick leads, it is better to ensure your SEO is of a high standard, so PPC complements your overall search marketing strategy.
Can you teach me or my team how to do SEO?
Of course! We thoroughly enjoy educating our clients and empowering them to understand the benefits of SEO. Of course, our dedicated team brings decades of experience to the table and make sure we do all of the heavy lifting for you, so you can sit back and focus on running your business.
We are Goal-oriented
Our overall objective is to help grow your business, so you can quantify your efforts and find ways to do better in the online space. We take pride in our ability to train clients to create content that aligns with search queries, understand keyword gap analysis, and always be available for any issues that may arise.
We recently had a drop in Google rankings and traffic. Can you help us figure out what went wrong?
This is Papaya Search’s bread and butter! We have an outstanding track record of improving businesses’ rankings in search engines like Google.
We make sure your website is:
- Indexed correctly.
- Have not incurred any penalties.
- Are sufficiently optimized for targeted keyword topics.
- Free from outgoing or incoming unnatural links.
- Sufficiently backlinked.
- Optimized for mobile devices.
- Technically sound and load quickly.
Our company’s website is built in Wix, Squarespace, or Weebly. Can you optimize our site?
Wix and Squarespace make it very easy for business owners to build and maintain a website on their own. While both platforms have also made progress in adding features for optimal SEO, they are currently limited in their capabilities for advanced SEO work. Therefore, we do not optimize websites on these platforms. However, if you use WordPress as your content management system, feel free to reach out to us!
