Surely you know by now that your business must be online to have any relevance in today’s society. Nowadays, most consumers visit the internet first in deciding what to buy and who to buy from. Up until a few years ago, it was enough to simply have a well designed business website. That’s all it took to set you apart from your online competition. Now, every business has a website so it’s left up to you to find something else to put you ahead of the crowd. What you need is successful search engine optimization (SEO).
SEO is an internet marketing strategy used to improve your website’s ranking in organic search engine results. Achieving the rank you desire can be hard work. As a business owner, you likely already have a lot on your plate. You probably do not have time to become an SEO expert overnight. This is why hiring an SEO consultant is important.
A reputable SEO consultant will work diligently to ensure that your website has everything it takes to compete with your niche market’s top rankers in search engine results. Look for a consultant that has your company’s best interest in mind. Let the consultant know exactly what is it that you expect from their SEO services. Set realistic goals. Do not feel discouraged if your site isn’t immediately appearing on the first search results page. Successful SEO takes time. If a consultant is promising overnight results, beware. The average time span that you want to give a consultant to prove their SEO capabilities is about 12 months. By this time, your consultant should have something to show for their efforts.
On a basic level, here are a few things your consultant should know:
On-site optimization: Any legitimate SEO consultant knows the importance of content. The content on your website should be fresh and relevant to your niche market. This content must be regularly updated. Regularly updated content increases your chances of ranking highly in search engines. Many consultants recommend you using a content management system (CMS) such as WordPress, Joomla or Drupal to construct your website. These CMS notify search engines each time the content on your page is updated. You also want to be sure that your page titles and meta-descriptions correspond with your content.
Off Site Optimization: A great amount of SEO work is done off-site. This includes article syndication and marketing, directory submissions, social media optimization, press releases, and link building. With link building, reputable websites link back to your website and these links serve as votes for your site. Credible votes can help to improve your standing in search results.
Your consultant should be focused on these aspects of SEO and more. To speak with an SEO professional, contact Optimum7 today!
