Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
When it comes to SEO, most business owners have one of three core beliefs:
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SEO is crucial to business success and long-term growth.
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SEO is only for big businesses that can afford a massive investment.
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SEO is a racket the people who offer it shouldn't be trusted.
And to tell you the truth, it's not hard to find a multitude of people to back up any of those beliefs.
Needless to say, we at Highway One Marketing are believers in theory #1, and if you're here reading this, you're at least open to the idea that SEO has its place in your marketing mix.
SEO services typically focus on Google search due to it having a majority of the total search market share. Google's strategy for its search engine is simple: when a user searches for something, provide them with the information that is most likely to answer their question. And even though their calculation that goes into finding "most likely" is secret and extremely complex, it really does boil down to the value that a website provides to a user.
So, if it's that simple, why is SEO so hard to master?
For one, there's a lot of competition out there. In addition to your actual business competitors, you often have to compete with "search competitors" in the form of internet giants like Wikipedia, IMDB, or any government agency that happens to provide info on your industry.
As far as internal factors - the things you can control - it can be really difficult to say something that hasn't already been said, and to present it in a way that users like (or, as Google puts it, "satisfies user intent").
That's where an SEO agency can do some great work for you. It's not just about what you say, but how you say it, where you say it, who backs up what you're saying, etc. The better you can deliver the message, the more it will resonate with your users, and with Google. And as more people find what they're looking for on your website, and share it, and link to it, and tell their friends to look it up, the more Google will realize that you're providing answers and solving problems that others aren't.
Individual tactics like link building, regular blogging, image optimization and others are all important and can be highly impactful, but they all relate back to the bigger picture: Google needs to see that you have what people are looking for.
Highway One Marketing is here to help you show Google that you have what your customers are looking for. If you'd like to get an SEO Audit or discuss strategy, pricing, ROI, or anything else SEO-related, please don't hesitate to reach out for a free consultation!