As a thriving SEO company near me in Troy, Michigan, a question I often get from small business owners is, “Can I handle doing my own SEO?” The short answer is yes, absolutely. The longer answer is, well, it’s kind of like cutting your own hair. Some of it is easy, but when you get to the part that you can’t see, it’s more difficult. Actually, many of the basic SEO techniques are not difficult to do, it’s just difficult to do well, and it takes time, energy and effort to learn how to use them well enough to get positive results.
But, with enough time, patience, and the willingness to learn, anyone can take on their own SEO campaign. However, just like any other skill, it requires both time and dedication to get it right. It all boils down to a choice between time and money. If you have the time to learn and apply SEO strategies, you can certainly do it yourself. On the other hand, if time is tight, hiring an expert can save you a lot of frustration and get you results faster.
What You’ll Need to Learn (The Depressing News)
If you want to do the sam eSEO tasks that an expert like 212 Creative, LLC ( A thriving SEO company near me!) does, just know that it involves a broad range of skills and strategies, including:
- Technical SEO: Ensuring your site is structured so search engines can easily crawl and index it.
- On-Page SEO: Optimizing the content and HTML source code of individual pages.
- Off-Page SEO: Building backlinks and increasing your site’s authority through external efforts.
- Content Marketing: Creating valuable, keyword-optimized content to attract and engage your audience.
- Social Media Marketing: Leveraging social proof and engagement to enhance your SEO.
- Link Building and Citations: Building a strong network of links that point to your site.
- Reputation Management: Ensuring your online presence is positive and trustworthy.
Each of these areas requires ongoing attention. You’ll need to keep up with the latest trends, adjust your strategies, and track your results using tools like Google Analytics and Search Console. Sometimes it’s more cost-effective to let a professional handle some tasks, especially if your time is better spent focusing on what you do best—running your business. We always suggest making SEO a part of your regular, on-going marketing budget and just accept that it’s going to be a constant in your business.
The Good News from AN SEO company near me
That being said, as a SEO company near me, we can give you some things you can try right now, without any professional help, that can improve your SEO over time.We will talk about analyzing your website, page load speed, getting social proof, Omni channel marketing and updating old content.
The Foundation of SEO: Your Website
Before diving into SEO, you need to take a hard look at your website. SEO success starts with a well-designed, functional site that offers a great user experience. Your website should cater to both visitors and search engines. Consider these three foundational elements before you dive into SEO:
- Website Design and Functionality: Is your site mobile-friendly, easy to navigate, and visually appealing?
- Sales Plan and Target Market: Does your website speak to your ideal customer? Are you clear on your objectives?
- Brand Message: Is your branding consistent and clear? Does it reflect the value you bring to your market?
Even with top-notch SEO strategies, you won’t see long-term success if visitors land on a poorly-designed website. First impressions matter. If your site looks outdated, is difficult to navigate, or is slow, potential customers will leave, and all your SEO efforts will be for nothing.
Common Website Issues That Hurt SEO
I can’t count the number of times business owners ask for SEO services on websites that are severely outdated or poorly designed. From sites that haven’t been updated in 10 years to those that aren’t mobile-responsive or lack crucial information, these issues make it hard to drive traffic and convert visitors into customers. We have actually had great success creating or updating websites at the same time as we start an SEO campaign.
One of the most significant barriers I see is the attachment some business owners have to old designs. They often cling to websites they built years ago. Maybe there is sentimental value to the old website because their wife or nephew or friend built it for them. Maybe they spent a lot of money on the old website and don’t want to spend any more money on a new one, not realizing how far web standards and customer expectations have evolved.
Pro tip: If your website hasn’t been updated in the last 3 years, as an SEO company near me, I am obligated to tell you, it’s probably time for a refresh. And if it’s been 5 years or more, you’re long overdue for a redesign. In today’s competitive digital landscape, having a professional, modern site is crucial. If you are unsure, contact us at 212creative.com for a free consultation.
Page Load Speed
Page load speed is a critical factor in website performance, directly influencing user experience, search engine rankings, and conversion rates. Research by Google found that as page load time increases from one to three seconds, the probability of a user bouncing rises by 32%, and from one to five seconds, the likelihood increases by 90% ! Faster websites keep users engaged, improve accessibility on mobile devices, and enhance overall satisfaction. A recent study of page load speed (Portent, 2023) found that a site loading within one second has a significantly higher conversion rate than one taking five seconds or more, emphasizing that speed is directly tied to business outcomes. Optimizing load time is essential for retaining visitors and improving search visibility.
You can check your websites page load speed for free with tools like gtmetrix.com. It will give you a grade, lots of data, and even a list of things that you could do to improve your page load speed. If the fixes get too in-depth, give us a call and we can help.
Getting Reviews
Social proof and reputation management play a crucial role in SEO by building trust with both search engines and potential customers. Positive reviews, testimonials, and endorsements act as signals of credibility which search engines like Google factor into their ranking algorithms. Just like when I go to Amazon to buy something, I look at how many reviews a product has and how favorable are the reviews. A study by MOZ found that online reviews account for nearly 15% of how google ranks local businesses. We suggest you work hard and try to get at least 50 reviews for your business in the first year or two.
Omni Channel Marketing
Omni Channel marketing isn’t very mysterious, it just requires some work. In a nutshell, Omni Channel Marketing means to spread the word about your business in several different ways. For example, if you write a bi-monthly blog and post it to your website, that’s good. If you take that blog and make a video of you describing the contents of the article and post it on your youtube channel and FaceBook page, even better. If you can make an infographic out of the content for Instagram or LinkedIn, you really might be making some headway. Then you send all of that, the blog, the video, the infographic, to everyone on your mailing list. That might sound like a lot of work, but a thriving SEO company near me like 212 Creative, LLC would tell you–it’s worth it.
Omni Channel marketing offers significant benefits to SEO by creating a unified and seamless customer experience across multiple platforms, enhancing brand visibility, and driving more traffic to a website. When businesses engage audiences on channels such as social media, email, and search engines in a coordinated manner, they amplify their presence and create multiple touchpoints for users to discover and interact with the brand. This consistency boosts brand awareness, encourages higher engagement, and can organically increase backlinks and social signals, all of which contribute positively to SEO. Here is an informative article that discuss Omni Channel marketing in more depth.
Updating Old Content
Updating old website content, including blogs, is essential for maintaining and improving SEO performance. Search engines favor fresh, relevant content, and regularly revisiting older pages allows businesses to keep their information up to date with current trends, data, and search intent. Heck, consumers like you and me like fresh, relevant content as well. Would I rather read a blog article with the title “Hottest SEO trends of 2021” or one with the title “Hottest SEO trends of October, 2024”.
By optimizing older content with new keywords, better formatting, updated links (ever clicked on a dead link in an article?), and multimedia, websites can improve their rankings in search results. A study by HubSpot found that updating old blog posts with new information led to a 106% increase in organic traffic. Additionally, updated content can help reduce bounce rates, increase engagement, and signal to search engines that the website is active and reliable, making it a key strategy for long-term SEO success.
The Reality of DIY SEO
While DIY SEO is possible, it’s important to recognize that it’s not a quick fix. It’s a long-term commitment that requires constant effort. SEO is an ever-evolving field, with search engines like Google regularly updating their algorithms. What worked five years ago won’t necessarily work today.
This means you’ll need to stay on top of your game, continually learning and refining your approach. If you have the time and passion for it, DIY SEO can be rewarding. But many business owners find that it’s more efficient to focus on growing their business while leaving SEO to the experts.
Investing in Professional SEO
If you’re considering hiring an SEO professional, it’s important to understand the value they bring to the table. Professional SEO isn’t cheap, and it’s not a one-time job. It often involves hours of research, strategy development, content creation, and technical improvements.
Remember, you are paying an SEO company near me for their time, tools, and expertise required to drive results. SEO professionals spend hours working on your site each month, optimizing for keywords, creating content, and monitoring performance, making tweaks where needed.
Some business owners ask if they can just buy a few hours of SEO work each month. While some minor tasks can be handled this way, effective long-term SEO campaigns require more substantial time and effort. SEO is not a “set it and forget it” kind of service.
DIY vs. Hiring an Expert: Which Is Right for You?
Ultimately, the choice comes down to two key factors: time and money. If you have the time to invest in learning SEO and the patience to implement it, DIY SEO might be a viable option. But if your time is better spent growing your business and you want faster results, investing in a SEO company near me may save you a lot of headaches.
Remember, SEO is not just about driving traffic; it’s about converting that traffic into leads and customers. Whether you choose to DIY or hire an expert, the goal is to create a comprehensive SEO strategy that boosts your online visibility and, ultimately, grows your business. To get a free consultation about our SEO plans, contact us at 212creative.com.
Call us. Let’s begin.
