.png)
If you're a small business owner in Charleston, you know that in order to compete with the big guys, you need to make use of all the marketing tools at your disposal. One such tool is search engine optimization or SEO. And if you're looking for an SEO company in Charleston, there are plenty to choose from. But how do you choose the right one for your business?
In this article, we'll give you some tips on how to choose the right Charleston SEO company for your business.
When trying to determine which Charleston SEO company is right for your small business, there are several factors you should take into consideration...
What is SEO and what are the benefits of using it for your Charleston area business?
With such a competitive business landscape, it’s more important than ever for small businesses in the Charleston area to use SEO to get an edge on the competition. But what is SEO and what are the benefits of using it for your business?
SEO, or search engine optimization, is the process of improving the ranking of a website on search engines. When a website is optimized for SEO, it will show up higher in the search engine results pages (SERPs), which means that more people will see it and be likely to visit.
There are many benefits of using SEO for your Charleston area business. First, SEO can help you attract more qualified leads from potential customers who are already interested in what you have to offer. Second, SEO can help you build brand awareness through your online presence. Third, using SEO to generate traffic to your site is more cost-effective compared with traditional advertising options that are commonly used by small businesses in Charleston. Fourth, having an optimized website helps establish credibility and trustworthiness, which are vital for success in any business.
The different types of Charleston SEO services available to you
SEO, or search engine optimization, is the process of improving the ranking of a website on search engines. This can be done in a number of ways, including optimizing the website content, improving the website structure, and increasing the number of backlinks to the website.
Charleston SEO companies offer a number of different types of services, including on-site optimization, off-site optimization, and general consulting.
On-site optimization
Includes making sure that the website is accessible to search engine crawlers - also called bots - by using HTML code within the site's pages to signal keywords, metadata information about the site, and even crawlability. On-site optimization also includes updating the content of the website so that it is relevant to many different keywords, using HTML tags, and making sure important pages are linked together.
Off-site optimization
Includes strategies to build backlinks to a web page not only through other websites linking to or referencing that webpage but also through links within other web pages on relevant searches as well as using the best SEO tools for a business based on its size and budget ranked pages. Off-site optimization can include article marketing, press releases, blogging, and link building.
General Charleston SEO consulting
Includes teaching owners of a business how to use keywords effectively on their website so that their business gets a good ranking, using tools such as a link building tool to increase the number of backlinks, and looking at a website's analytics to see what pages are being viewed the most often.
Different Charleston SEO companies offer different types of services or specialize in certain fields that may work better for your business's needs. It is important to determine the type of services you are looking for to find the right Charleston SEO company for your business.
There are a number of different SEO services in Charleston available to you, depending on your needs and budget. These include:
- Search engine optimization: This is the process of optimizing the website content and structure to improve the ranking of the website on search engines.
- Link building: This is the process of increasing the number of backlinks to a website in order to improve its ranking on search engines.
- Web design: This is the process of designing a website in line with search engine optimization best practices.
- Social media marketing: This is the process of growing a website's online presence using social networking websites.
- Keyword research: This is the process of researching the market to determine which keywords are most likely to drive traffic to your website.
- Content marketing: This is the process of writing and promoting content in order to increase brand exposure, with a view to also driving traffic to the website.
- Web copywriting: This is the process of writing website content that both engages customers and encourages them to act (typically signups, sales etc).
- Reporting: This is the process of preparing reports on performance, which can include both traffic and conversions data.
- Other: Other services, such as link removal and image search optimization, may also be available.
How to choose a Charleston SEO company that's right for your needs
When you're looking for an SEO company to help your small business grow, it's important to do your research and find the right one for your unique needs. Here are a few tips on how to choose the right Charleston SEO company:
1. Do your homework
Before you even start looking for an SEO company, it's important to know what you need. Take some time to research what type of services different companies offer, and what kind of results they've been able to achieve for their clients. This will help you narrow down your options and find a company that can provide the specific services you need.
2. Ask around
One of the best ways to find a good Charleston SEO company is by asking around for recommendations. Talk to friends, family members, and other small business owners in your area of the Charleston Lowcountry. If you're not sure which SEO services they've had success with, ask them if they know anyone who could offer the type of advice you're looking for. You can also check online resources or review websites that list SEO companies in the Charleston area.
3. Get a conversation going
When selecting a new Charleston SEO company, it's important to ensure that they're the right fit for your business. You should be able to tell them what you need and get an honest idea of their capabilities — their track record, experience level, and overall success in the field. Once you've interviewed a few companies, you're ready to begin your search with confidence.
4. Ask about credentials
Make sure to ask what specializations your SEO company has (for example, experience working with a particular kind of business). While there are different types and specializations of SEO services, these include both broad and niche fields. Small businesses should research the number of years that a Charleston SEO company has been in business, and make sure that they have a trustworthy reputation. If a business is going to spend money on digital marketing services, they need to know that the people who are providing those services have relevant knowledge.
5. Take a look at their website
When you're looking for an SEO company, spend a few minutes scrolling through their website to get a feel for their writing style. Does the website's copy tell a story or amass data? Is the structure of pages and posts organized logically, or is it jumbled into several different font sizes and formats? If a company has messy copy on their website, it's probably going to be messy inside of your website, too.
6. Be wary of guarantees
You want to make sure that the company isn't making unrealistic promises that can't possibly be met. When you work with a skilled and reputable SEO service, they won't guarantee specific rankings, just good quality results.
When you're looking for SEO services, you should always make sure the company is willing to be transparent and honest with you. If they try to oversell their services by promising unrealistic results, you should look elsewhere. You want to work with a company that is honest with you about what they can do and what their limitations are.
7. Get everything in writing
When you first reach out to a prospective SEO company, they should be more than willing to provide you with a contract that's easy to understand. You shouldn't have any trouble understanding what types of services they provide and how much you can expect to pay for their services.
How to work with a Charleston SEO company once you've found one
So you've hired a Charleston SEO company to help improve your online presence. Congratulations! But now what? How do you work with them to get the most out of your investment?
Here are a few tips:
1. Be clear about your goals
The SEO company should understand what you're trying to achieve, both short-term and long-term. They should then be able to create a plan that helps you reach those goals.
2. Give them access to your website
The Charleston SEO company will need access to your website so they can do their job effectively. They should also be able to track progress and results so you can see how well they're doing.
3. Set up Google Analytics
Google Analytics is free and easy to use - it isn't that complicated! You'll want to make sure your website has it, then you can track the results of everything the Charleston SEO company does for you. This will help them improve their process (if needed) and keep things moving in the right direction.
4. Be patient.
Finally, be patient! Results from Charleston SEO marketing take time to show up - it's not a "set it and forget it" kind of thing, so you shouldn't expect overnight results! If you haven't seen anything after a few months, sit down with your SEO company and review the plan. Is there something they can improve? Do you need to make any changes to your goals?
The cost associated with hiring a Charleston SEO company
When it comes to hiring a Charleston SEO company, there's no one-size-fits-all answer. The cost will vary depending on the company you choose, the size and scope of your project, and other factors. The best way to determine the cost of your project is to ask potential vendors for an estimate. Also, be sure to ask about the estimated level of work. Some Charleston SEO firms require an ongoing relationship for continued support. If that’s the case, be sure to find out if the contract includes the required number of hours for support.
Wrapping it up
So there you have it - a little bit about SEO for Charleston area small business, the different types of services available to you, how to go about choosing an Charleston SEO company, and some tips on working with them. Of course, this is just a taste - if you're interested in learning more or want help implementing these concepts for your business, please don't hesitate to contact us. And finally, don't forget that hiring a Charleston SEO company is just one step in building a successful online marketing strategy! If you're ready to take your business' online presence to the next level, contact Brand U Media today. We would be happy to chat with you about your specific needs and see how we can help get your website ranking higher and bringing in more traffic (and customers!).
Thanks for reading!