We like to start all of our conversations out when the subject of SEO (Search Engine Optimization) comes up by saying “Never trust anyone who says they do SEO – with that being said – we do SEO.” Easily over 90% of the supposed SEO providers out there, are our generation’s version of the snake oil salesmen. What makes us different? We are honest and we report weekly and monthly while generating the results you expect. You can track our successes and you can clearly see what we are working on to make better. When you understand how many moving elements there are to a properly executed SEO campaign it can become overwhelming, and add to that the fact that Google and the search engines are constantly changing the algorithm or rules of who shows up organically on the first page.
That is why we have more than 40 people (and growing) on our SEO team that specializes in different functions of SEO while working to stay abreast of the latest changes and updates to what it takes to win. SEO is a long game, but when you are winning it can become one of the highest producing sources of ROI for your business. We believe in proof and we differentiate ourselves by providing proof that we are working to provide the best SEO and growth in traffic to your site with this form of marketing.
There is no one person or company out there that has a “magic bullet” that knows exactly what Google’s SEO algorithm is made up of, but one organization that we religiously follow and listen to is Moz. Industry-wide, they are respected for their blunt honesty and attention to detail as it relates to SEO and we at AWP follow them carefully. Following MOZ, our own internal group, and other respected third parties, we view our SEO program as a three-legged stool. The three legs of our SEO program are grouped into the categories of on-page SEO, off-page SEO, and social media (social media tactics related to boosting a client site’s organic ranking).
On-Page SEO
In a nutshell, “on-page SEO” is made up of two strategies – well built and well-written content and the adjustment of the content and your website’s source code to clearly answer Google, Bing, and Yahoo three very important questions. Those questions are:
- Who are you?
- What is it you do?
- Where are you located (what is your business’s service area)?
Your goal is to clearly tell Google and the search engines the answers to these questions in such a way that your website can be the most relevant and authoritative to the keywords that a consumer is searching for. As an example, if I am searching for the term “septic tank companies in Seattle”, Google will try to find for that consumer a company that specializes in or provides septic tank services in the greater Seattle area – or the most relevant to what that consumer searched for. So, in the source code of our client’s websites, we work to clearly signal to Google how our client is the most authoritative source to answer that consumer’s question or need.
Secondly, and maybe most importantly, content – content is king! Content is mainly the written portion of your website (but not limited to). This content needs to be unique and relevant to what consumers are searching for. Over and over, you will hear the term “authority” thrown around. Especially as it relates to this subject, you have to give Google and the search engines more of a reason to consider your website to be the go-to authority as it relates to the keywords that consumers are searching for in relation to your industry. Your content needs to be clear, well written, and contain the keywords you want to be found for.
For additional information about on-page SEO and tactics, check out these links:
- SEO On-Page Factors
- Everything You Need To Know About SEO
Off-Page SEO
Off-Page SEO is Google, Bing, and Yahoo’s view of how relevant they perceive your website to be to the world – in other words, how important or how much “authority” your site might have versus your competition. Imagine your website sitting out on the internet and I want to create an “activity” that bridges back to your website. This activity might be related to articles, press releases, videos, or any content that is related to you and your industry. There are many ways we create these bridges or activities, but the more relevant and real bridges that we can create that go back to your website, the more we can create the sense with the search engines that your website is more important, or carries more authority than your competitors.
Our off-page SEO strategy is built on building a reputation mainly with the search engines that our clients have the most relevant content to the septic and wastewater industry. The more informative and the more authority we can create with your site, the more likely Google, Bing, and Yahoo will push you higher on the first page of organic results. Here are some of the activities we engage in on behalf of our clients for off-page SEO purposes:
- Blogging
- Search Engine Submissions
- Directories Submissions
- Online Classifieds Submissions
- Press Release / Articles
- Local Listings
- Video Postings
- Postings on Forums
- Directory Listings
- Social Bookmarks
- Photo & Document Sharing
- Cross Links & Link Exchanging (Industry Related)
- Reviews
- And MORE!
