Search engine optimisation (SEO) is designed to get search engines such as Google to take an interest in your website and display it in relevant search results. Ideally near the top of the first page of these results as – let’s be honest – that’s where most of the customers are.

There are two aspects to search engine optimisation:

• On-site SEO: everything that happens on your actual website from the names of the pages and their titles through to the words on them. Before we start any SEO work we go through your website with a fine tooth comb to make sure that it meets the latest expectations of Google and the other search engines.
• Off-site SEO: everything that happens elsewhere on the web. Whether that’s under your control – a Google Places page for example – or influenceable but ultimately outside your control – e.g. a listing in a web based directory.

All our search engine optimisation packages are tailored to your precise needs but they all start from the things we identify in our comprehensive website check. This comprehensive report is an essential part of the search engine optimisation process as it means that we both understand where your website is currently performing in the search engine results and where it needs to get to.

Once your search engine optimisation report is prepared, we will forward it to you and arrange a convenient time to talk about it, either face to face or on the phone.

During that conversation, we’ll talk about where to go next.

For most website owners, this is a mixture of on-site SEO – making your site more attractive to humans and search engines alike – and off-site SEO where we increase the number of links pointing back to your website over time. Done correctly, this is interpreted by the search engines as a popularity vote and will lead to more visitors to your website.

Whilst overnight results are possible, as a general rule search engine optimisation takes time to come into effect.

Once we’ve identified the factors that need working on, we will create a plan for the coming months.

Unless your on-site SEO is perfect, we will usually start there.

On-site search engine optimisation usually involves modifying things such as page titles – the first thing a new visitor usually sees, even before they reach your website – as well as other factors that you are in control of such as the actual content of your pages. If your site hasn’t passed our HTML validation check with flying colours, we will work with you to correct this.

Once your website is optimised as much as possible, the next stage of the process is to improve your popularity on the internet.

We’ll start with the things that are most under your control. This means that we will fully optimise your Google Places page. Doing this gives you an immediate edge over most of your local competitors as well as presenting the best possible image for customers who find your business via your Google Places listing.

Because every site is different, we will tailor the other options to your exact needs.

These will include some or all of the following:

• Optimised site content: this will involve making your website pages appealing to both search engines and website visitors. Search engines like lots of words, humans prefer sites that don’t look daunting. We can advise on the best compromise between these two seemingly conflicting needs.
• Competitor analysis: checking your competition is something that needs to be done on the internet just as much as it does in the real world. Finding out your competitors strengths and weaknesses is one of the keys to search engine optimisation success.
• Google Places: your main Places Page will already be dealt with in our introductory package but you also need reviews to help stay high in the listings. We will help you get positive customer reviews.
• Facebook Page: in certain industries such as clubs, pubs and restaurants, a Facebook page is essential. In most other industries it helps to build your following.
• LinkedIn Page: this helps you keep in touch with your business colleagues as well as providing a trusted backlink to your website.
• Twitter Page: if Twitter is right for your industry, we’ll help you get the most from it.
• Press Releases: online press releases are a good way to get exposure for your site.

But before we do that, you need to have a consultation to make sure we’re both aiming for the same target.

Call me now on 07967 478272 or read more about the SEO process here.