We have put together this list of frequently asked questions to try and help our readers understand a bit more about SEO. If you don’t find the answer to your question, please contact us and we’ll do our best to help. Your question might even end up on this page!
What is SEO?
SEO, which stands for Search Engine Optimisation, encompasses all the things you can do to increase traffic to your website, by making it more attractive to search engines.
Are there different types of SEO?
In a word, yes! The two basic groups are on-page and off-page SEO.
On-page SEO, as you may have guessed, includes the things you can do to the website itself, such as optimising the layout, code and content for search engines, use of titles, keywords and descriptions and a whole host of other things.
Off-page SEO includes all the things you can do away from your website, such as search engine and directory submissions, link building, social media and a whole lot more.
Can I get to the first page of search results?
That is a very difficult question to answer, because of course you can get to the first page of search engine results, if the user enters the right keywords. Type ‘Skills on Toast’ into Google and you will find us on the first page – getting the site onto the first page for other keywords is a bit more tricky.
There are a lot of factors to consider, such as how many other people are competing for the same keywords, how well established your website is, and so on. Although the aim of any search engine optimisation is to get your page high up in the rankings, I am very wary of any company that guarantees to get you on the first page, and Skills on Toast is not in the business of misleading our clients! For second opinion, please see this great article on SEO scams.
As a guide, in the last 6 months we have achieved first page rankings for all our clients within 1-3 months of SEO work for their chosen keyword phrases.
How long will it take to see results?
SEO is not something that happens over night – it takes time to slowly build a place for yourself on the web, as well as a lot of tweaking of all the right elements. You will be able to see some improvements very quickly, others will take a while to filter through, which is why, in my opinion, long term investment in SEO, rather than a one-off push, is much better value for money.
What is Pay Per Click (PPC)?
Pay Per Click (PPC) adverts can be set up for different search engines, and they work on the basis that if the right keywords are entered, your advert displays either at the top, or the side of the search engine listings – they are called ‘Sponsored links’ on Google. Every time someone clicks on your link, you pay a fee to the search engine, ranging from a few pence to a few pounds, depending on the competitiveness of your keywords.
Should I use pay per click (ppc)?
Pay Per Click adverts can be a wonderful tool to boost traffic to your website, but I tend to see them as a last resort. I hear from a lot of clients that they totally ignore the sponsored links in Google and go straight to the ‘Organic’ listings, which are the free ones. I tend to focus more on improving organic rankings, but in some cases PPC is the best option.
How do I see results from SEO?
One of the first things I do when taking on any SEO client, is to set them up with website traffic reports so that they can see which efforts are working the best. These reports show where people came from to get to your site, which keywords they put into the search engine, how long they stayed, where they went and a lot more besides.
If you’re going to invest in search engine optimisation, you need to be able to see measureable results – otherwise how do you know whether it’s worth the effort?
What else can I do to drive traffic to my website?
Never underestimate the power of good old word-of-mouth – tell everyone you meet about your site, hand out business cards and shout about it from the rooftops!
Should I buy lots of domain names?
Having a really good, keyword-rich domain name is a great way to get traffic to your website. One of the reasons this site comes up when you search for ‘Skills on Toast’ is that it’s in the domain name.
In my opinion, buying some good domain names and pointing them all to one website can be very effective, but you have to use a permanent 301-redirect, otherwise search engines may see you as ‘deceptive’.
I’m a bit new to all this – what things can I do to boost rankings myself?
If you’re a bit website savvy, there are lots of things that you can do yourself, without the help of a professional. Check out our ‘Simple SEO’ series for lots of tips.
Is SEO expensive?
Not at all! One of the major benefits of SEO is that your traffic is more targeted – you get relevant visitors that are actually interested in what you have to offer, so the resulting enquiries should more than cover the cost of ongoing SEO.
We agree targets with our clients before we start to ensure that they know what they can expect to see, and we can tailor how much we do for you to suit your needs and budget.
How can Skills on Toast help?
We tailor all our ongoing SEO plans in order to meet our clients’ expectations. If your budget is small you can still see great results, it just might take a little longer.
We are always happy to hear from our blog followers, so if you would like help or advice, contact us for a no-obligation consultation.
