Where will the naysayers rank when you’re climbing the ladder of success? 

If you’re reading this you’re probably looking to explore Search Engine Optimisation, though you’ve heard far too many horror stories and have very little faith. In this article we are going to explore the various components of Search Engine Optimisation and Online Marketing and put to rest the nonsensical notion that ‘SEO is a scam’.

One of the most common (and dangerous) misconceptions with regards to Search Engine Optimisation, is the belief that it’s all about ‘manipulating Google’. And perhaps in the very early days of SEO, this was largely the case; though today SEO has evolved into something far more elegant and comprehensive than mere manipulation.

In fact when practiced properly SEO isn’t about manipulation at all, it’s about pure transparency. Telling Google and the other relevant search engines exactly how it is! – Who are you, how do you operate and why are you relevant?

It’s about getting your house in order, finding your voice and presenting your online image in an honest, analytical and wholesome fashion. It’s about building a successful social media platform, fuelled by constant content in perfect synchronicity. It’s about covering every base with a uniformed definition of why your brand is worthy of recognition – Simply owning a website just isn’t enough anymore, every single detail needs to be revised, refined and then perfected!

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The harsh reality is that many businesses out there have been burned by dishonest and unsavoury SEO practitioners before – and just like when somebody buys a crap dishwasher off Amazon, the whole world will know about it. And rightly so! It’s important that we as an online community share and communicate what works and what does not, but it is also crucial that we don’t allow one bad apple to spoil the bunch.

The difficulty is that Search Engine Optimisation isn’t something that you can grab a hold of. All we, as marketeers can do is present to you an idea, and then it’s up to you as to whether or not to go ahead. But why else did you start a business, if not to succeed?

“A ship in harbor is safe, but that’s not why ships are built.”

It’s not SEO as a practice that’s the problem; it is the haphazard execution of it which is. Take your time, explore your options and go with your gut. Ultimately, the SEO Company that you invariably roll with will be working closely with you, handling very intimate and important aspects of your business. And one of the most important parts of an SEO campaign is working with people that you can trust – you must ensure that whoever you jump into bed with wholeheartedly understands what it is that you desire.

So where to begin? We all know what the end game is but how do we go about getting to where we need to be? It’s a long old road to success, so kick off them flip-flops and grab yourself a pair of running shoes!

Onsite SEO

Onsite SEO is strengthening the foundation upon which you intend to build your marketing campaign. With a poorly optimised site, you can expect to see all of your hard work go down the pan. There’s no trickery involved, it is an intricate and formulated procedure that renders the face of your business deliberate, efficient and easy to navigate.

Offsite SEO (Link Building)

There is much that goes into Offsite SEO, though the best way to think of it is ‘spreading the word’. By developing unique and relevant content, rich with fundamental keywords with the aim of ultimately linking back to your website, your business gradually becomes more apparent.

Many companies make the mistake of ‘copy & pasting’, duplicating content with the intention of cutting corners. This does not work and will ultimately lead to penalisation. A truly exceptional SEO company will produce emotive, well-informed and creative writing in order to not only achieve quality link building; but also engage your potential customers and increase conversion rates organically.

Social Media Optimisation

As you well know, running a business is time-consuming enough as it is without having to be absolutely everywhere all at once. And that is exactly what is required of any business with a hope of getting ahead of the competition in this day and age. Social Media Optimisation is arguably one of the most relevant and vital avenues of marketing there is. Everyone is on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (to name a few) – So get your brand out there and take the internet by storm already!

Want to know more about Search Engine Optimisation and how it can transform your business? Get in touch with us today!