FAQ

Below are some of the most commonly asked questions about our services:

Why doesn't my website rank well in the search engines?

There are many items that can be causing your website to not rank well in search engines, include but not limited to:

  • Your website doesn't target the correct keywords.
  • Your website is too new.
  • No other websites link to you.
  • You don't have enough content.
  • You don't update your content enough.
  • Your website is non-crawlable by the search engines.

What is search engine optimization?

Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of improving the volume / quality of traffic going to your website from search engines (Google, Yahoo, Bing, etc) through both on-site and off-site strategies.

Do some SEO firms have a special relationship with the search engines?

Absolutely not. No SEO firm out there has a special relationship or special "in" to be able to get you ranked higher. The ability for your website to rank for a specific key phrase is dependent on many factors including items with your website and the competition in your industry.

How long does it take for results to be seen from SEO?

The time it takes for results to be seen varies from website to website depending on the age of the site, the level of competition for specific keywords, and what type of work was completed. Time can range from one month to 6, 12, or even 24 months for brand new websites.

I rank really well in Yahoo, but not in Google, why is that?

Each of the major search engines has its own "algorithm" that they use to rank websites. Yahoo looks more at the on-site items such as keyword density and various tags, where Google looks more at in/out bound links.

Is SEO a one-time thing I should do, or do I need to keep doing it?

Generally SEO is not a one-time thing. This varies and depends on your industry and the keywords that you're trying to rank for, however search engines are also always updating their algorithm so revisions are generally needed down the road.

What is PageRank?

PageRank is the algorithm developed by Google to weight the value of each web page. The algorithm looks at the linking between web pages and assigns each page a number value. The PageRank values that are visible to the public are 0 to 10, with 10 being the best and 0 being for pages with very few/no links to them.

How often does Google's PageRank algorithm update?

Google does not have a public schedule schedule as to when they update their algorithm, however it's generally done quarterly.

What is Black Hat SEO and why is it bad?

Black Hat SEO encompasses a variety of methods to optimize your website that are frowned upon by the search engines. While you may see short-term results it is not a good solution as long-term you risk being banned from the search engines, which means your website will not be listed at all.

What is the Meta Title tag and what is it for?

The Meta Title tag is the text that you see in the very top of your browser which tells you the title of the page you're on. This title is also used for the title of your search engine listings. This space is a valuable space to use keywords.

What is the Meta Description tag and what is it for?

The Meta Description tag isn't used so much for keywords, however it's main benefit is that it is the description that users see for your search listings. So if your description is "This page is about SEO." -- that's the description of your website that users will see when your website appears in search results.

What is the Meta Keywords tag and what is it for?

The Meta Keywords tag is used to list various keywords related to your page. This tag isn't nearly as important in search rankings as it use to be, due to mass amounts of abuse. This tag is therefore something that should be created but not really focused on.

What is a reciprocal link, are they important?

A reciprocal link is when two websites link to each other. So "Website A" and "Website B" both have a link to each others website on them. Reciprocal links are generally said to not carry as much importance as one-way links (where Website A links to Website B, and Website B does not link back to Website A) but they are still important to get if you're able.

What is an inbound link, are they important?

An inbound link is any link that is coming into your website. So if another website links to you, that is an example of an inbound like for your website. An outbound link is when you link to another website. Generally you'll want to have more inbound likes than outbound.

What is 'anchor text'?

Anchor text is the visible text of a link. For example, for this link: Click Here, the words 'Click Here' are the anchor text. Anchor text is important because it tells the search engines what the page you're linking too is about. When a website links to you, instead of the link being generic such as "click here", you want them to instead put a key phrase that you're trying to rank for, such as your name or "local SEO services."