Top Ten SEO FAQ’s That Service-Based Business Owners Ask
I mostly work with local service-based businesses in therapy, health and wellness, home improvement, and professional services industries, and I get the same questions over and over again. This post goes over the top ten SEO FAQ’s that service-based business owners ask and provides answers.
If you own or run a serviced based business, you’ve probably heard of SEO more than once. You may have learned about SEO through a web designer, a business associate might have told you about it, or you may have come across SEO as a possible marketing channel in learning how to grow your business.
For some people it may seem that SEO is highly technical or tedious. And it’s hard to know which SEO advice to follow. There is a lot involved in running an SEO campaign and most business owners choose to outsource this task because it is time consuming and has a lot of moving parts.
1. How long does it take for SEO to work?
This is usually the first thing that people want to know, and that’s totally understandable. To be fully transparent, SEO is a long game. It takes time and patience, and you should start to an increase in traffic in three to six months with even better results after six to nine months. The timeline depends on your website, the competitiveness of your keywords and your geographic market. And your Google Business Profile plays a huge role as well. The best part is that while it can take some time to see results with SEO, those results are often long lasting. I have SEO clients from 10 years ago who still show up on page one of the search engines even though I haven’t done any more SEO work for them in recent years.
2. If I already get clients through word of mouth or referrals, do I still need SEO?
Referrals are often the best form of marketing, but you can’t always count on them. And like anything, it’s always a good idea to diversify and have two or three marketing channels going at once. After word of mouth, the most common way that people may find your business is through a Google search. Businesses that show up well in the search results are generally considered more trustworthy in the marketplace. And studies have shown that SEO often brings in more referrals than paid online ads. I’ve seen this with my clients as well.
3. What are the differences between SEO and Google Ads, and do I need both?
SEO is all about getting your website to show up in organic search results over time. But with paid ads, you get visibility right away. But the downside with paid ads is that as soon as you stop paying for them, your placement in the search engines goes away too. Going back to our statement above, it’s always a good idea to have two or three marketing channels running at the same time. But it depends on your budget and timing. If you have the budget for it, do both and then once the SEO results start to come, you can reduce or eliminate your ad spend. Again, once you get good placement in the search engines with SEO it’s usually long lasting.
4. Why can't I find my business on Google Maps or in local search results?
This is a common concern, and the reason businesses hire us for help in turning this around. Most of the time, it comes down to your website and your Google Business Profile. Your Google Business Profile information may be incomplete or not well-optimized. Or your local signals are weak and your website is not optimized for search. Google needs to know exactly what you do and where you do it. Small things like consistent addresses across different listing sites, service descriptions, and categories can make a big difference and can be fixed in a short amount of time.
5. Is my Google Business Profile enough, or do I need a website too?
Your Google Business Profile is important, but it’s not enough on its own. You have much more control over your messaging, service descriptions, and the places you serve with a website. You can describe who you help, how you help them, and why you’re the best choice. Your Google Business Profile and a strong website work together to make you more visible and turn visitors into inquiries. Without a website, there’s nothing to help you stand out from all the other GBP listings.
6. What should I do first when it comes to SEO?
Start by being clear. Google needs to know what services you offer and where you are located. And potential clients need to be able to quickly see if you are a good fit. This usually means that your Google Business Profile is fully optimized, your core service pages on your website are well written, and your site structure makes sense and is user friendly. You can add more advanced SEO strategies on top of the basics once you have a strong SEO foundation which comes from optimizing your website first.
7. How can I tell if my SEO is working?
Monthly reporting allows you to see the progress from one month to the next. We install Google Analytics or similar on your website (if it hasn’t already been done) and monitor progress as well as your keyword rankings each month. We also look at the analytics for your Google Business Profile. On your end, over time you should see an increase in the right people are finding you and reaching out. More phone calls, more form submissions, and more website visits from people who are likely to be interested are all signs of progress.
8. Should I hire someone to do SEO for me, or can I do it myself?
You can do some SEO work on your own but it can be very time consuming. Most business owners simply don’t have the time and, no offense, the expertise. It’s a skill that you will need to develop on top of everything else that you already need to do as a business owner. You also need to be consistent with SEO and stick with it for a good 9-12 months. Most people don’t have that kind of commitment or the time. When you hire someone, you can focus on your clients while knowing that your online presence is being managed in a smart way.
9. Why did my rankings go down even though I didn't do anything?
It’s normal for rankings to fluctuate somewhat month to month. Google changes its algorithm all the time, competitors change their plans, and the way people search changes. And most businesses have their busy and slow seasons. The most important thing is the overall trend and whether your inquiries and visibility are getting better over time. A good SEO plan should be able to change with the times instead of just reacting to every little dip in the market.
10. Is SEO something you do once or all the time?
SEO never really stops. Yes, you can get excellent placement for your most valued keywords in 9-12 months but if you want to continue growing your business then there is always more that can be done with SEO. Your business changes, your services change, and your competitors are always marketing as well. Ongoing SEO keeps you visible and helps you stay competitive over time instead of having to start over again every other year.
At its heart, SEO is about making it easier for the right people to find you, understand what you do, and feel good about contacting you. When done right, it works in the background while you focus on giving great service.
Digital Solutions by Laura offers SEO for small business owners in Waterloo in the therapy, health and wellness, home improvement, and professional services industries. We take a practical, honest approach that focuses on long-term growth instead of quick fixes.
The next step is to talk if you want to know more about what SEO could mean for your business and whether it’s the right fit for you at this stage of your business lifecycle. Schedule a discovery call so we can talk about your goals, the problems you’re facing, and how SEO can help you grow.