Many agencies including some Boulder SEO companies will set out a 6 – 12 month timeline as the minimum engagement for a new client. While they are correct that SEO is a slow-and-steady method for building your rankings, six months can be a long commitment if you’re unclear what you might get out of the effort. What if your SEO company could give you some clear information up front instead? Today we’re discussing the benefits of early research.
You’ve no doubt heard about SEO audits, and there is a reason they are so common. SEO companies generally perform an audit every 12 – 18 months because the information is so valuable; it helps to define where you are today and where you’re likely to be in another few months. Some of the information you’re likely to get from an audit includes:
Competition
You probably know who your competitors are, and you may have a good idea of their size. However, a big competitor may or may not have a big footprint online. Regardless of where you are in your market, it’s helpful to know how easy or difficult the road ahead is. If you have a steep climb ahead of you, that can determine how and when you approach your SEO effort.
Cost
Based on the level of competition you face and the difficulty of your goals, you can project your budget. Should you expect to spend $500 a month or $5,000? The difference could decide whether you jump into an SEO effort at all. If the road ahead contains lots of easy wins, you can justify the cost and look forward to a positive return on investment.
Timeline
As we touched on above, it may be six months before you see meaningful results, but based on the competition and budget you’ve laid out, you should have a clear idea of which milestones you’ll hit in which month as you head toward longer term goals. If you’re not hitting those milestones, you can address the pros and cons along the way.
Transparency
While each of the above points are valuable on their own, there is a broader benefit as well. Your SEO effort isn’t based on magic, and the steps you’re taking should be out in the open. By having clear measures of competition, cost and timeline, you’ll be able to head into your SEO effort with eyes open. If the effort is working, you’ll know when and why. If it’s not meeting expectations, you won’t have to wait until the six month mark to change strategies.
If you have unanswered questions about your SEO results, get in touch. We’re ready to start the conversation.