SEO Buyers’ Guide

Nearly 90% of consumers start their buying journey online, researching products, brands, or services before making a move. With the shift to digital dominating the post-pandemic era, businesses across industries are doubling down on SEO and digital marketing to stay competitive. The result? A crowded marketplace. To outpace competitors and remain relevant, prioritizing SEO as your key marketing strategy is essential.

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In This Guide

What Is SEO: How Does It Work,

What’s Included and

How Much Does It Cost?

How To Choose an SEO Company

What You Should

Really Know About SEO

In times of economic uncertainty, focusing on efficiently acquiring clients and generating sales becomes crucial. SEO offers the lowest cost-per-lead (CPL) of any channel, as long as you're able to invest in improving your rankings. With few exceptions, having a solid SEO and digital marketing strategy is essential for staying in business. It's either go digital or risk becoming irrelevant. Expanding your marketing efforts may seem daunting, especially if you're just beginning with SEO and digital marketing, but don't worry. This guide will cover the basics of SEO, explain its importance for lead generation, and show you how to leverage it for your business. Keep reading to discover how choosing the right SEO services can determine your brand’s success.

What Is Search Engine Optimization?

Search engine optimization (SEO) is all about enhancing your website's visibility on search engine results pages (SERPs) using organic, non-paid tactics. By improving your search rankings, SEO ensures that when people search for products or services related to your business, your brand stands out as a trusted choice. The higher your website ranks, the more likely you are to attract traffic and convert leads into loyal customers.

How Does SEO Work?

Search engines evaluate hundreds of ranking factors to determine the most relevant results for a search. To do this, they crawl the web to discover and revisit new and existing pages, then index the content to deliver it through search results.

Once crawling and indexing are complete, search engines analyze pages based on various ranking factors, including:

  • Page speed
  • Backlink profile
  • Mobile-friendliness
  • Keywords usage
  • Sitemap accessibility
  • And more…

Your website's visibility and search rankings rely on how search engines analyze your content. If the engine determines your content is relevant to a user's query, it will appear in organic search results, driving free, targeted traffic to your site.

How Does SEO Help for Small Business Entities And Large Enterprises Alike?

With Google processing billions of search queries daily, SEO services focus on improving your organic rankings for targeted keywords and enhancing your website's visibility. A successful SEO strategy combines two key optimization techniques—on-page SEO and off-page SEO—designed to make your site more user-friendly and search engine-friendly.

On-Page SEO

On-page SEO is the process of optimizing different aspects of your website that are under your control to make it more search engine-friendly. This includes optimizing internal links, title tags, meta descriptions and header tags.

Off-Page SEO

Off-page SEO is the collection of strategies you undertake to promote your content and build links from other websites back to your site. This involves link building, social media marketing and listings management, among other techniques.

Keep in mind that effective website optimization isn't about choosing between on-page and off-page SEO. Both are essential for building your brand authority and staying ahead of the competition.

How Long Does It Take To See Results From SEO Services?

Unfortunately, there's no clear-cut answer to how long SEO takes to show results. For some, SEO services can start delivering results within weeks or months. However, in highly competitive industries, it may take several months or even longer to see significant improvements.

One thing is certain, though: when executed correctly, data-driven SEO can help your business generate leads and revenue passively, around the clock.

Whether its phone calls, online sales, or in-store visits, a well-implemented SEO strategy for both B2B and B2C companies will continue driving results—even while you're sleeping.

Learn How SEO Works With Examples

Now that we’ve defined SEO, let’s explore how it works in action.

When searching for a service or product online, consumers are more likely to click on one of the top five results on the first page of search results. There's a significant difference in click-through rate (CTR) between the first 10 organic positions.

According to a Backlinko study, the first organic result in Google Search captures approximately 27.6 percent of all clicks. In contrast, the tenth position has a dismal 2.4 percent average CTR—10 times lower than the first result. In fact, few users ever venture to the second page or beyond.

Developing a robust SEO strategy boosts your ranking in relevant search results and enhances your online visibility. This, in turn, increases the likelihood of attracting more website traffic and generating valuable business leads.

Let’s explore how SEO for B2B and B2C has enabled key market players to unlock their digital potential: C

The Case of a Multi-Location Residential Foundation Repair Company

Organic search remains the primary source of website traffic for a multi-location residential foundation repair company. However, operating in a highly competitive industry, the company required a more targeted SEO and digital marketing strategy to strengthen its brand authority and generate a consistent flow of website traffic, leads, and conversions. By optimizing for highly relevant SEO keywords, leveraging local business citation-building techniques, and enhancing its content marketing efforts, the company achieved remarkable year-over-year (YoY) growth.

Results:

+263.9%

New Website Users

+132.5%

Organic Conversions

+279.2%

Organic Website Traffic

Here’s another example showcasing SEO help for small business owners:

The Case of a Local Law Firm

A real estate and personal injury law firm in Arlington, Texas, struggled to expand its market reach and build brand authority without a strong digital presence. Recognizing the need for a professional web design and SEO strategy, the firm turned to Get Found Internet Marketing Agency. Through expert web design and SEO services, Get Found Agency helped the firm establish a powerful online presence, boosting its visibility and driving conversions.

Results:

+360%

Business Leads

+663.72%

Organic Search Traffic

+533.33%

Website Visitors

Businesses that don't grasp the value of SEO often overlook it or lean on short-term marketing tactics for quick wins. However, neglecting SEO means missing out on long-term growth and profitability.

Relying only on paid channels can lead to escalating costs, fierce competition from bigger players with deeper pockets, and limited lead sources. Whether you operate a physical store or an online business, effective SEO and content marketing are crucial for sustaining daily business growth and staying ahead in the market.

OPTIMIZE MY WEBSITE

SEO and Digital Marketing:What You Need To Know

Search engine optimization is a key element in any business’s digital marketing strategy. By utilizing a range of techniques, SEO enhances your website's performance, making it easier for both search engines and potential customers to understand what your business offers.

Check out the illustration below to see how SEO fits into the broader digital marketing landscape:

SEO for B2B and B2C focuses on driving organic traffic to your website, while digital marketing works to enhance your overall online presence, extending beyond SEO. Digital marketing can be divided into several key areas, such as SEO, PPC advertising, email marketing, reputation management, and conversion rate optimization (CRO), among others.

Let’s explore some of these digital marketing components and their connection to SEO.

SEO and SEM: How Do They Differ?

The main difference between SEO and SEM lies in how they drive website traffic. SEO focuses on generating organic traffic through search results, while SEM takes a broader approach by boosting visibility and traffic through both organic and paid searches. SEM includes SEO as one of its key components, blending both strategies to maximize online presence and reach.

Should you dedicate all your digital marketing efforts to SEO, or invest in both SEO and SEM to boost traffic to your site?

If you’re working with a limited budget, it’s wise to start with SEO to establish a strong digital presence. While the return on investment (ROI) might not be immediate, it’s a smarter choice than quickly draining your budget on short-lived PPC ads.

Focus on optimizing a few key pages that will have the most impact on your business growth. Consider which products drive the most revenue or which locations are key to your services. Prioritizing these areas ensures you get the best results for your investment.

If you have a steady budget and the capacity to test advertising campaigns, combining SEO and SEM is a powerful approach. This strategy allows you to rank for target keywords and maximize your search traffic.

Web Design and SEO: Where Does SEO Belong in Your Web Design Process?

Web design and SEO are essential elements in building a strong digital presence. When you get both right, your website not only ranks higher in relevant search results but also drives more traffic, leading to increased business leads and revenue.

A well-designed website makes a lasting impression on potential customers and ensures a seamless user experience across all pages. According to a Research Gate study, a striking 94% of first impressions are based on design.

To capture your audience's attention, web designers craft visually appealing, interactive interfaces, while content specialists create engaging material that encourages visitors to take action—whether it's signing up for a newsletter, downloading a demo, or adding a product to their cart. Web developers then bring design and content together with code.

But before the design process begins, SEO takes the spotlight. Effective SEO for both B2B and B2C websites is crucial, requiring careful planning from the very start all the way through to launch day.

SEO During the Setup and Planning Phase

The first step in web design and SEO services is defining the website's purpose and selecting the right SEO keywords. Choosing the right keywords is vital for incorporating the most relevant search terms into your website content.

A well-crafted keyword strategy boosts your Google ranking and helps you appear in search results for the terms your target audience uses to find businesses like yours. SEO experts work closely with copywriters to develop a powerful SEO and content marketing strategy, seamlessly integrating target keywords into the copy.

SEO During Design and Development

During the design and development stage, SEO specialists collaborate closely with web developers to ensure your website is user-friendly and free from technical issues that could hinder its ability to be crawled and ranked by search engines.

Technical SEO experts focus on securing a unique domain name, obtaining the necessary certifications, and ensuring your site’s uptime is maximized for optimal performance.

SEO After Website Launch

Launching your website is just the beginning—web design and SEO services continue long after. SEO strategists offer ongoing support to ensure your site maintains strong rankings in search engines. This includes regular page speed tests, security monitoring, keyword ranking checks, and broken link audits, among other essential tasks.

Remember, SEO isn’t a one-time effort—it’s an ongoing process that requires consistent attention to stay effective and continue driving results for your business.

SEO and Social Media: How They Work Together

SEO and social media are powerful allies in expanding your content’s reach. When executed effectively, they enhance engagement signals and help you claim more SERP real estate for branded queries.

But how do SEO and social media work together?

While social media doesn’t directly impact SEO, it acts as an indirect driver of search visibility and organic rankings. Social signals—such as likes, shares, and comments—generated from users sharing your content across various platforms help boost brand awareness, grow your following, and drive more traffic to your website.

Consider the case of this plasma donation center:

The center focused on SEO and social media marketing to strengthen its new brand image, increase awareness, and expand its social media following across all service locations.

Results:

+29,521

Link Clicks

+459

Checkouts Initiated

+448

Conversions

+10,938

Landing Page Views

By integrating SEO and social media marketing, the center boosted its search visibility and attracted relevant traffic to its newly launched website. As a result, it also saw a significant increase in donor sign-ups.

Clearly, the importance of SEO in business marketing cannot be overstated. SEO, combined with digital marketing strategies, drives digital success and plays a key role in scaling your business.

Is SEO Worth the Investment?

Absolutely, SEO is a smart investment. It’s one of the most cost-effective and impactful marketing strategies for improving your rankings and attracting consistent, high-quality traffic—without the ongoing costs of paid ads.

For some, SEO might feel like an unnecessary expense, especially if past efforts haven’t delivered great results or if you're working with a tight marketing budget.

We get it—you're being cautious. But no matter your experience or concerns, SEO delivers results and remains one of the best ways to generate business leads and long-term conversions.

Benefits of SEO for Businesses

Let’s address the burning question everyone has: Why is SEO so crucial for small businesses and other market players? And most importantly, will it deliver a solid ROI?

Many marketers agree that SEO offers one of the highest returns on investment in the marketing world. In fact, a survey by Search Engine Journal found that 49% of marketers see the highest ROI from organic search compared to any other marketing channel. This means that with the right SEO strategy, you can expect impressive results over time.

Still wondering why SEO matters for small businesses and multi-location companies? Let’s explore the key benefits that make SEO a game-changer:

    Short-Term Benefits of SEO

  • Increased brand awareness

  • Improved website usability

  • Increased brand discoverability on search engines

  • More targeted traffic

  • Improved web experience for customers

  • High content quality

    Long-Term Benefits of SEO

  • Access to detailed data that helps with strategizing

  • Established brand authority

  • Improved keyword rankings and website traffic month-over-month

  • Increased business leads and conversions

  • Faster and more convenient website

  • Larger customer base

  • Long-term profitability

  • A consistently impressive close rate

Real-Life Examples of SEO Benefits

In today’s digital landscape, SEO is a powerful revenue driver. Just ask the companies below that harnessed SEO to outpace the competition and achieve their business goals:

Commercial Construction Company

A local construction company invested in SEO services to boost brand awareness and generate more business leads. After just one year of executing a tailored SEO strategy, the firm saw an impressive surge in site visitors, website traffic, and conversion rates.

Results:

+126.50%

Organic Search Traffic

+800%

Online Leads

+640.92%

Conversion Rate

Ecommerce Business

SEO and SEM were key to helping an ecommerce business that sells premium juicers surpass its competitors. Get Found Agency implemented a cross-channel marketing strategy, combining SEO and PPC advertising to maximize the effectiveness of their marketing budget and reduce irrelevant website traffic. Within months of launching the SEO strategy, the brand saw impressive results, with organic revenue skyrocketing by 130%.

Results:

+138%

Click-Through Rate

+70%

Website Traffic

+130%

Organic Revenue

Multi-Location Restoration and Reconstruction Firm

A multi-location restoration and reconstruction firm with over 22 branches needed to enhance its brand recognition and local rankings across all service areas. To achieve this, a comprehensive strategy combining CRO, PPC, SEO, and web design was put into action. Thanks to targeted SEO and digital marketing campaigns, the company reached new heights, achieving a record-breaking 60,183 total site visits in October 2020 and securing 1,104 keywords in the top 5 rankings by December 2020.

Results:

+93.46%

Organic Search Traffic (YoY)

+295.69%

Top 5 Keyword Rankings

+2,737.5%

Monthly Leads

You might think SEO isn’t worth the investment if you don’t see quick results, but that’s a strategic mistake.

SEO has become a must-have for any successful online marketing strategy. Without it, boosting your sales, generating leads, and building brand awareness and credibility becomes nearly impossible.

Given the numerous benefits SEO offers for small businesses, large enterprises, and multi-location companies, there’s no reason not to dive into SEO and digital marketing.

BOOST MY LONG-TERM SUCCESS

Benefits of Using an SEO Company

We’ve established that SEO offers numerous benefits for businesses, but should you invest in professional SEO services from a digital marketing agency?

SEO is not a simple task—it requires the right expertise to get it right. Ranking a website for relevant keywords is challenging, and working with a skilled digital marketing company is key to succeeding in a competitive industry.

Achieving top positions on search engine results pages (SERPs) doesn't happen overnight, unless you rely on paid ads. To experience long-term SEO benefits, whether for a small business or a large enterprise, you must invest time and effort into steady, consistent progress. A professional SEO agency can expertly manage your SEO and digital marketing campaigns to ensure success.

How Do You Know if an SEO Agency Is the Right Fit for Your Business?

When hiring an SEO company, there are several factors to consider. The most important is choosing a partner who can clearly explain their strategy, educate you about SEO, demonstrate a proven track record of success, and offer reasonable pricing.

The right SEO agency acts as a true partner—one that understands your business while leveraging their digital marketing expertise to drive your success. They should be transparent, offering honest advice on what could negatively impact your business rather than simply agreeing to everything just to keep you on board.

To guide you in your decision, here are 10 key steps to follow when selecting an SEO and digital marketing partner:

Define clear objectives for why you need SEO services, ensuring alignment with your business goals.

Set your marketing budget to understand what you can invest and what services you should prioritize.

Evaluate their SEO techniques and measurement methods. A reputable SEO agency will use proven, ethical (white-hat) strategies and provide transparent tracking and reporting of campaign results.

Compare SEO pricing and packages across agencies. The best SEO firms offer quality services at fair, cost-effective rates.

Check reviews and references to get a sense of the agency’s reputation and past performance.

Be cautious of agencies promising quick results. Guarantees of fast success might indicate the use of unethical (black-hat) SEO practices, which can harm your long-term rankings.

Demand full transparency regarding their processes and results. A trustworthy agency will demonstrate success by ranking well itself and showing tangible client outcomes.

Review case studies and client portfolios to assess the agency’s experience and the quality of its work.

Ensure they stay updated on the latest algorithm changes and industry trends, indicating their expertise and commitment to best practices.

Set realistic expectations for timelines. SEO is a long-term strategy, and success won’t happen overnight. Understand that meaningful results typically take months, not weeks.

Ultimately, an SEO agency that takes ownership of its results, offers continuous recommendations, and keeps your account active rather than on autopilot is always the best choice.

Why Hire an SEO Company

SEO is a complex and constantly evolving field, making it essential to leave it in the hands of experts. By outsourcing your SEO and digital marketing campaigns to a trusted provider, you can:

Save valuable time that can be spent improving your brand and core operations.

Gain a dedicated team to manage your SEO and SEM campaigns around the clock.

Avoid the costs of hiring and maintaining an in-house SEO team, including salaries and necessary tools.

Benefit from the industry expertise of digital marketing professionals.

Have access to resources that allow for seamless adjustments to your SEO strategy.

Stay ahead of trends and algorithm updates.

Safeguard your website and rankings.

Leverage data and analytics to outpace your competition.

SEO is too critical to overlook. Trust your SEO and digital marketing efforts to a reliable provider and achieve the best results, no matter the time it takes.

LEVEL UP MY SALES

Future-Proof Your Business With SEO

Investing in a robust SEO strategy today is an investment in your business’s future growth. Whether you're just starting with SEO or need expert guidance to outpace your competitors, Get Found Internet Marketing Agency is ready to help.

At Get Found, we apply the same proven SEO strategies to our own business that we offer to our clients. These tactics have helped us rank for high-difficulty keywords (probably some of the same ones you searched to find this page!). We’re constantly testing, innovating, and refining our processes to stay ahead of the competition—and we pass those cutting-edge strategies on to our clients.

Our powerful SEO strategy drove an exceptional year-over-year growth rate:

+1,750.42%

Organic Traffic
from 2016-2021

+1,597.65%

Marketing Qualified Leads
(MQLs) from 2018-2021

+1,257.94%

Sales Qualified Leads
(SQLs) from 2016-2021

The same strategy has helped us achieve impressive results for our SEO clients from 2017 to 2021:

  • $1.6 billion in recurring monthly revenue

  • 7,168,502 website visits

  • 1,281,500 sales leads

  • 53,283 Top 5 keyword rankings

In 2021 alone, our SEO service drove an impressive 2.4 million conversions and 31 million site visitors.

At Get Found Agency, our diverse team of strategists brings a wealth of experience, SEO expertise, and knowledge across various business sectors. This enables us to pair you with the right strategist tailored to your business needs, ensuring measurable results that propel your SEO success.

Book a meeting with one of our SEO experts today and unlock the benefits your business can gain by partnering with an award-winning SEO agency.

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