We get many frequently asked questions about SEO. Here are some of the most common.

What is SEO (Search Engine Optimisation)?

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) refers to techniques applied to websites which will make them more visible to search engines. The goal of search engine optimisation is for a website to achieve the highest possible search engine rankings for selected keywords.

What is SEM (Search Engine Marketing)?

Search Engine Marketing (SEM) refers to a company's overall search engine marketing strategy. It involves using various techniques to make a website more visible on search engines. Search Engine Marketing methods include search engine optimisation (SEO) and Pay Per Click advertising (PPC) or a combination of both. Businesses often use PPC advertising to boost search engine visibility before free organic traffic builds up through natural SEO techniques.

Why is SEO important to my business?

Experts say that over eighty five per cent of people who use the internet use it to search for products and services with the intent of buying something. A Google search for a specific keyword will typically return hundreds of results. To stand any chance of being found, your website needs to be displayed in the top twenty results, ideally the top ten. Your website can be fine tuned, using ethical, search engine optimisation techniques. These will improve its rankings and as a result, generate more business for you.

How do I know if my website is fully optimised?

Think of some words or phases people would used to find your business on Google or other major search engine. When the results appear, note the position of your website. The websites that get the most visitors are the top three – so if your website is not in the top three, it’s likely that your site is not fully optimised and you would benefit SEO website marketing and promotion.

If you optimise my website, how long will it be before I see results?

You should see improvements in your ranking within six to eight weeks of making SEO changes to your website. But it takes time, dedication, persistence and financial commitment to get a good rank, especially if you are in a competitive niche. In this case you may not see your best results for a year. While you are waiting, you can generate traffic to your site using pay per click advertising (PPC) techniques (a fee paying service).

Can you guarantee my website the number one position on Google?

This is probably the question we get asked most. The answer is simple – no SEO company in the world can guarantee you the number one slot unless you have a budget of millions (and even then there are no guarantees as Google has the ultimate say in the matter). For example, if run a small mobile phone business and you want to get to the number one slot for the phrase ‘mobile phones’ you will be competing with millions of web pages including the mobile phone giants who have huge internet marketing budgets and teams of SEO experts working 24/7 to keep them top of the rankings. The secret is keyword research. You can still rank well in Google if you choose less common keywords which have fewer competing pages on the internet, but will still bring traffic to your website. For example, if your mobile phone business sells a range of phone with big buttons, your site could be optimised for the phrase ‘mobile phones for the elderly’ where you stand a much better chance of a good position than something as broad as ‘mobile phones’. Even then, there are no guarantees as only Google decides. You should always remember that SEO is not an exact science, and results can never be guaranteed, no matter what anyone says.

How long does it take for my website to be indexed by Google?

When a new website appears on the internet, Google sends out a ‘spider’ to crawl its pages and add the content to the Google Index. Google sends out spiders in its own time. Generally, it takes anywhere from two to twelve weeks for Google to index your site.

I already have a website – is it too late to optimise it?

No. There are many basic adjustments that can be done your text and computer code that will improve your rankings on the internet. However, it is best to involve an SEO consultant early on to avoid the risk of costly re-work of a website that is not generating the business you expect. For example, if you are considering setting up a website for your business, you need advice on choosing a domain name as choice of domain name can influence rankings.

Can I optimise my website myself?

Of course you can. Search engine optimisation is not rocket science – the process is not complicated. There is plenty of advice out there on the internet. But it is time consuming and to do it efficiently requires knowledge, technical expertise and natural flair. Perhaps the question you should really ask yourself is whether or not your hours are better spent optimising your website or building your business.

How much does SEO cost?

Your first consultation with us is free. All you need to do is send us your website’s address and will perform a high level review. You may then opt for a full SEO audit where we look at your site in detail and make SEO recommendations. These start at £199. We offer SEO maintenance contracts / packages starting from as little as £50 per month.

Can you optimise all websites?

It depends. Methods of website design have moved on over the years, and if your website was designed more than three or four years ago, it may be more cost effective to start again from scratch and create a brand new website that is fully optimised or search engines from the outset, particularly if your current site uses techniques that hide content from the search engines such as graphic text and Flash animations.

Do you take on any projects?

Sorry, but we do not take on adult content websites, gambling websites or websites promoting extreme causes that we believe may cause offence to others.