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Search Engine Optimisation | SEO – DONEGAL
What is SEO?
SEO stands for search engine optimization. It’s a set of practices designed to improve the appearance and positioning of web pages in organic search results. Basically, good SEO will help ensure your website appears in the first page of Google. Because organic search is the most prominent way for people to discover and access online content, a good SEO strategy is essential for improving the quality and quantity of traffic to your website.
What are organic search results?
Organic search results are the unpaid listings on a search engine results page (SERP) that the search engine has determined are most relevant to the user’s query. Ads make up a significant portion of many SERPs. Organic search results are distinct from these ads in that they are positioned based on the search engine’s organic ranking algorithms rather than advertiser bids. You can’t pay for your page to rank higher in organic search results.
How does SEO work?
Search engines, such as Google and Bing, use algorithms to rank websites. These algorithms determine which websites should rank for a particular search query. The algorithms consider the content of a website, the number and quality of links pointing to it, and the user experience.
- Keyword Research: Finding the terms or phrases that potential customers might use to search for the goods or services that your company provides is the first stage in SEO.
- On-Page Optimization: This involves making changes to a website’s content and structure to increase its relevance and usability for both users and search engines. Title tags, meta descriptions, headings, and image optimization are some examples of this.
- Technical optimization: This involves making sure that the website is technically optimized to be easily crawlable by search engines. This includes optimizing page load speeds, fixing broken links, and ensuring that the website has a clear hierarchy and structure.
- Content creation: Creating high-quality, engaging, and relevant content that includes the target keywords is an important aspect of SEO. This can help to increase the website’s visibility and attract backlinks from other websites.
- Off-page optimization: This involves building backlinks to the website from other reputable websites. Backlinks signal to search engines that the website is a trusted source of information and can help to improve its ranking in search results.
- Monitoring and analysis: SEO is an ongoing process and requires constant monitoring and analysis to ensure that the website is performing well in search results. This includes tracking the website’s rankings, analysing traffic and engagement data, and adjusting the strategy as necessary.
How will we use SEO to help your company?
So, if you have landed on this SEO page, you more than likely did a Google search for SEO Donegal or Donegal SEO or SEO or Donegal SEO Services or SEO Agency in Donegal.
You discovered Saltwater Marketing because we really do understand the ranking factors that can get your website seen. You might be desperate for SEO because you’ve launched a website that isn’t generating any traffic!
We will use different types of SEO to boost traffic to your website.
Technical SEO refers to the technical parameters that affect the visibility of a website in a search engine.
On-Site SEO refers to the website itself and how to make it friendlier to search engines and users.
Content SEO refers to the content on your website, the quality of it and how to improve it.
Off-Site SEO refers to ways that you can promote your website without directly making changes to it. For example, providing a link to your website on your social media accounts is off-site SEO.
What results will I see by using SEO?
You’ll see many benefits with effective SEO.
Higher Search Engine Rankings
Successful SEO can help your website rank higher in search engine results, making it easier for users to find your site.
Increased Traffic
By optimizing your site for search engines, you can help ensure your website appears on the first page of Google. You’ll attract more organic traffic from people searching for the products or services you offer.
Improved User Experience
Making sure your website performs well is another aspect of SEO. This includes optimizing page loading speed, making your site mobile-friendly, and creating easy-to-use navigation. Improve the overall user experience on your site so visitors are more likely to stay and engage with your content.
Increased Brand Awareness
As your website ranks higher in search results, more people will become aware of your brand and what you have to offer.
Better Conversion Rates
By providing a positive user experience and making it easier for users to find the information they need, you can increase the likelihood of them taking a desired action, such as making a purchase or filling out a contact form.
How we do SEO for you
Whichever SEO agency you choose will be a gamble, so try one for 3 months with no contract and see how well it works – no need for any big gamble on your part. Do make sure you get someone based in your industry to do the SEO to rank well in searches.
- Do Keyword Research
- Install and configure Google Analytics
- Create XML Sitemap
- Add ALT Tags to images
- Create Page Title and Descriptions
- Add Location to Google Maps
- Submission to Search Engines
- Add Business to 3 Local Directories
- 301 & 303 Re-Directs
- Install YOAST SEO Plugin
- Rename Page URL’s
- Add Social Share Buttons
Our Pricing for SEO Services
*The packages below are indicative of what we do on an ongoing basis every month, to further optimise your website and improve rankings and conversions. Every client is different, so we customise our SEO service to suit your own business. You may want us to simply Maintain your SEO. Or Sustain your SEO to grow visitor numbers. Or Regain to get competitive with your opposition. Or choose Concierge for growth focused firms.
PLATINUM – CONCIERGE
€5,000 per month
This is where we become part of your team working on your website to accelerate your SEO and aggressively gain traffic by working on your agreed strategy.
INCLUDES.
- Everything in Gold
- Strategic Planning
- Marketing Campaign Management
- Anything we can do in-house
- Content Creation
- Management of Third Parties
- Full SEO Management Report
- Monthly Statistics Report
- Monthly Actionable Insights Strategy
- One call per Week
- Weekly Roundup Report
€5,000 per month
Limited to 5 Clients.
*Ask about availability
GOLD – REGAIN
€2,000 per month
This is two full days or four half days of our time to work on your website to accelerate your SEO and aggressively gain traffic by working on your agreed strategy.
INCLUDES.
- Up to 100 Key words / Key phrases
- 5+ New Landing Page/ blog post
- Full SEO Management Report
- Monthly Statistics Report
- Monthly Actionable Insights Strategy
- Two calls per Month
- On-Site SEO
- Off-Site SEO includes Strategy, Local Search and Backlinks
- Technical SEO
€2,000 per month
Limited to 10 Clients.
*Ask about availability
SILVER – SUSTAIN
€1,000 per month
This is a full day or two half days of our time to work on your website to sustain your SEO by enhancing it gradually by working on your agreed strategy.
- Up to 50 Keywords/key terms
- 2+ New Landing Page/ blog post
- Full SEO Management Report
- Monthly Statistics Report
- Monthly Actionable Insights Strategy
- One call per Month
- On-Site SEO
- Off-Site SEO includes Strategy and Local Search
- Technical SEO
€1,000 per month
Limited to 20 Clients.
*Ask about availability
BRONZE – MAINTAIN
€500 per month
This is a half day of our time to work on your website to maintain your SEO or work on your strategy with you – your call. Ideal if you have good existing content.
INCLUDES.
- Up to 10 Keywords/key terms
- 1+ New Landing Page/ blog post
- Full SEO Management Report
- Monthly Statistics Report
- Monthly Actionable Insights Strategy
- One 1 hour call per Quarter
- On-Site SEO
- Off-Site SEO and Strategy
- Technical SEO
€500 per month
Some typical questions about our SEO services
How long does it take to get on Page 1
This is a very common question. The truth is that this varies depending on the competitiveness of your key terms or keywords for your industry. And how well your competitors do their own Search Engine Optimisation. Nobody can honestly guarantee you a Page 1 ranking. However a good SEO might give you an indication after the first month or two. As any golfer in Portsalon, Letterkenny, Ballyliffin or Murvagh would tell you, it is all about playing the course in front of you on any given day
Can you guarantee Page 1 listing ?
No. However a good SEO specialist should have an idea if they can do it. This is still a wild guess, until the first month or two have been done. It is just a form of advertising, instead or on top of using the Donegal Democrat or Donegal News, Ocean FM Radio and Highland Radio. Or even Donegal Daily. In the long run it is going to be a lot less expensive than using PPC Pay Per Click Google Ads.
Can you offer a lower price ? I see other people asking for less.
What you invest is up to you. The more you invest the better the results in leads or sales. However the fact is that the first few months are a gamble, to find out if we can do what we say and deliver results. Commit to someone for 3 or 6 months. If you get the wrong people move on to someone else. The more you invest the better the results in leads or sales should be. If you could invest €500 and get back €1500 or invest €5000 and get back €15,000 – which do you want? However the fact is that the first few months are a gamble, to find out if we can do what we say and deliver results. You decide where you want to start and commit to one SEO provider. Why pay less when you can pay more and get better returns.
Can you guarantee more sales ? Will we definitely make more money ?
How many months are needed ? How long does this SEO take ?
Only after a few months will you be able to tell you how long it should take to rank for a key word or term.
How many keywords are included ?
Do you offer the audit free ?
What sort of SEO tasks do you do?
Technical SEO
Fix technical SEO issues
Fix any canonical or cannibalisation issues
Ensure domain variations all point to the root, as in http://www.meanit.ie and https:// www.meanit.ie to https://meanit.ie
Clean up existing links
Clean up code
No Index paginated results
Test mobile friendly version rendering and speed
You can address mobile-first indexing
Improve site delivery for core web vitals
Check HREF LANG configuration
Ensure hosting environment is adequate, secure, fast with no IP neighbour issues
Check that robots txt file is correct
Test and improve accessibility301 redirects
404 error check and repair
Content SEO
Write up a content strategy
Write new, high quality, topical content
Work on domain overall authority in your industry
Expand on topics covered in page content relative to your industry
Edit pages to respond better with end user intent
Create content around Brand promotions elsewhere
Cull or curate old content or reduce number of pages
Ensure all content is original or paid for
Check all images are correctly sized for web
Check all images are correctly named with proper naming convention
Clean out any old images from Media library
On Site SEO
Work on internal linking
Improve ‘Brand’ trust
Add to or improve Schema
Tweak or improve Page titles to engage in SERPs
Tweak or improve meta descriptions to convert more visitors
Add Alt tags
Optimise images
Use or improve anchor texts
Use mini menu structure with jump links in long articles
Create and A/B Test landing pages
Off Site SEO
Build new relevant links
Disavow unsuitable links
Work on your Google My Business entry
Work on Linkedin business profile
Work on Facebook business page
Check external links to your internal pages
Resolve any current Google Search Console coverage issues
Do NAP audits for listings with your Name, Address and Phone number
Get more reviews
Compare competitor sites and reverse engineer
Do some PPC or engage someone to manage a campaign
Constantly check, add to, improve and edit Web 2.0 listings
How much does SEO cost?
How much does SEO cost?
SEO or Search Engine Optimisation entails a lot of different tasks and skills. So it needs a specialist or a specialist team of SEOs and developers to apply any technical or code changes, plus perhaps a graphic designer. Usually an agency will bill an hourly rate to include the use of the team members, whichever are required at any given time. An average rate is about €100, but many do charge twice that figure. A freelancer may charge less, but therefore does not have the full team with all the skills required.
In the USA the average spend in 2021 on SEO services by a small company was about $500 a month, as referenced by Brian Dean at Backlinko. They surveyed 1200 small businesses or companies who identified as investing in monthly SEO services. Many invest thousands a month and most are happy with their returns. These business plan to invest more in 2022. Most who spend under $500 a month are generally not happy with the results. These respondents do not plan to stick with their current agency or freelancer.
What are the options when getting someone to do your SEO?
Employ an SEO.
You could employ someone inhouse to do your SEO and the going rate is between €30,000 for a start and about €70,000 for the more experienced SEO, so the average salary is about €50,000 in Ireland. This is about €30 per hour plus tax and benefits.
Pros – include having the person in your physical office to do as instructed, when instructed.
Cons – You have to find someone suitable to recruit, manage them, look after them with benefits such as sick pay and holidays etc.
Employ a Freelancer.
There is a plethora of Freelancers offering SEO services and they can seem like the cheap or low cost option. The good ones are freelancing because an agency will pay them between €30 and €60 an hour, whereas they can get €100+ if they work directly with the client. The better ones can code as well as do SEO. And the unicorns can do both, plus be qualified graphic designers too!
Pros – They are self employed. You simply pay an agreed hourly rate. And there are no extra benefits. You can sack them at any time.
Cons – You still have to find one that you think is good and then gamble on them for a while to see if they are any good. And if they leave you can be left in a situation where you do not know where you stand, so you have to start all over again.
Employ an Agency
Pros – They have to find their own staff, train them and make sure they are good at their job, then manage them and provide relief staff for holidays and sickness. They have to do any recruiting and replace people who leave. They have to deliver results for you or you can just leave to go to their competitor.
Cons – It costs you more (or it can appear to cost you more).
SEO Services rates or costs
Some SEO services are more expensive to buy and deliver than others. You can expect to pay more for Link Building or website management , eCommerce or Enterprise SEO, creating Infographics and videography. More that is, than paying for Social Media marketing or management, keyword research or writing simple blog articles, on page or off page seo, audits and guest posting.
A good agency can be tasked with doing everything, whereas employees or Freelancers tend to focus on one or two services.
Marketing Budget versus SEO Budget
If you have a budget of say 10% of overall sales and you sell €1m a year, take that €100k as the Marketing budget, then allocate say 20% to 25% to SEO services. This is about industry standard. If you are applying metrics to all your marketing spend, you should be able to determine which tactics work best. It could be as simple as asking new customers, where did they get your contact details or why did they call you.
Bottom Line
If you really do understand SEO Search Engine Optimisation, you could employ someone to do the work you give them through a comprehensive SEO Plan. If you do not want to employ someone, you could try some freelancers and hope to get a good one, even if it is short lived.
However, if you want to have a team of specialists do the work and get the results, hire an agency. Give them 6 months to get some results, to show a good return on your investment. What is the average LTV Lifetime Value of a new client for you? If the first Agency does not work out find another one, until you get it right. Then build a mutually beneficial long term relationship, so that you can work and grow together. Any good agency will not want short term clients, so they will run you through as much of a filter as you apply to selecting them.
Does every website need SEO ?
Some people have a website more as a Digital Business card.
When you meet someone you are likely to google them. This is where SEO comes in, as you want to turn up when someone does that search. And you want to look professional. However, this could be as simple as having a one page website or a basic site such as Wix or Weebly. Add some relevant text and some images, along with your contact details and that is you done.
Will this simple one page site work without SEO?
Yes and no.
This one page or simple website may work if you are going to send people to it, use it on your business card or advertising etc. For example something like www johnsmithaccountant.com
However, it will probably not rank in Google for anything, but the domain name itself. In a search for “john smith accountant” this site may turn up. It is unlikely to turn up in a search for accountant or any specific accounting service. Depending on the competition and the number of competitors in the geographic location of the business.
If John Smith Accountant is based in a city, lets say Dublin or maybe Birmingham, he may get found for “john smith accountant”, but he will not rank for John smith or for accountant or for any accountant services.
Generally you can rank one page for one term or keyphrase. So if you have five services, you will want at least one page for each one, to be able to optimse for these services in your target area.
Is this enough for you?
Maybe this is enough. You can direct people straight to your website. Or you could do Ads such as Google Ads or Facebook or Linkedin Ads, to bring people to this website. Effectively you pay to play.
Bottom Line
If you are happy to bring people to the website by advertising, then you do not need SEO.
If you are paying for ads to get visitors, it will work, but it may become very expensive after a while. Once you stop paying, you stop displaying too.
Investing in SEO is a longer term tactic. And it is one that over time reduces your requirement to spend so much on Ads as a tactic.
Initially you could do both, advertise in the short term whilst doing SEO for the long term.
Remember that SEO is a tactic, but it is not the only way to promote your business. So all the usual ways such as social media marketing, signage, livery, adverts in newspapers, magazine also can work. TV, Radio, Van wraps, uniforms and loads of other standard marketing channels.