Using SEO optimization companies - worth it?

[ejc1]

Hi
I've started an online business selling art (been going since September). I'm growing the business organically with a limited budget. I am getting bit frustrated with the slow progress getting found on google through trying to use social media channels etc. I've used Adwords and I find it helpful and it has brought traffic to my site but I'm wondering if it's more cost effective and/or better (in terms of trying to keep the searching organic) to use a company to help with SEO.

Also, I wouldn't know where to start with finding the right company to use. If anyone has any tried and tested recommendations of SEO companies I'd love to hear about them!

Thank you!

[IfNot]

It can do, but it's not an exact science, as search engines are constantly tweaking their criteria, precisely to prevent manipulation of search results.
SEO companies should work with your content/ tags etc to make your site more searchable, and also try to build links from other sites to yours.
You can try building more content into your site yourself (and with what you are selling, regular blogging is a great fit for this)as search engines love relevant content.
Also try to get links to your site on other sites-review sites, art magazines, home decor companies? Use Insta lots as your product is visual.
If you do use an SEO company, make sure they use reputable practices, as "black hat" SEO can get your site penalised.
Good luck- sounds like a fascinating idea for a company.

[TalkinPeace]

No.
THey are generally pretty clueless

[Fekko]

I’d do a few online tutorials and crack on with GoogleAdwords.

I find agencies charge an awful lot and after an initial flurry of activity, go off the boil as shiny new clients come on board!

[ejc1]

Thank you! I admit to finding the SEO process confusing and overwhelming. I know blogging is supposed to help to but have yet to brave that!
I am on insta all the time - it's building slowly and I can see recognition which is great, I just am impatient for things to move quicker!

[ejc1]

Yes, I don't know any of my friends/other friends in business who have used them. I tend to ignore the promotional emails that come through but thought a recommendation could be worth it...

[Fekko]

I wouldn’t to be honest. Are you on Twitter and LinkedIn?

[ejc1]

yes, am on Twitter which I use a lot less than insta, although i've heard twitter good for art sales. I can make more of my LinkedIn, I rarely log on to that

[k2p2k2tog]

I'm a web content writer - 99% of what I do is for SEO purposes. You don't need a company to help you. You need to :

Know what people are searching for onlline when they click through to your company. Google analytics can do this.

Have a well-structured website which has relevant content, updated regularly with relevant articles. (Blog, news, what's happening, new products).

Link website with Twitter/Facebook.

Link to other relevant websites and try to get reputable websites to link to yours. (so if you're selling art, try to get home interiors or lifestyle sites to feature you).

Look at your page headers and meta-tags - the bits which tell google what your're all about.

Google's digital garage is pretty good and free training in the basics.

[ejc1]

Thank you for those suggestions.

I have got the links in everywhere. I haven't revisited my site to check tags etc for a while. I definitely want to form some partnerships with interior designers etc.

good to hear peoples thoughts on SEO companies

[IfNot]

Was coming back to say def use Google Analytics to see where your traffic is coming from, and what people are searching for.

[TalkinPeace]

DH checks our site traffic and tags and adverts every week without fail.
It makes a difference.

[MyEffingkids]

There are an awful lot of bad SEO companies. I’d avoid them.
Facebook Ads are good- not boosting posts but targeting ads, eg a age, disposable income, hobbies, people who’s birthdays are coming up etc- you can be really selective as to which people see your ads.
There are numerous good, free FB groups how to succeed with Insta/FB/Twitter ads.

[dzsparta87]

I am happy to help you - check out my site aminedahimene.com/
however, my key takes away focus on amplifies your brand and create great content at the initial stage of your business.

[ParkingFeud]

ejc 1, I am a semi-professional artist and sell a few thousand pounds a year. I've had quite good returns with just tiny £20 boosts on Instagram and Facebook to specific audiences. Not always but I'd say half my boosts have got me a sale worth on average about £100.00, some are £300+. My larger work has only sold in person through galleries and at art fairs.
A lot of my organic posts will get enquiries and sales/commissions through as well although I am hopeless at posting and do it very infrequently!
My website only lists on the first page of google for my name and also an article for helping other artists...not great for sales! I've just read a book called "how to get to the top of google in 2020" for my actual job and there are loads of things in there I want to apply to my art website. That might be a good start for just £4 or so? Or it was even free on Google Books at one point, I enjoyed the e-book version so much I bought the hard copy! Hope that helps :)

[starshideyourfires]

@ParkingFeud
Thank you! Very helpful - will check out that book

[ibzdad]

Hi @ejc1 - Happy New Year. How are you getting on with your SEO? I have a few small businesses that all use SEO to get website traffic.

The biggest inspiration I have found is a marketing expert called Neil Patel. If you google the thing that you are looking for e.g. on page SEO and also Neil's name then you are more than likely to find a useful article. His blog is super extensive and you can get to it directly at neilpatel.com/blog/ (although it is easier to just google for the specific thing you want help with).

Another person I recommend for marketing and social marketing is a youtuber called Vanessa Lau. She focuses on Instagram and Youtube marketing. The reason I mention this is because YouTube marketing is another really great way to appear in the search results. You have probably seen videos appear when you have made searches, right? Well this can be a fast track way to appear at the top of page 1 google before your website has chance to make it. Vanessa's videos are really down to earth and her energy is infectious. www.youtube.com/channel/UCdOPzgbosSnbfwd9-iXP2NA

Over here in Ibiza, there is a really great freelancer who specialises in SEO. He used to be a teacher and ran a music agency for 14 years so the way that he explains how to do SEO makes it feel so easy and straight forward. A friend of mine is having coaching with him and another friend uses his agency for SEO. Eitherway, you can book a free 1 hour chat online through his website which might be really useful for you to get some input? Digital Marketing 4 Leads

Eitherway, from personal experience I would say that with SEO you need to commit to it for the long term. Firstly, get an expert to evaluate whether or not there is an opportunity for SEO for your business. Then, if there is either learn the skills and do it yourself...or outsource the work to an agency you trust/resonate with.

I decided to DIY SEO and I actually really love it! There are some things that are a bit too technical for me, but the things that really matter are pretty easy to get your head around.

Good luck and much love xx

[Fellani]

It's best to get a fundamental understanding of SEO before hiring a company. It is important to at least find out which keywords you rank for, and is it profitable for you? From my perspective, social media is the best tool for promoting and building up your business. Slowly build your Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter profiles, and engage with related communities.