• FAQs

          Search engine optimization (SEO) helps businesses drive visits to their website through organic search traffic. Given that the top organic search results receive a third of the clicks, a decline in ranking could be detrimental for your business. Implementing SEO best practices on your website will help to ensure that your web content is seen by as many potential customers as possible. The more visitors you have, the better your chances are of converting those visits into sales!

          Local search engine optimization (SEO) helps local businesses gain visibility by optimizing their local business listings for local search. A business that leverages local SEO will include its address, phone number, local opening times, and exact location in the form of a local citation. The goal is to rank for local searches which are usually performed by people in a specific geographical region looking for a business near them.

          We typically see results within the first 30 to 60 days, but when it comes to SEO, there are many factors at play. It's important to remember that SEO is a long-term strategy and results may not come as fast at you wish.

        • FAQs

          Digital advertising uses the internet to send advertisements to customers who are online through different websites and social media platforms like Google, Bing, LinkedIn and Facebook.

          The price for Google Ads management depends on the monthly ad spend. For accounts with $1,000 in monthly ad spend, the price is $550/month. Between $1,000 and $5,000 a month in ad spend, the price is $950/month. For $5,000 to $10,000 a month in ad spend, the price is $2,000/month. For more than $10,000 a month in ad spend, the price is $4,500/month.

          The price for Social Media Ads management depends on the monthly ad spend. For accounts with $1,000 in monthly ad spend, the price is $550/month. Between $1,000 and $5,000 a month in ad spend, the price is $950/month. For $5,000 to $10,000 a month in ad spend, the price is $2,000/month. For more than $10,000 a month in ad spend, the price is $4,500/month.

        • FAQs

          This depends on the complexity and size of a redesign and if eCommerce is needed. On average, it takes around 14-18 weeks from the web design intensive stage to launch.

          If your website experiences the following issues: it’s not responsive on all devices, has a slow loading speed, the design appears old and tired, users don’t spend long on the site, sales are stagnant, or your business is going through a rebranding - your website needs a redesign to boost your brand awareness and sales.

          Sometimes there’s no need to rebuild a website. Minor edits, refreshing page content and images, or restructuring page layout for SEO best practices can boost traffic and sales.

        • FAQs

          Semantic search launched in 2013 with the release of Google's Hummingbird update. Since then, Google's search engine has become more complex. The integration of machine learning, with RankBrain, and NLP, with BERT, has enabled the search engine to better understand the context of a query and deliver more personalized and targeted results. Semantic SEO is the process of creating machine-readable content using structured data and linked open data to help search engines better understand your content.

          On-page SEO is the practice of optimizing individual web pages in order to rank higher and earn more relevant traffic in search engines. On-page SEO refers to both the content and HTML source code of a page that can be optimized, as opposed to off-page SEO which refers to links and other external signals. From meta tags to page content, website structure, and HTML, on-page optimization services are focused on making your website more visible to search engines.

          Structured data refers to any organized data that conforms to a certain format, such as information in a relational database. When information is highly structured and predictable, search engines can more easily organize and display it in creative ways. Structured data involves using a piece of code that is laid out in a specific format easily understood by search engines. The search engines read the code and use it to display search results in a more dynamic way.

        • FAQs

          An SEO agency has experts in different areas of search engine optimization that may be out of the realm of your marketing team's abilities. SEO can be very complex and time-consuming. Furthermore, as search engine algorithms change it can be difficult to stay current on the latest ranking factors and strategies for improving online visibility. You will likely see a greater return on investment and better results from using a professional SEO agency than you would from tackling this on your own.

          As a digital marketing agency, SMA Marketing provides products and services in four areas: SEO, Local SEO, Digital Advertising, and Web Design

          We focus on building authentic, long-lasting relationships with our clients. We’re goal oriented and results driven and believe in doing good and making a difference in the world.

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What to Look for in an SEO Agency

Amanda Fallace

August 29, 2019

When it comes to selecting a reputable agency to manage your SEO, you shouldn’t choose just anyone. It’s important to weigh your options to ensure you’re selecting a company that you can trust to deliver the results you are looking for using ethical practices that will benefit your website long term. Let’s take a look at some important qualities to consider when choosing the right SEO agency for your business.

1. Good Reviews

No matter what you’re purchasing, consulting customer reviews beforehand is a must. Reviews provide firsthand experiences from others who have partnered with your prospective agencies. Consulting customer reviews can help better inform your decision and may even answer some questions you have about a prospective agency.

2. Realistic Offerings

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. This is why you should only look for agencies that present you with realistic options for short-term and long-term growth. Due to Google’s ever-changing algorithm, no SEO agency can guarantee top-ranking positions. If an agency guarantees quick and high rankings, you should definitely consider another option.

3. White Hat SEO Practices

In order to be successful in SEO, it is important to do whatever you can to avoid search engine penalties. You need to be certain the SEO agency you choose to partner with implements white hat SEO practices so your site doesn’t receive any unwanted penalties. Ask questions before making a decision! Honest SEO agencies will have no problem explaining their strategies in detail. SEO strategies that seem manipulative or unethical should raise immediate red flags.

4. Resources

Many quality SEO agencies offer resources that showcase their performance, strategies, and skills. It’s important for you to reference an agency’s eBooks, case studies, templates, and guides to help validate their skills and expertise. Some offers can be a testament to the agency’s ability to provide real results so be sure to check them out!

5. Partnerships and Certifications

It’s always a good idea to select an SEO agency with accredited partnerships and certifications. Companies that hold partnerships and certifications verify their legitimacy as quality agency and prove their knowledge of SEO and important SEO tools. You should consider agencies with partnerships and certifications from notable organizations like Google, HubSpot, and the Better Business Bureau.

6. Experience 

When looking for an SEO Agency, always consider the level of experience companies have. The length of time a company has been in business is a good indicator of their level of experience. You may also want to consider the variety of businesses and industries the company has worked with. Companies that have serviced clients in a variety of industries are likely to know what works and what doesn’t.

Choosing the Right SEO Agency for Your Business

No matter your industry, the success of today’s businesses relies on their ability to be found online. Implementing a strong, quality SEO strategy is not only beneficial to a brand and its marketing efforts, but it is critical to its web presence, especially within competitive markets. If you’re looking to grow your business, contact SMA Marketing today. As SEO industry experts, we have the skills and knowledge to drive the right organic traffic to your website.

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Amanda Fallace

Amanda brings a passion for results to her SEO Manager role, leading our forward-thinking strategies to improve organic search visibility.

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