SEO Buyer’s Guide

Looking for SEO services, but want to make sure you know what you're getting for your money and if it's the right decision for you? You're in the right place.

We make it easy not only to track results, but understand what you're getting with our services up front.

Nearly 90% of consumers begin their buying journey online, using digital channels to research products, brands, and services before making a decision. This growing reliance on online search has made search engine optimization (SEO) an essential strategy for businesses to attract customers, generate leads, and secure sales.

In challenging economic times, finding efficient ways to bring in clients is critical. SEO has proven to be one of the most cost-effective marketing strategies, offering businesses a low cost-per-lead (CPL) and a reliable way to grow revenue—if done correctly.

What This Guide Covers:

  • What Is SEO? A breakdown of how SEO works, what’s included, and its cost.
  • How To Choose an SEO Company Essential tips for selecting the right partner for your business.
  • What You Need To Know About SEO Insights on how SEO impacts your lead generation and overall success.

Why SEO Is a Must for Business Growth

If your competitors are online and optimizing their websites for search engines, you can’t afford to lag behind. Without a solid SEO strategy, your business risks becoming invisible to potential customers. In competitive markets, the right SEO services can mean the difference between staying in business and falling behind.

Right now, small businesses are struggling more than ever to get their share of the leads within their target market. With economic uncertainty, it's important to focus on using the tools and techniques that bring real clients to you and generate actual sales. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) provides the lowest cost-per-lead (CPL) over the long term of any channel, with some of our clients reducing their cost per lead by more than 95% within just a few years. 

Finding the right digital marketing agency that you can trust with your business, your brand image, and to deliver results is hard, but we want you to know that you're in the best hands with Nickel SEO.

SEO-Buyers-Guide-by-Nickel-SEO

What Is Search Engine Optimization (SEO)?

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the practice of improving a website’s visibility in search engine results pages (SERPs). When potential customers search for products or services related to your business, SEO ensures your site appears at the top of the results. This visibility is critical, as most users rarely venture beyond the first page of search results. SEO isn’t just about increasing traffic; it’s about attracting the right kind of traffic—users who are actively looking for what you offer.

At its core, SEO involves optimizing your website to align with the algorithms search engines like Google use to rank content. These algorithms evaluate various factors, including the relevance of your content, the quality of your website, and the overall user experience. Keywords play a significant role in this process. They’re the terms people type into search engines, and by incorporating the right keywords into your content, you improve your chances of appearing in relevant searches. However, SEO has evolved beyond simple keyword stuffing; search engines now prioritize context, user intent, and high-quality content that provides real value.

SEO also encompasses technical improvements. A fast-loading, mobile-friendly website with secure HTTPS encryption is favored by search engines. Properly structured metadata, such as title tags and meta descriptions, further aids search engines in understanding your site. Beyond the technical aspects, SEO extends to building authority and trust. This is achieved through backlinks—links from reputable websites that point to your site. These links act as endorsements, signaling to search engines that your site is a credible resource.

User experience (UX) is another critical component of SEO. Search engines reward websites that offer intuitive navigation, engaging content, and a seamless browsing experience. If users quickly leave your site due to poor design or irrelevant content, it can harm your rankings.

Solve Problems, Not Algorithms

SEO isn’t just about catering to algorithms; it’s about meeting the needs of your audience. Search engines are increasingly adept at understanding natural language and user intent. This means your content must answer questions, solve problems, or fulfill needs. Optimizing for voice search and conversational queries has also become essential as more people use virtual assistants like Siri and Alexa to search online.

To build a strong SEO foundation, businesses should focus on these key areas:

  • Keyword Research: Identify and target the terms your audience is searching for.
  • On-Page Optimization: Optimize your content, headers, and metadata for search engines.
  • Technical SEO: Ensure your site is fast, mobile-friendly, and secure.
  • Link Building: Earn backlinks from high-quality, authoritative sites.
  • Content Creation: Develop valuable, engaging content that addresses user intent.
seo consulting

The Benefits of SEO Over Paid Ads

One of the most significant benefits of SEO is its long-term impact. Unlike paid ads, which stop generating traffic once you stop paying, SEO builds lasting visibility. By consistently optimizing your website and creating high-quality content, you can maintain and even grow your rankings over time. SEO isn’t a one-time effort—it’s an ongoing process that adapts to changing search engine algorithms and consumer behaviors.

For businesses, the value of SEO goes beyond rankings. It drives targeted traffic, builds brand trust, and increases conversions. Whether you’re a local shop looking to attract nearby customers or an e-commerce store aiming for global reach, SEO aligns your online presence with your business goals. By investing in SEO, you position your business as an authority in your industry, ensuring you stay competitive in an ever-changing online marketplace.

The Risks of Google Ads: Click Fraud and Wasted Spend

Google Ads can effectively drive traffic, but they are vulnerable to click fraud, where competitors or bots intentionally click your ads to exhaust your budget without real engagement. This manipulation wastes funds and reduces ROI.

Additionally, inattentive users might click on your ad out of curiosity or confusion, only to leave your page immediately. These quick exits still cost you per click, offering no real value.

To protect your ad spend, it’s crucial to combine Google Ads with a well-targeted strategy and optimized content that attracts genuine, high-intent visitors.

How Does SEO Work?

Search engines like Google use algorithms to analyze and rank websites based on their relevance and quality. These algorithms consider a variety of factors, including:

  • Keywords: The specific terms users type into search engines to find information. SEO involves researching and incorporating these keywords into your website content to match user intent.
  • On-Page Optimization: This involves optimizing the visible parts of your website, such as titles, meta descriptions, headings, and images, to make them search-engine-friendly.
  • Off-Page Optimization: Includes activities like building high-quality backlinks from other reputable websites, which signal to search engines that your site is authoritative and trustworthy.
  • User Experience (UX): Search engines prioritize websites that load quickly, are mobile-friendly, and provide a seamless user experience.
  • Content Quality: High-quality, relevant, and original content is a cornerstone of effective SEO. It engages users and keeps them coming back for more.
  • Technical SEO: Involves backend improvements, like optimizing your site’s code, improving page speed, and ensuring it’s crawlable by search engine bots.

What Can You Expect From SEO?

SEO is a long-term investment. Unlike paid advertising, results aren’t instant, but they’re sustainable. You can typically expect:

  • 3–6 months: Improvements in search rankings and visibility.
  • 6–12 months: Noticeable increases in website traffic and leads.
  • 12 months and beyond: Consistent traffic and a higher return on investment (ROI).

How Much Does SEO Cost?

The cost of SEO varies depending on your business size, industry, and goals. While smaller businesses might invest between $650 and $2,000 per month, larger companies may spend upwards of $5,000 monthly for comprehensive strategies.

Remember, cheap SEO services often cut corners and use unethical tactics that can harm your website. Investing in a reputable SEO agency ensures you get quality results that align with your long-term goals.

The Nickel SEO Approach to Web Design and SEO

  • Preliminary SEO & Planning Phase: Before sketching a single design element, we dive into the mission of your website and architect an SEO roadmap. Pinpointing the right SEO keywords is paramount, ensuring your content resonates with what your audience is actively searching for. At Nickel SEO, our experts seamlessly intertwine these keywords, curating content that speaks to your audience.
  • Design, Development & SEO Integration: As we sculpt your website, our SEO experts are in lockstep with the design and development teams. The goal? Crafting a user-friendly site that’s also primed for search engine crawlers. Our technical maestros focus on domain specifics, site certifications, and ensuring an always-on digital presence.
  • Post-Launch SEO Vigilance: Launching your website is just the beginning of our journey together. The digital landscape is ever-evolving, and Nickel SEO’s commitment is unwavering. We’re constantly monitoring, refining, and recalibrating to ensure your website remains a dominant force on search engines. Remember, in the realm of SEO, there are no shortcuts. It’s a long-haul endeavor. But with Nickel SEO by your side, it’s a journey towards assured digital success.

Remember, in the realm of SEO, there are no shortcuts. It’s a long-haul endeavor. But with Nickel SEO by your side, it’s a journey towards assured digital success.

SEO & Social Media: The Power Duo at Nickel SEO

At Nickel SEO, we recognize the intertwined roles of SEO and social media in magnifying the reach of your content. When harmonized, these digital tools not only augment your online engagement but also carve out a dominant space for your brand on search engine results pages (SERPs). But what exactly binds SEO and social media?

While social media doesn’t directly bolster SEO rankings, it’s an instrumental player in amplifying your brand’s visibility. Every like, share, and comment on social platforms enhance your brand’s digital footprint. Such ‘social signals’ are pivotal in driving brand recognition, cementing a loyal following, and surging website traffic.

Let’s illustrate with a Nickel SEO case study: A long standing HVAC company approached us, struggling to generate consistent leads that converted to sales. Post our strategic integration of SEO and social media campaigns, they witnessed an increase of more than 1000% in calls in under 1 year.

This HVAC company didn’t just experience an uptick in search visibility and website traffic but also witnessed a surge in leads and sales.

The takeaway? At Nickel SEO, we believe in the potency of combined SEO and digital marketing techniques. Their synergy is key to digital triumph and scaling your business to new heights.

Is Investing in SEO a Smart Move for Your Business?

Absolutely. At Nickel SEO, we firmly advocate that SEO remains one of the most budget-friendly yet powerful marketing tools to attain superior rankings and maintain a consistent influx of high-quality website traffic that doesn’t require ongoing paid advertising. While some might perceive SEO as an extravagant or unnecessary outlay, especially if past efforts haven’t been fruitful, we comprehend your reservations. Yet, it’s essential to underscore: SEO, when done right, is a remarkably cost-efficient mechanism to sustainably attract potential clients and secure conversions.

Why Nickel SEO Believes in the Power of SEO

So, what’s the fuss about SEO? Does it genuinely offer a commendable return on investment (ROI)? A consensus among marketers echoes our stance: SEO indeed guarantees one of the most impressive ROIs in the digital marketing sphere. An analysis by a reputed industry source, Search Engine Journal, indicated that nearly half of all marketers identified organic search as their top ROI-generating channel. This is a testament that an adeptly crafted SEO strategy unfurls its dividends progressively. If you’re still pondering over the pertinence of SEO for diverse businesses, from nimble startups to expansive enterprises, let Nickel SEO elucidate its myriad advantages:

Immediate Gains from SEO

  • Amplified brand visibility.
  • Enhanced user-friendliness of websites.
  • Boosted brand prominence on search platforms.
  • Surge in pinpointed traffic.
  • Elevating the overall digital user journey.
  • Consistent premium content.

The Prolonged Advantages

  • Unraveling of comprehensive analytics aiding in forward planning.
  • Solidified reputation as a thought leader in the industry.
  • Consistently bettering keyword rankings and monthly website traffic.
  • Spurt in leads and successful conversions.
  • Swift, seamless website navigation.
  • Expanding the community of loyal customers.
  • Ensuring sustainable profitability and impressive conversion ratios.

At Nickel SEO, our emphasis isn’t just on immediate results but on fostering a long-term strategic partnership to drive your business’s digital success.

The Edge of Partnering with an Expert SEO Agency

The dividends of SEO for enterprises are unmistakably manifold. But the looming question for many is: Should you entrust your SEO endeavors to a specialized digital marketing agency? As industry expert Harris puts it, “Mastering SEO is no stroll in the park. To be distinct in an arena bustling with rivals, aligning with a skilled digital marketing agency becomes paramount.” Achieving those coveted top ranks on the SERPs isn’t an instantaneous feat unless you lean on paid ads. To reap the enduring advantages of SEO, whether for compact startups or sprawling corporations, persistence and expert guidance are essential. This is where an adept SEO firm like Nickel SEO can be your linchpin, steering your SEO campaigns with unmatched proficiency.

Identifying the Right SEO Partner: Nickel SEO’s Guide

Choosing an SEO partner is a pivotal decision, demanding a discerning eye. Key pointers to focus on include an agency’s aptitude to elucidate its approach transparently, a commitment to demystifying SEO for clients, a legacy of proven successes, and offering value-driven packages. As Nickel SEO’s esteemed Director, Hannah Garon, opines, “An ideal agency functions as a collaborator. While they acknowledge the business acumen of clients, they synergize it with their in-depth digital marketing wisdom to create a roadmap to triumph. A genuine partner will candidly voice concerns and won’t just acquiesce for appeasement.” To steer your quest, here’s Nickel SEO’s curated decalogue for selecting your digital ally:

  1. Objectives First: Commence by crystallizing your expectations from SEO.
  2. Allocate Funds: Determine an optimal budget for your SEO initiatives.
  3. Methods Matter: Probe their SEO modus operandi and their metrics for assessing outcomes. Authentic firms like Nickel SEO vouch for ethical, tailor-made strategies.
  4. Cost-Quality Balance: Survey SEO packages to discern value for money. Superior agencies strike a balance between cost and excellence.
  5. Testimonials Speak Volumes: Scour client reviews and solicit references.
  6. Beware of False Promises: Shun agencies assuring overnight successes; they might be resorting to questionable tactics, jeopardizing long-term goals.
  7. Transparency is Paramount: Opt for an agency that is an open book, demonstrably excelling in its own SEO rankings.
  8. Dive into Past Ventures: Scrutinize their case studies, past undertakings, and clientele.
  9. Staying Updated: Validate their grasp of recent algorithmic changes and sectoral evolutions.
  10. Patience Pays: Remember, SEO is a marathon, not a sprint. Instant gratification isn’t the name of the game; sustainable progress is.

With Nickel SEO, you don’t just gain a service provider; you find a partner committed to your digital ascendancy.

You have challenges. We have solutions.

Web design and development can be a quick process for some small businesses with basic needs, taking as little as a week to complete once all key information and media has been gathered. For other larger companies and organizations that desire to have incredible customized designs, special login and content sections, databases, legally secure areas, projects can take 20 – 90 business days. Our average site completion averages 2 1/2 weeks even with a couple of those factors.

For a more complete list, here’s some factors you may want to think about when calculating the time to complete your website:

  • Site content volume and depth
  • Special design functions & overlays
  • Animations
  • Video creation / editing
  • Company & team photography
  • Membership / private login areas
  • Secure content
  • Extensive databases
  • Sales platforms & products
  • Legal regulations & requirements

Search engine optimization has become the standard for practically every local business, which means that many of your competitors have probably already hired someone to optimize their website in order to quickly and easily pass you on Google, even if you maintained the #1 spot for years in the past.

Perhaps you had someone do SEO for you previously, but have since fallen behind because of outdated SEO practices. We stay up to date with all of the latest changes to Google’s ranking factors through detailed research, performing case studies, and comparing data with some of the other best SEO’s in the world to ensure we’re always using SEO best practices.

Below are just a few reasons why your competitors might rank higher than yours.

  1. Their site is more relevant, providing a better experience to website visitors
    • From your Google My Business listing to your website itself, your company should clearly be labeled by what it provides, accurately express the quality of service or products you offer, and tailor that content clearly to the keywords that are best suited to bring you the most targeted traffic to your site. Understanding keywords, latent semantic indexing, descriptive text, and other key factors can greatly increase the relevance of your site, satisfying both your customers and Google.
  2. Their site has a more powerful presence
    • While content, design, technical issues can all factor into your site’s ranking, your social signals, the accuracy of your directories, and the quality of your backlinks plays a major role in how authoritative your web presence is online. Effectively using Facebook, Yelp, LinkedIn, Instagram, and other tools can increase your visibility within the search engines.
  3. Users and Google like their site more
    • Keeping your site simple and easy to use for your customers as well as Google is one of the most fundamental ranking factors. Google tracks every actions a user makes on your website, even where they come from, how they get to your site, and the actions they take once they’ve arrived. By ensuring that your customers and Google can easily navigate your site and reach a conversion you can quickly move up the ranks against your online competition.

SEO isn’t a magic wand that you can wave at your website and then suddenly see massive waves of traffic, sales, and other conversions. It’s a process that takes time, but become extremely effective, and highly valuable in the long term.

A simple way to break it down into a hypothetical is create a comparison.

  1. Brick & Mortar Co. skipped out on SEO and decided to dedicate their funds to immediate results with pay-per-click ads. They paid in $1,000 a month into paid advertising. The company they hired charged them $500 for setup and initial costs. Over the first 6 months they spent $6,500 on advertising and brought in $60,000 in sales. Their ROI is $53,500 for that 6 months. With regular updates and costs they continue this method for 3 years, spending $37,500 and making $360,000 during that time frame. This means they averaged just under $108,000 per year.
  2. Brick & Mortar Co. instead takes 6 months to rank #1 on Google through SEO. The number of hours to get them to that point during that 6 months brought the cost to $6,000. Now those first few months are rough, so they only make $21,000, leaving them $15,000. That next 6 months with continued SEO efforts at $1000 monthly, they reach sales of $80,000. Over 3 years their total cost is $36,000 and the return is $600,000, averaging $200,000 per year.

While SEO may not be as effective in a short time frame, it’s highly profitable over an extended period of time so long as the company you work with stays up to date with SEO best practices and focuses on the area’s that bring the best results.

Absolutely! We currently maintain 40 – 50 elite class clients at any given time, so that we can provide the genuine care and service that each of our trusted clients need. With clear time frames established, and proper organization we can ensure that your company is given that same care, with quality customer service in a pinch.

Trying to hire the top SEO company here in Dallas / Fort Worth? See how well we rank. Our own company sits at the top of the Fort Worth SEO listings for several keyword variations. We’re also the #1 in the Google Maps 3-pack for a reason.

So, how do you hire the best web design & SEO company in Dallas / Fort Worth, Texas?

Simply give us a call at (817) 996-2857 and we’ll guide you through the process and answer all your questions along the way.

What Our Clients Say About Our Work

Grow Your Business Faster With Our Digital Marketing Services

At Nickel SEO, Benjamin Nickel’s leadership has shaped a team that excels in web designSEO services, and online reputation management. Whether it’s crafting stunning websites that captivate users, implementing SEO strategies that dominate search engine rankings, or protecting and enhancing your brand’s reputation, we have the tools and expertise to make your business shine online.

We believe in building long-term partnerships with our clients, delivering tailored solutions that not only meet your needs but exceed your expectations.

Ready to expand your online presence and increase your sales? Contact Nickel SEO today, and let’s discuss how our web design, SEO, and reputation management services can help you grow your business and achieve your goals.

Nickel SEO

We specialize in web design, SEO services, and many other digital marketing services to help businesses attract more customers and increase revenue. We focus on creating effective strategies that drive traffic, improve search rankings, and build trust online. Our efforts are entirely dedicated to increase your sales with results driven and award winning digital marketing service.

Call if you're interested in real results and a real ROI.

Fort Worth, TX Location

9705 Tehama Ridge Pkwy Suite 257 Fort Worth, TX 76177

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Phone: (817) 996-2857

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