Frequently Asked Questions About SEO

SEO questions are abound, and the answers to the questions can vary since SEO is as much art as it is science. Below, are some of the most commonly asked questions, followed by, what we feel, is the most acquare and straighforward answers for those seeking out SEO services or information therefor. If your question is not answered within this list, please feel free to reach out using our Free SEO Help form.

How much does SEO Cost?

Depending on the type of SEO services, and the way the services are billed, the cost of SEO can range anywhere from $50-$700 per hour or $500-$10,000 per month. Get a more detailed answer to this question in our SEO Pricing Guide.

What is the difference between SEO & SEM?

Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of working on improving the search engine friendliness of a website through technical as well as textual improvements in order to gain improve organic (unpaid) search engine rankings. Search engine marketing, also called SEM or PPC (pay per click), however, is the process of creating and optimizing a paid campaign where the advertisements are placed along relevant search engine results.

What do SEO services consist of?

SEO services can be as simple as a one-time SEO audit, outlining the problems of a website with specific instructions on how to fix the issues, to more comprehensive service such as rank monitoring, content development, link outreach, and ongoing consulting services.

What is the difference between an internal and an external link?

An internal link refers to links which do not point to an outside domain. For example, a link pointing from example.com/about.html to example.com/contact.html would be an internal link, whereas a link pointing from example.com/about.html to external-resource.com would be an external link.

What is PageRank?

PageRank (PR) is the name of the algorithm developed by Google which evaluates the incoming links for a given web page in order to determine the topic relevancy, and authority of said page. This in turn determines, in part, the position in which the subject page is able to occupy in the organic search engine result pages (SERPs). It worth noting that the public PageRank value is no longer made available by Google.

How long will it take to see results from SEO?

The pace at which SEO results can be produced depends on a variety of factors, including the quality of the work performed, the level of competition within the business category (of the website), and the value presented to the end-user by a given web property.

What is an SEO guarantee?

An SEO guarantee is where an SEO provider guarantees to return all or a portion of the fees if it cannot produce the types of results agreed upon as part of the service agreement. Generally, guaranteed SEO results are simply a sales tactic, as no SEO company can guarantee result; however, they can offer a refund if you are unsatisfied with the results. Do keep in mind that the guarantee agreement is not convoluted or stacked against the customer.

What does SERPs stand for?

The abbreviation SERPs stands for Search Engine Results Page(s).

Which is better for my business SEO or SEM?

SEO & SEM are different in their roles in the marketing efforts of a business. SEO is best suited for long-term strategy for already-profitable businesses, whereas SEM is able to produce quick results, but still requires optimization and monitoring for long-term profitability.

What is link outreach or development?

Link development services are an important part of SEO; however, in many cases the quality of the work is not acceptable which ends up resulting in ranking degradation; however, if properly performed, link outreach is the process of acquiring links for high value content by bringing the existence of said content to the attention of other web property owners who may benefit from linking out to the content in question.

Does Google frown upon SEO?

Google, in fact, encourages ethical SEO practices that do not violate their quality guidelines. This is an important factor to keep in mind when selecting an SEO company.