SEO Services Deliverables

You may have heard an SEO consultant mention that nothing is guaranteed in SEO. However, that statement isn't entirely accurate. When you hire an SEO consultant or agency for SEO services, you should expect to receive regular deliverables each month.

Here are 5 essential deliverables you should expect:

1. Improvement in search engine rankings
2. Enhancement of technical SEO
3. Optimization of on-page SEO
4. A clear outline of the content strategy
5. A comprehensive link-building strategy

Improvement in Search Engine Rankings

Deliverables:

1. Keyword Rankings Report: Regular updates on the ranking of specific keywords in major search engines (Google, Bing, etc.).
2. Competitive Analysis: A comprehensive analysis comparing the website's keyword rankings with those of competitors. This will help identify areas of strength as well as opportunities for improvement.
3. Targeted Keywords Selection: Identification of high-potential keywords, both short-tail and long-tail, based on their relevance to the industry, search volume, and level of competition.
4. SERP Features Optimization: Strategies aimed at achieving rankings in featured snippets, local packs, knowledge graphs, and other search result features, depending on the type of business.
5. Trend Monitoring: Regularly updated reports on SEO trends and their impact on rankings, ensuring that strategies remain aligned with changes in search algorithms.

Outcome:

1. Improved visibility for targeted keywords in search engine results pages (SERPs).
2. Enhanced traffic from organic search queries.
3. Increased click-through rates (CTR) as a result of higher rankings.

Enhancement of Technical SEO

Deliverables:

1. Site Audit Report: A comprehensive audit that assesses the technical health of your website. This includes an analysis of page speed, crawl errors, broken links, mobile-friendliness, indexability, and more.
2. Mobile Optimization: Ensuring that the website is fully optimized for mobile devices, including responsive design, fast loading times, and smooth navigation.
3. Site Speed Optimization: Identifying and resolving issues that contribute to slow loading times, such as image optimization, reducing HTTP requests, using a Content Delivery Network (CDN), and minifying CSS and JavaScript files.
4. URL Structure and Crawlability: Optimizing the website's URL structure and implementing a clear, logical hierarchy, which makes it easier for search engines to crawl the site.
5. XML Sitemap  Optimization: Properly configuring the XML sitemap to ensure all important pages are indexed, and using the robots.txt file to guide search engine crawlers.
6. Structured Data Implementation: Integrating schema markup (structured data) to enhance how search engines understand your content, improving the chances of achieving rich results, such as stars, reviews, and other visual features.

Outcome:

1. Faster load times, leading to a better user experience and higher search engine rankings.
2. Fewer crawl errors, making the website more accessible to search engines.
3. A stronger technical foundation for implementing future SEO strategies.

Optimization of on-page SEO

Deliverables:

1. Meta Tags Optimization: We will ensure that all meta titles, descriptions, and headers are optimized with targeted keywords, making them appealing to both search engines and users. This involves aligning the optimization with user intent.
2. Keyword Optimization on Pages: We will analyze existing content to optimize keyword targeting. This includes maintaining proper keyword density, using LSI (Latent Semantic Indexing) keywords, and ensuring correct placement of keywords in titles, headings, paragraphs, and alt texts.
3. Internal Linking Structure: We will provide recommendations to improve the internal linking structure, enhancing website navigation and distributing link equity throughout the site.
4. Content Optimization: We will rewrite, enhance, or add new content to boost quality, relevance, and depth. This includes integrating multimedia elements like images and videos, as well as creating content that aligns with search intent.
5. User Experience (UX) Improvement: We will suggest ways to enhance the overall user experience of the website, such as adjusting the layout, improving site architecture, and facilitating easy navigation.
6. Image Optimization: We will compress and optimize images using appropriate alt tags, ensuring they load quickly and are indexed by search engines.

Outcome:

1. Improved relevance and quality of the website's content for users and search engines.
2. Increased time spent on pages and engagement resulting from enhanced user experience and content quality.
3. Higher click-through rates (CTR) from search engine result pages (SERPs) due to optimized meta tags and headings.

A clear outline of the content strategy

Deliverables:

1. Content Audit: A comprehensive assessment of existing content to evaluate its performance. This includes identifying underperforming pages, content gaps, and potential opportunities for improvement.
2. Content Plan: Development of a detailed content plan that outlines blog topics, landing pages, pillar content, and multimedia elements (such as videos and infographics), focusing on search intent and user needs.
3. Content Calendar: A schedule that specifies when and what content will be published. This helps ensure consistent output and allows for effective planning of content promotion strategies.
4. Keyword Strategy for Content: Conduct in-depth research on target keywords, evaluating their search volume, competition, and user intent. This will involve mapping the most relevant keywords to specific content topics.
5. Content Marketing Strategy: A strategic plan for promoting content, which includes social media sharing, influencer outreach, guest blogging, and content partnerships to increase traffic and enhance engagement.

Outcome:

1. A clear roadmap for producing content that resonates with target audiences and ranks well in search engines.
2. Improved alignment of content with user search intent, leading to heightened engagement and conversions.
3. An organized plan for ongoing content creation and promotion that supports long-term SEO success.

A comprehensive link-building strategy

Deliverables:

1. Link Profile Analysis: Evaluate the website’s current backlink profile to identify strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for improvement.
2. Link Building Plan: Develop a customized plan for acquiring high-quality backlinks from relevant and authoritative websites. This plan will include strategies for outreach, guest posting, partnerships, broken link building, and content-based link acquisition.
3. Content for Link Acquisition: Create engaging content designed to attract backlinks naturally, such as comprehensive guides, infographics, case studies, and valuable resources.
4. Outreach Campaigns: Implement targeted outreach strategies to build relationships with influencers, bloggers, and industry experts for securing backlinks.
5. Competitor Backlink Analysis: Identify high-quality backlinks leveraged by competitors and find opportunities to replicate those strategies for your site.
6. Link Monitoring and Reporting: Regularly monitor the backlink profile and provide updates on newly acquired links, as well as identify any toxic backlinks that may require disavowal.

Outcome:

1. Improved domain authority and page authority through high-quality backlinks.
2. Enhanced search engine rankings due to relevant backlinks from authoritative sources.
3. Increased referral traffic and greater brand visibility as a result of link acquisition and content outreach.

SEO Facts for a New Website

Several factors influence SEO for new websites. While SEO is a long-term process, grasping key insights and strategies from the beginning can significantly improve your website's chances of achieving higher rankings more quickly. Here’s a detailed breakdown based on your points:

Website Age Does Matter in SEO

1. Trust and Authority: Older websites have had more time to build trust with search engines. They establish a history of content, backlinks, and user engagement, which search engines like Google use to assess the site's authority and credibility.
2. Crawl Frequency: As websites age, search engines tend to crawl them more often. This leads to quicker updates to their rankings.
3. Domain Authority: Over time, a website typically accumulates more backlinks, which are essential for enhancing its domain authority. Search engines often view older websites as more stable and trustworthy.

But What About New Websites?

1. Initial Struggles: New websites face challenges because they lack the history and backlinks of older sites. This disadvantage can hinder their ability to rank for competitive keywords initially.
2. Strategies for New Sites: For new websites, it’s crucial to focus on creating high-quality content, optimizing on-page elements, and starting to build backlinks early. A well-structured site can still rank for less competitive keywords, even without an established history.

Long-Tail Keywords Can Rank Early (Even with Medium to Low Competition)

1. Long-tail keywords are specific, longer phrases that are typically more descriptive. They usually have lower search volume but are easier to rank for compared to broad, highly competitive terms.
2. New websites often lack the authority to rank for highly competitive short-tail keywords (such as "SEO services"). Therefore, focusing on long-tail keywords can yield quicker results. These keywords generally have lower competition, making them easier to target.

Achieving Rankings

1. Quick Ranking Potential: With proper on-page optimization, keyword research, and targeted content, a new website can rank on page #2 or #3 for long-tail keywords relatively quickly—often within the first few months, depending on the level of competition.
2. Early Wins: Achieving rankings for long-tail keywords early on can help build traffic and authority. Ranking on page #2 or #3 for a few targeted terms is an excellent starting point for establishing a solid foundation for future SEO efforts.
3. Conversion Opportunity: Long-tail keywords often align better with specific user intents, meaning the traffic they attract is more likely to convert effectively.

Link Building Becomes Important as Your Site Ages

Why It Matters: Links from other websites, known as backlinks, are one of the most important ranking factors for SEO. They serve as "votes of confidence" for your site, showing that other trusted sources value your content.
For New Websites: New websites typically start with few to no backlinks, making it essential to focus on creating high-quality content and gradually building your link profile over time. Acquiring backlinks from reputable sites helps establish your site's authority.

The Role of Link Building Over Time
As Your Site Matures: As your website ages and gains authority, backlinks will have a greater impact on your rankings. It's crucial to prioritize quality over quantity when building links. Aim for backlinks from authoritative and relevant websites within your industry.
Link Acquisition Strategy: Begin by securing local backlinks, getting listed in industry-related directories, and reaching out to be featured on blogs, news websites, or through partnerships. Guest posts and influencer marketing can also be effective strategies for obtaining high-quality backlinks.

Continued Growth As your website ages and accumulates more backlinks, you should see improvements in your rankings—especially for competitive keywords. This process leads to a higher authority score and better visibility in search results.

Regular Content Publishing Helps SEO

Why Content is King: Fresh, high-quality content is one of the most effective ways to signal to search engines that your site is active and relevant. Regularly publishing new content allows you to target a broader range of keywords, address evolving user needs, and maintain the interest of search engine crawlers in your site.

Content Strategy for New Websites:

1. Start Strong: In the first few months, it's crucial to consistently publish valuable content for your target audience. Focus on both quality and relevance. Create blog posts, articles, videos, and infographics that align with the interests and questions of your audience.
2. Long-Form Content: Longer, well-researched content generally performs better in search rankings. Consider writing comprehensive guides or "pillar" content on topics that are central to your business or services.
3. Frequency Matters: Consistency is key. Aim for a regular publishing schedule, even if it’s just one new piece of content per week. This shows search engines that your site is active and dedicated to providing valuable information.
4. Results of Regular Content: Over time, consistent content publishing helps increase organic traffic, attract backlinks, improve rankings, and establish your brand as a trusted source in your field.

Building Authority Around Your Services

1. Niche Authority: For a new website, building authority around the specific services or products you offer is essential. This involves creating content that not only targets relevant keywords but also showcases your expertise in your field.
2. Thought Leadership: Publishing case studies, success stories, white papers, or expert opinions can position your brand as a leader in your industry. This type of authority-building content should be informative, useful, and relevant to the needs of your target audience.

Strategies to Build Authority:

1. Social Proof: As you gather more content, traffic, and backlinks, begin to highlight client testimonials, reviews, and user-generated content. Social proof can enhance your credibility.
2. External Mentions: Aim to get mentioned or quoted in industry publications, podcasts, or guest posts. The more visible you are in your niche, the more search engines will recognize you as an authoritative source.
3. Engagement: Interact with your audience through social media, industry forums, and the comments section of your content. Search engines use user signals, such as time on site and engagement metrics, to assess a site's relevance and authority.
4. Long-Term Impact: Over time, building authority around your services will pay off by improving your search rankings, increasing organic traffic, and establishing your site as a go-to resource for your target audience.

Conclusion

In conclusion, SEO services are crucial for improving a website's visibility and search engine rankings. Although the process can be challenging, concentrating on keyword optimization, technical SEO, content creation, and link-building creates a strong foundation for long-term success.

New websites can boost their rankings by targeting long-tail keywords, consistently publishing content, and acquiring quality backlinks. Over time, these efforts will help increase organic traffic and establish the site as an authoritative source in its field.