I have hired an agency to handle the SEO for my local home service business, and so far, things are going well. Recently, I paid them an extra 5000£ (equivalent to 9000$ in my currency) for additional backlinks to speed up the process. I've been working with them for about 1.5 years now. There are many companies offering similar services in my city, but only 3-5 of them are focusing on SEO, with some being relatively new to the game. One particular company consistently ranks number 1 for keywords that bring in the most traffic, despite only being in business for 5 years. I have a decent understanding of SEO but not enough to always know what's going on. I would appreciate it if someone could take a look at my website and my competitors' websites to provide some insight on whether my current strategy is heading in the right direction. My goal is to get closer to my competitors' rankings, not necessarily surpass them. I would be satisfied with just a small piece of their success. Thank you.
It’s great that you’re proactive about your SEO strategy and have already invested in an agency. However, there’s no easy answer without a deeper dive into your website and competitor analysis.
Here’s why:
- Backlinks are just one part of the puzzle. While they are crucial for SEO, other factors, like on-page optimization, technical SEO, and local citations play a significant role in rankings.
- Your competitors’ success isn’t solely attributed to backlinks. They could be leveraging advanced strategies like content marketing, local SEO, and even paid advertising.
- 5 years in business doesn’t necessarily mean they are SEO experts. Some companies achieve quick success through other means, like aggressive marketing or a strong brand reputation.
To gain a comprehensive understanding of your current strategy and your competitors’ success, it’s crucial to analyze:
- Your website: This includes examining on-page optimization elements like title tags, meta descriptions, header tags, and keyword usage.
- Your competitors’ websites: This involves identifying their backlinks, keyword strategy, and content creation tactics.
- Your local SEO presence: This includes analyzing your Google My Business profile, local citations, and online reviews.
By analyzing these elements, you can identify gaps in your current strategy and formulate a plan to improve your rankings. Remember, SEO is an ongoing process that requires continuous monitoring and adjustments.