SEO Frequently Asked Questions

What is Search Engine Optimization (SEO)?

Search Engine Optimization is the process of improving the code and content of a web site so that it gets naturally higher rankings in the search engines.

Why doesn’t my website rank well in the search engines?

There could be several reasons that your site is not ranking well. One is the formatting of the code that the site is written in. There are certain elements that all of the search engines look for when ranking a site. If your site is missing any of these, or in most cases several of these, then your site will not rank as well as your competition.

What factors determine the ranking of my website?

There are several factors that determine your ranking and each search engine will place different ranking values on each element. Here are some of the elements that affect your ranking:

• the presence and formatting of a robots.txt file
• the correct usage and formatting of a TITLE tag for each page
• the correct usage of H1 and H2 heading tags
• the use of ALT text in graphic elements
• not enough relevant content in the first 250 characters on the page
• limited text per page
• limited pages on your web site
• no incoming links to your web site from other sites

How do the search engines find my website?

There are two methods that the search engines use to find new websites. 1. You can manually submit your site to most search engines, and 2. Your site can be found through a link on another site.

How long does it take for me to see results from SEO?

We have seen results in as little as two weeks. However, it typically takes 30-60 days to see significant results.

I just had a brand new web site built. Why isn’t it ranking well?

Most web site designers are very talented and creative people who are very good at providing you with a site that is visually pleasing to you and your target audience. Unfortunately, most web designers are not trained in search engine optimization. Many designers can create a search engine friendly site by knowing how to program the required elements.

However, search engines are always changing their ranking criteria and it would be extremely difficult to keep up with the changes in site design and programming and stay on top of changes in optimization as well.

For this reason it is important for your SEO specialist to work closely with your designers when creating a new web presence.

Does every page of my website need to be optimized?

To get the best results in the search engines, yes. You never know how people will find your site or what keyword phrases they will type in to find your product or service. That is why you must optimize as much of the site as your budget will allow.

Can’t we just do this ourselves?

You could, and many people do, and then wonder why they aren’t getting the desired result. Search Engine Optimization is constantly changing and our technicians are continually studying the changes in the industry to ensure that our clients stay on the front page of the search engine results.

How do you choose the best keywords to optimize my site for?

The first step in our keyword research is to sit down with you and discuss your industry and the areas you want to target. We will then do extensive keyword research using tools provided by the search engines themselves as well as third-party software programs to determine the keywords that are searched most often and which ones have the least competition. We then work together to refine the list of keywords and phrases to those that will be most beneficial to your success.

What all is included with my optimization?

Each search engine optimization plan is different, yet each one includes the same elements. You can review our search engine optimization plans here and you can read about our 9 Step Search Engine Optimization Process here.

Can you guarantee that our site will be #1?

Nobody can guarantee a top position or any other specific ranking for your site for a particular keyword or keyword phrase. There are too many factors beyond the control of any one company to make that sort of guarantee. We have extensive experience optimizing web sites and can therefore guarantee that you will have front and second page placement for multiple keyword phrases.

Why should I choose IPG Search Marketing?

To achieve a high ranking web site, you have to know the most effective META tag design formula, the best web copywriting techniques, keep track of current search engine ranking algorithms, know what format to submit the site in for each search engine and how often to resubmit the site. You also need to know whether your site is technically compatible with search engine robots, what types of pages the engines will accept and which will be barriers to ranking, plus what sort of overall “relevancy score” your site will receive from each engine you submit to.

Not only that, but once you’re ranking highly, you have to monitor your progress and adjust your tags every now and then to ensure that you stay up above your competitors on all the major search engines for your most important search phrases. These are all crucial steps to a high ranking, but very time consuming and not your core business!

Our SEO technicians are specialists in the area of search engine optimization. Their full-time role is to place our clients high in the search engines and keep them there. Our technicians have developed and streamlined a unique and ethical search optimization formula that has resulted in consistently impressive rankings for our clients.

Other SEO companies may simply use software programs to do the work for them, with little understanding or concern for the work itself. We believe that personal knowledge and experience are far more important. Software applications are a good tool, but they are just one piece of the puzzle.

Additionally, IPG Search Marketing will provide an unparalleled degree of personalized service. We will speak directly to, and work closely with you to achieve the desired results. Our professionals take a lot of pride in the work that they do, and we take the time to understand your business, your competition, and your buyer’s searching habits.