Let’s look back at what we have learnt from the SEO mini series!
In Part 1 we learnt how search engines work with the spider bots, Index and algorithm all working together.
In Part 2 we understood that we have to tell the spider bots what we do, where we do it and who we do it for in order for our website to be shown in a search. Also that SEO is just as important as the website itself.
In Part 3 we discovered keywords and how to make a keyword list, after all, they are the foundation of everything!
In Part 4 we covered a list of things that you can do to your website to help the spider bots learn about your website and your business.
In Part 5 we identified how to light up the internet with your business with lots of tasty things like Google My Business and directory things.
Now we have a clear idea of how search engines work and how to get Google to love your website and business.
So to the big question, the one I get asked all the time – Can I do my own SEO?
The answer is yes and no.
As you can see from posts 1 – 5 SEO is not just one thing, it’s many things!
It’s not all in one place, it’s in lots of different places.
It’s not something that you can do in a weekend and then forget about.
SEO should be a long term project, a plan that you work consistently on, measuring how you are doing and tweaking things as you go. Slow and steady definitely wins the SEO race.
SEO is competitive in a way, it’s all about getting on the first page of Google for your chosen search terms. So if you are DIY’ing then you are going to be ‘competing’ with SEO professionals, people who do it day in and day out as their job.
There will be things that you can do, and things that you can’t.
Some things you’ll understand quickly and easily, others will take hours of learning.
I like to build in my SEO right from the start of the website project. I find working retrospectively difficult and more time consuming so do bear this in mind.
Time is a big factor in whether you want to consider doing your own SEO. Like with anything you learn it takes time. If you’ve got time in the evenings and weekends then great, if you don’t, it might be time to consider handing your SEO over to someone.
Second question I get asked all the time – Is my website builder good for SEO?
WIX, Godaddy builder, Squarespace, 123reg builder to name a few.
As I always say, I’m not anti website builders at all. I think they are a great option if you are limited in budget and want to get an online presence up quickly or if you want to test a business idea before getting a professional website built.
Can you do SEO on them? Yes and no.
The thing is, there are limitations. You can do some things, but not all the things.
Generally people come to me when they’ve done a DIY job and reached the end of the line with it.
‘It doesn’t look how I want it to’
‘I can’t have this feature that I want’
and the big one ‘I’m just not getting any enquiries from it’
The builder platforms generally have a limit on what they can do, and that applies to the SEO as well.
In conclusion
DIY SEO is not for everyone. If you have the interest, time and inclination to do it yourself then go for it!
But if you think maybe your business would be better off with someone else handling that part of things, don’t hesitate to talk to a professional about raising your visibility and getting your website ranking in Google.
As a local SEO and Google My Business expert I bring years of practical experience to the table. I’ve been working on my own businesses and others for over 20 years.
I test, I tweak, I research, I keep up to date with all the latest and multiple changes within the SEO industry.
I can’t help a client with a reactive dog, I can’t groom a poodle for you because that’s your job not mine.
My job is SEO and if you are looking for someone to help get visible in Google and win clients, enquiries and customers then get in touch 🙂
