An effective SEO strategy is critical to your business’s marketing efforts. Increased website traffic can bring more customers your way and establish you as a credible authority in your industry. But to achieve organic traffic growth, you’ll need time, expertise, and quality content. Fortunately, North Carolina boasts some of the top SEO agencies in the Southeast. And with their help, your business can shoot to the top of search engine results.
But before partnering with an SEO agency, there are a few points to consider. As a business owner, it’s critical to have a clear idea of how search engine optimization fits in with your overall marketing goals—that way you can hit the ground running. So before you sign on the dotted line, here are a few questions to mull over with your team.
- How does SEO align with your overall marketing strategy?
SEO is important, but it’s only one facet of your overall marketing strategy. Here are some questions your digital marketing agency will want to know:
- Who is your ideal customer?
- How are customers finding you now?
- Do you have a social media strategy?
- Are you currently running paid ads?
If you haven’t fully fleshed out your marketing strategy, don’t sweat it. The top SEO agencies in North Carolina offer far more than just SEO—they’re marketing experts who can help you build a comprehensive marketing strategy on any budget.
- How can your expertise help readers?
In the old days, SEO used to be as simple as strategically placing keywords within your website’s content. However, good SEO agencies now operate under the guidelines of Google’s Helpful Content update. And that means producing content that’s genuinely valuable to readers. Good SEO content offers the following:
- Original perspectives from industry experts
- New information with real-world examples
- Well-researched content with citations
- Clear images and diagrams that add value
- Location-specific information relevant to North Carolinians
Helpful content is all about letting your expertise drive your SEO strategy. So if users are landing on your doorstep with questions, you’d better be ready with original, expertly-written content that offers real answers.
- Is your website optimized for conversion?
A solid SEO strategy can drive traffic, but a poorly designed website won’t convert visitors. Make sure your site and sales funnel are optimized for conversion.
At Wedgewood, many of our clients come to us from other digital marketing agencies wondering why their SEO strategy isn’t improving their bottom line. And most of the time, the reason is simple: their website and sales funnel aren’t ready for traffic. Before launching an SEO campaign, here’s what you need:
- Impactful website copy and design
- A well-built, user-friendly website
- Customer testimonials and social proof
- A simple, effective lead generation strategy
- A lead nurture strategy, such as email marketing
Building a website and sales funnel will help you maximize your SEO investment. And your digital marketing agency can help. On your discovery call, be sure to ask whether they offer additional services like conversion rate optimization, website development, and technical SEO.
- What’s your marketing budget?
Come to the table with a number in mind—what are you willing to spend? Marketing is an investment rather than an expenditure, so if you’re on a limited budget, talk to your SEO agency about what’s possible on your budget and remember: your strategy can grow with your business. So start small and aim for quality over quantity. Cheap content may drive some traffic, but search engines are smarter than you think—and they won’t prioritize poorly-written, keyword-stuffed, copy-and-pasted content. So rather than cut corners with cheap blog posts, a good SEO agency will build an efficient content calendar that brings consistent traffic—whether you post weekly or monthly.
- Is your SEO agency based in North Carolina?
In 2023, just about every marketing agency across the United States offers SEO services. But local agencies have a better understanding of the North Carolina market, and they’ll connect you with local creatives who can help your business with other facets of your marketing strategy, from social media to product photography. Keeping it close to home with a North Carolina-based agency ensures your team is always aware of the latest trends in the Carolinas—which is crucial for both SEO and brand voice.
Final Thoughts
An SEO agency is a worthwhile investment for any business. but before you meet with prospective agencies, it’s worth taking stock of your marketing goals, budget, and level of preparedness. By keeping these things in mind, you can make an informed decision and find an SEO agency that will help you achieve your business goals in North Carolina and beyond.
At Wedgewood Marketing, we’re committed to helping our clients in North Carolina grow their businesses with strategic SEO, PPC, and more. To find out how we can help you, book a free audit today.
