Wondering how your website looks to the search engines…or even just how it stands up to your competition (and we’re not just talking about looks)? Well, perhaps it’s time for an SEO audit.
What is an SEO Audit?
SEO Audits can help you clarify what parts of your website and your SEO (search engine optimization) need the most help…and in some cases where you’re missing the mark completely.
You see five years ago when you had your website built and optimized, well, the rules have changed since then. In fact, in the last 22 months we have seen more than 50 updates to the Google algorithm that have turned the SEO market upside down. Do you think that your site is still set up as well as it was five years ago? Chances are that it’s not.
Even if you’re still receiving a good amount of traffic, chances are there are errors and mistakes that have been made and overlooked.
Ever have one of those moments where you started at a problem for so long and you HAD to take a break only to return a short while later and you see the solution immediately? It’s because you stepped away and came back to see it with a fresh set of eyes. That’s one of the benefits of having an SEO audit. Let a fresh set of eyes see your site.
Reasons to Get An SEO Audit:
Here’s a quick list of 10 reasons to get an SEO audit for your website:
1. Your website rankings haven’t changed and you would like some more business.
Are your rankings still the same no matter what you do for your site? Chances are that there are underlying problems that you’re missing. An audit may be just what you need.
2. The Google Algorithm
Chances are that you’re not aware of the 50+ updates to the Google algorithm since the beginning of 2012. However, part of our job is educating ourselves on what has happened and what needs to be changed on websites to help them rank better. Our education is what you get.
3. A fresh set of eyes
As we already spoke about this, I’ll keep it short. We are the fresh set of eyes that can take a look and see any problems that you cannot. We do this with a combination of software and our own two eyes. Because most audits are strictly code related. Sometimes simple changes to a website (that are visual) can change everything.
4. The SEO Expert that wants to charge you $3000 to tear apart your site
I run into this DAILY! I have clients who told me they were quoted an obscene amount of money for someone to do the SEO for their website (and it’s usually a VERY small website). The problem with most of these companies is that they want all of your money NOW because they know that you will never go back to them. And they are very vague in explaining exactly what needs to be done.
Maybe you do need a lot of SEO work. But why not spend a small amount of money and find out EXACTLY what you need, before you take a chance and possibly hire the wrong company.
5. Your competitors are passing you by
When you started your site, you were number one (or close to the top). Now it seems that you’re getting passed by on a daily basis. And not only are you getting passed up by old competitors, but by new ones who just got started in the business. It may be as simple as making some changes that an SEO audit can provide.
6. Your website traffic keeps dropping
You used to get all of the traffic because you were ranking well. However, after a lot of the search engine changes you’re falling behind (and fast) and now you get half as much as you used to get (maybe less). Some of the major changes that Google made with the Panda and Penguin updates hit websites at different times and can have a MAJOR impact on web traffic that sites receive. You could still have those problems if you haven’t had anyone look at your site for quite awhile.
7. Paying too much for Google Adwords / Other Advertising?
Are you paying a ton of money for online advertising and not seeing any customers coming to your site through the organic (natural) rankings in the search engines? This could be because of the fact that your site needs to be fixed.
The more natural rankings that you have, the more traffic that you will get. Oh, and natural rankings are FREE traffic that you’re not having to pay a certain amount per click for.
8. Does my SEO guy know what he’s doing?
You’ve been paying an SEO guy $500/month for the last two years and you’re not even sure what he’s doing. Well, our SEO audit will tell you if his efforts are worth your money.
What we look for are the basics that every website should follow and these are not tricks. These are guidelines set forth by the search engines. If you’re SEO professional is not doing these…It may be time to find someone else.
9. I don’t have the time to figure out what’s wrong with the SEO on my site.
Do you know how to do most of the SEO on your site because you set it up? This is the perfect tool for you. Let us tell you where some of the issues may be (and give you a list that’s very easy to follow) so that you can make the changes when you get a chance.
10. Help your business grow with a VERY small investment.
Having an SEO Audit done on your site does not have to cost an arm and a leg. It is a short (takes 1-3 business days) and inexpensive process that can help you keep your website healthy, happy,and bringing in new leads, clients, and money for your bottom line.
Let us know in the comments below what you think about our 10 reasons. Are their any that we missed?