to create a strategic SEO Process //

It still surprises me that even after many years of working in , I am still shocked when I ask clients to show their SEO strategies from the previous agency.

In 99% of cases, there is no documentation.

This article will show you how to build a successful SEO strategy that produces results.

You will learn about my four-stage procedure and even get advice on how much to charge.

Let’s get started.

A SEO strategy isn’t a list with deliverables

The spreadsheet has been a life-saver. When it comes to SEO, the spreadsheet has become a lazily used tool to deceive people and make them think that a list with deliverables is actually a strategy.

SEO is not a strategy.

This is a combination between ideas, thoughts and insights, and all centered on the client, to create a process that’s data-driven and expertly supported for success.

It is supposed to be challenging and hard.

You, the SEO is supposed to be on the line.

You are the one who says, “Do it and you will succeed.”

Documenting your SEO strategy is important

When I have seen an SEO strategy it has read more like a Dalek mission statement.

We will eliminate the competition.

ChatGPT has a more human feel than other SEO strategies. They tend to be more rhetorical and less research-based.

You should insist that your agency provide evidence of how much thought has gone into the strategy.

SEO is a part of that strategy. This is an expert’s thoughts.

Reminder: The SEO goals

Often, it’s the case that

• SEO is a very low-cost investment.
• SEOs do not align their strategies to the business goals.

SEO must be able to meet customers where they are on their journey. Successful SEO should result in:

• Catching as many category buyers today as possible.
• Place the brand in the front of the people who are researching the category.
• Place the brand before as many people who don’t know about your brand, solution or product.

Search engines and conversion rates online are a mystery to many people.

SEO experts are fond of spreading the myth that blogs convert people.

They don’t. They may click on a post before making a purchase.

Your ultimate guide on garden sheds didn’t convince anyone to buy one.

When people are ready to purchase, they will.

Brands that people trust to deliver services and goods that will meet their expectations are more likely to be purchased.

People will pay more if they think this reduces their chances of failing.

You are doing more than just converting because you have written a guide.

It’s best to imagine conversion as a glass filled with liquid certainty. Once the liquid certainty reaches its top, people are ready to purchase.

Here’s the problem.

As their confidence reaches the top glass with you so does it with some of your rivals.

They’ll eventually pick up the drink and take a sip. You do SEO and marketing to try and get them to drink your glass.

That’s what’s happening.

You need to appear as often as possible on SERPs.

It is important to have a strategy in place for the buyer terms , and search terms.

You need to have a plan for ranking other content so that you can reach your audience even when they are not on the market.

You’ll be able to generate success for your clients if you follow these steps.

Strategic SEO: The 4 steps process

All good SEO comes from following a set of steps. You can use this one:

• Idea
• Strategy
• Implementation
• Success

Break this down.

Step 1: Ideation

It’s fun to come up with ideas for any SEO strategy, because they are free of friction.

In ideation there is no bad idea. You can play with the site and its competitors, as well as their niche, and then wander. This can be done as a group or individually.

Consider this time to be drifting time. You can just wander around the site and take notes on what you see. Chat with your team.

Then, walk away.

You’ll be amazed at what you discover when you let the ideas and information sit in your head.

Your existing knowledge will start to be used in conjunction with your new discoveries.

The seeds of strategy are planted.

Step 2: Strategy

You will find your strategy document here.

You have an idea of how to rank your site. You have a plan. You are skilled.

Now is the time to commit.

Simple is the goal. The goal is simple: Write down the idea you have, then try to find the data that will support it.

Analyze your site, its keywords, links, etc.

You should throw it out if you cannot find any data to back up your approach. Find another way to produce results.

Take screenshots and write down your findings.

The length of my documented strategies is between 3,000 and 8,000 words, not counting the technical SEO audit that I perform without using a tool.

You’ll have a strategy by the end. This is what you will present to your clients.

Step 3: Implementation

Now that you have a strategy, it is time to put it into action.

You become both an SEO and project manager as an SEO.

You are responsible for the outcome, no matter what you do.

Your expertise is needed because you are responsible for the success or the failure of a campaign.

Step 4: Success

We have reached the end your successful campaign.

You should explain why you didn’t meet the client’s expectations if you have done a good job.

SEOs who fail to meet campaign goals will not be forgiven by me. Except when the campaign’s budget does not match its goals.

You may want to only spend $1,500 per month on SEO if you are spending $15,000 on PPC, despite the agency’s pitch.

It’s the customer who is responsible. They won’t. They are the ones responsible.

You can only use what you’ve got.

A budget of $1500 could take up to three years before you see results. You must still let the client knows.

You can tell them that their budget won’t be enough to produce results within six to twelve months.

The best strategy is often not accompanied by the right fuel for implementation.

Sometimes clients are forced to work with low budgets. They might ask for more money later if they are aware of this.

It’s a problem when you tell clients that your strategy will produce results.

How long should it take to create a good SEO Strategy? And what price should you charge for this service?

SEO Strategy Cost

I charged $500 for strategy and $10,000 for the service.

The size of your site and its value will ultimately determine what you will charge and how much time it will take.

Here are some tips that we have learned from the trenches. It takes work to develop a good SEO strategy.

It is mentally challenging, and it’s arguably the most difficult part of SEO.

Price strategy can be done in three different ways.

• A one-time, upfront cost.
• As part of your retainer.
• Included in the setup fee.

Each model is an excellent choice and works well.

You can only receive Month 1 once.

Years ago, I had my own SEO consulting firm/agency where I sold strategies for all three models.

Whichever you choose, it doesn’t really matter. It’s important that the client pays for your expertise.

What is strategy?

A top tip would be to sell a strategy that is not part of a larger package. Offer three different price options.

This is what I did with clients who had in-house SEO expertise but wanted a second set of eyes to look at their SEO.

Option 1 is a low level strategy. Option 2 is a deeper dive. Option 3 includes UX, and much more.

You can choose how you want to divide the options.

This article will help you understand the importance of SEO strategy.

You and your clients deserve to spend time on strategic planning.

You may need to switch agencies if it doesn’t happen.

This is for the clients and SEOs who are reading this.

The post How do you build a strategy SEO process first appeared on Search Engine Land.