In this article, we'll address some of the frequently asked-questions about search engine optimization.
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How does 5 Fold audit my current SEO at onboarding?
We analyze your site weekly to check for any issues. At launch, we thoroughly audit the major pages of your site and use various data-gathering tools—such as Google Analytics and heatmap software—to measure performance and changes in SEO over time.
What does 5 Fold look at when importing my website?
When the SEO Department imports your website we look at your current website structure, analyze your current website pages to determine which pages need to be imported that add value and create an on-site optimization strategy for these pages.
We will setup on-site optimization for the primary service pages during the initial website build.
How frequently is my site's performance measured?
It is measured daily, through analytics and tracking data.
How long will my SEO take to improve?
How long it takes to get somewhere depends greatly on where you start. If, at the start of the onboarding process, you site has no SEO (or badly created SEO), then the climb up the mountain from the bottom is going to take longer than a site that has established SEO.
The general answer is that it could take 3-6 months to see a marked improvement in search engines. During this time, the 5 Fold SEO Department will be implementing new practices and fixing things to optimize return. In addition, other 5 Fold teams will be creating content and products (such as reviews, local listings, and strong web content) that feed the SEO for your site.
Eventually, this effort transitions into new areas of SEO development. But, this 3-6 month period is essential for laying the foundation for further growth. It's also why a client switching marketing agencies rapidly can be so damaging: it undercuts existing SEO efforts and work, and starts that timer over.
How often are rankings updated?
Rankings are updated every 24 hours, which means we can review how a keyword is performing on a daily basis.
Who communicates with me about how my SEO campaign is doing?
Your 5 Fold sales representative will communicate with you about your SEO, usually through regular monthly reporting.
Why did my rankings drop?
Here are six reasons that your ranking might have dropped:
- The page's URL was changed: Whether intentionally or by accident, the URL for the page has been changed. The solution to this is to have the post's URL redirect.
- The page's keyword optimization was changed: Updating or changing the page's SEO title, images, or text could erase crucial SEO settings for each of your pages.
- Some links have been lost: This could happen just because a site that was linking to yours shut down, was penalized, removed the page, or removed the links. Since the likelihood of one of these things happening increases as years go by, it's a good reason to keep building a solid, quality backlink portfolio.
- An algorithm change altered your rankings: Although 5 Fold does keep on top of algorithm changes, it's possible that a shift in the way that Google finds good content or considers what order to prioritize things in has impacted your site's rankings. This help doc explains how Google algorithms work, and why we pay attention to them.
- The site has been penalized: This is unlikely, since we take precautions not to engage in practices that could incur penalties from Google or other search engines (such as spamming fake comments or profiles to inflate our rankings, or creating fake links). If this does happen, the solution is to rectify the issue and contact Google Webmaster Tools to have the previous position reinstated.
- A competitor has outranked the site: This isn't always something we can control, but, if it does happen, we'll review what the competitor is doing and attempt to restore the client's site to the higher ranking.
Why does 5 Fold's marketing strategy change so frequently?
Our goal is to stay ahead of Google's algorithm changes, and be both flexible and adaptable when the direction of SEO shifts. This, in return, generates better results for the client over the long-term.
Why don't my rankings match what I see in search results?
That's because of the way Google personalizes your search results and tailors them to you,based on your previous search history and your geolocation. For example, your business might appear first when you search for a vague topical term "heating and cooling companies north dakota" —it actually isn't first, but Google knows that you regularly visit that website, and it might be what you're looking for.