![\"Cheap](\"https:\/\/www.bruceclay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/cheap-seo-is-a-near-death-experience-800px.png\")
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Quality SEO:<\/strong> If cheap and fast SEO worked then everyone would rank number 1. Instead, it takes meticulous high quality work to be top-3 out of millions of results. If you want value from your SEO project, cheap and fast is not your solution.<\/p>\n There\u2019s a phenomenon that occurs with near-death experiences. Many people report having seen a bright light at the end of a tunnel or so-called angels. This is often accompanied by an overwhelming feeling of pure love.<\/p>\n But that\u2019s not what happens when your business dies. It\u2019s often a slow, excruciating experience that involves a decrease in online visibility, traffic, leads, and conversions. There is no bright light at the end of the tunnel, but you may feel something: overwhelming desperation.<\/p>\n Why do businesses have these near-death experiences? There are many reasons. CB Insights says<\/a> being out-competed and poor marketing are among the Top-10. I agree.<\/p>\n There\u2019s a saying in the project management world: good, fast, cheap \u2014 pick two. You can usually get something that\u2019s good and fast (like Chinese food delivered from UberEATS) or cheap and fast (a service on Fiverr). But good and cheap is harder to find.<\/p>\n Want good SEO, fast? Double up on your budget for more resources. Want cheap SEO, fast? That\u2019s easy, but you get what you pay for. Want SEO that\u2019s both good quality and cheap? Sorry, but that\u2019s not an option.<\/p>\n We\u2019re living in a time where products and services are brought to market that give regular folks access to high quality for a small price. So, it\u2019s no wonder that many businesses expect the same from SEO. But SEO is not one of those services.<\/p>\n Cheap SEO is a near-death experience. It\u2019s an impending death of your website and your business. The way to avoid death is superior quality, and that comes at a price.<\/p>\n But understand that you\u2019re not just throwing money into a black hole. Quality SEO pays dividends in more traffic, good user experience, and conversions, which equals money<\/a>.<\/p>\n The bottom line: Don\u2019t sacrifice quality SEO if you want to be in the top five results on Page 1 of the search results.<\/p>\n Henry Ford once said that \u201cquality means doing it right when no one is looking.\u201d But how do you know if you\u2019re getting a quality SEO service? There are a great many things you can do to assess vendors and practices, as I\u2019ve previously outlined in this article on how to evaluate an SEO company<\/a>.<\/p>\n The bottom line is that expert SEO advice will come from expert sources.<\/strong> But it\u2019s up to you to do your due diligence.<\/p>\n Just some of the things to consider when assessing SEO vendors:<\/p>\n Remember: Two different SEO professionals could look at the same website and see totally different things. Analyzing a website, pinpointing issues, and prescribing solutions comes from experience.<\/p>\n For more on hiring a quality SEO service, check out Google\u2019s advice for hiring an SEO agency<\/a>.<\/p>\n Budget constraints are one of the top five reasons that SEO projects fail<\/a>. When looking at your long-term business and SEO goals, the question you have to ask yourself is: How long am I willing to wait until I beat my competition?<\/em> This determines your budget.<\/p>\n Part of the problem is that many businesses don\u2019t understand SEO\u2019s worth. SEO is not a put-in-a-quarter-and-get-a-dollar-out strategy. SEO takes time. It’s an investment. It\u2019s a leap of faith.<\/p>\n But those who stay in the game reap the rewards, as SEO has proven again and again to drive revenue. This chart from BrightEdge research<\/a> shows how much revenue the organic search channel drives.<\/p>\n So, how much should you actually pay for SEO? Businesses should allocate five to 10 percent of their revenue to SEO as a cost of advertising.<\/strong> And every industry is different. Some industries invest a lot more in advertising because that is what it takes to compete. In other sectors, less money may go a long way.<\/p>\n If your competition is getting most of their traffic from organic search and you’re not there it’s only going to get worse for you. By the way, organic search is the dominant marketing channel<\/a> for most industries at 53 percent on average.<\/p>\n And yes, you can hire a cheap service and get more hours. The question is: Will it be high value for your business? Is it enough to beat your competition?<\/p>\n Not only that, but cheap SEO can cost more in the long run. Many businesses have paid for low-cost SEO only to have little results, or worse, have their near-death experience.<\/p>\n Most everything that\u2019s quality has a price. When you buy an expensive car, you spend money to get all the features and outcomes that are valuable to you, including longevity. Cheap cars may be shiny driving off the lot, but as the paint begins to fade, the realization is that what you\u2019re left with is a quick fix.<\/p>\n SEO is no different. The quality is going to be proportionate to your investment. So you have to ask: What is valuable to your business in the long term? Is it to remain competitive? If so, you have to be prepared to compete, and sometimes it is to work smarter. And that means investing in quality SEO services.<\/p>\n Interested in learning more about our SEO services<\/a>? We invite you to call us or start the conversation with our contact form<\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Search Engine Optimization is no longer an optional expense; it has become an indispensable necessity. However, budgeting for SEO may seem difficult; we will explore all the factors affecting it to help guide an informed decision process.<\/p>\n Understanding Your Business Goals<\/strong><\/p>\n Before allocating a specific budget to SEO, aligning your SEO strategy with your business objectives is imperative. Consider where you currently stand and want to be regarding online visibility and traffic. Are you aiming for local or global reach? Are you looking to increase brand awareness, generate leads, or boost e-commerce sales? The answers to these questions will guide your budget allocation.<\/p>\n Competitive Analysis Matters<\/strong><\/p>\n Your industry and the level of competition within it can greatly impact your SEO budget. Conduct a thorough competitive analysis to understand your rivals’ investment in SEO. Use this worksheet as a starting point, but remember that your approach may need to be adjusted depending on your business’s unique circumstances and goals.<\/p>\n Quality Over Quantity<\/strong><\/p>\n It’s a common misconception that pouring a large sum into SEO will guarantee immediate success. In reality, the quality of your SEO efforts matters more than the quantity of your budget. Prioritize areas with the most significant impact, such as keyword research, content optimization, and technical SEO improvements.<\/p>\n Continuous Monitoring and Adaptation<\/strong><\/p>\n SEO is an ongoing process, and your budget should reflect that. Allocate funds not only for initial optimization but also for continuous monitoring and adaptation. SEO trends, algorithms, and consumer behavior change over time. Regularly assess your SEO strategy and adjust your budget to stay ahead.<\/p>\n Allocating the right budget for SEO is a pivotal decision that can shape the success of your online presence. You can make the most of your SEO investments by aligning your budget with your business goals, analyzing your competition, focusing on quality, and allowing for ongoing adjustments.<\/p>\n Step-by-Step Procedure: Determining Your SEO Budget<\/strong><\/p>\n Quality SEO: If cheap and fast SEO worked then everyone would rank number 1. Instead, it takes meticulous high quality work to be top-3 out of millions of results. If you want value from your SEO project, cheap and fast is not your solution. There\u2019s a phenomenon that occurs with near-death experiences. Many people report […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":35,"featured_media":78408,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[1385,1232,1953,1632],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"![\"Venn](\"https:\/\/www.bruceclay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/good-seo-venn-diagram.png\")
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<\/a>How Do I Know If I\u2019m Getting Quality SEO?<\/h2>\n
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<\/a>How Much Should I Spend on SEO?<\/h2>\n
![\"Chart](\"https:\/\/www.bruceclay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/brightedge-chart.png\")
<\/p>\n<\/a>What Is Valuable to Your Business?<\/h2>\n
<\/a>FAQ: How Much Should I Allocate for SEO in My Budget?<\/h3>\n
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