SEO Services

Absolutely. While most agencies claim to offer custom strategies, many rely on prepackaged solutions marketed as customized. Our SEO experts have the knowledge and experience to develop and execute a strategy tailored to your business. We understand budget pressures, so we focus on allocating your investment to the areas that will generate the highest return.

A cookie-cutter SEO strategy is like wearing someone else’s shoes. Doesn’t fit, right? Like any partnership, we invest the time upfront to understand your business, market and growth objectives. From here, we conduct data-driven research to ensure your SEO strategy is engineered for performance. Once engaged, your dedicated team will dig deeper, performing comprehensive research to tailor your strategy to your unique needs, ensuring every deliverable is purposeful and geared toward achieving your specific business goals.

We can collaborate in many ways, depending on the resources you have internally. Our team includes specialists in SEO, UX, CRO and copywriting and we’re able to support your in-house efforts wherever it’s most valuable. Clear communication and shared priorities keep both teams aligned and focused on results.

Ultimately, lead and revenue growth will determine the success of the campaign. But we will measure other metrics like rankings and traffic to identify opportunities and guide strategy.

All clients receive access to GoNorth! Reporting. Our proprietary reporting platform provides real-time analytics on rankings, traffic, conversions and more through our integrations with Google Analytics, Google Search Console, GoNorth! Leads, BrightEdge and CallRail. GoNorth! Reporting also provides visibility into your campaign deliverables, giving you clear insights into how our work drives results for your business. You can easily track the status of each deliverable to see what’s completed, what’s in progress and what’s coming next.

Our experts bring years of experience across a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, SaaS, healthcare, finance, ecommerce and home services. For a comprehensive list of the markets we serve, please visit our Markets page.

Ultimately, lead and revenue growth will determine the success of the campaign. But we will measure other metrics like rankings and traffic to identify opportunities and guide strategy.

Yes, especially for tasks like keyword research, content planning and performance analysis. But AI is a tool, not a replacement for strategy. Real SEO results still depend on experienced people making smart decisions and creating content that resonates with both your audience and search engines.

The key is creating clear, accurate content that answers real questions. It also helps to show real expertise and keep your site free of crawling issues. Additionally, structured data helps LLMs understand your content, making it more likely to appear in tools like ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity.

Start by creating content that clearly answers real questions and does it well. Google’s AI looks for trustworthy, easy-to-understand information. Structured data, a good page experience and showing authority help too. The goal is to make your site the kind of resource Google wants to feature.

It can be, but only with oversight. AI can help generate ideas or drafts, but content still needs human input to ensure accuracy, originality and value. Search engines prioritize helpful, trustworthy content. If AI helps you create that, it’s useful. If not, it can hurt more than help.

AIO, or AI Overviews, is Google’s AI-driven feature that gives users quick, detailed answers right on the search page. Instead of just a list of links, it provides AI summaries and answers to questions. This means people might find what they need without ever clicking through to a site.

Content quality plays a major role in AI-driven search. Fluff and keyword-heavy pages won’t cut it. Google prioritizes content that is accurate, useful and easy for people to understand. Showing real expertise and answering specific questions increases your chances of being featured.

It already has and it continues to evolve. Google has used AI for over a decade to better understand search intent and content quality. What’s changing is the pace. With features like AI Overviews, factors like expertise, relevance and user experience are even more important. SEO now means creating content that’s genuinely useful, not just optimized.

No, AI-driven search won’t end the need for SEO. It’s transforming it. As tools like ChatGPT and Google’s AI Overviews summarize answers directly, traditional tactics matter less and the focus shifts even more toward creating helpful, trustworthy content that AI can understand and surface. SEO is evolving from just ranking in search engines to also being cited, summarized or featured in AI responses. That makes building your brand visibility and authority online more important than ever. The more trusted and recognized your brand, the more likely AI is to include you in its answers.

Yes, when it’s done with purpose and expertise. Blogging helps you answer real questions your customers are asking and create content around topics that matter in your industry. For example, a manufacturer might write about lead times or material options, while a roofer could explain how to spot signs of roof damage. This kind of content builds trust, improves search visibility, and attracts the right traffic over time.

Social media doesn’t directly impact search rankings. Google doesn’t use likes, shares, or follower counts as ranking factors. However, social media can indirectly support your SEO efforts by increasing content visibility, driving traffic to your site and increasing brand visibility. This exposure can lead to natural backlinks from other websites, which do influence rankings. While social media alone won’t boost your SEO results, it plays a valuable role as part of a broader digital marketing strategy.

You can assess your site’s SEO health by reviewing key areas like crawlability, page speed, mobile usability and content performance. Tools such as Google Search Console can flag indexing issues, while platforms like BrightEdge or SEMrush offer broader insights. For example, you might discover slow-loading pages that affect user experience or missing title tags. Regular audits help ensure your site stays visible, functional and competitive in search.

Start by thinking about what your customers are searching for — their questions, needs and pain points. Then use tools like Google Search Console, Google Ads Keyword Planner and SEO keyword research tools to identify relevant terms. For example, a home services company might target “emergency furnace repair” or “HVAC maintenance tips” as part of their SEO strategy. The goal is to find keywords that align with your offerings and match what your potential customers are actually searching for.

If potential customers are searching online for what you offer, SEO helps them find you. Signs you need SEO include low search visibility, declining website traffic or reliance on paid ads for leads. SEO today is about creating quality content that answers your audience’s questions. A thoughtful strategy strengthens your brand online and provides value to potential customers regardless of how they found your site.

Search engines rank websites by evaluating factors like content relevance, site quality, user experience and authority. For national SEO, rankings depend heavily on content depth and quality, backlinks and overall site strength. Local SEO adds elements like proximity, Google Business Profiles and local citations. For ecommerce, search engines also look at product page optimization, your product feed into Google Merchant Center, structured data and site performance. While the core principles are similar, ranking factors vary based on your business type and audience.

SEO is a long term marketing channel. Most businesses start seeing results within 3 to 6 months, but timing depends on factors like your investment, industry, competition and website’s current content depth and authority. For example, a local business in a low-competition market may see gains sooner, while a national B2B company in a competitive space may take longer. The goal is long-term success, but a strong SEO strategy will also identify opportunities for quick wins along the way.

Your SEO strategy should be reviewed every 3 to 6 months, with updates made as needed. Search algorithms shift, competitors evolve and your business goals change. Your strategy should stay aligned. This doesn’t mean a complete overhaul, but regular check-ins help you find new opportunities, fix issues early and keep your efforts focused on what works.

Yes, long-tail keywords — more specific phrases like “pediatric urgent care in Charlotte” — are valuable because they attract higher-intent visitors and usually face less competition. For a local healthcare business, targeting terms like this helps reach people looking for exactly what you offer. Long-tail keywords also support broader keyword themes, allowing you to cover topics in depth and address specific patient needs.

Canonical tags help search engines understand which version of a page to prioritize when duplicate content exists on multiple pages. For instance, if the same product appears under different URLs, the canonical tag points to the main version you want indexed. This keeps search engines from splitting ranking value between duplicates and helps maintain stronger visibility for the preferred page.

Google’s algorithm updates are changes to the underlying code of the algorithm that changes how websites are ranked in search results. Most updates are small — thousands happen each year — but significant ones, like the Helpful Content Update or Core Updates, are named and can impact rankings across many industries. These updates often focus on content quality, user experience and authority signals. Working with SEO experts who stay current on algorithm updates is important, but if you have a strong, comprehensive strategy in place, most updates won’t hurt your rankings — and may even help them.

Keywords are the specific words or phrases people use in search engines, like “industrial automation solutions.” Themes are group of keywords consisting of a single keyword plus all of its variations. Search engines now prioritize content that covers a theme comprehensively, not just individual terms. For more on how this shift impacts SEO strategy, check out our blog: SEO Keywords vs. Keyword Themes.

A search engine algorithm is the system Google and others use to determine which web pages appear in search results and in what order. Early algorithms focused on keyword usage and backlink quantity, but today they consider hundreds of factors including content quality, user experience and relevance. As search evolves, algorithms rely more on AI to understand intent and deliver better answers, which means SEO requires more than keywords — it requires creating genuinely useful, trustworthy content.

E-E-A-T stands for Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness and Trustworthiness. Google uses it to assess content quality, especially on topics where accuracy matters. One way to improve E-E-A-T is by adding author bios that highlight real-world experience in your industry. Showing credibility builds trust, which can lead to better rankings.

Internal linking means connecting pages within your own website — for example, linking a blog post about data security best practices to your SaaS platform’s cybersecurity features page. It helps search engines understand your site structure and which pages matter most. For users, it improves navigation and helps them find related information easily. Strong internal linking supports better rankings and keeps visitors engaged longer.

Mobile-first indexing means Google’s bot emulates a mobile user visiting your website when collecting data to help determine how to index and rank your pages. If your website’s mobile experience is missing content, has poor navigation, or loads slowly, it can hurt your search performance. For example, if product details or service descriptions only appear on your desktop site, Google may not see them. That’s why a complete, fast and user-friendly mobile experience is critical. Learn more in our blog: Mobile-First Indexing 101.

Page speed refers to how fast a page loads and becomes usable. If a website’s pages are slow, people often leave before they engage, which hurts both user experience and search visibility. Search engines notice this behavior and may rank faster pages higher. For example, a mobile user waiting more than a few seconds may never see your content and that missed visit can impact both SEO and conversions.

Technical SEO refers to the behind-the-scenes work that helps search engines access, crawl and index your website pages properly. It ensures your site is built and maintained in a way that supports visibility in search. Examples include improving site speed, fixing broken links, optimizing for mobile, using structured data and ensuring pages can be indexed correctly. Without solid technical SEO, even great content can struggle to rank or reach the right audience.

Local SEO helps nearby customers find your business using location based keywords such as “restaurants near me” or “Chicago restaurants.” It improves visibility for searches with local intent. National SEO targets a broader audience across the country using keywords without geographical focus. To learn more, visit our Local SEO and National SEO pages. Also, read our blog post: How to do Local SEO.

SEO helps your business grow revenue by generating more sales leads and growing ecommerce sales. It connects you with potential customers who are actively searching for your services or products, increasing your visibility in search results and driving more organic traffic to your website. At the same time, SEO strengthens your brand visibility and credibility, building trust and helping your business stay competitive in a crowded market.

An experienced SEO agency brings expertise, strategy and tools that are hard to match in-house. From technical fixes to content and link acquisition, they know what works and how to adapt when things change. Agencies also see trends across many campaigns and apply those insights to help you avoid common pitfalls and find new opportunities faster.

Start by optimizing your Google Business Profile with accurate information, photos and customer reviews. Make sure your business name, address and phone number (NAP) are consistent across authoritative websites that provide business listings. Create quality content that targets keywords with local intent. For example, an HVAC company should target local keywords like “emergency AC repair in [city]” and create location-specific pages and blog content. Earning reviews from local customers and building local backlinks can also improve your visibility in local search and map results.

Backlinks are links from other websites pointing to yours and they signal credibility to search engines. High-quality backlinks from trusted sites can improve your rankings by showing that your content is valuable. For example, if an industry publication links to your blog post, it helps boost your authority and visibility in search results. Not all backlinks are equal — quality matters.

Online reviews play a key role in local SEO by showing search engines that your business is trusted by real customers. For instance, a medspa with consistent reviews mentioning skin treatments can gain better visibility in local search. Reviews also refresh your online presence and often include keywords that support search rankings.

Local citations are mentions of your business’s name, address and phone number (NAP) on other websites. Examples include platforms like Yelp, Angi and local chamber of commerce sites. Consistent citations on authoritative websites help search engines verify your business’s legitimacy and location, which can improve your visibility in local search and map results. They also help customers discover your business across trusted sources beyond your website.

Voice search allows users to search the web by speaking into a device instead of typing. It’s common on smartphones and smart speakers and it often leads to more conversational, question-based queries. Optimizing for voice means focusing on natural language, local intent and quick, clear answers. For more, see our blog: AI and Voice Search SEO Strategies.

High-quality backlinks come from trusted, relevant websites and are earned by offering value. One effective way is to create content, such as a guide, checklist, or original research, that others want to reference. For example, a financial planner might publish a retirement planning guide that gets picked up by a local news site or financial blog. Building relationships with industry publishers or local organizations can also lead to valuable backlink opportunities.

Prioritizing search engines over the customer. Many businesses create content just to rank — stuffing in keywords, writing for algorithms and overlooking what their audience actually wants to know. This often results in content that doesn’t rank well and doesn’t convert. For example, writing blog posts with generic content chasing keywords with high search volume rather than addressing real customer questions or concerns. Ignoring user experience, content quality and what builds trust leads to high bounce rates and missed opportunities. SEO works best when it starts with the customer, not the algorithm.

Google rankings can drop for several reasons. Sometimes it’s due to a recent algorithm update, a competitor improving their site or changes to your website. Other times, technical issues like broken links or slow load times are to blame. Even content that hasn’t been updated in a while can lose ground. A regular review of your site’s SEO can help pinpoint the cause and guide the next steps.

Ranking issues often come down to a mix of technical, content and authority gaps. Maybe your pages aren’t being indexed properly, the content doesn’t match what people are searching for, or you’re missing backlinks from reputable sites. For instance, if your service pages are thin on content or your site loads slowly on mobile, Google may favor competitors with stronger performance. A thorough review of your site can uncover what’s standing in the way.