Are SEO Services Worth It? All Your Questions Answered

In the course of my professional career, I’ve seen almost all types of clients imaginable. You have the decades-old businesses looking to tap into the digital market; the startups and bootstrapped purely remote-based service providers; the local home services such as plumbers, roofers, etc.; your statewide legal firms; and other startup digital marketing agencies (and many SEO agencies).

While many of them are already knowledgeable in the SEO industry, quite a few of them are still wondering, “Are SEO services worth it?”. I’ve handled a couple of projects in the past wherein the business was literally just testing out if SEO (Search Engine Optimization) would work for them or not. And unfortunately, the most common misconception many businesses have is that SEO works like MAGIC.

How?

  1. They think once you start optimizing (and sometimes, they think you can do it in 3 days or a week), you rank instantly within the top 10.
  2. And once you get them to rank, sales will skyrocket like crazy.
  3. SEO only needs a one-time-big-time effort. So no need to prolong your service miss.

I’m sorry to say, but none of these is true.

SEO is a long-term marketing strategy that requires continuous effort and maintenance. It’s not a one-time deal where you work on it for a couple of weeks and then leave it be. You need to continuously monitor your progress, adjust your SEO tactics, and work on it consistently to see results.

And even when you see results, it would take a few months (at least 3-6 months) to experience an ROI. So if you’re looking for immediate results, SEO strategy is not for you.

With that being said, SEO is still one of the most effective marketing strategies out there. If you’re in it for the long run, SEO services are worth your investment.

In this guide, I will explain what modern SEO entails and how you can see results from your SEO investment.

Investing in SEO is like planting a tree: it may take time to see growth, but the long-term rewards of increased visibility, traffic, and trust are well worth the wait.

Can You Find Your Website?

 

The first thing you need to do is find your website. Try Googling your business name or some of the specific keywords you want to rank for and see where you show up. If you’re not on the first page (preferably in the top 3), then you have some work to do.

A lot of (small) businesses make the mistake of thinking that their website is ranking because they can find it when they type in their business name. But that’s not how potential customers find businesses online. They use high-ranking keywords that are relevant to what they’re looking for.

For example, if you’re a plumber, people might search for “plumbing services near me”, “emergency plumbing”, “leaking taps”, etc. If you don’t show up for any of these keywords, then you’re not going to get any organic traffic from Google search engines.

This is where SEO experts do their thing. SEO techniques can help you rank for the keywords that people are actually searching for. And as a result, you get more website visitors organically (i.e. without having to opt for paid ads).

There are a number of factors that affect keyword ranking. But the most important ones are:

  • Relevance: Is your web page relevant to what your target audience is searching for? If not, then you’re not going to rank, no matter how good your SEO is.
  • Keyword density: This is the number of times a keyword appears on your website. If you stuff your website with keywords, then you’re going to be penalized by Google and other search engines. So make sure that your keyword density is just right.
  • Meta tags: Meta tags are snippets of text that describe a page’s content. They help search engines understand what a page is about.
  • Title tags: Title tags are the most important meta tag. They appear in the search engine results pages (SERPs) and tell searchers what your page is about.
  • Alt-text: Alt text is the text that appears when an image can’t be displayed. It’s a good idea to add keywords to your alt text so that your images can be found in image searches.
  • Sitemap: A sitemap is a file that lists all the pages on your website. It helps search engines index your website so that your pages can be found in local searches.
  • Robots.txt: Robots.txt is a file that tells search engine bots which pages on your website they can and can’t index.

These are just some of the most important on-page SEO factors. Many other technical SEO aspects need to be taken care of. But if you are a business owner who doesn’t have the time or knowledge to do it yourself, then you can always hire a reputable SEO provider to do it for you.

And then, there’s another aspect: the off-page optimization/link-building, which means getting high-quality links from other websites. This ranking factor is very important because it shows Google that your website is popular and relevant. So if you’re serious about ranking higher in search results pages, then you need to focus on link building as well.

How Much Does SEO Cost?

 

With SEO being a continuous effort, it’s important to consider the costs involved over time. SEO is not a one-time investment, but it can be considered an ongoing expense, similar to your electricity or internet bill.

The cost of SEO depends on a number of factors:

 

  • The size of your website: The larger your website, the more pages you’ll need to optimize. This means you need to allot more SEO budget.
  • The competitiveness of your industry: If you’re in a competitive industry, then it’s going to cost more to rank higher in search results.
  • The location of your business: If you’re a local business, then you’ll need to focus on local SEO, which is usually cheaper than global SEO.
  • Your current SEO situation: If you’re starting from scratch, then it’s going to take more time and effort to reach the top of the SERPs. But if you already have a strong foundation, then it’ll be easier to maintain and manage SEO position.

 

The bottom line is that SEO is not free. But it is an investment that can generate a lot of sales and leads for your business. And if you’re serious about growing your business, then SEO is worth the investment.

When it comes to investing in SEO, there are three main options to consider:

 

  • Hiring an agency or consultancy — This is an expensive route, with SEO companies charging anywhere from $99 per hour and consultancies at $171 per hour. You may also need to pay a monthly retainer. The advantage here is that you won’t have to learn SEO yourself, and you can get started quickly with expert help.
  • In-house SEO team or outsourcing to freelancers — This option is also relatively costly. SEO freelancers typically charge around $71.59 per hour (but if you outsource to the Philippines it’s much cheaper), and an in-house SEO specialist averages $71K a year in the U.S. You’ll need to have a solid understanding of SEO yourself and invest time in recruiting and onboarding the right people.
  • Doing it yourself — The most budget-friendly option. However, it requires a significant time investment as you’ll need to learn SEO from scratch.

Does it Generate Sales?

OH ABSOLUTELY!

SEO can help you generate a lot of leads and sales for your business. But it’s not a quick or easy process. It takes time, effort, and money to rank higher in search results.

You see, SEO leans more on long-term benefits, while paid marketing, such as Google Ads, is more effective in the short term. SEO, when done right, can keep you up in the search engine rankings for a long time. Whereas, with paid search or marketing, as soon as you stop paying for ads, your SEO traffic will drop.

But why would you want to rank in search engines in the first place?

Search engines are the starting point for 68% of online experiences. This means that if your website doesn’t show up in internet search results, then you’re missing out on a lot of potential website traffic and sales.

Another study confirms that 70% of online marketers say that SEO is better than PPC for generating sales. Consumer behavior studies revealed that most internet users resort to Google (over social media channels) when they are looking for services and products to purchase. This is the reason why SEO should be a fundamental part of your digital marketing strategy to have a competitive edge. It’s an investment that can generate a lot of sales and leads for your business in the long run.

To illustrate this, let me share a recent analysis from one of my clients. We compared their website’s year-over-year traffic and revenue sources. The data was eye-opening: while paid search campaigns drove a higher number of product views, the lion’s share of revenue came from organic traffic.

In fact, out of the total revenue of $6,508.28, a significant $2,995.28—nearly 46%—was attributed to organic search alone. This highlights a key insight: while PPC might provide an initial boost in visibility and clicks, it’s organic search that delivers sustainable and consistent revenue.

Overall Website Revenue

Overall Revenue

Revenue from Organic Sources

revenue from organic search

So if you’re looking for a quick and easy way to generate sales, then SEO is not for you. But if you’re willing to invest the time and effort, then SEO can be a very effective way to grow your business.

When will we see SEO results?

 

The answer to this question depends on a number of factors:

  • The size of your website: The larger your website, the more pages you’ll need to optimize.
  • The competitiveness of your industry: If you’re in a competitive industry, then it’s going to take longer to rank higher in Google search results.
  • Your current SEO situation: If you’re starting from scratch, then it’s going to take longer to reach the top of the SERPs. But if you already have a strong SEO foundation, then it’ll be easier to maintain your position.

The bottom line is that SEO is not an overnight process. It takes time, effort, and patience to see results.

What Types of SEO Services Are Available?

 

SEO services can vary from agency to agency, but here are some of the most effective strategies:

  • Content Management: This involves optimizing the content on your website, including blog posts, eBooks, and web copy, to guarantee it represents your business in the best possible light and resonates with your audience.
  • Keyword Research: Since search terms constantly evolve, keeping track of the right keywords is important. Monitoring and adapting to keyword trends and search queries helps you connect with your audience more effectively and drive traffic to your site.
  • Local SEO: Ideal for small businesses with a physical presence, local SEO focuses on optimizing your business for search results in your specific geographic area, making it easier for local customers to find you.
  • Social Media: Active engagement across social platforms not only boosts brand visibility but can also positively impact your search engine rankings, helping you reach a wider audience.
  • Analytics: Tracking and analyzing your digital performance is key to understanding what strategies are working, what needs improvement, and where to focus your resources for optimal growth.

See the Results: Why Businesses Trust SEO for Long-Term Gains

 

 

The answer is you don’t have to do it all yourself. You can outsource some or all of the work to a credible SEO services provider in the Philippines. This will save you time, money, and effort in the long run.

The Philippines is home to some of the world’s best SEO services providers. So if you’re serious about growing your business, then it’s worth considering outsourcing some or all of the work to a reputable agency in the Philippines.

World Class SEO Services,
Filipino Affordability.
Book a Consultation here.

FAQs about SEO

What industries need SEO the most?

While every industry can benefit from SEO, some rely on it more heavily due to the competitive nature of their markets. Industries like e-commerce, local services, healthcare, real estate, and law particularly need SEO to stand out in search results and attract potential customers. These industries face high competition, and ranking well on Google can directly impact their ability to generate leads, drive sales, and grow their businesses.

Can successful businesses stop doing SEO?

Even if your business is doing well online, you should never stop working on SEO. Successful companies continue to use SEO as part of their digital marketing strategy. SEO is constantly evolving, and without ongoing optimization, your website can lose relevance and drop in search rankings.

Is AI making SEO a thing of the past?

No, SEO will remain important despite the rise of AI. Rather than seeing AI and SEO as separate, it’s better to use them together for mutual benefit. While AI has made certain tasks more efficient, there’s still a strong need for the hands-on optimizations and expertise that SEO professionals provide, which AI can’t fully replace. By combining SEO and AI, you can achieve even better results and save valuable time.

What’s the difference between SEO and traditional marketing?

Traditional marketing includes methods like TV ads, billboards, direct mail, print ads, and cold calling, which aim to reach potential customers through mass outreach. SEO (Search Engine Optimization), on the other hand, focuses on improving a website’s visibility through content creation, website optimizations, and enhancing the user experience. While traditional marketing relies on paid, broad-reaching strategies, SEO helps businesses attract organic traffic by making their websites easier to find and navigate online.

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Hi I’m Maria!

content marketing and seo services in the philippines

Content Marketing x SEO Digital Nomad x Mom of a beautiful ASD boy Musician x Frustrated Crossfitter

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