Website, SEO, advertizing

Calendyr

Calendyr

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Hey guys,

been working on my website for 2 weeks now. At fist I just wanted to replace my packages for this year but then I started watching videos about SEO and started doing some of that as well.

So from a project that was supposed to take a day or two, I think I am on my 20th hour of work so far and I still have a lot of pages to modify so I am guessing at least an other 10 hours of work ahead of me.

I am curious, what do you guys do for SEO. What keywords are you using?
Any tips of link backs?
Do you use Yelp or other rating platforms to build interest from Google?

Right now, I have yet to install some of the Tools I have read about but the first tool I was suggested to use www.ubersuggest.org has been completelly useless. It gives no help for anything I type in ;( And I can't use Google Keyword Planner either so those were the best 2 Tools in my list.

Really interested in knowing how you manage the SEO for your sites and what kind of visits are you getting on an average day. I have to install Google Analytics on my site, but I am waiting for the update to be completed.
 
I don't have a detailing business, but a pool business (detailing may be in the works, which is why I'm here). Anyway, is the site platform Wordpress? If so, do you have Yoast installed, and optimized (green light on all pages)?

Thinks like Yelp / LinkedIn never hurt, they can serve as a backlink to a degree but wouldn't make much of a difference w/ Google since everyone uses that route. Biggest and best forms of backlinks are those such as industry related links or even local business directories. Media release backlinks are ok, but very common as well. I'm far from an expert on the subject, but thought this may help a little.
 
Why can't you use GKP? It's free, just make an account... Unless you have to runs ads? If so, spend a dollar for one day and you're set

I've been working on SEO for the past 6 months. I've moved from the 5th page to 2nd page and have spent around $2000 so far
 
I haven't spent any money on SEO, the website platform I use allows me to input my own keywords into it and I guess the rest handles itself. I work in IT and SEO is still something I need to sit down and learn. Certain search terms put me at the #1 result while I'm only on the bottom of the first page and halfway down the second page on some so I guess I'm doing something right.

Not sure of my traffic but I've continued to climb for the past year after being pretty deep in the results for a long time.
 
SEO is a business in itself. I run an outdoor recreation website and work as a hosting engineer full time. SEO encompasses all pieces of your plan from ad words to keywords on your page. Keywords are found by finding the phrases used for searches within your industry, you can get this infomation from google and or with browser plugins. When you start typing in google "auto detailing, city..." and it starts suggesting searches, those are what people are searching on.

The way SEO works is rank, the more linkbacks you have to your pages from outside sources, the more you are considered a "domain authority" basically what that means is people trust your content, the things you say they agree with. So you need to have a combination of the terms/phrases being searched as well as external links to your pages from other companies. Take a look at the domain authority ranking for this site, its likely very high.

My detailing is purely a side gig, I only do cars by invitation or acquaintances. Its not a full time job would I consider it... maybe if it was steady enough but for now, I like keeping up with my cars and subsidizing the cost of great products with a few details to close friends.
 
DetailGroove said:
Why can't you use GKP? It's free, just make an account... Unless you have to runs ads? If so, spend a dollar for one day and you're set

I've been working on SEO for the past 6 months. I've moved from the 5th page to 2nd page and have spent around $2000 so far
Click to expand...

Yes, you have to have an active campaign in Adwords to use the planner. I can't do it because I am not open for business right now. I open around May 1st, so I will run one then. The minimum daily amount for Adwords is between 2$ and 3$, did not write it down but it's 2.xx$

I would not spend 2K on SEO though. Not sure what is costing you so much but I hope you are seeing returns larger than the 2K you spent. In my experience advertising never pays for itself. All the adds I have used in the past cost a lot more than the amount of money they brought in.
 
Calendyr said:
Yes, you have to have an active campaign in Adwords to use the planner. I can't do it because I am not open for business right now. I open around May 1st, so I will run one then. The minimum daily amount for Adwords is between 2$ and 3$, did not write it down but it's 2.xx$

I would not spend 2K on SEO though. Not sure what is costing you so much but I hope you are seeing returns larger than the 2K you spent. In my experience advertising never pays for itself. All the adds I have used in the past cost a lot more than the amount of money they brought in.
Click to expand...

Hm, I can use it for free. Although I have ran campaigns in the past.

As far as the $2,000 goes, that's nothing new. As much as people say Google gives you "free" traffic, you still have to put in time, energy, money to get to the first page of Google.

You don't just buy a domain, put a bit of copy on your site and wait a few weeks for Google to rank you. You have to do what's necessary (i.e. acquire backlinks) to get to the first page of Google.

SEO are not ads. That would be PPC (pay-per-click advertising). Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is getting your site on the first page of Google AND the local 3-pack via backlinks for organic search results (what people search in Google for local services)

Over 6-months I have spent $2k and yes I have seen an increase in customers and a positive return on it.

99% of the time that I've seen business owners run paid ads, they always say it doesn't work because they didn't invest the time and effort to fully understand how paid ads truly works (it's a lot of work)
 
Adword as far as I know is a pay per click service isn't it? Otherwise how do you spend money on SEO? You hire SEO firms? I keep getting offers from companies wanting to do SEO on my site, never replied back. I spent the last 2 weeks updating my website with new packages and services and trying to optimise key words and all that. Next week I plan on working heavilly on SEO for the site. Got to set up yelp and all of that... Not looking forward to that I tell you. I think Yelp is a great way for competitors to destroy you. there is no check up on reviews so it can be very dangerous... but SEO requires to have ratings for your site, so... ya.
 
Calendyr said:
Adword as far as I know is a pay per click service isn't it? Otherwise how do you spend money on SEO? You hire SEO firms? I keep getting offers from companies wanting to do SEO on my site, never replied back. I spent the last 2 weeks updating my website with new packages and services and trying to optimise key words and all that. Next week I plan on working heavilly on SEO for the site. Got to set up yelp and all of that... Not looking forward to that I tell you. I think Yelp is a great way for competitors to destroy you. there is no check up on reviews so it can be very dangerous... but SEO requires to have ratings for your site, so... ya.
Click to expand...

Yes, Adwords is pay-per-click advertising.

SEO is not pay-per-click advertising.

When you pay for Adwords, you're ad is being shown above the organic results (the top top of the) or on the side column. It's going to say 'ads' or 'sponsor'

SEO is getting your website ranking higher in organic search results and in the local 3-pack (aka where it shows up on the map).

Simply adding more text to your website and adding more keywords is not going to help you with SEO, at least not enough to get you some serious results.

As much as people say "free" traffic from Google, it's not really free. You have to get other sites to link to your site, and in the local space as we're in, will come from buying links.

For example, I paid $300 to be a member of my local chamber of commerce. I've paid $300 to sponsor different local organizations for a link back to my site.

Gaining backlinks is one of the most important things you can do for SEO. You can spend all day creating new content for your site and creating citations (Yelp, Facebook, Google+, Manta, FourSquare, etc). But if you don't acquire backlinks, you're not going to move anywhere in Google
 
DetailGroove said:
Yes, Adwords is pay-per-click advertising.

SEO is not pay-per-click advertising.

When you pay for Adwords, you're ad is being shown above the organic results (the top top of the) or on the side column. It's going to say 'ads' or 'sponsor'

SEO is getting your website ranking higher in organic search results and in the local 3-pack (aka where it shows up on the map).

Simply adding more text to your website and adding more keywords is not going to help you with SEO, at least not enough to get you some serious results.

As much as people say "free" traffic from Google, it's not really free. You have to get other sites to link to your site, and in the local space as we're in, will come from buying links.

For example, I paid $300 to be a member of my local chamber of commerce. I've paid $300 to sponsor different local organizations for a link back to my site.

Gaining backlinks is one of the most important things you can do for SEO. You can spend all day creating new content for your site and creating citations (Yelp, Facebook, Google+, Manta, FourSquare, etc). But if you don't acquire backlinks, you're not going to move anywhere in Google
Click to expand...

Ok I see what you mean now. What backlinks have been the most rewarding for you? I will need to focus on this next week so any insight would be great. I am thinking about the following types of businesses:
- Body shop
- Garage
- Car club
- Professional associations

Not sure what else. My goal would be to do a link exchange if possible and if not maybe through offering a discount to members type of deal. Aby advice on this would be great too :)
 
If you're looking for a free keyword planner for seo here's a good one: Keyword Tool: FREE Alternative to Google Keyword Planner
Try to look for keywords that are under-priced but heavily searched. A good example would be for someone looking to market their fitness products or training packages. Sure they could concentrate on owning the keywords FITNESS or PERSONAL TRAINING but those are EXPENSIVE keywords to own. Instead this trainer decided to invest heavily in armpit fat. WHY? B/c women ALL OVER the country were searching how to get rid of armpit fat...BUT no one was yet dominating the space of that keyword. Keep that in mind as you're looking for keywords you can dominate in your local area...which maybe detailing is taken or too expensive per click, but car wash is not. Or interior cleaning. Or tire shine. Or shiny car...or a handful of other words. Incorporate these words into the language that you use on your site (service descriptions, meta tags, homepage, about page, contact us page, etc).

Another thing is that you need to have your business listed on google maps. Google maps searches come up FIRST everytime...and they're 100% FREE! Additionally you can opt to not have your address listed on the listing as well. You can do this here: https://www.google.com/business/

I'd also get my business listed on as many free websites as possible such as YELP, DMV Now, etc. Link exchanges as you mentioned before work as well but be willing to exchange direct link to link with other businesses. I've NEVER paid anyone to have a link to my site on their site and I come up on the first page everytime, but this all depends on where you live and how many competitiors there are.

Another really POWERFUL way to get your business to the top of searches on google is through YOUTUBE. Youtube is owned by google, and whatever algorithim they use for search results favors videos. A simple video about you and your business would be all you need. You don't need fancy equipment (smart phones can take amazing hi def videos these days) and customers actually prefer the transparency of a video that isn't professionally made.

If any questions about anything I've suggested or would like more, just ask or send me a PM...I don't want to flood the forum with too long of a message.
 
WashEngineer said:
If you're looking for a free keyword planner for seo here's a good one: Keyword Tool: FREE Alternative to Google Keyword Planner

Try to look for keywords that are under-priced but heavily searched. A good example would be for someone looking to market their fitness products or training packages. Sure they could concentrate on owning the keywords FITNESS or PERSONAL TRAINING but those are EXPENSIVE keywords to own. Instead this trainer decided to invest heavily in armpit fat. WHY? B/c women ALL OVER the country were searching how to get rid of armpit fat...BUT no one was yet dominating the space of that keyword. Keep that in mind as you're looking for keywords you can dominate in your local area...which maybe detailing is taken or too expensive per click, but car wash is not. Or interior cleaning. Or tire shine. Or shiny car...or a handful of other words. Incorporate these words into the language that you use on your site (service descriptions, meta tags, homepage, about page, contact us page, etc).

I am not sure what you mean by expensive to own keywords. Don't keywords work by relevance and integration in your site and services? What expenses are you referring to? g

Another thing is that you need to have your business listed on google maps. Google maps searches come up FIRST everytime...and they're 100% FREE! Additionally you can opt to not have your address listed on the listing as well. You can do this here: https://www.google.com/business/

Excellent suggestion. I had not done that because being mobile I did not want people showing up at my house. But you can list your business as delivered to customers (or something like that) and your adress won't be shown. So I registered last week and I am waiting for the confirmation postcard from Google. Wish I had known about this 3 years ago!

I'd also get my business listed on as many free websites as possible such as YELP, DMV Now, etc. Link exchanges as you mentioned before work as well but be willing to exchange direct link to link with other businesses. I've NEVER paid anyone to have a link to my site on their site and I come up on the first page everytime, but this all depends on where you live and how many competitiors there are.

I am a bit afraid of Yelp to be honest. I have read so many horror stories about competitors coming to your Yelp page an destroying your reputation... But on the other hand it really helps with SEO... arg what do to!? As for link exchanges, any suggestions on type of business to propose that to?

Another really POWERFUL way to get your business to the top of searches on google is through YOUTUBE. Youtube is owned by google, and whatever algorithim they use for search results favors videos. A simple video about you and your business would be all you need. You don't need fancy equipment (smart phones can take amazing hi def videos these days) and customers actually prefer the transparency of a video that isn't professionally made.

I have a few of those, but they are about cars I have worked on when I first started. This year I really have to try to produce more videos. I think I should hire someone to help me because I always run out of time when I detail cars.. I end up at the end of the day and light is gone so I can't take after pictures, and I really don't have a single minute of time to waste during the detail... heck I don't even take breaks unless I have to go to the restroom. Having someone with me to capture video and help with the simple task would be a huge plus. I think I will have to do this if I want business to grow.

If any questions about anything I've suggested or would like more, just ask or send me a PM...I don't want to flood the forum with too long of a message.
Click to expand...

I can do that if you insist but knowledge like that will help a lot of people, if you don't mind doing it in the forum I think the community could use the information.
 
If you are mobile you are exposed to the public everyday,and there should be plenty of work out there to keep you busy without doing all that Seo computer stuff.
 
You should move your site to wordpress. Once you get the hang of your website you will quickly realize how limited a non wordpress site builder is.

Some areas to look at

Page titles: Use keywords as well as a location, dont spam
H1: Use similar KY as page title (lsi)
Services: Use a service for a page, dont meld them all together, use location elements more if you dont have town pages, state if you have a small state, county if you have people searching in a county, advanced seo
First sentence of first paragraph: Use location in here, bold a service
Body of text: Use bold, bullets and anything else you can do to help the reader can skim
Service locations: Consider town pages , use geo map
Contact form: Use a two column template to better utilize a contact form on every page. Important imo
Interlinking: Advance seo
Blog content: Use a post to reinforce a service page with interlinking. Research siloing, very advanced
NAP: Name area place, look it up, crucial for local seo
Citations: Use a citation building service, fairly inexpensive, crucial for local seo
Google plus for biz: Crucial for small location service biz

That should keep you busy.
 
Your website is very laid out nice and your prices are affordable.I think you had mentioned this is your third year if I'm correct.If so there is a promblem somewhere that is not keeping you busy all the time especially in Quebec where the dd need attention badly after the winter.
 
Car cleaning is a very demanding service,I think Seo is not gonna benefit you greatly and bring in a whole lot of income and clients.I think you should take a week off jump in your car and promote yourself by going to hair salons doctor offices real estate companies and leave cards at mechanic shops and autobody repair shops.or even leave cards at gas stations.
 
Apologies for any confusion or miscommunication on my part.

When I say expensive, I mean the cost per click of the word or words. This is more relevant to PPC (pay per click) through bing, google adwords, or another vendor. The more expesnive a word is, the more popular it is. The more popular a word is, the more people who are searching for it...BUT there maybe be people already dominating the word. This can help you shape your overall SEO strategy...but the free keyword planners oftentimes don't have this information.

@Calendyr, I did a basic analysis of your online presence and here's what I'd suggest to improve your rankings...and this goes for everyone trying to improve in this category.

1) Make sure all of your descriptions, listings, posts, etc. have a link back to your website (yelp, google maps, etc). This will increase your credability.

2) Google using keywords like (car wash "your city here"; detailing "your city here"; interior car cleaning "your city here", etc) when you're either using a browser that is different from the normal one you use or when you're signed out from your browser (for chrome users you can put yourself in incognito mode). See what comes up, see your rankings, and see who's ranking above you. There are sites where you can check what keywords and how they're getting higher than you like: Meta Tag Analyzer

3) Your business is already on Yelp whether you like or not...OWN IT before someone else does. Esthetique Automobile - Auto Repair - 2200 Boul Cremazie E - Villeray-Saint-Michel-Parc-Extension - Montreal, QC, Canada - Yelp For those of you that have been in business for a little bit, chances are its already up there...go to yelp and look it up to find out.

4) As for videos, chances are you can hire a teenage kid from down the street or a guy wanting to make a quick buck off of craigslist to do the video for you. Or you could forget about video and just use the pictures you take along with narration (the narration can be done at a different time after the pictues are taken if time is an issue). But here's the 1 thing that will help you stand-out. Show your face and talk to your customer in your video. People want to know who you are and what you can do for them. It's kind of scary to see a video of this "mysterious detailer" who did this awesome work...but not knowing who they are. Oftentimes when you see a face, you begin to immediately connect with the person...and that's what your customers are looking for.

5) For link exchanges...I went for media outlets (press, local organizations, etc) vs. going to businesses and do a link for link exchange. If businesses came to me and asked, I'd do it, but it wasn't something I invested any time in. Backlinks are NOT the answer to being #1 on google...if you have a crappy site that no one clicks on but have 3,000 back links, it's not going ot work. Back in the 90's it did...but now SEO has changed.

Conclusion: The most important thing you should be thinking about with your online presence and rankings is about showing off your amazing work as much as possible and making it easy for people to find your website, facebook, twitter, instagram...whatever. And if you REALLY want to interact and communicate with your customers, START AN EMAIL LIST...but that could be 10 forum posts on that subject by itself.

Hope this helps everyone! Let me know what you think, PM me, and be sure to continue to ASK QUESTIONS!
 
JeffM said:
You should move your site to wordpress. Once you get the hang of your website you will quickly realize how limited a non wordpress site builder is.

Some areas to look at

Page titles: Use keywords as well as a location, dont spam
H1: Use similar KY as page title (lsi)
Services: Use a service for a page, dont meld them all together, use location elements more if you dont have town pages, state if you have a small state, county if you have people searching in a county, advanced seo
First sentence of first paragraph: Use location in here, bold a service
Body of text: Use bold, bullets and anything else you can do to help the reader can skim
Service locations: Consider town pages , use geo map
Contact form: Use a two column template to better utilize a contact form on every page. Important imo
Interlinking: Advance seo
Blog content: Use a post to reinforce a service page with interlinking. Research siloing, very advanced
NAP: Name area place, look it up, crucial for local seo
Citations: Use a citation building service, fairly inexpensive, crucial for local seo
Google plus for biz: Crucial for small location service biz

That should keep you busy.
Click to expand...

I am surprised you think that non-WordPress sites are more limiting. In what way? When I tried WordPress 2 years ago I was frustrated because I could not do anything I wanted. You have to use the Template exactly how it is, you cannot move columns or rows without being a programmer. I gave up on it because the things i wanted would not fit in the templates. I looked at 100s of templates and none had a design that I wanted.

Thank you for the list of advice, I will go through them when I work on the website. Some of them I already do but some I have never heard of so this should be very helpful!
 
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