What is SEO? How does SEO work?

SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, is the science and art of making web pages rank higher in search engines like Google. Many businesses invest in SEO because they want to get more customers, if they are already using search engines. How SEO works varies a little between Google and Bing, but most people focus on Google, since it has over 90% of all market share for search engines. Essentially, for any given keyword search, Google compiles a list of pages that are a good match, then ranks them according to those factors. How they do this is a proprietary secret, and because their ranking algorithm is constantly changing and being updated. what we can say for certain are the things Google representatives have told us for certain are part of the ranking. These are the content on the page, the links that point to the site and the page, and a machine learning portion of the algorithm called RankBrain.

How fast should we see SEO results?

You should see some rankings movement withing ninety days. It takes time for Google to re-crawl your site and index the new and changed pages. By six months, you should see measurable results on most of your keywords. There is usually some additional movement after the initial campaign, because Google's ranking algorithm is constantly being adjusted by their engineers.

How much does SEO cost at your agency?

We will give you a custom quote based on how much work your website needs, your level of competition, and overall scope of work. We keep our rates fair, but in the range of what other companies doing similar work may charge.

How do you know what goes in the Google ranking algorithm?

No one person knows the precise formula, but we observe what works over time, and also have the Google Quality Guidelines which offers insights. Google representatives sometimes give clues, but they aren't going to tell people precisely how to rank at the top, as this is a trade secret. The Google engineers work continually on adjusting the ranking algorithm. Even people who work at Google cannot predict with 100% accuracy what the ranking order will be for a given search on any given day. This means we must use the scientific method, along with observation and testing to determine what factors are stable and predict what ranking factors will be useful in the future. By observing a large number of websites in different categories, we can come to agreed upon conclusions about what SEO factors are important, which are less effective, and which are myths. A significant portion of the ranking algorithm in the 2020s is determined by machine learning, but the largest factor is content on the page, followed by inbound links and off-site factors.

Can you help us with Google Ads?

We can help you set up Google Ads and manage them to make sure you're getting the highest quality clicks, and getting the most possible leads. For industries where your competitors are using paid ads, this might be the most efficient means for getting qualified leads. Our main role is making sure you spend money ONLY on keywords that benefit your business and you aren't getting irrelevant leads, all while maximizing the ad spend you are using. You'll definitely benefit from having our professional guidance on this, especially with recent changes on how Google makes recommendations to you for ads.

Can you help us rank higher in Google Maps?

We can give you reconsideration to rank higher in Google Maps, but PLEASE NOTE the three-pack map gives the most weight to proximity, meaning whatever is closer to the searcher has a better chance of ranking higher in the map. Think of the map as a driving app, designed to give results within close driving or transportation distance. It's not necessarily a measure of highest quality business. It difficult for businesses outside of a city center to rank for searches related to that

How will you measure success? Will we get regular reports?

We will provide regular ranking reports, traffic reports, and also reports on your Google Ads campaigns if you are running those with us.

Who is doing the work on my website?

All the work is done by our team, based in the US, led by our founder John Locke.

Fair Oaks SEO

Get more leads from online search with our expert SEO services. We love businesses from Fair Oaks, and the chickens too!

The Fair Oaks SEO company that gives you a fair deal.

We’ve helped many clients in the Sacramento and Fair Oaks area with SEO and web design over the years. We always tell you in plain and clear language what you’ll need to do to rank higher in Google, and what your expected scope of work will be. We’ll give you a fair price and make sure you always get progress reports in a timely manner. You can always call us or email us if you have a question, we’ll be happy to answer. And we’re based right here in Sacramento, over in Natomas, so if you prefer working with a SEO agency that’s local, we fit that description.

Our SEO proposals are based on what you need, not a predetermined package, so your SEO campaign will be focused on what will help you the most, giving you good value and measurable results. Most of our clients have been with us for years, and we take pride in helping them get positive results that boost their leads and revenue.

If you want to get more information or have us help you with SEO, fill out the contact form on this page.

Contact a Fair Oaks CA SEO Consultant

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Our Fair Oaks SEO Services

On-Page Optimization

To rank well in Sacramento Google searches, you need the right content on your pages. We determine exactly what needs to be adjusted so your site ranks higher in local SEO.

Link Building

We build relevant and categorically related links from other websites back to your site, boosting your website’s authority.

Revenue Growth

Businesses invest in SEO to improve their lead generation and increase gross revenue. Our goal is to help make you more money, and deliver qualified leads to your sales team.

Content Marketing

We’ll help you produce high quality content for your website that drives traffic and qualified leads.

SEO Reporting

We deliver regularly scheduled Google ranking reports that show exactly how you’re doing, how much search traffic you’re getting from Google, and where we need to focus next.

We Partner With You

Most of our clients keep working with us long-term. We learn your business so we can help it grow.

Tired of Competitors Outranking You?

85% of all clicks in search results go to the first page. If you aren’t on the first page of Google for your most important keywords, you’re at a disadvantage. Our proven SEO process will help you get more organic search traffic, boost your search rankings, and improve your lead generation.

Fair Oaks Rooster mural - photo copyright 2022 by John Locke

Our SEO Process

1. Analyze and Assess

The first step is analyzing and auditing your website, as well as your top ranking competitors, and who is ranking for your target keywords, and why. We lay out a detailed strategic plan for improving your site, the content, and off site factors to get your website at the top of search results.

2. Create and Optimize

In most cases, websites that are not ranking well suffer from a variety of deficiencies. We will complete whatever needs to be done to make you rank. Generally, this includes content creation and optimization, design and development, link acquisition, and other additional tasks.

3. Measure and Evaluate

As your SEO work is done, we measure the results using rank tracking software and Google Analytics. By tracking results, analyzing any changes we’ve made vs competitors, we can determine what further changes need to be made. You’ll get regular ranking and traffic reports.

Will Smith

Owner, Bud Bar Displays & All Plastic Fabrication, Inc.

John deserves the credit—he is awesome! We have an E-Commerce site and it goes with the territory that we come across technical issues from time to time that can be very nerve racking as a business owner. After I’ve explained the problems or goals, John goes about accomplishing the task quickly and successfully.

Where his professionalism really shines is that he will babysit the changes to make sure everything came out as planned. If any final tweaks are necessary he’s on them immediately. His communication during changes and returning of calls is also 5 stars. John is very responsive to our account, we have grown, but even when we were smaller John still gave us the same attentive service.

Our Sacramento SEO Recognition

ThreeBest Rated top 3 Advertising Agency in Sacramento 2021, 2022, and 2023

Sustainable SEO Strategies, Not Gimmicks

Search engines want to reward the pages and websites that give users what they are looking for, and have clear signals that people trust those websites. We use techniques that are meant to earn you rankings over the long term, that meet Google Guidelines, that will not be penalized but be rewarded.

Fair Oaks Community Center - photo copyright 2022 by John Locke

How does SEO work?

Google’s ranking algorithm uses hundreds of factors to decide which pages to rank highest for any given keyword search. The search engines look at the content of each page of your website, and how users interact with your website. Google also considers how your brand is represented around the entire web. If your company website has a good reputation, and is hyperlinked to by respected websites, that can help your overall rankings.

The three major things Google looks at are: the content of each page on your site, external hyperlinks and brand reputation, and the real-time user signals from website visitors. By taking care of these three areas, and taking specific steps to improve your website’s performance, our Bakersfield SEO pros can increase your SEO rankings, Google traffic, and flow of qualified leads.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some answers to SEO questions you might have.

What is SEO? How does SEO work?: SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, is the science and art of making web pages rank higher in search engines like Google. Many businesses invest in SEO because they want to get more customers, if they are already using search engines. How SEO works varies a little between Google and Bing, but most people focus on Google, since it has over 90% of all market share for search engines. Essentially, for any given keyword search, Google compiles a list of pages that are a good match, then ranks them according to those factors. How they do this is a proprietary secret, and because their ranking algorithm is constantly changing and being updated. what we can say for certain are the things Google representatives have told us for certain are part of the ranking. These are the content on the page, the links that point to the site and the page, and a machine learning portion of the algorithm called RankBrain.
How fast should we see SEO results?: You should see some rankings movement withing ninety days. It takes time for Google to re-crawl your site and index the new and changed pages. By six months, you should see measurable results on most of your keywords. There is usually some additional movement after the initial campaign, because Google's ranking algorithm is constantly being adjusted by their engineers.
How much does SEO cost at your agency?: We will give you a custom quote based on how much work your website needs, your level of competition, and overall scope of work. We keep our rates fair, but in the range of what other companies doing similar work may charge.
How do you know what goes in the Google ranking algorithm?: No one person knows the precise formula, but we observe what works over time, and also have the Google Quality Guidelines which offers insights. Google representatives sometimes give clues, but they aren't going to tell people precisely how to rank at the top, as this is a trade secret. The Google engineers work continually on adjusting the ranking algorithm. Even people who work at Google cannot predict with 100% accuracy what the ranking order will be for a given search on any given day. This means we must use the scientific method, along with observation and testing to determine what factors are stable and predict what ranking factors will be useful in the future. By observing a large number of websites in different categories, we can come to agreed upon conclusions about what SEO factors are important, which are less effective, and which are myths. A significant portion of the ranking algorithm in the 2020s is determined by machine learning, but the largest factor is content on the page, followed by inbound links and off-site factors.
Can you help us with Google Ads?: We can help you set up Google Ads and manage them to make sure you're getting the highest quality clicks, and getting the most possible leads. For industries where your competitors are using paid ads, this might be the most efficient means for getting qualified leads. Our main role is making sure you spend money ONLY on keywords that benefit your business and you aren't getting irrelevant leads, all while maximizing the ad spend you are using. You'll definitely benefit from having our professional guidance on this, especially with recent changes on how Google makes recommendations to you for ads.
Can you help us rank higher in Google Maps?: We can give you reconsideration to rank higher in Google Maps, but PLEASE NOTE the three-pack map gives the most weight to proximity, meaning whatever is closer to the searcher has a better chance of ranking higher in the map. Think of the map as a driving app, designed to give results within close driving or transportation distance. It's not necessarily a measure of highest quality business. It difficult for businesses outside of a city center to rank for searches related to that.
How will you measure success? Will we get regular reports?: We will provide regular ranking reports, traffic reports, and also reports on your Google Ads campaigns if you are running those with us.
Who is doing the work on my website?: All the work is done by our team, based in the US, led by our founder John Locke.

Fair Oaks CA - photo copyright 2022 by John Locke

SEO Experts in Fair Oaks, CA.

We help businesses with local SEO, and SEO for service providers, like contractors and home services.

Some of our clients are from Fair Oaks, and we’ve helped them with website builds, SEO, and Google Ads. No matter what type of business you run, we’ll give you our insights and help you get more qualified leads from your website.

Do you need help with SEO or web design, and you’re ready to get the competitive edge? We can help you too with a customized plan built specifically for your needs. Contact us today and we’ll get back to you within one business day and get more information.

Updated September 8th, 2024