Search Engine Optimization For Small Businesses

CHAD NAPIER

4 years ago

Search Engine Optimization For Small Businesses

Hey Friends! Here is some more SEO Bullshit! Now speaking about “Search Engine Optimization For Small Businesses” is close to my heart as I grew up as an entrepreneur. One of the first things my parents instilled in me is that I can do anything in life. Do not settle! Go after your dreams. My parents taught this to me because for most of their lives, they worked for a living; and what I mean about work, I mean labor intensive in factories. So, of course, they wanted a better life for their kids.

Fast forward to my early teens, my family owned a martial arts studio that I was a co-instructor (Remember, I use to train and compete professionally in martial arts). Later on in life, my dad started his own independent trucking company; and I myself am an entrepreneur. So, when I say owning and running a small business is close to my heart, I am talking from personal experience. And, I truly feel that it is a shame what is going on today with marketing companies, digital media agencies and search engine optimization for small businesses.

Is Search Engine Optimization
For Small Businesses a Scam?

Over the past five years, I have worked for marketing agencies and IT Companies that offer digital media and SEO services; and have interviewed with many agencies and I have been kept in the loop with what is going on inside (what’s the truth). Especially today, the main niche market for agencies are regular consumers and small business because lack of a better word, this niche is neglected by HUGE agencies with wealthy clients. But, the question remains,

“Are Marketing Companies doing the Best Thing for the Consumers and Small Business?”

This is what makes me feel ill to my stomach. Knowing what goes on inside these marketing agencies in SECRET; and knowing the amount of money that small businesses are paying is going to waste. Especially for a small business, paying a marketing company a $1000-$2000 per month is all their hard earned money. Which leads to the next question,

“Is it Worth It?”

Should a Small Business Hire a Marketing Agency?

This is a great question and there are a few things to consider.

You can learn Search Engine Optimization yourself.
Hire In-house part-time or Full-time.
Hire an agency to do your marketing.

Now, when you actually do research about huge companies or how big brands started out, you will start to find certain traits that relate to all successful entrepreneurs. In the beginning, these entrepreneurs learned how to do marketing and SEO themselves. That’s right! Then, when they could afford it, they hired someone in-house either full-time or part-time.

The issue here is that you may not have the budget to hire in-house and a lot of people will say, “I don’t have time!” My answer is, “if you don’t have the budget to hire in-house, you have to make time to learn SEO & Marketing.” The question is…

“How Important is Your Business to You?”

Most of the rise of the digital media agencies is a middle America philosophy. Most large brands do not hire agencies and if they do, it for a very specific reason and purpose. And on top of this, if a large brand does hire an agency, you and I can not afford this agency because they have all High Tier Clients.

Think about it this way. Most agencies that have regular consumers and small business for client usually charge at least $1500-$2000 per month and more. This does not mean they are working non-stop for you for an infinity of hours. Maybe the agency is transparent on the charges or not but all agencies charge by the hour. For example, one marketing agency I worked for had a SEO Package for $1,500. In their client contract, the agency charged $150/hour. So, do the math…

$1500 / $150 = 10 hours

Best case scenario, the agency is only going to work on your SEO and marketing needs for 10 hours a month. Most of the time, they are trying scale these services, meaning, the agency is trying to get your work done in less than 10 hours per month but still charge you the whole retainer. This is why I stated from the beginning,

“If it was me, I would learn digital marketing and SEO myself (I am in control) and when the time is right, I would hire someone part-time in-house; and then, transition them to full-time. In my experience, I would not even think about an agency.”