SEO FAQ – We Answer Your Questions
We believe that SEO should be effective, transparent, and built for long-term success. Sound too good to be true? Don’t worry – we’ve got all the answers to your most frequently asked questions right here!
About Our Services
From SEO and web design to content creation and paid advertising, our services are designed to deliver measurable results. Here are some of the most common questions we receive about what we do and how we can help your business grow.
At 1st on the List, we specialize in a range of Digital Marketing services tailored to meet your business’s unique needs.
- Custom and Local SEO Campaigns: Whether you’re a local business targeting your community or a larger company with broader goals, we build personalized campaigns to increase visibility, drive traffic, and generate leads.
- SEO Consulting: For businesses with in-house marketing teams, we provide expert consulting to enhance your existing efforts and align strategies with search engine best practices.
- Technical SEO Site Audits: Our in-depth audits identify technical issues that may be hindering your site’s performance, helping you unlock your full search potential on Google.
- SEO-Friendly Website Design & Development: We design and build websites that are fast, mobile-friendly, and optimized for search engines from day one.
- SEO-Focused Content: We craft high-quality content tailored to your audience and built to rank, from service pages to blogs and beyond.
- Small SEO Tactics That Deliver Big Results: From optimizing meta tags to building local citations, we handle all the finer details that contribute to improved rankings and steady traffic growth.
Our goal is to provide comprehensive, results-driven SEO solutions that help your business grow sustainably over time.
We do not believe in taking a “cookie-cutter” approach to any optimization project. Instead, over the last 25 year, our Abbotsford SEO company has evolved with the search engines. Our search engine optimization services utilize only the latest, most sophisticated, spam-free techniques. These are based on industry accepted SEO standards and a strict code of ethics. We also take a holistic approach and offer SEO Web Design Services to clients who want to make their websites more search engine friendly.
Yes, we can handle both local and national SEO campaigns, and we've been successfully offering both services for years. While the overall goal is the same – to increase visibility and drive traffic – the strategies, scope of work, and competition differ significantly between the two.
For local campaigns, we have a team of specialists who focus on localized SEO strategies to help you stand out in your community and drive relevant, location-based traffic. For national campaigns, we use a more customized, broad-reaching approach tailored to your specific industry and target audience.
We’ve had great success in both areas, and our team is equipped with the expertise to deliver results, no matter the scale of your campaign.
Yes, we do! We offer comprehensive content creation services for blogs, webpages, and social media. Whether you need engaging blog articles to boost SEO, high-converting web pages, or attention-grabbing social media posts, our team can craft content that aligns with your brand and resonates with your audience. We focus on creating content that is both informative and optimized for search engines, helping you attract more visitors and engage with your target audience effectively.
Our technical SEO audits stand out because of our extensive experience and expertise. We've been conducting website audits (previously known as "site and server analysis") for over 15 years, and our Lead Website Auditor has been with us since 1998. With hundreds of websites reviewed, she has seen it all. This wealth of experience allows us to quickly identify critical red flags, understand how different issues affect a site's performance, and provide practical, actionable solutions. We don't just point out problems — we offer clear, effective recommendations to improve your site's SEO health and performance.
Yes, we do offer Google Ads and other paid advertising campaign management to our SEO clients who need an extra boost in traffic and sales. While paid advertising is not a primary service we market, we are happy to assist with creating and managing these campaigns to complement your SEO efforts and drive even more results.
Yes, we offer a full range of content services for website design and SEO campaigns, including social media support. While our primary focus is on driving results through SEO and website content, we can assist with basic social media support to help you maintain a strong presence and engage with your audience on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and more. Whether it's creating posts or helping you stay active, we're here to provide the support you need.
Yes, we do! Our clients really appreciate this support once their website is launched. Reliable and trustworthy hosting plays a crucial role in your website's performance and SEO results, ensuring it stays fast, secure, and easily accessible to visitors. In addition, we provide ongoing maintenance to keep your website up-to-date, optimized, and functioning smoothly. Whether it's regular updates, performance checks, or troubleshooting, we're here to ensure your website remains in top shape.
Our Approach
Our approach to SEO and digital marketing is rooted in experience, adaptability, and a commitment to sustainable growth. We take the time to understand your industry, goals, and challenges to create strategies that deliver real results. Here are some key insights into how we work and what sets us apart.
While we don't limit ourselves to specific industries, we take the time to evaluate your unique needs, goals, and budget before taking on a project. If we believe we can help you succeed, we’re excited to work with you. The majority of our current clients come from the following sectors: Tourism and Hospitality, Trades and Construction, Professional Services, and Technology/SaaS.
Since our start in 1997, our SEO services have catered to a diverse clientele, spanning from small business websites to large corporations and Fortune 500 companies. Geographically, our clients are situated across Canada and the United States, representing a wide array of industries and niches. Our expertise particularly shines in assisting professional services seeking lead generation, businesses in the Tourism/Travel/Hospitality sector, those in SaaS and technology, and enterprises involved in Construction and Trades. We take pride in tailoring our SEO strategies to the unique needs of each client, irrespective of their size or industry.
At 1st on the List, we understand that each business is unique, so we adapt our approach based on the size and structure of your company.
For small businesses, we tend to have more direct and frequent communication with key decision-makers, and the process is often more flexible and streamlined. We understand the need for quick turnarounds and budget-conscious solutions, so we focus on the essentials to help you grow efficiently.
For larger companies, we recognize the need for a more structured process with additional layers of approval and oversight. We adjust the frequency and format of our meetings, involve multiple stakeholders, and often provide test servers for staging and review before launch. Whether you're a small business or a larger enterprise, our focus remains on delivering the best results for your specific goals, and we tailor everything from communication to workflows to ensure a smooth and effective collaboration.
Three words that could describe our philosophy is quality, consistency, and ongoing optimization. Our approach is also rooted in understanding your unique business goals, audience, and competition, allowing us to tailor our SEO campaigns to deliver steady growth over time.
We prioritize best practices that align with Google’s algorithms and user experience principles, ensuring that every aspect of your website—from content to technical SEO—is optimized for both search engines and human visitors. We avoid quick-fix tactics and instead focus on creating valuable content, earning quality backlinks, and enhancing site performance, all of which contribute to maintaining strong rankings and continuous traffic growth.
Our commitment to ongoing monitoring, adjustments, and improvements means we’re always working to ensure your website stays relevant and competitive.
We actively follow thought leaders and industry experts who share valuable insights and predictions about the ever-evolving world of SEO and digital marketing.
In addition to regularly attending virtual industry events and webinars, our team maintains a close watch on search engine updates and digital trends by participating in online communities and forums, and engaging with other professionals in the field. This allows us to continuously refine our strategies based on real-world results and discussions.
We also monitor what works and what doesn’t with our clients’ SEO campaigns, analyzing performance data to identify shifts in rankings, traffic, and user behavior. We make sure to integrate these findings into our strategies, adapting quickly to changes. Our collaborative approach with clients and partners ensures we're always learning, adjusting, and innovating to stay competitive in a fast-changing landscape.
Setting Proper Expectations
Transparency and clear communication are at the heart of how we work. We want you to feel confident about what to expect when partnering with us, from timelines and results to how we measure success. Below, we answer some common questions to help you understand the process and set realistic expectations for our collaboration.
We perform all search engine optimization according to current best practices. Implementing SEO changes takes time and effort and it can take between 6 and 9 months once our initial optimization work is live on your website before we start seeing the full effects. This is because it takes time for Google to revisit your website and determine where the improvements deserve to be ranking. We can also expect to see fluctuations as Google tests out ranking your improved site before it settles on final positioning. We highly recommend that you run the SEO Campaign for a 12-month period before assessing its full impact.
The return on investment (ROI) from your SEO or digital marketing efforts depends on several factors, including your industry, competition, goals, and the strategies we implement. While every business and campaign is unique, we focus on delivering measurable, sustainable results that contribute to your bottom line.
For example, businesses often see increased website traffic, improved lead quality, higher conversion rates, and greater brand visibility over time. SEO is a long-term investment, so the returns typically grow as your website gains authority and ranks for more valuable keywords.
For paid ads, like Google Ads, the ROI can be faster to realize, often delivering immediate leads and sales while supporting your overall strategy.
We prioritize tracking and reporting key performance metrics so you can see exactly how your investment is working for you. Our team works closely with you to set realistic goals, monitor progress, and adjust strategies to maximize results. Your success is our success, and we aim to create value that lasts long beyond the campaign.
Yes, you will! At 1st on the List, we pride ourselves on offering personalized service with a small, dedicated team of experienced professionals. For most projects, your account manager will also be the person directly doing the work for you, ensuring clear communication and a deep understanding of your project goals.
Additionally, our friendly client coordinator may assist with communication and scheduling when needed, so you always have a point of contact. This approach allows us to provide hands-on, consistent support throughout your project while building a strong working relationship with you.
It depends entirely on your preference and our scope of work! Some clients are satisfied with receiving detailed email updates and monthly reports showcasing progress, while others prefer regular meetings to review the campaign in depth. Regardless of your preferred communication style, you will receive a monthly report highlighting the work completed and the results achieved. Your project manager will also provide ongoing communication, keeping you informed about tasks, seeking your input, or requesting approval when needed. We're here to adapt to what works best for you.
No problem at all! We only require a 30-day exit clause, which gives us time to wrap up any outstanding tasks and ensure a smooth transition. Whether you're pausing temporarily or ending the project altogether, we'll make sure everything is left in good order.
No, we don’t offer guarantees, as they can be misleading and against Google’s guidelines. Instead, we focus on providing personalized SEO strategies tailored to your specific needs, ensuring all aspects like web design, server setup, and reputation are optimized for the best possible results.
Yes, making changes is often necessary to achieve the best results. This may include updates to your website's structure, content, or design to improve user experience and SEO performance. We fully respect your final decisions on any changes, as long as everyone is on the same page that certain choices may impact the results we’re aiming for. Because of our extensive experience, we can usually recommend several options to help achieve your goals, giving you flexibility while still striving for success. Rest assured, all changes will be thoroughly discussed, and we’ll guide you through the process to ensure a smooth transition.
We measure success by how well your project achieves the goals we set together at the beginning. For SEO projects, this might mean improved search rankings, increased organic traffic, better engagement, and ultimately more leads or sales. For web design projects, success is often defined by creating a site that delivers an exceptional user experience, effectively represents your brand, and converts visitors into customers. Regular reporting, data analysis, and your feedback play a key role in evaluating our progress and ensuring.
Process, Planning and Communication
We believe that clear communication and transparency are key to successful partnerships. Here, you’ll find insights into how we work together, the steps we take throughout your project, and how we ensure you're always in the loop. Our goal is to make the process smooth and collaborative, while delivering the results you need.
We value open communication and collaboration throughout our partnership. Your insights on strategy, ongoing marketing initiatives, and business goals are highly appreciated. This collaborative approach allows us to align our efforts with your broader objectives and achieve synergy between SEO strategies and your overall marketing efforts. We are committed to responsiveness and efficiency. Quick approvals and prompt responses to any queries or clarifications expedite the optimization process. Our aim is to work seamlessly with you, fostering a partnership where open dialogue and shared insights contribute to the success of your online presence.
Our web design process is organized into five clear phases to ensure a smooth and successful project. We also keep the purpose of your redesign—whether to elevate your brand, improve usability, or attract top talent—at the forefront throughout every phase.
- Kickoff and Strategy Planning: We start by getting to know you, your goals, and your audience. This phase sets the foundation for a project tailored to your unique needs, so we can hit the ground running.
- Branded Content: Next, we craft the story your website will tell. From headlines to page content, we create messaging that connects with your audience while staying true to your brand voice and values.
- Website Design: Our team designs an intuitive and visually engaging website that showcases your brand’s personality while providing a seamless user experience.
- Website Launch: Once the site is approved, it’s time to go live! We ensure a smooth launch so you can start impressing customers from day one.
- Site Care and Upkeep: After launch, we offer ongoing support to keep your website running at its best, including updates and maintenance to adapt to your evolving needs.
This structured approach ensures your website is not only beautiful but also highly functional, effective, and aligned with your business objectives.
Yes! Our support doesn’t end once your website is live. In the weeks following the launch, we closely monitor its performance to ensure everything is running smoothly. We make adjustments as needed and ensure your site is properly crawled by Google for maximum visibility.
After that, we offer ongoing services such as website security, maintenance, and updates to your WordPress theme and plugins. We also provide continued SEO efforts, content development, Google Ads management, and more to help you stay competitive and drive sustained growth.
We’re committed to ensuring your website remains optimized and continues to perform at its best long after launch.
We begin by getting to know your business, your target audience, and your unique challenges. Through in-depth discussions we identify your primary objectives—whether it’s increasing website traffic, generating leads, improving brand visibility, or boosting sales. From there, we prioritize goals based on their potential impact on your business, timeline, and available resources. Our approach is flexible, allowing us to adapt as your business evolves, ensuring that we focus on the most important goals to drive the success of your marketing efforts.
Our discovery call is a no-pressure conversation designed to understand your business, goals, and challenges. We’ll cover who we are, what you do, what’s working (and what’s not), and how we can help. We’ll also discuss budgets, timelines, and any questions you have about SEO, web design, or digital marketing. For a detailed breakdown of what to expect, check out our full article: What to Expect in a Discovery Call.
We don’t use a one-size-fits-all approach. Every client has different needs, and we tailor our communication to what works best for you. Some clients prefer in-person meetings with formal presentations, while others opt for video or phone calls. Some like detailed written reports that can be reviewed and shared with their teams, while others prefer real-time updates and implementations via email. Our goal is to provide recommendations and strategies in a way that aligns with your workflow and helps you take action effectively.
Yes, absolutely! You will receive a detailed monthly report via email, which includes all the key metrics and insights, ensuring you have a permanent record of your campaign's progress. Additionally, you will have full access to your Google Analytics account (we recommend you be the account owner), so you can always review the data and track your performance at any time.
We understand that many new clients come to us frustrated, unsure of what their previous SEO provider was actually doing. That's why transparency is key in our approach. Each month, we provide a detailed "work performed" list in our report, so you can see exactly what we’ve done. Additionally, we send email updates when we implement changes or strategies, ensuring you’re always in the loop and fully informed about the work we’re doing to improve your results.
We encourage open communication throughout the entire project. If you have any questions or concerns, you can always reach out to your dedicated account manager, who will address them promptly. We’re committed to keeping you informed and making sure you're comfortable with the direction of the project. Our goal is to work together as a team, so if anything arises, we’ll take the time to explain, clarify, and adjust as needed to ensure you're satisfied with the progress.
Costs and Contracts
Understanding the financial side of your project is crucial to making informed decisions. In this section, we’ll address how our pricing works, why it may vary based on your specific needs, and what to expect when it comes to contracts.
Most of our clients like to buy “campaign packages.” This gives them a set number of hours each month for us to work on growing their visibility. This also gives them a discount rather than paying our hourly rate. It makes it easier to budget their Marketing expenses for the month or year.
Other clients prefer to pay as they go for the work that they need from us. Our Abbotsford SEO company can also provide training to help you learn how to implement basic SEO on your website. Our flexibility to work within your budget and preferences is the best part!
There are several factors we account for when determining an SEO price quote for a website, including:
- The target market.
- The range of products and services we optimize.
- The geographical reach of the campaign.
- The competitiveness of your industry.
- The number of pages on your website.
- The level of optimization currently on your current website.
- The speed at which you want to grow your campaign.
- The level of results you want to achieve.
- The duration of the campaign.
If this FAQs for SEO isn’t providing the answers you are looking for about pricing, please call us at 1-888-262-6687. Generally, we provide a couple SEO price options with varying expectations for the performance. For example, a slow traffic growth campaign focusing on a single niche service would be less expensive than a fast paced campaign focused on several services.
This is one of the most loaded questions in our FAQs for SEO. No two businesses are alike and the cost of SEO varies greatly from website to website. It’s like going to a car dealership and asking, “How much does a car cost?”
Here at 1st on the List, we have a highly customized approach to Search Engine Optimization that is tailored to each business’ situation and goals. Our Abbotsford SEO company has 25+ years of experience, which allows us to properly assess the current state of your website and the most cost-effective way to help you reach your goals. We then create a campaign that maximizes your budget by pursuing the options that will get you the biggest return for each dollar spent.Interested? We will gladly provide a breakdown of your SEO marketing cost after learning more about your website, business, and goals you hope to achieve. Give us a call at 1-888-262-6687.
Our SEO contracts are designed with a long-term vision, emphasizing a commitment to achieving sustainable results for your business. We understand that circumstances may change, and if the need arises to pivot your business strategy, you can easily exit the agreement by providing a 30-day notice. This flexibility ensures that our clients have the freedom to adapt to evolving circumstances while maintaining a focus on long-term SEO success. We believe in fostering a collaborative and adaptable partnership to best serve your business goals.
No! All of our contracts include a 30-day exit clause.
We are committed to providing transparent pricing for all our services. Any additional costs will be discussed and agreed upon upfront before any work is done.
In some cases, there may be additional charges for specific services outside the scope of your initial project, such as premium content creation, advanced technical work, or paid advertising budgets. Rest assured, we will always keep you informed and ensure you understand any costs involved before moving forward.
Yes, you will own all the work we produce for your website, including the design, content, and any other assets created during the project. Once the work is completed and paid for, it becomes your property. We believe in providing our clients with full ownership and control over their website and its content, ensuring that you can use and modify it as needed in the future.
Results and Outcomes
Achieving measurable success is at the heart of every SEO campaign. In this section, we’ll outline how we track and measure the effectiveness of our efforts, ensuring that you understand the key indicators of progress. While SEO is a long-term investment, we aim to provide transparency and realistic expectations, so you can confidently assess the return on your investment.
The time it takes for SEO to show significant results varies based on the competitiveness of the industry.
- In a low-competition industry, businesses may start seeing noticeable improvements in their search rankings within 3 to 6 months.
- For industries with moderate competition, it typically takes around 6 to 10 months to observe substantial SEO outcomes.
- In high-competition industries, where the online landscape is more challenging, businesses should anticipate a longer timeframe, often exceeding 12 months, before experiencing substantial SEO impact.
It’s important to note that SEO is an ongoing process, and continuous efforts are crucial for maintaining and improving search visibility over time.
The success of your SEO campaign is measurable through several key indicators. You’ll see improvements in your website’s search engine rankings for targeted keywords, an increase in organic website traffic, and more conversions or leads generated from this traffic. We provide detailed monthly reports that track these metrics, including Google Analytics data, keyword rankings, and other key performance indicators (KPIs). Additionally, we’ll keep in close communication, so you can always stay updated on the campaign’s progress and adjust strategies if needed.
When most people think of SEO, they think of rankings. And while rankings are important, they’re just one piece of the puzzle. We don’t focus on rankings alone—we focus on what truly drives business growth which will be different from client to client.
Our SEO strategy is designed to improve your website’s overall performance, which means measuring success through:
- Increased organic traffic – More people finding your site through search engines.
- Higher-quality leads – Attracting visitors who are more likely to become customers.
- Improved engagement metrics – Lower bounce rates, more time on site, and more pages viewed.
- Stronger conversions – Turning website visitors into inquiries, bookings, or sales.
- Better user experience (UX) & site performance – Faster load times, mobile optimization, and easy navigation.
SEO isn’t just about getting to the top of search results—it’s about driving real, measurable results for your business. That’s why we take a comprehensive approach to ensure long-term success.
Yes, you will own all the work we produce for your website, including the design, content, and any other assets created during the project. Once the work is completed and paid for, it becomes your property. We believe in providing our clients with full ownership and control over their website and its content, ensuring that you can use and modify it as needed in the future.
Our SEO reports are crafted to offer transparency and valuable insights into your website’s performance. Each month, we provide clear data on your traffic growth, highlight your top-performing pages, and track conversions, including phone calls and form submissions. This approach allows our clients to easily assess the number of leads generated by their website, empowering them to make informed decisions about the effectiveness of our SEO strategies and whether it’s worthwhile to continue the partnership. We prioritize open communication and data-driven results to ensure your business goals are met.
We do not offer guarantees as we feel that most SEO guarantees are misleading and designed to give the customer a false sense of security.
Furthermore, Google clearly warns against any SEO company offering guarantees.
Our Abbotsford SEO company informs potential new customers what they need in order to obtain the results they want. We need to ensure that proper web server setup, web design, website reputation, and SEO are all in order since they all play a role in obtaining positive outcomes. Search engine optimization services make up only one aspect of any Internet marketing strategy that can make a website successful. Offering a guarantee for search engine optimization services would be like telling someone that if they buy the world’s best car they will be the world’s best driver. What we do offer is a full range of SEO marketing services. It includes personalized consultation directed at the customer’s specific needs to ensure our best chances for success.
No, no one can truly guarantee SEO results. Search engine algorithms are complex and constantly changing, making it impossible to promise a specific ranking. "Guaranteed rankings" are often misleading and unreliable. While some companies may claim to get your site to the top, these guarantees don't account for factors like competition, algorithm updates, or long-term sustainability. SEO is a continuous process that focuses on improving your site's authority, relevance, and user experience, and results take time to materialize. We focus on creating strategies that are designed for sustainable growth, not quick, short-term fixes.
Other Common Questions
This section covers some additional considerations and common questions to help you make an informed decision, from Google Penalties to DIY-SEO and more. Still have a question? Send us an email and we'll get you the answers you need.
Yes, we can assist with recovery from a Google penalty, but it's important to understand that this process takes time and careful strategy. Quick fixes aren't realistic in SEO; it involves thorough analysis, addressing the root cause, and making sustainable changes to ensure long-term success. If you’re looking for instant results, SEO may not be the right solution. Coming back after undoing a Google penalty can be a long journey as you no longer benefit from the “ranking power” the blackhat SEO once earned you.
If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. SEO takes time. Agencies that promise instant results often use risky tactics that can lead to penalties and long-term damage. A trustworthy SEO partner focuses on sustainable growth, quality content, and real, lasting results—not empty promises.
If you have the time, patience, and the right people to guide you, learning SEO can be worthwhile. But in most cases, we find it’s more efficient to outsource SEO to experts. SEO requires ongoing effort—technical know-how, content strategy, and constant adaptation to algorithm changes. Hiring an agency lets you focus on what you do best while ensuring your SEO is handled by professionals who can drive real results faster and more effectively.
At 1st on the List, all of our work is done right here in Canada, ensuring personalized service and a deep understanding of local markets. We focus on sustainable results that grow over time, not quick fixes. We believe in transparency, offering ongoing communication, monthly reports, and no locked-in contracts, so you always know where your investment is going.
To kickstart our services, we request admin access to your website and control panels which enables us to assess server functionality, understand the intricacies of your web design, and apply our optimizations and updates. Additionally, providing information about your products and services is crucial; this allows us to tailor our efforts towards optimizing your website for the most relevant keyword phrases while emphasising your USP (unique selling proposition), ensuring maximum impact.
We’re not just an SEO service; we’re real people who love helping businesses thrive online. We’ve had the pleasure of working with clients of all sizes across diverse industries. What sets us apart? We’re easy to talk to, and we don’t believe in drowning you in technical jargon. Our passion lies in seeing your business succeed, and we’re here to guide you every step of the way. So, let’s chat and discover how we can elevate your online presence together
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