Frequently Asked Questions | The SEO Hub | FAQs SEO

SEO is a long-term strategy, not a quick fix. While you may start to see improvements in keyword rankings and website traffic within 3-6 months, significant results that lead to a tangible increase in leads and sales typically take 6-12 months. The timeline depends on several factors, including the competitiveness of your industry, the current health of your website, and your chosen keywords. We believe in building a solid foundation for sustainable growth, so we focus on strategies that deliver lasting results. 

The cost of our services is not a one-size-fits-all number. It is tailored to your specific business needs, goals, and budget. During our initial consultation, we'll perform a basic analysis of your website and online presence to understand your unique challenges and opportunities. Based on this, we'll provide a customised proposal that outlines the services and investment required to achieve your objectives. Our goal is to provide a clear return on your investment. 

No ethical SEO agency can guarantee a #1 ranking. The SEO landscape is constantly changing, with Google's algorithm updating hundreds of times a year. While we cannot control Google, we can and do guarantee that we will apply the most up-to-date, effective, and white-hat SEO strategies to give your website the best possible chance of ranking highly. We focus on driving consistent, quality organic traffic and improving your overall online visibility. 

SEO and social media marketing are two distinct but complementary digital marketing strategies. SEO focuses on increasing your visibility in search engine results (like Google) to attract organic traffic. Social media marketing, on the other hand, involves creating a strong brand presence and engaging with your audience on platforms like Facebook and Instagram. While you can choose to focus on one, they are most powerful when used together. A strong social media presence can drive traffic and build brand authority, which positively impacts your SEO efforts, while SEO ensures your business is discoverable by people actively searching for your services. 

SEO investment varies depending on your business size, competition level, and goals. For most UK small businesses, effective SEO starts from around £500 per month for basic local SEO, with comprehensive campaigns ranging from £1,000-£3,000 monthly. Remember, SEO is an investment that compounds over time - whilst the initial cost might seem significant, the long-term value often exceeds traditional advertising. We offer various packages to suit different budgets and always ensure our clients see a positive return on their investment through increased website traffic and enquiries. 

 Local SEO focuses specifically on helping your business appear in location-based searches like "plumber near me" or "accountant in Peterborough." It involves optimising your Google My Business profile, building local citations, encouraging customer reviews, and creating location-specific content. Regular SEO targets broader, often national keywords and focuses more on general website authority. For most UK small businesses serving local customers, local SEO provides faster results and better ROI, which is why we specialise in helping businesses dominate their local markets. 

 SEO works for virtually every industry and business type, though the strategies and timelines may vary. Whether you're a solicitor, plumber, retailer, restaurant, or professional service provider, people are searching online for your services. Some industries are more competitive than others, but there are always opportunities to improve visibility and attract customers. During our initial consultation, we analyse your specific market, competition, and opportunities to create a tailored strategy that works for your unique business situation. 

 Key indicators that your SEO is working include increasing organic website traffic, improved keyword rankings for relevant terms, more enquiries from your website, higher visibility in local search results, and growing online brand awareness. We provide detailed monthly reports showing these metrics in easy-to-understand formats. If you're not seeing improvements in website traffic and enquiries after 6 months of consistent SEO efforts, it's likely your current strategy needs adjustment or professional review. 

 SEO requires ongoing maintenance to sustain results. If you stop SEO activities, your rankings will gradually decline as competitors continue their efforts and search engine algorithms evolve. However, the benefits don't disappear immediately - well-established websites can maintain some rankings for months. Think of SEO like maintaining a garden; consistent care yields the best results. This is why we recommend viewing SEO as an ongoing marketing channel rather than a one-time project, ensuring sustained growth and visibility. 

 No ethical SEO agency can guarantee specific rankings, as search engines control their algorithms and ranking factors. However, we can guarantee that we'll implement proven, white-hat SEO strategies that give your website the best possible chance of ranking highly. Our focus is on sustainable, long-term growth rather than quick fixes that might get penalised. We track progress transparently and adjust strategies based on results, ensuring you see consistent improvements in overall visibility and organic traffic. 

 SEO focuses on earning organic (free) search rankings through website optimisation, content creation, and authority building. Results take longer to achieve but provide sustainable, long-term traffic without per-click costs. Google Ads provides immediate visibility through paid advertisements, but traffic stops when you stop paying. SEO builds lasting value and credibility, whilst PPC offers quick results and precise targeting. Most successful businesses use both strategies together, with SEO for long-term growth and ads for immediate needs or competitive keywords. 

 To begin your SEO campaign, we need access to your website (admin/editing capabilities), Google Analytics and Search Console accounts, any existing social media profiles, and details about your target audience and business goals. We'll also need information about your main competitors and services you want to promote. Don't worry if you don't have all these set up - we can help create and configure these essential tools as part of our service. The more information you can provide about your business and customers, the better we can tailor our strategy. 

 We measure SEO success through multiple metrics including organic traffic growth, keyword ranking improvements, conversion rates from organic visitors, local visibility increases, and most importantly, the impact on your business enquiries and revenue. Our monthly reports show these metrics in clear, understandable terms along with the monetary value generated. We track phone calls, form submissions, and other conversions from organic search to demonstrate concrete ROI. Success isn't just about rankings - it's about generating real business results. 

Absolutely! Whilst we're based in Peterborough, we work with businesses throughout the UK and beyond. Our digital marketing services can be delivered remotely, and we regularly conduct video consultations with clients nationwide. However, we do specialise in local SEO for UK businesses and have particular expertise in helping companies dominate their local markets. Whether you're in London, Manchester, Edinburgh, or anywhere else in the UK, we can help improve your search visibility and attract more customers to your business.