The most important thing to understand about SEO is that it is a long term process. This means that you need to set up your SEO program and consistently execute it so that you can see the results you desire.  It can take months or even years to begin to see traction on your campaign, and if you are inconsistent it will take even longer. That’s why it’s in your best interest to lay the best possible foundation for the campaign to be built on. As you embark on an SEO campaign, here are some things you will want to take care of as soon as possible:

SET UP GOOGLE ANALYTICS AND GOOGLE SEARCH CONSOLE

An SEO campaign is much more effective when you have data to work with. Google Analytics and Google Search Console are go-to SEO reporting tools since they provide free information straight from Google. While both tools provide traffic information, Google Search Console also includes technical data that can impact a search presence. If you don’t have these set up, that’s the first thing to do. If they are set up, but owned by someone else (a marketing firm you worked with previously, a web developer, etc.), be sure to get access. We need this data to not only set up the SEO ca You should also make sure that you set up conversion tracking through Google Analytics. Tracking conversions can give you additional insights into the effectiveness of your SEO campaign. Whether the conversion is a sale, form completion, or download, send those who convert to a “thank you” page that includes a Google Analytics tracking code.

CLEAN UP YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA

Social media and SEO go hand in hand. As you start an SEO campaign, you need to make sure that your social profiles are claimed, up to date, and that you have access to all of the necessary passwords. Review all social profiles and add updated and professional looking profile and cover images if necessary. Ensure that your social media presence has the same look and feel across all social sites so social users know that it’s the same company. Since some social media activities for SEO will be automated, set up an account with a social sharing tool such as Hootsuite or Sprout Social.

DEVELOP AN EFFECTIVE STRATEGY

There is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to SEO. Sure, each program will have similar elements, but the execution will be slightly different depending on the industry.  In other words, in order for the SEO program to be effective, it needs to be customized. It is also important to remember that SEO is a tool that is used with the end goal of increasing your business. When it is done right, it is used to help you attract the right, targeted traffic to your website. When it is done incorrectly, you may have high traffic numbers, but they won’t convert. Care needs to be taken to develop a good program. There’s lots to think about as you start an SEO campaign, but these items should be at the top of the list. Most won’t take too much time and you’ll be thankful you did them once the campaign really gets underway.   About the author: Since 2005, Boston based Brick Marketing® has been a leading ROI focused Digital Marketing company that specializes in SEO. We have helped over 1,000 companies throughout the United States by developing and executing customized Digital Marketing strategies that get results.