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The best SEO agency will always be upfront about the realities of search engine optimization: it can be unpredictable as the algorithms change, and you can't set a deadline on results. Then are three other things that you should know if you are embarking on SEO for the first time.  

#1 Working in The Dark Without an SEO Strategy

You don't usually leave the house without a map—or, in this day and age, a GPS-enabled mobile application before you embark on a road trip. The same can be said for symbolic rather than actual journeys, such as optimizing your online content to improve your search engine rankings.

Do you want to increase your conversion rate? Obtain a higher ranking on Google's main page? Do you want to increase your sales? If you don't have a plan to achieve these ambitious objectives, it will be challenging for your organization to succeed. Surprisingly, 70% of small firms did not have an SEO plan in place by 2020.

If that seems too familiar, now is the time to shift tactics and create a competitive advantage to avoid making this typical SEO error. You'll arrive at your intended destination if you implement a focused SEO strategy.

A packing list is frequently required for a successful road trip. In the case of SEO efforts, be sure to take stock first by evaluating your competitors and their most important metrics, such as

• Performance
• Keywords
• Content
• Rankings

Studying the methods of other businesses can help you improve your own by focusing on overlapping consumer bases, content, keywords more efficiently and effectively. In addition, automated technologies that optimize workflows and drive SEO performance can also be used to gain an edge over your competitors.

#2 Not Understanding or Considering Your Audience's Search Intent

The ultimate purpose of SEO is to assist the search algorithm in connecting the user to the most appropriate, reliable, and up-to-date available information, irrespective of their query. Simply enough, Google favors web pages that match the user's search intent.

When it comes to SEO, far too many businesses fail to comprehend their target market.

Your SEO efforts should be focused on directing your intended audience down the particular path you desire. Whether they're looking to purchase, sell, plan, invest, or start learning something, content should be positioned or placed in such a way that it meets their needs.

Even if you see your service or product in a specific light, it's more crucial to understand how your visitors would look for it and how they would perceive it when they do.

Remember: both search engines and users love long-tail keywords (these are longer phrases but are more precise). Sadly, many businesses still underuse these or disregard them completely.

Consider using Google's keyword planning tools to help you with this essential step in the search engine optimization process. Examine your real-time and historical data, too, to gain a better understanding of your market and its customers. Then, apply these consumer intent insights to your search strategy.

#3 Not Using Analytics Enough

Organic traffic is just one part of SEO that works. SEO is also about turning visitors into customers.

Businesses nowadays focus far too much on high-traffic keywords, although there are low-traffic keywords that, due to their specificity, may have higher conversion rates.

However, you won't know how effective your optimization and marketing efforts are until you measure and evaluate the actual numbers.

Making judgments without considering the numbers is equivalent to not having an SEO strategy in place. There's no natural way to know what works and what doesn't. As a result, you won't figure out how to use your resources most effectively.

Some people also mistake estimating how long SEO takes and assuming that it is a set-and-forget procedure when, in reality, it necessitates regular tweaking and adjustments.

The most excellent strategy to optimize your website and the fluctuating SEO variables are to track and examine your analytics regularly. Both Google Search and Google Analytics can help you here. They're expansive and automatic tools that are accessible to everyone.