SEO Projects Step by Step

The phases of a SEO project

All SEO projects should start with an assessment phase, continue with actual search engine optimization services (on-page and off-page optimization) and conclude with results evaluation phase. "Conclude" doesn't mean "end", because for SEO with lasting results linkbuilding is an ongoing activity. Let's detail below the stages of seo projects, as I see it, for an existing website.

SEO project's assessment phase

The SEO specialist makes a primary evaluation. Usually, this is done free of charge, means several hours of work and draws the guidelines for the search engine optimization expert in each particular SEO project. After this primary evaluation, the SEO consultant must sincerely inform the client about the achievable improvements in terms of high rankings and traffic for the site. The nature and amount of the involved SEO services is estimated.
Upon client's agreement (and probably a downpayment), the search engine optimization specialist goes to work and plunges into search engine optimization analysis.

The SEO Analysis Report

The SEO consultant / company performs comprehensive evaluation and research regarding client's website and competitors. The process involves keyword research, client's site examination, competition analysis (keyword relevance, link popularity, linking strategies, traffic analysis). 3 to 5 main competitors are examined and the client receives a complete search engine optimization analysis report, which includes:
-- the targeted keywords for each webpage of client's website (primary and secondary keywords) and the existing competition for the keywords;
-- information about the competitors: targeted keywords, search engine rankings, site structure, link popularity, linking strategies, site traffic etc.
-- the current status (placement in search engine results pages) of client's website

SEO project's guidelines

The search engine optimization consultant submits to the client guidelines and details about what should be done to in order to rank higher for the targeted keywords. The client receives SEO information about the steps to take in order to achieve best results. The search engine optimization expert identifies the SEO copywriting techniques, linking strategies, on-page and off-page optimization procedures, which best suit the needs of each particular SEO project. All these are included in a written document, readable and intelligible by any person with basic web design and search engine optimization knowledge.

At this point, all the essential how-to SEO info is in the hands of the client and there are two possible choices:
1. The client decides to leave the work to be done by the SEO consultant.
2. The client decides to have the SEO work done by him/herself or by an employee.

The best way to go for your SEO projects

If you ask me, I would recommend a fusion of the two choices above, as follows:

The SEO expert handles (by himself, or working together with the web designer) all the on-page optimization issues involving: SEO copywriting, meta tag optimization, in-site navigation and usability, website optimization for quick loading etc. When the last optimized file is uploaded, the site is ready for search engines and SEO-friendly. At this point, the client and the search engine optimization consultant may agree upon a waiting period (of at least 2 months). After this period, the results are evaluated and, if website's rankings have improved, the SEO specialist is entitled to a "success fee".

During the waiting period, the SEO consultant conducts search engine optimization training for the client (or one of his/her employees), making sure that the trained person is able to take over the ongoing linkbuilding activity. From now one the SEO expert can step aside, given that linkbuilding is, in most cases, a routine SEO job. The trained person will take over and build links to the website, according to search engine optimization rules.

If the client plans to develop the site in time, it may require now and then the services of a SEO copywriter and meta tag optimization expert. Then, the SEO consultant may step in and help creating a new SEO-friendly webpage and charge a one-job-fee.

These are, in my opinion, the main steps in a SEO project. Of course, each SEO consultant / specialist / company has it's own policy and methods. Nevertheless, on-page optimization and off-page optimization are pillars of all SEO projects.

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