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My Adventure with SEO

49K views 209 replies 65 participants last post by  Aidan Lorse 
#1 ·
Six years ago I stated Tried & True Services. I strongly believed that a company should have a Web presence. However, I never understood why guys spent thousands on their sites and SEO.

I used Service Magic to help get leads before my WOM would be of any use. I didn't understand, nor really wanted to understand, the idea and concept of the ever changing SEO landscape. It seemed that I would have to spend several hours a week just to keep up. I often referred to it as chasing my SEO tail.

So I just let my site represent us on its own. I may have received 5 leads in 5 years.

A year or so ago I met Brian with MyOnlineToolbox. We had a "discussion" about SEO. Brian reached out to me educating me on LGS and encouraged me to look into his introductory SEO course. I did, with a little hesitation.

A weird thing happened. As I was taking each section all I wanted to do was stop the session and fix my site.

By the end of the course I had some work cut it but the instruction and explanation on the videos made it super easy and fairly quick.

I spent about a week in the site getting the basics down and then spent the next few months honing and sharpening each area.

It's been a bit over six months and I have to say the results are amazing. For my target let words I'm first page from third and forth page. Google places shows up on 80-90% of my key words. I'm getting 5-10 leads a week on average from my site.

I can't wait to get some time to take the Advanced course this Fall.

If you are looking at improving your site or just educating yourself on the basics of SEO, you have to check out MyOnlineToolbox.com.

Thanks Brian!
 
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#44 ·
Hello TNT,

Not sure you are aware, but there are two classes available, not just the one you referenced.

I got another lead from my website SEO work (now up to two) so we decided to also take the Advanced Class.

I’m really still slowly doing things from the first introductory class, but I watched the marketing planning webinar the class presenter put on last week and just got excited to get more thoughts in mind as we prepare for next year.

You see the webinar since it was pretty informational?

You know about the Advanced Class?

Kinda enjoying this stuff and its opening our eyes.

Amanda
 
#45 ·
Yes, I will be taking the class early next year and rebuild my site.

Great to see others are taking advantage of these great courses. They can be used to DIY or give one the confidence and knowledge to know what to demand from a service provider.
 
#49 ·
I'm going to give it a whirl if it helps me get a job or two it will pay for itself.

Morning SectorSecurty.

Not sure if you bought yet but they had a presentation other day and gave away a popular book you will be interested in (and I have it and it’s good for contractors). http://www.myonlinetoolbox.com/HomeContractorWebsites/Marketing-Plan-Leads.aspx . The offer is still there as I typed this note.

It was for webinar attendees so I assume the offer may go away soon. Not sure. Glad I can now help someone too. Bye.

Amanda

OH, webinar is good, just about 15 minutes so you may want to listen too.
 
#50 ·
Hello everyone,

I first want to thank TNT and a few others too for helping me be aware of this education. Best time during thanksgiving to pass along good wishes for things you are thankful for, and this is definitely one of them. We have now taken both the Basic and Advanced Classes and am well on our way to starting next year completely different than we ever have when it comes to website marketing. Now have the motivation and understanding how easy website marketing can be. These packaged classes do the trick. It is hard to explain other than to say “We had no idea where to begin, and now implement so many different topics in such a short time.”.

I am happy to report that we had 5 leads last week and 3 of them came directly from the website. So now we have gotten a handful in just a few weeks after just a little education and time well spent.

I am now comfortable to ask some questions but will open a separate forum topic out of respect for this thread topic.

But before I ask my questions elsewhere, we did want to follow a virtue we believe in and just say Thanks again.

Amanda and Dennis
 
#52 ·
I took this class before TNT made this post and I learned a lot. Even gave a testimonial on their site to show I came before you TNT, but glad I noticed this here now since I am active again as the year is winding down. Whether TNT or me came first doesn’t matter – the education works helping me work with whomever I decide to be with.

I was using another website service provider and the education also help with my decision to change. I’m not mentioning my old and new web companies at the moment to avoid getting anyone reading this distracted since that happens to much here. Maybe I will open another thread or something soon to explain the differences.

I got busy and left my new site alone for just a little. I just started reviewing this again with my new web guy and know there is something about my pictures but I couldn’t find my class material I saved early. My new web guys knows this stuff but I want to be more educated before we start getting deeper into our conversations for next changes.

MOTB, what say you on first glance at this following specific page on my website? Keep in mind I already took the class so I’d appreciate something specific to consider rather than a generic reply.

http://vividpaintingllc.com/gallery/

Thanks,
Mike
 
#53 ·
Hey Mike,

Long time and nice to see you back!

I will give you a few comments publicly, and get back to you on others since I am remote at the moment and need to check over your account.

From a SEO perspective, try to target three items, one being the most important and two being supporting. I am using the picture House Painting Before and After as the reference point.
1) the file name of this image is thumbs_after.jpg. I would sooner have the file name be house-painting-after.jpg
2) The bigger issue is an absent Alt-Text (or Associated Text). Consider this similar to the Title Tag of a web page. While I can go into details that may open debate, it better to first ensure it is not missing at all, and the description should try to tell the viewer exactly what they are looking at.
3) For this last one, I'll pass you a note based on the class topics. You bought so you deserve something extra that not everyone should get :laughing:

From a Strategy perspective, I like that you are using the image to link to a Service Specific Page. But what I don't like on the landing page http://vividpaintingllc.com/house-painting/ is
1) all the pictures have the same issues as mentioned above, and
2) there is no content text on the page supporting the topic of House Painting.

You have some good stuff, and the pictures help you tell a good story, so go tell it ! And fixing the above is much easier now that you have the content in the first place.

Forgive me since I can't recall where you were at the beginning of the year when you first took the class, and I am sure there was a little transition time in between. I'm also sure that your current website person would agree with my general comments. It is so prevailing that I am assuming there is a reason why it is not being done, so remind me when I send the follow up stuff to you. It will be easier for me to position to support you and them going forward without getting distracted here while answering your question.

Have a good holiday season.
Brian
 
#54 ·
I think the biggest challenge many don’t realize is how hard it is to begin to understand the topics of marketing with this website SEO.

So before I venture any further, I have read enough here on this forum and other forums and have been referenced by a few consultants too. I need to at least understand to make my future decisions about my website. You will see that my site needs a lot of work and it is http://www.meridian-design-construction.com . We do good work, but it seems we are not doing as well as we could on the marketing for leads.

I decided to take a step back and signed up to learn the topics so I can talk somewhat intelligently about the topic. This seems to work from many here as well as from other consulting groups. Hoping I can come back soon and tell you all what I have learned, and I will be the first to offer any constructive criticism too since I definitely am at the starting point when it comes to this. Not sure how many started from the ground up, but I am close when it comes to the websites generating leads so it will be fun watching it convert.

Will be back soon after I take the classes. Thanks all for the encouragement.

Justin
Meridian Design Construction
Ventura CA
 
#55 ·
Justin, since I don't hang out int he intros section and this is your first post, let me say welcome to CT. I'm sure some time spent here and taking the classes will help you a lot. I was surprised when viewing your site though, but in a good way. Aesthetically, your site is in far better shape than most I see. On first glance, the only recommendation I have is to darken the body text for better readability. Beyond that, I'll reserve further comments until you return or post again. Congrats on taking a step further into understanding the marketing and SEO side. That's an important part of seeing the rewards that will follow.
 
#64 ·
Hey all,
So I got the basics of my site www.soapstonehomes.com going and now using a little of my winter slow down to take the Advanced Class too. Got my location page structure up and now going to do some linking, adding unique pictures and then learn to get some video and optimize that too. Will make some more changes and then come back soon to ask for some advice in a separate thread, but think it will be better to start next year off getting comments from you all when I am in a little better position, but definitely much further ahead before I knew what I know now. Thanks for all the info and Happy New Year.
Andrew
 
#65 ·
Hi Andrew,
Do you have your baby yet?
I noticed your reply and the other communication, and it seems you are saving some emails as drafts then sending them a little later ... I totally can understand if your late night excitement is bumping into your website work and everything else.
Anyhow, I wanted to wish you good luck on your pending arrival, and perhaps I will reply back after you get a good week or two rest after your child arrives :laughing:
Enjoy this exciting time PLUS the eventual leads that will head your way.
Brian
 
#66 ·
Do you have your baby yet?
Congrats Andrew,
I saw from the another communication that your baby put up a little fight to join us ... congrats that now she and mom our out of the hospital and back home. Eventually you will come back here and be back in the swing of the website stuff. Give us an update please on where you stand. I know you may be up late for a few months, so at least the classes should have something for you to keep busy with when the baby crying is kicking in .... good luck ! :laughing:
Brian
 
#67 ·
Hi Brian,

Yes, back home and all is great with my daughter. I’m in the process of now getting some testimonials to add fresh content to my site. I signed up for the Advanced Class back but the 1 month license expired. You will see I never logged in and was hoping you wouldn’t mind resetting the account. Got so distracted with the last months of pregnancy and regular business stuff, but now need to get back in the swing. Let me know.

Andrew
 
#70 ·
Thanks Steve,

This is our second, but I had forgotten how much work they are in the beginning. She takes up so much mental and actual time. I need to focus in on my business again. I will try and enjoy the journey. I will be back soon after I finish the Advanced Class and have some more stuff to tell or ask. Thanks again for asking.

Andrew
 
#71 ·
Hi Andrew,

I would also like to congratulate you on your new arrival! :clap: I know exactly how you feel as we just brought our 4th son home a few days ago as well. You really do forget how tiring it is in the beginning lol :blink:
Just wanted to tell you keep plugging away at your website. I took the classes several months ago and it does work. I still have so much more work to do, but even still just with what I have done so far, have more and more leads coming from website. I am in the process of redesigning our site right now, and it is going much slower than I'd like, but coming along. Going next week to get photos and a video testimonial of a recent project, so I'm happy I'll have new content to post. Anyway keep up the good work and congrats again!

Amanda
 
#72 ·
I have an old non-performing website www.regencyconstructionfct.com and have been convinced with this post and other similar forums to first learn a little about the topic and then I’ll hire someone to just get a new website. I outsourced the current site to another so-called website marketing company but I can see that they simply didn’t have the right knowledge to create a site that would give me a good image and also leads. While I believe I should hire an expert, I also believe I need to understand the basics to make my site a better opportunity. I’m signing up now and will let you know what I decide. Appreciate all the intel. Franco
 
#73 ·
Hi all,

This gentleman above sent me a note after signing up to the classes so I am posting so he can see I am trying to help.

He wanted to post an update but can't seem to log back in. He says he has tried to reset his password but doesn't get an email. I'm not sure what to tell him so is there a way he can communicate with someone specific to help?

His email should be tied to his account if someone can send him an email, that would be helpful. Thank you and have a nice holiday weekend.
Brian
 
#76 ·
Hi all,

Just to let you know the gentleman Franco of Regency did continue as he said he would. He wanted to ask some questions here on the forum but unfortunately I couldn't help him get his log in challenge corrected. Filled out the forms but didn't get any replies. Not sure of the issue but he did wish he could have continued with you all.

Anyhow, I didn't want to hold him up waiting to log back in to CT so I responded to various items directly to him. His tags were a mess and he made his first changes. Also learned he needed to fix the picture gallery since it was missing all the search stuff. And he knows he needs to make location sensitive pages for all the towns he works in.

He had some technical challenges with his site and he seemed to need a little more help and possibly outsource the actual web programming. I guided him to a few that have been mentioned here on the forum and will see whether he continues on his own or uses someone.

Franco,
See, I did live up to my promise to try and help ya as best as I could. :thumbsup:
Brian
 
#77 ·
He had some technical challenges with his site and he seemed to need a little more help and possibly outsource the actual web programming. I guided him to a few that have been mentioned here on the forum and will see whether he continues on his own or uses someone.
Brian, thank you for including me in your recommendations to Franco. I also tried to help him with the login issue by testing the form and didn't get a response either. Hopefully the mods can pass on that the form doesn't seem to be working.

Since Franco has taken your classes he has implemented changes to his site so it is in better shape than a few weeks ago but anyone visiting the site can easily see he has technical issues. There's total disharmony between the Home page and the internal pages. Several links don't work or are dead, the footer links on the Home page lack proper page names, and the list could go on. His statement about the other company that set this up for him "not having the right knowledge" is tactful to say the least. It's a mess.

Although Franco now knows enough to fix some of the content issues and will be doing a lot of his own content with the redesign, the technical problems with the current site limit what is practical for him to spend time on. I am aware of the marketing concepts you covered with Franco which I am implementing, but that also means he is easier to work with since he can understand the concepts I am incorporating into his new design set to launch soon. In fact, one of the more interesting aspects of this project is Franco already had a new theme picked out for me to customize because he understood how his new site needed to flow.

I hope he is able to get the login problem resolved because his experience makes a great addition to this discussion.
 
#80 ·
Thanks, Brian. Yes, the technical problems are resolved and the basics are covered so Franco can implement adding more content according to the understanding he now has for doing so. The site is still lean because the goal was only to provide him a foundation to build on but he now has that, but when covering how to pick up from where I left off I hope he is able to share here how seeing the principles you taught in action helps him understand it all the more.

I would prefer he share himself how our conversation went during the training session after I had it set up because for me to say it isn't nearly as effective. For now, let's just say that what he learned from you, the boost he received from me getting over the hurdles I could help him achieve, and the position he is now empowered to build on, gives him the advantage he was seeking to achieve. I can still help as needed but the technical mess he needed to get past is now behind him and he has a pattern to follow that helps solidify what he learned from your video courses.
 
#81 ·
Thanks, Brian. Yes, the technical problems are resolved and the basics are covered so Franco can implement adding more content according to the understanding he now has for doing so.

I would prefer he share himself how our conversation went during the training session after I had it set up because for me to say it isn't nearly as effective. For now, let's just say that what he learned from you, the boost he received from me getting over the hurdles I could help him achieve, and the position he is now empowered to build on, gives him the advantage he was seeking to achieve.
OK, thanks for the update. As of now I doubt he will be able to come back since he, me and you all sent a support communication but this just may be one of those technical issues with the forums where it can't be resolved. Never heard back so it is hard to get him to set up another account.

Anyhow, at least we both were able to help him. If you are reading this Franco, sorry we couldn't get you back here to participate with the details. :sad:
 
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