How Is An SEO Like A Marriage Therapist?

An SEO is a relationship therapist.

On the one hand, there’s you.

You’re a business owner. You know how to run a business.

Actually, you’re pretty dang good at it. Confident. Because you know what you’re talking about.

And like it or not, you’re in a relationship with…the Internet.

Sometimes, your relationship with the web is kind of exciting! So full of potential! So dreamy!

You take the Internet out to dinner at your favorite pasta joint, and the Internet can't take its eyes off you. It hangs on your every word.

You want to spend long nights cuddling with the Internet on a picnic blanket and whispering all your hopes and dreams.

You can ask the Internet anything--even embarrassing things. And it answers you with the kind of patience you haven't seen since your kindergarten teacher. The Internet makes you a better person.

You want to post on Facebook that your business and the Internet are OFFICIALLY in a relationship.❤️

It's so serious, you want to tell your mom.

Your business and the Internet are going to be a power couple--the kind that never stops being BFFs.

Together, you'll conquer the world.

When Love Languages Fall On Deaf Algorithms

So that you and the Internet can talk to each other and share deep, heartwarming conversations, the Internet uses web crawlers to “hear” everything that you’re saying online.

You talk to the Internet through your marketing.

You tell the Internet (on your website and your socials) about all the cool things your business is doing.

Then you wait to hear what the Internet has to say about it.

You expect the Internet to be pleased.

And...crickets.

Scanning your web traffic report is like looking at main street in a ghost town.

What’s going on?

You try something else. You post more often on Facebook.

You pay for some ads.

The Internet seems a little happier with you.

Traffic increases...but it’s costing you.

And the minute you drop your ads, poof! All the traffic dries up.

You have a terrible thought. Could the Internet just have been using you for your money all along?

No.

No way. You just can't believe it.

You’re ready to give up.

You have the feeling that you’re doing everything right.

So why does the relationship between you and the web feel so…wrong?

Enter Your SEO Marriage Therapist

The relationship between your business and the Internet is broken.

You know what you’re saying.

But the Internet does not.

Because the Internet is not a human.

So, communication breaks down.

Cold shoulders. Hurt feelings.

Wistful glances behind turned backs.

You decide it’s the Internet’s fault.

And it is.

Because the Internet is guided by a bunch of algorithms.

And while technology is getting closer and closer to “reading between the lines” and making the kinds of inferences that humans can make, we’re still not totally there.

So you need a therapist, a search engine whisperer, to repair the relationship.

As your therapist SEO, my job is to make sure that search engines like Google can “understand” what you’re saying.

SEOs have a host of research tools and best practices that we can use to craft the text on (and off, and behind) your website, increase clarity and engagement, and help search engines understand your business.

I also like to help business owners better understand Google’s unfilled needs and desires.

Communication must flow in both directions, and with good SEO, it can improve.

But Is It Really Going To Last?

Once the Internet “understands” your business (and you understand a little more about the Internet), we’ve got another big job.

We have to convince the Internet to prioritize its relationship with YOUR business (instead of others).

You’ve heard the old saying, “There’s a lot of fish in the sea.”

With the web, there’s ALL the fish in the sea.

So as a marriage therapist SEO, I’ve got to show the Internet why it’s worthwhile for algorithms to put your fish first.

Again—there are many tools SEO digital marketers use to do this.

But as a small business owner, you really just need ONE tool.

You need a dedicated SEO who can handle your digital marketing.

The Payoff

What happens when you and the Internet get on the same (web)page about your relationship?

It can be a match made in heaven.

Good positioning in SERP results (fueled by great content, reputation management, technical oversight, and unified brand behavior across the web) can mean:

• More brand awareness

• More leads

• More conversions

• Better industry positioning (if you’re trying to be a leader in your space)

• A better bottom line

Keeping The SEO Spark Alive

SEO marketing success isn’t instant.

Relationships take time to mature.

Once they do, relationships have to be nurtured regularly for long-term health.

Like humans, search algorithms don’t especially love a stale, stagnant relationship.

Needs (and algorithms) change.

As a small business owner, you’ll need to master some SEO marketing best practices or keep someone on staff who can handle it for you.

Luckily, you don’t necessarily need a full-time digital marketer to maintain your relationship with the web.

Many SEOs are available hourly or on retainer.

And unlike talk therapists, when we bill for an hour, it’s an actual hour (as opposed to 45 minutes).

Bonus: you don’t even have to talk about your childhood with us.

Wrapping It Up

As you can tell, I’m totally amusing myself over here on this Fun Friday morning.

The medium is silly but the message is serious.

To control the dialogue between your business and the Internet, and to see the relationship thrive over time, get a good SEO in your corner.

Reach out if you need me!

Lee