The keys to your online success don’t have to be a mystery. In part two of two, Danielle shares an Account Manager’s take on what to look for in your SEO campaign, and how to compare your site to a direct competitor’s.

Many times when I’m in meetings specifically with automotive dealerships I’m asked, “What do you recommend: PPC or SEO?”  It seems like a valid question because after all, no dealership has an unlimited budget to spend on marketing its website, right?  Spending all this money on a website seems silly; can’t they just do one or the other?

If you read Part I of Beyond the Rankings, you know that my focus for this two-part post is that keyword rank is not the whole story when it comes to SEO accomplishments. In Part I my focus dealt with the ancillary benefits of strong SEO tactics which helped turn a SERP in your favor by way of press releases, blogs, social media profiles, and more.

Do you know what you are reading right now? (You do, but humor me.) This is content. Although we can all agree that it is rarely written by a mind this complex, you know content when you see it. From blogs, to articles, to news releases - content is everywhere across the internet.

Fifteen of your keyword phrases position your site at #3 or better in Google, five others put your site in the top 10, and for another eight keywords your site is hanging back in the rankings. From your perspective, things are good. But clients are always, and understandably, looking to improve. You’re paying, and you want to see results. Now.

The idea behind marriage is a union, a new entity borne out of two individual people that is stronger and more complete than either person’s own life. And it is with purpose that I use such a serious term regarding search marketing here.

As a dealership, the design and functionality of your website is probably controlled by one of a number of dealership website providers.  These providers generally offer various templates and functionality based on what is included in your monthly package.  They throw in bells and whistles which (most often) ooh and aah the customer into thinking he or she has a solid website.