How SEO Ratings Work: What to Expect When You Become Our SEO Client

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is not a one-time task—it’s an ongoing process that involves strategic planning, careful execution, and constant monitoring. Whether you partner with our agency or any other reputable SEO company, there are a few truths that remain consistent across the board. Below is an overview of what to expect once you become our SEO client, highlighting the importance of patience, strategic adaptation, and continuous improvement.

1. Anticipating a Slight Rating Dip in the First Month

Renaming Static Pages for SEO
During the initial stages of an SEO engagement, we perform a comprehensive review of your website. This often includes renaming many of your static pages to more keyword-rich URLs, optimizing meta tags, and making structural changes that align with search engine best practices. As a result, search engines need to re-evaluate and re-index your content.

• Why does this cause a dip?
  • The old URLs may be removed from the search engine index.
  • The newly renamed URLs are not yet fully indexed, causing a temporary mismatch in search results.
• How significant is the drop?
  • The dip is usually short-lived and not drastic, but any decrease in visibility can be concerning if you’re not prepared. Rest assured, this is a normal part of the process.

2. Managing 404 Error Pages

Cached Pages That Lead to 404s
As search engines continue to show your old URLs in their results, users who click on these links may encounter 404 (page not found) errors. This can temporarily affect your search rankings and user experience.

• Our 404 Strategy
  • We create a custom 404 page that helps redirect visitors to the new pages or provide them a site search to find what they need.
  • Properly configured redirects can reduce the negative impact on both users and search engine crawlers.

By mitigating 404 errors through mapped redirects and a thoughtfully designed 404 page, we ensure that visitors aren’t met with dead ends, helping maintain your site’s credibility and user satisfaction.

3. Re-Indexing and Significant Rating Increases

Search Engines Re-Indexing Your Site
Once the search engines identify and crawl the updated pages, they’ll replace old URLs in their index. This is when you’ll begin to see the real benefits of the SEO work:

• Keyword-Optimized Pages
  • The newly renamed URLs and on-page optimizations will start to rank higher for your target keywords.
• Better User Experience
  • Enhanced site structure and content align better with what users are searching for, further boosting your visibility.
• Significant Rating Improvements
  • In most cases, clients observe substantial increases in search engine rankings as the site stabilizes under the new SEO strategy.

4. The Ongoing Need for Maintenance and Monitoring

Why You Need Continuous Effort
SEO is dynamic. Search engines frequently update their algorithms, your competitors continuously refine their strategies, and user search behaviors evolve over time. Therefore, maintaining and improving your SEO rankings requires consistent attention.

• Monthly Maintenance
  • This includes ongoing keyword optimization, content creation, technical SEO audits, link-building campaigns, and user engagement strategies.
• Monitoring & Adjustment
  • We review performance metrics, identify areas for improvement, and adjust as needed to ensure you remain competitive.
• Our Primary Goal
  • Our ultimate objective is to consistently improve your search visibility, drive qualified traffic, and help your business grow.

When you begin an SEO campaign, it’s important to set realistic expectations. A slight dip in ratings during the first month is common due to page renaming and the need for re-indexing. However, with strategic redirects, a properly mapped 404 page, and robust on-page optimization, your site will typically recover and surpass its previous performance within a few weeks.

From there, it’s all about continuous monitoring and adapting to maintain—or further improve—those hard-won SEO gains. Whether you choose our agency or any other reputable SEO firm, these steps are crucial for long-term success. By understanding and preparing for each stage, you’ll feel confident in the process and see how an informed, proactive approach to SEO can yield significant results.