SEO Consultant
Providing Expert SEO Advice
I’m Leslie Gilmour, the primary SEO consultant for SEO strategy and content development at BeFound SEO, an SEO company in Dublin I founded in 2009.
I solve SEO problems and create organic growth plans.
Since 2006 I have optimised many websites across various industry sectors in the UK, Ireland, and the US. For a list of client testimonials, see this page, and here you can read some SEO case studies.
These are some of the sectors I have worked in:
- Travel SEO
- Insurance/Financial
- Printing
- Health & Cosmetic Surgery
- B2B Services (SEO case study)
- SaaS
- Home Services/Construction
- eCommerce
- Accountants
- Solicitors
Some areas are easier than others – the health and financial areas are challenging. They are, however, very rewarding for the websites that list on the first page in the search results.
What do SEO Consultants do?
SEO consultancy services are highly varied depending on your needs and aims. To illustrate, I have listed some examples below.
On Site SEO
The most common SEO work is with companies to ensure their website is set up at its best to bring traffic from search engines.
Many companies start with an SEO audit to find and list all issues. Then I work to fix the problems and create a strategy for the next six to twelve months to achieve the company’s targets.
Multilingual SEO
Targeting foreign languages or using English to serve slightly different content to the UK or US markets can help company growth. I help answer questions like: can you do this on one domain? Are you better with country-level domains, and what is the long-term cost of running/promoting more than one website?
Using hreflang tags in the website setup results in more traffic and better rankings.
Content Planning
I believe that 99% of the indexed pages on any website should bring traffic from search engines. Primarily Google.
Content performs better when it is written in hubs of related topical posts. Finding titles you can rank for and creating the content brief takes the guesswork away from search intent and the possibility of ranking.
Content Optimisation
Most websites have an editorial debt. That is, they have published content that does not rank or bring relevant traffic to the website. Along with a content audit, some of this content can be optimised. This will involve rewriting.
Hierarchy/Menu Changes
I worked with a large user generated content website. It had more than one billion pages available for indexing. We reduced the number of pages available for indexing to less than twenty million and changed the menu, sub-menus, and page layouts.
This resulted in a 40% traffic growth over the following six months.
Checking Your Agency’s Work
For some clients, I spend a few hours per month checking the work done and the quality of the links built. The aim is to keep working on the tasks with the highest return with the lowest input.
Coaching & Internal Processes
I work with some companies to help create internal processes for everything SEO. From how to publish a blog post to creating internal links.
The processes can be created as video or text.
I also help with budget allocation to ensure the highest priority tasks are planned, costed, and estimates are created for the ROI over the year.
Why Hire This SEO Consultant?
I believe that most SEO consultants that turn up on the first page of Google are good. However, I have been running my own websites since 2006, and I can quickly see any changes that Google makes and run experiments on live sites. I also manage Google Ads campaigns that help inform SEO.
I build affiliate and ad driven websites. I have run sites like this since I started in SEO. This works as I am good with on-site SEO, keyword research, writing content, and building links. A large proportion of my income comes from these websites. Would you prefer to have someone work on your website who is intent on earning money doing what he loves on the internet?
SEO Agency vs SEO Consultant
It is essentially the same if you work with a small SEO agency, as the owner will be involved at almost every step.
The lowest-paid SEO assistant will likely work on your website if you work with a large SEO agency. It is simply how the larger business model works.
You will receive the highest level of professional service when working with a consultant.
How Much Does an SEO Consultant Cost?
If we have a monthly contract, I charge €100 per hour. If you need ad hoc work or one-off consultancy, the cost is €150 per hour.
How Can SEO Help My Business?
SEO results in long term organic traffic from Google targeting your core customer base.
SEO & Marketing Background
My background encompasses three main areas – finance, programming, and sales. I have worked in all of these areas for long periods of time during the years before building my own websites, then becoming a digital marketing consultant, and offering search engine optimisation services.
My first website went live in Feb 2006. It went to number one for its primary key phrases after six months and has stayed at number one since. Working on this site was the beginning of my internet marketing experience. However, my sales background has helped immensely. If you don’t ask you have no chance of getting it. In internet marketing, you have to ask for something from others all the time.
I love working as an SEO consultant – it is hard work – however, it is logical (and sometimes imaginative), and the results can be fantastic.
Having a website need not be hugely expensive. Ongoing yearly costs are low compared to traditional media. Upfront costs for a blog or small site are generally in the €5,000 – €10,000 range. SEO costs are often more than the web design cost. It simply takes longer.
From a business perspective, the internet is great. Targeted advertising is what you get. Customers are searching for your products; make sure they find you.
SEO Success Stories (Bragging Rights)
- First page results for sportsbook and various US betting terms
- First page for the keyword “car insurance” in Ireland
- Top results in Ireland for various DIY and building supply terms
- Top results in Dublin for various therapy terms
Most of the companies I work with are small businesses, with between 5 and 50 employees, and first-page ranking has helped them grow. From oil suppliers to accountants (see here for accountancy SEO services), hotels, jewellers, and holiday companies, you get the idea – it is a diverse customer list.
SEO Consultants FAQs
Here I aim to answer as many of your questions as I can. But feel free to contact me and explain exactly what you are looking to achieve.
What is SEO?
Search Engine Optimization is all about getting your site to rank higher in search engine results, which in turn drives more organic traffic and conversions.
To start, you’ll need to do some serious keyword research. This means identifying the specific terms your target audience is typing into search engines when looking for your products or services. With that knowledge in hand, you’ll be ready to craft an SEO strategy that puts your website front and centre in the Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs).
But how exactly do you do that? Well, it starts with creating excellent, optimized content that is laser-focused on your target keywords, like blog posts and landing pages. You’ll also want to make sure your website has a rock-solid technical foundation so search engines can easily crawl and index your content.
Last but not least, you’ll need to build high-quality backlinks from other reputable websites. These backlinks are like digital votes of confidence for your site, helping to boost your rankings even higher.
So, to sum it up, SEO is all about keyword research, stellar content, solid technical groundwork, and powerful backlinks. Get these elements right, and you’ll be well on your way to higher search engine rankings, increased organic traffic, and more conversions. Happy optimizing!
What are the Benefits of SEO?
SEO is the real MVP when it comes to marketing results. When you’ve got a solid SEO strategy in place, you’ll experience serious benefits:
- First up, you’ll generate organic traffic and high-quality leads without spending on Google ads.
- Next, you’ll be the king of the hill, nabbing that coveted top spot on Google search results.
- And if you’re a local business, SEO can skyrocket your visibility on SERPs, literally putting you on the map.
Ready to experience the magic of SEO for your business?
How Quick are SEO Results?
I know you might have heard the classic “it depends” answer from SEO experts when you ask how fast you’ll see results. Well, that’s because it really does depend on a bunch of factors, like your industry’s competitiveness, your website’s current state, and even the timing of Google’s algorithm updates. SEO is more like a marathon than a sprint. It takes patience, testing, and fine-tuning to see the full benefits.
The best approach is to view SEO as a long-term, ongoing commitment rather than a quick fix. Clients who embrace this mindset are the ones who truly reap the rewards.
Now, you can count on me for monthly progress reports that zoom in on the smaller victories (like specific keyword ranking improvements and traffic increases) as well as the bigger picture, comparing your site’s rankings, organic traffic, and conversions over time. This ongoing analysis helps us both learn what’s working and what isn’t. It ensures total transparency between us when it comes to your website’s performance.
So, buckle up for the SEO journey and remember: It’s all about playing the long game for long-lasting success.
Questions to ask an SEO Consultant
Here are some tips on how to pick the right SEO consultant for your needs. By asking these key questions, you can evaluate their expertise and ensure you’re getting the best bang for your buck.
- First up, find out their main objective when working on a website. If they’re only focused on keyword rankings or traffic without mentioning conversions, it’s a red flag. Remember, the endgame is to drive more conversions, not just rank higher.
- Next, ask about a successful strategy they’ve executed. Dive into the details, how they chose that strategy, what they did, and what results they achieved. This will give you insight into their thought process and effectiveness.
- Finally, inquire about their monthly output. If they’re only sending you KPI reports without discussing technical audits or content changes, they might not be doing enough to impact your website.
Armed with these questions, you’re ready to find the perfect SEO consultant to help your website climb the ranks and bring in more conversions.