In fact our preferred SEO working environment is WordPress..

There are several reasons for this:

• The WordPress framework is free to access and use.
• Wordpress is an open source platform that is constantly being improved and updated for functionality and security.
• The working environment is intuitive and tasks are rapidly completed.
• There is a large number of software solutions authored by independent developers that can be implemented.
• Most functionality required for most business types is achievable at a reasonable cost.
• Software or plugins that operate in WordPress are mostly free or have a fairly low cost subscription or purchase fee for premium functionality.
• Although powerful, the WordPress admin back-end can be learned by most people - enabling us to smoothly hand over to our clients.

We can work within your existing WordPress framework and will dive straight in and get to work on your online presence.

The first four weeks or so is the initial setup period. This includes 1.0 framework installation and 1.1 sitemap architecture as explained below. The cost for this is around $2000 depending on the scale of the project. We invoice this weekly at $500.

The second period is taken up with 2.0 content creation and 2.1 content management. The time line is open ended and is taken up with content creation and content management. The budget for this period is set by the client. The time allocated to this phase is correlated to the clients budget.

We have found that a reducing scale is the best way forward. For example the client can elect to pay $350 per week for 4 weeks and then drop down to $250 for the next 4 weeks and then settle to a regular $150 per week long term for ongoing content management.

• If we don't already have access to it we ask that your web designer create an Admin level login access to the WordPress back-end.
• As part of the initial setup we assess any previous SEO efforts and undertake any remedial work required on the site to bring it into line.
• Once that's done we get to work installing a number of plugins (software) that will help us do our SEO job and increase content security.
• Each of the plugins requires settings to be entered and saved. All of the settings relate to how search engine friendly the website will be.
• Certain of these settings connect the website to external services that monitor activity or deliver related functionality to the website.
• Some of these plugins will not require further action and will be left alone, other need to be regularly monitored by us for performance.

The sitemap is an array of web pages that are related to the way we want to promote the subject content to end users via the search engines. Some of these pages are what could be called 'silos'. Silos are stand stand alone pages but are joined together like mycelium under the ground via other interconnected web pages. This ensures that the search engines will follow the information trail. Depending on the SEO task we are undertaking the types of in-page content in silos and sub pages might include:

• Content related to products
• Content related to questions
• Content related to geography
• Content related to lifestyle
• Content related to social status
• Content related to personal connectivity
• Content related to subject understanding e.g:
  • health
  • fashion
  • relationships
  • aesthetics
  • psychology
  • biology
  • the body
  • mechanics
  • etc

The above approach depends on the desired commercial or social outcomes. This is established through discussion with the client and then applied to the site map structure.

Once we understand what is needed we create a number of web pages that will await the addition of content in the next stages. The creation of these pages may be an ongoing task for some time into the future if required.

This phase of the SEO operation is where we start to write and add original content to the sitemap pages. It's a task that can continue for many months and with the addition of regular blog pages and product updates will become something that should ensure the search engines continue to return to scan the site for new content. Content creation is open ended and may continue for many months if not years. The client can contribute a great deal to the content creation and may take over this task at any time in the future. The creation of fresh content encourages search engines to continue indexing the site

Content creation can include:

• Research
• Image optimisation
• Product optimisation
• Schema input
• Copywriting
• Web page content
• Blog posts
• Social media posts and campaigns

In part this is about key words however that’s only a small part of any online strategy. To gain a winning edge you need to harness every possible tool available. SEO can include organic (in page) optimisation; well written and relevant content, customising the ‘snippets’ that display when your site appears in search engine results, ensuring that your website is fast loading and many other things that contribute to inclusion in major search engines.

Social media plays an important role in search engine optimisation gaining ground so you need to consider which social media platforms will work for your business and which ones might be a waste of effort. We analyze your business, its intentions, and your target market and can advise and provision what needs to be done in social media and on your website.

Content management is an important side task to content creation. The currency of content can be critical to keeping the search engines interested. Its also important to be current with what the search engines want in order to index a website. Equally important is to know what search engines do not want or what they will penalise your ranking for. This is a somewhat fluid situation and needs to be monitored.

How up to date and relevant the content is helps build and maintain credibility and keeps your brand out front. Finally don't forget that when your site first appears on page one of Google results the position it occupies is one that someone else had till that moment. That brand may respond aggressively to win reinstatement to the page one position they have lost.

According to your business needs and level of engagement you wish to have in the SEO process, the relationship we establish with you could last for many years - or just a few months. We may continue weekly or monthly to add a relevant blog post or create posts for your various social media accounts.

If you would like us to do this ongoing work for you the simplest way to establish the volume and regularity is to indicate what you feel is affordable and we will work to your budget.