SEO Services for Ann Arbor & Detroit Businesses
From a Professional SEO Manager with 15+ Years Experience
What is SEO?
It’s not magic.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the process of improving an organization's visibility and keyword rankings on Google by structuring, sharpening, and sharing the content that exists on their website. Google Search analyzes hundreds of factors on every website before serving users with the most relevant and highest-quality search results available (in theory, at least…) for a given query. In practice, thankfully, SEO is usually a lot less complicated than it sounds (skip down on this page if you are looking for a basic explainer).
Having said that, every SEO client is different – and in today’s quickly shifting, AI-laden landscape, there’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all roadmap that assures growth in traffic, leads, subscribers, search share, etc.
That’s why I offer three different ways to work together, depending on your goals, budget, and scope: (1) a three- or six-month commitment for ongoing Search Marketing strategy and execution, (2) a fixed project rate for clearly defined deliverables, or (3) hourly work in select cases. We’ll start with a meeting to align on what success looks like and determine the best fit. The goal is always the same: make SEO work for your business, not the other way around.
A {brief} note on the {big} SEO impact of AI Search and AI Content:
Google AI Mode, Large Language Models (ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini), and social media algorithms are fundamentally transforming “search” as we know/knew it. From how content is ranked to how customers discover businesses, brands, and blogs, there’s no ignoring this new reality.
AI’s impact varies by industry and organization right now, but the opportunity – and the threat – is immediate. Whether it’s rethinking how your site earns traffic, revamping content and landing pages, or adapting to a video-first world, the key is working with an online marketing partner who can adapt to these shifts and can build a strategy around them.
How SEO Works
First, you have to understand what Google wants.
To determine what search results (websites) it will show for the query "ann arbor seo services," for example, Google places the most weight on these rankings factors:
Content Quality (especially today, SEO is about understanding what Google deems “helpful” content and then writing and distributing it!)
Intent (your content's relevance to a searcher's intent)
Keywords & Tagging for SEO
Site Performance, Structure & Usability
Backlinks, Mentions, Shares and Likes
The Good News? These are all factors within your control.
The Disclaimer? There are no "top spot" shortcuts in SEO. Hang up the phone if an agency promises that!
What to Do
At the end of the day, to give your webpages the best chance possible at ranking in the top spots on Google, you need to do/improve the following:
STRUCTURE your content by ensuring your website's technical soundness, redirecting old and broken URLs, reorganizing the navigation structure, etc. Site load time and mobile friendliness are increasingly decisive factors that will heavily influence your site's ranking ceiling on Google.
SHARPEN your content by optimizing existing site copy based on competitive research and keyword analysis. Optimize page titles, h1s, metadescriptions, and image alt text, and write high-quality, user-centric content that shores up your credibility as a thought leader in your industry.
SHARE your content and business profile through white-hat linkbuilding, content marketing/distribution, local search, and social media.
Ann Arbor Search Engine Optimization
Site Optimization
Navigation Structure, Page Titles, Headers, Descriptions, Keywords, Images, Conversion Tracking & Optimization
Off-Site SEO
White-hat Linkbuilding, Spammy Link Clean-Up, Online PR, Anchor Text, Guest Blogging, etc.
Technical SEO
Site Speed & Usability, Redirect Mapping, Schema Markup, Site Crawls, Site Firewall and Security Recommendations, etc.
Content Marketing
Content Recommendations, Editorial Planning, Copywriting, Content Distribution & Sharing, Landing Pages, etc.
My Clients Include:
Is SEO worth the investment?
Absolutely. SEO is the most influential tool in the digital marketing toolbox for long-term lead generation and sales revenue – but it's rarely understood or properly executed.
Get in touch to talk about how SEO can help you grow your Ann Arbor area business. If you're interested in a shorter-term solution to traffic and lead gen, or want to learn more about integrated Search Engine Marketing campaigns, check out the PPC Services page.