Top SEO Questions From Small Business Owners

Joey Stardust

4 days ago

5 min read

Basic SEO Plan

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📘 SEO FAQ for Small Business Owners

Brought to you by The Real Social Company – Columbus, Ohio

Experts in SEO, AEO, Website Design, Blogging & More

At The Real Social Company, we know small businesses face unique challenges when it comes to digital visibility. That’s why we’ve created this straightforward FAQ to help demystify SEO and explain how it can work for your business.

1. What is SEO and why is it important for my small business?

SEO (Search Engine Optimization) improves your website’s visibility in search engines like Google. It helps your business attract organic (unpaid) traffic from people searching for your products or services—so you can grow without spending a fortune on ads.

2. How does SEO actually work?

SEO works by optimizing your site’s structure, content, keywords, and authority so that search engines can easily understand and rank your site for relevant searches. Our team ensures every element is fine-tuned for maximum visibility.

3. How long does it take to see results from SEO?

SEO is a long-term investment. Most of our clients begin to see early improvements in 3–6 months, with momentum building over time—especially when paired with ongoing content creation and strategy updates.

4. What’s the difference between SEO and paid ads (PPC)?

SEO builds sustainable, long-term traffic over time—whereas PPC (like Google Ads) brings in instant traffic, but only while you’re paying. We often recommend using both together for a powerful marketing mix.

5. Can I do SEO myself, or should I hire a professional?

While DIY SEO is possible, it’s easy to miss critical technical and strategic steps. We bring years of experience, ongoing education, and specialized tools to do it right—so you can focus on running your business.

6. What’s included in your SEO service package?

Our SEO packages include keyword research, content optimization, technical SEO, mobile and site speed fixes, local SEO, link building, and monthly performance reports.

7. What is keyword research and why is it important?

Keyword research helps us identify exactly what your ideal customers are typing into Google. We use those insights to create or optimize content that ranks—and converts.

8. How much should small businesses budget for SEO?

SEO pricing can vary, but expect to invest between $500–$5,000/month depending on your goals and competition. At The Real Social Company, we offer flexible packages tailored to your budget and growth stage.

9. What is Local SEO, and why is it valuable?

Local SEO targets your geographic area—helping you show up in “near me” searches, Google Maps, and local business listings. It’s essential for service-based businesses, restaurants, med spas, and professionals.

10. What is technical SEO?

Technical SEO involves optimizing things behind the scenes—like page speed, mobile responsiveness, crawl errors, SSL, site architecture, and sitemaps—to ensure search engines can read and rank your site properly.

11. What’s the difference between on-page and off-page SEO?

On-page SEO refers to optimizing content on your site—like headings, keywords, and internal links. Off-page SEO focuses on external signals like backlinks, online mentions, and social proof.

12. What are backlinks, and why do they matter?

Backlinks are links from other websites pointing to yours. They’re like votes of confidence that boost your authority in the eyes of Google—helping your rankings rise.

13. How do I know if my SEO is actually working?

We provide clear monthly reports showing increases in search visibility, traffic, keyword rankings, and conversions. You’ll know what’s working and what’s next.

14. Will SEO work for my industry or niche?

Yes! We’ve helped everything from healthcare providers to creatives to local contractors. If your customers are searching online, SEO will help you reach them.

15. Is content creation part of your SEO services?

Yes! Content is the backbone of SEO. We create blog posts, landing pages, FAQs, and optimized web copy that speaks to your audience and Google.

16. What are some common SEO mistakes to avoid?

Keyword stuffing, ignoring mobile usability, not optimizing metadata, poor site speed, and inconsistent content updates. We help you avoid all of them.

17. Can redesigning my website hurt SEO?

If done without proper SEO planning, yes. But when we redesign your site, we implement best practices like redirecting old URLs and preserving SEO equity—so you don’t lose traction.

18. What is a sitemap and why do I need one?

A sitemap is like a roadmap for search engines—it lists all the important pages on your website. We create and submit these to ensure every page gets indexed.

19. Does social media affect SEO?

Indirectly—yes. Social media can boost your content’s visibility, increase traffic, and generate backlinks, all of which support SEO goals.

20. How do I get started with SEO at The Real Social Company?

It starts with a free website audit. From there, we’ll build a custom strategy and walk you through the steps. We’ll handle the heavy lifting while you focus on your business.

BONUS: AEO – Answer Engine Optimization

21. What is Answer Engine Optimization (AEO)?

AEO helps your business show up in AI-powered answers on platforms like ChatGPT, Google SGE, Alexa, and Siri. Instead of just ranking in search results—you become the answer.

22. How is AEO different from SEO?

SEO optimizes for search engines; AEO optimizes your content for AI models and voice assistants. AEO is the future of online visibility, and we do both.

23. Who needs AEO?

Any business that wants to stay ahead of AI trends should invest in AEO—especially service providers, consultants, and brands that want to be discovered through voice search or AI-generated responses.

24. What’s included in your AEO service?

Our AEO plan includes schema markup, structured content, AI-friendly formatting, FAQ development, and optimization for emerging platforms. It’s $300/month with a 6-month minimum.

25. Can AEO get me into Google’s featured snippets?

Yes. AEO strategies often help businesses land in featured snippets, People Also Ask boxes, and zero-click search results.

26. Do you offer combined SEO + AEO packages?

We do! Combining both is the smartest way to capture attention from searchers and AI assistants. Ask about our bundled plans.

27. How often do I need SEO and AEO updates?

Both require regular updates to stay effective. We provide ongoing optimization, content updates, and trend tracking so your visibility keeps growing.

28. What tools do you use to manage SEO & AEO?

We use industry-leading tools like SEMrush, Ahrefs, Google Analytics, Search Console, ChatGPT, and schema testing tools to deliver data-driven results.

29. What sets The Real Social Company apart from other SEO agencies?

We’re local, responsive, and transparent. We blend creative strategy with technical know-how, and we actually careabout your growth—not just vanity metrics.