Frequently Asked Questions
When it comes to growing your service business online, having the right SEO and web design strategy can make all the difference. At Big West Marketing, we specialize in helping service businesses get found, attract more customers, and stand out from the competition. Our FAQs cover everything you need to know about our services, SEO, and web design—giving you clear, honest answers to help you make the best marketing decisions for your business.
General Info
- What makes Big West Marketing different?
- What can I expect from your customer service?
- What are your prices for Web Design and SEO?
SEO Questions
- What do I get with SEO services?
- How can I rank in multiple cities?
- I just set up my Google Business Profile but it's not ranking. What can I do?
- What do I need for a successful SEO campaign as a Service Area Business?
- I have a residential address. Will that work for my Google Business Profile?
- I'm in bad shape and I desperately need work NOW! Can your SEO program help save my business?
- How can I dominate a large metro area? Do I set up multiple Google Business Profiles?
- Why does my competitor outrank me or get away with violating Google’s guidelines?
- Why is it so difficult to get verified, and why do I have to do video verification?
- How do you create SEO optimized content for my site?
- How does your team stay updated on local SEO, and what resources do you use?
- What do I get with SEO long term?
- What can I do to improve my SEO campaign?
Web Design Questions
- I already have a website. Why do I need a new one?
- What do I need to do to get my website going?
- Why do I need a domain and hosting?
- Can you purchase the domain for me?
- Do I need to provide the text or content for the site?
- Do I need to provide my own pictures?
- Do you offer email services?
General Questions
We’re a small, dedicated team that really believes in what we do. We meet regularly to strategize and plan the next steps for our clients. If we can’t help you, we’ll point you to someone who can. Your success is our priority, and we’re here to make sure you achieve it. Here’s what sets us apart:
- Core Values: Our team lives by solid core values. We believe in team collaboration, always taking it to the next level, championing the small guy, owning our roles without micromanaging, and having fun while getting the job done.
- Honesty and Transparency: We're straight shooters. No fluff, no nonsense—just clear and honest advice and service.
- Exclusivity: When you sign up for our SEO services, you're the only one in your city we work with in your industry. No conflicts of interest here.
- Experience: With 39 years of combined experience in local SEO for service area businesses, we know what works and how to deliver results.
- Proven System: We run on the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), which keeps us efficient and focused on your goals.
- Practice What We Preach: We understand the frustration of being burned by other marketing companies, so we provide friendly, personalized service backed by real results.
- Service Business Specialists: We specialize in service businesses, so we understand your industry and know how to present your services in a way that gets customers.
- Generous with Advice: We give out more free marketing advice than anyone else in the industry, helping you get ahead even before you commit to our services. Check out our YouTube and Blog.
- First Month Free: To show our commitment, we provide the first month of SEO free if your website goes live within 30 days.
Chris & Christina Stoner
Had our first consultation yesterday with Sarah. She was very professional, kind, down to earth, easy to talk to, but what sold us was her honesty. Sarah did her research of our company and was prepared and gave the best advice to build up our business. What we did and did not need. Very thankful for that. Big West has the best looking websites out there, and loved all the informational videos from Joe, all very helpful. So far all good things from this company. Thank you again Sarah for such a wonderful meeting. I look forward to our continued business together.
Bill Thomas
Just today when I needed a complicated answer to a unique marketing question that nobody on my team could figure out, my man Joe came in and -- as usual -- unselfishly shared some of his expertise. Got us back on track. Thanks Joe... well done.
Janson Seibel
Joe really knows his stuff! If you are in any kind of service business where you go to your customers instead of them coming to you, then forget about working with any of the "one size fits all" marketing companies out there. Joe isn't just a marketer but someone who has been in the trenches, having owned his own service business he understands the challenges service based businesses face. If you are on the fence I highly recommend his free consultation I got a lot of actionable information and a good feel for what I was doing right and what I need to improve on. Thanks Joe!
Dealing with poor customer service sucks and can slow down your business. We understand this is personal for you, and you may have been burned in the past. So we go above-and-beyond to provide great service. We want to get to know you as a person, not just your business.
Here’s what you can count on from us:
- Response Time: We’ll get back to you within 48 hours (Monday-Friday).
- Custom Plans: We take the time to understand your specific situation and come up with a custom plan that fits your needs.
- Payment Plans: We offer payment plans for website services to make things easier on your wallet.
- Money Back Guarantee: Not happy with our services? We offer a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Multiple Contact Options: You can reach us by call, email, or text—whatever works best for you.
- Expertise: With 39 years of combined experience in SEO, web design, and marketing for service area businesses, we know our stuff and can handle even the trickiest situations.
Christopher Sutton
Friendly staff and awesome customer service at a very reasonable price. We have been clients for years now and we are never leaving! For SEO they are the way to go! They are consistently learning, growing and improving their service all at a very reasonable rate!
Sergii Goncharenko
Great service.
Leah did a great job with creating a new website. I recommend Big West Marketing to those looking for professionalism and excellent customer service.
Virginia Berman
I appreciated having a chance to speak in person promptly after I requested help. He was able to not only answer my questions about google suspension but help me understand why the rules are the way they are. He offered me tips on ways to help with my own SEO too.
Roman
Excellent team. They've helped me build my company from the ground up with their web design and seo services. Whether you are debating on getting a website created or SEO services, look no further. I was able to replace my job and go full time in my biz very quickly. If that doesn't sell you then their honesty will; they did a billing audit and realized I was overpaying for a service and quickly remedied the situation by reimbursing me for that amount. Can't find that honesty anywhere else!
- 10-Page Website: $2497
- This covers the creation of a fully optimized, professional website tailored to your business. We focus on making sure your site is personalized, user-friendly, mobile-responsive, and SEO optimized.
- Option of breaking this into 12 monthly payments.
- SEO: $397/month
- Our monthly SEO service includes comprehensive keyword research, on-page optimization, and strategies to improve your local search visibility. We also provide regular performance reports to keep you updated on your progress.
- All our services come with a 30 day money back guarantee. We want you to be happy with the services.
SEO Questions
When you sign up for our SEO services, here's what you'll get to boost your business and get your phone ringing. With our comprehensive approach, you’ll receive email updates with videos and articles about Google updates and other marketing strategies. Plus, all necessary website updates are included at no extra charge. Let us handle the SEO, so you can focus on running your business.
- Verify and Optimize Google Business Profile: We’ll handle verifying your Google Business Profile (GBP) and optimizing it to ensure it’s properly set up.
- Build SEO Foundation: We’ll make sure your Yelp and Facebook listings are consistent and accurate.
- Exclusive Backlink Program: Your site will be integrated into our exclusive Backlink Program, developed over 9 years, implemented slowly and naturally to avoid Google penalties.
- Ongoing GBP Management: We’ll handle updates, suspensions, reinstatements, and verification issues as needed, ensuring your profile is always optimized.
- On-Site SEO: We’ll update your website based on Google Search Console data. This tells us how people interact with your site so we can update keywords, content, title tags, meta descriptions, and headings based on data.
- Monthly SEO Reviews: Each month, we review your SEO campaign and provide updates through your SEO Portal, including detailed reports and action steps.
- Monitoring and Recovery: Your website will be monitored for blacklist and penalty issues, with recovery techniques implemented if necessary.
- Security Updates: Regular security updates will protect your website from malicious attacks.
- Personalized Evaluation: We’ll evaluate your SEO campaign on a personalized basis, collaborating with you to take the best steps for your specific needs.
Learn More
Keaton Shives
Joe and his crew at Big West Marketing are the best! They are so informative and quick to hop on a call and answer any questions we have. Highly recommended for all your website and SEO needs.
Tony Rosiello
I've been in business for 8 years and have a very successful carpet cleaning business.(#1 ranked in my area ) Of all the things I have done in that time to grow my business, Joe Burnich and Big West Marketing have BY FAR been the most effective. Thanks Joe!
Wayne Watson
Joe and the team at Big West Marketing are awesome to work with. I have been working with them for many years and it has been a great experience. I needed a website to build my business. Big West marketing built my site, got it up and running on the internet. Joe and his team were always hands on during the process which was a great benefit for me. Recently, I had issues with my site and listing with Google. Again, Joe was very hands on and involved helping to get me back up and running with Google. I really appreciate your help Joe and your great team at Big West Marketing!
Gary Ruddell
I have had the unfortunate task of developing websites in the past starting from the concept to the end result. It is tedious and frustrating process... Until I found Big West Marketing. They made the process so easy. Everyone I spoke with was very professional and knowledgeable. Their prices were very fair and the end result was fantastic. I also signed up with the SEO package and that was excellent as well. My business receives a lot of calls (more than I actually want) because it is being highly listed by Google. Thank you for everything Big West Marketing! I HIGHLY recommend!!! Everyone was fantastic!
How can I rank in multiple cities?
If you want to rank in multiple cities without having an address in each location you can focus on ranking in the organic listings, here’s what you can do:- Create City Pages: For cities outside your primary location, you’ll need to create dedicated city pages on your website. These pages should be tailored to each location you want to rank in.
- Consider the Variables: Success depends on several factors, including the size of the city, the competition, and the services you offer. Each city might require a different approach.
- Invest in the Details: The more effort you put into each city page, the better the results. Include personal photos of you working in that city, especially at recognizable locations or near city signs. Local reviews, well-researched keywords, and strong content tailored to that city are also key.
- Leverage Local Connections: If you have any ties to the area, like being a member of the local chamber of commerce or other organizations, highlight those connections on your city pages. This adds credibility and helps boost your ranking.
Learn More
- Profile Status: Ensure your profile is live and not suspended. A suspended profile won’t show up in search results.
- Reviews: Aim for at least 10 reviews. Positive reviews can help boost your ranking.
- Verified Address: Make sure your address is verified and located within the city where you want to rank. It should also fall within Google’s recognized boundaries.
- Full Optimization: Your profile should be fully optimized. This includes adding high-quality photos, selecting the right primary and secondary categories, listing all your services, setting accurate business hours, and providing your website URL and phone number.
- Service Area: Clearly define your service area to help potential customers find you.
- Website Optimization: Your website should also be optimized for search engines. This includes having relevant content, good keyword usage, and fast loading times.
- Duplicate Listings: Check for multiple listings that might be considered spam. Having duplicate listings can hurt your rankings.
Learn More
Getting noticed online is a huge part of your marketing. Here's what you need for a successful SEO campaign as a service area business:
- A Solid Address: Make sure your business address is close to the center of your service area and falls within Google’s boundaries. Avoid using virtual offices, PO boxes, or shared spaces.
- Personal Touch: Use real photos, have a strong "About Us" page, and actively gather customer reviews to show who you really are.
- Accurate Google Business Profile: Ensure your Google Business Profile is fully verified, complete, and accurate.
- Patience: SEO takes time. It might take 6-12 months to see your rankings improve, so be patient.
- Optimized Website: Your website needs to be fast, user-friendly, and optimized with the right keywords.
Learn More
Dion Hawes
We started with Big West Marketing back in early 2015, from day one they have stellar in their performance!! They are the complete opposite of most SEO companies out there, in that they under promise and then over perform. I have referred them to several other businesses to them over the years and will proudly continue to do so.
Chad Whitis
I can't say enough about the whole team at Big West Marketing. They have always been there to help me on any and all matters at hand even Joe the owner has helped me several times with different things that pop up from time to time. Throughout my working career I've had my fair share of dealings with the ever consistent non involvement of ownership but Joe is most definitely the opposite of that. He is on board and on point as any owner should be. Very Solid staff and Lauren Blew the top off my website design. I believe that SEO campaign is slowly starting to make some headway as the phones are ringing more however i am doing other marketing I do believe this all would have been impossible without the help of Big West Thanks Guys.
Mike Fournier
This company is the 'real deal' . We have used Big West for many years for our internet marketing and have been very pleased with the results. Very attentive to their client's needs. Professional and friendly staff!
Robert Easton
Big West Marketing has done a great job on my website. Great SEO. I pretty much dominate my local area for my niche.
- Location Matters: Your address should be within Google’s city boundary and as close to the center of the city as possible. This helps improve your ranking in local searches.
- Verification: For new businesses or if you’re changing your address, you’ll likely need to complete a video verification process with Google.
- Address Visibility: Depending on your setup, your address can be either visible to customers or hidden from public view.
- Ranking Advantage: Studies show that businesses with addresses closer to the city center tend to rank higher in local search results.
Learn More
Unfortunately, SEO isn’t the right solution if you’re in serious financial trouble. Here’s why:
- SEO Takes Time: It’s a long-term strategy, not a quick fix. If you need immediate results, SEO won’t deliver fast enough.
- Budget Requirements: SEO requires a healthy budget, and it’s not wise to go into debt hoping it will turn things around quickly.
- Focus on Immediate Solutions: The best move right now is to invest your time and energy in face-to-face sales and other immediate revenue-generating activities.
- Diversify Your Strategies: Don’t put all your eggs in the SEO basket. It's crucial to have multiple strategies working for you, especially when you're in a tight spot.
Learn More
Mean Green Carpet Cleaners
Over a number of years I've had a GREAT experience with BWM, they've been EXTREMELY professional, knowledgeable and very client orientated. Ultimately what it comes down to, is that they are TRULY interested in the BEST results for their clients. So many SEO companies out there tout all these wild claims of how well their system works, when in fact most are trying to essentially just scam you out of as much money as they can because they know it takes a LOT OF WORK to really get results, and they don't want to do that, they'll take your money and not even care one iota when their scammed has had enough!!
Thanks again, Joe and team!!
- Legitimate Locations: Each Google Business Profile needs to be tied to a legitimate commercial location. This means no PO Boxes, virtual addresses, or fake spots. Your locations must have proper signage and be places where customers can actually visit.
- Google Verification: Every location you set up will need to be verified by Google using video verifications. This ensures that your business is credible and the locations are real.
- Website Strategy: Depending on your situation, you might need to create multiple websites or dedicated city pages on a single site for each of your locations. This helps with local SEO and ensures your business is visible in different parts of the metro area.
- Age of Profile and Business: Older profiles and established businesses often have an advantage because they’ve had more time to build authority and trust with Google.
- Proving Credibility: Your competitor may have provided Google with solid evidence that they do what they claim, boosting their credibility.
- Google’s Guidelines vs. Laws: Google’s guidelines are just that—guidelines, not laws. This means some businesses might push the boundaries without immediate consequences.
- They Might Not Have Been Caught Yet: Just because they’re getting away with it now doesn’t mean they won’t face penalties later. Google eventually catches up with most violators.
- Stick to the Rules: While it might be tempting to follow their lead, it’s best to stay within the guidelines. Violating them can lead to your profile being suspended or removed, which is a much bigger setback in the long run.
- Be Authentic: Always be real and honest with your business practices. It might take longer, but it builds a stronger, more sustainable presence online.
Learn More
- Crackdown on Spam: Over time, too many people have used spammy and black hat tactics to game the system. To protect themselves and users from fake businesses and fraudulent information, Google has tightened up its verification process.
- Video Verification Works: A video verification is almost impossible to fake, which helps ensure that only real, legitimate businesses get verified.
- Avoiding Frustration: Think about how annoying it is when you call a business, and it turns out not to be real. Google’s stricter methods help prevent that, making sure customers find genuine businesses like yours.
Learn More
We don’t just throw keywords on a page—we make sure your website explains what you do, speaks to the right customers, and helps you stand out.
Understanding Your Services
We’ve spent years learning about service businesses like yours. We research industry standards, certifications, and ways to highlight your expertise in a way customers understand.
SEO Strategy
- Near Me Optimization: We strategically place “near me” on the homepage to boost rankings without overusing it.
- EEAT (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness): We showcase what makes you different—your experience, licensing, guarantees, and community involvement.
Personalized Content That Builds Trust
- About Us Page: A short bio with your background helps customers feel more comfortable hiring you.
- Personalized Photos: Real photos of your team (not stock images) make your business feel more approachable.
Client Discovery & Keyword Research
- We talk with you about your business, services, and ideal customers.
- We research competitors, customer reviews, and keyword data to create content that ranks well and converts visitors into leads.
Using AI the Right Way
We use AI as a tool, but all content is customized, edited, and structured to be clear, accurate, and useful.
Final Client Review
You have the final say! We make sure the content is easy to read, reflects your business, and helps your customers take action.
Learn More
- Read blog post for more details: How We Create Content That Works for Your Business
- Keyword Monitoring: We keep an eye on your rankings daily and make adjustments as needed.
- Site Health: We use ManageWP to monitor your site's health, fixing any issues that come up.
- Google Business Profile Alerts: We track alerts to ensure your business remains visible and credible.
- Rankings Analysis: We compare your site's performance month-to-month to plan our next steps.
- Traffic Insights: We analyze your traffic data to understand how your site is performing.
- Backlink Review: We assess your backlink profile and build new high-quality links as needed.
- Portal Updates: You'll get a monthly update with insights into rankings, traffic, leads, and local SEO strategies, plus tips to boost your campaign.
- Google Business Profile Check: We ensure your profile details match your website and update services if needed.
- Backlink Assessment: We review all your backlinks to ensure they're active and beneficial.
- Google Search Console: We review your site's performance report to see if we need to tweak keywords or add new pages.
- Relevance: Make sure your business profile is complete and detailed. The more Google knows about your business, the better it can match your profile to relevant searches.
- Distance: Google considers how close your business is to the searcher's location. If no specific location is mentioned, Google estimates based on what it knows.
- Prominence: Prominence is about how well-known your business is, both online and offline. Positive reviews, backlinks, and mentions across the web can boost your local ranking. Remember, SEO best practices still apply to improve your overall search position.
Learn More
- Read on Google Help: How to improve your local ranking on Google
Web Design Questions
Not all websites are created equal, and here's why you might benefit from an upgrade:
- Balanced Design and Functionality: Many websites either look good but lack technical setup or are technically sound but have poor user experience. Our approach ensures your site looks great, functions well, and is optimized for SEO. Bottom line: We build websites that get more phone calls!
- User-Centered Design: We focus on the user experience, making sure your site is easy to navigate and provides valuable information to visitors and gets the phone ringing!
- Engaging Content: We create content that's engaging and easy to read, ensuring visitors stay longer and find the information they need.
- Conversion: Features like easy-to-find phone numbers, tap-to-call and tap-to-text buttons help users get in touch without any hassle.
- Trust and Professionalism: We want to show off to you, your team and your work. That builds instant trust! Most service websites don’t do this. This gives you an immediate edge on the competition!
The Vine Landscaping
I am more than pleased with the product that Big West Marketing put together! I heard about them through my family and to be honest didn’t know what to expect. We had a pretty good website to begin with or so at least I thought. Took them a little over 2 weeks to fully edit and publish the website which is exactly what I was looking for before the “spring rush.” When we got the first draft of the website I was truly blow away with what they can do! The team was remarkable! From customer support to design they nailed it! The best part, within hours of the site going live I had a contractor reach out to me and ask me to bid on their projects simply (perhaps not so simple) because my website looks phenomenal! I will be going through then again to build another website I have in mind.
Don Willard
I've been a client of Big West Marketing for several years and I wouldn't go elsewhere even if it were free. They built a website that is far superior to my old one, and I get compliments on it all of the time. Customers tell me all the time, "I called you because of your website." I wish I could put a number on the revenue my website has generated but I'm confident it has paid for itself many times over.
The service I have received has been incredible, they are quick to respond and always friendly and helpful. Joe and his staff are phenomenal and they continue to provide value-added services and information. You owe it to yourself to hire Big West Marketing.
Getting your website up and running is straightforward. Here’s what you need to do:
- Sign the Agreement: First, sign the agreement to kick off the process.
- Complete the Questionnaire Form: Fill out our form with details about your business and services.
- Initial Payment: Make the initial payment as outlined in the agreement.
- Initial Call: Leah will email you to set up an initial call. During this call, you’ll discuss your services, business, and the desired look and feel of your website.
- Follow-Up Tasks: After the call, Leah will send you a follow-up email with tasks to complete, such as gathering pictures and domain logins.
- Draft Creation: Leah will work with the web designer to get your website draft going. This typically takes about 2 weeks to get your first draft.
John Gartner
Very easy transaction to get up and operating. They understand the floor cleaning business, so I didn't need to explain all the little itty bitty details of the cleaning business. I am very pleased.
Ross Aitchison
Joe, Leah and the Big West Marketing team did an absolutely outstanding job creating my company website. The process was extremely smooth and simple and they we always available to answer and questions I have or alterations I wanted to make. Thank you.
- Domain (URL): This is your website's address. It's where people go to find you online.
- Hosting: This is where all your website's files (text, pictures and videos) are stored. It's like the home for your website on the internet.
- Functioning Website: Both the domain and hosting are needed to keep your website up and running. Without one, the other won't work.
- Ownership: Having the domain in your name ensures you have full control over your website. The person who owns the domain owns the site. It’s kind of like the Title of your car. You ALWAYS want to keep it in YOUR name.
- Security: Keeping the domain in your name protects your business from potential issues if you ever need to switch web services or providers.
No, you don't need to provide the content for the site. We will write custom content for you. However, the more information you provide about your business and services, the better the content will be. Your input definitely helps us create the most accurate and compelling content for your site.
Here’s how it works:
- Initial Questionnaire: We’ll start with a questionnaire where you can provide details about your business and services.
- Phone Call with Leah: You'll have a phone call with Leah to go over all the specifics and ensure we capture everything important.
- Follow-Up Information: Provide any follow-up information quickly to keep the process smooth and efficient.
Ken Spencer
Great company to work with and Leah was fantastic to work with! She really understood everything we talked about and worded it better than I could have. Having them build your site is less expensive then you think. Squarespace is for squares!
- Personalization: Personal photos make your site unique and help build trust, especially for a service business that visits customers' homes.
- Trust Factor: Many of your customers will be women who want to see who is coming into their home. Real pictures of your team can make a big difference.
- Conversions: Photos of your actual work, like before and after images, can greatly improve conversions by showing potential customers what you can do.
- Start with Stock Photos: If you don’t have your own photos ready, we can start with stock images and replace them later.
- Ongoing Updates: You’ll have an hour of design time each month to update and personalize your website with new pictures and improvements.
- You create the account.
- Create the emails you need.
- Setup billing.
- Verify domain.
- Add MX Records to connect the domain to the email server.
- Official Site: Google Workspace (Click on “Get Started”)
- Support / Helpful Links:
