What’s Better: SEO or Google Ads? An Honest Comparison

By Peter Brittain on November 18, 2024 in SEO, Google Ads

This might surprise you, but the answer isn’t as simple as choosing one over the other. After years of managing both SEO and Google Ads campaigns, I can tell you that each has its place in a digital marketing strategy. Let’s break down exactly when and why you might choose one approach over the other – or use both together.

The Quick Answer Nobody Wants to Hear

“It depends.” Yes, I know that’s frustrating to hear, but it’s the truth. Your choice between SEO and Google Ads should depend on:

Your business goals
Available budget
Timeline needs
Market competition
Current online presence

Key Differences: SEO vs Google Ads

Timeline Realities

SEO:

Takes 3-6 months for initial results
Builds momentum over time
Results compound
Long-term value growth

Google Ads:

Immediate visibility
Instant traffic potential
Quick testing capability
Immediate market presence

WordPress SEO Guide 2024: Essential Steps for Better Rankings

By Peter Brittain on November 15, 2024 in WordPress

Let’s cut straight to the chase – WordPress is an excellent platform for SEO, but only if you set it up correctly. After working with hundreds of WordPress sites, I’m going to share exactly what you need to do to optimize your WordPress site for search engines in 2024.

Essential First Steps

Before diving into complex optimizations, let’s get your foundation right. These are the crucial first steps that every WordPress site needs:

Choosing the Right Hosting

Your hosting choice affects your site speed, uptime, and security. Look for:

Reliable uptime (99.9%+)
Fast server response times
Regular backups
Strong security features
Good technical support

Basic WordPress Settings

First, fix these often-overlooked settings:

Go to Settings > Reading
- Ensure “Discourage search engines” is unchecked
Go to Settings > Permalinks
- Choose “Post name” structure
Go to Settings > General
- Set accurate site title and tagline
- Ensure correct timezone

Essential WordPress SEO Plugins

While you don’t need dozens of plugins, some are crucial:

SEO Plugin

Choose one of these:

Rank Math (my current preference)
Yoast SEO
All in One SEO

Don’t install multiple SEO plugins – choose one and stick with it.

How Long Does SEO Take to Work? Real Data & Timeline Explained

By Peter Brittain on November 13, 2024 in SEO Rankings

One of the most common questions I hear about SEO is “how long will it take?” It’s a fair question – when you’re investing in your website’s growth, you want to know what to expect. While there’s no one-size-fits-all answer, I can give you a realistic timeline based on actual results.

Understanding SEO Timelines: The Honest Truth

Let me be clear right from the start: SEO is not a quick fix. Anyone promising you first-page rankings in a few weeks is either being dishonest or using risky techniques that could harm your site in the long run. Real, sustainable SEO takes time to show results.

What to Expect: A Month-by-Month Breakdown

Month 1-2: The Foundation Phase

During the first couple of months, most of the work happens behind the scenes. This includes:

Technical SEO audit and fixes
Keyword research and strategy development
On-page optimization
Content planning

You likely won’t see ranking improvements during this phase – that’s normal. This is about laying the groundwork for future success.

Pro Rank Tracker: Real Talk About Rank Tracking

By Peter Brittain on November 11, 2024 in SEO Tools

Pro Rank Tracker: Real Talk About Rank Tracking

You know what drives me crazy about most rank tracking tools? They show different numbers every time you check. After spending way too many hours explaining ranking fluctuations to confused clients, I finally settled on Pro Rank Tracker. Trust me, I’ve tried them all, and while it’s not perfect (nothing is in SEO), it’s the most reliable option I’ve found.

The Real Deal About Pro Rank Tracker

Look, I’m not going to give you some polished sales pitch. Here’s the honest truth: Pro Rank Tracker costs more than some alternatives, but there’s a reason for that. Last month during a major algorithm update, I was obsessively refreshing my ranking data (come on, we all do it), and while other tools were showing wild fluctuations, Pro Rank Tracker kept providing consistent, accurate data.

I’ve got to admit, when I first started using it, I was skeptical. The interface isn’t as flashy as some competitors (looking at you, Ahrefs), but you know what? I’d rather have accurate data than pretty graphs. And speaking of accuracy, let me tell you about the time I caught a major ranking drop before my client even noticed – saved myself an awkward phone call there.

Getting Started (Without Pulling Your Hair Out)

First things first – and I learned this the hard way – don’t just dive in and start tracking everything. I spent three hours last week helping a colleague who had maxed out their keyword limit because they were tracking every possible variation. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt.

LiteSpeed Cache: A Practical Guide to WordPress Speed & Performance

By Peter Brittain on November 11, 2024 in SEO Tools

After working with numerous WordPress caching plugins, I’ve found LiteSpeed Cache to be an exceptional option – particularly if you’re hosted on a LiteSpeed web server. Let me share everything I’ve learned about making the most of this powerful, free plugin.

Why Consider LiteSpeed Cache

The most compelling thing about LiteSpeed Cache is that it’s completely free while offering features that premium plugins charge for. However, there’s something important you should know upfront: while it works on any server, you’ll get the best performance when using a LiteSpeed web server.

Core Features You’ll Actually Use

Page Caching

The bread and butter of LiteSpeed Cache is its server-level caching. Unlike other plugins that cache at the PHP level, LiteSpeed Cache integrates directly with the web server when you’re on LiteSpeed. This means: