At Elite SEO Consulting, we believe that transparency, education, and empowerment are the cornerstones of successful partnerships. That’s why we’ve created this comprehensive resource center — to answer your most common questions, demystify industry jargon, and help you make informed decisions about your digital marketing strategy.
Whether you’re a small business owner exploring SEO for the first time, a marketing manager looking for advanced insights, or a curious entrepreneur who just wants straight answers, you’ll find what you need here. Our FAQ section addresses the most frequent client inquiries, our Knowledgebase dives deeper into how our strategies work, and our Glossary breaks down the technical terms in plain English.
Start browsing and take control of your online growth — with clarity, confidence, and the backing of over 25 years of SEO expertise.
Knowledgebase
Find step-by-step help, troubleshooting tips, and answers to common service questions.
SEO pricing depends heavily on your business goals and target market. For most businesses, Local SEO services range from $1,500 to $3,500/month, while Regional SEO (covering multiple cities or statewide campaigns) typically falls between $3,500 and $7,500/month. For businesses needing National SEO, programs often start at $7,500/month and up due to the scale and competition. Every situation is different, so contact us to discuss your specific goals—in some cases, we can offer special pricing based on your market and industry.
What’s the Difference Between Elite SEO Consulting’s Programs and Other Agencies?
Most SEO agencies sell tiered packages that limit which services you receive, assuming you already know exactly what you need. The problem? You often end up paying for services you don’t need while missing out on the ones you do—unless you upgrade to a more expensive tier. =
At Elite SEO Consulting, we take a more innovative approach. Our programs are retainer-based, meaning you’re billed for hours, not restrictive service tiers. This allows us to apply the correct SEO strategies each month based on what will move the needle now, not just what’s listed in a package. The result is faster, more consistent ROI and a strategy that adapts to your business.
What Are the Advantages of Retainer-Based SEO?
With Elite SEO Consulting, retainer-based SEO means you’re not boxed into preset service packages. Our monthly sprint workflows follow a strategize, implement, analyze, and report model designed to prioritize the highest-impact tasks first. This gives our senior SEO specialists the freedom to focus on the quickest wins with the most significant upside without being restricted by package limitations. It’s a system we’ve refined over 20+ years, consistently delivering faster, more consistent, and more reliable results for our clients.
What Services Are Included in My SEO Program?
Our SEO programs at Elite SEO Consulting are designed to be comprehensive and flexible. While all services are delivered on an hourly retainer basis, nearly every aspect of SEO is covered—unless noted otherwise—so you’re never locked into limited packages or left wondering what’s included.
Here’s a breakdown of the services typically available within your program:
✅ Website Diagnostics & Tech Stack Analysis
We assess every layer of your website’s foundation—frameworks, widgets, CMS, CDN, SSL, server performance, load times, viewport settings, and more—to ensure technical SEO issues don’t block rankings.
✅ SEO Analysis & Monitoring
We conduct in-depth assessments, including backlink analysis, competitor audits, keyword baseline tracking, malware scans, mobile and browser compatibility testing, and detailed crawl diagnostics via tools like Google Analytics and Search Console.
✅ Local SEO
From Google Business Profile (GMB) verification to NAP audits and local schema enhancements, we help your business rank in Maps and local packs with targeted local SEO support.
✅ Offsite SEO
We examine your backlink profile, audit social signals, check for toxic links, and analyze citation consistency to build offsite authority the right way.
✅ Onsite SEO
Expect a full technical and content audit: 301 redirects, canonicalization, page speed optimization, schema markup, error handling (302, 404, 500), meta tags, header structure, internal linking, Open Graph settings, Robots.txt checks, XML sitemaps, and more.
✅ AI-Enhanced SEO Services
We actively integrate AI into keyword clustering, entity analysis, predictive ranking strategies, content scoring, and SERP behavior forecasting. This ensures you’re not just keeping up with modern SEO, but staying ahead.
Every SEO program is tailored based on your goals, site needs, and industry competition. If a service isn’t listed here, just ask—we likely offer it. Social media services are not included in SEO programs unless arranged separately.
Is Google My Business Included in My Program?
Yes. Google My Business (now known as Google Business Profile) support is fully included as part of your SEO program at Elite SEO Consulting.
We provide:
Profile setup and verification (if needed)
Ongoing optimization and management
Audit of your NAP consistency (Name, Address, Phone)
Review of categories, services, and business description
Posting strategy recommendations and visibility insights
Local keyword alignment and integration with local schema
Because GMB plays a critical role in local search rankings and Google Maps visibility, we treat it as a foundational element of your SEO campaign. Management is covered under your hourly retainer, so you don’t pay extra for updates or strategic enhancements to your listing.
If you have a multi-location business or haven’t claimed your profile yet, we’ll guide you through the process and ensure everything is set up to maximize local exposure.
How Has Elite SEO Consulting Integrated AI into Their SEO Programs?
At Elite SEO Consulting, we’ve strategically integrated AI across every phase of our SEO process to deliver faster insights, more intelligent targeting, and higher ROI for our clients. AI isn’t a gimmick—it’s a powerful tool we use to gain competitive advantages that traditional SEO alone can’t offer.
Here’s how we leverage AI in our SEO programs:
Keyword & Entity Clustering: AI helps us group keywords by intent, semantic relevance, and search behavior—so we can build content strategies that match how users search.
Content Scoring & Optimization: We use AI to assess readability, keyword placement, sentiment, and ranking potential of each page before it’s published.
Competitor Intelligence: AI tools reveal competitor content gaps, backlink sources, and ranking trends that we can act on quickly.
Predictive SEO Modeling: We can proactively adjust your strategy before trends impact your rankings by forecasting ranking volatility and search demand shifts.
AI-Assisted Content Creation: For high-volume campaigns, we use AI to accelerate drafts and outlines—always reviewed and refined by our expert team to meet Google’s quality standards.
Our use of AI is strategic, transparent, and always backed by human expertise. It allows us to work smarter, move faster, and get results that traditional SEO teams struggle to match.
How Has Elite SEO Consulting Integrated Voice Search into Their SEO Programs?
At Elite SEO Consulting, we optimize for how people speak, not just how they type. With the rapid growth of voice-enabled search through smartphones, smart speakers, and AI assistants, we’ve tailored our SEO strategies to help businesses capture this expanding audience.
Here’s how we’ve integrated voice search optimization into our programs:
Conversational Keyword Targeting: We identify and include long-tail, question-based, and natural language phrases that align with how users ask questions out loud (e.g., “Where can I find the best plumber near me?”).
Featured Snippet & Position Zero Targeting: We structure content to answer voice queries clearly and concisely—often in under 30 words—making it more likely to be pulled into voice results.
FAQ Schema & Page Structuring: We implement structured data like FAQ and Q&A schemas to help Google recognize and serve your content in spoken answers.
Mobile & Local Optimization: Since most voice searches are local and mobile, we double down on local SEO, mobile performance, and NAP consistency to ensure you appear in “near me” voice searches.
Voice search isn’t the future; it’s already here. Our SEO programs ensure your business gets found, whether someone is typing on a laptop or asking for their phone.
How Is My SEO Program’s Workflow Handled?
At Elite SEO Consulting, we follow a proven monthly SEO workflow designed to deliver results quickly, efficiently, and transparently. Our process revolves around communication, accountability, and a relentless focus on ROI.
Strategize: At the beginning of each cycle, we review current performance and identify the highest-impact tasks. Based on your goals, we prioritize technical issues, ranking opportunities, or content gaps.
Implement: Our team executes SEO tasks within the time allotted by your retainer, this includes anything from technical fixes and content creation to citation cleanup and link building.
Analyze: We monitor performance using tools like Google Analytics, Search Console, and WebCEO. We evaluate rankings, site health, user behavior, and conversion trends.
Report: At the end of each cycle, you’ll receive a detailed report outlining what was completed, what’s next, and how your rankings, traffic, and visibility have changed
Client Collaboration & Flexibility
We encourage open communication. Do you have a priority shift or urgent goal? Just let us know—we’ll adjust your task queue within your retainer hours.
Your program is custom-tailored, not cookie-cutter. Whether you’re a local business or an enterprise brand, we align your workflow to the tactics that bring the quickest path to ROI.
What Is the Experience Level of Your SEO Specialists?
Our SEO specialists are seasoned experts with 10 to 25+ years of experience in the field—many of whom have led major campaigns for national brands, startups, and competitive local markets.
Elite SEO Consulting is led by Mike Hodgdon, a 27-year SEO veteran featured in Entrepreneur, The New York Times, LA Times, and other major publications. Under his leadership, our team has ranked hundreds of websites #1 on Google and won prestigious honors including the U.S. Search Awards and Global Search Awards.
What sets our specialists apart:
Decades of hands-on SEO experience
Certifications in Google Analytics, Search Console, and advanced SEO tools
Expertis in both traditional and AI-enhanced SEO strategies
A client-first mindset with a track record of delivering measurable ROI
Our clients don’t get junior account reps or generic reports; they get senior-level strategy, direct implementation, and real results.
How Do I Request a Proposal?
Requesting a proposal from Elite SEO Consulting is quick, easy, and commitment-free.
Call us at 719-474-9404 to speak with a strategist and fast-track your proposal.
Email us at mikeh@eliteseoconsulting.com with details about your website, goals, and any specific concerns—we’ll take it from there.
Once we receive your request, we’ll analyze your website, competitors, and SEO opportunities. Then, we’ll send you a customized proposal outlining our recommendations, timeline, and estimated hours needed—no one size fits all proposals, no fluff.
Once I’m Ready to Sign the Proposal, What Happens Next?
At Elite SEO Consulting, we’ve designed a seamless onboarding process to ensure your SEO campaign kicks off smoothly and efficiently.
Step 1: Account Setup & Billing
After you sign the proposal, we promptly set up your client account and finalize billing arrangements. This step ensures all administrative aspects are in place for a smooth collaboration.
Step 2: Access & Integration
We’ll request access to essential platforms to begin our work:
If you need assistance setting up any of these tools, our team is here to help.
Step 3: KPI Dashboard Configuration
We build a custom Key Performance Indicator (KPI) dashboard tailored to your business goals. This dashboard provides real-time insights into your SEO performance, ensuring transparency and measurable progress.
Step 4: Campaign Kickoff With all systems in place, we typically commence active SEO work within 2 to 3 business days. Our initial focus includes:
This structured approach ensures that your SEO campaign starts on a solid foundation, setting the stage for long-term success.
How Long Does It Typically Take to See SEO Search Ranking Performance?
The timeline for observing improvements in search rankings through SEO varies significantly and is influenced by several factors, including the current maturity level of your website and existing SEO efforts.
Understanding SEO Maturity Levels
Before we delve into timelines, it’s essential to recognize that websites can be at different stages of SEO maturity:
Beginner Stage: Websites with little to no prior SEO work, limited content, and minimal domain authority.
Intermediate Stage: Websites that have implemented some SEO strategies, possess a moderate content base, and have started building backlinks.
Advanced Stage: Websites with comprehensive SEO strategies, substantial high-quality content, strong backlink profiles, and established domain authority.
The stage at which your website currently stands plays a pivotal role in determining how quickly you’ll see SEO results.
General Timelines Based on Maturity Levels
Beginner Stage: Starting from scratch, it typically takes 5 to 11 months to see significant improvement in website search rankings. This period involves building foundational elements like quality content, technical SEO, and backlink profiles.
Intermediate Stage: Websites with some SEO groundwork can expect noticeable results within 3 to 6 months, as existing efforts are refined and expanded upon.
Advanced Stage: Established websites may observe improvements in as little as 1 to 3 months, especially when targeting less competitive keywords or optimizing existing content.
Factors Influencing SEO Timelines
Several elements can affect how quickly you see SEO results:
Website Age and Authority: Established websites with a history of quality content tend to rank faster than new sites.
Keyword Competition: Targeting high-competition keywords can extend the time needed to achieve top rankings.
Content Quality and Relevance: High-quality, relevant content that satisfies user intent can accelerate ranking improvements.
Technical SEO: Proper site structure, mobile optimization, and fast loading times contribute to better rankings.
Backlink Profile: Earning high-quality backlinks from reputable sources enhances domain authority and can speed up ranking progress.
Our Approach
At Elite SEO Consulting, we tailor our strategies based on your website’s maturity. Our process includes:
Comprehensive Audits: Assessing your website’s technical health, content quality, and backlink profile.
Customized Strategy Development: Crafting SEO plans aligning with your business goals and website status.
Continuous Monitoring and Optimization: Regularly analyzing performance metrics to refine strategies and ensure sustained growth.
By aligning our efforts with your website’s specific needs and maturity level, we aim to deliver measurable improvements in search visibility and organic traffic over time.
After I Achieve My Desired Search Placement, Do You Offer Less Expensive Programs?
Yes, at Elite SEO Consulting, we understand that your SEO needs evolve. Once your website has achieved its targeted search rankings, we offer cost-effective maintenance programs starting at $249 monthly.
Our maintenance plans are designed to sustain and protect your hard-earned rankings. These programs include:
Continuous Monitoring: We monitor your website’s key performance indicators (KPIs) and search rankings.
Quarterly Performance Reports: You’ll receive detailed reports every quarter, providing insights into your website’s performance and any recommended actions.
Immediate Alerts: If we detect any significant drops in rankings or other critical issues, we notify you immediately and take swift action to address them.
Our approach is intuitive and client-centric. Unlike some agencies that increase fees over time, we believe in rewarding progress. Our program costs decrease accordingly as your website’s SEO matures and requires less intensive work.
This model ensures that you continue receiving expert SEO support tailored to your current needs while optimizing your investment.
Website Design
What’s Included in Your Website Development Services?
Our comprehensive website development services encompass:
Themed design tailored to your brand identity
Responsive development ensuring optimal display on all devices
Integration with Content Management Systems (CMS) like WordPress
Performance optimization for fast loading times
Security measures, including SSL certificate installation
Accessibility compliance to meet ADA standards
Optional features such as e-commerce functionality, contact forms, and booking systems
Website hosting is available for an additional monthly charge or we can use your hosting provider.
Email, is not included in our website development packages.
We also offer ongoing maintenance packages to keep your website secure, updated, and performing at its best.
How Long Does It Take to Build a Website?
The timeline for website development varies based on the project’s complexity, current production queue, and your ability to provide necessary files and copy.:
Basic nformational websites: Approximately 3–5 weeks
Mid-sized websites with custom features: Around 6–8 weeks
Large-scale or e-commerce websites: Typically, 10–12 weeks or more
Factors such as content readiness, client feedback responsiveness, and the integration of third-party tools can influence timelines.
Will My Website Be Mobile-Friendly?
Yes, all our websites are developed with a mobile-first approach, ensuring they are fully responsive and provide an optimal user experience across all devices, including smartphones and tablets.
Can You Redesign My Existing Website?
Certainly. We offer website redesign services that focus on enhancing user experience, updating the visual design, improving site performance, and ensuring the website aligns with current web standards and your business goals.
Do You Provide Content Creation Services?
Yes, we offer content creation services to complement your website development, including:
Website copywriting
Blog post creation
Product descriptions
SEO-optimized content
What Platforms Do You Develop Websites On?
We specialize in developing websites on various platforms, including:
WordPress: Ideal for flexibility and scalability
Shopify: Perfect for e-commerce solutions
Custom HTML/CSS/JS: For bespoke, lightweight websites
Our team will recommend the best platform based on your needs and goals.
How Do I Get Started with a Website Project?
To initiate your website development project:
Consultation: Contact us to discuss your project requirements and goals.
Proposal: We’ll provide a detailed proposal outlining the scope, timeline, and cost.
Onboarding: We’ll begin onboarding upon agreement, including gathering necessary assets and information.
Design & Development: Our team will design and develop your website, keeping you informed throughout the process.
Launch & Support: After final approvals, we’ll launch your website and provide ongoing support.
We’re here to guide you through each step, ensuring a smooth and successful website development experience.
