This is where Eric’s experience in SEO makes a significant difference in this investigation. Since all three backlink checkers show similar data, someone less experienced may have concluded that a site with just seven-ten directory links could rank on the first page of Google for the term “Archery Clubs.”
But Eric is not an amateur. He knows from experience that it takes more than six directory backlinks to rank for a keyword with 1.6M competing results on Google.
His next step? Eric looks for mentions of the domain in Google, using the advanced search query “theolympicarrow-site:www.theolympicarrow.com.”
This search reveals documents and websites that mention “The Olympic Arrow” without necessarily linking back to it and includes places where third-party tools don’t look.
The search shows that The Olympic Arrow has a Youtube channel, Facebook page, Pinterest page and is referenced by local news stations and a PDF on the United States Olympic Committee website.
Further examination demonstrates why Google ranks this site as highly as it does. It has a broad based social media presence, positive comments from authoritative local media outlets, and links from .org’s including the United States Olympic Committee website.
To replace this site from the top of the Google rankings would require a competitor with a stronger backlink profile.
And that is why you cannot disregard experience when it comes to SEO. Experience means that you can look at the data from tools and put that data in perspective, instead of just blindly accepting it as being right.
Experience knows not only when to dig deeper into a result but also what tools and resources to use to discover what’s going on beneath the surface. That’s why when it comes to SEO, you want someone who has been in the business for a long time, who knows where to look, and what to look for.
In addition to being about to dissect why one website is ranking higher than another, an experienced SEO team can also help you to improve your click-through rate, conversions, and ROI.
Here are the top eight benefits of having SEO experience on your side: