Search Engine Optimization - an Interview with Lewis Vandervalk of Blue Crocus Solutions
I had the pleasure of meeting Lewis Vandervalk of Blue Crocus Solutions through Liftoff Capital. Lewis runs a search engine optimization and lead generation business. I’ve always been a bit confused about SEO, and thought a short interview about it might be helpful for other business owners. Here are the highlights:
Q: There seems to be a lot of confusion out there amongst the business community when it comes to web-presence. We start websites, we open social media accounts, we reach out to our own networks, and yet we find our page getting less organic traffic than we might have hoped for. What are we doing wrong?
A: I can only speak from my expertise, which is website traffic. I like to say that the best website in the world is worth nothing if its not showing up when people are searching for the product or service that you offer. For example, say you offer roofing in Fredericton, and you have the most visually appealing website on the internet. If people in the area are searching for “roofers Fredericton” and you site isn’t showing up on the first page of Google search results, you may as well not even have a website. The stats show that only 4% of searchers go to the second page of search results. If you website is on the second page or further back in the search results, you basically only have a nice brochure as a website, not a tool to drive customers to you.
Q: How does Search Engine Optimization work?
A: Search Engine Optimization, or SEO, is a set of tools and techniques that we use to help you get your website on the first page, and ideally, into the top 3 organic search results on the web, when people are searching for the type of product or service that you offer. Depending on the state of your website, there are several different tools we use, but for the most part we make sure your website is well optimized internally, and then we focus on external ranking factors that help drive it up in the search results.
Q: What kind of results can clients expect to see once Blue Crocus Solutions gets to work on their business?
A: More customers! More business! We are going to be the bill that helps you pay your bills and grow your business. Every business we work with gets a custom tailored package that suits their budget and the end results they are looking for. We are here to make sure that you are blown away with the service and results that we offer. The technical process can take many different forms to get to the results that businesses need to get results.
Q: Your website mentions “Lead Generation” as a featured service. Can you describe that process?
A: Lead generation is simply getting customers to pick up the phone or send an email to get a quote or book an appointment. A “lead” is sometimes also called a “referral”. More people calling or writing means more potential customers for a business. We help that happen through various tools and techniques that help your website show up top of the pack, which has been proven to massively increase the amount of customers to give you business.
Q: What inspired you to start your own business?
A: The internet has always seemed like an endless maze of confusion for business owners. Drink this potion, say this spell, and cross your fingers that it will show results. The list of confusing and contradictory advice goes on and on, all while never helping a business grow their bottom line.
I wanted to finally allow business owners to let go of their worries and just focus on running their business and do the things they excel at. I love helping people realize more of their potential. The journey so far has been really rewarding for me as I can watch owners relax and know that they are being taken care of.
Check out the Blue Crocus Solutions listing at www.liftoffcapital.com.
