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What is An SEO Company?

What is an SEO Company?

An SEO company is an entity that offers search engine optimization services to businesses, helping them improve their online visibility. Search engine optimization is the process of making changes to your website design and content to make your site more attractive to search engines like Google.

When an SEO company effectively optimizes your website, companies generate more online traffic that generally leads to improved sales for their organization. Search engine optimization companies come in all shapes and sizes, serving a variety of industries.

People often ask, “How does SEO work?” According to the definitive SEO guide, SEO Made Simple, the practice of search engine optimization can be broken down into a few main topics. These include site audit, keyword research, on-page optimization, and off-page optimization.

An SEO company will often begin their engagement with a company focusing on keyword research – understanding the company and the types of keyword phrases they want to be associated with when users search. The goal is to generate targeted traffic by appearing in search results for the desired keywords and keyword phrases.

Search engine optimization companies improve organic rankings

After thorough keyword research, and SEO company can complete a site audit. A site audit evaluates your website from a technical perspective, ensuring that search engine optimization best practices are being met and pages are optimized for specific keyword phrases identified in the keyword research phase.

On-page optimization, based on the site audit, focuses the efforts of an SEO company by prioritizing changes to be made to your website. These changes are often focused on things like:

  • URL structure
  • Navigation
  • Metadata such as titles and descriptions
  • H1 and H2 tags
  • Alt image tags
  • Keyword density

As keywords are used throughout the website in the proper format, pages may improve in ranking and traffic.

The next phase of on-page optimization is often site performance. This is where on page optimization begins to evolve into off page optimization.

Based on the initial site audit, and SEO company will likely make changes to your site improving overall performance. This is generally in the form of site load speed on both the desktop and mobile versions of your website.

Additional performance enhancements may be evaluated based on Google Search Console and other diagnostic tools that evaluate site performance against search engine optimization best practices. As your site performs at a higher level, rendering more quickly, Google may provide favorable placement in search engine results.

The last step is off page optimization. This practice is often ongoing, requiring a continual effort of link development. Search engines rank websites based on site authority. An SEO company can help build website authority by building inbound links to your website from authoritative resources online. This may come in the form of link exchanges, paid placement, data aggregators, directories, blogs, or other content placements.

The most effective providers will always pace their off page optimization efforts in order to comply with the latest search engine algorithms. Build links too quickly and your site may be penalized. Build links slowly and you may not see the organic improvements you are expecting from your provider.

An SEO company will almost always complete these four critical steps: Keyword Research, Site Audit, On Page Optimization, and Off Page Optimization. The initial engagement may take a number of months and then transition to off page optimization, often in the form of content development and distribution, and maintenance.

Individuals often ask if an SEO company is required for Web design. Many website development companies are independent from their SEO counterparts. This means that you may need to work with an SEO company separately to optimize your website once developed. It’s a best practice to find a website development or SEO company that has experience building websites that are fully optimized for search results.

What is SEO and how it works

SEO is an evolving practice of affecting the visibility of a website or a web page in a web search engine’s unpaid results—often called natural or organic results. The higher a site is ranked in search results, the more website traffic it will receive from the search engines. SEO may target different kinds of search, including image search, local search, video search, news search and more.

The principles of effective SEO are relatively simple. From Google’s perspective, they are seeking to provide their users with a positive online experience. This means that Google is seeking to answer a user’s query and to do it quickly.

Search engine optimization is designed to deliver on that promise. Websites that are able to support the mission are rewarded with higher rankings in search engine results. It is estimated the Google algorithm has more than 200 factors that determine ranking. Additionally, the search engine is using natural language programming to better understand a user’s query and return a set of accurate results that are both thorough and authoritative.

As the search algorithm evolves, more emphasis is being placed on the authority of a given search result. Effective SEO from an SEO company will place a good deal of effort on building authority. This is done through content development, using validated references, and attracting links from other quality websites and blogs.

All of this weighs into SEO and how it works. Even as search engine optimization evolves, the principles remain the same. Search engines are seeking to answer a user’s questions quickly and accurately from an authoritative source.

The methods and practices for meeting those criteria continue to evolve. The best SEO companies are evolving too. Many are focused not just on technical SEO but content development – and amplifying that content. There are many ways to achieve this outcome and viable businesses will share their optimization practices with you. Always look for transparency with your service provider. This guarantees white hat optimization techniques that will not get your website banned.

What is the best SEO Company?

The best search engine optimization company is one that provides SEO services at a reasonable cost. Unfortunately, the best SEO Company is not one-size-fits-all. The best SEO Company for you or your business will generally have demonstrated competency, industry experience, or be shared via referral.

When searching for an SEO company to meet your specific needs, it’s best to start with a clear expectation of what you’re hoping to achieve. Always look for a provider who is willing to give you direct and honest feedback. A company with deep expertise understands what’s possible and how long it can take to achieve. They are also assertive with regard to unreasonable expectations or outcomes. This should be based on their experience and understanding of how search results work.

If you’re looking for the Best SEO Company in New Jersey, we happen to think that Big Fin SEO is the ideal choice. This is because the company founder, Michael H. Fleischner is a search engine optimization veteran, author of the top-selling SEO guide on Amazon, SEO Made Simple, and serviced fortune 500 companies. Michael’s firm has helped more than 1,000 companies with their SEO and he is a highly sought after speaker and consultant. All of the work completed at Big Fin SEO is done right here in the USA.

Michael Fleischner

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Corine RigbyCorine Rigby
SEO Specialist

Corine Rigby is the technical heart of Big Fin SEO’s search engine optimization practice. From deep-dive audits to link acquisition strategy, Corine brings precision and insight to every project, helping clients rank higher and stay visible in an ever-changing search landscape.

What do you do at Big Fin SEO?

At Big Fin SEO, I work behind the scenes to help our clients’ websites sail smoothly and rank higher. From deep-dive technical SEO audits and onsite optimizations to strategic keyword mapping, I make sure everything’s shipshape. I also lead our link acquisition efforts to help boost domain authority and increase organic visibility, so our clients stay ahead of the current.

What do you like about working at Big Fin SEO?

I really enjoy the collaborative vibe and the chance to make a measurable impact on our clients’ growth. It’s rewarding to be part of a tight-knit crew that values both smart strategy and solid execution, and where every win feels like a team victory.

When you go to the beach, what do you love to do?

I love walking along the shore collecting shells, soaking in the sound of the waves, and watching the sunset. It’s the perfect reset.

Laura AyresLaura Ayres
Chief of Operations

Laura Ayres is the operational backbone of Big Fin SEO, ensuring that every client engagement runs on time, on budget, and above expectations. As Chief of Operations, she oversees the day-to-day functions of the agency, supports account managers in delivering standout results, and keeps the entire crew aligned and moving in the same direction.

Before joining Big Fin SEO, Laura served as Executive Director at The CIO Initiative, a leadership organization dedicated to advancing senior technology executives. She held that role for nearly six years across two tenures, developing deep expertise in organizational operations, stakeholder management, and executive-level program delivery.

Background

  • Chief of Operations, Big Fin SEO (current)
  • Executive Director, The CIO Initiative (2018–2021, 2023–2025)
  • Experienced in operations leadership, account management, and team development

LinkedIn Profile

What do you do at Big Fin SEO?

As Chief of Operations at Big Fin SEO, I’m the one making sure the ship runs smoothly. I support our account managers in delivering standout results for clients, assist with day-to-day operations, and help keep everything sailing in the right direction. My role touches nearly every part of the business, ensuring we stay efficient, effective, and ready to ride the next wave of growth.

What do you like about working at Big Fin SEO?

The people, hands down. Our crew is smart, supportive, and genuinely fun to work with, and the same goes for our clients. Big Fin SEO is the kind of place where collaboration, flexibility, and good vibes come naturally. It makes every day feel purposeful (and just a little bit fun, too).

When you go to the beach, what do you love to do?

The beach is my favorite place; it energizes me. When I go, I love to lay in my favorite chair and watch the ocean while my daughter builds sand castles at my feet. Then as a family, we walk the shore to collect shells.

Michael FleischnerMichael Fleischner
Founder & CEO

Michael Fleischner is a digital marketing entrepreneur with more than two decades of experience helping businesses grow their online visibility. He founded Big Fin SEO in 2014 after seeing firsthand that agencies were being asked to deliver services they could not staff, and businesses were being sold SEO programs that produced reports but not results.

Today, Big Fin operates as a white-label GEO and SEO fulfillment partner for marketing agencies nationwide, helping over 1,000 brands achieve measurable search visibility without building internal teams. Michael leads strategy across the agency’s GEO, SEO, paid search, and website development programs.

Credentials & Recognition

  • TEDx Speaker, “The Freelance Journey”
  • Author of SEO Made Simple, The 7 Figure Freelancer, Local Marketing Made Simple, and Blogging Made Simple
  • Featured on the TODAY Show and in USA Today
  • President, American Marketing Association Professional Chapters Council (2022–2023), representing 15,000+ marketers across 70+ chapters
  • Executive Producer, “The Strange” (feature film)
  • Founder, CapitalQuest AI

LinkedIn Profile  |  Media Kit

What do you do at Big Fin SEO?

As Captain and CEO at Big Fin SEO, I navigate our skilled crew through the ever-changing tide of digital marketing solutions. My role involves charting a strategic course, anchoring solid client relationships, and ensuring we stay ahead of industry currents to reel in outstanding results.

What do you like about working at Big Fin SEO?

What I enjoy most about Big Fin SEO is our vibrant, collaborative crew. It’s rewarding to see our combined efforts help businesses ride the waves of online growth, helping them make a lasting impact. Watching our clients elevate their online visibility, expand their reach, and net significant revenue through the strategies we deploy is deeply gratifying.

When you go to the beach, what do you love to do?

At the beach, I love to explore the shoreline, relax under the sun, and dive into a captivating book. I’m always on the lookout for fresh inspiration, particularly anything that resonates with our shark-inspired branding or reminds me of adventures on the open sea!