AUQ is a B2B focused SEO agency with our roots in Chicago, IL.

At AUQ we believe that SEO is uniquely positioned as an ideal channel for B2B companies. So much so that we’ve built our strategy and processes around working with B2B clients.

We bring to the table peace of mind, reliability, transparency and a wealth of experience working with B2B companies across a number of industries.

We do this by offering full service SEO to increase sales & conversions from organic traffic, and handling all aspects of SEO strategy including:

  • Content creation
  • Technical SEO
  • Linkbuilding
  • Design
  • Development
  • Analytics

While allowing your team to focus on running the business and not herding cats for SEO projects!

B2B SEO Services

B2B Content Marketing

B2B Content Marketing

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Have you wanted to position your business as a thought leader in your field? Do you want to build trust with your customers …

Have you wanted to position your business as a thought leader in your field? Do you want to build trust with your customers during their research phase?

SEO is an excellent tool for achieving both of the above while simultaneously exposing more customers to your brand and growing organic traffic and sales.

B2B content marketing gives companies the opportunity to speak to their customers during some of their most crucial and vulnerable moments – when they’re looking for solutions on Google!

Imagine having your blog articles appear when your clients are researching products or looking for solutions to their business problems. By providing useful & helpful information at the appropriate time, your business can help solve their problems while targeting ideal clients for your business.

We conduct exhaustive keyword research to understand what questions and services your clients are searching for and then partner with subject matter experts to author helpful and expert written content for your site.

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SEO Design & Development

SEO Design & Development

In today’s competitive business landscape, design is more important than ever for B2B SEO success. Now more than ever clients are looking for …

In today’s competitive business landscape, design is more important than ever for B2B SEO success. Now more than ever clients are looking for engaging visuals and user-friendly website experiences when developing effective SEO strategies.

Design plays a crucial role in helping:

  • reduce bounce rates,
  • promote better UX/UI
  • improve loading speed
  • improve conversion and interaction

In turn the factors above indirectly influence SEO rankings.

Our designers are trained in the latest SEO philosophy and best practices, these highly skilled professionals optimize usability, development time and overall webpage performance. They can bring valuable insights regarding UX structure and visual elements that are essential for each piece of the project (including website code) to maximize visibility on search engines.

Smart design practices directly influence SEO and not only help companies reach their goals but also set the brand apart from their competitors.

B2B Linkbuilding

B2B Linkbuilding

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Linkbuilding is an essential part of search engine optimization as it not only provides link equity to your website but also helps increase …

Linkbuilding is an essential part of search engine optimization as it not only provides link equity to your website but also helps increase its visibility and domain authority.

B2B companies can greatly benefit from link building, particularly digital PR. Digital PR is the process of strategically promoting your business online to key industry stakeholders that link back to a webpage on your site.

This not only boosts link equity, but helps boost brand awareness and visibility among competitors.

As one of the most important tools in SEO, our linkbuilding process is tailor made for B2B companies in a sense that it’s a trusted and safe way to gain links.

SEO Analytics & Tracking

SEO Analytics & Tracking

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Setting up proper SEO analytics is an essential part of any B2B SEO strategy. We don’t only recommend looking at keyword rankings but …

Setting up proper SEO analytics is an essential part of any B2B SEO strategy. We don’t only recommend looking at keyword rankings but we help our clients monitor trends in industry search results, identify keywords that are performing well, and analyze on-site user behavior.

You’ll enjoy an unprecedented the level of transparency our analytics platform providers into your sites behavior as well as our own methods. With SEO often being viewed as a “black box” we take pride in de-mystifying SEO and explaining our methodology.

Our analytics methods involve a constant process of optimizations, we’re regularly reviewing old content for optimizations as well as discovering new keywords that your customers may be searching for.

SEO & E-comm

Penalty Recovery

AUQ redesigned and optimized an e-commerce company’s website for yaasa.com – an ergonomic furniture company in Santa Barbara. The team has also helped the firm with their SEO strategy. They’ve designed and developed their website using WordPress, Figma, and WooCommerce.

Design, Development & Content for SEO

+ 200 % Organic Traffic

AUQ worked with the Armormax.com team to increase organic traffic & organic conversions generated by the website by focusing on 3 things:

  • National content strategy
  • Design & development of new, searchable features
  • Regular technical SEO audits

Web Development for an Investment Management Firm

"AUQ’s biggest strengths were their agility and solution-oriented approach."

- Director Of Communications, Investment Management Firm

5
Quality 5.0
Schedule 4.5
Cost 5.0

Website Redesign & SEO for a Pet Odor Products Manufacturer

"Their service was outstanding, and it didn't stop after they completed our website."

- Director of Operations, Odors Away LLC

5.0
Quality 5.0
Schedule 5.0
Cost 5.0

Website Development & Maintenance for a Design Company

"They’re great at explaining the technology and suggesting solutions that can save time and money."

- Founder & Design Director, Tsang Seymour LLC

5.0
Quality 5.0
Schedule 4.0
Cost 5.0

Web Design & Development for a Nonprofit Organization

"I’m impressed by their openness to listen — they want to make sure we’re happy with the results."

- Executive, Nonprofit Organization

4.5
Quality 5.0
Schedule 4.0
Cost 5.0

SEO & WordPress Web Development Services for an E-Commerce Company

"After seeing so many difficult site launches, I’m blown away by how smooth their process is."

- CEO, A Digital Agency

5.0
Quality 5.0
Schedule 5.0
Cost 4.5

Web Development & SEO Work for Casino Company

"AUQ’s project management has been excellent."

- COO, Casino M8trix

4.5
Quality 4.5
Schedule 5.0
Cost 4.5

Website Redesign & SEO Strategy for Food & Beverage Co

"Their SEO research and ability to break it down to us were impressive."

- CTO, COWM INC

5.0
Quality 5.0
Schedule 4.5
Cost 5.0
AUQ logo shape

After years of working with clients we’ve developed a unique approach to our SEO campaigns – because SEO is an extremely multi faceted operation requiring coordination and coo-operation between designers, developers, content writers and PR teams – we’ve brought all these disciplines in-house to be able to offer a streamlined service to our clients.

Gone are the days of receiving an “SEO audit” from an SEO agency, only for them to disappear while you struggle to implement their recommendations.

Our motto is that “if we can recommend it, we can implement it”!

We’re happy to work with you in whatever capacity fits your business, oftentimes our designers and developers can take over on specific SEO projects. However for clients with in-house dev & design teams, our SEO project managers will stay on and coach your teams through the implementation process.

Our full service SEO sprints generally last 6 months each, and are highly focused engagements that help your team solve specific problems, or target specific goals. At the end of every sprint we run a retrospective analysis and have a discussion about upcoming sprints.

In our experience this has been the most cost effective and efficient method of achieving SEO results.

Our Process

#1SEO & Industry Research

#2SEO & Industry Research

Our first meeting is a general overview of your business, your customers and competitors. We take the time to thoroughly understand your services, your goals and your strengths and weaknesses. This business knowledge will be used to build extensive keyword lists and topic clusters, and recommend strategies that are tailor made for your business.

#2Technical Audit

#3Technical Audit

We continue with an extensive technical SEO audit that reviews general SEO best practices and to understand the current state of your website. We use tools like ScreamingFrog Crawler, Google Search Console, and Lighthouse to identify under-the-hood issues that may be preventing complete indexation of your content. We also review your domain strength and DNS structure as that’s where we see some common issues.

#3SEO Design Review

#4SEO Design Review

Design is an essential part of SEO as it dictates conversion and bounce rates, as well as affect how Google perceives your site. Our design team is trained on conversion & SEO focused UX, that keeps users engaged on your site. We focus on pages and templates that will be driving search engine traffic and re-design them to improve readability, accessibility, user trust and engagement. From an SEO point of view, most of your organic traffic may not start on your homepage, so we work to understand the likely search engine paths and optimize traffic that starts on your service pages as well as your blog articles.

#4Development For SEO

#5Development For SEO

Our development team not only focuses on implementing best practices from SEO checkmarks. But we pay special attention to 2 increasingly growing factors in Google’s algorithm: mobile experience, and loading speed. Our goal is to make your site load faster than the competitors for your given set of keywords. As loading times become a bigger factor within Google’s algorithm, we work to give your desktop and mobile users the best possible experience. For development projects we’re happy to do the implementation ourselves or work with your dev team to guide them through the process.

#5Traffic Driving Content

#6Traffic Driving Content

Content creation and optimization is the quickest way to increase keyword reach and traffic. However, success in content SEO requires educated writers who are specialists in your industry, a process for reviewing and analyzing already published content, and an understanding of your customer’s search behavior. We work with our clients to bring on subject matter experts for our author roles and set up a “publish & review” process that focuses on constant optimizations of pages within your website’s sales funnel.

#6Linkbuilding

#7Linkbuilding

Our team of linkbuilders will help promote your site across industry blogs and publications, growing the strength of your domain and allowing your business to challenge more competitive keywords. We work with a variety of linkbuilding tactics including creating organic content that exists to gather links. We’ve also developed a unique process that focuses on gathering backlinks from already existing pages, that already rank for keywords related to our clients’ businesses. This ensures that we’re placing links on high quality pages that are respected by Google, while keeping your costs lower compared to the traditional ‘guest post’ approach.

B2B SEO FAQs

  • What are the best SEO tools for B2B companies?

    1. Google Keyword Planner: This is a free tool that allows you to enter a keyword or phrase and see estimates for the search volume and level of competition for that term. For example, a B2B company that sells industrial equipment could use the Keyword Planner to research keywords related to “industrial conveyor belts” and see data on the search volume and competition level for those terms. You can access the Keyword Planner at https://ads.google.com/home/tools/keyword-planner/.
    2. Ahrefs: This is a paid tool that offers a range of SEO features, including keyword research. It provides detailed data on keyword search volumes, competition levels, and related keywords. For example, a B2B company that provides IT services could use Ahrefs to research keywords related to “cloud computing solutions” and see data on the search volume and competition level for those terms. You can learn more about Ahrefs at https://ahrefs.com/.
    3. Keywordtool.io: This is a free tool that generates a list of related keywords based on a seed keyword or phrase. It provides data on the search volume and level of competition for each keyword. For example, a B2B company that sells HR software could use Keywordtool.io to research keywords related to “employee onboarding” and see data on the search volume and competition level for those terms. You can access Keywordtool.io at https://keywordtool.io/.
    4. Google Analytics is a free tool that allows you to track and analyze data about your website’s traffic and performance. B2B companies can use Google Analytics for SEO research by looking at the keywords that are driving traffic to their website, as well as the pages on their website that are performing well in search results. For example, a B2B company that sells marketing software could use Google Analytics to see which keywords are bringing the most traffic to its website and which pages are ranking well for those keywords. This information can help the company to identify opportunities to optimize its content and target specific keywords.
    5. Google Search Console is a free tool that allows you to see how your website is performing in Google search results. B2B companies can use Search Console for SEO research by looking at the keywords for which their website is ranking, the pages on their website that are appearing in search results, and any issues that may be affecting the website’s performance. For example, a B2B company that provides financial services could use Search Console to see which keywords its website is ranking for and which pages are appearing in search results. This information can help the company to identify opportunities to optimize its content and target specific keywords.
    6. People Also Ask is a feature in Google search results that shows a list of related questions that people have asked about a particular topic. B2B companies can use People Also Ask for SEO research by looking at the questions that are being asked about their industry or products and using this information to create content that addresses those questions. For example, a B2B company that sells HR software could use People Also Ask to see what questions people are asking about HR software and use this information to create blog posts or other content that addresses those questions. This can help the company to attract traffic from people who are searching for information on those topics.

     

  • What are the challenging aspects of B2B SEO that separate it from B2C?

    1. Competition: B2B industries often have a higher level of competition for search terms, as there are typically fewer businesses targeting a specific niche compared to B2C (business-to-consumer) industries. This can make it more difficult for a B2B business to rank well for its target keywords.
    2. Long sales cycles: B2B sales can have a longer sales cycle compared to B2C sales, as the purchasing process may involve multiple decision makers and require more research and evaluation. This can make it harder to measure the immediate impact of SEO efforts and requires a longer-term view.
    3. Complexity of products and services: B2B products and services are often more complex than B2C products and may require more detailed and technical explanations. This can make it harder to create content that is both informative and easy to understand for a wider audience.

     

  • How can B2B companies create useful user personas?

    A B2B (business-to-business) user persona for SEO is a fictionalized representation of a company’s ideal customer. It is used to help identify the needs, goals, and behaviors of potential customers, and to guide the development of SEO strategies and content that will appeal to them.

    A B2B user persona may differ from a regular business user persona in a few key ways:

    Decision-making authority: In B2B companies, the decision to make a purchase is often made by a small group of people within the company, rather than an individual consumer. Therefore, the user persona for a B2B company may include information about the decision-making process and the roles and responsibilities of the individuals involved.

    Purchase motivation: In B2B, the motivation for making a purchase is often more complex than in a B2C (business-to-consumer) company. A B2B user persona may include information about the company’s specific needs and goals, and how the product or service will help them achieve those goals.

    Length of the sales cycle: The sales cycle for a B2B company is often longer than for a B2C company, as it may involve multiple decision-makers and require more in-depth research and discussion. A B2B user persona may include information about the steps involved in the decision-making process and how long it typically takes.

    Overall, a B2B user persona is designed to help a company understand the specific needs and behaviors of its potential customers, so that it can tailor its SEO strategies and content to better appeal to them.

    However, it’s important to remember that SEO personas are very different from normal marketing personas!

    Focus: An SEO persona is specifically designed to help a company understand the needs and behaviors of its ideal customers as they relate to search engines. A regular marketing persona, on the other hand, is designed to help a company understand the needs and behaviors of its ideal customers more broadly, across all marketing channels.

    Goals: An SEO persona is typically used to identify the specific keywords and phrases that potential customers are using to search for products or services, and to guide the development of content that will appeal to them. A regular marketing persona is used to identify the overall goals and needs of potential customers, and to guide the development of marketing strategies and content that will appeal to them.

    Audience: An SEO persona is designed to help a company understand the needs and behaviors of its ideal customers as they relate to search engines. A regular marketing persona is designed to help a company understand the needs and behaviors of its ideal customers more broadly, across all marketing channels.

    Overall, an SEO persona is a specific type of marketing persona that is focused on helping a company understand the needs and behaviors of its ideal customers as they relate to search engines, in order to guide the development of SEO strategies and content.

     

    user persona for seo

  • What should B2B companies do differently on their website to have good E-A-T SEO factors??

    E-A-T stands for Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness, and these are factors that Google considers when ranking websites in its search results. To signal E-A-T to Google, B2B companies can take the following steps:

    Include information about the company’s expertise and qualifications on the website, such as bios of key team members and details about their experience and education.

    Establish the company as an authority in its industry by creating high-quality, informative content about topics related to its business. This can include blog posts, white papers, and case studies.

    Build trust with website visitors by including information about the company’s privacy practices, security measures, and terms of service.

    Obtain backlinks from other reputable websites in the industry, as these can help demonstrate the company’s expertise and authority to Google.

    Ensure that the website is well-designed and easy to navigate, as this can help establish trust with visitors.

    It’s important to note that improving E-A-T is a long-term process, and it’s not something that can be done overnight. It requires consistently creating high-quality content and building trust with customers over time.

    Here are a few specific examples of how a B2B financial company might improve its E-A-T signals:

    Include bios of key team members on the website, with details about their education, experience, and any relevant financial certifications or industry awards.

    Write informative blog posts about topics related to the company’s business, such as financial industry trends, best practices for managing finances, and case studies of successful financial strategies.

    Create white papers or case studies that demonstrate the company’s expertise in financial management, such as a case study on how the company helped a client improve their financial performance.

    Include information about the company’s privacy practices and security measures on the website, such as a privacy policy and details about any data protection measures in place to protect clients’ financial information.

     

    EAT thought leadership icon

     

  • What is the difference between top funnel and bottom funnel keywords for SEO?

    Top funnel keywords, also known as awareness-level keywords, are general, broad keywords that are typically used by people who are just beginning to research a topic. They are used to attract a wide audience and increase brand awareness.

    Bottom funnel keywords, also known as consideration-level or conversion-level keywords, are more specific and targeted keywords that are used by people who are further along in the decision-making process. They are used to attract a more qualified audience and to drive conversions, such as making a purchase.

    In the context of B2B (business-to-business) SEO, top funnel keywords might include general terms related to the company’s industry, while bottom funnel keywords might include more specific terms related to the company’s products or services.

    For example, a B2B software company might use top funnel keywords like “software solutions” and “business management tools” to attract a wide audience, while using bottom funnel keywords like “project management software” and “CRM software” to attract more qualified leads and drive conversions.

    Using a combination of top funnel and bottom funnel keywords can help a B2B company attract a broad audience at the top of the funnel and then guide them through the decision-making process with more targeted keywords. This can help improve the effectiveness of the company’s SEO efforts and drive more qualified leads and conversions.

     

    illustrated marketing keyword funnel

     

  • How can SEO help a manufacturing company to generate leads and increase sales?

    SEO (search engine optimization) can help a manufacturing company to generate leads and increase sales in several ways. First, by optimizing its website for search engines, the company can improve its visibility in search results, which can lead to more traffic and potential customers. In addition, a well-optimized website can help to improve the user experience for visitors, which can lead to higher conversion rates and more sales. Finally, a strong B2B SEO strategy can help to establish the company as a thought leader in its industry, which can build trust and credibility with potential customers.

     

    diagram of a churn for saas company

  • What tactics can a manufacturing company use to improve its B2B SEO?

    There are several tactics that a manufacturing company can use to improve its B2B SEO. One tactic is on-page optimization, which involves making changes to the content and structure of the website to make it more search engine friendly. This can include optimizing page titles and headings, using header tags appropriately, and including internal links to other pages on the website. Another tactic is off-page optimization, which involves activities outside of the website that can help to improve its visibility and ranking in search results. This can include link building, social media marketing, and local SEO for manufacturing companies that serve a specific geographical area.

    There are several ways that a manufacturing company can measure the success of its B2B SEO strategy. One way is to track the traffic and leads generated from organic search using tools such as Google Analytics. The company can also track the conversion rates of visitors from organic search and compare them to other sources of traffic to see how effective the SEO strategy is at driving sales. In addition, the company can use tools such as Ahrefs or SEMrush to track its ranking for specific keywords and monitor its overall visibility in search results.

  • How can a manufacturing company use content marketing as part of its B2B SEO strategy?

    Content marketing can be an effective part of a manufacturing company’s B2B SEO strategy in several ways. First, creating high-quality, relevant content can help to improve the authority and credibility of the company’s website, which can lead to better ranking in search results. In addition, publishing content on a regular basis can help to drive traffic to the website, as people who

    Here are some specific examples of topics that a manufacturing company can talk about to improve its content marketing efforts:

    New technologies and innovations in the industry: For example, a manufacturing company that produces automotive parts could discuss the latest advancements in electric vehicle technology and how its products support this trend.

    Industry regulations and standards: For example, a manufacturing company that produces food products could discuss the importance of following FDA guidelines and the steps it takes to ensure compliance.

    Product development and design: For example, a manufacturing company that produces industrial equipment could discuss the design process and features of its products, and how they meet the needs of its customers.

    Quality control and assurance: For example, a manufacturing company that produces medical devices could discuss its rigorous testing and quality control processes to ensure the safety and effectiveness of its products.

    Manufacturing processes and efficiency: For example, a manufacturing company that produces consumer goods could discuss its use of lean manufacturing techniques to reduce waste and improve efficiency.

    Sustainability and environmental impact: For example, a manufacturing company that produces packaging materials could discuss its efforts to use eco-friendly materials and reduce its carbon footprint.

    Industry events and trade shows: For example, a manufacturing company could discuss its participation in industry events and trade shows, and provide insights and takeaways from these events.