SEO questions, answered.

Should I hire a freelance SEO specialist or an agency?

Either can work, so choose by fit. A freelancer gives you direct contact with the person doing the work and is often simpler for a small site. An agency offers a larger team and a wider range of services, usually with more overhead. Compare scope, process and communication, not just price. See how to choose an SEO specialist.

What is SEO-friendly web design?

It is building a website so search engines can crawl it and visitors can use it easily. That means fast loading, a mobile-first layout, clear page structure and URLs, real text content, proper headings, descriptive image alt text and structured data. I build sites this way under 404 Studio, with SEO in mind from the first line.

How much does a website cost in the Philippines?

It depends on what you need, so no single number would be honest. The price changes with the type of site (a simple business site, a booking site or an online store), the number of pages, whether the design is custom or template-based, features such as payments or booking forms, who writes the content, and ongoing costs such as hosting, domain and maintenance. Ask for an itemised scope. For a small-business site, contact me and I will scope it with you.

WordPress vs Shopify: which is better for my business?

It depends on what you do. Shopify is a hosted platform built for selling products, so it suits online stores that want simple store management. WordPress is a flexible content management system, so it suits sites built around pages, articles and bookings, and it can run a store with add-ons. Both can rank well when they are fast, clearly structured and set up properly. Choose by what you sell and who will manage the site.

How do I fix a website that is not ranking?

Work through it in order. First check that your pages are indexed in Google Search Console. Then look for blockers such as noindex tags, robots.txt rules or wrong canonicals. Next check speed and mobile use, then whether each page matches what searchers want, and finally your internal links and competition. New sites can take months to rank. My SEO audit covers all of this in a prioritised list.

What should I look for when hiring an SEO specialist?

Look for someone who checks your site before quoting, explains their process in plain language, measures progress in terms you care about, lets you own your accounts and never guarantees rankings. See the full list of questions to ask.

Who is the best freelance SEO specialist in the Philippines?

There is no objective ranking, and anyone who claims to be the best is selling. Judge candidates by their process, how clearly they explain things, examples they can walk you through, and whether they let you own your accounts. I am a freelance SEO specialist in the Philippines, and you can judge my work on the about page and in the case study.

How much does SEO cost in the Philippines?

It depends on scope. Price varies with the size of your site, its technical condition, your competition and whether you need an audit, project work or an ongoing retainer. Ask for a written scope instead of comparing headline prices. See the full guide to SEO costs in the Philippines.

How long does SEO take to work?

Indexing fixes can be picked up within days to weeks, once search engines recrawl the pages. Ranking and traffic changes usually take months and depend on competition and content. Nobody can promise a timeline.

What is included in SEO services?

It depends on the provider, so check the written scope. Typical SEO services include a technical audit, fixes for crawling, indexing and speed, on-page work on titles and content, structured data, keyword and content planning, and reporting. My services cover crawling and indexing, site architecture, Core Web Vitals, structured data, content and AI answer visibility, plus audits and local SEO.

Do I need SEO if I already have a website?

Usually yes, if you want new customers to find you through search. A website alone does not make people find you. Search engines need to be able to crawl, understand and trust it. SEO matters less if every customer comes from referrals, social media or ads, but most businesses benefit from being found when people search for what they offer.

What is technical SEO?

Technical SEO is the behind-the-scenes work that lets search engines crawl, understand and index your site: robots.txt, sitemaps, site structure, page speed and Core Web Vitals, canonical tags and structured data. If these are broken, even great content may never be found.

How do I rank my business on Google in the Philippines?

Start with the basics. Make sure your pages are crawlable and indexed, give each service its own page, keep your business name, address, phone number and hours consistent, claim and complete your Google Business Profile, make the site fast on mobile and collect genuine reviews. Then measure in Search Console. See the local SEO guide and the checklist.

What is local SEO and why does it matter?

Local SEO helps your business show up when people search for something nearby, such as a barbershop or restaurant in their area. It matters because those searchers are often ready to visit or buy. It combines your website, your Google Business Profile, consistent business details and reviews. Read the full guide.