SEO is not a hack; it's the discipline of making your content understandable, findable, and trustworthy so the right buyers choose you.
This article covers what SEO is, what to do in your first 30 days, and why most SMEs should outsource execution to experienced specialists.
Whether you're starting from scratch or optimizing an existing site, this guide will show you the practical steps to get results.
Table of Contents
Quick Answer
The Basics
SEO is about meeting Google's technical requirements and creating content that matches what real buyers search for. Start with a 30-day plan: fix technical basics, optimize your Google Business Profile, create buyer-intent pages, and measure results.
The Basics
SEO is about meeting Google's technical requirements and creating content that matches what real buyers search for. Start with a 30-day plan: fix technical basics, optimize your Google Business Profile, create buyer-intent pages, and measure results.
Cost & Approach
Most SMEs should outsource to experienced specialists rather than hiring multiple in-house roles. HTD Solutions offers comprehensive SEO services starting at €800/month, below typical Austrian market rates of €1,000+ and international benchmarks of $1,000-$2,500.
Cost & Approach
Most SMEs should outsource to experienced specialists rather than hiring multiple in-house roles. HTD Solutions offers comprehensive SEO services starting at €800/month, below typical Austrian market rates of €1,000+ and international benchmarks of $1,000-$2,500.
SEO isn't a magic trick—it's systematic work that compounds over time. Skip the generic content mill. Focus on technical fundamentals, local presence, and pages that answer real buyer questions. Most Austrian SMEs get faster ROI by outsourcing to specialists who already know the playbook, rather than staffing multiple roles internally at 3-4x the cost.
What SEO is (in plain terms)
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the work of making your site eligible and easy to surface in search—first by meeting Google Search Essentials (technical and quality baselines) and then by optimizing pages so users can find and understand them. Google's own starter guide defines SEO as improving your site's presence in Search and lists the most effective fixes.
For local companies, visibility also depends on your Google Business Profile. Rankings there hinge on relevance, distance, and prominence, so you must complete your profile and earn credible reviews.
Finally, avoid shortcuts. Google's spam policies increasingly penalize manipulative content strategies. Build original, useful pages instead.
Core SEO Elements
Technical Foundation
Meeting Google Search Essentials with proper indexation, site speed, mobile performance, and clean information architecture.
Local Visibility
Google Business Profile optimization with complete information, fresh photos, and genuine customer reviews for local prominence.
Intent-Matched Content
Creating pages that answer real buyer queries: pricing, comparisons, and implementation details with clear CTAs.
Trust & Authority
Building credible links through useful content and real partnerships while avoiding manipulative schemes.
A focused 30-day starter plan
Week 1 — Technical eligibility
- Fix indexation basics, titles/metas, internal links, mobile performance; ensure HTTPS and clean sitemaps/robots.txt. Use Google's Starter Guide as a checklist.
Week 2 — Local & trust signals
- Claim and fully populate Google Business Profile; add services, categories, opening hours, and fresh photos. Ask recent customers for 5–10 honest reviews.
Week 3 — Buyer-intent content
- Publish 2–3 pages buyers actually search for: pricing/packaging, "service in Vienna" pages, and one comparison/alternative page. Include FAQs, proofs, and clear CTAs.
Week 4 — Measurement & iteration
- Track Search Console impressions/clicks for the new pages. Improve internal links to these pages from your homepage, service pages, and related posts. Expand a top-performing page with sub-sections answering genuine follow-ups.
This is the minimal engine. Keep doing the right small things, consistently.
DIY vs. outsourcing: where the ROI is
If you don't already have a senior SEO, outsourcing execution is typically faster and cheaper than staffing multiple roles (technical, content, local, analytics) in-house. Industry surveys show most providers sell SEO on monthly retainers; international studies put typical retainers largely in the $501–$2,000+ range depending on scope and region.
In Austria, public rate cards and guides commonly position serious SEO retainers from ~€1,000/mo upward, with advanced scopes much higher.
Pricing reality: where HTD fits (below market)
Market Benchmarks
- • Typical international retainers: most popular band $501–$1,000/mo; many fall $501–$2,000/mo depending on provider and region.
- • Austria context: reputable sources list monthly retainers around €1,000+; some agencies advertise starts at €1,250+/mo.
HTD Solutions — SEO & Search Marketing: From €800/mo
Our starter is deliberately under common Austrian corridors and is competitive versus international bands. Scope scales with your goals; we publish starters to keep pricing transparent.
What HTD Solutions actually does
Sources
- • Google Search Central — SEO Starter Guide / Search Essentials
- • Google Support — Local ranking factors (relevance, distance, prominence)
- • Ahrefs — SEO pricing studies (2024–2025)
- • Backlinko — SEO Pricing (2025)
- • Evergreen Media — Austrian SEO pricing guide
- • Google — March 2024 spam policy updates
(FAQs) Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Start Your SEO Journey?
Get results without hiring five roles. We'll run the 30-day plan and then compound: local visibility, intent-matched content, and clean technicals—measured against pipeline.
