One of the most common questions we hear from small business owners in Cumming and Alpharetta is some version of this: “I’ve paid for SEO before and I have no idea what they actually did.”
That’s a real problem in this industry. SEO is easy to mystify and easy to fake. Vague language, vanity metrics, and monthly PDF reports that don’t connect to anything real are everywhere.
So here’s a plain-English answer: what a legitimate local SEO company should be doing for you every month, and what you should expect for $649/month at Digital DNA Pros.
Month One: Foundation Work
The first month is the most work-intensive. Before anything else, we need to understand where you stand.
Site audit. We review your website’s technical health — page load speed, mobile performance, URL structure, duplicate content, and crawl errors. Problems here limit everything else.
Keyword research. We identify the specific searches your ideal customers are running in Cumming, Alpharetta, Milton, Suwanee, and the surrounding area. Not broad national terms — the exact local phrases that drive calls and form fills.
Google Business Profile audit. We review every element of your GBP — primary category, secondary categories, business description, services, photos, review count, and recent posting activity. Most profiles we inherit have at least five fixable issues.
Competitive analysis. We look at who’s ranking above you, what they’re doing right, and where you have a realistic path to outrank them.
By the end of month one, we have a clear picture of where you are and a prioritized plan for where to go.
Every Month: The Ongoing Work
After the foundation is set, here’s what happens on a recurring basis.
On-page SEO updates. Title tags, meta descriptions, heading structure, internal links, and schema markup across your site pages. These aren’t set-and-forget — they need to be maintained and refined as your rankings change and as Google updates its understanding of your pages.
New website content. We write or refresh pages based on what your local customers are actually searching for. This might be a new city page, a service page that wasn’t ranking, or a blog post targeting a specific question your customers ask before they hire you.
Google Business Profile management. We post to your profile weekly, upload new photos on a regular schedule, respond to every review within 24 hours, and keep your categories and services current. An active, well-maintained GBP consistently outperforms a neglected one, regardless of how long the business has been listed.
Rank tracking. We monitor your keyword positions in Google — both organic and map results — for your target cities and services.
Monthly report. Every month you get a plain-English summary: what we did, what moved, what’s next. You’ll know exactly how your investment is performing.
What We Don’t Do
A few things that are often sold as SEO but rarely justify the cost for small businesses in this market:
Bulk link buying. Purchasing links from low-quality directories or private blog networks can produce short-term ranking bumps followed by penalties. We build authority through content and legitimate local citations.
Social media management. We’re focused on search. Social has its place, but it’s a separate discipline.
Paid advertising. We don’t run Google Ads or Meta Ads campaigns. Our focus is organic search — rankings you don’t pay for on a per-click basis.
Who This Is Right For
Our $649/month plan is the right fit if you’re a small business in North Georgia that:
- Has a website but isn’t getting consistent leads from Google
- Has a Google Business Profile but hasn’t actively managed it
- Wants to grow through organic search without a full-scale retainer
- Needs clear, documented work every month — not a mystery black box
If you’re a larger business with a highly competitive category and aggressive growth goals, we can scale up from there.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if the SEO work is actually being done? You’ll receive a monthly report that details exactly what was updated on your site, what was posted to your GBP, and how your rankings moved. You can also log into your own Google Search Console and GBP dashboard at any time to verify activity.
Do you require a long-term contract? No. Our plans are available month-to-month, though clients who commit to a 12-month engagement get a better rate. We earn your business every month.
How soon will I start seeing results? GBP improvements and citation work often produce measurable movement within 30 to 60 days. Organic rankings take longer — typically 4 to 6 months before you see significant change. SEO compounds over time; the longer you invest, the stronger the returns.
What if I’ve been burned by an SEO company before? We hear this often. Our approach is transparency: you’ll know exactly what we do, when we do it, and what it produces. If you want to see a sample report before you commit, just ask.
Dave Carlson
Dave Carlson is the Creative Director and Founder of Digital DNA Pros, a prominent digital marketing agency based in Atlanta, GA. With over two decades of experience in the web design industry, Dave has a proven track record of transforming digital landscapes for businesses, making their competition green with envy. His expertise lies in creating human-friendly websites and innovative digital marketing strategies that drive success and growth.
Dave’s journey began in 1998 when he developed one of the first e-commerce platforms for a national footwear retailer. This pioneering project laid the foundation for his extensive career in digital marketing and web design. Over the years, he refined his skills through various freelance projects, continuously adapting to the ever-evolving technological landscape. In 2011, Dave founded Distinct Design Company, now known as Digital DNA Pros, with the vision of building collaborative partnerships with clients.
Under Dave’s leadership, Digital DNA Pros has become synonymous with innovation, adaptability, and client success. The team at Digital DNA Pros specializes in web design, SEO, content creation, and ongoing website maintenance. They prioritize creating secure, functional, and visually stunning WordPress websites that enhance user experience and drive business growth. Dave and his team are dedicated to providing unparalleled support from the initial consultation to project completion and beyond.
Despite challenges, including the pandemic, Digital DNA Pros has remained committed to delivering exceptional results. Dave emphasizes continuous learning and proactive adaptation to ensure clients maintain a competitive edge in their industries. His approach is centered around building lasting relationships with clients, ensuring their digital presence remains robust and competitive.
Dave Carlson is not just a digital marketer; he is a business leader who understands the importance of staying ahead in a rapidly changing digital world. His passion for innovation and excellence drives Digital DNA Pros to consistently exceed client expectations.
Connect with Dave on LinkedIn to learn more about his work and insights into the digital marketing world.