About Me
As an experienced SEO consultant, I’ve helped a wide range of B2B, B2C, public sector, and E-commerce businesses understand their search engine optimisation strategy and improve the return on their online investment. I also work with marketing agencies and consultants, allowing them to provide specialist SEO consultancy alongside their existing services.
I can offer highly competitive rates because I operate without many of the overheads of larger agencies. I’ll be your point of contact for all work, delivering SEO consultancy explicitly tailored to your business needs. If that sounds like something that could work for you and your business, get in touch today.
Why Work With Me?
Since 2006, I have provided SEO consultancy to a wide range of B2B and B2C clients, either as an executive or manager at digital marketing agencies across Manchester or under my own auspices as Slingshot Search.
I’ve seen what works and what doesn’t in SEO. I understand that every site is unique and must be your SEO campaign. My approach has helped dozens of businesses increase their organic ROI and leapfrog their competition, sometimes entirely revolutionising the business in question.
As your freelance SEO consultant, I will provide advice tailored to your specific needs as a business and as a businessperson. So, whether you need a little SEO guidance and support or a fully implemented SEO strategy, or whether you prefer to communicate through email, phone, Zoom, or Morse code, we’ll work together in a way that works for you.
My SEO Consultancy Services
As a veteran SEO consultant of 18+ years, I understand the intricate dynamics of search engine optimisation. I aim to leverage this knowledge and expertise to drive your website’s visibility, attract targeted traffic, and propel your business forward. With a tailored approach to each project, I offer a range of SEO consultancy services that will transform your online presence and deliver tangible results.
Keyword Research
Organic Content Strategy
Fuel your online success with a strategic organic content strategy. Tailored to your target audience, I’ll help you create engaging content that captivates, converts, and climbs the search rankings.
Technical SEO
Supercharge your online presence with meticulous technical SEO. From website audits to optimisation, I’ll ensure your site meets search engine standards, improves user experience, and boosts organic visibility.
Competitive Organic Analysis
Gain a competitive edge with thorough competitive organic analysis. Uncover valuable insights into your rivals’ strategies and leverage them to enhance your own SEO tactics, outrank competitors, and dominate your market.
Link Building
Boost your website’s authority and visibility with strategic link building. I’ll help you secure high-quality backlinks from reputable sources, driving organic traffic and improving your search engine rankings.
Transparent Reporting
Experience the power of transparent reporting. Gain valuable insights into your organic traffic, keyword rankings, and performance metrics, empowering data-driven decisions for continuous SEO success.
My Career as an SEO Consultant
With a solid background in the SEO industry, I bring a wealth of expertise to each project. Years of hands-on experience as an SEO consultant have sharpened my skills in developing effective strategies, optimising websites, and delivering real results.
I began my professional SEO career as a trainee at one of Manchester’s pioneering internet marketing agencies. As it turned out, the traineeship didn’t last long because the two senior staff members who were supposed to train me left the agency within two months! As a result, I found myself unexpectedly taking on the role of a “senior SEO” by default.
Subsequently, this agency underwent an acquisition and downsizing.
In a time-sensitive job search, I found myself taking on a customer-facing position at a digital agency that prioritised low prices over quality. I was tasked with managing ongoing phone communication with approximately 150 perpetually dissatisfied clients on a monthly basis.
I chose to move on from this role after around 9 months.
Recognising that my strengths lie in planning and implementing SEO campaigns, I took on consecutive roles as a “Senior SEO Consultant” at two agencies in and around Manchester.
During my tenure in these positions, I had the privilege of working on SEO campaigns for diverse businesses, gaining valuable experience. They also provided me with the opportunity to manage junior staff for the first time in my career.
After witnessing the impact of the Google Penguin and Panda updates in 2011/2012, it became clear to me that the traditional approach to “agency SEO” needed to change, and I decided to explore opportunities beyond pure SEO. This led me to gain valuable experience in areas such as user experience, conversion rate optimisation and social media.
However, it didn’t take me long to realise that my true passion and aptitude still resided in SEO and the ever-evolving nature of search engines and the challenge of optimising websites for better visibility.
Reluctant to return to the same old agency model, I decided to see what I could achieve on my own. I set up Slingshot Search in 2015 so that I could deliver honest, considered advice that prioritised the client’s interests above all else.
In the 8+ years since its inception, Slingshot Search has helped dozens of business owners to improve the return on their investment in organic search. Agencies have also benefited from my ad-hoc support. I’m proud to say that I have been working with some of these business since day one.
What My SEO Consultancy Clients Say
“Expert advice and knowledge with the performance to back it up. Slingshot Search have helped increase our online exposure beyond what we thought possible – cannot recommend enough!”
“I have worked with Matt for the last 5 years across a wide range of client accounts, spanning industries such as FInTech, Premium Alcohol, Luxury Watches, Arts and Culture organisations. Matt’s expertise has been an invaluable resource, not only in delivering exceptional results for existing clients, but providing consultation during the acquisition of new business.”
Need some SEO Support? Lets Talk.
All Set to Increase Your Online Visibility? Let’s talk about your SEO requirements and see how I can help your company flourish. Take the first step towards SEO success by getting in touch with me right now for a customised consultation.
SEO FAQ
The art of optimising your website for search engines to increase its visibility when customers look for goods or services associated with your company is known as SEO (Search Engine Optimisation). At Slingshot Search, my area of expertise is comprehending the unique requirements of Manchester-based companies to efficiently increase their online visibility and attract relevant traffic.
Keeping up with Google’s algorithm updates is my main priority. I regularly participate in SEO forums, attend seminars, and pursue continuing education to keep my skills current. I can quickly adjust your SEO strategy to ensure that your website takes advantage of fresh opportunities to improve its search engine ranks and stays current with the most recent updates thanks to my proactive learning.
Optimising a local retail client’s website was one of my most recent initiatives. Within six months, we witnessed a 50% boost in organic traffic and a 30% rise in online sales by putting targeted keyword strategies into practice, optimising the site’s mobile accessibility, and speeding up page loads.
Using cutting-edge technologies like SEMrush and Ahrefs, I conduct a thorough keyword research process to find high-opportunity keywords that are relevant to your business and not unduly competitive. In order to identify holes and chances, I also examine the keyword tactics of your rivals. The groundwork for link-building, on-page SEO, and content production is laid by this comprehensive examination.
I monitor important performance metrics including organic traffic, ranking positions, and conversion rates using tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console. Every month, I give reports that include updates, observations, and recommended actions. To ensure openness and compatibility with your objectives, these reports are tailored to emphasise the indicators that matter most to your company.
One of the hardest things has been adjusting to Google’s Core algorithm’s more frequent changes. To get over this, I make time each week for professional development, go to conferences in the field, and try out new strategies.
I adhere strictly to tried and tested SEO techniques, focusing on creating quality content and building quality backlinks. I conduct regular audits to ensure your website meets the latest SEO standards and guidelines, protecting it from penalties and ensuring long-term, sustainable ranking improvements.
For local businesses, my focus is on optimizing for local search queries, enhancing Google My Business listings, and building local citations to improve visibility within the community. For global businesses, I concentrate on international SEO strategies, such as geo-targeting, hreflang tags for language targeting, and building a global backlink profile.
My customised approach and dedication to the development of your organisation are what make me stand out. I provide individualised solutions and direct, hands-on support throughout our collaboration, in contrast to larger agencies.
SEO works by combining technical, off-page, and on-page tactics to improve your website’s visibility to search engines. At Slingshot Search, I use a tailored approach to customise these methods to your business’s demands, increasing your online presence and search engine position.
While basic SEO can be managed independently, the complexities and ever-evolving nature of SEO strategies usually require a specialist’s touch. At Slingshot Search, I offer my extensive expertise and tailored approach to ensure your SEO strategy is both effective and efficient, saving you time and enhancing your results.
SEO is a long-term investment, with significant improvements typically observable within 3-6 months. At Slingshot Search, I focus on creating sustainable SEO strategies that aim for steady growth, ensuring your Manchester-based business builds and maintains high visibility online.
Keywords are the cornerstone of SEO, guiding potential customers to your content. At Slingshot Search, I provide comprehensive keyword research tailored to your business, ensuring we target terms that will drive the most relevant and profitable traffic to your site.
Local SEO targets your business’s visibility in location-based searches, which is crucial for Manchester businesses serving local customers. Slingshot Search can optimise your presence for local searches, ensuring customers in Manchester find you quickly and easily.
Backlinks serve as endorsements from other websites, crucial for building your site’s authority. At Slingshot Search, I focus on building a robust backlink profile with high-quality, relevant links that enhance your site’s credibility and search engine ranking.
On-page SEO involves optimising elements within your website, such as content and meta tags, while off-page SEO focuses on external signals like backlinks. Slingshot Search offers comprehensive services covering both aspects to ensure a holistic and effective SEO strategy for your business.
Success in SEO can be measured using various tools and metrics, including traffic, rankings, and conversions. Slingshot Search provides detailed reporting and analysis, offering clear insights into the effectiveness of your SEO strategies and areas for improvement.
Meta tags help search engines understand and categorise your content. Slingshot Search can optimise these tags to ensure they’re compelling, relevant, and technically sound, improving your click-through rates from search results.
Yes, website speed is a ranking factor. Slingshot Search can help optimise your site’s speed, ensuring a better user experience and potentially higher rankings in search results.
Mobile SEO optimises your site for mobile users, essential as mobile searches continue to rise. Slingshot Search ensures your website is fully responsive and mobile-friendly, catering to the vast number of users accessing the web on mobile devices.
While social media doesn’t directly impact SEO rankings, it can influence your online visibility and traffic. Slingshot Search can help you leverage social media to support your SEO efforts, enhancing your brand’s online presence.
Content marketing involves creating valuable content to attract and engage your target audience, directly supporting your SEO by attracting backlinks and driving traffic. Slingshot Search can help you develop a content strategy that boosts your SEO performance.
Improving your website’s SEO involves several steps, from ensuring a clean, navigable structure to creating quality content and securing backlinks. Slingshot Search offers comprehensive SEO audits and strategies to enhance every aspect of your site’s SEO friendliness.
Common pitfalls include neglecting mobile optimisation, ignoring local SEO, and using outdated or spammy tactics. Slingshot Search focuses on ethical, effective SEO strategies that avoid these pitfalls, ensuring long-term success for your Manchester business.
SEO trends and algorithms change regularly, so it’s crucial to keep your strategy up to date. Slingshot Search continuously monitors these changes, adapting your strategy as needed to maintain and improve your rankings.
No, search engines rank content based on relevance and authority, not payment. However, Slingshot Search can enhance your organic search performance through expert SEO strategies.
Analytics provide insights into your website’s performance, helping guide SEO strategy. Slingshot Search uses advanced analytics to inform our strategies, ensuring we’re always targeting improvements that will make a real difference to your online visibility.
Staying informed about SEO requires constant learning and adaptation. Slingshot Search stays at the forefront of SEO best practices, ensuring your Manchester business benefits from the latest strategies and techniques.
HTTPS ensures your website is secure for users, a factor that search engines consider when ranking sites. Slingshot Search can guide you through the process of securing your site with HTTPS, enhancing both security and SEO.
Reducing bounce rates and maintaining a pleasant user experience are crucial for improving SEO and keeping visitors on your website. Slingshot Search concentrates on improving both SEO and UX to make sure that your website not only ranks highly but also pleases users.
The results that show up in an organic search are ones that are relevant to the search terms and do not come from sponsored advertising. Slingshot Search specialises in raising the organic position of your website using thorough SEO tactics customised for your company.
Regular blogging can greatly improve your SEO by generating backlinks and traffic from fresh, pertinent material. You can create a blogging strategy that appeals to your target audience and supports your SEO objectives with the aid of Slingshot Search.
Crawl errors occur when search engines cannot access parts of your site, potentially harming your SEO by preventing content from being indexed. Slingshot Search can identify and resolve these errors, ensuring search engines can easily crawl and index your site.
Structured data and schema markup help search engines understand and display your content in rich snippets, enhancing visibility in search results. Slingshot Search can implement these technical elements to improve your site’s search performance.
Headings help structure your content, making it easier for both users and search engines to navigate. Slingshot Search ensures your headings are optimised for SEO, helping improve your content’s visibility and structure.
A website redesign can impact SEO, either positively or negatively, depending on how it’s handled. Slingshot Search ensures that SEO considerations are integral to your website’s redesign process, preserving and enhancing your search engine rankings.
Google My Business is a tool that allows you to manage your online presence across Google, crucial for local SEO. Slingshot Search can optimise your GMB listing to improve visibility in local searches, driving more Manchester-based customers to your business.
Pay close attention to following search engine standards and best practices to keep your website safe from SEO penalties. Check your website frequently for problems like broken links, duplicate content, and artificial backlinks. Using techniques that have been meticulously refined over time, Slingshot Search makes sure your website has a robust and healthy internet presence with less chance of penalties.