Independent consultancy · Oak Harbor, WA · Established 2017 360-257-9959 · help@top10seocompanylist.com
Home / Process

A small, predictable rhythm — borrowed from architects, not agencies.

Every engagement follows the same six-step shape, whether it's a one-off audit or a three-year fractional advisory relationship.

Step 01 · ~30 min

Discovery call

A free 30-minute video call. You describe what's happening, we ask the questions a careful first-time-buyer wouldn't think to ask, and we tell you plainly whether we think we're a fit. Roughly one in three calls ends with us recommending someone else.

Step 02 · ~5 days

Written brief

Within five working days of the call, you receive a one-to-two-page brief: what we'd do, what we wouldn't, who'd be involved, the timeline, and a flat fee. You read it, sleep on it, and either sign or don't.

Step 03 · ~1 week

Kickoff

A 60-minute working session — usually on a video call, sometimes in person if you're within driving distance of Whidbey. We collect access (analytics, Search Console, Bing Webmaster, CMS), align on success metrics, and set the cadence for status notes.

Step 04 · The bulk

Working phase

This is where most of the engagement lives. You'll get a short Friday status note every week — three sentences, not three pages — and we'll surface anything that needs your attention as it arises. Calendar is open if you want to talk.

Step 05 · 30 / 60 / 90 days

Review checkpoints

Formal reviews at 30, 60, and 90 days. We sit down with you, look at what's moved, what hasn't, and what we'd adjust. If the engagement isn't earning its keep, we say so first.

Step 06 · Always

Wrap-up & handover

Whether the project ends after one engagement or after five years, we deliver a clean handover document so the next steward — internal team or otherwise — has everything they need. Working files belong to you.

Frequently asked

A few honest questions, answered.

Will we be on a monthly retainer or a project fee?

Either. Audits and migrations are flat-fee projects. Local SEO programs, content strategy, link earning, and fractional advisory work are monthly retainers — always month-to-month, never with a minimum contract.

Do you guarantee rankings?

No reputable SEO does. What we guarantee is the workmanship, the cadence, and the honesty. If after 90 days the work hasn't moved the metrics we agreed on, we'll either change course or refund the prior month, no argument.

How quickly will I see results?

Technical fixes can show effects in days. Content and link work usually compounds over 4-to-9 months. Local search often moves within 6-to-12 weeks. We'll set realistic expectations on the discovery call and write them into the brief.

Do you work with my industry?

We've worked with hospitality, legal, light manufacturing, professional services, B2B SaaS, e-commerce, and a couple of nonprofits. We turn down adult, gambling, payday lending, and most crypto. Everything else is a conversation.

Where are you located, and does it matter?

We're in Oak Harbor, on Whidbey Island, Washington. About 70% of our clients are within a 200-mile radius; the rest are scattered across the U.S. We work primarily over video and email and travel for kickoffs when it makes sense.

Can I just hire you for one specific thing?

Yes. A one-off audit is the most common single-engagement service. Many clients begin there and then decide whether to continue.