Very few SEO experts will be upfront about this...


Hi Reader,

Most SEO experts will tell you the same thing: “Everyone should be doing SEO.”

But that’s not necessarily true.

SEO can be a powerful tool, but only when the conditions are right.
Profit margins, local competition, uniqueness of your offer… these all matter more than most people realize.

In this case-study style blog post, I’m breaking down two real SEO case studies from small businesses in New York:

✅ One business had a high-ticket service, low competition, and a wide-open opportunity to dominate local search and make high profits.

❌ The other was in a saturated ecommerce space with low margins and big-box competitors. For them, SEO just didn’t make sense.

If you’ve ever wondered whether SEO is actually worth it for your business, this article gives you a clear way to think it through.

And if you’re tired of SEO hype and want a realistic look at your competition, you can check out my free Local SEO Analyzer (in beta, so feel free to click the "verify results" button to double check the numbers). It’s designed to give you real answers in under 60 seconds.

To smarter marketing and SEO transparency,

🆘 Let me prioritize your SEO for you. Get a Squarespace AI SEO consult for $375. Learn More →​

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Squarespace SEO/AI SEO Expert Tips

Join hundreds of businesses owners and Squarespace designers who are getting my best SEO/AI SEO tips. Save time by keeping up with what really matters in the industry today and what is going to move the needle (suggestions that you probably haven't tried before). Sent monthly by Khara Wolf, Platinum Squarespace web designer and Squarespace SEO expert.

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