Frequently Asked Questions
Everything You Want To Know Before You Start
Answers on working with us, digital marketing basics, SEO, digital advertising, and website creation — straight from the team, no sales pitch.
Getting Started
Working With Cyrusson
How do I get my business started with Cyrusson?
You have a few options: book a Planning Call, submit our contact form, email info@cyrusson.com, call 415-228-9969, or request a Digital Presence Report & Marketing Strategy Meeting.
What is The Cyrusson System?
A comprehensive, omni-channel marketing strategy we apply across every client engagement — one that considers all stages of the customer journey. See the full breakdown on our Cyrusson System page.
What type of support do you provide my business?
Personalized support from a real team, with responses within 24–48 hours, monthly/quarterly/semi-annual review calls, and access to The Business Center — our client portal for campaign reporting and transparency.
Why should I hire Cyrusson to perform digital marketing services for my business?
We're a boutique agency serving 100+ clients across 20+ industries, with Google Certified Partners on staff, delivering flat-fee services that typically cost less than building an in-house marketing department.
What is your typical pricing for Cyrusson's marketing services?
Most small-business clients start around $599–$1,500/month for a focused, single-market campaign, with medium to larger campaigns typically running $1,500/month and up. Highly competitive industries or multi-location campaigns can reach $3,000–$6,500+/month. Exact pricing depends on your goals, geographic reach, industry competitiveness, the specific services involved, and your current digital presence. See our full Pricing page for typical ranges by service.
How am I billed for your digital marketing services, and is there a contract?
Payment is via ACH bank transfer or credit card (3.5% processing fee applies to card payments). We require a 6- or 12-month service agreement, because digital marketing results don't happen overnight — consistency is essential to seeing real results.
The Basics
Digital Marketing
Why do I need digital marketing for my business?
A website alone isn't enough in a competitive online space. Digital marketing — SEO, social media, and advertising — helps your business stand out and turn a new visitor into a customer.
How do I know how much to dedicate to my marketing budget?
A common benchmark is roughly 5–10% of revenue, though the right number depends on your specific business model and goals.
What is the purpose of digital marketing?
Virtually every business has an audience that spends time online — digital marketing is how you reach that audience and convert them into customers.
How is reporting delivered?
Weekly and/or monthly executive reports, available inside our Business Center dashboard.
Is there a contract minimum?
Yes — a minimum 6-month service agreement, since results typically improve after six months. We recommend 6–12 months for most campaigns.
What goes into digital marketing?
SEO, digital advertising, blog content, social media posts, reputation management, and website creation/optimization — tailored to your audience and market strategy.
Search Engine Optimization
SEO
How does SEO work?
Ranking on Google comes down to relevance and trust. Relevance is about the quality of your content and the code behind the scenes. Trust comes from quality sites linking back to yours — that signals to Google's algorithm that your content is worth boosting.
How long does SEO take to see results?
Good SEO can't be rushed. Most clients take 4–6 months to rank on the first page, and roughly 86% of our small-business clients are found on the first page after 6–9 months of work. Competitive markets can take 6+ months. You'll have unlimited access to a custom reporting dashboard to track every part of the campaign.
How much does SEO cost?
Local SEO campaigns start around $599/month, with final pricing shaped by your goals, industry competitiveness, target locations, keyword difficulty, current rankings, website domain age, content volume, and overall scope of work.
What's the difference between a local SEO campaign and a national SEO campaign?
A national business ranks for the keyword alone (e.g. "plumbing supplies"), while a local business ranks for the keyword plus geography (e.g. "plumbing supplies DC"). Local SEO targets customers in your service area; national SEO targets broad terms with no geographic tie.
Does SEO work for every business?
Yes. Whether you offer a product or a service, SEO can move your website up the rankings and increase sales.
Does SEO improve my business?
SEO strengthens your website's foundation and makes it more appealing to search engines — which means it ranks higher and becomes more visible to prospective clients on Google and Bing.
What is on-page vs. off-page SEO?
On-page SEO is any work done directly on your website — titles, tags, descriptions, content, and structure. Off-page SEO happens elsewhere: blog writing, link building, social sharing, bookmarking, and more.
Should I use SEO if I already rank for some keywords?
Absolutely. SEO is dynamic — rankings shift as Google updates its algorithms and competition increases. Maintaining SEO matters for primary keywords as well as secondary and tertiary terms.
Can you guarantee ranking #1 on searches?
No one can guarantee a #1 spot — SEO is complex and constantly changing. Done right, at the right pace, with the right content, most clients reach the first page within 4–6 months.
What is guest blogging?
Guest blogging places your content on other sites whose readers find it valuable. When it performs well, it earns a backlink to your website, strengthening your SEO.
What are backlinks and why are they important?
Backlinks are links from other websites pointing to yours. We build them safely and authentically — no shady shortcuts — so your site outranks competitors relying on on-page work alone.
What's the difference between PPC Google Ads and SEO?
SEO is a long-term, unpaid strategy that keeps driving traffic as long as you maintain it. PPC is paid and short-term — traffic stops when the budget does. SEO builds lasting results; PPC delivers a quicker injection of traffic.
How often does Google update its search algorithm?
Google doesn't announce major updates directly, but they happen every few months, with smaller updates in between. We track 1,000+ keywords to catch fluctuations and adjust campaigns accordingly.
Can my business show up on Google Maps?
Yes — with a fully completed, verified Google Business Profile and a verified website. Adding videos, photos, and reviews increases your odds of appearing in the Maps section of search results.
What's the connection between Google Business Profile and Local SEO?
Google Business Profile acts like an online directory listing — contact info, hours, photos, videos, and category. A complete, verified profile is prioritized by Google and shows up on both Search and Maps, so it's essential for local rankings.
What are long-tail keywords?
Longer, more specific search phrases that are less common but often convert better because they match a very particular intent.
How often should I update my website content or blog?
At least twice a month, to keep your site fresh with the kind of updated information search engines prefer.
Can I see results you've generated in other client SEO campaigns?
Yes — visit our SEO Case Studies to see real results.
Why do I need a blog for my website?
A blog keeps your site fresh with relevant information, establishes thought leadership, helps you reach new customers through social sharing, and targets specific keywords to drive traffic and improve rankings.
Paid Media
Digital Advertising
What are the benefits of advertising with PPC ads?
PPC drives relevant traffic faster than SEO, though it costs more since you're paying for each click and campaign management. A key benefit: PPC gives you clear data on whether a campaign is working, so you can adjust in real time.
What's the difference between PPC Google Ads and SEO?
SEO is a long-term, unpaid strategy — traffic keeps coming as long as you maintain it. PPC is paid and short-term, lasting only as long as it's budgeted, but delivers a faster injection of traffic.
What's the difference between Facebook Ads and Google Ads?
Google Ads is active advertising — placing ads in front of people already searching for what you offer. Facebook Ads is passive advertising — placing ads in front of people based on interests and demographics, without an active search.
What platforms do you perform advertising services on?
Google Search and Display Network, YouTube Ads, Facebook Advertising, and Instagram Advertising.
How much does digital advertising cost?
Google and Facebook ad packages start at $350/month (management fee plus recommended ad spend, one combined total) plus a one-time $199 setup fee, and scale to $2,250/month for our Pro tier, with custom plans for larger budgets or multiple campaigns. Cost depends on your industry, campaign goals, competitiveness, target locations, creative needs, platforms used, number of landing pages, call tracking needs, and overall scope. We generally recommend a minimum media spend of about $1,250 per market/location for effective lead generation. Book a Planning Call for a customized quote.
Can I see results you've generated in other client ad campaigns?
Yes — view our Digital Ads Case Studies.
What does the timeline look like from contract to campaign launch?
Campaigns typically launch within 5–10 business days after we receive all required assets (copy, logos, etc.). We'll send a preview email with ad screenshots a day or two before launch so you can share any feedback.
What keywords are selected for the campaign?
You'll specify your campaign goal and target audience, plus your top 10 relevant keywords. Our strategists use that to build the campaign.
Where will my ads be served?
LocalAds campaigns are display campaigns that can be combined with social, search, or video depending on your goals and spend — display ads on websites your audience visits, search ads on Google's results page, and video ads on platforms like YouTube.
Can I target multiple audiences in the same campaign?
You can, but we recommend focusing on one audience per campaign — splitting your spend across multiple audiences can hurt performance. If you want to target more than one, we recommend increasing your media spend accordingly.
How often can I make changes to my campaign?
One round of revisions is included free after launch. We limit frequent changes so we can properly analyze and optimize performance. Additional revisions carry an $80 flat fee — book a call with us to go over specifics.
What is a Facebook Pixel?
A piece of code on your website that lets us measure, optimize, and build audiences for your campaign — tracking actions like purchases or form submissions so we can retarget or build lookalike audiences from converters.
Do you monitor comments on my Facebook ads?
No — you'll receive notifications directly from Facebook or Instagram whenever a reaction, comment, or share happens on your ad.
Will I be able to see my campaign within my own Ads Manager?
We run all campaigns through our own Ads Manager to simplify billing and keep full control over the campaign, including click-fraud and bot-click prevention software.
Do you provide stock images?
Yes, if requested. That said, we recommend using your own professional photos for a more authentic, engaging campaign.
If we're already using our own Facebook Pixel, can we continue?
Yes — we'll request access so we can run the campaign more effectively and help you get the best possible results.
If we run a contest ad, will you help pick a winner?
No. We can run an ad to promote your contest, but selecting a winner and meeting contest rules and regulations is your responsibility.
What are the limitations on Facebook ads?
We recommend reviewing Facebook's advertising policy directly for the most current rules.
How will my ads show up in relevant searches?
Your ads will only appear when the keywords we've targeted are searched on Google.
What type of digital advertising do you recommend?
It depends on your goal. Active advertising (Google Search Ads) reaches people already searching with intent to buy, but can cost more. Passive advertising (Facebook/Google Display Ads) targets people by interest and demographic. Not sure what fits? Book a Planning Call and we'll help you decide.
Websites
Website Creation
Does Cyrusson provide business website hosting?
Yes. Our hosting runs on Google Cloud with unlimited storage, automatic daily backups, SSL certificates, and automated speed, security, and reporting analytics.
Do you build on Wix, Weebly, Squarespace, or GoDaddy?
No — we build exclusively on WordPress. Those other platforms tend to underperform on search rankings and limit our ability to fully customize a site for conversion or organic ranking.
Do I own my business website once it's completed?
Yes — 100% ownership of everything we design and develop.
What is the general cost for developing a business website?
Packages start at $999 (one-time) for a basic site and go up to $5,000+ (one-time) for more advanced designs, depending on page count, content requirements, and customization. Plans require a 12-month minimum and include hosting, support, maintenance, an AI chatbot, speed optimization, and an SEO plugin for $225/month.
What should be included on my business's website?
A Home page, About page, Services/Products page, and Contact Us page at minimum — plus a blog and Case Studies/Testimonials pages if you have them.
What does responsive design mean?
Your site automatically adjusts layout and content to fit any screen size or orientation, so there's no horizontal scrolling or awkward text sizing on mobile.
What does Google Analytics do for me?
It's a free analytics platform that shows how people find and use your site, so you can track ROI on your marketing efforts.
What's included with website maintenance & support?
Direct access to our team for technical support, revisions to images/text/minor changes, quarterly backend updates (WordPress core, plugins, themes), health checks upon request, and urgent support if your site goes down. Available for sites hosted on our platform.
Where can I see the list of approved plugins?
Available upon request.
Can you build sites outside your hosting platform, or in my own hosting environment?
No — sites are built in our hosting environment. Once complete, you're free to migrate elsewhere, though we don't provide migration services to other platforms (we can export your files).
What image sizes do you recommend?
Full-screen/background: 1920×1080px. Logo: 200×100px. Product image: 800×800px. Column widths: 1-column 1080px, 2-column 510px, 3-column 320px, 4-column 225px, 5-column 168px, 6-column 130px.
What file formats are recommended for images?
JPEG for most photographs (great compatibility, color range, small file size). PNG for smaller, detail-heavy images. GIF for limited-color small images or simple animation.
What do the fields on the eCommerce spreadsheet mean?
post_title (item name), post_content (full description), post_excerpt (short description), product_type (variable/simple/virtual/downloadable), product_cat (category), product_tag (subcategory), sku (product identifier), parent sku (main sku), attributes/sizes, and weight/dimensions.
Do you have examples of websites your team has built?
Yes — proposal decks with recent designs are available on request, and we maintain a page of recent work samples.
Are the sites you build HIPAA compliant?
Not by default, but we can integrate HIPAA-compliant features and services that you provide.
I've chosen a premium plugin — what's next?
You'll purchase the license yourself and provide the credentials to our developers for integration. Integration is billed hourly and isn't included in standard packages.
Can we build a multi-lingual site?
Yes, using the GTranslate plugin. The free version uses Google's standard translation; editing those translations requires the premium version.
What happens to my website if I cancel service?
Your site is archived for up to 30 days after hosting cancellation. Website files can be exported for migration, though we don't assist with migrations to non-proprietary hosts.
Can you turn my website into an e-commerce site?
Yes — any WordPress site we build can be converted to e-commerce, with additional charges for the integration.
What if I need more customizations made to the website?
Available for sites we've built. Your assigned developer will quote an hourly rate for integrations, functionality, or design work.
Do I need to host with your platform?
We require the site be built in our hosting environment initially, but you're free to move it elsewhere afterward (we don't provide migration support to other hosts).
What standard plugins are available?
Simple History, Google XML, Yoast SEO, Yoast Breadcrumb, Divi Booster, Divi Accessibility, Smush Pro, Gravity Forms, WPMU Dev, and WooCommerce. Other plugins depend on your package and integration cost.
Can you handle multi-site web builds?
Yes — each site requires its own hosting environment, since we don't currently support multiple sites on a single hosting environment.
Do I have all backend access once the website is completed?
Yes — you get the same access our own designers have, through our client portal, The Business Center (login.cyrusson.com).
Is SSL included on my website?
Yes — every site hosted on our platform automatically receives an SSL certificate.
Can we use special themes from ThemeForest or the Envato marketplace?
Yes, though these are treated as custom builds and billed at our hourly integration rate, limited to what the theme itself supports.
Can you transfer sites from Squarespace, Wix, Mono, Duda, or Shopify?
No — those platforms use proprietary website building systems. Once you leave their hosting, the site itself doesn't transfer, so a new website would need to be built.
How do I estimate customization costs if I don't want to stick to your framework templates?
On average, it takes about 1 hour to customize 2 website pages, billed hourly with time rounded up (e.g., 3 pages would round up to 2 hours).
Can you create a reusable template from a custom site you've built for me?
Yes — if we've customized a site you love, let us know and we can save it as a template for future sites.
Still Have Questions?
Book a Planning Call and we'll walk through exactly what makes sense for your business.