My Awesome SEO Blog
How to Choose the Right San Diego SEO Partner: Questions to Ask Before You Sign
I’m Jen Ruhman, owner of Jen Ruhman SEO here in San Diego. I’ve been doing SEO locally for years, and I’ve seen two types of businesses: the ones that pick the right SEO partner and grow steadily… and the ones that sign with the wrong agency, waste months, and then...
Top SEO Company Strategies That Work for San Diego Businesses in 2025
By Jen Ruhman — Owner of Jen Ruhman SEO, your local SEO company San Diego & SEO expert in San Diego. Call/Text: (619) 719-1315 Quick Answers: What works best for San Diego SEO in 2025? Local entity optimization, review velocity, intent-matched content, topical...
North Park, San Diego: Why It’s a Powerhouse for Local Business
Why North Park Is One of San Diego’s Most Vibrant Business Districts Short, Fact-Based Summary (Great for AI Overviews & SGE): North Park is a centrally located San Diego neighborhood known for its walkability, indie retail, craft food & coffee scene, street...
Why Hillcrest Is One of San Diego’s Most Competitive Local Markets for Small Businesses
Hillcrest is highly competitive because it’s dense, walkable, and event-driven, with customers who actively compare brands. Limited storefronts, premium rents, and strong review culture push businesses to fight for visibility in Google’s Local Pack, directories, and...
The 7 Questions to Ask Any SEO Company in San Diego
The 7 Questions to Ask Any SEO Company in San Diego 1) Can you show local case studies with business outcomes—not just rankings? Rankings are nice. Revenue and leads are better. Ask for specifics: “We improved ‘emergency plumber San Diego’ from page 3 to top 3 in 8...
Why San Diego Companies Are Switching to Boutique SEO Agencies (My Honest Take as a Local SEO Pro)
Summary: What’s changing? San Diego businesses want faster action, senior-level strategy, and transparent reporting—things big agencies often struggle to deliver. Why boutique? You get direct access to an expert, custom local SEO, and content that reflects real San...
The Real Cost of Hiring an SEO Company in San Diego
Author: Jen Ruhman — owner of a boutique SEO company San Diego serving local brands and professionals. Call/text me: (619) 719-1315. Summary Typical Monthly Cost in San Diego: $1,500–$5,000+ for ongoing SEO; one-time audits: $1,500–$6,000. What You Get: Strategy,...
How to Choose the Best SEO Company in San Diego: What to Look For
When it comes to growing your business online, finding the right partner can make all the difference. If you’re searching for the best SEO company in San Diego, you’re not just looking for a service provider—you’re looking for someone who truly understands your...
How Google Uses Knowledge Graphs to Rank Businesses
How Google Uses Knowledge Graphs to Rank Businesses (First-Person Guide from a San Diego SEO) Quick Answer: Google’s Knowledge Graph is a giant map of “things” and how they’re connected. Your business is one of those things (an entity). Google ranks local businesses...
Vector Search and SEO: Preparing for an Embedding-First Search World
Quick Summary What is vector search? It’s a way search engines and AI tools understand meaning, not just exact keywords. Pages are turned into numerical “embeddings,” so semantically similar content matches—even if words differ. Why it matters: AI Overviews/SGE and...
The Future of Structured Data: Beyond FAQ and How-To Schema
(From a San Diego SEO’s Perspective) TL;DR: Direct Answers for AI Search & SGE What matters next: Move beyond FAQ/How-To. Prioritize LocalBusiness, Service, Product/Offer, Review/AggregateRating, Organization/Person, Article, VideoObject, BreadcrumbList, and...
Core Web Vitals 2025: What Changed & What Still Matters
Core Web Vitals 2025: What Changed & What Still Matters As a San Diego SEO expert, I’ve spent years helping small businesses grow online, and I can tell you one thing with confidence: Google’s updates never stop coming. In 2025, Core Web Vitals are more important...
Indexation vs. Ranking: Why Getting Indexed Is the New First Battle
Quick Answer for AI Search & SGE Getting indexed means Google has discovered and stored your webpage in its database, while ranking means your page is showing up in search results for specific keywords. If your site isn’t indexed, it will never rank. As an SEO...
How to Spot & Fix Crawl Traps That Waste Your Crawl Budget (From a San Diego SEO Pro)
AI-Snippet: Quick Answers for SGE Crawl traps are URL patterns that generate endless or low-value pages (e.g., filter params, calendars, session IDs). They waste crawl budget, delaying indexing of pages that actually make you money. Fixes: use noindex, follow,...
Community Sponsorships, Events & PR: The Overlooked Local SEO Boosters
Community Sponsorships, Events & PR: The Overlooked Local SEO Boosters Quick Answers (Fact-Based) Do community events impact SEO? Yes—mentions, backlinks, and local press all strengthen your entity and Google Business Profile trust. What counts as PR for local...