What SEO work really includes
Different providers mean different things by “SEO”, so ask for a written list of tasks before anything else. In practice it usually breaks into four parts.
The parts depend on each other. Excellent copy will not rescue a site that loads slowly and breaks on a phone, and a technically clean site still won’t bring buyers if its pages don’t answer their questions.
- Technical audit: speed, mobile layout, indexing, duplicate pages, structural errors.
- Keyword research: the phrases your customers really type, mapped to specific pages.
- Content: service and product pages, articles, answers to common questions.
- External signals: reviews, mentions, and company profiles in maps and directories.
Before you order website promotion
Start with the goal. For an online shop it is orders, for a clinic it is booked appointments, for a construction firm it is requests for a quote. The goal decides which pages you need and which search queries are worth targeting.
Then look at your site honestly. If it runs on a heavy template, has a confused structure or is awkward on mobile, promoting it will cost more and take longer than rebuilding it properly. Sometimes a new site built with search in mind is a better investment than years of patching the old one.
Set up analytics before work begins: counters, goals for calls and forms, and a way to track leads that arrive through Telegram. Without it you cannot tell real growth in enquiries from nice-looking charts.
How search works for Uzbek audiences
Your customers are likely bilingual. The same service is searched in Russian and in Uzbek, often with quite different wording. A site in only one language leaves part of the demand untouched, and a clumsy machine translation erodes trust. If your buyers use both languages, plan two versions with their own keyword research.
For local businesses, a complete Google Maps listing matters as much as the website: correct address, opening hours and reviews. Many searches such as “dentist near me” or “flower delivery Tashkent” are decided in map results.
Think about buyer habits too. Most people arrive from a phone, compare you with competitors on Instagram and contact you by Telegram or phone. Quick contact buttons, clear prices or ranges, and payment through Click or Payme can affect enquiries as much as rankings do.
How to choose an SEO provider
The market is uneven: freelancers, small teams and full-service agencies all offer SEO. The difference is not only price. It is who takes responsibility for results and can explain their actions in plain language.
Ask a few direct questions and compare the answers.
- What exactly will be done in the first month, and by whom?
- Which indicators will you track and how often will I get a report?
- What will you change on my site, and will I keep access to everything?
- What is your position on paid links and mass-produced automatic content?
- What happens to the project if we stop working together?
Metrics, timing and what drives the price
A useful report goes beyond keyword positions. Look at organic traffic, enquiries and calls from search, the share of qualified leads, and the cost per lead compared with other channels. Rankings are a checkpoint, not the goal.
SEO is a slow channel. Search engines do not react overnight, and results build up over time. Anyone who guarantees a specific position by a specific date is promising something they do not control.
Price depends on the current state of the site, competition in your niche, the number of pages and languages, the volume of content and whether developer work is required. That is why two quotes are rarely comparable by amount alone; compare the scope of work and the reporting format instead.
Red flags to watch for
Be careful if you are promised first place within weeks, shown no sample reports, refused access to analytics, or offered nothing but “link buying”. Recommendations that have no visible link to your sales are another warning sign.
If you want to know where to start in your own case, the markdev team can review your site, your niche and your analytics and suggest a realistic plan. Describe the task and we will discuss whether you need SEO now or should improve the website first.
FAQ
How long does SEO take to show results?
It depends on the site’s condition, the competition and the amount of work. Changes are rarely instant and growth builds gradually. An honest provider will not guarantee exact timing or positions.
Is a freelancer or an agency better for SEO?
A freelancer can be enough for a small project with a clear task. If you need development, content, analytics and reporting in one place, a team or agency is more convenient. What matters most is a transparent scope and access to your data.
Do I need a website in two languages?
If your customers search in both Russian and Uzbek, two versions cover more demand. The texts should read naturally rather than being machine-translated.
Can I start SEO if my website is outdated?
You can, but sometimes it is better to restructure or rebuild the site first. An audit shows what blocks growth and helps you decide whether to fix the current site or build a new one.
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