Newbie... tips for where to start?

[CalicoKitty2000]

Hi!  I have been attempting to make my business website good for quite some time (5+ years).  I was doing my own SEO and do have 1st page ranks... but toward the bottom.  I pay a lot for Google Adwords and would like better organic ranking.  I hired an SEO and haven't seen much improvement.  I think I need to take it back over.  I am very overwhelmed.  Can anyone point me to where to start?  I don't have a large budget, so hiring an expensive SEO is out of the question.  Plus, I am scared to use someone that may do more harm than good in attempt to use sleezy techniques to get good short-term rankings.

I'd like to add that I have read Google's webmaster guide and have done every.single.thing recommended.  I have a facebook page, blog, google+ page, twitter, pinterest, instagram, and linkedin account. I use sprout social to post to all of these at once.  I have competitors that don't pay attention to SEO and have never hired one that outrank me.  I have keyword focused pages, and I have looked at keywords as a percentage of over all text.  I have all my headers setup according to moz.  Its been 6 months and I have actually lost a little rank.. not gained.

[CalicoKitty2000]

This post is deleted!

[photoseo1]

Are you building links to authority sites in your niche? Spreading any content outside of your blog and your Sprout Social auto posting?

Need more info into what you are currently doing off page and what niche your in before I can craft any ideas.

[CalicoKitty2000]

Thank you for your response!

I have done a lot of directory focused links (yp, yelp, citysearch, ect).  (I know, not the best).  I have also done a lot of local directory websites. I do feel like I need a good strategy to get good quality links.

My SEO has done press releases, but I'm not sure where or with what content.

According to Open Site Explorer, I have PageAuthority of 40, MozRank of 4.58, MozTrust of 5.75, 98% equity-passing links.  The metrics are better than my competitors, but yet, they still outrank me.

My husband is the "face" of the business.  His blog is new, but he's a great story teller.  We have been getting great reach on facebook with his stories.  How do I get them posted elsewhere? If we start posting on forums, will that help?

My niche is deep sea fishing charters. My target audience consists of tourists looking to book a fishing trip.  My husbands blog is about stories of interesting trips or people he has encountered along the way.