You're Paying What for SEO?

SEO or Search Engine Optimization is a complex theory, but it has some common elements that are easy to understand. These include elements such as meta data - keywords, titles, description and content. (Content is the textual part of your web site). All these elements form the basis for ORGANIC searches.

So lets look at some interesting topics:

High rankings in Google.
Don't focus totally on Google. Google is averaging around only 40-65% of the search engine market share, depending on where you look or who you ask. Any firm that pushes Google rankings (or any other single engine like Yahoo) is not performing SEO to its fullest potential. Other engines like Yahoo, MSN, AOL, Ask, Alta Vista are still leading engines widely used on the net. Experienced internet users will use more than one engine when doing research.

High Rankings on 1 Engine can damage rankings on other engines.
Thats why some firms will push just one engine like only Google or only Yahoo. For example, Google and Yahoo have different recommendations for the use of keywords. The ordering of, number of, and relevency relationships - all are utilized differently by EACH search engine. This WILL introduce conflict on the 'proper' way to do keywords - and there is no proper way. It is still a guessing game in the end.

The basic organic search optimization CAN be done in-house by the web site owner if they have the tools or capabilities to update their site. Its not rocket science and how-to information abounds (www.searchenginewatch.com is a good starting point).

What IS it worth?
Well that depends. The organic techniques YOU can do for free. There isn't a large learning curve to it. Common sense will go a long way here. So do you want to pay a web design or SEO shop a $1000 a month (and at an average of $75/hr that comes to about 13 hours of work) OR do you want pay some one on staff for a LOT less hourly cost?

Oh so you signed a year contract? Opps. Do you get a refund if your ranking drops? (remember you're paying for HIGHER rankings not LOWER ones).

Another 'gotcha' is the good ole "in bound link campaign" or referring links from other sites. Be careful here. Link farms are a BIG no-no. If your SEO 'expert' wants to add your link to other sites make dang sure that the site holding your link is industry related otherwise it may bring down your overall ranking.

 

Categories: SEO Myths

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31. January 2009 04:17 by Administrator2 | Comments (0) | Permalink

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About the author

I've been involved in Internet technology since the early 90's. I started by running a BBS, then FIDOnet (precursor to todays e-mail). This in turn lead me to start one of the world's first HTML based BBS with Internet technology. Prior to moving back to hometown WV in 2004, I was a developer for numerous companies, including Fortune 500 firms, dot com 'darling' companies, and AOL's public web site (non-member side) inlcuding having completed many sites for the Federal government including the EPA, FCC, NIH, and the USDA. I've worked on massive challenging sites, with a teams of developers, programmers, all for one single site and I've worked in companies where I took manula web site production from several weeks to just hours creating 2-5 new sites a week using automated tools , many with e-commerce capabilities.

Its been an exciting career for the past 15+ yrs or so. Sure, I've stepped on toes, I've hit the perverbial glass ceiling too (in a previous job),  I've seen trends come and go (heck I may have even started a few). I've made some people a lot of money, and I've seen people put their entire life into a web site. I was there at  the beginning - where were you?

I've learned to tell what works for companies and what doesn't. The internet is not one size fits all, as social networking is not for every company. Technology is not the challenge. Almost all the internet technology suitable for everyday business is off-the-shelf, the true challenge is change. Change involves education, implementation, and adaptation.