These days, trying to improve your website search engine ranking can be a long and frustrating nightmare. Being a search engine optimisation specialist and having established my own business, many clients seem to be confused about the long process of how to build website presence in the search engines. Having built my own site from scratch and having struggled to get the desired ranks, one thing is for sure, it does take time.
Many seem to believe that link building will get you the desired ranks in no time. That is quiet wrong. Whilst there is a lot of talk about link building, many seem to forget the basics of website optimisation (content, coding and tags). Search engines like Yahoo! place strong emphasis on these basics whilst Google may favor factors outside our control such as link popularity. So how do we satisfy all search engines?
Notes are as follows:
1. Focus on the things that can be done at your end. This includes:
- Writing efficient code with as much scripting placed into external files.
- Select targeted keywords that do not have a large number or competing pages so that you have more chance to win position for them.
- Have Title and Meta tags that are keyword rich and reflect what is written for a page.
2. Directory submissions are a key factor. Some may charge a price for inclusion whilst others may not. It is highly recommended that directory submissions are made simply because a human editor will look at your site, which in turn gives you more points with the search engines.
3. One of the most difficult points to fulfill is link building. If you have a site that offers useful information and services, in time it will generate the required links. There are other ways to speed the process such as writing articles and posting them on certain websites. However, the key factor to link building is not to obtain irrelevant links. This will simply be regarded as spamming and could result in negative consequences.
4. Lastly, the most important point, PATIENCE.
To recap, provided you follow the basic steps and have the patience, your site will climb up the ranks steadily. Link building will help improve your ranks but be careful because it can also harm your visibility if used in the wrong way i.e. obtaining too many links from non-related websites.
David Touri works for SEO Sydney, providing search engine placement services to companies in Australia and overseas. He is currently working on the Female Vibrators website, the Mens Sex Toys website, the Strap On Sex Toys website, the Gay Sex Toys website, and the Indonesian Girls website.
Source: High Quality Article Database - 365articles.com
May 27th, 2006 at 12:00 am
Is it fair to say that a large percent of website / business owners have little or no knowledge of what search engine optimisation is all about and what it can do for them. We as SEO specialists know the benefits in terms of increased website traffic and sales, and it is for this reason we are out there to help website owners take advantage of this.
A new dawn has arisen, the dot com bubble has burst, competition on the internet has become very fierce and simply having a website ?out there? is not going to cut it! Websites and their businesses need to be found and offline marketing is no longer the only option available. Knowing this all to well and what SEO can do for one’s business, it is up to all SEO specialists to spread the word and make businesses see the light. Having said that, what is an SEO specialist to say to a potential client? What words of wisdom can he use to sell SEO to the business leaders? Bear in mind these same business leaders only remember too well the dot com bust and the false hopes and promises that IT would present their company to the world. The point that had been overlooked is that they needed SEO to help bring that exposure. Be careful in your approach when preaching SEO, plan and think carefully about what you might say.
Below are a few pointers on what to say and what not to when selling search engine optimisation services.
The Don’ts
1. Don’t guarantee top ranks - A big no-no. Many SEO consultants guarantee their clients top rankings in search engines only to later realise that the task is not that simple and might not be achievable for competitive keywords. This often leaves the client frustrated, disappointed and in demand of a refund for their investment.
2. Don’t offer an exact timeframe for results ? Achieving top search engine ranks, and search engine optimisation in general, requires a lot of time and in depth work. There is no exact time or way of predicting when a client’s website might hit the free listing top ranks. One thing is for sure, SEO consultants need to emphasise that time, together with quality SEO work, is needed to achieve high rankings.
3. Don’t show any doubt and do your research beforehand ? Just like an interview with a prospect employer, be prepared in your first meeting with a client. Do your research, study the company and its website and note its good and bad points. You will be expected to express your views on the client’s website and make a brief analysis. Don’t be afraid to be critical and offer some constructive criticism. Landing a contract is based primarily on building the client’s confident in you and your services.
4. Don’t agree to unethical SEO practices ? Certain clients may be in a bit of a hurry to get listed and may ask you to use SEO practices which are considered unethical. Such practices include using link farms, IP cloaking, hidden text, etc. Spam techniques can not only hinder your client’s performance in the search engines but can also result in a possible ban. It is in yours and your client’s best interest to keep away from these futile and harmful practices. Strongly emphasise this point to your client.
5. Don’t overdo on your SEO knowledge ? Stick to what you know best, there is no point selling spin on SEO. Be honest with your clients and try building an honest and trustful business relationship. If you are not too sure about certain practices, do not exaggerate or use them as you will be caught out sooner or later if the final results do not eventuate.
The Do’s
1. Emphasise that SEO will increase website traffic and sales ? The first and foremost thing a client wants to hear is that you are going to ?show them the money?, in other words, show that the website exposure is going to lead to a better ROI (Return On Investment). Explain the basic nature of search engine optimisation and the benefits it can bring companies i.e. increased traffic, visitors and contacts / sales.
2. SEO is a very effective and extremely targeted form of marketing ? Unlike expensive TV, radio and press advertising, SEO marketing is relatively cheap and cost effective. There is less money and effort spent on broadcasting and trying to appeal to an audience that may or may not be interested. In search engine marketing, the users are already present and know what they want and where to get it.
3. It won’t happen overnight ? Patience can be a problem when optimising a website. You may be asked numerous times by your client ?is it there yet??. You should point out that search engines take time to evaluate and show results. It is recommended that you declare a period of at least 3 to 6 months to see any real gains.
4. Offer a free short website analysis for your clients ? Freebies always go a long way. Create a free assessment on your clients current website status, show him / her what the site is lacking and how you would go about enhancing the site’s optimisation in order to achieve a higher ranking in the search engines.
Selling SEO to a company is never too easy. The clients may see it as a luxury they can’t really afford or just another internet gimmick they can do without. It is up to you to make them see the light and the vast benefits that SEO can bring them, as a cost effective and extremely powerful marketing solution.
David Touri works for SEO Sydney, providing search engine placement services to companies in Australia and overseas. He is currently working on the Female Vibrators website, the Mens Sex Toys website, the Strap On Sex Toys website, the Gay Sex Toys website, and the Indonesian Girls website.
Source: High Quality Article Database - 365articles.com
May 26th, 2006 at 12:00 am
Starting a search engine optimisation business from scratch can be an extremely overwhelming and daunting task, especially if it is your first time. Establishing contacts and connections can also be extremely time consuming if you have no prior marketing and sales knowledge.
Below is a useful guide to help you get your first clients and to get your SEO / SEM business off the ground. Before I begin, please keep in mind that ?word-of-mouth? is king, get the word out, talk and mention your business to whomever, whenever and wherever. Remember, the more exposure you offer your business, the more chances you will have landing that first deal.
Search engine optimisation marketing and offline selling tips:
1. Target your market and know your customers, i.e. do some background research. It helps to initially concentrate on one industry, e.g. travel websites, and know the terms, your clients, their line of work and their competition.
2. Localise yourself, concentrate on a local area. Try not to tackle too much at first, focus and concentrate on local businesses and gain their trust. Remember ?you are a local? and share similarities.
3. Meet with them, form a partnership and more personal relationships.
4. Assess your advertising options (depending on your budget), consider using the following advertising tools:
a. Local newspapers ? place a catchy add.
b. T-shirts - they create great advertising on the street or wherever you go. Also, choose an eye catching slogan.
c. Business cards ? choose an appealing and aesthetically pleasing design, trust me professionalism and great design go a long way.
d. Billboard and brochure advertising for those that have the financial means.
e. Taxi advertising: Taxis can be seen all over town by motorists, many of who may happen to be company executives looking to increase their online sales.
f. Radio is also not a bad way of reaching out to people, however this can be costly.
5. Join your local chamber of commerce, meet business people and discuss your SEO business. Offer them a FREE brief website analysis / proposal on their website and show them how you can increase their online traffic and sales.
6. Referrals, referrals, referrals and partnerships. Speak to web design / web development and ISP companies, form partnerships, offer them commission if they refer companies to you.
7. Last but not least: There is nothing like cold calling. Go straight to your source, bypass the marketing manager, do not collect $200, and head straight for the decision maker. Again, as in tip #5, offer a FREE SEO website analysis.
Follow these steps and you can be sure that you’ll be on your way, just stick to your guns and persevere. Deals and contracts may not rush in overnight, however you can be sure sales and new clients will come about in a short period of time. Best of luck!
David Touri works for SEO Sydney, providing search engine placement services to companies in Australia and overseas. He is currently working on the Female Vibrators website, the Mens Sex Toys website, the Strap On Sex Toys website, the Gay Sex Toys website, and the Indonesian Girls website.
Source: High Quality Article Database - 365articles.com
