Many website owners consider using SEO services to increase their page ranking on various search engines. While these services can be of great assistance, not all of them are worth the expenditure. Read on to find out how you can find quality SEO services that will work for you.
About SEO Services
Because most Internet users rely on search engines to find websites of interest, practicing good search engine optimization is important. If your site isn't search engine friendly, you stand little chance of getting a high ranking and an even smaller chance of getting web visitors.
This is why so many webmasters turn to SEO services. Professional search engine optimizers can provide useful information and advice, and do everything from writing copy to rebuilding the architecture of a site. Most services specialize in:
- Web Page Analysis
- SEO Analysis
- Keyword Geared Copywriting
- Link Building Services
- Internet Marketing Campaigns
- General Consulting
- Ecommerce Strategy
Before Hiring a Service
Before hiring an SEO service, research the industry. You may also want to see if you can get referrals from someone who has used a similar service.
Once you have selected several potential companies, make comparisons in regards to cost and level of services. You will also want to find out how long each company has been in business, how many full-time people they employ, and how long they plan to work with you.
Beyond that, the most important thing you can do is ask questions. Find out exactly what the service will do for you. Don't hesitate to ask for more details or clarification when you get a vague response. Remember, you are putting your website in their hands. If the service participates in deceptive practices, such as doorway pages or throw-away domains, your site could be penalized by search engines and possibly removed altogether.
SEO Services to Avoid
Not all SEO services are created equally, and while it would be nice to think that every service has your best interests at heart, that is simply not the case. Not every service is reputable, and some are more interested in taking your money than they are in increasing your search engine ranking.
To protect yourself, avoid services that:
- Won't explain exactly what they plan to do for you.
- Can't tell you where your money is going.
- Send you spam emails out of the blue.
- Guarantee #1 rankings.
- Claim to have "special relationships" with search engines like Google.
If you feel that you have been victimized by an SEO service, do not hesitate to ask for a refund. If a refund isn't given, you can contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in one of the following ways:
- Online at http://www.ftc.gov
- By calling 1-877-FTC-HELP
- By writing to Federal Trade Commission, CRC-240, Washington, D.C. 20580
Do-It-Yourself SEO
Before hiring SEO services to optimize your site for search engines, you may want to consider trying the work yourself. Although it can be slightly time consuming, doing your own SEO work can save you a significant amount of money.
In most cases, site owners can improve their ranking by paying attention to keyword usage and by increasing the number of sites that link to their pages. There are also many other advanced SEO techniques that can be implemented.
To learn more about SEO, visit Google and check out their Webmaster Guidelines. You can also glean a great deal of information from the related business articles shown below.
