Do you need seo services?
Posted by johann | Filed under Search Engine Optimization
Since this is the first post for my blog after it being out of internet rotation for a few years, I figured the first thing to write about is search engine optimization. How will people find my blog? Most likely through search engines like www.google.com, www.bing.com, www.yahoo.com , www.ask.com and many other.
Do I need search engine optimization services?
That is a question that every blogger, online retailer or wait, any online presence should ask. Well, the quick answer is yes, you absolutely need a search engine optimization (seo) service. What is actually more relevant is who will provide that service and do you need to go to a so called professional? Again, there is a quick way for you to answer this. Are you a quick learner and reasonably tech savvy? Then you should start by educating yourself first as to what search engine optimization is. I will give you a quick overview of seo, some additional strategies to consider like social media optimization and what to consider when you do feel you need to step it up and find a “professional” for your search engine optimization needs.
What is SEO?
Definition: Search Engine Optimization
Description: The optimization of a website to be indexed favorably by search engines like Google, Bing, Yahoo, Ask etc. The effect of a favorable index and ranking of your site will result in what is called an increase in organic traffic.
Warning: You can definitely negatively affect your seo by doing what goes by many names like black hat seo, cloaking and include things like using doorway pages and automatic content generators. Just like sportsmen using illegal supplements to give them an edge, you can also do this, but we warned. You will get delisted by search engines if you do and it might take months to get even back on a index rotation, never mind getting good search rankings.
Do you need search engine optimization services for your site?
1. Do you have a need for it?
If you are making, or planning to make money off your website, then the answer is yes, but you also need to realize what the goal of your site is.
If your intent is more altruistic and you have no need for monetization, then your message might still be something you want to share, and in order to share it you need it to be found through organic search methods provided by search engines.
2. Is your website a source, or potential of income?
If your site is either generating leads for your product, providing content people view and thus can be monetized for ad impressions or you have an online shopping cart selling goods or services, then your website will need to be found through search engines and thus, will you need search engine optimization.
3. Can you afford to pay for seo services?
This is a question you can only answer knowing two things?
- What your budget is?
- What seo services might cost you.
Tips to save money or do it yourself.
1. Find a local expert and barter if possible
Facebook, Twitter: I found a company through facebook where a friend of mine who is a local attorney “liked” a company called iXL Studios www.ixlstudios.com.
Linked-in, Networking: I kept in touch with another friend I used to work with 9 years ago who moved on to start her own design studio www.blueboxdesignstudio.com and offer seo services to local companies.
2. Join a local users group or professional group
3. Join twitter and find reputable seo experts to follow on twitter and read their blogs and ask them questions. If they really know their stuff, they understand the concept of engagement on the web and how responding to you increases their engagement factor. Start with my seo twitter list.
Tips to find a professional service
1. Search www.google.com, www.bing.com or www.yahoo.com for seo search terms.
If a company can rank in the top 3 for “seo”, “seo services”, “seo company”, “seo marketing”, “seo optimization” etc in any of these search engines, they must know what they are doing.
2. Use social media to get information
I follow some very interesting seo people on Twitter [my seo twitter list]. Start with this list, see who they follow and who they retweet and follow them. Soon you will get a good idea of sources of good seo information but more important, take action and ask these people about search engine optimization services.
Intellectual Athletic ex-pat South African American Vegetarian Techie who loves his wife, parents and all creatures regardless of their current state of delusion.