Search Engine Optimization

[David Sandusky]

Great article on Search Engine Optimization with useful info you can use NOW.
Scroll down and read on as the posts in this forum bring more insight and opinion on SEO...keep 'em coming, you are adding value and it will come back to you...

[Nipa]

I respectfully & completely disagree that anyone and everyone can read Google guidelines and all other information found on the web and do SEO themselves.

Search engine optimization (SEO) is an art and a science. Search Engine professionals know what to do to make a site ranked high in search engines. They read, understand, consult, and recommend solutions that are based on search engine guidelines. And they do it ongoingly, not just one time.

The reason a lot of websites DON'T do well is because they have attempted a half-baked SEO campaign.

Retaining SEO experts is no different than retaining other experts who provide professional services such as hiring a designer, an accountant, a website developer, etc. If everyone could do everything by reading guidelines and following the steps that were laid out for them, we would all be out of business -

Search engine marketing professionals are not recognized for their expertise due to low cost providers springing up and offering guarantees for "number 1 placement in Google" or website developers who stuff keywords in metatags, and people who link to every body thinking that will get them visibility.

My two cents.

Nipa Shah - President
Search Engine Optimization Management, Search Engine Optimization Consulting, Paid Search Management

[David Sandusky]

Thanks for the comment Nipa! I am not an expert in the area, but my research and practice we are doing tells me you are right on. You need an expert. But I do believe doing some simple things and applying an organic strategy can be beneficial.

[Nipa]

Yes, some things can be done in-house, but you know what happens when things are done half-baked. Most small businesses don't have the time to devote as most of them are chief cook and head bottle washer. Search engine optimization, website creation and maintenance (content, et. all), etc. are nothing more than a component of a business's marketing plan.

All marketing plans should have online and offline components to have the biggest bang for your buck. And they only work when they are ongoing.

[searchguru]

I disagree with Nipa. You can teach yourself SEO and do it yourself for your website without being an expert in the field. You will not do it as well as one of us, but it can be done.

But, doesn't a small business owner have more important tasks on their plate? Web marketing (which includes SEO as one of many methods) can be done by someone outside of your business, someone who sees more of the big picture.

Search engine optimization is not magic nor is it science. If you really want to get your website found and visible in the search engines, you need to use someone who understands not only what you are trying to say, but who understands search engines and online marketing.

[David Sandusky]

The business owner (anyone for that matter) needs to focus on their core competencies and delegate the rest to pros - Internet marketing strategies highly included in that. Take it from me; I am an expert at marketing people and business strategies, but not the Internet. I am getting pretty versed but am a clear example of knowledge without the skills. You need to invest in pros like these to make sure you are effective in the whole Internet campaign - not just SEO or any other one strategy, right?

[ChristianDeBlis]

Ok, but hasn't everyone heard of the Chief Everything Officer?

As a small business owner, I see a lot of value in taking the time to learn something vs. paying someone to do it for me. In fact, before I pay a professional to complete a project, I will learn about it - it's the only way for me to interview a consultant and feel confident in my evaluation.

I've learned a lot about SEO and I've invested hours in it. That doesn't mean I won't outsource it sometime in the future, but I will not pay an exorbitant amount of money for it.

When I was interviewing lawyers in Argentina to partner with my investment clients, I researched everything - from the law, to contracts to their respective professional backgrounds.

I've learned this: I need to invest my time to learn about what I want to implement. Only then am I qualified to hire a professional to carry it out.

P.S. David, thanks for the article. I have a link-list of SEO articles and tools on my laptop; I'll share them later.

Originally Posted by David Sandusky

Thanks for the comment Nipa! I am not an expert in the area, but my research and practice we are doing tells me you are right on. You need an expert. But I do believe doing some simple things and applying an organic strategy can be beneficial.

David - I came across your different sites in a Google search when looking for career planning ideas. So you are doing something right. I want to know, did you hire an expert or as you put it, doing some simple things...

[David Sandusky]

I have been researching and will continue to on the subject. There are different opinions and activities depending on goals which is good.

My experience shows that attaching to those doing it well and learning is the best. My tech partners have great ideas we will be trying as we launch new media tools, but I don't know results yet, but willing. In addition to other activity, we will need to track results. This forum has a SEO software that is doing well for the search engines. My blog is in association with Know More Media, who has a great strategy and my other sites seem to be benefiting from the two.

To answer your question, I have not hired someone specific to SEO strategy and I know that regardless, I would not have success if not writing and responding to relevant info on the web - organic! This is hard for me because I am not at my computer most of the time like others succeeding in organic strategies. Some people may need to hire writers. That is why being associated to Know More Media helps me...there is always great writing going on in business issues driving traffic to the mother site.

[nicu101]

Originally Posted by ChristianDeBlis

Ok, but hasn't everyone heard of the Chief Everything Officer?

As a small business owner, I see a lot of value in taking the time to learn something vs. paying someone to do it for me.

I whole heartedly agree, especially when you are bootstrapping it. That's the same reason I taught myself HTML, and then how to use Dreamweaver way back when Rob and I first were in business in college. It's also the reason I spent saturday on the website for my bb software learning how to install mods and do upgrades. The cost can be ridiculous, and unless you know something about it, you would have no idea the hours involved....

Now, I haven't spent much time on SEO in particular, but it's another one of those projects I need to learn more about. I've worked through some of Google's stuff, and it isn't brain surgery!! As a matter of fact, I'm on the first page of google for the search term NICU already.

-Kristie