subject: SEO...learning from experience [print this page] SEO...learning from experience SEO...learning from experience
Why will you need SEO? In a nutshell it is highly likely if you don't your site will never be naturally found by individuals searching the internet. We sell promotional merchandise online and we operate in a highly competitive marketplace and all our competitors are actively engaged in SEO. Left to a natural ranking, Code Promotional Merchandise would approximately be on page 50 of a Goole search for the key search terms of promotional merchandise or promotional products.
But please be aware of the pitfalls that await the un-educated business man when it comes to SEO!
Firstly, never trust a company that guarantees you page 1 of Google within 1 month! If you are in a competitive market, it just won't happen but if you operate in a niche market it will be quicker. Secondly, don't discount the freelancers operating outside the UK but do make sure you get references for the websites they have worked on previously. If you are going for a UK company see where they rank when you type in SEO company in Google...if they are not on page 1, they can't be that good! Thirdly, make sure you have briefed your website builders to make the site SEO optimised because then you have comeback if your SEO company finds errors in the build structure.
In our experience, it's a mixture that works...back-links, articles, directory submissions, blogs and keeping the website dynamic. And with back-links its quality, not quantity! We were paying for 150 backlink submissions per week around our key words of promotional products and promotional pens but they did absolutely nothing for our ranking. And finally, if you want to find a decent SEO company...try asking one of the online Business Forums.
