How to Choose an SEO Firm

You've created the perfect website to market the perfect gadget, but how can you attract the traffic you need to generate sales? That's where search engine optimization (SEO) comes in. Simply put, this enables search engines such as Google, Yahoo and Ask.com to find your website and rank it near the top of its listings when web surfers are seeking information on specific products and services.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Avoid search engine optimization companies that send you emails promising quick results or offer to put you at the top of major search engines.

2. Perform a background check. Get references and find out if other search engine companies would recommend them.

3. Avoid search engine optimization companies that say they'll submit your page to thousands of search engines or offer pay-per-click advertising for your page. This falls into the realm of search engine marketing and not search engine optimization.

4. Avoid search engine optimization companies that won't reveal what methods they're using to optimize your site. Some of their practices could be deceptive and may result in your page being banned by the major search engines.

5. Shun search engine optimization firms that require the installation of extra software, such as one that allows you to type keywords into your web browser.

6. Find a good search engine optimization company that will perform an analysis of your website and pick up keywords and phrases to improve the site's position in search engines. It may also provide a linking service, but many do not, because it's a slow process and can be unreliable.

7. Make sure the company you choose will continue to maintain and monitor your website for changes, at least on a monthly basis. Search engine criteria can change fairly often. And, if you constantly update your site, there will be more pages to be optimized.

Resources

• Americanchronicle.com has a great article by Brian Ortiz giving tips on how to find a reputable SEO company.
• Google 's support section offers valuable tips on how to choose a reputable SEO company.

[fivekitten]

on 5/22/2008 Avoid search engine companies that offer PPC because it's SEM? Search engine marketing can't exist without search engine optimization, PPC is a very common way of advertising on the web with Google, Yahoo, MSN, etc. Working SEO and SEM (which includes PPC) makes perfect sense. That tip was way off.