SEO usually stands for "Search Engine Optimiser" or "Search
Engine Optimisation". Search Engine Optimisation is important
to anyone who wants their website to rank well in major search
engines. SEO is a complex process. Outsourcing your site to
a SEO specialist or firm can be a good solution if you are
busy and do not want to pay the penalty of being blacklisted
by search engines in case you have done something "unethical" unknowingly.
This article outlines some important criteria to look for in
a good SEO specialist or firm.
Do Not Pretend That You Know Everything
Learning Search Engine Optimisation can be easy because there
are alot of articles in the web. Many people, after reading
a few SEO articles claim that they are experts and know what
is going on. I heard of stories of clients telling their specialist "What
you are proposing is wrong. It should be done this way...".
Such statement can put off your SEO specialist easily because
what is the point of asking for help if you think you already
know everything. The first step in seeking help is not to pretend
that you know everything. SEO is a complex science and there
is much more than what it appears to be.
Nobody Can Guarantee No.1 Ranking Within A Short Time
The main benefit of getting good ranks in search engines is
that you need not spend huge amount of money in advertising.
It is a good long term investment. If someone can guarantee
No.1 Ranking in Google, you have to be skeptical about it.
However, it is possible if the keyword is not competitive.
I am saying that it can be done. For example, it is much easier
to improve the ranking of a website if the keyword of the site
is "Train Design" as compared to the keyword "Web Design" because
the later is much more competitive. It is also easier to improve
your ranking in MSN and Yahoo as compared to Google especially
if your website is new. Therefore, becoming no.1 in Google
within a week is highly unlikely. A typical Search Engine Optimisation
work takes at least a few months to see real results.
Good Keyword Research Strategies
The first step in the SEO process is always keyword research.
The specialist will recommend that you optimise your site for
certain keyword(s) that will bring in good traffic. From the
previous "Train Design" example, even though it is possible
to be say no. 1 in google for that search term, does it really
matter? How many people are searching for that term? This is
the first and most important step in the whole SEO process.
A good SEO will do a thorough analysis of the keywords to optimise
for your website.
Ask For Opinions
If you have decided to use the service of certain SEO Specialist,
ask around in forums or look for reviews of the specialist
or firm. Many people who had experience with the specialist
can tell you if he is good and whether the charges are reasonable.
Do not believe in testimonials unless it is from someone that
you can verify. Testimonials are everywhere and anyone can
fake them easily.
The Search Engine Optimiser's Homepage
Visit the homepage of your specialist and check its Google
Page Rank. You can do so easily by installing the Google Toolbar.
Alot of people argue that the homepage of the SEO specialist
is not important but I choose to differ. I reckon that the
Google PR for the homepage of a good SEO should be 6 and above.
If the Homepage Google PR of your specialist is 1 or 2, then
you need to think twice about using his service. Google PR
is not everything but it is a good gauge of the capabilities
of your Search Engine Sepcialist.
Conclusion
Search Engine Optimisation techniques are easily available
in the internet. Doing it yourself can be fun and interesting.
However, the downside is that you might accidentally do something
wrong and pay a huge penalty. Being blacklisted by Google is
almost irrecoverable. A good Seach Engine Optimiser or firm
can save you alot of headache and time which will help you
reap good rewards in a long run. There are many other ways
to choose a good Search Engine Optimiser other than those listed
in this article. For example, the linking strategies..etc.
I found the most reliable way is still through the words of
mouth.
Bernard Peh is a great passioner of web technologies and one
of the co-founders of
Sitecritic
Wesite Design Ideas and Reviews. He works with experienced
web designers and developers for more than 5 years, developing
and designing commercial and non-commercial websites. He specialises
mainly in doing website reviews, SEO and PHP work.
