Do we really need SEO services?

[kernel32]

Do we really need SEO services?

[Marq]

Maybe a quick definition and what it consists is needed here. (Well for me anyway) What does it include for this survey? For example I have only played with keywords and content with some success. But I have not done any links stuff, submissions, paid clicks, diggs and myspaces and the social pages and whatever else is available to me - so cannot comment on how this would make my site (soon to be sites) better seen out there. The reason I ask is that the poll questions did not somehow cover what I was thinking.

[duncan drennan]

Do we really need SEO services?

Do you mean paid for SEO services? i.e. I pay a company to optimise and help publicise my website.

[kernel32]

Do you mean paid for SEO services? i.e. I pay a company to optimise and help publicise my website.

Yes, I mean paid for services. Who do you currently use...if you don't mind me asking.

[Dave A]

This is a value proposition and is actually fairly complex.

You have to ask yourself a few questions before you can get close to an answer:

• How much do I know about SEO?
• How much time is it going to take me?
• What is my time worth?
• What would it cost to outsource the activity?
• What is the difference between outsource cost and the value of what I could do with my time elsewhere?
• What is my expected return on investment?

I would not be surprised to find that outsourcing SEO activity wins nearly every time as the best value proposition if it is done correctly. What worries me about oursourcing is that there are clearly operators out there who can do far more damage than good over the medium term with an "overly aggressive" strategy (particularly automated and paid bulk link building).

In the online world, opening and closing an e-commerce website is no big deal. For "real world" businesses with serious overheads that become too dependant on search engine generated leads for sales, the kind of volume fluctuations that can go with the territory could sink you as easily as make you money. So having a cowboy do your SEO could be a recipe for your imminent liquidation rather than your next fortune.

[duncan drennan]

Yes, I mean paid for services. Who do you currently use...if you don't mind me asking.

I don't personally use anyone, and just keep making small adjustments to improve my site's ranking (my blog that is, my website is currently being overhauled - slowly getting there). A friend of mine runs http://www.webexposure.co.za/, but I have not used them.

My big issue is that I haven't seen a lot of value (for myself) in paying for SEO services. I could be totally wrong, and just a small amount of investment could get things really rolling, but that seems pointless until I have my content sorted out. Once the content is in a decent state I will probably look at what value I can get via AdWords and possibly paying for SEO.

[kernel32]

webexposure has come up in conversation before, so I would assume they are pretty good. Someone mentioned to me in passing I should give them a try. I'm not quite ready yet to pay somebody. I'm still trying to figure some things out myself. I will do it in future though.

[Chatmaster]

Before embarking on paying a company for SEO services you need to look at your own business, service and products. You need to estimate the possible ROI and determine if it will be financially worthwhile if your traffic increases considerably. The next important point to look at is the competitiveness of the industry you are in, SEO wise. I many cases you should be able to do the SEO yourself after paying a professional SEO to assist you in standardising your site's on-page factors. I know it sounds cheezy but not all business profiles are suitable for a full scale SEO campaign.

The clients I have all pay a very hefty some each month and they already saw a good ROI after their first 3 months with us. There are several benefits with SEO and one of the biggest is that an experienced SEO company certainly knows how to obtain targeted traffic that will convert during the three stages of an SEO campaign.

The most important point in terms of SEO outsourcing is not to be perception managed. There are several SEO companies that are misleading their clients to believe they are doing their part, with a clever answer everytime they report back. Ensure that you know at least the basics and that the monthly report are on standard and not just a ranking report. Ranking reports means absolutely nothing. Also ensure that there is a track record of all website updates and SEO activities that takes place during SEO campaigns. This is to ensure that the SEO company doesn't resort to dodgy methods to artificially increase your traffic just to get it booted of the SE's at a later stage. These chancer SEO's are plenty and they simply ride their luck until such time when the bubble burst and you are stuck with fried banana.

Just as a final note. Professional outsourced SEO if suitable are certainly worthwhile for most websites. It gives good quality traffic that converts well and retention is the highest of all acquisition methods. Also note that with certain businesses SEO should rather be done inhouse than outsourced due to red tape restrictions on outsourced companies preventing them from performing.

[duncan drennan]

There are several benefits with SEO and one of the biggest is that an experienced SEO company certainly knows how to obtain targeted traffic that will convert during the three stages of an SEO campaign.

What are the three stages of an SEO campaign?

[Chatmaster]

The three stages of an SEO campaign is fairly complex, but I will make it simple by just saying the beginning, mid faze and maintaining. The three stages are simply designed around some of the Google patents we have good reason to believe are very much in use by them. One of those are the History Rank patent. Once an SEO takes over the SEO of a specific site he is in fact starting a new history on which Google will evaluate the site's quality in the future and thus influence the future rankings of the specific site. A good SEO will present you with a proper SEO strategy plan, that will mainly consist out of these 3 stages.

[kernel32]

That's why I love this place. So much feedback from many experienced people. Thanks to all of you!

[stephanfx]

I did not have real time to read everyones posts but merely scanned through most. I think that if you are not going to do seo yourself, but still expect results, you should pay, and then, yes, there is room for paid seo. There are tons of articles on free seo, so do a quick search and I am sure you will find something to do with your site. As I am sure was stated, if you want any return on your website, you will do well to spend at least some time on seo.

[Marq]

So much feedback from many experienced people.

OK - So what is the answer? Can one assume this was a successful poll with 6 answers out of a potential 2000? Why did the members of this forum not take part?

Could I also ask - what sort of price should one expect to pay for seo? Obviously there are a few scenarios here and how long is a piece string, but assuming I have just spent my life savings on building a new website to sell my fancy widgets - I have no real idea on the real potential of the sales, other than based on market research (ok my kids and brother-in-law think its a shit hot idea) it appears that it will be a great hit and is worth spending some of the banks money on it. Now I need to know - how much should I invest in SEO marketing and how long does it take usually to know whether this is a good idea or not?

[Dave A]

Any chance of doing a pilot project before you bet the bank?

Can one assume this was a successful poll with 6 answers out of a potential 2000? Why did the members of this forum not take part?

I think it was missing an option - Huh? What is SEO?
Two years ago, I'd never even heard of it, let alone have any kind of understanding as to its importance when it comes to online business.

[Chatmaster]

Now I need to know - how much should I invest in SEO marketing and how long does it take usually to know whether this is a good idea or not?

Marq, this is not an easy question to answer. If the market you are targeting is competitive (which only an SEO Specialist can determine) I would seriously suggest making use of a reputable SEO. I again need to emphasize that it is all about ROI at the end of the day. SEO is a long term project for a new site, therefore it will require a big budget. It will not make you money from day one. However it can roll you in traffic after 12-24 months. The issue is though that SEO is a continues process. Rather get proper SEO recommendations and SEO plan on your site, ensure you start working on your SEO onpage factors and a frequent content update policy in place and utilize other acquisition methods that will provide you with presence and traffic now. E.g. SMM, Viral Marketing, Editorial Marketing etc. Combined with your SEO plan, these acquisition methods can actually benefit your long term SEO plan if applied correctly.