Search
engine optimization, submission and ranking is a new concept to
so many of our clients and visitors to our site. They may have
heard about it from a friend who has a Web site. Or, maybe their
manager told them to investigate it as a potential source of traffic
generation. Regardless how they find out about search engine optimization,
they usually always have some preconceived notions about what
they think search engine optimization really is -- and they are
usually wrong. To dispel these myths, we've outlined the most
common misconceptions about search engine optimization, submission
and ranking:
We
can do our own search engine optimization to save money.
A few of our clients have tried doing search engine optimization
on their own. Their success was limited because, even though
they may understand the importance of keywords and meta tags,
they didn't understand how search engines work. We've mentioned
this many times throughout our site: The search engines are
always changing their algorithms and in order to keep your rankings,
you have to be on top of those changes. Search engine optimization
experts are constantly monitoring these changes and know how
to adapt to them. Additionally, search engine optimization isn't
something you do just once. It is a continuous process that
most in-house technical staff don't have the time or budget
to devote to.
We
can buy submission software and get the same results.
Most search engine submission software companies make wild claims
that they will get you top ranking at a really low price. In
reality, no software program can identify keywords for maximum
ranking potential, optimize your content, or assist you with
a top-notch link popularity campaign. Additionally, a software
program isn't aware of those changes in algorithms we mentioned
earlier. At SubmitToday, we do manual search engine optimization
and submission to ensure you will get top search engine ranking
-- and stay there. Also important to note: Some search engines
don't like automated submission to their databases and have
been known to penalize sites who have submitted sites with the
use of computer software.
Traffic
generated by search engine optimization isn't as good as traffic
from banner ads and other advertising sources.
Traffic resulting from effective search engine optimization
is the most qualified traffic you can get because users initiate
the search with a purpose. Most online businesses don't have
a marketing budget to support TV ads, direct mail, email, banner
ads, and search engine marketing. That is why more and more
companies are opting for search engine optimization. The cost
is comparably lower than most other advertising mediums and,
more importantly, a properly optimized site can produce leads
and sales within a short time period.
Search
engine optimization companies all work on guarantees.
Like many of the other ethical search engine optimization companies
out there, we frequently get requests for guarantees of top
ranking by potential clients. After all, there are many unethical
search engine optimization companies out there who will offer
a guarantee. Be careful -- this is a marketing ploy to get you
to purchase. This is an unethical practice and virtually impossible
for a search engine optimization company to claim. After all,
how can a company guarantee a service for which they have no
control? The search engines alone control their algorithms,
and their algorithms are always changing. We can't -- and won't
-- offer a guarantee of top ranking. However, we will continually
monitor and update our system to reflect the algorithmic changes
and then pass that information on to our clients so they can
achieve top ranking in an ethical manner.
I
can expect high rankings within a few days of being submitted.
After search engine optimization and submission of your Web
site, you will see your listing on most search engines in just
three days. But, bear in mind it may take anywhere from 30-60
days to achieve high ranking due to the time it takes for search
engine spiders to properly index your site. Ranking takes time
and is unfortunately a measure beyond any search engine optimization
and submission company's control.
I
don't have to do anything once I've achieved top ranking.
A major misconception is that once you achieve high ranking,
you will remain in that upper echelon. On the contrary, maintaining
your positioning on the search engines can be just as critical.
Aside from regular maintenance tasks such as refreshing your
content, take a closer look at usability. Where are your users
coming from? Which pages do they tend to stay on for long periods
of time? You should be scrutinizing your visitor data to find
ways to constantly improve your site and make it more interesting
for your customers. Once you have made specific determinations
regarding your site usage, you can work with your account manager
to find ways to further optimize and enhance your search engine
marketing campaign.
All
search engine optimization firms are alike.
Getting a Web site to the top of the search engine lists is
a business in itself, and with many companies out there that
claim to specialize in search engine optimization, it is critical
that you choose wisely. The wrong search engine optimization
firm can potentially cause irreversible harm to your company's
Web presence. To ensure you get the services best suited for
your needs, follow these steps when choosing a search engine
optimization firm:
