SEO Advice

[WalterPill]

A couple of close mates have a Bangkok real estate website that I often write content for www.bangkokpropertyservices.com The website has been running around 12 months and was built by www.lovingthe.net who gave assurances that they would also, with their SEO, get them to google page 1. However, they really only got them to page 1 on a handful of rather obscure searches as opposed to the main money-spinning searches such as 'rent a condo in Bangkok' or 'Bangkok condo' etc. They're now looking at ways of boosting that google rating by going with a new company.

They're looking at two companies that themselves have good google presence from searches such as 'SEO UK' or 'SEO company UK'. Both of which come on the first page for these searches so they obviously have an idea hat they're doing when doing SEO for their own sites. Though that doesn't necessarily mean they do half as much work on your site of course.. The sites are www.seopositive.co.uk and www.smart-traffic.co.uk

Both are giving guarantees that they will get the site to page one for popular searches. Can these guarantees really be made? How bad are SEO companies for making these guarantees and not following through or finding some loophole as the last one did. Does anyone have any experience of these two or any recommendations? Also, how about freelancers v more established companies? Is it worth going for a more established company that can give these guarantees.

Also, the prices between the two are as follows:

www.seopositive.co.uk - 375 quid a month
www.smart-traffic.co.uk - 999 quid up front for the first 6 months which is apparently half price and then going up to the normal rate of double that on a monthly basis after that if you choose to stay with them. This lot have also given the 'money back if you're not on page 1' spiel.

What do people think of these prices?

Basically, the lads are relatively new and I'm looking to see if anyone here can give me some advice to pass on to them as this has always been a site populated by some knowledgeable and trustworthy folk.

Any advice appreciated.

[CzarJunkie]

I'd be very careful spending any money upfront. It should be results based. Ask them for case studies and examples of past successes. I'd also make sure they only use 'white hat' techniques and no 'grey hat' or 'black hat' techniques, which run the risk of getting you removed from Google's index. Also be aware that Google et al make huge changes to their algorithms around every 3 months and that can mean your listing in the natural listings can disappear overnight.

The best online marketing strategy for any business includes SEO and organic search results, PPC (pay per click, such as Google Adwords and shopping comparison sites such as Kelkoo), free product listings (such as Google product search), blogging and social media.

If it's a serious business you really need someone who is an expert in online marketing. Employing someone with those skills can work wonders for a fledgling business.

[WalterPill]

Where does one find an expert in online marketing and can one be found to help in the capacity of a paid consultant as opposed to actually being a full time employee of the company?

[CzarJunkie]

Thats a good question. The problem is a lot of 'online marketing experts' have popped up over the last few years and I usually ask myself one question, 'If they are so good why are they selling their services as opposed to doing it themselves?'. For us as a business we have taken online marketeers from large agencies, such as Latitude and found them to be more reliable and productive than 'one man bands'.

If a 'one man band' offers you his services you need to ask why he's selling those services rather than just 'selling' online, as he'd probably make much more money if he was any good.

As regards consultancy, again, you need to ask for evidence of results.

[Bald Bouncer]

This site might help you more http://www.blackhatworld.com/blackhat-seo/
The problem with SEO it's a bit/Lot of a bandwagon trade so a mass of cowboys out there and as CJ suggests people who will use any method the get there.

[WalterPill]

Cheers, gents. Appreciated. Feeding this info back to my mates. I particularly think asking for case studies and examples of past successes is going to be a big help.

[CzarJunkie]

One thing I'd add is, don't become obsessed with organic/natural listings (SEO). Paid advertising also has a part to play in most successful online businesses. Obviously in some industry sectors, such as finance, electronics etc. this seems out of reach for most small businesses. But a good PPC campaign can bring in valuable business. It may not be as profitable as organic but it can work.

[WalterPill]

Thanks again for your input, CJ.

[DejaVu]

I've been throwing a lot of time into researching this SEO Caper recently after finding out that my new boss has been totally ripped off to the tune of £1,500 for SEO Services per month over the last year.

It HAS been used to make his site known, but is not giving it the direct keyword search results he would like or prefer, even Adwords was diabolical. It's only improved since making changes to the meta details, product descriptions, tweeting special deals and blogging about new products on various related websites.

Search Engine Optimisation - or more to the point Google Optimisation. If you concentrate mainly with Google, the other Search Engines will still find you.

If Google rates your site and finds enough interest in it the web over via Backlinks/Articles written about the products available or even decent testimonials from previous customers, you will slowly move towards the top.
We have found that creating a name AWAY from google helps build an interest FROM google - if that makes sense.

My understanding with SEO - Rome was not built in a day and so long as your site is optimised with the correct formatting, Search Engines can find it and index it properly.

New or messy sites will get a low rating, but over time the more your site is clicked, the more popular it becomes = the higher the ranking. SEO grows with your business.

Ever thought of Googling the words "Click Here"?
Who's top for that?

Adobe. Why? Because thousands, if not millions of sites that run flash get crawled by Googles Spider (which is not Flash enabled) and always reads the words - "This site requires Adobe Flash Plugin. Click Here to download it". We've all seen it, but never thought anything of it. Adobe have these Keywords cornered because of it.

Another strange example is Googling the Words "Social Network"
You would expect to see Facebook smack bang at the top yeah - (perhaps after the film about it!)?

Wrong - in fact it's not even in the first 20 pages. MySpace and Bebo are, but Facebook does not advertise as a Social Network even though it clearly is.
Even Google Plus does not show under those obvious keywords - why? Because these sites are in fact against the stigma of being known as a "Social Networking" site and avoid putting those types of words in the Meta Titles and Descriptions.

Google describes itself as an unbiased Web Crawler. It takes no preference over ANY company. Those that pay them money have their own 'Sponsored' section under Adwords. The Search results from any Google Search comes from relevance to searched content, popularity of the site and ease of navigation for the visitor.

As long as those 3 things are looked at (in detail) your site(s) should slowly crawl up the pages on googles search results?
Quick fix SEO Companies can boost your sites popularity by Spamming it everywhere, but this is a temporary solution and WILL harm the business in the long run.

[WalterPill]

DeJa Vu, sorry, I've only just come back and read this. Thanks a lot for the post. I'm forwarding that to my friend as well. Cheers.

[matthewy2]

I've just built a site for a bed and breakfast in marsden. The site I replaced was getting about 10 views a week.

I redesigned the site and used the same text as the old one and nothing really changed.

I then changed the title, meta text and the content and straight away seen it start to appear in the top 100 in google.

Next move I created a Facebook and twitter page for both and linked it to the site. Also created a business listing on google maps.

The major thing I did though was to add the b and b on other web pages and then write reviews.

The site is now in the top 3 for all of the searches people would use to find a b and b marsden.

[matthewy2]

It now gets 40 to 50 views a day and has had loads more bookings for the b and b plus camp site since

[flypitcher]

Google "coasters". I got it in the first page after 2 months. It makes me £40 every day.
I ahve other sites which rank high and get me the same amount.

Problem with a lot of SEO kids is that they do not run sites themselves.

Choose someone whose own site ranks high.
SEO is simple. Coding is not.

Proof is in the pudding.

[MartinEvans]

tried searching freelancer for a seo specialist - many cheaper options available there

[jennid12]

nice piece of info i found here .. thanks for sharing this with us .. actually i want to do seo for **link removed by Mr Olympia** but i have no idea that how to do that i think and hope :-) i learn allot here with u all.

[Mr Olympia]

Spamming cock!

[akimba]

Google "coasters". I got it in the first page after 2 months. It makes me £40 every day.
I ahve other sites which rank high and get me the same amount.

Problem with a lot of SEO kids is that they do not run sites themselves.

Choose someone whose own site ranks high.
SEO is simple. Coding is not.

Proof is in the pudding.

Which one is your site then?