By: Master Web Creations
1/7/2006

There are many new SEO companies out there, some of which only do SEO. Some smaller web hosting companies will do it for free, but larger companies like ValueWeb will charge up to $2,900 per year for their full SEO campaign, claiming that it is a low price.

Optimizing your site is integral to the survival and growth of your website, and how much you would like to pay is only up to you. Also, if you intend to spend that much on a service that you can do yourself for free, check for a guaranty. ValueWeb’s guaranty is “We guarantee your web site will be listed in at least 2 of the top 5 search engines (Google, Yahoo!, MSN, aolSearch, Ask Jeeves) within 3 months of purchasing the service – or we will continue to deliver the Search Engine Optimizer service at no charge for an additional 3 months.”

Many companies will offer different levels of search engine optimization, one such example is Customer Magnetism, offering four different services:

• Optimization Service, starting at $2,700, search engine positioning within the natural search listings (non-sponsored) through
  • key phrase research, finding out the most popular sets of key words and phrases that are searched for. Go to Google to perform key phrase research for yourself and at no charge.
  • copywriting, writing for the web –
    • writing for the web should include key words and phrases, the most important at the top or bolded or as text links to a new page that explains more about the service or product,
    • writing for the web should be organized on an easy-to-read manner using subheadings, bulleted lists and paragraphs, without deviating from your websites style (don’t change the font color, size or style unless it is a previously-planned style).
  • competitive analysis, looking at your competition
  • structure and navigation improvement (you should use text navigation as opposed to images or buttons),
  • search engine submission (go to your search engines to do it yourself for free) and
  • monthly ranking reports.
• PPC Management (sponsored listings), for $200, not including fees from the search engines, where you pay for each time someone clicks on your listing, usually $.10 per click and a monthly deposit,
• Link Building, from $295 - $3995 for each service
  • Directory Submissions (a valuable service if your company hasn’t been listed in telephone books for more than 5 years)
  • Article Submissions (that the company writes and submits to article distribution companies)
  • Text Link Ads
• SEO Copywriting (mini-articles to supplement your content and focused on key words and phrases), up to ten pages, 250-300 words for $500.

For more on what a good SEO company should offer, like Customer Magnetism, check out Zephoria. They do not list a price, instead you should email their SEO Manager for customized solutions, probably based on the size of your company and the results you’re aiming for, including

• Internet Strategy Creation
• Search Engine Optimization
• E-mail marketing
• Customer Profiling
• Web User Analysis

Remember that the most important part in any search engine optimization campaign is your potential customer and their search and purchase procedure.

With all the focus on search engines and how they rank your site, do not lose sight of your target: your audience (not the search engine). Your site should maintain your visitors’ interest, provide usable information and always make sense and maintain a structured organization and style.

If you do not have the time or interest to invest in your search engine campaign (remember, much of what SEO companies do for you, you can do your self for free), then ask your hosting company or your website designer for any help or guidance they can provide in choose the right SEO company based on your particular needs.

~ a www.masterwebcreations.com article