Choosing an Honest SEO

Normal
0

The point of this article is to help you understand
the true value of Search Engine Optimization or SEO. Searching for a reputable
company for your SEO and Internet marketing needs, you will come across various
companies who promise to deliver you a top ranking for either an extremely low
cost or even a flat fee. It is with absolute certainty that none of these
companies can deliver these promises because the search engines are constantly
evolving and SEO is an ongoing process. For the few companies who can deliver
fast results they will likely use fraudulent methods, or black hat SEO tactics.
While these tactics can produce results quickly in the short term, they will
eventually be discovered and your website will likely be banned from Google as
a result. To be able to avoid these methods you need to understand them. We
will discuss in length the various SEO Scams you might encounter.

Black Hat SEO is any method used to gain a high
ranking on the search engines via fraudulent or unethical means. One such
method is the use of automated software—designed to quickly submit your website
to thousands of directories and search engines instantly. While this method in
theory can gain you fast results it is a complete fabrication. First and
foremost the directories and search engines are now equipped with safeguards in
place to defend against automated submissions. So, the promised submissions are
nothing more than submissions. They may promise to submit your site to 1,000
directories, but the do not promise inclusion!

The SEO firms who use this method will not always
explain in detail how they intend to get you listed in these directories. They
promise the 1,000 submissions, but they fail to tell you how they will gain
them. Be sure to diligently ask these questions up front to protect your
website.

Another common black hat method is keyword
stuffing. This is a spam method where keywords are literally stuffed on website
pages in an unintelligent manner to trick the search engines into thinking your
site is the most relevant for those keywords. A step further, these keywords
are often barely visible on the site. This method is unethical and can also get
you banned from the major search engines.

Another fraudulent practice is when an SEO Firm
promises you rankings for keywords that nobody is searching for. Usually these
are long, run-on phrases. While these rankings are easy to achieve there is no
benefit from gaining this ranking.

With Black hat and other fraudulent methods of SEO,
the main thing to realize is that ethical means exist. The companies who use
the unethical methods are those who want to skip the work required to build
true rankings.

Lastly, here are some items to watch for when you
are searching for an Internet Marketing Firm to help you with your SEO needs.

1.     Emails
from SEO Firms that arrive in your inbox--out of the blue! These are typically
email templates and they have zero information within regarding your website or
what it is you offer, sell or provide. Instead, it conveys that you are not
near the top of the search engines and they offer to help. Reputable companies
do not send out SPAM Emails, so be weary of those that do.  

2.     Be
weary of any SEO who fails to explain Search Engine Optimization in full
detail. These are guys who usually work out of their garage and often cannot
produce the results they promise.  

3.     Avoid any SEO
Company who fails to explain the difference between an organic ranking and a
sponsored ranking. Saying, “we’ll get you a top ranking” and then paying for a
sponsored ranking where you will be there once or twice a day is not the same
as building you an organic ranking—the true heart and soul of SEO.

4.     Never trust anybody
who claims to be able to provide you with instant rankings for a very low or
flat fee. SEO is ongoing, so a flat fee is always suspicious.

True
Search Engine Optimization is extremely time consuming and full of hard work.
Although short cuts exist, they are not worth it. The search engines will
eventually catch you and you will pay the price while the SEO Firm moves on
without you. Honest SEO Firms treat SEO like a process and never treat it like
an event.

Arthur/Reference:

Shane
Haithcock is a Senior Partner at <a
href="http://www.seosandiegoca.com">SEO San Diego</a> and
specializes in <a href="http://www.seosandiegoca.com"> San
Diego SEO</a>.