What does a SEO do?

[public32]

Hi everyone,
I am very very new at this so I am still learning about search engines etc.

I have one question:
I just read this link and I am now wondering what a SEO do?

http://www.google.com/webmasters/seo.html

How can a SEO improve my popularity without spamming, domain shadowing etc?

Thanks

Neo


[Moved from the Google forum. - Jill]

[Advisor]

Welcome, public32!

You can get a good idea of what SEOs do by reading the various forum threads here.

Different SEOs do different things.

Speaking for myself, I help companies make their Web sites be the best they can be for their users and the search engines. This includes doing keyword research, recommending design changes, rewriting site copy, recoding Title tags and other optimizable HTML code, and submitting to directories.

Hope this helps!

Jill

[public32]

Hi Jill,
How come is the cost?
for example if I ask you to look at my site and see if it is as optomized as it can be, how much would you charge?

Also how can someone buy a keyword for a search engine. For example if I want my site to be in the top 10 everytime someone enters "vancouver computers" in a google. Is there another way to do this?

Does link popularity help with search engines?

Thanks

Neo

[Advisor]

How come is the cost? for example if I ask you to look at my site and see if it is as optomized as it can be, how much would you charge?
Don't go by what I charge. I'm way over priced due to many reasons!
Also how can someone buy a keyword for a search engine. For example if I want my site to be in the top 10 everytime someone enters "vancouver computers" in a google. Is there another way to do this? Yes, you buy ads. Google AdWords for Google, and Overture for most other engines.

That's the only way to ensure placement in certain spots on the engines.

No optimization company can guarantee you a ranking any other way than that.

They can guarantee you that you won't have to pay if they don't achieve top-10 results, and that sort of thing, but they cannot simply place your site in any given position.

If you want to learn how to optimize your site to get it into the top-10 for your highly relevant and specific keyword phrases (not keywords) then read the various posts in these forums.

It's all free.

Getting top 10 results is also free. IF you study very hard, and practice, practice, practice!

There's lots to learn, but it's not hard.

Jill

[public32]

Thanks Jill,
I have been looking around on the internet and I have seen prices anywhere from $80 all the way to over $1000. That is a pretty big gap and the interesting thing is both had very similar descriptions.

So I am kind of wondering if it would be better if I outsource it or just do it myself.

But you're right... either way I have lots to learn about this. ;)

Thanks again

neo

[french dread]

As a SEO, my role is to help my clients to acquire targetted trafic via search engine and directories. That's why I prefer to talk about SEM, search engine marketing.

There are many aspects in my SEO work:

-Looking for the right keyword and keyphrases
-Choosing the best SEs according to the target (what country, what kind of vistors)
-Choosing the best pay for inclusion options
-Optimizing websites content for better rankings
-Creating new pages if necessary ie to overcome technical difficulties (flash, dynamic pages) or to obtain better rankings in a very competitive area
-Workin on popularity (linking)
-Following rankings and trafic brought
-Analysing trafic and optimizing it
-Eventually, dealing with Pay per Click campaigns

Also as I work in a emarketing and webdesign agency I am involved into usability, SE friendliness and general reflexion about design and marketing options.

Not all SEO offer the same services this is why prices differ. Also you obtain what u pay for generally, too cheap is suspect

[Rankenstein]

Originally posted by public32

So I am kind of wondering if it would be better if I outsource it or just do it myself.


My advice would always be, if you can do it yourself, do it yourself. SEO has as big an impact on your business as pretty much any other factor. It is one of the most valuable skill sets a webmaster can have, IMHO. Ask yourself "Is this something I really ought to know about?".

[french dread]

My advice would always be, if you can do it yourself, do it yourself

It can be discussed... Of course anybody is able to do SEO (as i am able to make my own bread and mak emy plumbery hum :) ). Though, your time may be more valuable and efficiently spent taking care of your customers and doing your own job, than doing SEO.

Most webmasters and webdesigners generally don't know anything really serious about SEO and marketing. The proof is that the search engine optimization 99% of time come after the website is done.

So if u have plenty of time, are willing to learn, and are SE and e-marketing savvy you can do SEO in house.
If not, and if you have a budget, let the professionals do the job

[ihelpyou]

Welcome to the forums public! :hi:

Up to $1000? sheesh, you have not inquired very many SEO's then. :)

My setup fee alone for a basic site is double that figure.

[Blue]

Welcome to the forums public32! :hi:

So I am kind of wondering if it would be better if I outsource it or just do it myself. My advice would be to educate yourself as much as possible on all facets of SEO/SEM (as you are doing) so that you can determine:

1.) Whether you have the resources (time, money, energy, etc.) to do it inhouse or outsource - and -
2.) If you decide to outsource, you now have the knowledge to choose an SEO that will have the tools to attain your goals (as there are many so-called SEO's out there that will just take your money and get you into trouble)

:cheers: