The Basics of Search
Engines (SEO)
Search engines help connect users with information they're
seeking. The search engine analyze the content (words) on your
webpages, including those words that are repeated or called out in
bold, in a heldline, in links, and so on; SEO is a competitive
market, there's no guarantee that you will be able to get your site
on the first page of any search engines search results. However, as
a content creator, you can help 'bump' your website up in rankings
just by optimizing your content and links.
Here are some basic principles of good SEO for writers
and editors:
- Offer original content and genuine value and relevance to your
site visitors.
- Seed your copy with keywords that describes the content and
correspond with phrases people are using to perfom their
searches.
- Embed your keywords in places they matter most: in the titile,
headings, links, and metadata. Use image tags and video tags if you
are using those on your website.
- Make all pages of your website unique: each page having it's
own topic, title and page specific keywords.
- Link to other relevant sites, and encourage those sites to link
back to your website.
- Optimize your website for people first and the search engines
second.
Using outside SEO Services - Hiring a professionl SEO
company:
This means you are looking to a hire a company to work outside
of your office. They (SEO experts) will supply a team of experts
for you, and will likely not be the only client of that SEO agency.
Here are a few things to look for when considering working with a
professional SEO company or freelance SEO expert:
- Getting SEO Spam Emails - This should be a
no-brainer. Never hire a SEO company that is sending email. We are
sure you have recieved these type of emails. Try this for some fun.
Write down the name of the company, visit any of the search engines
and search "SEO experts" or SEO services" or "SEO consulting" now
look at the company name from the email - If they are not in the
top-10 of the search results, it's a pretty good chance they are
not qualified to do SEO for Real Estate Agents.
- Getting the SEO Phone Call! - Just like the
spam email, some SEO companines have ventured to calling real
estate agents on a list they have purchased or copied from a real
estate directory. We are sure some of you have recieved these types
of phone calls. It's usually some automated recording telling you
"confirm your Google listing" or "get to the first page of Google".
Sometimes it will even be a live person telling you they can't find
your website. Agian, you will not want to use a company like
this....If they are expert SEO companies, they will not have time
to 'cold call' as they are busy working with clients. Keep in-mind,
many of these people will also claim that they work for Google
(confirm your Google Listing is what they say) they do not work for
Google. No staff member from Google or any search engine will ever
call you!
- The SEO Expert - Not all SEO businesses are
bad...Using the keywords listed above (Getting SEO Spam Emails)
visit those search engines and type those words in. Use any of
those comanies that show up on the first page. You can venture to
page 2 however, you sill be lowering your skill standard choices.
After all if those companies are in the top-10 results, they are
the true SEO experts.
Payment for SEO (Search Engines Optimization) Getting
the Ranks:
As with most service-based industires, there really is no
guidlines about what SEO should cost. This service is basicly built
on market demand. In a survey (12/11/11) SEOmoz asked 600+ agencys
of all sizes to cotribute their pricing models and cost structures
(view
full results here) :
- Hourly SEO Rate: This ranged from $25 to $750 an hour
- Monthly Retainer Rate: This ranged from $100.00 to $250,000.00
a month
As you can see, working with professional SEO companies does
come with a charge however, your results and the clients you gain
from a quality SEO company, could pay for its-self in no time at
all.
