Search Engine Optimization

David Wallace 

Let's explore the correct answer to that question. While it is true that anyone can submit their site to a search engine, there is a lot of knowledge and technique that is required to rank well in them.

Search Engine Optimization

There are many benefits to hiring a professional SEO company. A SEO company knows what search engines are looking for. Each search engine has their own set of rules, algorithms, regulations, etc., that they apply to web sites that become part of their indices or databases. In an attempt to supply users relevant content as they search, there are certain things they look for in web pages. One of the keys of ranking well in any particular search is knowing exactly what they are looking for and making sure your web pages are designed properly. This is called "optimization" and unfortunately the vast majority of web sites on the Internet are not properly optimized for keywords or phrases related to their subject matter. A professional SEO company will ensure that your site is optimized properly and not just for search terms that are the most popular but also the most relevant to your business.

Take the search engine Google for example: A good SEO company knows that Google ignores description and keyword meta tags but rather looks for actual textual content on a page. They know that Google will recognize ALT tags if they do not find any textual content. They know that Google weighs heavily on Link Popularity to rank pages. They know that Google will form the title of your listing from your Title Tag. With this understanding, they design, consult and recommend so that a particular site will rank well on Google. This is just one search engine's requirements -- there are many others that are different.

Keeping Up With The Search Engine Industry

A good SEO company will keep up on the latest trends in the search engine industry. They will make necessary adjustments to your web pages or your campaign to accommodate these changes so you do not lose rankings. This is an ongoing process that never seems to end. It is a full time occupation just keeping up with all the change and transition that goes on.

Submitting Professionally With Wisdom

A SEO company will submit your site wisely. They will run ranking reports that will show you exactly where you are positioned in various engines and if you are poorly positioned or not positioned at all, will make necessary adjustments and then resubmit. A good SEO company will not just blindly resubmit. For instance if you have good positioning in a search engine for a particular keyword, then it is best to not resubmit and leave things as is (if it ain't broke - don't fix it). A good SEO company will submit to the top sites manually and not rely on automated programs or software as many of the top search engines do not like automated submission.

Ranking Reports/Traffic Analysis

SEO companies will not only provide you with detailed ranking reports that will show you where you are positioned on various search engines but will also provide you with web site traffic reporting. This type of reporting will show you what kind of traffic you are receiving and where it is coming from. This type of data is extremely important and will help you to effectively measure your ROI (return on investment).

Hand Holding

Besides all of this a good SEO company will hold your hand during this entire process. They will explain things in layman's terms and work with you to not only help you reach the top but understand how you got there as well.

Should You Do It Yourself?

Sound like a lot of work? It is and really requires a full time occupation. You may say, "Well, I'll just bring someone on staff full time instead of paying a SEO company," but do you really save money? To hire someone to take care of your search engine promotion efforts will require anywhere from 40 - 50k or more per year. Then there are health benefits, retirement plans, vacation and sick time, etc., to deal with. You can hire a SEO company like SearchRank that will set up your search engine promotion campaign and maintain it for you starting at only $1350 a year. That is quite a savings verses hiring a full time employee.

Therefore it is highly recommended that you hire a professional SEO company if you want to reach the top of search engine results. It is well worth the money you will spend as well the peace of mind knowing that someone else is worrying about your rankings for you. A good SEO company will actually not cost you anything in the long run because it will amount to increased exposure and increased traffic which in turn will bring increase revenues.