SEO - a business con?

SEO is no longer the cryptic crossword puzzle for those who indulged in Internet geekdom but the get rich technique for the opportunist and charlatan. Some optimization companies charge ridiculously large amounts of money for a lot of their optimisation services. These same businesses then try to explain their rates by attempting to convince prospective clients that by paying ‘extra’ they get a better deal in the long term. This technique reminds me of double glazing salesmen, who all say that by spending more with ‘x’ you get a better deal than with ‘y’, when in reality they all get their materials and manufacturing equipment from the same suppliers. Any businessman or businesswoman can intelligently work out that the reason for their inflated prices are due to a combination of greed and over staffing.

I agree that optimisation is important and that there are excellent companies out there offering value for money but don't let that optimiszation contract you have signed be the expense that makes you jump from a tall building. Shop around ask other web site owners for advice - just be smart and try to implement simple stratigies for yourself.

The links between designing a world beating web page and delivering content are closer than you think. Words are the building blocks of all great websites. By selecting the best words available you stand a better chance of creating a world beater. By using the best combination of words and web optimization techniques you may end up creating a successful website. There is no need to be subversive if the content of your pages are good - you have no need to use illegal methods. Read More...

Search Engine Optimization is big business in an age when the rest of the worlds’ business community is tightening its belt. The expression ‘Ambulance Chasers’ comes to mind. I will accept that good SEO requires hours and hours of hard work, involving research and then analysis and scrutiny but what is the acceptable cost? Is this task worth solicitors’ rates?