It happens all the time. Web based businesses will get solicited by SEO companies who will guarantee that their web site will rank #1 on Google and other search engines. As any self respecting SEO firm will tell you, there is absolutely no way to guarantee a ranking that high on Google. Only Google themselves can, without fail, determine where your website stands in rank.
On one of the many SEO Blogs that I follow, this image of some hacked code was displayed. Seriously this is one of the funniest hack jobs I’ve seen yet. And incase you are wondering why I’m reading a Greyhat Blog, Reading these blogs, (this one in particular) is what helped us Identify a negative SEO attack on one of our clients this last month. So read on!
It is absolutely important that you are honest with your web design company if they are redeveloping your current site. Even if you don’t think it will effect your current campaign, it is important that your SEO/Webmaster knows what has gone on with that site in the past. (more…)
This issue is one that has been bothering me for quite some time. Unless you are searching for big name brand items (Nike, Ikea…) or some design related terms (trendy blogs, CSS…), by and large 8 out of 10 results in the results will be ugly, poorly designed, and even un-user friendly.
The challenge of measuring the success of an SEO campaign can be a bit abstract. Every SEO will have their explanation. Best one I’ve heard yet? “Look at our page rank!” I’m sorry, even though page rank is important, it is not the end all be all. All that page rank means is you have lots of links to your site.
SEO is all about design, site architecture, development, market research, statistics and copy writing. Thats a lot to be all about, but what happens when SEO is missing one of those pieces? It becomes much more difficult to reach the target goal.
There is a brief, but sound article over at MarketingPilgrim.com that lists a few reasons why listing prices for marketing services on your website is not the best idea. We tend to agree. Having been in the web services business for a while now, the first question we’ll often receive when talking about what we do is ‘what do you charge’? There’s nothing wrong with that question, after all this is a business transaction, but much as the article suggests, your value as a firm is how you can shape perceptions of the client’s website and furthermore, how you can drive visitors to their website. Merely throwing out a price on your website could drive away clients without them even knowing how valuable you are. Some will think you’re too pricey, others will think you’re not pricey enough.
(more…)
The concept of protecting your brand via SEO is something I have talked about both here in the office with other developers and suggested in client meetings. However it occurred to me that I had never mentioned it here on the blog. Although it is impossible to keep your dirty laundry from ending up online, you can string up enough white linen to cover your assets.
Lots of companies will pretend that they offer SEO services. Many of these companies do it because clients are asking about it. SEO has become a business buzz word. Since many SEO practices are seemingly behind the scenes, it’s easy for a web developer to claim to offer SEO services, but lack knowledge of true SEO practices.
Here are some basic things to look for on your website. If these are non-existent, there’s a good chance that your SEO provider is blowing smoke.
Spock.com is a people search engine. It really goes the next step in making peoples personal information available online for all to see. It is set up in a wiki fashion, until you take claim of your profile. Once you claim your profile (still a bit unsure how you prove it) you can restrict the information. It appears to spider the web and make connections between myspace, personal websites and other such sites. Its really a rather impressive aggregated/social media/web 2.0 website.
