Do we need each other?Perhaps yes, perhaps no. A search optimising project is not for everyone - we have to advise some site owners that their aims are unrealistic.
Our job as SEO consultants targets three results:
1. Improving your website revenues.
2. Improving the viability of your online business.
3. Improving your business reputation and visibility.
We are a little unusual in the SEO field as we don't think it's all about increasing traffic - we think the entire process of improving traffic, improving site presentation and improving persistent long-term results is important. However, we can't work with everyone, as some websites or owners are not compatible with our aims. Ask yourself the following questions:
- Am I committed to trading ethically - for profit, but without cutting any corners?
- Can I commit to doing whatever is necessary, within reason, to improve my website?
- Am I willing to do anything to change my website that is advised, to improve its capacity to earn more and to improve my business reputation?
- Do I like the idea that my website should become a useful resource - or do I want to keep it as it is, a small but perfect example of the web designers' art?
- Will I be able and willing to assist in the process - or do I really want to just have the website stay exactly as it is now but somehow get much better returns?
- Can I wait the necessary months for results to improve by honest and ethical means, rather than by 'rapid results' methods?
If you can answer yes to these questions - and mean it - then we are compatible. However, if you somehow want your 10-page website, based on Flash, JavaScript, graphics, and with 6 words of text or less on every page, to stay exactly as it is and to top the rankings for 99 competitive search terms - then we are not meant for each other. You probably need a witch doctor, or perhaps a psychiatrist.
Another point that needs careful consideration is your hosting service. Many are third-rate, despite their upscale advertising and the fees they charge. We don't supply hosting, by the way, so we don't have an axe to grind here. There are three basic reasons why you don't currently get the search results, the search traffic, or the website performance you need:
- Your server
- Your website
- Your marketers
Simple as that. The hosting and server are important, and for some reason often left out of this equation. If your site is on an IP with 2,000 others; or if you have no direct access to the server management (for instance if you have to apply for everyday webmaster tasks to be carried out, and heaven help you, if a fee is charged for this), then you are carrying a millstone around your neck. See our SEO Hosting advice for more information here. We can't really help you if you want to carry a 500-pound handicap for some reason.
And the amazing thing is, in all the cases we have seen of really terrible hosting provision and awful servers, better hosting was always available cheaper elsewhere. Cost is not a factor; indeed, poor hosts usually cost more. Work that one out. We have seen some really grim hosting, with LAMP servers running PHP3; servers with ten or more offlines per week; IIS dedicated servers with 50 or so sites but only one IP available, no access to the management console, no PHP or MySQL, and a fee charged for basic changes - and the fact is that these people often charge more than good hosts. No doubt their marketing is excellent, though...
In fact it is tempting to say that the worse the hosting service, the higher the cost, as this has been the case in numerous examples. Please do yourself a favour and read our hosting advice, via the menu links at left. Once again, we don't provide a hosting service, so have no vested interest whatsoever - except in that sometimes our task is simply impossible, due to the low quality of the hosting.
Website improvementsNothing's for nothing, and occasionally we need to make radical changes to what your web designers provided for you. Websites have to change, grow and improve; and if you think they should be a static entity that, once completed should be left alone, then we are not destined for happiness together. Change for change's sake is pointless and expensive; but show an SEO consultant a perfect website, and he'll show you one that needs something added next week. Change is a way of life on the Net, unlike a brick & mortar business; you will need to embrace that concept in order to progress. Stand still and everyone else will overtake you. |
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