With so much competition on the web, many people wonder how they can compete on the web. I’m here to tell you, you can make a difference.

We have missed the point of what this country is all about.  With hard work, you can make a difference.  Even if it’s just one little babystep at a time. If you sit back and hope that the magic fairy is going to catapult you ahead of the competition, well then I certainly hope you are a patient person.

I’m here to tell you that you can make an impact on the web and can compete with big companies.

Let me share a story with you.  I began jogging a couple years ago and could hardly breathe.  I thought I was in decent shape, but I could barely get around the block without gasping for air.  After a couple of months, I was able to get myself up to about 3 miles.  Pretty cool.  Well, I then started having knee problems and had to stop jogging.  Instead of grabbing a bag potato chips (which actually sounds pretty good), I decided to start riding a bike, which I enjoy pain free and continue to see the benefits.

There is a point.  Search marketing follows the same concept.  When you start off, often times, your website is out of shape.  As time goes on you see steady improvements.  Some times along the way, you may hit a road block or plateu. When that happens, it’s time to look for other options.

Many people are looking for instant gratification. I am a getter done kind of person and learned that putting the right pieces of the puzzle together can pay off.  Here’s what I suggest:

1.  Ask an experienced search marketer to look at your website.  They will be able to tell you what areas you should focus on (i.e. tagging, keyword placement, etc.). If you don’t have a website yet, I would suggest you find a web design company that also understands search engine optimization.

2.  Start blogging.  You can make an impact relatively quickly. I would suggest you just be yourself.

3.  Start participating in the social media arena. Start a Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn account to begin with.

If it sounds like a lot of work, well, it is.  For seo people like me, however, it’s exciting to watch your hard work make a difference for the people who have hired you to help them.  The biggest impact comes when people get involved in their own business and don’t expect an outside company to do everything for them.  A hands-on approach is important.

If you are focused and make steady changes or additions to your seo and search marketing strategy, you can always make a difference and an impact for your business.  You can compete with big business.

If you have questions or need help along the way, just ask.  I am happy to help.

Not all SEO companies are the same. So what do you need to watch out for?

Well, first of all, any SEO company who guarantees they can get you top organic placement on the search engines is full of bologna and should be a red flag.

As I’ve mentioned before, search engine optimization is about hard work and focus, not tricks and the magic fairy.  I personally don’t appreciate companies who blow smoke up my skirt, do you?  The bottomline to rankings on the search engines boils down to algorithms, but we’ll get into that another time.

Many SEO companies offer you the moon.  Be careful what you buy into.  If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

SEO or Pay Per Click?

Pay per click campaigns are great for quick results. Basically, you bid a certain amount per click and based on your bid and ad copy (and other factors), you get listed in the sponsored section on the search engines.  I do caution that you need to really keep an eye on things and check your conversion and click through rates or you can spend a lot of money rather quickly. The point is not how much money you spend, but that it’s producing results. So when looking for a search marketing company, I always appreciate when they come to me with some research done. Then I can compare it to my own research.

When a company starts asking me what the important keywords are, it’s a red flag.  Don’t get me wrong, you need to work together, but if they haven’t at least taken the time to do some of their own research, then to me it’s often a sign of  them either digging for information, or not being hungry enough to get you results. Many times they are looking to just glide along. Also, if they throw around that they can get you listed number 1 for some amazing keyword, that’s great, but ask yourself if this keyword is really significant. Testing and research are the only ways to find out what keywords are right for your website.

Natural rankings are gained through search engine optimization (“SEO”). SEO takes time and results do not happen overnight. I do believe, however,  trying to gain high rankings through natural (organic) listings is your best investment.  A good SEO company will work with you to determine what your needs and goals are and they will research your keywords and your competition.  Watch out for companies who promise you the moon, or who focus on one or two keywords.  Every single page of your website should be optimized and the keywords should be consistent with that page.  You don’t just want a company slapping keywords up there, just to make a buck.

So What’s the Bottom Line?

Don’t be afraid to do your homework.  This is your money and your business we’re talking about.  Ask the tough questions, such as how do you do your keyword research, what has your success been for others, can I have some references, and so on.

Here’s something I always do.  Ask your potential SEO company if they guarantee top placement on the search engines.  If they say yes, move on to the next company.  We all make mistakes when hiring people to helps us, whether it’s landscaping, home building or SEO.  The point, however, is to learn and make sure you don’t make the same mistakes again.

Over the years, I have learned to go with my gut.  Again, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. My goal here is to help you along the way to hopefully avoid some questionable practices.

In closing, you want to choose a search marketing company that not only helps you with your search engine optimization, but will also sit down with you and discuss an overall search marketing strategy.  Pay per click, seo, blogging, social media…each one of these can play an important part in the success of your business. Take it slow. You don’t need to give them an answer immediately.

Be smart. Do your homework and ask questions.

Have a great day.

Link building is an important part of search engine optimization.  Why?

Think of it like this. When the spiders start crawling your site, they say ”what’s in it for me”?  Similar to when you go shopping at a store.  You look for what you like or what compliments you and if you find something, then you look for more.  If you don’t find anything, well, then you leave.

The links to and from your site should be keyword specific and reflect the content of your pages. The more relevant your content is, the more weight the search engines will give it.  The spiders want to be fed.  Feed them!

What is the best way to build links?  The best way to get links to your site is the natural way.  This is done by attracting people through good content.  Writing articles and submitting them across the web, linking from social media sites and simply blogging your pants off are some great ways to build links.

If other websites like your content, they will link to you.  How awesome is that!  It’s like making a friend.  You have something in common and you just connect. BFF.

So what are you waiting for?  Start writing and submitting content on the web.  If you feed them, they will come.

This is a very important question!  Competitive analysis is another important component of search engine optimization (SEO) and search engine marketing (SEM). Understanding what your competition is doing on the web can put all the pieces of the puzzle together and can help you dominate in your niche market.

Why are your competitors ahead of you in the search marketing game?  They simply could have properly researched their keywords, or maybe they are blogging like crazy.  Are they submitting press releases and taking part in social media marketing? These are important questions to ask.

Fuel the Web can take a look at what your competition is doing right and can beat them at their own game. We can also check what they are doing wrong and capitalize on their mistakes.

We all want to get ahead in today’s failing economy.  In order to do so, you just need to focus on what is working and rethink your strategy.  We can help you with that.

Don’t just keep putting money in a strategy that’s not working.  You should try new and different avenues, but if it’s not working, then that strategy isn’t the right one.  Start today by doing a competitive analysis and you will have a better idea of where you should focus your efforts in the future.

If you need assistance, Fuel the Web can help you.