For some SEO companies it depends on how big your company or wallet can afford. Does the owner drive a Mercedes out front? Do you have a fancy office?
For us it comes down to our onsite and offsite seo schedule, where you currently rank on a ranking report, and how competitive your target market keywords.
We also charge for the meta tag and title work for existing pages inside the schedule, but have a limit to the number of pages per month.
We charge extra for posting content not going into a CMS (content management system like WordPress.)
We also charge extra for AdWords invoices, etc. Standard reporting is included in the schedule and everything we do our clients own.
We also charge for each additional niche site.
The real crooks charge by keyword. I would steer clear of those folks.
Also stay away from the $100-$200 per page folks.
Do they offer topical blog, one-way site, news, video, and article link building? Real SEO includes link building, afterall 60% of your ranking is offsite SEO and 40% is onpage!
If the company doesn’t include content, call metrics, or conversion optimization, don’t walk…. RUN!!!!
P.S. You can signup to resell our services at www.smbseo.com/new-sales-person or signup for service at www.smbseo.com/store
Are you a CIO, IT Professional, or Marketing Manager for a corporation or small business?
Having trouble with IT solutions, bandwidth, or social collaboration?
I am working with a new cloud based application service delivery platform that is perfect for any organization. It is a professional virtual desktop that works with all devices, on any platform, and any enterprise or application.
This new solution will allow you to:
Cut Costs and Reduce Downtime
Increase Employee Productivity
Handle Web and Information Security & Backup Peace of Mind
Single point of contact for all your IT needs
and includes:
Microsoft Office
Web2.0 Applications
Administrative Console
3G-10G Storate
Web Conferencing
SEO Management Dashboard
Business Continuance
Collaboration Tools
with
Access from Anywhere and Any Broadband Enabled Device!!!!!!
I wonder whether the folks at “SkunkWorks” (or whatever they call the creative department at the poor company these days) know what is going on here? The massive amount of keyword rich domains taking advantage of this SuperPages.com created content is insane. Just setup a Google Alert for “SuperMedia” and you can see for yourself.
I guess a link is a good link. Unless it has a malicious “links” intent. (BlackHat SEO Discussion in Dallas October 15th)
Although, I have always been known to say, “BlackHat, WhiteHat, Grey Head SEO.” Don’t believe all the ramblings about black and white folks. If you practice a holistic approach you consider all the strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities. Black Hat simply refers to not being a strict follower of “Google’s Guidelines, Terms, and Conditions” related to websites, content, etc.
Now, back to the blog posts with SuperPages.com content:
I am sure this was not outsourced to India as well? Considering they still think SEO is all about PageRank like it is some sort of SEO measurement worth discussing. They are not much worse than Yellow Pages organizations who fail to offer it because it takes time and isn’t something you can send to India or have 1 person “attempt” to manage 100+ accounts. When do they have time for ad testing, content writing, link building, conversion and strategy? How many clients spend more than 500 per month and just getting over priced PPC management using outdated S.A.A.S like BidCenter, a tool originally built by this company they purchased named Inceptor years ago, …. which btw was not custom built for the level of true software as a service scale-ability needed to properly manage campaigns. Google’s MyClientCenter along with Editor are the best tools for massive scale-ability of paid search campaigns. Longtail keyword build-outs are not something AdWords Resellers know how to “service,” just like actually doing customized bidding for broad, phrase, and exact match bids. Hey, atleast for clients that want to pay even more they still have the Inceptor.com website up!
FYI, this was originally a blog post that I never posted but decided today to modify and include a plug for Brad… why? When you attend training courses by experts like him, you really learn things that corporate trainers and wet behind the ears college grads making $12.00 per hour just don’t get! Big PPC resellers tend to start shrinking the number of people, outsourcing to India, or forcing hundreds of accounts per “expert” to manage. How do you build an account properly dedicating it to someone? Corporate Crooks and big CEO pay doesn’t improve the situation. END RANT.
I myself, and folks in my organization, have attended Brad Geddes Google AdWords Seminars for Success and strongly recommend it for any of you folks working at SuperMedia expecting to continue a career in Search Engine Marketing.
Give me a call for details on a discount or promo code for the training!
v7ndotcom elursrebmem Just a few more days fellas. Glad I could lend a hand just too bad I was late to the party. Someone needs to build a directory of “internet challenge archives or something!?
The thing about this topic is that it is both political, thoughtful, and very personal to me.
If you look at the success of Google (information from Wiki:) over the “somewhat” recent years-
Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG, FWB: GGQ1) is a multinational public cloud computing and Internet search technologies corporation that hosts and develops a number of Internet-based services and products, generating profit primarily from advertising through its AdWords program. Google was founded by Larry Page and Sergey Brin while the two were attending Stanford University as Ph.D. candidates. It was first incorporated as a privately held company on September 4, 1998, with its initial public offering to follow on August 19, 2004. Its headquarters, located in Mountain View, California, is often referred to as the Googleplex, which is derived from the number googolplex. The company’s stated mission from the outset was “to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful”, and the company’s unofficial slogan, coined by Google engineer Paul Buchheit, was Don’t be evil. It runs over one million servers in data centers around the world, processing over one billion search requests every day and about one petabyte of user-generated data each hour. Even the company’s name, Google, was a play on the large number googol to represent the large amount of information the company set out to organize.
Recently a few bankrupt Yellow Pages publishers sent letters to clients disclosing information regarding previous contracts and commitments. Does this permit them to no longer follow SIZE & Seniority commitments to yellow pages clients?
Did you know that to curb massive revenue losses, as consumers have shifted away from print yellow pages phone books, the yellow pages industry is now offering ad seniority placement buyouts?
When Bell South began publishing mini-books other publishers quickly followed suit. When one does something… so does the other? Let’s not hope so!
Rumor is post-bankruptcy yellow pages directory publishers are considering offering “select clients” the option of jumping phone book directory placement (old contract agreements that outline size and seniority guidelines) with new “display ad placement buyout options”.
Seems like they will do anything to earn a buck, huh?
How can you trust a organization who fails to keep promises clients regarding these advertising investments. They made a commitment to the client that the ad they purchased would be placed by size and seniority from the date when the contract is signed. The print yellow pages industry has held the “decrease your ad and lose your discounts” AXE over clients heads to persuade clients into keeping ads for many years. Is the Yellow Page industry selling products or services? Is the pricing fair? In my opinion the yellow pages industry needs to stick to products… not services. Search Marketing service requires fulfillment and constant attention, something the print industry has very little experience in vs local advertising agencies.
Yellow Pages sites are attempting to become the local resellers of Google advertising. As a local search marketer, I don’t think the long contracts that leave little recourse and zero cancellation options in the event the Phone Book Companies PPC Management campaigns are not performing to expectations. In my opinion this is another means of continuing to grind the axe on cancellations. Without flexibility and a diverse offering (product portfolio) they are going to have continued issues with client churn.
Did you know that when you place advertising on Google’s AdWords interface, not only do you own the work produced when hiring a local search marketer, (I do not recommend signing a 12 month contract , considering Google does not require such a contract to advertise) you also are able to see what changes your account manager and “PPC coach” made to your campaigns
Next topic for Today:
Google Maps vs Yellow Pages searches:
Here is the graph continued and combined with Searches for Yellow Pages companies:
Who hasexperiencedthe greatest and/or most rapid decline in the Top IYP (Interactive Yellow Pages) & local search brand sites?
I will go ahead and state my prediction: Yellow Pages Print usage will be less than 24% of Local Search by 2012! That means the phone books of 2005 (that were over 70+% of local search product or service queries) are now less than half as popular as they once were as a medium. (yet more phone books exist today than ever!
Do you think it is time the phone book publishing industry adapt to OPT IN vs a very misleading OPT OUT method? What are your thoughts? Take my poll!
Cheers,
Mike Stewart
“Your Dallas Local Google Guru”
BTW, Webformance Inc. will be offering call tracking to all clients. If you want to track your phone book, direct mail, email, Google, Video, Business Card, or other advertising investments and see which ones are really bringing the calls….. all you need to do is call: 214-267-9553!
“You can’t manage to get the best advertising if you can’t measure what advertising efforts work!” – Mike Stewart the Local Dallas Google Guru
Here is an example of the window sticker Google sends out.
Google has taken a big bite out of local search with the local map results.
SuperPages.com's Network took the hardest hit, let's see if they can bounce back.
This information, combined with the fact that Google has over 65-70% of all online search volume, means Google Map local listing optimization is now more imperative than ever. These listings can be optimized based on the techniques of the most experienced Local Search Ranking Experts, such as David Mihm. When Google first offered map listings and optimization it was performed with phone verifications. Google has been working tirelessly on improving the manner in which it finds new listings (an area once dominated by Telephone Companies and relationships with national yellow pages publishers.) Originally, businesses were listed heavily based on Proximity to Centroid or distance from the center of town. Google has improved the process of both claiming listings w/ phone verification and determining which results are ranked higher. They also rotate these listings.
An wonderful example of my previous efforts to optimize a map listing would be the “Criminal Attorney Dallas” search term. I optimized the listing for John Teakell while a partner at Milner Finn near downtown Dallas. I have had many examples of successful results.
Google also offers the best form of website statistic and traffic reporting. This is called analytics. If you have a website that does not have analytics, you desperately need to find a new local search marketing agency. Don’t expect to get this kind of advice from Yellow Pages publishers, the appear to concentrate on proprietary bid management systems which campaigns you never own and local internet yellow pages properties to distribute your ad dollars on. Considering the fragmentation in local search, this is not often the best strategy for local business owners and marketers.
Google completely dominates internet search.
November 2009
Rank
Provider
Searches (000)
Share of Searches
-
All Search
10,002,458
100.0%
1
Google Search
6,546,172
65.4%
2
Yahoo! Search
1,525,964
15.3%
3
MSN/Windows Live/Bing Search
1,073,416
10.7%
4
AOL Search
280,311
2.8%
5
Ask.com Search
177,589
1.8%
6
My Web Search Search
101,586
1.0%
7
Comcast Search
47,746
0.5%
8
NexTag Search
34,314
0.3%
9
BizRate Search
29,044
0.3%
10
Yellow Pages Search
25,260
0.3%
Source: Nielsen MegaView Search
Considering what Google is doing with Geo, Video, Mobile, and more……. I think Google is a Great Bet for your business.
In December, Google rolled out 2 key changes to search:
Google now personalizes results based on history and location for all searchers
Google now blends search results with “Real Time” information such as Twitter.com
These are key changes that impact your business. Feel free to email me with your questions on Google Advertising Options for Your Local Small Business. Look forward to working with you in 2010!
Yesterday a former “advertising and multi media marketing coworker” asked me to join a AdzZoo Webinar.
I am forewarning and reminding folks that this blog is about myself and whatever else I feel motivated enough to share.
So on to my weak “uneducated” attempt at an AdzZoo Review:
First and foremost, the folks bringing you AdzZoo, all appear to each have many years of experience in Sales, Network Marketing, and Venture Capital/Investments.
If you take at look at the executive team at Adzoo, they are primarily made up of old-school sales and marketing people. Which begs the question, what does someone over the age of 60 who came from marketing know about an industry that is realistically less than 10 years old and which changes by the month? The answer is obvious- very little.
AdzZoo’s team has sales experience. The folks at the Online and Print Yellow Pages seem to have more “Internet Marketing” (cough** ADVERTISING SALES **) experience and are a bit more grounded vs the pump you up and send you out nature of an MLM. Although if you have ever seen a ridiculous attempt at pumping folks up, you should see Scott Klein’s Tomorrow Show Today broadcasts or Idearc’s local sales meetings! lol
The level of search engine marketing training coming out of Idearc is very basic at best. Don’t expect advice from Idearc’s “trained media consultants” to be any better than an AdzZoo rep.
AdzZoo Offers PPC: So do the Yellow Pages. Although AdzZoo says it focuses on PPC initially until organic rankings can take effect and produce the results as promised. Boy are they making a promise with AdzZooClientLeave Behind
Is this guarantee doable? Sure, give me $300 cash and I can also guarantee that I can get you on the first page of Google…. but at what cost and for how long? This is were accountability and service come into play folks!
They Offer Landing Pages: Well, the Yellow Pages sorta does this…… (AT&T more so than Idearc.) To be honest with you AdzZoo seems to be kicking yellow page website designers asses. This is horrific!
They Offer Google LBL (Google MAPS): So does Idearc/SuperMedia via Google crawling and indexing Superpages.com results, but Idearc does not recommend or offer support to claim listings which is what Google recommends.
Now some will argue that they are charging clients for what is FREE, as is the case with Google Maps, is a scam. But, if you consider the amount of listings that are unclaimed of folks who do not even have the basic understanding of local search, it maybe argued that AdzZoo is providing better service than that of IYP companies such as Local.com, CitySearch, and Superpages.com. Part of the Google Map listings are based on Google Maps Local Ranking Factors and another component is the Local Business Sponsored Link Ads which is a pay-per-click Adwords option to get in the maps. Now this is a strategy I always recommend for PPC clients
For years, I’ve recommended to clients to claim the businesses local business listings on Google. It is FREE and just takes a few minutes. Claimed listings are ranked higher than listings that are not claimed. Google Maps has taken a big hit to the Internet Yellow Pages companies like Idearc/SuperMedia’s www.Superpages.com Here is a video from Google on claiming your listing for FREE. David Mihm has a list of the local search ranking factors here:
Yellow Page sites traffic on decline due to Google Map display on SERPs
AdzZoo doesn’t have a website ranked in the top 25 of all sites, but if you have looked at SuperPages.com or other online Yellow Pages site traffic, you can see that Google has cut a big chunk. As well as the fact that keyword searches for “Super Pages” or “Yellow Pages” on Google are down significantly. This was caused not by the Yellow Pages consumers adapting or going directly to the sites directly (approx. 30% of SuperPages.com’s users visit the site directly vs clicking from Google Search Results,) but Google done a better job over the years of catching and surpassing to the folks at the Yellow Pages after the early days of the internet. The maps has made huge dents in the Internet Yellow Pages industry revenues.
New Slogan
In the early years, the yellow pages got ahead of Google by leveraging the print data and phone company listing information on its internet brands, such as www.SmartPages.com, YellowPages.com, www.Superpages.com etc. (Currently they are getting beat in innovating subscriber’ship’ by YELP, AngiesList.com, and other hyper-local directories. I believe a good measurement of success for any directory is the number of subscribers.) When you own the listing data (like Verizon or GTE or Southwestern Bell) it makes it easy to have more than a startup company like Google. This is no longer an advantage as Google has improved the ability to find and collect the listings data. What hurt the print yellow pages telephone company publisher before, competition from independent publishers who now have telephone company listing data without the huge costs associated with it, is now impacting the future success of the industry. One of the reasons Idearc is the land of discontent to some degree. Hard to sell clients on SuperPages.com when it is less than 10% of local internet advertising.
I would have thought that a local directory would have already joined the Google Content Network and work-out a better and stronger relationship with Google. One that benefits advertisers and the publishers. Givin’ the cash that Idearc CEO Scott Klein is bragging about being in the bank, one would think that he could bring that to the table with Google. Stop trying to beat Google Scott…. this is not Coke vs Pepsi…. this is Coke vs Hansens.
As you can see by the chart above, less and less folks are looking for Yellow Pages. All of this has resulted in a shift away from traditional print publishers for the internet space. I am not terribly optimistic about multi-level marketing (MLMs), but I will say that AdzZoo seems to have an edge on my previous employer Idearc Media.
Multi-Level Marketing offers low start-up costs, low overhead, strength in commitment, an endless supply of sellers. For a product that can be simplified such as AdzZoo is attempting to do here, I have a feeling that if the “Campaign Managers” can become educated and accountable, this may be a legitimate entrance of MLM’s in the traditional local small business advertising market.
AdzZoo will have more sales reps than Yellow Pages. AdzZoo’s sales reps will have individual websites. AdzZoo will have more “sales and promotion” websites than phone book publishers. I was one of the few that recommended Idearc adapt personal blogs and pages for Media Consultants. Idearc doesn’t seem to want folks selling internet marketing to utilize more than 20% of his or her brain apparently! lol
AdzZoo Offers SEO: WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER. Traditional phone book publishers have yet to figure out a means of monetizing search engine optimization. The fact that AdzZoo is entering the market with an SEO offering is why I feel they are going to have a strong impact on local search sales. For years I, MIKE STEWART, have bitched, moaned, and groaned about my previous employer, Idearc Media, lack of focus on organic search beyond focusing on ranking Superpages.com. I had a few recommendations on how to do it, but Bill Brewer the new guy in charge of Idearc’s National Sales and Local Texas Sales Office decided to let me go vs. allowing me to opportunity to change the course and influence the direction of Idearc. But hey, I only put 9 years into the organization. What did I know about selling and servicing advertising for local businesses? Idearc wants telemarketers. They should have just became AdzZoo if you ask me! lol
Simply put, SEO & Social Media Marketing is where local internet small business marketers need to be. Paid Search marketing costs will continue to increase as the volume of searches increases. Although conversion rates and clicks per user are dependent on landing page optimization, paid search will continue to become more expensive vs less. Equity deals will also become the norm.
I am somewhat concerned about AdzZoos use of a subdomain for clients page. I don’t think Google will rank multiple AdzZoo pages for the same keyword on the first page. I agree with AdzZoo that seldom do consumers see more than the 1st or second page. Those other “gazillion” results mean very little. Google’s talent in indexing those is almost a waste if you ask me! The use of subdomain is very similar to what I recommended to Idearc as a Media Consultant for SEO, www.Ecordia.com ‘s Content Hub.
I have a feeling folks would be more inclined to purchase “ambiguously priced search marketing programs from friends and family with the latest get rich quick scheme to make money leveraging a business owners network vs a 12 month contract for only Google Pay Per Click Management that is irreversible and backed by credit and collections attorneys in the event something go wrong. You see, if Idearc / SuperMedia ‘s SMLOCAL does not produce results, which happens often, since they offer very little (if anything) as far as landing page optimization (unlike AT&T Yellow Pages.com who recently partnered with WebVisible to create landing pages,) you still get stuck with the management fee. In most cases they charge clients 12 months at $700-800.00 per month to “manage” basic pay per click campaigns on Google and Superpages.com with a targeted monthly spend of around 2000.00 per month. So total fees are around 2700.00 per month for only Pay Per Click advertising. Not a very good value if you ask me considering the churn in consultants and clients not getting to own the work they paid Idearc / SuperMedia to produce, but hey… they are in it for the profit folks! If it wasn’t for the Executives at the Unions, very few folks would be able to live like Idearc’s CEO Scott Klein. Let’s say you get behind on your bill due to the lack of true calls from Idearc’s lack of management of Google dangerous content network and decide to cancel your account with Idearc / SuperMedia, now you get to start building your own Google campaign from from scratch.
The one simple reason’s my business plan will succeed…. there is only one method of doing local correctly:
Partner a Website Developer with a talented Search Engine Optimizer who both specialize in Social Media. Build that around a team of talented Pay Per Click Paid Search Professionals, add an honors graduate Video Developer from the Dallas Art Institute, and you have the ultimate offer in local internet marketing.
Call SMB SEO. 214-267-9553
Now…. duplicating this process over and over? That takes money. Something I am not so fortunate to have enough of, unlike Idearc & Scott Klein or the folks at AdzZoo!
For only $300.00 to join AdzZoo, I think I might just try it. Seems to have potential to work well for folks in lesser populated and internet savvy areas outside of Dallas. Heck, AdzZoo and my knowledge of local search marketing might be a heck of a combination! Although, I am skeptical about AdzZoo’s ability to achieve high Google rankings in urban and suburban markets that have above average computer usage, I feel they may be a better offer than traditional print Yellow Pages internet marketing offerings.
Please feel free to discuss this! If you want to remain private just let me know and I will edit your comments before approving them!
I hope everyone has a prosperous and memorable 2010! Happy New Year!
Cheers,
Mike Stewart
The Local Dallas Google Guru
P.S. Don’t forget to comment. I can’t wait to finish www.YellowCrooks.com. Thanks to Scott Klein for the great idea! Look for it to launch in 2010! Look for Internet Yellow Pages companies to IP block it in 2010! LOL
Accountability and Fulfillment….. who will win? The MLM or the IYP?
UMass Dartmouth’s Center for Marketing Research has released its annual study of social media marketing, showing that a whopping 91 percent of firms use at least one social media tool. This is up from 57 percent two years ago.
One caveat here: This is among the “INC. 500″ fastest growing private companies in the U.S. Though the figures show sharp growth, the sample would tend to include more technically savvy companies and thus skew results in favor of higher adoption. There’s nothing wrong with this — the figures are directionally relevant — but it shouldn’t be seen as representative of the overall market.
Consider the small businesses, for example: They’re known to be at the lower end of the technology adoption scale — not to mention their lack of dedicated digital marketing resources. In our small-business marketing survey (LCM Wave 13), 32 percent of respondents report intention to use social media marketing in the next year but only 9 percent reported they currently use Twitter.
This will be a key topic discussed in a panel about social media and local marketing on Day 1 of next week’s Interactive Local Media conference. In the meantime, here are some other data points from the UMass study, as reported by eMarketer.
What is Search Engine Optimization? Why would you ask an SEO? I think the best person to ask is Google!
SEO is an acronym for “search engine optimization” or “search engine optimizer.” Deciding to hire an SEO is a big decision that can potentially improve your site and save time, but you can also risk damage to your site and reputation. Make sure to research the potential advantages as well as the damage that an irresponsible SEO can do to your site. Many SEOs and other agencies and consultants provide useful services for website owners, including:
Review of your site content or structure
Technical advice on website development: for example, hosting, redirects, error pages, use of JavaScript
Content development
Management of online business development campaigns
Keyword research
SEO training
Expertise in specific markets and geographies.
Keep in mind that the Google search results page includes organic search results and often paid advertisement (denoted by the heading “Sponsored Links”) as well. Advertising with Google won’t have any effect on your site’s presence in our search results. Google never accepts money to include or rank sites in our search results, and it costs nothing to appear in our organic search results. Free resources such as Webmaster Tools, the official Webmaster Central blog, and our discussion forum can provide you with a great deal of information about how to optimize your site for organic search. Many of these free sources, as well as information on paid search, can be found on Google Webmaster Central.
Before beginning your search for an SEO, it’s a great idea to become an educated consumer and get familiar with how search engines work. We recommend starting here:
If you’re thinking about hiring an SEO, the earlier the better. A great time to hire is when you’re considering a site redesign, or planning to launch a new site. That way, you and your SEO can ensure that your site is designed to be search engine-friendly from the bottom up. However, a good SEO can also help improve an existing site.
Some useful questions to ask an SEO include:
Can you show me examples of your previous work and share some success stories?
Do you follow the Google Webmaster Guidelines?
Do you offer any online marketing services or advice to complement your organic search business?
What kind of results do you expect to see, and in what timeframe? How do you measure your success?
What’s your experience in my industry?
What’s your experience in my country/city?
What’s your experience developing international sites?
What are your most important SEO techniques?
How long have you been in business?
How can I expect to communicate with you? Will you share with me all the changes you make to my site, and provide detailed information about your recommendations and the reasoning behind them?
While SEOs can provide clients with valuable services, some unethical SEOs have given the industry a black eye through their overly aggressive marketing efforts and their attempts to manipulate search engine results in unfair ways. Practices that violate our guidelines may result in a negative adjustment of your site’s presence in Google, or even the removal of your site from our index. Here are some things to consider:
Be wary of SEO firms and web consultants or agencies that send you email out of the blue.Amazingly, we get these spam emails too:
“Dear google.com,
I visited your website and noticed that you are not listed in most of the major search engines and directories…”
Reserve the same skepticism for unsolicited email about search engines as you do for “burn fat at night”
diet pills or requests to help transfer funds from deposed dictators.
No one can guarantee a #1 ranking on Google.Beware of SEOs that claim to guarantee rankings, allege a “special relationship” with Google, or advertise a “priority submit” to Google. There is no priority submit for Google. In fact, the only way to submit a site to Google directly is through our Add URL page or by submitting a Sitemap and you can do this yourself at no cost whatsoever.
Be careful if a company is secretive or won’t clearly explain what they intend to do.Ask for explanations if something is unclear. If an SEO creates deceptive or misleading content on your behalf, such as doorway pages or “throwaway” domains, your site could be removed entirely from Google’s index. Ultimately, you are responsible for the actions of any companies you hire, so it’s best to be sure you know exactly how they intend to “help” you. If an SEO has FTP access to your server, they should be willing to explain all the changes they are making to your site.
You should never have to link to an SEO.Avoid SEOs that talk about the power of “free-for-all” links, link popularity schemes, or submitting your site to thousands of search engines. These are typically useless exercises that don’t affect your ranking in the results of the major search engines — at least, not in a way you would likely consider to be positive.
Choose wisely.While you consider whether to go with an SEO, you may want to do some research on the industry. Google is one way to do that, of course. You might also seek out a few of the cautionary tales that have appeared in the press, including this article on one particularly aggressive SEO: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2002002970_nwbizbriefs12.html.
While Google doesn’t comment on specific companies, we’ve encountered firms calling themselves SEOs who follow practices that are clearly beyond the pale of accepted business behavior. Be careful.
Be sure to understand where the money goes.While Google never sells better ranking in our search results, several other search engines combine pay-per-click or pay-for-inclusion results with their regular web search results. Some SEOs will promise to rank you highly in search engines, but place you in the advertising section rather than in the search results. A few SEOs will even change their bid prices in real time to create the illusion that they “control” other search engines and can place themselves in the slot of their choice. This scam doesn’t work with Google because our advertising is clearly labeled and separated from our search results,
but be sure to ask any SEO you’re considering which fees go toward permanent inclusion and which apply toward temporary advertising.
What are the most common abuses a website owner is likely to encounter?
One common scam is the creation of “shadow” domains that funnel users to a site by using deceptive redirects. These shadow domains often will be owned by the SEO who claims to be working on a client’s behalf. However, if the relationship sours, the SEO may point the domain to a different site, or even to a competitor’s domain. If that happens, the client has paid to develop a competing site owned entirely by the SEO.
Another illicit practice is to place “doorway” pages loaded with keywords on the client’s site somewhere. The SEO promises this will make the page more relevant for more queries. This is inherently false since individual pages are rarely relevant for a wide range of keywords. More insidious, however, is that these doorway pages often contain hidden links to the SEO’s other clients as well. Such doorway pages drain away the link popularity of a site and route it to the SEO and its other clients, which may include sites with unsavory or illegal content.
What are some other things to look out for?
owns shadow domains
puts links to their other clients on doorway pages
offers to sell keywords in the address bar
doesn’t distinguish between actual search results and ads that appear on search results pages
guarantees ranking, but only on obscure, long keyword phrases you would get anyway
operates with multiple aliases or falsified WHOIS info
gets traffic from “fake” search engines, spyware, or scumware
has had domains removed from Google’s index or is not itself listed in Google
There are a few warning signs that you may be dealing with a rogue SEO. It’s far from a comprehensive list, so if you have any doubts, you should trust your instincts. By all means, feel free to walk away if the SEO:
If you feel that you were deceived by an SEO in some way, you may want to report it.
In the United States, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) handles complaints about deceptive or unfair business practices. To file a complaint, visit: http://www.ftc.gov/ and click on “File a Complaint Online,” call 1-877-FTC-HELP, or write to:
Federal Trade Commission
CRC-240
Washington, D.C. 20580
If your complaint is against a company in a country other than the United States, please file it at http://www.econsumer.gov/.
An SEO is a person who can help your website become an authority on Google. They can do the things necessary to get your site ranked, help your potential customers become conversations, and the conversations turn into dollars.
An SEO helps you make money on the internet. Some SEOs over promise and under deliver. Some SEOs have a good reputation. Some SEOs have a bad reputation. I think that what decides whether a SEO firm is worth his muster is what kind of ideas do they have. What are they going to do beyond “optimizing your website” that is what dictates whether Google sees your site as a local authority on your subject.
Give me a call to discuss this further or feel free to comment in this blog.
Cheers,
Mike Stewart
www.DallasSEOguru.com <—— new site coming soon…. stay tuned!
Introducing the Hendrick Motorsports 25th Anniversary Chevrolet Camaro
.
Superior Chevrolet is excited to present this week’s Dream Car of the Week – the Hendrick Motorsports 25th Anniversary Camaro! The Hendrick Motorsports 25th Anniversary Camaro commemorates Hendrick Motorsports’ Silver Anniversary and includes upgrades such as:
PERFORMANCE DATA:
582 BHP @ 6400 RPM
546 lb. ft. @4000 RPM
1/4 Mile in 11.9 @120 MPH
0-60 MPH in 3.9 Seconds
TVS 2300 Supercharger System
High Flow Intake System
Low Restriction Exhaust System
Carbon Fiber Rear Difusser
Short-throw Shifter
Carbon Fiber Front Splitter
Hendrick/Callaway Nine Spoke Wheels
Hendrick & Callaway Badging
Carbon Fiber Rear Spoiler
Carbon Fiber Rocker Panels
“PowerWindow” Hood
This Camaro has 582 horsepower, can accelerate from 0-60 mph in 3.9 seconds, and can cover the quarter mile in 11.885 seconds @ 120.1 MPH on street tires!
In my opinion this sort of information deserves a post of its own. New statistics on Google’s share of search. Good SEO’s pay close attention to what is going on with the Search Engines as much as they focus on driving clicks and conversions to clients.
I was on top of things when the industry recognized the lift from image and video hosting sites and the effect on content distribution. I’m also paying close attention to mobile search, social media, and content distribution. This is much more complicated to follow than simple Interactive Directory marketing or PPC campaign advertising and marketing.
This is one of the reason’s why High Performing and passionate SEO’s enjoy working with clients that are open-minded and willing to work with creative thinkers vs your average web developer or publisher. If Google represents 77% of search, doesn’t it make sense to spend the majority of your internet advertising dollars (internet marketing budget) on Google? Many publishing companies force you to put money on networks they own vs going to the source of the traffic. I have not personally met a client that only focused on quality. Even quality leads do not result in sales. Clients need as many lead opportunities as possible in addition to quality leads (phone calls, orders, appointment requests).
We received some interesting data from search agency iCrossing yesterday. The data show US search market share percentages and distribution quite different than the major traffic metrics firms. The company says its numbers are “based on a large representative sample of Fortune 1000 companies, across all major verticals,” which use its search tracking tools.
Accordingly the iCrossing data show US September natural search market share to be the following:
Google 76.7 percent
Bing (increasingly slightly from Aug to) 8.2 percent
Yahoo (decreasing to) 11.1 percent
AOL and Ask show “precipitous declines”
This is how iCrossing characterized the data in an email to me: “it represents actual traffic received from engines, as picked up by our own analytics tracking across enterprise level sites, as opposed to all traffic on the Web.”
Compare comScore data for September:
Compare Hitwise:
The Bing numbers are relatively close in the data above but iCrossing shows Yahoo with a significantly smaller share than either comScore or Hitwise. And while those services both seem to show a stable core of usage for Ask and AOL search, iCrossing reflects losses for those engines.
Here are some visual representations of the iCrossing numbers:
My wife was stoked the day she found out her 4 DOOR 425hp Charger SRT-8 was faster than my (Mother’s former) Magnetic Red Metallic 2004 Corvette C5. Still doesn’t come close to my 2000 Pontiac Trans Am WS6. It has run a best of 6.19 @ 110 in the 8th mile at Texas Raceway in Kennedale Tx on 680rwhp. It made a best of 730rwhp on 200 shot nitrous pills at Real Performance Motorsports in Lewisville Tx. ” DFW’s Fastest Late Model Speed Shop” on nitrous and 460rwhp with an all-motor tune. I have had the car for about 3 years now. It is a blast to drive. I have been “optimizing” it as a true enthusiast.
Engine Modifications:
408ci LQ9 (Escalade) LS1 Iron Block
4.00 Eagle Crankshaft
LS3 / L92 Heads
RPM Custom 236/248 Camshaft
GMPP Carb Intake modified by Aaron @ IntakeElbows.com
60lb per hr Fuel Injectors
NX Gemini Nitrous Plate (200-400hp)
Driveline:
TH400 A3 GM transmission
Vigilante 3600 stall Nitrous Converter
9 inch Moser (Ford) rearend w/ 3.89 gear (full spool)
Ratchet Shifter
I will be at Texas Raceway tomorrow for the Fall Cruise. See you there!
Updated videos from the cruise….
a few other pics I shared via
A friend of mine Jeff Swope and I came up with the branding for Webformance Inc.
You are currently browsing the archives for the High Performance category.
Blog Search
Mike Stewart Local Search Blog
I am a local Dallas Google advertising consultant for companies located in D/FW and small and medium-sized enterprises needing affordable and transparent local search marketing
From 2000 to 2009, I worked for Verizon Yellow Pages / Superpages.com as a new business sales strategist and advertising consultant. After a questionable spin-off and then bankruptcy, I left the organization to become an entrepreneur.
I created a start-up internet marketing firm for small to medium-sized businesses serving the Dallas area.
Any views expressed on this blog are not necessarily shared by my company or employer. Particularly the views related to SuperMedia / Idearc (my former employer) the Yellow Pages publishing industry, saturation distribution of phone books, or political related discussions.
I offer proven, tested, and verified local Search Engine Marketing advertising strategies to folks in Dallas - Fort Worth who are looking for honesty, results, a good value and accountability.
Do not hesitate to ask me SEO/PPC related questions. I have a true passion for Local Search Marketing.
I am also a Board of Directors Member for the Dallas Fort Worth Search Engine Marketing Association. Join Me for Our Next Meeting at http://www.dfwsem.org
call me: 214-267-9553
or email: dallasSEOguru@gmail.com
*I promise to respect your privacy while posting on this blog.
Posted by Mike Stewart 
They made a commitment to the client that the ad they purchased would be placed by size and seniority from the date when the contract is signed. The print yellow pages industry has held the “decrease your ad and lose your discounts” AXE over clients heads to persuade clients into keeping ads for many years. Is the Yellow Page industry selling products or services? Is the pricing fair? In my opinion the yellow pages industry needs to stick to products… not services. Search Marketing service requires fulfillment and constant attention, something the print industry has very little experience in vs local advertising agencies.
