Printer Friendly Version
Email this thread to a friend
|
webmasters seo tools website is for sale (In: I Want to Sell My Website)
Managing Monthly SEO budget (In: Contextual Advertising - Adsense & Others)
Google's SEO Starter Guide (In: Google)
Guidelines for optimizing YouTube videos for SEO? (In: Other Online Marketing - Communities, Blogs & Press, etc)
SEO - As a Career (In: General Search Engine Optimization)
Featured Web Site Template |
|
Reflects user activity within the last 5 minutes
|
|
| Member |
Message |
bizguy
Joined: Eons Ago
# Posts: 80
|
Posted: 2005-Jul-28 01:02
Lately, I've been buying a slew of one way links on higher PR sites (7,8) and some lesser PR links for good measure. Until now I've neglected page optimation, and I want to remedy that, but my time is limited. So I've discussed it with an SEO firm. I spoke with one of the owners and I was fairly impressed with his knowledge and ability to talk straight about this stuff.
That said, I'd like thoughts on the proposal I was offered.
They've offered a home page optimization, as well as the production of about a dozen or so new optimized keyword pages, skewed to a few keywords and variants thereof. For this, they're asking about $1200.
Secondly, they have a large number of their own sites on which they post client links. These are category-specific portal sites, and of the couple I saw, pretty well done without a ridiculous number of outbound links (about 15 or less). These sites use well considered keyword-rich domain names, and the PR is typically 3-5 (the ones I saw were 5's).
The portal sites are not circular (they aren't interlinked) and they are on unique IPs. It appears they have thought this out pretty well. Even showed me some success stories, but then everyone does that.
This brings me to part B of the proposal, which is approx. 800 links for $1000 monthly with a 90 day minimum.
The latter part of the deal is a bit vague to me, since they don't provide any real detail on the exact number and specific URLs of the sites they use. Since they don't know me, and I could be a competitor or have other bad intentions, perhaps that is understandable. There are also no guarantees as to results, etc., which seems to be the norm anyway.
I'd like to hear what others think of this proposal and pricing. I feel that I could do as good a job with the keyword optimized pages as anyone else, but I just don't have the time. (I just hope that I don't end up having to edit them anyway, after the fact.)
Thanks for any feedback or suggestions!
|
 |
excell
Staff
Joined: Mar 19, 2001
# Posts: 14512
|
Posted: 2005-Jul-28 06:37
Wouldn't it be better to optimise *all* the pages of the website? Instead of tagging on new keyword pages (that seem to be meant for the search engines and not the visitors) why not assess the website's content and see if it needs expanding from a sensible marketing point of view?
The linkage ideas along with the *tag it on* approach to optimisation seem excessive and out of balance to me.
I would be looking for an SEO that would give advice first about any areas of improvement that could be made along with a report about any hinderances or blockages with the web site structure, navigation, user friendliness, call to action etc etc
|
|
copley_designs
Joined: Jul 26, 2005
# Posts: 18
|
Posted: 2005-Jul-28 14:06
There are very few SEO firms that offer page optimization for under $1,000, so the cost is certainly reasonable.
When a search engine like Google spiders the web, it begins with the high traffic PR ranked pages. With 8,058,044,651 pages indexed in the engine, it is very difficult to receive excellent keyword placement if ALL of your pages are not optimized. Through keyword optimization and one-way links with high PR sites, you will receive better placement in search engines.
Before you go any further in purchasing more one-way links, have a professional optimize your website for specific keywords. You will certainly receive faster results this way.
Good Luck!
|
|
copley_designs
Joined: Jul 26, 2005
# Posts: 18
|
Posted: 2005-Jul-28 15:38
In addition to my previous comments, I would just like to share some information regarding the 800 links.
Google has recently filed for a new patent, focusing on shutting down spam and any loophole in their algorithm. One of the main concepts of the patent is the use of inbound links, and how fast you acquire these links. If you very rapidly grow the number sites linking to your website, Google will read this as potential spam and punish your site for this by removing keywords.
Be very cautious of who you are exchanging links with and how fast you grow the number of websites linking to your site. Receiving 800 links in a very short period of time will most likely hurt your site.
|
|
excell
Staff
Joined: Mar 19, 2001
# Posts: 14512
|
Posted: 2005-Jul-28 16:15
(more info & discussion on mentioned Google patent Here...)
Also, even though $1,000 seems cheap, I wouldn't pay it for the work mentioned. What is going to suit you (if you hire) should depend on your current website state, your product & services, your business model & goals, your target market, your competition and what is going to produce a good ROI in the long run. These are not always off the rack pricing topics.
|
|
bizguy
Joined: Eons Ago
# Posts: 80
|
Posted: 2005-Jul-28 18:36
Thanks for all the good input.
You're absolutely right in that we should be optimizing the whole site, but there are challenges. One is that we hesitant to risk watering down some pretty effective sales copy. (It's very precise copy, and every word has its place.) Our site funnels sales pretty well, so that's a delicate area. (We also have some indexed URLs that were not particularly well thought out originally, so there are the migration concerns as well.)
Very useful info regarding growing the links too fast--until recently, we also had a fairly hidden resource page that was linked to one of those automatic reciprocal link networks--just got rid of that and their 2000 junk links. (Hope that hasn't already hurt us.)
Getting back to the concern about diluting sales copy, I am curious as to how you normally approach a site that is already doing well in terms of sales? Or, how do you go about improving its SEO without risking the sales message?
Thanks again, both of you!
|
|
excell
Staff
Joined: Mar 19, 2001
# Posts: 14512
|
Posted: 2005-Jul-28 19:24
Getting back to the concern about diluting sales copy, I am curious as to how you normally approach a site that is already doing well in terms of sales? Or, how do you go about improving its SEO without risking the sales message?
Without seeing your website it is hard to say exactly what I or anyone would do - each situation is different. Normally I approach a website from a visitor centric focus that aims to improve their experience by ensuring the information they need is provided in a format and language they understand.
As most visitors skim first before reading it is important that overall "look & feel" is good, then navigation - making sure everything is accessible.
I'd be looking to ensure that headings say it all, images have relevent captions & alt text, did I say links need to be obvious and appropriately labeled.
Providing the visitor with a good, clear way to fast track to the information that meets their need is what it is all about... doing this on site and transparently is just as easy as trying to do it a more tricky way.
The only folks that read your pages from go to woe are those that don't trust you, those that aren't ready to buy or those that just wanna know it all.
Your carefully written sales copy can most likely be optimised without hurting your situation.
Imagine the user experience and impression that would be created by offering up keyword junk pages? errm...that is if the intention is to make them available to the public? or would they be designed for the search engines only?
My arguement is WHY do that when you can do better without risking loss of favour with the SEs, your visitors, your peers or yourself?
/steps off soapbox 
We also have some indexed URLs that were not particularly well thought out originally, so there are the migration concerns as well
301 redirect and changing links is the way to clean up if you remove, change pages.
I want to add that currently I have a client that is paying very good $s to a "copy writer" that is turning out some excellent maketing material... but rest assured - that copy will be changed to make it sing on-line.
|
|
You are not permitted to post messages in this forum or topic, because of one or more of the following reasons:
- You have not yet logged in, or registered properly as a member
- You are a member, but no longer have posting rights.
- This is a private forum, for which you do not have permissions.
If you are a recent member, it's possible that you simply have not yet confirmed your account. Please
check your email for a message entitled 'JimWorld Forums: Confirm Your Account' and follow the instructions
contained within.
If you cannot find this message, click here to Re-Send it.
|
If you are still experiencing problem, please read the
Login Assistance
Article for some advice on what may be causing your login not to work properly.
|
Switch to Advanced Editor and ...
Create a New Topic
or Reply to this Thread
|
|
Inbox
