Looking for local SMO pricing?
If you’re looking for that, you probably already know that term stands for “Social Media Optimization”.
The first question I would ask is – Why are you looking for that?
Shouldn’t you be focusing on the real internet marketing foundation which is Ranking #1 in Google for your most valuable keywords?
Everyone wants a quick fix, and with all the buzz about Facebook and Twitter it can make you believe that Social Media Marketing is the most popular thing to do.
In my humble opinion, most (if not all) local businesses are chasing the “shiny” object called “Social Media” long before they have their true foundation and internet presence in place.
If you don’t rank #1 for all of your most valuable local search terms, why go after the 80% that only gets you 20% of the results. That’s the Social Media place right now.
You can Facebook and Twitter until you are blue in the face but if you don’t have a solid Google #1 position across dozens of your most valuable local search terms you are allowing your social media blitz to show up before your real content (which should be on your main website, and you have the most control over).
Imagine if your Facebook and Twitter content is at the top of the search engines and your competitor begins leaving negative comments or content about you on those same social media platforms — how much control do you have over that? Not much.
However, when you rank #1 in Google, you can add content to those #1 ranking pages and get it indexed by Google almost immediately.
Immediate indexing allows you to control the conversation in your market. Having no control over content outside of your company, with no #1 Google rankings to support you can be dangerous.
The truth is, most local companies leave their #1 rankings on the table because they are not easily won – however once achieved the power can be tremendous.
My “Top Of Google” service is the foundation a local business needs WAY BEFORE they embark on a Social Media Optimization program.
Engaging in Social Media Optimization or Marketing before you have a solid Local SEO (Search Engine Optimization) ranking is putting the cart before the horse.
Web Market Authority can put your local business at the “Top Of Google” for an unlimited number of locally targeted keywords – this is the 20% which will get you 80% of the results.
Hire a Local SEO Expert for your Top Of Google rankings and avoid the Social Media Hype today.
Filed under Search Engine Optimization by on Jun 12th, 2010. Comment. 
Hiring a Search Engine Optimization (SEO) consultant can be a confusing task if you as the business owner are unable to determine your SEO consultants abilities.
As an SEO Consultant myself, I can assure you that as I look around at the competition I am usually able to quickly see if the SEO services offered are of value to local business owners.
Here’s my top 7 list of items to look for when interviewing your SEO consultant and getting your internet marketing handled properly from the beginning.
1. Beware the web design firm that also offers SEO services; most are not well versed in proper SEO and will certainly not be able to deliver the level of SEO consulting most local business owners require.
– For Example: I have witnessed many web design firms stuffing keywords into the code of a web page calling it SEO – which is far from what real SEO is. In fact meta tag keyword stuffing can get your website penalized with search engines such as Google.
2. Most SEO consultants offer keyword research; however keyword research alone leaves many aspects on the table since the future is being driven by “market research”. Online Market Research takes into effect Google’s ability to compare a website to an established authority and quickly determine if a website is simply using keywords attempting to rank in the search engines as opposed to being an actual authority on the subject. Performing Vertical Marketing Research with a tool such as “ThemeZoom” is an absolute requirement in today’s online SEO activities.
3. Does your SEO consultant offer (or for that matter mention) link building techniques. Link building is more than half the battle when it comes to search engine rankings. A good SEO consultant has an established link building process in place. If your SEO consultant doesn’t include “Article Marketing & Syndication” in his link building plan, find one that does.
4. Does your SEO consultant have a plan for ranking your website or is he randomly choosing the most obvious keywords to rank your website for. Your SEO efforts should contain keywords that are specifically targeted to you and your business first and then grow into a broader market, essentially building from the low to the high volume keywords. This practice builds on itself and can give faster results as opposed to a haphazard unplanned approach.
5. Always check the source code of your website after SEO consulting has been performed to ensure that no “keyword stuffing” has occurred. To do so simply right click on your web page and choose “view source” to make sure your page doesn’t contain any list of keywords which don’t also reside on the content of your page. Search engines will penalize a website who uses keywords in the page code that don’t reside on the web page itself.
6. Does your SEO consultant really have past client experience? Ask your SEO consultant to place a word of your choosing onto the page of a current client site as proof that he actually has access to client pages that he has specifically optimized.
7. Make sure your SEO consultant understands the tools provided by Google, such as their “Webmaster Tools” and “Analytics” services. Request that you have proof by getting a look at the consultants Google Webmaster Tools interface as proof.
Any good SEO consulting firm will be able to provide those 7 basic things (and hopefully much more).
I would also avoid consultants who offer search engine submissions since that process is very outdated and only an SEO newbie would attempt to offer such a service.
As an SEO Consulting Firm; Web Market Authority is able to speak to all of the above concerns and many more. If you’re a local business owner ready to take your website to a new level of online success we are ready to show you the way. Click Here to download our Internet Marketing Services and Pricing White Paper.
Note: Web Market Authority and our Northern Virginia SEO Services division is one of only a few entities with the ability and training to use the above mentioned “ThemeZoom” application to perform Vertical Market Research and apply the data to an effective SEO campaign.
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Filed under Market Research, Search Engine Optimization, Website Marketing by on Jun 17th, 2009. Comment.
From The Desk Of; Terry Lamb
WebMarketAuthority.com – Internet Marketing Specialist
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Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a highly sought after option for website owners who know they need to have higher search engine rankings to succeed online.
In fact, entire businesses have been developed just to provide this form of “internet marketing” to those who desperately need it.
Although it is true that SEO is a highly technical, ever changing, sometimes secretive discipline – it is by no means the ONLY thing a website owner should be doing to succeed online.
Some would have you believe that optimizing your website for the search engines will drive hordes of traffic directly to you — however that is simply NOT the case.
Search Engine Optimization accounts for approximately 40% of the overall success of your website, and even less if your website was not originally designed with SEO in mind.
If you currently have an existing website which is graphics intensive then SEO accounts for even less of your success simply because pictures and graphics actually give your website less effectiveness in the search engine results pages.
So, you may be asking – if SEO is 40% or less of my overall website success, what accounts for the remaining 60% or more?
The answer; off page factors such as inbound links make up the remaining effectiveness of your website in the search engine results.
Quick Tip:
Our proprietary internet marketing process takes all factors into consideration when promoting your website, and our inbound link building methods are so effective you can actually rank higher for fewer incoming links than your competition.
Contact us today for a Website Analysis and Consultation to find out the insider details on how our net marketing expertise can help you maximize your internet presence.
Or, simply call 703-574-4719 to get your most pressing internet marketing questions answered today.
Filed under Search Engine Optimization by on Jun 7th, 2008. Comment.
