Finding the Right Search Engine Optimisation Provider

Just with any service you need to be sure that your supplier will meet your needs, deliver and employ ethical methods.

As search engine optimisation becomes more complex and as the risk of exclusion, or even non-inclusion of search engines, the need for effective search engine optimisation professionals increases. But how do you find the one that is best for you, what should be your checklist?

You should ask your potential supplier questions based around these topics:

Reciprocal links:

What are their views on increasing the number and quality of sites that link to their client sites? How do they go about finding these links and why should they?

A large part of Google's ranking algorithm is based on link popularity. In it's simplest form if you have more sites that are popular and of a similar theme to yours, you will ranker higher. A good understanding of online marketing and research methods are essential to increasing link popularity.

Keywords Strategies:

These are essential. Without a list of keywords that accurately match your offerings you will not rank highly over the long-term. If a company does not include a recommended list in a proposal they should be avoided. Often a company will provide a list of keywords that differ from your own - this is ok. There are many tools online that help refine the list. These tools show how surfers are actually searching on the Internet and which keywords are being used. The secret of effective search engine optimisation is matching what the provider's client is offering and what the surfer is looking for. Only effective keyword research and implementation will allow this.

Knowledge of HTML:

Just because a provider has a nice looking site, this is no substitute for the ability to create sites that appear in the top of the search engines. Make sure that your potential provider has demonstrable HTML experience.

Ability to communication to your audience:

A good search engine optimisation consultant should have marketing experience. The are many "technical" providers that get into the depths of search engine algorithms but can not create effective solutions because they can not communicate their client's message to their target audience.

Strategies and Planning

Ask how your potential consultant registers your site with search engines. How many do they say they will register with? If they say more than twenty search engines they are probably a consultant to be avoided. There are basically only around fifteen that are worth registering with. Find out what their views are of paid inclusion into directories such as Looksmart and Yahoo. They are generally worth inclusion but cost and whether you should pay to be included is a question of cost and the competitive nature of your market.

Establish what market-specific directories your potential consultant recommends - they should at least provide a list of three.

Submission and Registration Tracking:

Establish how the consultant tracks and ensures success. Without a suitable plan of submission it is extremely unlikely that any campaign will be a success - make sure that you are submitted a plan. Furthermore, when the site is live and the initial registration process has been completed, ask for a list of keywords that people find your site with and the sites they have used.

They are many potential providers. Some are committed to providing long-term, effective solutions and some are not. Armed with the information above you now have the ability to choose the best.