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Joe Balestrino
talks about how to avoid being ripped off by an unscrupulous search
engine optimization firm. Find out the methods you can use to protect
yourself and make sure that you get the best service possible.
I have decide to write this article as a result of numerous emails.
It seems more and more people are falling victim to bad SEO. The
main complaint is that they are paying entirely too much for little
or no results. Additionally, many fall prey to bad SEO practices.
If you plan to hire an SEO pro in the future, I suggest you use
this article as a set of guidelines.
Before going with any SEO firm or individual, do the following:
A) Find out how established and experienced an SEO firm is before
you negotiate.
Do they have a sizeable client list under their belt?
Are they published?
B) Scrutinize their portfolio.
What kind of results have they achieved?
Contact a few of their clients. Were they satisfied with the work
performed?
C) Consider and confirm their methods?
How will they optimize your site to reach your keywords?
Do they use organic methods? Some individuals or companies use doorway
pages, hide text in the background, utilize re-directs and other
blacklisted methods. Stay away from these.
D) Get a least three proposals from different SEO firms.
Look at each one carefully. Are there similarities? Proposals will
help you see which companies are honest and which are trying to
sell you something you don't need.
What is the cost? The cheapest isn't always the best, however, the
highest price may not be attached to a comprehensive and viable
course of action. Try to find find an individual or organization
that will give you what you want within your SEO budget.
E) Contract, Contract, Contract.
Get everything in writing. Look over the document carefully. Be
sure it covers everything you have discussed, including methods
of achieving your desired results. Have the copies signed by both
parties. If the job is a large one you may want to consult a lawyer.
F) Clearly state the terms of payment.
While most SEO firms will not do any work for free or agree to a
results based pay scale, many competant SEO professionals will not
shy away from a base plus performance incentive package. I am not
a firm believer in prepaid contracts.. Most SEO professionals will
abide by the 50% up front, 50% upon completion standard. Make sure
all financial terms are as clearly defined in your contract as the
actual scope of work. This will protect all parties involved in
the event that expectations are not met.
All in all, try to do your best to educate yourself on SEO. Have
a basic understanding of SEO terminology and SEO methodology. Anyone
offering SEO services should not have a problem explaining how they
intend to get you results. If they fail gain your confidence or
raise a red flag for any reason whatsoever, keep searching. You
will eventually find someone who will help you reach your goals
for a fair price. Happy hunting.
About the Author
To read more articles on SEO read Joe's blog http://mr-seo.blogspot.com/
His SEO services can be found at http://www.mr-seo.com For affordable
web design visit http://www.jnb-design.com
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