4-DIY Steps in Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Marketing

Is SEO search engine optimization (SEO) really worth the investment? Do small business owners really get their moneys' worth through SEO? Can SEO really improve a small businesses’ bottom line? From business to business, SEO is as a personal an issue as it is to be a Democrat or a Republican.

Search engine optimization is a marketing tool of much debate. While certain business types achieve a healthy return on investment (ROI) via search engine optimization marketing, other online entities experience paltry, murky or even lackluster results.

Depending on the type of small business, SEO may or may not be futile. For instance, a professional hit man may not want his or her site to appear at the first search results of Google. So, SEO is not ideal for businesses where covert services are provided (in example: killing, spying importing illegal narcotics, etc). Also, certain street vendors do not need SEO – simply because their business is conducted in-person and on the street. Case and point, the ice cream man does not need SEO – simply because customers are not typing "is the ice cream man coming."

The vast majority of business-to-business and business-to-consumer entities requiring a website to expand awareness about their company’s offerings, need a certain amount of SEO. If not only to be found online or to define a company’s products and services, websites are tantamount to little office storefronts stocked with a self-automated sales force -- thoughtfully presented in a compelling marketing communiqué.

But depending on the budget, industry and market saturation, there is a disparity in search engine optimization rates. Costs variations in SEO run the gamut from $1000 to $60,000. For instance, let's say entrepreneur #1 sells whoopee cushions and entrepreneur #2 sells chairs. Who has the better chance of assuming first page rankings? On Google, a search for whoopee cushions and chairs returns 181,000 and 97,600,000 results, respectively.

Apparently, a whoopee cushion e-retailer would have a better chance at gaining first page rankings on Google than the chair business -- because the market is smaller with fewer competitors. Nevertheless, both markets are suitable for generating prospects, customers and revenue online. The difference being, the whoopee cushion Web site would be more affordable to optimize than the online chair company.

Nevertheless, search engine optimization (SEO) is only as complicated as we make it. The underlying objective of SEO is to gain rankings on the top ten pages of Google and other popular search engines. Visibility represents more business opportunities. As a result, higher page rankings call for better site popularity.

Here are some preliminary steps a small business can take to save money before turning their site over to an SEO consultancy:

1) Become familiar with the target market. Research how your prospective customers search for your products and services. When they’re searching for a whoopee cushion, do they type in blow-up cushions? How often are they shopping for these products and who are your competitors? Is your target market looking for specially designed whoopee cushions?

To learn how your target audience searches for your product, visit Yahoo' search marketing resource portal and type in synonyms or related keywords pertaining to your business. Make a note of all keywords that relate to your products and services. These words will be used in step #2. Research within your market, the needs of your customers. It will not only help you devise a market niche based on their demand but it can set you apart from your competition.

2) Submit site URL. For starters, use sites such as SubmitExpress.com to submit your URL to directories. In fact, many web-hosting packages include a complimentary search engine submission to more than 40 different websites. (Some SEO marketing firms charge $100 dollar for such services).

Meanwhile, the various words discovered in step number one are the approximate words needed to include in the keywords of your search engine directory submission.

3) Tweak content keywords. Even though you may not be a writer, try to make sure that your Web site employs adequate information about the products and services your business provides – using the keywords found in step #1. In other words, make sure you have sufficient coverage of your keywords. At Keyworddensity.com, the keyword density of your site can be evaluated by typing in your URL.

4) Market It. Launch your very own marketing campaign. Write articles based on problems solved by simple solutions tying in the awareness of your company’s offerings. For example, to market whoopee cushions online, the problem would relate to how uncomfortable stadium seats are on the buttocks. The health concerns could be related to lower sciatica or something as controversial and indelible as hemorrhoids. Next, these informative articles or press releases could be submitted to sites such as Our Articles.com, PRWeb.com. These little articles represent link popularity, traffic and of course free PR.

While this article is not meant to replace the professional advice of a SEO specialist, the above tasks can help small businesses be clear on identifying their market. Not to mention, the above DIY search engine optimization (SEO) steps may help a small business fine-tune their target market, remain steadfast to their objectives, and be true to the identity of their business niche.

Article Source: http://www.content.onlypunjab.com

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