:: search engine optimisation (seo)
the business-oriented web marketing solution for your business
... excited about the results! That we are number one
on Google for 'natural toys' and ahead of the american companies selling
similar stuff to us is amazing... you must be a genius!
Richard Parks, Myriad Natural Toys & Crafts
A bit of history about search engines & search engine optimisation (SEO)
A few years ago, it was pretty easy to get high rankings on search engines: stuff your page full of keywords, submit
your site and there you go ... until someone else did the same.
It didn't take long for the search engine companies to realise that, since they would only get people using their sites if they delivered good results, it was useless serving up results which bore no relation to the search which had been done.
So they started developing increasingly complex sets of rules ('algorithms'), in order to attempt to determine whether a page was relevant to a given search. These search algorithms now can contain more than 100 different tests on the page content, title, description, keywords, links, etc, etc.
The response from web designers was to adopt various techniques to convince the search engines into thinking that their sites were relevant. The most popular so-called 'search engine optimisation' technique was to avoid altering the visible page text, but include keywords in tiny, unreadable fonts - like this: keyword or making them invisible, by putting them in the same colour as the background colour (eg white text on a white background).
It didn't take long before the search engine designers included tests to check for this. If your - supposedly 'optimised' - site is found to be using these techniques, it will be placed far down in the rankings, or even removed from the search index completely.
WARNING - these techniques are still used, by incompetent web designers who have no idea abut SEO!
As time has gone on, every search engine has utilised increasingly complex technology - all with the intention of delivering the most relevant results for their visitors. In particular, they now attempt to replicate what a human visitor would look at on a page to determine whether it is relevant and appropriate to his or her search. And SEO has become increasingly difficult, as we attempt to 'second guess' what a search engine is looking for ...
So, is there anything you can do to get your site high up on the results - even on page 1? Read on ...
... a top level SEO guy ... we are getting natural listings all over the place ... He did a great job!
posting on the premier web professionals' forum, WebProWorld, by
Arthur Frischman', of the Florida-based 6 Star Reviews
What is 'search engine optimisation'?
The art of search engine optimisation (SEO) is a highly complex process, requiring many different skills:
- knowledge of the latest SEO techniques which work;
- knowledge of now outdated optimisation techniques which no longer work;
- spending time continually keeping abreast of search engine technology and search engine optimisation requirements;
- the - absolutely crucial - ability to create keyword-rich optimised page text which not only works for optimisation purposes, but also works as marketing copy for your service, product or company;
- the ability to stand back and look at the website as a whole and analyse whether, when search engine optimisation work gets you those visitors, your website will achieve the results you want - particularly in terms of the 'conversation' between the site and the visitor.
That's why, at andrew green associates, all our optimisation is personally carried out by our founder and principal, Andrew Green - an acknowledged and highly skilled SEO expert, who is regularly used by web designers, marketing companies and other web professionals.
Andrew Green Associates provided a fast, effective and efficient service which rapidly raised the profile of my website and resulted in a fourfold increase in new business from the internet.
Sue Branch, Acupuncturist
We should emphasise here that, when we refer to SEO, we are talking about a rigorous and comprehensive search engine optimisation process.
Many people still labour under the misapprehension that putting a few keywords in the webpage 'meta tags' will achieve good search engine optimisation results, when the reality is that this will achieve absolutely nothing.
In addition, many so-called search engine optimisation 'experts' (who might well have approached you offering "guaranteed 1st page positions on Google"), use a hotchpotch of - highly dubious - techniques: 'gateway pages', hidden page redirects, web address 'cloaking', and many other methods which produce short-term results and then always result in the websites which they have 'optimised' being completely banned from search engines.
Genuine SEO consultants will NEVER EVER guarantee positioning.
I could only do this is if I knew the exact details of Google, Yahoo & MSN's search 'algorithms'
- and if I had that information to hand I would be a very rich man indeed!
Andrew Green
Click here to read Google's own information about search engine optimisation - what to look for and what to avoid. ... apparently, they also receive emails starting: "Dear google.com, I visited your website and noticed that you are not listed in most of the major search engines and directories ..."!
In contrast to this type of spurious, so-called 'optimisation', Andrew's expertise has been painstakingly built up over the past six years, working on real business websites, and he keeps up to date with current search engine trends on a daily basis.
This is simply superb work - I have spent an hour going through it step by step - can not fault it.
If this is the standard of phase 1 can't wait for phase 2.
Andrew McGavin, CEO of iXat
As part of the SEO process, we also provide invaluable advice on site design and the user 'conversation', utilising our considerable experience of the internet, online and offline marketing, copywriting and proofreading.
Despite being a predominantly technical skill, I believe - very strongly - that SEO needs to be undertaken as an integral
part of site design and textual/visual content.
And I also believe that if your search engine optimisation consultant cannot do that, he or she is not going to give you what you want:
results to suit your budget and improve your profitability.
It is these additional skills - built up over nearly 30 years in the computer industry -
which provide that vital 'added value' to my clients and ensure that top-class search engine optimisation work by me provides top-class results for you.
Andrew Green
So how much will search engine optimisation cost?
All our search engine optimisation projects are negotiated at length with you, the client, before any agreement is reached on the extent of the work
and how many hours are required.
One site might need only 5-10 hours initial optimisation work and then, perhaps, 2-3 hours each month for 3-4 months. A larger site might need a continuing SEO effort of 10 hours - or more - every month, for 6 months.
That is why that initial discussion process about your search engine optimisation project is so vitally important: even at our current modest rate of £48 (approx $70 US) per hour, costs can easily mount up and it is of paramount importance to us that you feel you are getting value for money and that our work will help you and your business.
Search engine optimisation can provide just the boost your website - and business - needs and ensure a permanent 1st page search engine position, advertising your business 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This can be achieved for only a modest initial outlay and a couple of hours a month 'tweaking' your site, to maintain its position.
To start the search engine optimisation process off for your business - completely free of any obligation - just to email us, or ring us on 01305 871561.
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