Good SEO firm?

freelancewell · 10-11-2004, 08:49 PM

Hi ,

We have just introduced http://www.freelancewell.com

We are looking to improve our rankings .

We got offers from submitexpress.com and globalpromoter.com

they are around $2000 for around 30 keywords .

Did anybody had success with these 2 companies or any other you can recommend ?

thanks

sem4u · 10-12-2004, 01:45 AM

I would say check out the testimonials from these companies to see how good they are. Also talk to them to see which methods they will use to promote your site. Talk to 4 or 5 companies and then make a decision.

awall19 · 10-12-2004, 02:59 AM

when checking the testimonials...you may want to call some of the people. also search for them in search results to see if there is any dirt.

I have heard of both of those companies but have not worked with either in any way.

DanielK · 10-15-2004, 07:28 AM

I would shop around, then shop some more.

Buying SEO services is just like any other marketing service...the results differ to a great extent.

Just ask as many questions as you can. Go with whoever gives you the most information and makes you feel comfortable with their knowledge.

It's is very important as awall19 said, to talk to past clients.

imaginemn · 10-15-2004, 08:14 AM

I personally would not rely on testimonials. They can easily be faked. I heard of a company that had their family menbers write their testimonials. Anyways, would a company really put a bad comment on their website?

When planning to spend a large amount of money do a little research. If they have clients on their site contact the client. Ask a client that you are thinking about using a service they have used in the past and ask about their experience. I would contact a few but not be pushy. Send them 1 friendly email. If they don't respond they may not be interested in responding. Try to also keep it short and simple. If they are happy with their SEO I am sure they are happy to share their thoughts especially if they had a bad experience.

imaginemn

awall19 · 10-15-2004, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by imaginemn

I personally would not rely on testimonials. They can easily be faked. I heard of a company that had their family menbers write their testimonials. Anyways, would a company really put a bad comment on their website?

that is why you contact the people and do not just rely on the stuff on the site. also you should kinda be able to tell how authentic stuff seems when you talk to people.

the old adage if it seems to good to be true...

that is a good one to use for buying seo stuff.

Shawn · 10-15-2004, 07:04 PM

My opinion is go to buy Aaron's seo book and read it and submit to the places he recommends. Honestly speaking unless you like wasting money there really is no need to hire an "SEO". Most everything they do for you is in the seo book for thousands less.

..just my opinion.

awall19 · 10-16-2004, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shawn Steele

My opinion is go to buy Aaron's seo book and read it and submit to the places he recommends. Honestly speaking unless you like wasting money there really is no need to hire an "SEO". Most everything they do for you is in the seo book for thousands less.

..just my opinion.

I think I need to post another testimonial to the testimonials page

thanks for that Shawn

Shawn · 10-16-2004, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by awall19

I think I need to post another testimonial to the testimonials page

thanks for that Shawn

Add a testimonial there

But I'm just telling what I believe. If I thought the book sucked or wasnt worth the money, I'd say that too

dasp · 10-16-2004, 02:50 PM

How about searching in different search engines for keywords like, search engine optimization, and cross reference. After all, if the SEO firm is good, then they should have good optimization for themselves.

<snip>

awall19 · 10-16-2004, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dasp

How about searching in different search engines for keywords like, search engine optimization, and cross reference. After all, if the SEO firm is good, then they should have good optimization for themselves.

not a good idea. many of the top ranking sites for such phrases provide sucky services...some of them are just sites that did good back in the day that still rank from old links.

(I currently rank in the top 10 of google for stuff like "seo" and "search engine marketing" but that in and of itself does not mean that I would do a good job for you)

ferret77 · 10-17-2004, 07:56 AM

"not a good idea"

I disagree, probably because I have taken the time to try to rank for competitve seo phrases

If someone has site a that ranks at least you know that they can do it, if they want to

there is a handful of bull**** sites at the top, but there are thousands of jerk offs patrolling forums, freelance job boards ,and buying adwords looking for suckers

freelancewell · 10-17-2004, 10:08 AM

Advice:

Avoid Strategicimpulse.com at all cost . These people they don't know what they are doing . I paid them and i regret it ....

Now looking for a real SEO people , and it is hard for me now believe a company .

So i agree with ferret if they ranked #3 for ex , this means that they can really do it for us . ( by the way submitexpress gives % refund if a keyword is not in top 20)

ferret77 · 10-17-2004, 10:27 AM

submit express also sells

"75,000+ Search Engine Submission "

has anyone ever tried that?

**G10** · 10-17-2004, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ferret77

submit express also sells

"75,000+ Search Engine Submission "

has anyone ever tried that?

Be careful about paying for stuff like that.

75,000 + Search Engine Submission? How many search engines do you think exist that are worth submitting to?

You can do a lot of it yourself.

On the minus side, it is time consuming and if you don't have the time then maybe it would be an idea to get a firm in to do a lot of this for you.

As the guys said earlier, speak to companies (or email at the very least) and see who you feel most comfortable with.

nandini · 10-17-2004, 12:50 PM

Yeah.. I too agree with G10,
75,000 SEs,
If each of them can send just one visitor in a month, you will be on top of the world..
I think only Google, Yahoo, MSN and few others dominate the market..

And if you are targeting regional SEs, then it better to get sponsored listings because of two reasons..
1.) Their sponsored listings in not very expensive.
2.) These small regional SEs rely most on their sponsored listings, so they tend to push the advertisers to the surfer with more impulse..

-- Just my opinion --

Shawn · 10-17-2004, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ferret77

"not a good idea"

I disagree, probably because I have taken the time to try to rank for competitve seo phrases

If someone has site a that ranks at least you know that they can do it, if they want to

there is a handful of bull**** sites at the top, but there are thousands of jerk offs patrolling forums, freelance job boards ,and buying adwords looking for suckers

I think what Aaron meant for the most part is that just because you are on top of the search engines for that phrase doesn't mean you are a good value. Meaning some companies who rank well for terms charge a ridiculous amount, for the same thing that someone else can do for far less money.

Also, take into account,the people who are truly expert at getting high rankings are not trying to get high rankings for search engine optimization terms. They have #1 listings on far more profitable terms

ferret77 · 10-17-2004, 02:54 PM

"Also, take into account,the people who are truly expert at getting high rankings are not trying to get high rankings for search engine optimization terms. They have #1 listings on far more profitable terms "

the one real seo company that i have actually been to, has sites that it owns ranking for pharmacy , home loans , gambling , and adult terms etc and they rank for seo related terms

the 2 are not mutually exclusive

I would say "search engine optimization" is pretty profitable term, possible one of the most profitable ones in the web service area,

web design is whored out, big web development contracts usually got to vendors thru traditional channels,

web hosting and seo are it for web services

oh yeah if they really submit your site to 75,000 search engines for 30.00 or whatever

it might be a good deal if 1 in 500 is spiderable thats like 150 links for 30.00 right?

Shawn · 10-17-2004, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ferret77

the one real seo company that i have actually been to, has sites that it owns ranking for pharmacy , home loans , gambling , and adult terms etc and they rank for seo related terms

the 2 are not mutually exclusive

I would say "search engine optimization" is pretty profitable term, possible one of the most profitable ones in the web service area,

Basically what I mean is that people who know very well how to do something would rather do it for themselves and not for others...just my opinion

awall19 · 10-17-2004, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shawn Steele

Basically what I mean is that people who know very well how to do something would rather do it for themselves and not for others...just my opinion

you are assuming that money is the primary motivator...for some people it is not.