Forum Moderators: mack
SEO is a business marketing decision. In addition to deciding if it's worth it for you *not* to spend the time away from your core business efforts, you have to decide what price is *worth* it to get more business -- if the $3,000 got you $10,000 in business would it be worth it? What if it only brought in $1,000 in new biz, but those customers might return at some point? (i.e. what's your lifetime customer value) How does the amount of potential new business from $3,000 worth of SEO compare to the potential new biz from taking that same $3,000 and buying a Yellow pages ad, or printing a brochure and doing a mailing?
Keep in mind, if you want a Mercedes, you'll need to pay Mercedes prices. If you only want to pay Kia prices, you'll have to settle for a Kia and buy a Mercedes wall calendar instead. SEOs can be Mercedes, Kias, or even used 1976 powder-blue sedans. No matter which SEO you select, make sure you aren't expecting Mercedes-level quality and service on a Kia budget -- set your expectations to match your budget.
set your expectations to match your budget
And remember oppurtunity cost! If your job is not SEO, and has not involved SEO in the past, remember that you could be doing something else. And the cost is not getting that something else done. You need to weigh that $3000 (or however much you might spend to outsource that) against how valuable your time is.
And remember to check out those companies that are calling if you do indeed decide to use them.
Welcome to WebmasterWorld!
Is it possible to get a good listing on search engines without paying big bucks?
Absolutely. As hcstudios said, use this community to learn everything you can. Here's a great thread about SEO for Google [webmasterworld.com]. There are likely similar threads in the other forums devoted to other SEs and directories.
I have been gettting emails and phone call from companies wanting up to $3000 to get a good search engine listing.
I'd be very cautious about doing business with anyone who contacts me asking for my money.
I have been gettting emails and phone call from companies wanting up to $3000 to get a good search engine listing.
If you have the time to learn and optimize the site yourself, go for it.
If not, choose a GOOD optimization firm. There are plenty out there.....but they will most likely charge more than $3K.
Successful Site in 12 Months with Google Alone [webmasterworld.com]
Can anyone recomend a good program to get a good listing or a company to go through to get listed?
This question being posed here is the equivalent of walking into a used-car dealer conference and asking if anyone has any good cars for sale. ;-)
Prepare for the flood of stickies...
