Why Search Engine Optimization?

By Susanne Bailey Svette, IdeaStar Search Engine Marketing specialist.

Are you being found? It’s a serious question. Millions of people look to the Internet daily to find products and services they want or need. Whether you are selling online or off, if a potential customer cannot find your Web site through the major search engines, YOUR PRODUCTS DON'T EXIST!

That’s where I come in. I’m Susanne Bailey Svette, and I know search engine marketing. Through experience, I know what works and what doesn’t when it comes to getting your Web site strategically placed in the search engines.

I’ve been a part of the search engine optimization (SEO) team at IdeaStar Inc., a full-service Web development company, since 2001. We were practicing SEO long before it was commonly known, long before standard practices were set, and long before most companies gave it any credit.

There are a lot of companies out there who promise to get your Web site top-listed for $9.95. That’s just another instance of “buyer beware.” Maybe they can get you top-listed for a few days, but more often then not, you’ll be seriously penalized or even dropped completely!

I’ve found the best way to achieve a high, consistent ranking is to follow the guidelines for the major search engines, including Google, Yahoo, MSN, and Ask-Teoma. That might sound simple, but those guidelines are constantly changing. I spend hours each week making sure I am up-to-date. And, I try to attend at least one major search engine conference a year.

The results have paid off for IdeaStar customers. From small locally-owned businesses to large insurance clients, the sites IdeaStar optimizes consistently rank well. They have survived changes and remained at the top of the search engine lists.

So, as a business owner or somebody who just wants to promote a cause, how can you make sure your Web site ranks high? Well, you can spend hours learning about search engines and applying the guidelines yourself. Or, you can hire somebody who has already done all the “homework.”

I suggest you:

• Look for a company with a proven track record; with several sites that have ranked well for over a year.
• Look for customer referrals
• Look for a company that is up front with its practices, and does not use any hidden techniques (which could ultimately end up getting your site dropped from the search engines).

And you can always call me! There are no guarantees. You are always at the mercy of the search engines. But I would love to talk to you about how IdeaStar can help your site be found.

I get a great deal of satisfaction when a client calls to say they found their site in the top 10 for a certain search term. Search engine marketing, natural or pay-per-click, is so much more cost effective than other marketing methods. And, it offers the ability to track a campaign from search to sale.

So bookmark this blog. Upcoming posts will include simple topics (including what is SEO), to the more technical (including black-hat tricks to avoid, finding the best keywords, and major changes in the industry.) Or just give me a call and we’ll talk SEO.

Copyright © 2005 Susanne B. Svette
All rights reserved.