Websites that promise people winning rankings on the major search engines such as Google, MSN and AOL are legion. But how many can actually deliver on their promises of page one directory positions? Here’s the real story about SEO (Search Engine Optimization).

When an Internet business builds and publishes a new website, they do so to develop targeted traffic that can be converted to customers for their products or services. And building a steady flow of visitors requires that they will be able to find the new website by searching with terms and phrases that describe their needs.

Today, there are literally millions of websites competing for attention and seeking that business. Perhaps equally important, most people searching the major directories rarely search beyond Page five no matter how many there are listed. Simply stated, this means you need to be on that first five pages and, preferably, on Page one or two. So what’s a new webmaster to do to get there?

Few Website Owners Know the Answer

Unless the new business website is fortunate enough to have a truly savvy individual on staff, its generally necessary to turn to an SEO provider that knows just what steps to take. The question, then, becomes, “With thousands of providers claiming the expertise, just who can I trust to get the job done at an affordable price?”

Searching for a really qualified provider of SEO and SEM (search engine marketing) can be confusing indeed. The claims go on and on and almost everyone can promise you the world. The reality, however, is that only a moderate percentage of these claimants can deliver the goods.

How to Tell the Good from the Bad

The best way to select a really qualified SEO/SEM provider is to check their references. What well-known companies have they served previously? Are these clients happy with the services they received? Does the provider have several success stories? Can you view the optimized websites they did?

Then, too, consider the claims they make. Are the realistic? Achievable for the agreed-upon cost? Or likely just wishful thinking. To be a successful SEO/SEM provider requires technical expertise, experience, a thorough understanding of how the search engines rank websites and how the website should be structured and written. Two important factors need to be carefully balanced: SEO and copy relevance.

Perhaps most important, the provider you choose should be honest and above board. He will make few guarantees beyond being able to make a meaningful improvement in your rankings and traffic flow through thorough website optimization. Guarantees of Page One top positions are often exaggerations and in many cases, outright lies. Despite this statement, there are some providers who can get you there but they will hasten to tell you that keeping you there requires an ongoing marketing effort for your website.

A Case in Point

Recently, a new site called High Risk Websites was conceived and implemented. A respected SEO/SEM provider, Top Quality Ranking (http://topqualityranking.com) was chosen to get the job done. This company was carefully checked for past successes and references and passed with flying colors. They had helped well-known sites like http://cashforsilverusa.com; http://cashforgoldusa.com and http://cashfordiamondsusa.com make big inroads in their market niches.

The SEO guru of Top Quality Ranking, Sam Errama, discussed the project in detail and felt certain they could get a Page One Google ranking—and fast! Sam did make it crystal clear, however, that maintaining that high ranking over time would require on ongoing effort of developing links to other well-known websites, writing and publishing original articles and press releases—and more. He was self assured, yes, but blatantly honest about what he could do.

The new high risk website was designed with WordPress and published within a few hours. That day, it had a Page One Google ranking and now, just a little more than a week later, dominates the first page entirely.

The point here is that high rankings can be achieved and very quickly by an SEO/SEM provider that really knows what he’s doing. It falls on the webmaster that’s making the choice of provider, however, to do his homework and check the references and success stories carefully.

Today’s Internet Mandates Caution

It’s well beyond the purview of this writing to detail the many steps that a good SEO/SEM provider must take to properly rank a new website or improve and existing site. However, it’s no secret that scams and deceitful websites abound on the web. These are people whose primary goal is to separate the uninitiated from their money—not to do what they promise.

Your best defense is to take the time and check out any provider you plan to use before you opt to pay over any money. And be prepared because the good guys will tell it to you straight, even if it isn’t what you want to hear. Don’t expect miracles, just competent SEO/SEM services that will make a difference within a budget you can manage. Remember that a great directory ranking and a steady flow of convertible visitors, is almost always worth the investment you’ll have to make.

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Websites:

http://topqualityranking.com

http://highriskwebsites.com

http://cashforgoldusa.com