You need to be the top ranked listing for your profession on search engines.
Solution: Optimize your online presence for the search engines and visitors
When approached by an SEO firm find answers to the following questions:
What is their reputation like?Do some research by utilizing search engines, forums, and business directories
What type of contract will you need to agree to?Are you agreeing to a month to month contract, 6 month, years out?
What does their portfolio look like; who have they worked with in the past and present?
If they guarantee the results they promise, what are they guaranteeing in exact terms, for how long, and what is to be expected if the guarantee goes unfulfilled?
SEO off site services firms offer are either:
1- Paid or
2- Organic based.
What is offered within your contract? Are you purchasing a package that will offer Paid Search Engine listings, or only offer organic optimization? Are you paying for research, and if so will you be able to see the research? Are you paying for managed results, and if so will you be able to see the reports?
Research, Research, Research!
Being number one involves work, time, and above all else a contribution of valuable information for the visitor by yourself. Search engines are in the business of providing valuable information to those who use their services. In order for Google, Bing, or Yahoo to remain popular they need to pull up the most relevant information for each query.
Read OvalEye Web Solutions Top 10 SEO Quick Fixes that you can do yourself, or will prepare you with speaking points when you meet with a web designer/developer or SEO specialist.
