It can take anywhere from two days to
four months depending the search engine in question.
We can get you almost immediate results using certain
approaches but, for the long run, we advise patience.
Why do you focus
on Yahoo, Google and only a few others?
Because, as our stats
show, there are only a few engines and directories responsible
for nearly 95% of all web traffic. We only use "niche"
directories and similar sources for specific purposes
such as in developing link campaigns. Any online enterprise
that promises submission to or optimization for "thousands
of search engines" is hoping you are naive.
What's the difference
between a "search engine" and a "directory?"
Search engines acquire their listings
through the use of robots; it's an automated process.
Directories like Yahoo, DMOZ, or Looksmart are actually
overseen by live human beings. This means different
strategies depending on which targets we choose. We
have very specific tactics regarding priorities in this
regard.
Several ways: 1) You can do your own
searches on your main keywords and look at the results
over time. 2) You can contract with us to supply you
with weekly position reports for all the major engines
(this comes bundled in the Level Three program). You
should also use some form of traffic analysis program--ask
us about this. If your hosting company doesn't provide
this, we can set it up for you.
Yes, we use standard business contracts.
Depending on the level of service, we ask for 50% of
the fee in advance, and then 50% before we sign off
on the final deliverable. We do not work on a commission
basis. We will not work for a "percentage of your
business." Doing so would require a good deal of
special accounting. We do, after all, guarantee our
services.
Are there things
I can do myself to increase my positioning?
Yes, one of the distinctions of our
"coaching" approach, is that we'll show you
everything you can do on your own and work with you
to integrate your SEO strategies into a broader plan.
What do you mean
by a "integration of search-engine strategy into
an extended Internet marketing plan?"
Search engine ranking is an essential
approach but not the only approach to traffic generation.
Behind SearchCoach stands a consulting firm that has
years of experience in developing other strategies including
newsletters, specialized content, advertising, direct
email campaigns, and so on. We will make suggestions
along these lines, and we'll work with you to make your
site "salesworthy."
One of the benefits of at least a temporary
Overture campaign is that of testing the "salesworthiness"
of your site. Specifically, by paying for click-throughs,
you can get some sense of whether additional traffic
will actually result in sales. (This is not as simple
as all that, but still a useful measure. )
Yes, we'll talk to you about that. Please
don't offer to resell our services in exchange for a
free contract -- we're very selective about this kind
of arrangement.
Because it is. This is the New Technology
Era. The Devil planned it this way to make life harder
(yes, we're being whimsical -- but not off-base). The
Web is a highly technical and rapidly changing environment;
it's a lot of work staying on top of it.
Yes, very. Clearly our clients don't
want their competitors to know that they are using our
services. We won't disclose our relationship with ANY
business unless we have your specific, written, consent.
