I was wondering if anyone here has used or knows SEO Fusion

I am trying to decide if I want to take on the take of Search Engine Marketing myself. Or hire someone.

So some questions I have maybe someone can answer them.

1) someplaces offer a guarantee like http://marketing.networksolutions.com/top-ten-results.php

SEOfusion says they can't do any guarantees whatsover. For me it wouldn't have to be about ranking necessarily but good related hits and getting the number of authentic unique customers on my site. I would love rankings but I just really need to get my business boosted on my ecommerce site.

2) Pay upfront? Versus installment? Standard practice? SEOfusion wants all money upfront.

3) using a company outside the united states.

4) questions or actions I should take when hiring an SEO company...I bought the SEO book so I have been reading that.

5) anyone has used or knows of a good SEO company for a small business?

Many thanks,

Angela

1. Read this:
"No one can guarantee a #1 ranking on Google.
Beware of SEOs that claim to guarantee rankings, allege a "special relationship" with Google, or advertise a "priority submit" to Google. There is no priority submit for Google. In fact, the only way to submit a site to Google directly is through our Add URL page or through the Google Sitemaps program, and you can do this yourself at no cost whatsoever."
http://www.google.com/support/webmasters/bin/answer.py?answer=35291

2. I would not pay anyone in full for services not yet completed! Installment is the way to go.

3. I would not use and SEO outside of the target country except when languages are the same. (ie US / Canada)

I wouldn't seo-fusion because they don't use alt tags and/or a meta descriptions in their own site.

As for the other site, read the "guarantee":
"Any Web site that is all Flash, contains frames/layers or adult content is not eligible for the guarantee. Guarantees may be voided for, among other reasons, Web sites that have downtime for one day or more, Web sites that have been altered after they have been optimized by Network Solutions, Web sites that are cloned, or that do not use 301 for redirects.

If customers do not respond to communications from Network Solutions for more than 60 days, the optimization project may be considered "abandoned" and payment will be surrendered in full.

For optimization packages ("Top 10 Search Results service"), Network Solutions guarantees a minimum number of top ten listings in one or more of 12 search engines within 10 months from completion date. Most engines will index your site in about three (3) months, but it takes time to gain the popularity and ranking needed to compete using competitive phrases. Network Solutions will only submit keywords to search engines in the United States. The search engines included are: AOL, AlltheWeb, AltaVista, Ask.com (formerly known as AskJeeves), Google, Hotbot, IWon, Looksmart, Lycos, MSN, Netscape, and Yahoo!. The minimum number of top ten listings guaranteed is 5 for the 20 keyword phrase package, 10 for the 30 keyword phrase package and 20 for the 50 keyword phrase package. There is no guarantee for the 10 keyword package. The guarantee is a full money back guarantee, subject to these and the other terms and conditions of our Services Agreement, provided at the 10 month mark from date of completion if results are not obtained. In no event will Network Solutions be liable to you for any lost profits, lost savings, or other incidental or consequential damages arising from the optimizations services provided.

This service(s) does not guarantee any sales or traffic to your Web site. Traffic and sales depend upon the demand for your particular product or service, the design and layout of your Web site, and many other factors that are beyond the control of Network Solutions.

Network Solutions services do not include the paid submission fees that some engines charge for inclusion. Network Solutions is not affiliated with these submission services in any way. You may opt to pay these fees directly to the search engine for inclusion. Additional fees may apply for changes, modifications, updates, and optimization alterations that exceed the scope of these optimization services."

Good luck!

Hey Beu,

Thanks for you response...

Yeah I should have checked his code that is a good idea as I am researching it.

The guarantee by networksolutions I had already read... Everything for me was fine and understandable except for them not listing all the search engines in which they would consider that guarantee applicable.

While I know and have read that qoute by google saying #1 ranking is not a possible guarantee, am I wrong to think an SEO company should be able to guarantee either 1st/2nd page listing (not position on page but just the page it self) and or an increase in unique visitors/hits?

This is the problem I find with advertising/SEO in general that is the generation of traffic.

Referrals to me don't mean much if they are saying my traffic increased by 200% well to me that is great but did it lead to authentic customers.

I am advertising on a site right now that literally increased my traffic by 500% however, through some research with another person using this site. I realized looking at the logs is I think the site has automatic processes running hitting my site. Making one page wonder hits the norm of traffic. I would say that accounts for 90% of automated hits. The only good thing is the Google Toolbar ranks this site as a PR 5 and alexa has it in the 76,000 range.

My site is PR 2 according to google toobar.

thanks for the reinforcement about installments. I am a web programmer and in general for me I don't bill customers until some work as been done and then if the project is big it is done at monthly increments or phased increments.

I didn't know if there was something different with SEO since it is a different arena.

But back to the guarantee of an SEO company I mean to me if there is no sort of GOAL stated than none of the SEO companies can be held liable. Thus, installments are pointless becuase what ground would I say that I am not giving them their money? In otherwords what keeps an SEO company from taking your money and basically doing nothing? Aside from the better business bureau and even then what grounds for complaints would you make?

No guarantees but ask for URLs of other clients ranking to ten for high traffic keywords.

minimum number of top ten listings in one or more of 12 search engines within 10 months from completion date.

WHAT 12 search engines? And what's a completion date?

WHAT 12 search engines? And what's a completion date?
Yeah, it might be a good idea to as for specifics this seems pretty wide open!

I would use a company that has some history and is willing to show some of their clients to you and see what was done to their sites and how they are ranking now for the KWs that were optimized. Get some quotes from at least 2 or 3 companies just to get an idea of what they want to do for you.

Top 10 rankings can be achieved quite easily - for uncompetitive keywords. There is no benefit for you to be #1 for a keyword that gets no searches. I have had clients throw Network Solution's "Guarantee" in my face before but by analyzing each aspect of their fine print I can usually convince them the guarantee isn't worth the web page it's published on.

Look for a company that:
1) Isn't afraid to give you a reference
2) Is located in the US or Canada
3) Has been in business for awhile (there are lots of good startups but established businesses are safer)
4) Have different pricing options depending upon how aggressive you want to be w/ your marketing budget
5) Offer payment plans - generally they'll want a bit more "up front" to get a large chunk of work done on a site.
6) Put their clients under contract but also give you a way to "part company" if you're not satisfied.

That's my 2 cents.
~Carrie