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View Full Version : SEO is cheating? Part 2


acerview54
10-11-2004, 03:20 AM
Firstly I apologies for cross-posting as I believed that each forum addresses separate people, not a single group.

I think a little factual background may be useful here. I was involved in International B2B trading 10years, I am now (9 Years) a high tech consultant with clients up to governmental level and Internet. For example, Hotbar and Incredimail. I also founded 2 successful Intenet B2B start-ups that still exist .

Having carefully digested the replies; unfortunately I must either conclude that I either explained myself extremely poorly or have been generally misread.

My critical argument here is that, 'One size does not fit all'. Whilst SEO may be good for a company that is Internet trading focused or even in high tech it does not constitute the best ROI for many, many other businesses. As rustybrick stated (without his permission), "Most of the leads I get from the SEO marketing side of my business I turn away".

I will give a couple of examples from my work:
Case 1. - An extremely prestigious B2C Interior Design Company in London, UK placed a new website. The website focused on the positioning of the business and showed examples of work, such as for The Crown Estates. This business will not even look at a client who is not prepared to spend a minimum of 20,000 pounds, as a start. My job was to ensure that the business was NOT swamped with inquiries for 3 pound rolls of wallpaper but ONLY came to the attention of the wealthy clientele that is of consequence to them.
Case 2. A B2B diamond trading site on launch wanted to only gain the attention of licensed diamond traders. A relatively small group and notoriously not Internet enabled. An alternative campaign was carried out without any SEO, that established the company firmly as one of 3/4 players in the field with about 25% to 30% of the online business.

Too conclude, I am positive that many businesses have gained from SEO but can we list the many more that feel that this industry has cheated them???

seobook
10-11-2004, 04:24 AM
if you do it correctly seo would probably be some of the best roi out there for most companies.

having said that there are certain types of viral marketing and whatnot that may be better, but it does build credibility and brand for you to show up when people search for stuff related to your business.

of course most SEOs are going to say its a great deal to do SEO and if you learn enough and do it right it should be for almost every company and industry.

I have one customer who was spending $17,000 a month on PPC stuff a couple months ago. the PPC market has become less profitable, and with a one time $2000 SEO investment he is now making more sales (and way more profit) from the free organic results than he was from the PPC ads.

those #s are amazing, and the fact that a one time $2000 spend can bring in more sales than $17000 of targeted and measured marketing which has learned from itself many months over should blatently show how much low hanging fruit there is for SEO in many markets.

while some rare markets may not be worth doing SEO in I think as long as you do other things right (brand, marketing, customer service, listen to feedback, etc.) then properly researched and executed SEO will probably be a solid investment if you can afford it and find a company that is compatible with what you are trying to do.

I, Brian
10-11-2004, 06:21 AM
I ... explained myself extremely poorly
Definitely that - cross-posting the same material on multiple forums, failing to respond to any posts made, and starting new threads whenever you want to comment on anything - doesn't seem like a very good way of explaining yourself.

I don't mean to sound rude, but you may want to look at how internet forums actually work, before trying to use them as your personal soapbox. Interact - comment - reply discuss. But, please - if you actually feel like replying - try the same thread, not a new one. :)

Just my 2c. :)

seobook
10-11-2004, 06:24 AM
I don't mean to sound rude, but you may want to look at how internet forums actually work, before trying to use them as your personal soapbox.

this link is kinda over the top but fun
http://www.trials-shack.co.uk/posting.html
a quick listen would have saved our new forum poster some trouble