Ignoring SEO Information

There is a massive amount of information on the net about SEO and web marketing. That is because everybody involved in the industry knows that fresh content is a must for good rankings, and so will blog and write articles often. Unfortunately, the ‘not so good’ SEO practitioners write just as many articles as the true experts.

So how can you tell the difference – how do you know whose SEO advice to listen to? Here is a quick checklist to help you sort the wheat from the chaff.

Do they walk the talk?
Is the SEO company you’re getting advice from listed in the top 10 results for one of their core keywords? If not, they probably aren’t using the right strategies … and won’t be able to give you the right ones either!

Ask in person
If its appropriate, ask a question about SEO in person. You can do this via phone, but a better way to do this is at industry events and conferences. Information on a blog can be a bit one-sided; the process of conversation will help you work towards a better understanding of SEO, quicker.

Check their references
Most SEO companies list their major clients. Check on Google how the clients rank for some keywords you would expect to be important to them – if they don’t show up in the top thirty, there’s a chance their SEO might not be so hot!

Search engines aren’t always the best people to ask
Many companies refer to Matt Cutts (of Google’s) blog. It seems like inside information – but in reality, Google has its own agenda. It wants the best quality and most relevant sites to rank at the top for a search … and they won’t necessarily feel that’s your site. Their company goals are not the same as yours.

Listen to your test results
With your webmaster’s help, listen mostly to the results of tests set up to check on your SEO health. When something improves, pay attention … listen!