Line 67: |
Line 67: |
| | | |
| === Why Guaranteed SEO Services Is Bad === | | === Why Guaranteed SEO Services Is Bad === |
− | Many years ago, SEO was well regarded in Malaysia. The SEO Consultants that existed back then were real specialists, and they optimized client websites as if it was their own business. | + | Many years ago, SEO was well regarded in Malaysia. The SEO Consultants that existed back then were real specialists, and they optimized client websites as if it was their own business. As the awareness picked up, more and more SEO “wannabes” joined the industry because they saw a business opportunity. Since these wannabes were more interested in making money than actually providing good SEO, they started slashing prices to attract clients …fast! |
− | | + | <br> |
− | As the awareness picked up, more and more SEO “wannabes” joined the industry because they saw a business opportunity. Since these wannabes were more interested in making money than actually providing good SEO, they started slashing prices to attract clients …fast! | + | <br> |
− | | + | The more desperate ones went one step further and offered Guaranteed SEO. Soon, almost every SEO company in Malaysia joined the fray and offered their own version of rankings guarantee (yup, there are many versions), to stay competitive. As a potential SEO client, it is naturally difficult to pass up on cheap SEO combined with money-back guarantee. You would likely tell yourself: if it works, I’ll save money. But if it doesn’t, I’ll take my money back and THEN go to a real consultant. |
− | The more desperate ones went one step further and offered Guaranteed SEO. Soon, almost every SEO company in Malaysia joined the fray and offered their own version of rankings guarantee (yup, there are many versions), to stay competitive. | + | <br> |
− | | + | <br> |
− | As a potential SEO client, it is naturally difficult to pass up on cheap SEO combined with money-back guarantee. You would likely tell yourself: if it works, I’ll save money. But if it doesn’t, I’ll take my money back and THEN go to a real consultant. | + | Firstly, it’s unethical for anyone (other than the search engines themselves) to provide any form of guarantee. Even Google’s SEO Guidelines says this: “Beware of SEOs that claim to guarantee rankings…”. Secondly, the SEO Company will logically want to keep your money regardless of the outcome, because they would’ve spent time and money on your project. And to ensure that happens, they will play safe by targeting only easy to slightly difficult keywords. Hence, you are missing out on BIGGER opportunities. |
− | | + | <br> |
− | Firstly, it’s unethical for anyone (other than the search engines themselves) to provide any form of guarantee. Even Google’s SEO Guidelines says this: “Beware of SEOs that claim to guarantee rankings…” | + | <br> |
− | | + | Things get worse if they charged you a low fee. Because the lower they charge, the less time they have for your project – it’s simple business logic! They will have no choice but to use automated methods to save time and effort. Your articles are outsourced cheaply to India, Philippines and Vietnam, and your company is associated with poorly-written articles on content sites. In extreme cases, but which have happened before, a website can get penalized (i.e. pushed backwards by 50, 100, 150 positions) or banned (totally removed) by the search engines – an irrepairable damage. So, do you still believe in Guaranteed SEO? |
− | Secondly, the SEO Company will logically want to keep your money regardless of the outcome, because they would’ve spent time and money on your project. And to ensure that happens, they will play safe by targeting only easy to slightly difficult keywords. Hence, you are missing out on BIGGER opportunities. | + | <br> |
− | | + | <br> |
− | Things get worse if they charged you a low fee. Because the lower they charge, the less time they have for your project – it’s simple business logic! They will have no choice but to use automated methods to save time and effort. Your articles are outsourced cheaply to India, Philippines and Vietnam, and your company is associated with poorly-written articles on content sites. | |
− | | |
− | In extreme cases, but which have happened before, a website can get penalized (i.e. pushed backwards by 50, 100, 150 positions) or banned (totally removed) by the search engines – an irrepairable damage. | |
− | | |
− | So, do you still believe in Guaranteed SEO? | |
| === How To Choose An SEO Company === | | === How To Choose An SEO Company === |
| With everyone and their neighbour offering SEO services in Malaysia these days, clients are having a headache deciding which SEO Company to engage. Here are some pointers to help you (hopefully) choose a good SEO Company: | | With everyone and their neighbour offering SEO services in Malaysia these days, clients are having a headache deciding which SEO Company to engage. Here are some pointers to help you (hopefully) choose a good SEO Company: |
− | | + | <br> |
| + | <br> |
| '''1. Company Background & Track Record'''>br> | | '''1. Company Background & Track Record'''>br> |
− | Ask the SEO Company how long have they been providing SEO services. You don’t want to engage a fly-by-night company that’s here today and gone tomorrow …along with your hard-earned money. | + | *Ask the SEO Company how long have they been providing SEO services. You don’t want to engage a fly-by-night company that’s here today and gone tomorrow …along with your hard-earned money. |
− | | + | *Are they truly SEO specialists? If you’d look around, you’ll notice that even web hosting companies and web designers are providing SEO services these days, either to join the new Internet “gold rush” or to look for new sources of income because margins for their traditional business is being compressed. |
− | Are they truly SEO specialists? If you’d look around, you’ll notice that even web hosting companies and web designers are providing SEO services these days, either to join the new Internet “gold rush” or to look for new sources of income because margins for their traditional business is being compressed. | + | *Ask for examples of websites that the SEO Company has worked on – see if they’re big clients or mom-and-pop shops. Check if those websites were optimized for the best keywords or easy keywords. |
− | | + | *Check the SEO Company’s own rankings. Any SEO Company worth their salt should be able to rank well for keywords like seo malaysia, seo company, seo consultant, seo services or even seo. |
− | Ask for examples of websites that the SEO Company has worked on – see if they’re big clients or mom-and-pop shops. Check if those websites were optimized for the best keywords or easy keywords. | + | <br> |
− | | + | <br> |
− | Check the SEO Company’s own rankings. Any SEO Company worth their salt should be able to rank well for keywords like seo malaysia, seo company, seo consultant, seo services or even seo. | |
− | | |
| '''2. SEO Methods & What’s Included'''<br> | | '''2. SEO Methods & What’s Included'''<br> |
− | Ask the SEO Company how will they optimize your website. I have come across an SEO Company whose only method for link-building was by commenting on blogs. Seriously! | + | *Ask the SEO Company how will they optimize your website. I have come across an SEO Company whose only method for link-building was by commenting on blogs. Seriously! |
− | | + | *Will their methods involve link exchanges or link buying? Will you need to put a backlink to their website? |
− | Will their methods involve link exchanges or link buying? Will you need to put a backlink to their website? | + | *Ask if they will just give on-page recommendations or will they implement for you too. Will they set up Analytics and Webmaster Tools, install sitemaps and create/claim your Google Places listing as well? |
− | | + | *Which search engines is the SEO Company targeting? How long can you expect before seeing any results? |
− | Ask if they will just give on-page recommendations or will they implement for you too. Will they set up Analytics and Webmaster Tools, install sitemaps and create/claim your Google Places listing as well? | + | *What reports will the SEO Company be providing? Does it include monthly keyword rankings report, and for which search engines? |
− | | + | <br> |
− | Which search engines is the SEO Company targeting? How long can you expect before seeing any results? | + | <br> |
− | | |
− | What reports will the SEO Company be providing? Does it include monthly keyword rankings report, and for which search engines? | |
− | | |
| '''3. Fees, Guarantees & Payment'''<br> | | '''3. Fees, Guarantees & Payment'''<br> |
| Ask about extra charges. Some SEO Companies have low service fee but charge you seperately for directory submissions, article writing, SEO maintenance, etc. | | Ask about extra charges. Some SEO Companies have low service fee but charge you seperately for directory submissions, article writing, SEO maintenance, etc. |
Line 122: |
Line 113: |
| | | |
| A desperate SEO Company may accept your job for a ridiculously low fee, but they will cut corners in the end – remember that these companies are also running a business. | | A desperate SEO Company may accept your job for a ridiculously low fee, but they will cut corners in the end – remember that these companies are also running a business. |
− |
| |
− |
| |
− |
| |
− |
| |
| | | |
| ==Photo gallery== | | ==Photo gallery== |