SEO – Should You Do it Yourself or Hire it Out?

One of the most important business tools today can be summed up in three words: search engine optimization or SEO. SEO is becoming the real buzzword for businesses wishing to grow via their Web presence. Web search engines on Google can make or break a business. Why? It’s simple. People use search engines to find everything on the Web.  It’s the new Yellow Pages/phone book of this generation.  People can type in a word or phrase, hit the search button, and in less than one second can be linked to virtually millions of indexes. As a business, it is important to be at the top of the index, preferably positioned on the first page of the search. That way, people will click on the first web page links that appear, rather than scroll down through pages of similar listings.

The successful business will know how to get its web pages at the top of search engines and draw in more prospects and “eyeballs” to the business website and subsequent pages. There are many ways to learn about SEO and it is best to pick up a pick and start reading – like The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Search Engine Optimization.

But to be very honest, the best way to maximize your company’s website and where it appears in searches is to hire a professional marketing firm who specializes in Search Engine Optimization.  To become an expert can take hours upon hours.  Let’s be honest with ourselves.  If you’re running a contracting company, you have many other tasks or activities you could be doing that will help make yourself money.

I’m not saying SEO isn’t important—it’s hugely important.  It can transform your business’ success, especially if you’re in a smaller market where much of your competition hasn’t put much time or money into it.  (Larger markets, it’s much harder to succeed in SEO without spending a fortune.)  I AM saying that just as you rely on vendors for other parts of your business, it would be wise to search around, ask other small business owners, and find a firm that truly help you in your SEO efforts.