The truth of the matter is that the SEO industry is very dysfunctional, has no recognised main body, a raft of examinations on offer and no real structure. The billions of pounds which are poured into the industry on a regular basis have attracted differing levels of “expertise”. Prior to even considering employing any SEO experts it is vital that you check their credentials, their feed back and exactly what they are promising. Bearing in mind the services of a good SEO company may cost you thousands of pounds, you need value for money.
Are there no cheap SEO service companies?
While the services of a quality SEO company may be beyond the cost base of many new entrants to the world of online business, do not be tempted by the cheaper options, the $19 eBooks, the $99 promise to get you on top of the search engine tree. If you are serious about looking at SEO work for your site, you need to decide whether you have the time to learn about it yourself - using various online tutorials and examinations - or would prefer to save up and employ an SEO expert in the future.
Why is there no central body or recognised qualification?
The truth is there are a number of associations who have assumed the role of central body for the industry, both for examinations and service standards. In reality the market is still very much fragmented with no one company powerful enough to dictate to the rest. It is the potential to receive a slice of the billion pound pie which is keeping many groups apart.
Will this ever change?
There have been whispers that some of the major companies of the internet will soon become a little more involved in the SEO industry, with Microsoft mentioned as one potential party. They recently released their own SEO qualification which has attracted a lot of interest, with many SEO “experts” keen to be able to quote a Microsoft qualification on their CV - often priceless in today’s market place.
Once one of the larger companies break rank, there will either be a number of other larger companies enter the fray, with the intention of creating their own niche, of perhaps join up with the likes of Microsoft. Once we have a recognised body, then we can look towards ridding the industry of the “cheap and cheerful” service providers who often promise what they cannot deliver.
Conclusion
Research is most definitely the name of the game when it comes to SEO services. Make sure you know who may be working for you,. what they have done, what they have promised and what they have delivered. Bad SEO can be worse than no SEO, and may take some time to correct - time which is vital if you want to create a powerful presence on the internet.
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