Fighting the Fear Accociated with Search Engine Optimization

SEO isn't so scary...

Fear has a lot to do with the unknown. SEO is still a relatively new development in the marketing industry, so it stands to reason that many companies are hesitant to dig into it. I’ve outlined five of the top reasons companies fear search engine optimization in hope that eventually we can quell these fears. The more you learn about SEO, the less intimidating it will become and the easier it will be to implement a solid optimization strategy.

SEO Can Be Confusing. The world of search engine optimization can feel rather abstract, which provides challenges to newcomers – and SEO experts from time to time. Companies cannot be blamed for not understanding search engine optimization. It is continuously changing and there are plenty of people out there who claim to understand the best optimization tactics, but don’t. In addition, SEO uses a whole different language utilizing terms such as “search spiders”, “search volume”, and “keyword density” on a regular basis, which can sound like a bunch of mumbo-jumbo if you’re not in the industry. The combination of these things is understandably scary, but don’t let that fear get the best of you. Search engine optimization is a proven method to improving your online presence, it just takes a lot of work.
SEO is Hard Work. Search engine optimization requires a great deal of time and effort – it is not a quick and easy fix for your online strategy. SEO is a continual process – the more juice you feed your site, the more powerful it will become. You cannot simply throw some keywords on your site, cross your fingers and hope for the best. You need to keep your website optimized and engage in ongoing strategies such as link building, social media, etc. The beautiful thing about the fear associated with SEO is that not everyone is doing it. So, if you take part then you will likely have an advantage over your competition – in this case, the hard is what makes it great .
Sites Do Not See Immediate Results. SEO takes time. The results seen from SEO are organic, meaning they are not a paid strategy such as Pay per Click, so no one should expect to see the full potential of their efforts immediately after implementation. Here at Astonish Results we help our clients develop insurance marketing strategies for their Virtual Insurance Offices and we tell them not to get too antsy in the first few months – it can take up to six months for the search engines to recognize a new website. Waiting to see results can be scary, so it’s important to remember that the pay-off is in the long run. If you put in the effort to develop a solid strategy that integrates SEO, blogging and social media then you will see a turning point – hang in there!
The Search Engines are Always Changing. The search engines are not stagnant. They are always developing new methods, best practices and algorithms – which means that we have to be willing to continuously update our strategies. Unless you work on SEO full time, you can quickly get lost in the constant updates and alterations. Tactics that may have been successful in increasing your ranking a few years ago may get you penalized by the search engines today. The search engines, such as Google, Yahoo! And Bing, are committed to keeping us on our toes and they do a superb job.
SEO Scams Do Exist. It’s unfortunate, but there are people out there with scams – you’ll find them in every industry. Be aware of the major warning signs and you shouldn’t get caught in a scam’s web. If you’re being told that you’ll see immediate results and you’ll absolutely rank in the top position on page one, you are being sold false hope. A true SEO agency will take the time to consult with you in order to determine what goals you are trying to achieve and what areas of your business you’re trying to grow. As we’ve already discussed, proper search engine optimization takes time so look for an agency that wants to develop a relationship with you – not someone with an overnight fix.

Fearing SEO or being intimidated by all of the work required of a successful strategy is no reason to steer clear of this proven marketing tactic. According to G.I. Joe, knowing is half the battle – so start your education today. If you can grasp the fundamentals of SEO, then you are one step ahead of the pack. If you don’t have the time to implement an SEO campaign on your own, team up with a consultant but be sure to stay away from the false “quick results” scams out there. Then prepare yourself for some hard work and eventually you’ll see some astonishing results!