| | | | | |

Search Engine Optimization: Is it worth it?

This is a very broad question, being that there are many online marketing tactics that are generally worth it, and many that are not. Including the SCAMS that simply want your money, but have nothing to actually offer but lies and false promises.

Here is a great example from about.com:

"We will submit your site to all 1500 search engines and guarantee you 14,000 hits on your first day for only $29.95!"

Sounds pretty good, huh? Well, don't be fooled. First of all, what 1500 search engines are they talking about? There are maybe 10-20, tops, that are out there, and out of those, you only need to submit your site to maybe eight (and that's even a bit on the overkill side).

Secondly, NO ONE can guarantee you that many hits. Just won't happen. No matter what kind of magical beans you have, you will not get that kind of traffic and especially won't get it on your first day. Sure, there are sites out there that get that many hits, but they are usually well-established, large sites that have been around for a while and have extremely deep content. Anyone who promises you this kind of baloney is trying to pull a fast one.

Sure, there are SEO consultants out there that are honest and ethical. This ad (which, by the way, is a real one. No joke.) is assuredly unethical, devious, and just kind of silly. $29.95 would be a great price for these offers IF they were for real. No, unfortunately, the vast majority of SEO firms out there that come up in search results are much like the Wizard of Oz: lots of noise, but no substance.

So is SEO really worth it?

When dealing with a reputable firm that provides honest and ethical SEO tactics than it is absolutely worth it. However, the first important question to ask a firm that you will be potentially hiring is whether or not they can guarantee you success with your search engine optimization or advertising.

If they say that they can absolutely promise you success and that you will make money immediately, run! .... Even if they offer you a money back guarantee, still run... The fact of the matter is that by the time you may actually get your money back guarantee over 6 months would have passed and you would have wasted your time believing that you were going to be an overnight success story.

The fact of the matter is that respectable Search Engine Optimization and Online Advertising take time and money. The investment does not have to break the bank, however, it will still cost money.

When an author writes a book, it takes time. The author publishes the book and hopes for a return on his/her time or investment, however, there is no guarantee that anyone will buy that book.

How much money that will be spent is completely up to you at this point. As we have said before in blog, avertising is like throwing money off the top of a building and waiting to see what money came back to you. There is no guarantee.

However, don't let this discourage you in your attempts to hire an SEO company and advertise on the internet. There are many succesful methods to follow and ways to get yourself listed on the internet and bring in traffic and revenue to your business.

AdvertiseForLess.com is packed with information, tips, tricks, recommendation, and researched internet content all based upon effective and affordable internet advertising, search engine optimization, and marketing.