9zero6 Frequently Asked Questions
Internet Marketing, SEO, and Online Advertising Information
Internet Marketing has some interesting and often confusing terminology. We do our best to keep current on the web-speak evolution. Here are some of the basic questions clients tend to have regarding internet marketing, website positioning and general SEO / PPC issues.
Should I pay for a Local Directory Listing? And if so, how much?
You REALLY need to use caution with this one. Don't let yourself be fooled; if someone is selling you a listing on their website you must keep in mind they are promoting their website first. Your site is a distant priority to this "guide" or "directory" company, and your listing is usually side by side with your competition. Or worse, BELOW the competition! The reality is that your funds are much better spent promoting your website for you. Internet Marketing is a popular sales pitch in today's market and unfortunately many of the agencies claiming experience have very little understanding of what Internet Marketing is all about. We recommend that you do your research before paying for any directory listing, especially those promoting small communities. Small communities are primary targets for "quick dollar" advertisers to hit local businesses for a few hundred bucks to list on their site. You will never see that Return on Investment. A good metric is to consider the amount of time the agency spends to activate your listing, and pay for that time. An hour is plenty of time and that hour should range from $55 to $125 / hour depending on the value of the site and agency network. We feel very strongly about protecting your Internet Marketing Investment. Even if you do not do business with 9zero6, we are ultimately committed to building a strong Upper Michigan professional region using the web. We will discuss your options and assist with peer review of anything you have questions about.
9zero6 offers FREE Business Directory listing services to Upper Michigan Businesses. We also directly market this Professional Network on the web promoting the Upper Michigan Region using 9zero6 resources at no cost to you. For more information, please Contact Us.
How can I know that my website shows up as Numero Uno on Search Engines? And why do people tell me this is so easy to do?
If you're promised first place results on the internet search engines by an internet marketing company, there is a good chance you need to find a different internet marketing company! Nobody can guarantee you first place! There are a variety of different methods (free or fee based) that can help drive up your website's search engine rankings for different key words or phrases. Search engine optimization techniques help you rank higher in the 'organic' (natural growth) sections of search engine returns. Pay-per-click and paid inclusion programs (here's my money, now look at me first!) provide much faster results but do typically require more up front investment. This money is easily tracked however, and you will know where your money is going and what is or is not working so efforts can be adjusted for maximum efficiency.
How long does it take for all of this Technobabble to kick in and produce results?
Remember this: Timing is everything, and everything takes time. If you're in a competitive business (you are) then you're not only subject to what the competition does, but also to what the clients expect or drive to you from your competitors. In general, 3 to 6 months of substantial internet marketing should produce definite ranking results changes. Surprisingly, many of your competitors aren't doing to much "more" than you to rank, but they are doing what is necessary!
If you want to show up quickly, the reality is you will have to be ready to pay for speed. Pay Per Click and Pay For Inclusion options exist to speed up your exposure to your market based upon selected key words and phrases you choose to pay for.
Does 9zero6 actually monitor SEO and campaign results for my website?
Yes, we are addicted to statistics, research and adjustments to make you #1
Sure, we can't promise you #1. What we can promise you is that we work hard to get you there. By reviewing site statistics, competitor trends, pathways that site visitors utilize to find you, etc., we can fine tune and constantly tweak any Internet Marketing Campaign to stay competitive. Consider this scenario and the importance of analysis: Your competition made a change to their Internet Marketing program a few days ago. The search engines are doing their job and at midnight tonight those changes are going to be "discovered" and filed, and relevant search terms will be affected by the changes. These "results" may very well take potential customers or visitors that would normally find your site for a certain set of key words to THE COMPETITION!!! 9zero6 is aware of this constant and unpredictable evolution and through our competitor analysis services we make sure you don't get caught off guard!
Does every single page of my website need to be optimized?
Yes. Period. WHY? Each page is a potential "home page" for visitors. It is impossible to know which page any given search engine will produce in a search result. A potential client could search for key words that Google or Bing quickly find on your Contact Us or sitemap page. The arrangement of content, the key words and the "current state of the web" can produce search results that send web users to pages other than your home page or main navigation pages. You need to be sure that at any given moment, when the search engines are asked a question, your website pages are prepared to answer the call!
What are the best practices for SEO and Internet Marketing? The basics so to speak...
To achieve the best search results your site should follow these basic guidelines:
1. Search engine friendly web design: Our Partnership with The U.P. Web Maestro ensures a clean, search engine friendly site.
2. Flash used on web sites block search engines from seeing what you're all about.
3. Avoid java script navigation.
4. Conduct extensive keyword research and make sure your content reads naturally with these terms.
5. Link Build with high quality websites / partners to increase your relevance to search phrases.
6. Use relevant content and avoid blabbing about things search engines don't care about!
7. Black hat (BAD) tactics must be avoided. The last thing you want is to get black-listed by The Google.
