I’ve just come to find out that I am a manager of a somewhat used-to-be dead LinkedIn group called San Diego SEO. Up until recently, there hasn’t been much action. Originally the group was dead because we had strict rules for who could join. (You pretty much had to be a San Diego SEO). But that didn’t work. So as suggested by other members in the group, we decided to expand.. Continue reading
First off, I would like to thank you for taking the time to read my SEO blog. I really do appreciate it. You can read another related post (found below) or subscribe here. Once again, thank you for visiting James’ SEO blog.
I thought I should re-introduce myself since things have changed since I started this blog and because I haven’t had a chance to update my ‘about James Harrison‘ page. For starters, despite showing up for New York SEO related terms, I do not live nor work in New York. I go to New York 4-5 times a year and it’s usually just to hang out with buddies for a week or so. Occasionally I’ll meet with a client but most of the time its pure pleasure. I just love New York City in fact given the opportunity, I would move there in a heartbeat, that is as long as I could convince my girlfriend, fiancé.
Currently, I live in Pacific Beach, San Diego, California. I’ve been an SEO freelancer for over 5 years now. However, I’ve only been running a professional SEO freelancing business (back by some agency experience from MEA Digital & Engine Ready) for over a year now.
Let me make that clear. I’ve been doing SEO for awhile now, but it wasn’t until working for a couple of the best online marketing agencies that I got the real, effective, professional skills and experience that sets me apart from the ‘rest’.
The i-Guy (Investigative Reporter, John Mattes) has uncovered the real SEO’s from the fakers who claim they know search engine optimization and charge you a lot of money for nothing. The same guy who helped to break the Iran Contra Scandal has now found the one honest and true SEO Specialist that can and does make a difference.
San Diego, California (PRWEB) December 18, 2009 — Former Fox News reporter John Mattes (investigativeguy.com) who is notorious for exposing corporate scams, getting beat up by insurance salesmen and chased off lots of criminal car dealerships has conducted investigations of various SEO and marketing companies in Southern California and has found a local San Diego company worth a GOOD review.
I noticed quite a bit lately that some people don’t understand the concept of SEO services by the Hour. It’s actually a really popular question potential clients ask me. So, I figure let me take a stab at answering the question here in a blog post.
First, let me add, that I hate my domain SEObytheHour.com. I feel it limits what people think I can offer them. Plus it’s rare you can really charge SEO by the Hour. I just bought the domain some years back (because it sounded cool), built some links to it, played around with it and viola, it’s getting action.
But here’s how it goes anyway…
To my knowledge, Google’s SEO algorithm is proprietary. No one can crack it. I’m also willing to bet that some of the smartest, technical minded gurus are working behind the formula to do 1 main thing; deliver the MOST RELEVANT results for its users, so it continues to be the best search engine ever.
That being said; I don’t know SEO.
But I do know 2 things. 2 things that I feel are the core to everything I do. The understanding of these 2 things is what I feel sets me apart from he rest.
Performing proper keyword and competitive research and utilizing web tools that make virtually everything your competition does transparent allows you gauge how much work you will have to do to compete. I can literally find out everything there is know about your competition and what chances you have to rank for those terms. The questions are, what keywords do you want to go after? Who’s ranking for those keywords? And how much work is needed to compete?
Asking those questions makes it easier to understand SEO by the Hour.
After years of hands-on experience working on all types of web platforms and structures and professionally recording how long everything takes, page by page I can guesstimate how long it would take to optimize your website, no matter the size or how it’s built. Normally, full-fledged SEO is implemented once really strong in the beginning and overtime you will make various changes here and there based on what Google tells you through its rankings.
OK, so onpage is covered. But what about offpage you ask.
Well, when really analyzing your competitors, you can determine why they are number one by using SEO analysis tools and link building tools that give you heaps of information. For some keywords, you can learn that the top guys got away with just doing free directory submissions utilizing their anchor text links. Sometimes the #1 site just did a bunch of articles and guest posted in several niche blogs. Sometimes you find out the top guy has been doing a monthly press release through PR Web for over a year. Or even worst, the top guy is an author of some book that was a New York Times Best Seller that has guest featured in all the top authority and news channels.
Again, I record how long it takes for me to do everything and the cost of what ever is needed. I know how long it takes for me to write a press release or how much it cost to have a professional write one. Same with articles and blog posts. I know how long it takes for me to email 100 webmasters. I know how long it takes for me to guest author in a blog. All in all, I know how to determine how much work is needed to compete with the top guy(s).
Most of the time if someone is coming to me for help, they are going after terms that require WORK. Terms that require 100′s of hours. This is why sometimes SEO has to be performed naturally over a period of time. Luckily I KNOW how long everything takes me to do.
Overtime, you’ll realize that SEO take hours and hours and is an ongoing campaign. After all, isn’t the keyword you going after valuable (to more than just you)?
Still, the most important question to ask yourself is; how can I be the most relevant site to the next 1 million people that type in the keyword I’m targeting?
One day while cruising PB (Pacific Beach, San Diego) with my Buddy Robert the SEO PPC Pro, he asked me for my opinion on a forever debatable SEO question; “Which is more effective, onpage or offpage? If you really wanted solid top SEO rankings fast, what would you spend most time doing?”
Knowing Robert, he already has his opinion. He’s just picking my brain. Plus, he knows I’m a die-hard linker.
Before you read any further, I might as well tell you now that I don’t come up with a conclusive answer. (Especially, being asked right off the bat.) And notice how I jump back & forth.
But here’s my answer anyway.
Honestly, when I’m trying to increase rankings, I find myself spending more time onpage. I know I always say link building, get backlinks, more links, etc. But when I’m really trying to find a way to increase rankings, I look deep into the site. I know link building is the key to successful SEO. But before you go after your desired links saying the terms you are targeting, it’s extremely important that when Google finds your page through those links that that page is ultra-relevant to that term, and the rest of the site must agree (through proper internal linking).
When you say “Hey Google, come check out my site. Shouldn’t I be ranked #1 for my target keyword, afterall, all these relevant sites said I should through their links?”; you better be right. Or you could be asking for it..
Google is #1 because they deliver the most relevant results.