  2009-03-04 Hi Everyone! This week's sponsor, Aaron Wall of SEO Book fame, has a free SEO toolbar that delivers a ton of competitive data and research tools right from your browser. It's one of those "must have" tools you'll want in your arsenal. Check it out, you'll love it. Have a great week! Robert Clough
  The Big, Bad List of Pre-SEO Questions You Need to Answer, Part Iby Stoney deGeyterWhen contemplating an online marketing campaign there are dozens of questions that will start swirling through your head. Each question, in turn, creates more questions, and those questions create others that all will need to be answered before you are able to make a smart, sound business decision. Is the Pay-for-Performance SEO Model Still Viable?by Stoney deGeyterWhile I don't think the pay-for-performance pricing model is entirely unworkable, I think the cons far outweigh the pros. The desire for such an arrangement is certainly a valid one, but not always one that can be implemented as easily as it sounds....  Who Owns Your Brand?by Eric BrownAre You What They Are Saying About You? It is fascinating to chat with business owners across the nation about their brand. Every business is a brand, even if a bad one. Your brand is not what you think it is, it is what your customer thinks it is, it is what your employees think it is and it is what your vendors think it is. Lots of companies clamor that their employees are their number one asset, yet are you ready to hand over your brand, what you tout in your marketing material, to your employees? Are you ready to...  How do you get a specific Web page indexed?by Mike MoranI've often been asked why particular pages are not indexed. Honestly, you can never be sure until you fix the problem. If you think that you've isolated the problem, you never know if you've only corrected one of multiple problems. So, it's best to take it step-by-step.... Return to the Top of this Page 
Return to the Top of this Page  In response to... Is the Pay-for-Performance SEO Model Still Viable?
At that point, is it not more profitable to run your own site in that niche? Why have full control for a piece of the action when you can have full control - and no client headaches - for all the profit? Because of the overhead. Why would I want to take on the business expense when I can easily manage the site for a retainer fee plus dev costs and do pretty well. Get a few of those type relationships and its just like you had your own site without all the stress of overhead and employees. PPP is a tough proposition for all involved. And, as pointed out above, it is usually the consultant who loses. Clients who are requesting this type of arrangement are best suited for offshore services. PPP usually entails some form of guarantee also which we know is very difficult to offer these days. Performance guarantees can be laden with loopholes for both parties just like SEO ranking guarantees are. For me, the two are kind of synonymous with one another. Usually with PPP, SERPs are monitored for performance evaluation. With Google's recent moves to disrupt rank checking software, the PPP model becomes even more challenging for many. It just isn't worth it. Not unless you're dealing with Fortune 1000 and 6 digit compensation figures at which time there is some big money to be made. With the current economy though, I'm not too certain there is much of it being thrown around right now. I too have gotten those calls over the years. A brilliant idea, a little bit of cash, and the need to sell someone on that idea and get them to contribute. I did that once in the beginning of my career. I worked for peanuts while making two college kids rich and famous. I learned from that experience too. I'll never do it again. I'm going to get mine up front as we progress. You're welcome to give me a bonus every now and then if you so desire! But, I will be compensated well for the time my team have invested. ;) pageoneresults In response to... Who Owns Your Brand?Many people confuse "brand" with name or logo or even reputation. IMO, a brand is none of these and all of these. In fact, your brand is the emotional connection your customer has with you. When it is rich, rewarding and unique, you have a strong positive brand. It will persuade people to prefer your brand over all others offering similar products or services, every time they have a choice. It is up to the brand owner/manager to cultivate and encourage that positive emotional connection. Employees and vendors can assist, or undercut, those efforts. They often, however, are just as influenced by what your customers think as vice versa. Always remember that your customer's "feeling" about you is the substance of your brand. If you don't know and understand that feeling, absent research, you will have a difficult time reinforcing or reversing it. Good article, Eric. William Waites In response to... Who Owns Your Brand?Good thoughts, Eric... 10 years ago the only way to get market research was to hit the streets, and now it's simply to open your laptop. People want to feel special and they want to buy from someone they like. IMO, doing both is the key to success. Matt Return to the Top of this Page  Free SEO ToolsThinking of buying SEO software? Then try the best SEO tools free first! Skaffe.com Directory: Show off your website Express Submit today.Quality directories like Skaffe.com offer you strong search engine exposure. WoW DirectoryPowerful and affordable directory marketing services. Submit your website today! Return to the Top of this Page  SMALL BUSINESS FINANCE Business Valuation Methods Timing Question: Incorporation & RevenueSEARCH ENGINE OPTIMIZATION SearchWiki: Will It Be The End Of SEO How To Do SEO For Home Improvement WebsitePAY PER CLICK Pay-Per-Click Fraud 10 Pay Per Click Top TipsSOCIAL MEDIA Debunking Six Social Media Myths Why I Love Integrating Blogging With Social MediaPREVIOUS WEEK Small Business Forum Update For February 24, 2009 (If you like our search engine news, you'll love our small business news.) Return to the Top of this Page
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