I wouldn't recommend hiring anyone to do SEO for you. It's something that you can do on your own and that way, you'll have total control and understanding of what's happening on your site (to make sure no bad tricks are used).
Here are some good threads here at the forum that will help:
This is very good information. The importance is clear, but I haven't seen much information on actually how to do it. For example, I'm using a CubeCart v3 skin, so how would I go about SEO for my pages?
I notice the same thing. Everyone says not to pay a service, do it yourself, it's easy, they talk about it's importance, etc., but info on exactly how to do it is virtually non existent.
Actually I believe the info on how to do this can be found in those threads that Rodney listed.
They tell you what to do, but don't tell you how to do it. For example, one of them says to use URL's without ?'s. Well, most of my pages have ?'s in their URL's, but I have no idea how to take them out, since I didn't put them in there to begin with. And for some of the other suggestions, I don't even understand what they are referring to. If it's as easy as people suggest, I would think somebody could explain HOW to do some of the steps.
Last edited by rusty; December 13th, 2007 at 10:38 PM.
Unfortunately, I am no expert in web functionality either. I wish I was, but I am still learning alot of it myself. The little idiosyncricies that plague the world wide web just makes it almost impossible to get evry last thing right without beating your head against the wall. What did they ever do before computers??
I notice the same thing. Everyone says not to pay a service, do it yourself, it's easy, they talk about it's importance, etc., but info on exactly how to do it is virtually non existent.
The thing about SEO is that it changes rapidly. Old techniques can be worse than useless, they can actually get you banned. There's plenty of places with discussions of the latest techniques, but it's impossible to discern the significance of these without a solid knowledge base. And it's hard to build a knowledge base, because it can be difficult to tell if the basic information you find is still relevant.
What's needed is a single, comprehensive up-to-date source. Fortunately, it does exist. It's called the SEO Best Practices Guide, and it is the bible of the industry. Unfortunately, it is not free. It will set you back about $300. But it is well worth it.
If you are interested in learning SEO yourself there are wonderful, free classes offered by Cricket Walker at Custom Website Creations - Web Creations - Custom Websites. The classes are given in email format (Yahoo Groups) on a monthly basis. You are required to sign-up for the SEO & Marketing classes at the same time. The classes are "work at your own pace" and you can start any time (mid class). I strongly recommend these classes!
They tell you what to do, but don't tell you how to do it. For example, one of them says to use URL's without ?'s. Well, most of my pages have ?'s in their URL's, but I have no idea how to take them out, since I didn't put them in there to begin with. And for some of the other suggestions, I don't even understand what they are referring to. If it's as easy as people suggest, I would think somebody could explain HOW to do some of the steps.
The reason why it doesn't show the *how* is because there are literally 100's of different ways to do it depending on how you setup your website and what software you use.
So by telling you "what" to do, it lets you know what you should be researching to find out the "how" for your specific web setup.
Google also recently published some good general how to guides for webmasters that will help people realize what makes a search engine friendly website: Creating a Google-friendly site
i'm sorry my english is not so good.
8 weeks ago i knew nothing about how to make a website, and 4 weeks ago SEO was something i've even never heard about.
now i prowdly say that my home-made web site hits the first gooogle search page in many key words combinations, after no more than 2 weeks after it's been launched on the www. and the competition in my main field (promotional and personalised items) is fierce .
i would gladly give some advices, but the web pages i got my info from are not written in english.
so - SEO is definetely something you can do by yourself.
you need patience, motivation, time (many sleepless night searching the web), and, again, patience.
from what i've read, all seem to my very good advices, but i'm no expert att all.
i just got it working somehow
my site was built using Web Page Maker, it's extremely easy to use, and it helped a lot i the seo process.
i also used some seo tools, like these ones here:
SEO - how to do it yourself or who to hire? 
I wish I was, but I am still learning alot of it myself. The little idiosyncricies that plague the world wide web just makes it almost impossible to get evry last thing right without beating your head against the wall. What did they ever do before computers?? 
