What Makes The Perfect SEO Firm?

SEO companies come in all shapes and sizes. You've got your solo SEOs that either a) do everything themselves and/or b) sub-contract out many aspects of each campaign while maintaining a tight control on the quality and results of the project. Then you have your big SEO firms that employ 20+ employees that handle various aspects of your account. These firms can often turn into SEO factories and can lack the ability to treat each client individually, because everything is done in bulk.

A third SEO firm is a smaller firm that employs a small handful of employees and may also sub-out a few various aspects of the campaign, but overall each client is treated with a personal hands-on approach with most of the campaign handled in-house with strict quality control measures.

The perfect SEM firm needs at least one (or more) of the following:

• Project Manager The project manager is responsible for overseeing every aspect of the SEM campaign. Their job is to ensure that each aspect of the project is given to the appropriate person to complete and double checks all work to ensure that the highest standards are met before it is passed on to the client. The Project Manager is the primary contact with the client and bears the responsibility of ensuring that the client knows that their campaign is a top priority.
• Lead Search Engine Optimizer The Lead SEO spends much of their time doing nothing but research. Researching SEO trends, search engine functionality, patents, white papers, etc. Their job is to ensure that they stay on the cutting edge of the technological changes that are coming down the pike. It is also their job to take this knowledge and apply it to each and every optimization campaign. From keyword research and organization to implementation of the on-page optimization factors. The lead SEO also overseas any optimization techniques implemented by sub-seos, link builders, etc. that may be managing the day-to-day tracking and tweaking of any site.
• Search Engine Optimizer All other SEOs work directly under the lead SEO and work to implement his "vision" of the perfectly optimized page. Each should do their own research and knowledge building but any implementations should follow the outline presented by the lead SEO. These SEOs should be responsible for the day-to-day optimization changes, as well as continuous research to ensure that any client's site's are free from potential currently unknowns search engine roadblocks.
• Coder/Programmer While all SEOs must have a significant knowledge of HTML, XHTML and CSS coding, it is helpful to have an additional person who is primarily responsible for the code optimization aspects. Optimizing and streamlining code can be a significantly time-consuming process, especially when ensuring each optimized page has full cross-browser compatibility. When not working on the optimization code, such a person would be working on developing and improving in-house tools, reporting systems, as well as publicly available tools.
• Copywriter The importance of a professional copywriter cannot be understated. SEO methods that simply take your keywords and try to place them into text are becoming less and less effective, not only for search engine placement, but for ensuring a quality user experience. Each optimized page should have its content re-written by a professional copywriter following project-specific keyword guidelines established by the lead SEO. SEO copywriter should have a marketing background and experience with ad testing and writing press releases, as well as general article content.
• Link Researchers This may be controversial to some, but it is increasingly important to have full-time link researchers continuously working on each campaign. Link researchers are responsible for seeking out other quality and related sites to do one or more of the following: Link to important sites, request links from important and/or related sites and submitting links to quality relevant directories.

As SEO becomes more marketing oriented, many more positions must be added for a firm to properly service their clients needs. Speaking strictly from an SEO aspect, these jobs are each an important aspect of achieving success with you optimization campaign.

Stoney deGeyter is president of Pole Position Marketing, a professional search engine optimization and marketing firm based in Reno, NV, providing quality SEO services since 1997. Stoney has is also a moderator in the Search Engine Forums and Small Business Ideas Forum. You can read his SEM blog at (EMP) E-Marketing Performance. You can email him with any questions at stoney@polepositionmarketing.com

---

High Google Rankings: Frequency vs. Positioning

There's an assumption that the higher a ranking or positioning... Read More

Driving Your Website through Google Sandbox

What is Google Sandbox?Google Sandbox is applied on new websites,... Read More

Which SEO Company/Firm to Choose for SEO Services?

In the last 2-3 years many new companies have mushroomed,... Read More

Is Reciprocal Link Exchange Dead?

The sun seems to be setting on the world of... Read More

5 Simple Steps to Great Search Engine Rankings

Having your website rank well in the major search engines... Read More

What Is Search Engine Optimization And Why Do I Need It?

Purchasing web design service is confusing with all of the... Read More

The SEO Game - Do You Play It?

Most people do not think of SEO as a game.... Read More

Using Blogs for SEO

Why Start A Blog?I knew about blogging and blogs for... Read More

SEO for CEOs ? Search Engine Optimization Unmasked for CEOs

If you're like most other CEOs, the term "search engine... Read More

Search Engine Optimization - A Beginners Guide

Getting your site listed in the top search engines, such... Read More

Non-Reciprocal Link Building For Higher Search Engine Positioning

Non-Reciprocal Link Building For Higher Search Engine Positioning By Dave... Read More

The Myth of Guaranteed #1 Ranking in Search Engine Marketing

You've seen the ads: Guaranteed #1 Ranking! There are no... Read More

Search Engine Marketing: Choosing Keyword Phrases

Selecting the right keyword phrases is the key to a... Read More

Search Engine Optimization Strategies Guaranteed to Skyrocket your Rankings

The point of optimizing your website is so that you... Read More

Search Wars! - MSNs Opening Salvo

With all the recent publicity given to Google as the... Read More

Have You Heard Of Website Optimization

Have you heard of website optimization ? If you are... Read More

7 Free Search Engine Resources You Should be Using Now

Ask any business person who's website is at the top... Read More

How to Get Tons of Top 10 Rankings Guaranteed

Okay I admit it. I was kidding. I can't guarantee... Read More

What Size Body Section Ranks Highest?

This is another one of the controversial questions in many... Read More

Google Website and Web Page Indexing for Dummies

You may have heard how important it is to have... Read More

Search Engine FAQ

Why shouldn't I use a submission service that submits my... Read More

Easy SEO in 6 Simple Steps

If you want to increase traffic to your website and... Read More

The Matrix Help For Keyphrase Analysis

Keyword analysis is a major part of search engine marketing.... Read More

Its The Same Deal For Both Search Engines And Real Estate

It's all about location, location, location!In the past...back in the... Read More

SEO For Ecommerce

Ranking well under the free listings in the major search... Read More

Do It Yourself SEO

Internet surfers use search engines more than any other tool... Read More

Banned By Google And Back Again

The date: 29th July 2005. The time: early morning. I... Read More

The Secret Benefit Of Search Engine Optimisation: Increased Usability

A higher search ranking is what many website owners dream... Read More

Google Patent Application ? Linking

The recent patent application filed by Google details numerous items... Read More

8 Essential SEO techniques

1) Title Tag - The title tag is the most... Read More

SEO Basics - 8 Key Strategies For Online Business Success

The world of search engine optimization (SEO) can be a... Read More

How to Get Listed in Yahoo Within 48 Hours, Without Paying $299

First of all you need to get a blog. If... Read More

Complete Web-Site Optimization For Search Engines (Part 2)

Source code optimization.{title}...{/title}This tag is to be a winner. This... Read More