Using legitimate SEO practices for a better online reputation

CC: BeWild.com

The other day I noticed that I had an unapproved trackback ping that looked like it could be a little bit “legitimate”. Well, turns out it was one of the most blatant attempts at Link Spam that I’ve seen. What makes matters worse is that the spam was from a “legitimate” company. Well, only if you consider rave clothing, body jewelry and stoner gear legitimate. Anyway, the company in question has had an online presence since 1991 and has a decent marketing budget that’s spent on Google and Overture ads. I hope that this attempt for a link was not supported by management, because if it was, it would tell you a lot about the character of the management. However, I would assume that this unscrupulous effort was a result of some false promise of a shady SEO person.

If you’re a website owner/manager and are trying to get better placement in search engines, be very weary of people who promise to get you x amount of links or a certain ranking in google. A legitimate SEO person will never make promises of search placement or a certain number links.

Top 4 Questions to ask a SEO before you hire them
1. What are some of your top search ranking accomplishment? Can you show examples?
2. What type of techniques do you use to achieve rankings?
3. How much of a volume increase in traffic is reasonable to expect?
4. Do you have references that I can contact?

If the information that the SEO gives you, sounds to good to be true then it probably is. And, always check referances.

Here’s a list to some of my favorite sites for SEO information and services:
1. Begginers guide to SEO
2. SEO Company, 155 SEO Tools
3. Digital-Web Magazine, SEO Articles
4. AndyHagans- LinkBuilding
5. Google Information For Web Masters
6. We Build Pages- Free SEO Tools
7. Matt Cutts- Blog
8. Shimon Sandler- Blog

technorati tags: seo, google, mattcutts