Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) v Search Engine Marketing

Search Engine Optimisation means optimising the html and other content of a web page/site for relevant, targeted key phrases in order to attain higher natural listings than competing websites. Optimisation offers a cheaper long term solution for increased qualified traffic and generates customer enquiries that ultimately convert to sales.

SEM (search engine marketing) is the process of promoting a business online to achieve higher visibility in the search engine listings. This can be achieved by using paid listings i.e. Google Adwords, which can be very expensive but the benefits are; it can be quick to get traffic and is useful for seasonal for short term campaigns.

Contrary to any sales hype you may read elsewhere, there are no software products available, nor will there ever be, that can automate the SEO process as well as a skilled human being. Each page must be content rich especially in text and links, and should be easily found by potential customers using relevant search terms.

Having the best looking website won't give your business any benefit if it can't be found. Merely registering your URL with all the major search engines is not a guarantee your website will be listed.

Research also shows that around 85 percent of Internet consumers use Yahoo, Google, MSN, Hotbot and directories to look for products, services and information. Given such a high degree of consumer use and acceptance of results, SEO appears to be the cost efficient and rewarding means of generating qualified site traffic and activity. 

Fact1: People who actively searching for your products or services are qualified prospects who, in the most part, have already made the decision to buy! Focused SEO brings the searcher and the supplier together.

Fact2: Web sales in 2004 were up a staggering 60%. Experts predict 80% of all sales transactions will be on-line within the next 5 years.

Fact3: Ministers warns that UK business needs to get on-line now or suffer the consequences in the future.