TulipTools Internet Business Owners and Online Sellers Community

Quote:For most online merchants, it's a simple equation: the higher they rank in search engines, the more shoppers they attract.

Given that all-important formula, many e-tailers lose sleep wondering one pressing question: how can I increase my search engine presence? How can I boost my ranking on as many search terms as possible?

..Of course, many merchants pay for high visibility on certain keywords — spending a fortune on pay-per-click advertising. But the real goldmine, the true sweet spot, is getting a high organic (that is, unpaid) search ranking....

Quote:Perhaps the most confusing aspect of hiring an SEO firm is cost. How much should a merchant expect to pay? It's a topic about which top SEO experts agree: the costs can vary wildly.

Whatever the cost, Sullivan cautions online merchants against hiring firms that offer to "keep you resubmitted [to the search engines] and it'll only cost you $25 per month. That sounds better than someone who's charging you $50 — except that you didn't need to spend the $25 or the $50 in the first place."

In reality, "The cost is free — go submit it yourself. It will take you all of five minutes."