Cheap and Effective SEO?

[chris424uk]

Hi,

I've been running an affiliate website for about 4 years now. I've made a small, reasonable profit (by affiliate website terms) over the years but since the Google algorithm changes my ranking/profit has taken a hit (mostly due to a lack of consistent fresh material). I'll be honest, I don't want to spend too much time on this, but I want to give it one more boost before potentially selling it. So, I was thinking about hiring someone to do SEO on the cheap. I was wondering if you guys could recommend someone? I'm looking for something to fit my budget that's going to be cost-effective.

PM me for more details on the website, content, etc.

Thanks,
Chris

 

[OakMarkLondon]

I would recommend reading Google Search Engine Optimization starter guide - its a nice pdf document explaining the best practice when it comesto SEO. There are many things that can be done without hiring a consultant.

 

[OakMarkLondon]

here is the link http://static.googleusercontent.com.../search-engine-optimization-starter-guide.pdf

 

[sherlock]

Problem is SEO is a lot more labour intensive, inconsistent and difficult than it used to be when you could do low cost SEO and get results. 'Cost-effective SEO' or 'Low cost SEO' don't really exist any more unless you're willing to risk a penalty. If you want to do it that way, there are plenty are of people on Fiverr who will sell you a link for $5-10.
Your best bet would be to invest a reasonable amount of money in getting some decent visual content put together, host it on your site and promote the hell out of it through online PR and social media.

Probably not the answer you were hoping for but if you want to sell your site, it'll be worth a lot more without a penalty

 

[GuruSEO]

I can do SEO for you at quite affordable rates

 

[cristinabarkerjones]

To be honest with you, your best option is Google Adwords!

 

[GuruSEO]

Cristina I do not agree with you , Adwords can be used initally but for long term SEO is good option to keep customers coming in naturally.

 

[cristinabarkerjones]

Google is trying to do whatever they can to confuse the SEOs like us. It's becoming harder and harder to rank your website for the first pages in the SERP. That's why I assume that at one point SEO will be dead!

 

[GuruSEO]

Cristina you are right, Google wants to eat our piece of cake but technically it is not possible until and unless they only start showing paid serches

I have quite good sucess rate, the most common mistake most SEO's do it we try to over do and assure clients timeline. We should never over do specially with virgin sites as google takes it a spam and NEVER EVER assure client any rating, rather tell them if I have any influence over google I would not be sitting in front of you rather enjoy a nice ice cold drink on a warm beach

 

[StevePoster]

Cristina there are some SEOs out there that are smarter than you think and this kind of problem is already been solved because search engines are often changing as well as the optimizers.

 

[DexSmart]

Hello Chris, send me your info. I would like to send you my offer.

Thanks,
Matt

 

[FutureM]

Google will never be "just paid" because that wouldn't provide the best results, and would lead to googles demise. Although google will obviously try and maximise their profits, the real reason seo is becoming harder is because there are so many websites. Google makes changes to try and keep the quality ones at the top. It can make the early stages hard but eventually those who stick it out and are providing something genuine through their website should do well, providing they follow googles guidelines.

In my view, if your website has been around for 4 years, and there are people ranking higher than you, their websites simply provide whatever it is your trying to rank for better, as is the case with most websites created for the sole purpose of being an affiliate. So paying for seo, especially "on the cheap" would be wasting your money.

Having said that i dont know anything about your site, so i could be wrong and something else such as poor design and code could be the problem, in which case tidying that up wouldn't be a waste of money.

 

[sherlock]

Google makes its money from the paid properties but it's the organic listings that bring the traffic to Google in the first place. To this day around 70% of Google's traffic click on an organic listing so they won't disappear and they won't become paid, unless Google changes its business model altogether and why would they do that?
Despite the algorithm updates, SEO still revolves around on-page signals and links - nothing has changed in that respect. The reason for the massive upheaval in the SEO industry is that most SEOs and agencies based their entire SEO offering on manipulating Google's algorithm and taking shortcuts.
Panda and Penguin have ensured that websites now adhere to the same guidelines that Google have had in place for over 10 years - Create great content and your site will attract links naturally.

Yes, SEO is a lot more difficult than it was but the goal is still exactly the same - find a way to attract authoritative links to your website in a natural way and your rankings will improve.

 

[tombuckland]

I would not have recommended saying you were interested in hiring an SEO person in the same thread as where you are asking for information, as everyone's take is going to be slightly promotional.....I would suggest hiring someone local to work with, also personally I don't think seo would be the best way to go if you are interested in selling the site soon.

 

[cristinabarkerjones]

In my view, if your website has been around for 4 years, and there are people ranking higher than you, their websites simply provide whatever it is your trying to rank for better, as is the case with most websites created for the sole purpose of being an affiliate. So paying for seo, especially "on the cheap" would be wasting your money.

I have to disagree with you. Just type in Google "floor sanding london". The top 5 results prove that websites with poor content that are not user-friendly can rank very high in Google's SERP.
I can assure you this is not an insulated case. Often, there is no logic in Google's rankings which is very suspicious. So, having a great and unique content and following Google's guidelines doesn't mean you will be on first page. Even if you have optimised your website as good as you can!

 

[FutureM]

If i was looking for someone to sand my floor and i lived in london, thats what i would type. The first result looks like exactly what id be looking for and i think their website looks good enough that i would ask for a quote off them. I do agree however, that sometimes results can be poor, but that is why google makes changes and updates their algo.

 

[cristinabarkerjones]

If i was looking for someone to sand my floor and i lived in london, thats what i would type. The first result looks like exactly what id be looking for and i think their website looks good enough that i would ask for a quote off them. I do agree however, that sometimes results can be poor, but that is why google makes changes and updates their algo.

That's interesting. Are we talking about the same website - Heron? What exactly is the thing that you like about their website?

 

[tombuckland]

Often, there is no logic in Google's rankings which is very suspicious.

.....

 

[cristinabarkerjones]

.....

Do you want to tell me something?

 

[FutureM]

That's interesting. Are we talking about the same website - Heron? What exactly is the thing that you like about their website?

Everything. Its simple, the images show me exactly what they do, theres a phone number (albeit a mobile) there is an address, they give you an idea on price, it looks like a small genuine business offering precisely what id be looking for.

 

[MatthewRJones]

A friend mentioned this SEO website to me - http://www.clicksubmit.co.uk/ could be worth a look at.

 

[Ruler Analytics]

A friend mentioned this SEO website to me - http://www.clicksubmit.co.uk/ could be worth a look at.

Steer clear of Click Submit.

They're bad guys.

 

[MatthewRJones]

Steer clear of Click Submit.

They're bad guys.

Hi what's your experience with using them?

 

[drdialeruk]

I would ask for a quote off them. I do agree however, that sometimes results can be poor, but that is why google makes changes and updates their algo. I can assure you this is not an insulated case.

 

[HazelC]

I can re-write the content on your website, make it SEO friendly and make it 300+ words so it is indexed by Google. Then we can manage a Google+ page for you to help get it back up the rankings? Let me know if you'd like to hear more

This will help towards it, it's not the be all and end all though!

 

[LSG Creative]

Hey, well we have some basic tips on our website on how to do alot of the optimisation yourself. However it sounds like you need alot of work and the pidgeon update has not been updated in our guide. If you were to search "SEO Bristol" you will find us at the top, feel free to fill out a quotation form and the team can investigate for you.

 

[greyheart]

Ok so a lot of this is terrible advice, problem 1 is Google now hates affiliates, they're a victim of there own success. (I don't mean all affiliates, I just mean the vast majority - ie those that don't qualify as brands in their own right).

I can try and give you some pointers, but whilst this is going to sound negative a 4 year old affiliate site is likely now to be dead wood. PM me the details and I'll take a look, but I'll give you an honest answer.

 

[hcscheshire]

Conflicting answers on here. Google adwords is very expensive

 

[cristinabarkerjones]

Conflicting answers on here. Google adwords is very expensive

If you know how to use it well, Adwords can be very profitable for your business!

 

[chris424uk]

Thanks for all the feedback guys, it has been very helpful.

 

[Deleted member 184921]

Clare Associates is good for value SEO work.

 

[JonnyMP]

Beware of the so called SEO consultants as they are more likely going to get thousands of spam backlinks from sites that end up doing your site more harm than good.

The best thing you can do for your search engine ranking now is to simply clean up any spam backlinks; get a few very good authoritative backlinks and add good content to your website.

If you can get a few bloggers in your niche buzzing about your site, that's even better.

All this fresh activity should help increase your authority status with Google and show that you are taking steps toward providing a better user experience.

 

[tombuckland]

Beware of the so called SEO consultants as they are more likely going to get thousands of spam backlinks from sites that end up doing your site more harm than good.

True, I have heard they are all thieves..... The entire industry actually.... All thieves!!!!

...Sigh...

get a few very good authoritative backlinks

Out of interest how does one get a few good authoritative backlinks?

 

[FreeRangeWeb]

The mistake that most people make is using too many keyword-rich anchor text links. By using a good dilution of keywords, Click Here's, raw urls, Brand Links etc etc you can have great success, but this is not cheap as the majority of backlinks involve time, effort and 500+ words.
There are always loads of untapped opportunities in long-tailed keywords and you can write niche content around those LTKs that will drive traffic to your site.
Another thing to do is to amplify your content and seed it online, but again, this is expensive and time-consuming

 

[thinkcoreseo]

surprised to see alot of seo guys talking nonsense and providing no tips or advice!

Chris iv sent you a message

 

[Alan]

That's why I assume that at one point SEO will be dead!

No there will always be SEO whilst there is search engines, of some form, whether that is search on Google, or search on any other platform, YouTube, Facebook etc.

What will die (is dying) is quick win easy spammy techniques which enabled affiliate marketers to previously dominate the serps ahead of the actual product sites (that the searcher was probably actually looking for ). Affiliate marketers will have to find other ways of adding value beyond just tricking Google.

Yes, SEO is a lot more difficult than it was but the goal is still exactly the same - find a way to attract authoritative links to your website in a natural way and your rankings will improve.

No the goal of SEO is to rank your website as best as you can on the search engine you are targeting for the keywords you are targeting. Links may or may not be part of teh process, but certainly not the goal.

 

[capitalvirtual]

Google is changing the way it ranks website, ideally you want your site on relevant websites that link to you. Using local directories relevant to your website is good way of boosting your local search presence.

 

[thinkcoreseo]

Google is changing the way it ranks website, ideally you want your site on relevant websites that link to you. Using local directories relevant to your website is good way of boosting your local search presence.

Google will always be changing how it does things... but the main parts will stay the same...

provide great content that answers the searchers query and you will naturally attract backlinks and will have better UX

 

[william04]

For Small Business Owners Google adwords is not affordable just for keyword testing and back link outreach.

 

[OldWelshGuy]

I disagree William04 affordability is simple, if you work hard on your campaign, and ensure the conversion is good enough, then it is affordable.

You also have to look at the longer term, i.e what is the average spend over a lifetime of a customer. If the average spend is say £400 (over the lifetime) and the average profit is £200, then if you lose £20 on the initial customer acquisition, you are up £180 over the long term