top 10 search results

[ymac]

i am new to this web site thing. I have put my site together (although I still find things to change daily), I gave away ads for a while to get the site looking good, now I am ready to start charging. I have been sending out emails and targeting ads on other horse sites. I have submitted my site to many seach engines, exchanged some links, got placed on top 100 equestrian sites page. but I know it is very difficult to get the top page results in search engines.

My question is what do people think of (and has anyone used) these companies that you can pay a monthly fee and they will get your site in the top 10 and keep it there. As well there are sites that offer for a fee to send a certain number of visitors to your site. please keep in mind I am not capable of doing this myself as I have not enough knowledge.

[Lhotch]

I wouldnt discount the benefits of search engine placement, but keeping your site on top can be a full time job in itself depending on what your competition does.

I havent used any of these SEO sites myself but you do have to ask yourself, what is it they promise and how can they promise that to everyone? In other words if 10 companies like your own goto the same SEO placement company what happens?

I think what you really need to do is determine what market you target and how best to reach them for the time and money invested. Its often much cheaper and better to put banner ad space on another related site where you know your banner will get a lot of exposure to people who use what is offered on your site.

Then of course having something to offer visitors is key. In the case of a classified site free ads help get people there but the startup is hard because people dont want to spend the time inputting a free ad if the site doesnt have ads because they know there is no traffic.

[ymac]

thanks for your input, I do have a fair few ads now so the site looks like it gets traffic. I have thought of what you said how can the company get everyone to the top ten if there are several sites with the same theme.

Can you tell me about how to get the banner advertising you talk about.

[Maffo]

From your question, I can only say no, dont use them. How can any company or anybody say they will get you into the top ten on search engines? For what phrases? Which search engines? All search engines have different algorithms which and so can score your site differently. Surely their are companies that can help, but do not trust any company who makes these ridiculous claims. The first thing you should do is read up on SEO, and how to make your site as search engine friendly as possible.