Not since ‘I love you' have 3 words carried such potency.

Search engine optimisation (SEO) is the art of taking a website, and tweaking certain parts of it so that search engines like Google will swoon. That tweaking involves taking elements of the code of your website, taking the copy on your website and potentially rewriting it and submitting your site across the internet.

Some agencies will promise to get you on the 1st page of Google or you get your money back. Perfect, at first even I was sold - let's face it, who doesn't want to use search engine optimisation to get on the first page of Google?! But dig a little deeper and you see that all they're doing is cramming your website with keywords and links that ultimately work against your website to make it look like spam, or the design of your website starts to break because all those keywords don't actually fit. Even Google warn against using a Search Engine Optimisation company that makes such promises. And our collective hearts bleed every time we see a beautifully crafted website only for a someone to come along and shoehorn footer links across the bottom of the site with no consideration for what they're actually doing to the experience a user has of your website. Or they're plying Pay Per Click (also called sponsored links or Google AdWords) which essentially places adverts - no bad thing (if done well), and fairly easy to do.

That's not to say that Search Engine Optimisation can't get you on to the first page of Google. For truly long term business astute search engine optimisation you need to take a holistic approach to SEO. I've always said ‘what's the point of getting on the first page of Google, when your website design looks awful and is turning users off, or doesn't read well. It will instantly have users going back to those search results looking for your competitors. Our holistic search engine optimisation (H-SEO if you will!) utilises an entire team compromising developers who will elegantly make changes to your site retaining its look and feel. Copywriters who will actually make your SEO legible and easy to understand. And most importantly SEO engineers who completely understand that finding and optimising those keywords, placing those AdWords and constantly tracking and tweaking your site is all part of your long term overall online marketing strategy.

Changing Trends or, How We Plan Your SEO for The Future...

Remember that SEO is also about setting the right expectations. Guarantees and promises only work in the short term - think about the long term effect keyword cramming will have on the actual quality of your website. Also, remember that the rules of 'search' and finding online content are constantly changing. What happens when every laptop, desktop computer, mobile device is location aware? So whenever you conduct a search, your search engine results page (SERP) is actually based on your physical location. For example, you might be in Leicester or Birmingham and search for 'computer repairs' and your Google search results will show you results closest to your location in Leicester or indeed Birmingham.

That's why future-proofing your SEO is so important - search engine optimisation should never come at the cost of a reduction of overall quality of your website and message. We think about the long term - not short term goals only design to not have to pay you back! We make the absolute best decisions when it comes to your budget and search engine optimisation.

And what part is social media playing in your search and SEO plans?

The San Francisco Chronicle (15/02/2010) reported that Facebook had taken over Google for the No.1 traffic source across the web. Put simply that means that for the first time more people are finding their way to online content and websites through sharing rather than direct search - that's because connected people trust each other. Can you be sure that when sharing, location and user defined relevancy is what drives search that you're website and its content still stand the test of time and build trust in users?

We employ long term strategic thinking that gets results right now, and has a keen eye on the future - we're not a quick-bang-for-your-buck-or-your-buck-back kind of outfit. This is SEO that has true Internet Marketing at its heart.

Centrally based, within quick access of major Midlands cities like Leicester, Derby, Birmingham - and on the edge of major routes that can get us across the UK - we're ideally placed to work incredibly closely with you on your search engine optimisation.

We're picking up search engine optimisation clients right across the midlands - and the Blog will become a key focus for the ongoing SEO work. We'll be sharing insider SEO tips that businesses across Leicester, Derby, Birmingham can all turn to their advantage. We'll also get those clients to blog about their search engine experiences - so if you're Leicester based you'll find local information catered to you. The same applies if you're from Birmingham, Derby, Manchester, Sheffield or Nottingham or Leamington Spa.

Coming Soon:

Debunking search engine optimisation myths.
The truth about search engine optimisation.
Local search engine optimisation stories from Leicester, Derby and Birmingham.

Get in touch: If you'd like to talk in more detail about search engine optimisation, or just have an informal chat about what the right solution for you might be then give me a call on 07817 171 046 or email hello@parbjohal.com