It's can be frustrating when your site isn't as fruitful as you'd hoped it would be. You now realize you need some assistance in driving traffic so you contact an SEO consultant.
So you ask..."Just how much will it cost to get my site to the#1 spot of Google?"
You might think it makes sense to ask for a fixed price for a simple task like getting to the top of Google and other search engines, I'd advise stopping for a moment and thinking about what you are asking. All things being equal there are several basic elements your site needs to accomplish to get to the top of Google for a specific keyword or phrase. For the purpose of this example let's say the keyword is affordable, i.e. it's a phrase lots of other sites want to rank for.
* The words on the page you want to be in the top results should match the search criteria. Not only in meta tags, but also in content.
* The site should have been around for a while and be a trustworthy source. If your site is relatively new, it's not going to be number one for a competitive phrase. Be patient, but start now and work your way towards your goal.
* Your page will need links from lots of relevant sites. Links to your page suggest to the search engines it's a trusted information resource. These links should be from other trusted and relevant sites and the link or anchor text should also be relevant.
If all the items above are in place and being constantly improved & developed you wil be well on your way to reaching your goal. There's one aspect in all of this that explains why your place at the top can't be guaranteed.
The missing link that's not so easy to figure out is knowing what your competition is doing and when they are doing it. If the phrase you are seeking is truly valuable, then lots of other site owners will also be seeking its' glory. What if they're doing everything you're doing, and then some? What if they are spending days upon days creating original content that's attracting quality links? What if they are hiring lots of people to look for links every single day?
Ethical SEO consultants work hard to attract quality traffic for their clients, but search engines are very complex. So just remember, as you embark on your SEO relevation, make sure an SEO company is being straight with you. If they are claiming a special relationship with Google that's going to take your site to the top of the rankings practically overnight, be a bit leary and ask them how they are able to read the millions of other site owners minds and how they are then beating them to the punch.
For more info, see more of the specific items it takes to get you to the top.
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