View Poll Results: Is SEO worth the time for a small host?
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- 20. You may not vote on this poll
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Yes
11 55.00% -
No
9 45.00%
Results 1 to 10 of 10
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06-12-2005, 11:53 PM #1Web Hosting Guru
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SEO worth the time for a small host?
Just wondering if SEO is really worth the time when it comes to marketing a web hosting company. Are small web hosting companies really found throgh search engines? Let me know what you guys think.
Personally, I'm leaning toward focusing on forums, directories, and sites related to my target market, rather than SEO, but please let me know if i'm way off base....
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06-13-2005, 12:09 AM #2WHT Addict
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- Columbus, Ohio
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I would say "no" for a few reasons.
1) Most SEOs are scams who often violate the TOS of search engines.
2) Most SEOs often do not raise your rankings at all.
3) Some SEOs (Especially the link-swaps) actually lower your rankings by linking you to sites that have lower ranks than you.
4) Whenever I wanted a host I looked on directories
Directories, forums, flyers to local businesses, and word-of-mouth are the best for any webhost.
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06-13-2005, 01:57 AM #3Web Hosting Master
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- Feb 2005
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I will have to completely disagree with GamePhreak.
1) Most SEOs are scams who often violate the TOS of search engines.
2) Most SEOs often do not raise your rankings at all.
3) Some SEOs (Especially the link-swaps) actually lower your rankings by linking you to sites that have lower ranks than you.
4) Whenever I wanted a host I looked on directories
Directories, forums, flyers to local businesses, and word-of-mouth are the best for any webhost.Daily Updated Web Hosting News Blog
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06-13-2005, 05:05 AM #4Web Hosting Master
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- Oct 2003
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I didn't vote, CDXSolutions, for the fact that it boils down to your target audience.
If you have a unique niche then yes, quite possibly, SEO would be worth it.
But, if you were the standard budget host, at standard prices etc, there are going to be millions of other hosts the same, all sitting in the search engines, probably with a much better foundation in terms of search engine position that your Website, so no, it probably would not be worth it in that instance.
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06-13-2005, 05:34 AM #5Web Hosting Evangelist
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- Jul 2003
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Well if your site is less than 6 months old, you should read about aging delay . It is being repressed on Google by some sort of aging delay. Tweaking, linking, resassembling your pages, and begging Google to tell you what is wrong will not help.
Read more about it here: http://www.highrankings.com/forum/in...howtopic=12535Protagonist WebHosting Services
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06-13-2005, 05:58 AM #6Disabled
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- England
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SEO is very worth it if you are know what you are doing, and research about it.
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06-13-2005, 06:45 AM #7Web Hosting Master
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- Oct 2003
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SEO is very worth it if you are know what you are doing, and research about it.
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06-13-2005, 10:31 AM #8Disabled
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- England
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Yes Jamie, i do agree with what you are saying, but if they do the sufficient research and aim for keywords which are not as competitive i dont see any reason why they cannot achieve decent rankings within a period of time. We all know SE rankings are not instant, so within time and knowledge expanding they could do reasonably well.
Best of luck ;-)
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06-13-2005, 04:28 PM #9Web Hosting Master
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- Apr 2003
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- 788
IMO, those that use search engine to find host won't spend too much time on finding host. So, it doesn't matter if you offer 'standard' plans. The most important thing is having top rank.
I voted "no" because "hosting" and related keywords/ key phrases are very competitive. Small hosts probably don't have the money and man power to compete.
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06-13-2005, 06:06 PM #10Web Hosting Master
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I'd say the question as it's asked is a little vague: "worth the time?" How much time?
Some amount of time spent on some amount of SEO is worthwhile for almost commercial site. Consider that SEO done correctly aims at improved rankings but also should result in an improved site. A thorough approach to SEO should bring an improved understanding of your site's visitors' browsing habits and by extension the site's usability.
Additionally, a successful SEO effort will result not only in changes in search engine rankings, but more link-generated traffic -- which you may find results in more sales than any increase in search engine traffic does. And there are examples where you want at least a decent search engine presence even if you're decided to "write off" organic search engine listings as a major source of your businss. For example: a former customer, or a friend of a customer trying to act on a referral, may not remember your company name or domain name precisely. If you're not found in search engines when they just come "close enough" or perhaps try "web host in Your City" you'll lose what could have been an automatic sale.
The days when "SEO" meant tossing a bunch of "keywords" on a couple of pages and tinkering with meta tags are long over. SEO has essentially transformed into "search engine marketing," which is a sensible part of any online business marketing effort. So while it may not make sense for a "small host" to invest thousands of dollars or hundreds of hours on "SEO," some attention to it is certainly worthwhile.
As an aside in response to the "most SEOs are scams" comment, let's consider for a second how many people would say almost the same thing... but replacing the word "SEOs" with "web hosts."
Or credit card issuers. Or chiropractors. Or banks. Or car dealerships.