Poop and Google’s Illusive Number One Ranking

I hear it all the time when I am speaking with new prospects – “They guaranteed they could get me to the number one spot on Google for only $500.”

Or another favorite of mine is, “The SEO Company I spoke with told me they would optimize my site, make me number one on Google, and keep me there. They told me it would get me so many new leads that it more than pays for their fee of $3,000.”

Well guess what? I can get you to the first page of Google.

Yep. I said it. I can get you to the first page of Google and I can do it FAST.

And, do you know what? I can get you to the number one spot on Google fast and I will even guarantee it just like all the other “SEO” experts who are selling you this line of crap.

Oh, wait. Did I just say that line of crap? Yep I did. Because that is what it is – a line of completely, stinky, icky poo.

But let’s be serious. Here’s the overall problem with that statement and what you need to be asking the “SEO specialist” you’re speaking to if you hear a statement like that:

You may be able to get me ranked number one in Google, BUT…

• Will it be for a keyword or key phrase that people actually care about?
• Will it be for a keyword or key phrase that has enough people searching for it to make it worth my effort and investment?
• Will it be for a keyword or key phrase that actually converts sales?

For example, we’ll look at my own site. We rank depending on the day somewhere in the top three spots for the keywords holes in underwear, Ali Brown business card, and .net is for losers. These keywords have absolutely nothing to do with my sales funnel or message. It doesn’t matter to me at all if I rank high for those words.

When implementing a serious organic search engine optimization campaign, you need to be working with an expert who lives in the real world of business. One who will be honest and tell you that as Google continues to simplify its alogorithm, it is getting harder and harder for “SEO experts” to manipulate the search results.

I honestly think that with Google’s quest to purify and personalize search results and push businesses to their AdWords platform, the days of the organic search engine optimization firms may be coming to a close.

Here’s what this means for you:

• You don’t need to stress out about trying to compete with businesses spending thousands on organic search engine optimization.
• It’s all about doing the right research up front. Know exactly what keywords and key phrases you can and can’t successfully compete on, and which ones get searched for enough to be worth the effort.
• Highly targeted, keyword-rich content in multiple forms and in multiple places does work and will continue to work. Google and the other search engines will reward you for focused, valuable, relevant content.
• Applying ethical organic search engine optimization strategies enhances your results. Don’t forget about the title tag and meta tags for each page and blog post and don’t forget to optimize links and images.
• Don’t freak yourself out about link building. Commit to providing and linking to high quality, valuable content of your own and of others’ and the links will happen naturally. And, natural links are much more valuable than those from directories, link farms, and link swaps.

Now, Can you work with me to reach the number one spot in Google? That depends.

• It depends on your business, your target market, the market you’re competing in, and the Internet savvy of those competing with you.
• It depends on how well designed and customer-centric your website is.
• It depends on whether or not you’re willing to put in the work and time needed with us to get you there.

I’ll be frank. Most aren’t willing to invest the time or money in quality organic search engine optimization. But they want the results, so instead, they try to find someone who sounds too good to be true and promises them untold Google riches.

And the sad thing is that they will hire that expert, spend a bunch of money, and then be disappointed when they don’t get the results they want.

Don’t get me wrong… It’s not like I am a pessimist or anything. It’s just reality.

SEO isn’t a magic pill and it isn’t a single solution.

If you have a site that is not performing, not getting any traffic, or not converting, hiring an SEO expert to “pimp your website” isn’t going to fix your problem. And, it most definitely isn’t going to get you the results you want.

Instead, you need the whole package. Can I get you to the first page of Google for a keyword or key phrase that matters to your business and your sales process? Yes I probably can.

But it isn’t going to be by simply “SEO-ing” (I hate it when people use that term) your website. It will happen as an ongoing result of several different strategies working together, including:

• A comprehensive audit of your website, traffic patterns, analytics data, sales process, and what you’re selling
• Goal setting, marketing planning, and sales process refinement
• Research into what keywords and key phrases you can and cannot compete on
• The development of targeted, focused, value-added content
• Possible website enhancements or a redesign (you can’t drive people to a crappy site and expect it to convert!)
• Organic search engine optimization strategies
• “Buzz Building” and traffic generation strategies

Now, with all that said, I hope you think twice before you jump in bed with an SEO expert promising you Google Nirvana for little effort and a single outlay of cash.

Or, if you do … well, your results will reflect that.