Who is SEOAly?
My name is Alysson, hence SEOAly. I’m a Search Engine Optimization Specialist - a.k.a. SEO, marketing copywriter and aspiring web developer based in Jacksonville, Florida. I was introduced to the terms “SEO” and “Search Engine Optimization” for the first time in 2006 when I was hired as a retention agent at a small business marketing company in Jacksonville. Finding as much SEO information as possible instantly became of utmost importance, not only for my work as part of that company, but for my own development as a small business owner and entrepreneur.
In addition to my work in the field of SEO, marketing copywriting and website/graphic design, I am a partner in Welcome Home Pet Sitting . If you’re working to optimize your small business website, I would encourage you to visit Welcome Home’s site - it is a good example of solid on-page SEO…if I do say so myself. If the term “on-page SEO” is foreign to you, you’re in the right place to learn! You should subscribe…some future posts will take more of a tutorial approach.
What is Search Engine Optimization?
Before going any further, let’s define Search Engine Optimization or SEO. Basically, SEO is the process by which a website improves its position in the organic listings of major search engines like Google, Yahoo!, MSN and Ask.com. Google is clearly the most popular search engine BY FAR and achieving a page one position in Google is the goal of virtually every small business owner with a website. The strategy for achieving that goal is different for virtually every website - what works for a local plumber’s website will not work for a nutritional supplement distributor.
Why You Need SEO Information
The purpose of this website is to provide SEO information that will help small business owners protect themselves against the malicious intent of MANY individuals and companies that prey on the general lack of understanding of SEO. Many people think of a Search Engine Optimization Specialist as some sort of techno-geek that possesses knowledge and experience that they, as small business owners, could never attain. Nothing could be further from the truth.
While there are certain aspects of SEO that do require some technical skill and knowledge to implement, the basics of SEO can be understood by virtually ANYONE. And before you even consider farming out the optimization of your small business website, you better have access to enough SEO information to know what NOT to do (or what not to let someone else do) - like link farms and link exchanges. More specifics on those in future posts!
Before Hiring A Search Engine Optimization Specialist
Gaining a better understanding of Search Engine Optimization - a.k.a SEO - is the first step a small business owner must take in order to avoid being taken advantage of. Not only are some SEO scams and schemes an exercise in futility and a complete waste of money, some “black-hat” tactics can actually result in a URL being banned from the search engines’ indexes altogether. Unfortunately many small business owners have learned that lesson the hard way…and far too late. My goal is to reduce YOUR chances of falling victim to the many, many SEO scammers that would try to prey on your ignorance and naivety surrounding the field of SEO. Having the right SEO information can be the difference between small business success and failure - literally.
