Harrow SEO, Search Engine Optimisation, Middlesex, London

SEO – search engine optimisation or search engine optimization with a ‘z’ for our friends over the pound. In simple terms SEO, an art and a science - the process of ‘establishing and maintaining a favourable position in the search engines’ via the natural / organic search results.


It is often referred to as ‘unpaid results’ which strictly speaking certainly isn’t true although if you qualify that against paid search (e.g. google adwords or facbook PPC) then it makes more sense.

To achieve and maintain a favourable position via SEO in the search engines is generally going to incur some level of cost which will vary depending upon a number of factors e.g. industry sector, search engine goals, business objectives, scope of activity etc.


The end result of SEO activity should really be qualified with page 1 as it’s generally accepted that people don’t venture too much further and even on page 1 the site visits will be very much different above and below the fold, and even from positions 1 – 4.

From an SEO perspective people may say that Twitter is strictly not a search engine, and although that might be true from a purist stand-point, the ‘boundaries of search engine status’ are becoming broader as social media becomes ever more popular. Hitwise reported that on Christmas Day 2010 in the UK Facebook received more visits than Google for the first time ever.


An effective SEO campaign will combine efforts ‘on a number of fronts’ including :

• On page SEO
  
  
• Off page SEO
  
  
• May have particular SEO considerations / activities for local business optimisation : not to be over-looked
  
  
• Video marketing / SEO : a real growth area and hot topic

It should / could also include aspects of email marketing, social media / social networking, blogging and paid search. That last one may ‘throw a spanner in the works’ for some people but it is absolutely true, that SEO (organic / unpaid) and paid search can work together for the overall benefit of SEO !

Please note that the above list is by no means exhaustive but what is absolutely key for any SEO activity is that it is ALIGNED WITH YOUR BUSINESS GOALS AND OBJECTIVES. Without that your SEO campaign will very likely have no real value or meaning.


One of our absolute key objectives is understanding your key objectives as a base to move forward in your SEO campaign. Please call us for an informal discussion.