What is SEO?
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the process of making a website relevant for desirable phrases. Say you want your website to show up when someone searches for the word "pizza." SEO is the process of strategically adding pizza-related words and phrases to your website. In essence, you are telling the search engine, in language it can understand, what your website is about content-wise.
Is SEO expensive?
SEO is a cost-effective expenditure when compared to TV, radio, and print marketing. Having your pages appear at the top of the search engines for targeted keyword queries increases brand awareness, qualified traffic, and revenue.
Can investing in SEO give me a #1 ranking in the search engines?
No reputible organization one can guarantee a #1 ranking. The actual search engine algorithms are complex and a closely guarded secret. This does not mean it is not possible to be successful. SEO practitioners can deduce many of the criteria that the search engines use; the search engines themselves will sometimes say specifically what their goals are. You will nearly always see improvement on your search engine rankings with keyword research driven by an intimate knowledge of website; time and attention spent creating unique, relevant content; and careful editing. However, anyone who guarantees a #1 ranking is over-promising.
How does SEO drive results then?
Statistically, 80% of websites are found through search engines. On the Internet, if you cannot be found—if you are not in the top 15 results—you essentially do not exist. SEO helps more people looking for your product or service to find you. By driving qualified traffic to the website, SEO brings you "warm" leads: visitors who are ready to take action.
