Just a bit about search engine optimization.

Search engine optimisation is constantly moving at an astounding rate. All of the search engines are always updating their algorithm to try to give their users the best possible results.

As SEOs continue to do what they do i.e. tweak websites to put them in front of the traffic thetas looking for them, there are two main viewpoints that arise. Firstly that they unfairly tampering with the results, and secondly that they are fairly tampering with the results in a necessary way.

The truth of the matter is this; without SEO’s to amend websites so that the SEs (Search Engines) know how to rank them, the quality of the listings would be far worse. We are a necessity for the SE’s as we ensure that the cream rises to the top. 98% of web designers do not know how to get a website to rank within a search engine, they miss out on all of the key indicators within a site and so some well built, beautiful, expensive websites are destined to live in Pay Per Click land or in obscurity.

I see so many clients who are sold expensive websites as the answer to their dreams, when it truth they are nothing of the kind. I see so many clients who wish they had spent thousands less on the design so that they could spend it on SEO instead.

What use is a website that no one can find? Even in these difficult times, as footfall starts to dwindle and profits disappear, the more forward thinking site owners are looking to improve their market share. Either by the addition of new keywords or by starting an SEO campaign in the first place, buyers still exist, shoppers are shopping, just in smaller numbers and more cautiously. The question is, are you going to take a larger share of the market and survive or are you going to become a failure statistic?

The traditional forms of trade are suffering from the online revolution while online sales rose dramatically in just one year. From Christmas 2007 to Christmas 2008, online sales rose by 25% and the companies that are benefiting from this are those that move with the new technology and evolve to the needs of its users.

Unfortunate though it is, but the Internet will destroy the high streets and eventually the majority of physical retail locations. Bricks and clicks companies are increasingly seeing their shops treated as a dressing room in preparation for an online buy later on. In a way, we the people are almost shooting ourselves in the foot because when the shops go, online shopping will be the only method left, which is nowhere near the same experience.

SEO will be brought into common light by retailers having to save money while increase turnover at the same time. This year is going to be interesting as I think we are bound to see more big names bite the dust along with MFI and Woolworths. The question is though, what will you do ensure you keep your market share in 2009 and will it be enough?