SEO Experts Come On Then!

[Kelly]

I'm sick of every web designer in the world claiming to be a SEO expert, although you check their rankings and they're sh*t. So here's your chance, show us your rankings (ooo errr).


And prove once and for all that the services you advertise are actually real and not made up? Who's go the balls to put their money where their mouth is. Participants get a voucher for a years worth of Kelly love.

[lolly]

I'm still using my last voucher hun.

[Kelly]

I'm sure you'll have your say lol

[CVW]

Your challenge got me thinking about the nature of web designers and SEOs. No, I won't be getting into a "look at my huge ranking - ooerr!" exercise, sorry.

Web designers that have a little bit of knowledge about what is called "Search Engine Optimisation" (no z's for me) probably know more than their clients. So this might make them an expert of sorts.

The SEO goal of getting relevant traffic to a website from search is not really the same as being ranked #1 for "Really Competitive KW" or whatever. So perhaps the challenge is unfair.

If all the "experts" were that good, we would all be joint equal #1. Ranking improvement is a better measure but increased site revenue/traffic is the best.

The thing that really bugs me about a lot of web designer SEO "experts" is the way knowledge is gathered and passed on. I read a good deal of BS about SEO (even a bit on this forum) that is information obviously not based in first hand evidence. There are two main ways to find out about SEO:

1) Read other peoples opinions on it.
2) Speculate and test it yourself.

I think I know where most of the stuff I read comes from - No 2 takes time and effort.

Many of the really good SEOs are pretty shy in letting anyone know their activities - at least until they "come out" and doing some high profile consulting.

So, perhaps the test of a true SEO expert is, when asked "Are you an SEO?" they mutter something about espionage or being in the SAS.

Thanks for a thought provoking challenge - maybe I will have a stab at winning the voucher some other time

Rob

[Toon]

I try and build certain amounts of basic SEO into all sites, some of my results (will appear different depending on your location)

graphic design forum - Google Search (Usually Appear 2nd or 3rd)
web design forum - Google Search (Usually 7th or 8th this result is always changing as there's so many)
illustration forum - Google Search (Usually 10th or 11th)
Graphic Design Blog - Google Search (Usually 3rd or 4th)
logo design uk - Google Search (Usually 4th - 7th)
integrated cards - Google Search (Usually 7th or 8th)
integrated labels - Google Search (Usually 10th)
web design rotherham - Google Search (Usually 6th and 7th)
graphic design links - Google Search (usually 1st)

Some results are better than others, but most will know that it's something to work on all the time.

[Diablos]

web design Nottingham (Google) - 2nd on map, 2nd in SERPs
graphic design uk (Google) - (was 8th :'() dropped to 27th
graphic design Nottingham (Google) - 4th and 5th
new media nottingham (Google) - 1st and second
ecommerce design Nottingham (Google) - 1st on map and 1st and second on SERPs
poker forum (Google) - 3rd and 4th (obviously much more competitive word, client is wassonline)
casino reviews (Google) - 4th and 5th (again very competitive)
nottingham architects (Google) - 4th and 5th (client henry mein)

Got loads more in competitive fields, especially some of my clients in casino industry. Plenty on yahoo too ;)

[edit] Just to point out I agree with CVW, being good at SEO is about more than ranking, its a challenge to be the best site quality wise, Google is pretty good at picking the best sites, especially for niche keywords. The really big ones get hit by spammers but thats not real SEO at all.

[Toon]

graphic design uk (Google) - (was 8th :'() dropped to 27th

Must be all mine going in above ay?

[Diablos]

:P yeah spam always does

[Kelly]

Well done to the 2 with balls, vouchers are in the post

[afox]

Google - Freelance Website Design - #3 freelance website design - Google Search

Google - Website Design - #39 (dropped considerably over the past 2 weeks :( ) website design - Google Search

Google - Freelance Graphic Design - #19 (dropped from page 1 because I've been lazy) freelance graphic design - Google Search

Just takes work to stay on top of them because everyone wants the same keywords. I have more, but you get the idea.