Weight the Pros and Cons of DIY SEO

The buzz word all over the Internet is "SEO" ... Search Engine Optimization. Any blog covering topics related to online marketing is sure to have the word "SEO" peppered all its articles. Many websites claim to teach SEO, while others encourage the reader to hire a professional.

Before answering which is better, DIY (or "do it yourself") SEO or professional services, ask yourself this: "Does my website need SEO?" The answer is "yes" for anyone looking for Internet profits! These days, it takes more than having a great product; getting on the first page of Google's search engine results is the key to making good money. Those who do SEO successfully will reap the profits, while those doing no SEO on their websites will languish in obscurity. Back to whether or not you should hire a professional, there are many pros and cons to consider. Below are some examples.

Money rules the pros here. For an already established business, hiring a professional can be a great investment, but those just starting out may not have the budget. For anyone running an online business, knowing the basics is a must. The reason is, in order to properly vet a professional, you need to have an eye for what is plainly bad SEO.

There are, however, plenty of cons to DIY SEO. Time is the big one. Since time is money, how much is your time worth? Professionals are the ones who have the time to stay on top of the always changing rules and hone their skills, since that is why they get paid. Google, for example, makes frequent revisions to its search algorithms to stay ahead of new SEO tricks that undermine the engine's purpose of providing users with highly relevant results. Then there are other businesses out there, all vying for a spot on that coveted first page, which will displace a website at the top in minutes, if you are not constantly watching.

There you have it, if you have got a website for your online business, SEO is an absolute must! Why not make use of such a great strategy for driving customers to your website?! If your business has no budget yet, you may want to hold off on hiring a pro. If your business has some funds, though, consider hiring somebody to do your SEO to save time and headaches.