Do SEO Companies Do On-Site Optimization or Do They Just Make Suggestions?

[bigcat1967]

I guess the question is in the title.

If SEO companies do on-site optimization - then what do they do if they encounter a CMS they really don't understand?

Just curious.

 

[Linda Buquet]

Hi cat,

I used to do SEO for a living. Now specialize in Places optimization BUT since site SEO is such a big factor in the new "blended algo" I'm starting to do on-site SEO again as a service.

What I do is somewhat unique since I'm considered an expert at Places and Places optimization is my focus. Sometimes I'll do the on-site if they don't have a funky template or CMS that restricts me. But I make sure to spell out in the proposal if I run into bugs, problems or have to contact their developer and jump through hoops it's an EXTRA $175 an hour for any time I have to waste.

However if they are in a situation where their designer is holding their meta hostage, or they don't have access and only the developer can make changes to their site, then I charge $250 an hour to research, document what needs to be done and manage the SEO and their developer does the hands on changes. So then it becomes almost more of a consulting project as opposed to hands on SEO.

So the answer for me is, it depends on the situation. But I'm in a unique situation and what I do won't work for most.

 

[bigcat1967]

Thanks for your answer Linda.

I don't have any clients now (not accepting any until I learn some new stuff) - but I was kicking around the idea of doing a new technique . For an example, do more on-site optimization which would mean creating a blog on the client's website then outsource 60 to 100 articles to a couple of writers. Then from there, I would add articles to the blog (concentrating on long tailed KWs - that way I can get ranked higher - or more of a chance too)...my problem was - what if I run into a CMS that I am not familiar with.

I was thinking about outsourcing this part out - but might be to expensive. We'll see what happens though.

Thanks again for your help in this area.

 

[giggleberries]

Generally they make recommendations and then leave it to your webmasters to implement. I would never consider allowing a third party service provider such as an SEO professional have access to the admin side of my site

 

[aditd5]

If you give them the ftp is probably they can also do the changes. But most of the times they will only do recommendations

 

[m2weblogs]

Most likely, they tell you what to "do". SEO expert can tell you right away if your CMS is ok, since there is few cms's with good SEO.