Readers Respond: What SEO firms have you used and why (or why not)?

Have you used an SEO firm or do you run one? What features do you look for in a good SEO firm? Share your opinions of various SEO firms and promote your firm. Or just read about what other About.com readers have thought about SEO firms. Do you use them? Why or why not?

Phoenix Online Media SEO

Hi, I've worked with a local SEO company in Phoenix, Phoenix Online Media, for some time now and found that they have knowledge and experience in the field, plus a proven track record. Definitely recommend these guys!

—Guest James

Not true.

I can almost guarantee top placements in Google, does that make a scammer? But I tell you what, firms that usually score Page 1 for "SEO Services" are usually the scammers/spammers themselves. As they Google-bomb those very search terms. They dedicate most of their time on their own results rather than the clients. SEO is time, expect undivided attention from a good SEO'er. What a person should look out for is the results for their clients. Demand a portfolio, check to see if the results have been constantly high (for 4-5 years). Ask for references from satisfied clients. I know of only 2 good SEO'ers that show off their client results online consistently. A dozen generic phrases all on Page 1. And yet both geniuses fail to achieve their own phrase "SEO Consultant" or similar for themselves! That is a good sign, believe me. "Shoemaker's son walks barefoot" - kind of a thing. Lastly PageRank means: nothing. A useless metric. A PR0 can beat a PR4 easily on key Google searches. I know. *************************************************************************** From Jennifer: Saying you can "almost guarantee" top placement is different from claiming to actually guarantee #1 placement. Scammers claim they can get you #1 placement. Good SEO practitioners might promise they will TRY to get top placement, but won't guarantee any placement. An "almost guarantee" is the same as no guarantee, you're just confident. :-)

—Guest Henry Gilbert