Released on: June 4, 2008, 7:01 pm

Press Release Author: Robert MacNeil

Industry: Marketing

Press Release Summary: Defining Your Online Marketing Strategy

Press Release Body: Before you start interviewing Search Engine Optimization firms,
you really need to define your marketing strategy. There are many factors to
consider, including:

* Who is your target audience?
* What is your mission statement (message)?
* Who is your competition?
* What is your current online position?
* What are your internal resources?
* What is your budget?
* What are your expected results?

The list goes on and on but is necessary for you to prepare to effectively select a
Search Engine Marketing company. Below, we have provided a thorough list of
considerations that will not only help you to identify your goals and objectives but
as importantly, will provide a clear vision of your expectations for the SEO firm to
create a proposal that is specific to your needs. The list is also at
http://www.semresource.com/vendor-review.html.

Also, if you are at the point to begin your online marketing needs with SEM firms,
may I offer our online 'Request a Proposal' form. Once completed, your request is
sent to many of the top SEM/SEO companies, both locally and nationally. You receive
multiple proposals where can compare pricing and service models. Saves you time,
meetings and phone calls. The form is at www.semresource.com/submit-rfp.html.

If you have any specific questions regarding online marketing, please don't hesitate
to contact me.

Sincerely,

Robert MacNeil
President
SEMResource
Office (949) 357-3792
Fax (949) 271-4577
www.semresource.com

SELECTING A SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMIZATION COMPANY

With so many Search Engine Marketing (SEM) firms offering such a wide range of
service and pricing options, it can be extremely difficult to decide which one is
best for you. As is the case with so many large undertakings, this is a process that
is best managed by establishing your online marketing goals.

Once you have identified the services that you require you can begin seeking out SEM
firms and start evaluating their ability to provide those services in a way that
works with your business model.

The questions listed below should be helpful in guiding you through your online
marketing requirements.

Your Online Marketing Goals

What do you hope to accomplish with your website?
Do you sell products and services?
Do you generate leads for your sales force?
Do you generate leads for distributors?
What type of \"conversions\" are available on your site?
eCommerce transactions?
Requests for information?
Online demos?
Free newsletter?
White papers?
Do you want to increase website traffic?
Do you want to increase conversions?
Do you want to increase your conversion rate? By how much?

Needs & Obstacles Driven by Your Goals

Do you currently know how much traffic your site is getting?
Do you know how many of each of your conversions you are generating?
Do you know your conversion rate?
Do you currently have a means by which to measure the results of any search engine
marketing efforts you undertake?
Are you prepared to completely overhaul your website and start from scratch?
Or are you prepared only to make minor adjustments to your current site?
Do you have internal staff with the time and expertise to make changes to your website?
Do you offer a lot of seasonal products or services?
Do you update your offering often?
Do your products, services and information remain unchanged over long periods of time?

Identify Services From Your Needs & Obstacles

Do you need Web analytics in order to measure current and future performance?
Do you need outside support of your in-house staff to make changes to your website?
Do you need website design expertise to re-launch your entire website?
Do you need natural search engine optimization for long-term search engine visibility?
Do you need pay per click advertising management or paid inclusion management to
advertise your rapidly-changing or frequently changing products or services?
Or do you need these services to supplement or replace natural search engine
optimization?

SEM Firms Mapped From Your Required Services

Does the SEM firm actually make the changes to your site, or simply advise you on
what changes to make?
Do they offer copywriting services?
Do they offer design services?
Do they perform natural search engine optimization?
Do they provide management of pay per click advertising campaigns?
Do they provide management of paid inclusion campaigns?
Do they offer any sort of website analytics package?
Do they provide a service to increase your site\'s conversion rate?

Though this list may be incomplete for your specific products, services and
marketplace, you can still see that the answers provided to the questions in each
step drive the questions to be asked in the next step, ultimately leading you to
identify what services and capabilities are required by an SEM firm to meet your
needs and marketing goals.


Web Site: http://www.semresource.com

Contact Details: SEMR Support
rmacneil@semresource.com
949-357-3792
175 Santa Louisa
Irvine, Ca 92606