Search Engine Optimization or SEO as it is referred to, is a specialized area of website development that some web designers or web developers may leave out of their website design. There are many web design firms that offer SEO, but they haven't the track record to demand high dollars for their work. They choose to short-change themselves and their clients instead of taking the road to real success.
Unfortunately, this is real life in the real world. The ugly truth that no one wants to think or talk about is that people will say and do anything to win a buck. In this bad economy, desperation can make one a victim to empty promises.
In my experience, nothing good ever came out of making a decision out of emotion, haste, or ego. The best results usually come from much research and proof one can measure, before making a decision to move forward.
Before hiring an SEO firm, ask how many people are on the team. If the answer is a one man operation, you may be on your way to a bad experience. If the answer is at least two or three, you may have found the company you had hoped to find, but don't stop there. Also ask, where can they be found in the search results, and under what keywords? If they can do it for themselves, they can do it for you.
If the price is high, it is because they KNOW the amount of work involved. You should not be short changed if you are paying the premium. If the price is $100 a month or less, you can expect no returns if you are lucky. If you are not so lucky, you may be paying for black hat tricks that will boost your visibility in the short term, until the search engine figures out that it has been tricked. Then, expect to be punished...
The truth is, SEO is a specialized niche and the ones who have mastered the craft, are the ones who constantly and consistently update their knowledge and are on the cutting edge of the trends (that change often) also, the ones that are strong on all areas that encompass SEO.
