You can use the following links to submit your website to the major search engines for free. Once you’ve submitted your site, visit my search engine optimization page to learn more about the SEO services that I offer to Vermont businesses.

• Submit your website to Google
• Submit your website to Yahoo
• Submit your website to Bing

*Sigh* Another day, and another email offering to get my business on the front page of Google. Today the email came through a form on my old eBay consignment business‘ website.  I decided to write back, you can see the exchange below:

From:  Melodie Merle
Subject:  Search Engine Optimization

We would like to get your website on first page of Google. All of our processes use the most ethical “white hat” Search Engine Optimization techniques that will not get your website banned or penalize. Please reply and I would be happy to send you a proposal.

My Response:

Hi Melodie,
I’ve really been enjoying your near-constant stream of emails about getting me on the first page of Google.  I design websites and am very skilled in search engine optimization, so I’d like to point out a couple things to you.

Your promise to get me on the front page of google is enticing, but for which terms?  If you had taken a moment to do some research, you would see that I am already on the home page for my company’s name. I am also on the front page for terms related to my offerings, and geo-modified searches.  Keyword research and understanding a business is the biggest part of offering SEO services.  If you think you can get me on the front page for the term “eBay”, I might be interested.  But you can’t, and I know this because….

…You can’t even get your own website on the front page of google for any significant terms, as evidenced by the fact that you’re spamming forms on websites to generate business.  Its funny that you use the phrase, “ethical white hat” in your submission to me, while simultaneously engaging in one of the least ethical practices on the web… spamming.

Anyway, I can appreciate the fact that the average business owner doesn’t understand SEO, as the most difficult part of my job is creating a transparent product offering that increases a business’ bottom line.  There are a lot of businesses like yours that are taking money from business owners that want to optimize their website, and not providing any real value. You, and others like you, are creating a very bad name for my profession.

That being said, please remove my website from your list of potential customers. However, if you want to learn more about SEO and how to get Google to drive relevant traffic to your website, feel free to get in touch.

We turn searches into sales.

-Pete Jewett

I should note that I’m rarely this rude via email, but if there’s anything I hate more than people stealing money from small businesses, it when they do it under the banner of my profession.

So I sat down on Monday to get started on keyword research and develop a strategy for making this site, and ultimately my business, successful in the Burlington, VT area.  I knew I wanted to provide services in the web design and marketing field, but had not put in much thought beyond that.  What I found in my research was initially very frustrating, but on further inspection, is a huge opportunity.

The first thing I did on Monday was sit down at my computer, pull up Google, and search for the best term I could think of to find my business:

• “Burlington VT Web Design“: 82,000 Results, 10 Results in the Local Business Results, and 8 Sponsored Results

I almost gave up right there.   How could I possibly outrank all the established players in the search engines?  After all, I am a one man startup trying to compete against established firms like Propeller Media Works, Athena Consulting, Eternity Web, Union Street Media, and the lot?  At that point something shiny rolled across the floor and distracted, I was done for the night.

Cut to Wednesday night at Ruben James, reading Seven Days and drinking a beer with my good pal Pete Bruhn.  I flipped past an ad for Girlington Garage and the obvious dawned on me.  I needed to differentiate.  Don’t go head-to-head with the big guys, find a niche.

I knew I wanted to work with small businesses in Burlington because entrepreneurs serving their community  is something I totally support.  In addition, it occurred to me that most established Burlington businesses that want a website probably have one.  So at that moment, I decided to stop targeting the businesses out there looking for a new website, and start targeting businesses that were not happy with their current website. I would this group  solutions that would make their website a profitable tool.

So I’m back at the desk tonight doing countless more Google searches, here are a few:

• “Burlington VT SEO“: 32,700 Results, 3 Results in the Local Business Results, and NO Sponsored Results
• “Burlington VT Adwords“: 3,950 Results, NO Results in the Local Business Results, and 1 Sponsored Results (Google Advertising Adwords)
• “Burlington VT SEM“: 24,500 Results, NO Results in the Local Business Results, and 1 Sponsored Results
• I am sure you get the picture…

Less competition, higher rankings, more customers.

I could make you a brand new website, but wouldn’t you rather see results from your existing website first? So I’ll stop blabbing and get to the meat: I’m going to be focus on acquiring my clients by ranking for targeted phrases surrounding the following services…

1. Search Engine Optimization - Reach the front page of Google results, maybe the top result.
2. Search Engine Marketing – Adwords and other paid advertising campaigns.
3. Email Marketing – Opt-in email campaigns, inbox marketing.
4. E-Commerce – Let’s set up a shopping cart, sales process, and move some product.
5. Social Media – I’ll pimp your profile to help you reach new customers
6. Website Design – The site your cousin made sucks. Lets start from scratch.

In closing, I just want to …. shiny object, brb