Q: What is SEO or Search Engine Optimization?
A: Search engine optimization or SEO is the practice of deliberately managing the many aspects of a website in order to qualify or validate the website's relevance to keyword searches on search engines like Google, Yahoo, MSN, etc. for search engine "friendliness" and visibility.

Q: What is SEM or Search Engine Marketing?
A: Search engine marketing SEM is the practice of strategically and proactively position a website to compete and rank high on search engines like Google, Yahoo, MSN, etc. SEM includes proactive keyword management in order to achieve optimum results and can be highly effective when Internet PPC (pay per click) Marketing is also deployed.

Q: What is Website Usability Performance Optimization?
A: Website Usability Performance Optimization is the practice of evaluating and modifying website components, content and calls to action for optimum results and ROI. Website Optimization requires an understanding of best practices, user requirements, browser interpretations and other perspectives that can be applied to improve interactivity, website "stickiness" and ultimated conversion of website visitors to leads and customers in a real and measurable way.

Q: What are the benefits of a search engine optimized website?
A: Search engine optimized sites allow those using the Internet to find your website, service, product or company based on key word searches on search engines like Google.com, Ask.com, yahoo.com, MSN.com, etc. Natural rankings present results based on relevance. The better your site is, the easier it is for you to be found by those seeking you and what you bring to the marketplace. Added benefit: when someone clicks on a natural key word search ranking on search engines, you do not pay for the click.

Q: Do you guarantee results?
A: We do guarantee our consulting clients measurable results from our services. We don't however, guarantee Google, Yahoo or search engine rank placement, such as #1, nor would any reputable firm, And here is why:
1. Google itself warns against engaging firms that guarantee results.

"Don't participate in link schemes designed to increase your site's ranking or PageRank. In particular, avoid links to web spammers or "bad neighborhoods" on the web, as your own ranking may be affected adversely by those links."  -Google.com

2. Search engines are living environments in that they change nearly every second.
3. Each has their own "rules" and processes which they modify and update frequently, making it impossible for companies to ethically manipulate website properties to achieve results that are not true to the purpose of search engines...to produce the best possible results to a key word search. Those that deploy unethical methods or "search engine spamming" techniques put their or their client's websites in jeopardy of being blacklisted.
4. Keywords are another reason to evaluate any SEO firm very carefully. Anyone can promise #1 ranking on obscure keyword selections..picking non-competitive search engine keywords and phrases and achieving #1 can be relatively easy to do. Unfortunately, they typically are not those being actively used on search engines, meaning the #1 rank is basically meaningless.
Karner Blue Marketing bases all that we do on data, ethical practices and proven methods...which do achieve page 1 rankings for our clients...we just can't guarantee it.

Bottom line: Avoid any company that makes #1 search engine position guarantees.

Q: So, What shouldn't we just go ahead and hire the company that guarantees #1 rankings?"
A: Because Google warns against it (see below) and doing so could result in undesirable methods, resulting in a negative impact on your long-term performance.

Q What is the difference between SEO search engine optimization and web site optimization?
A: Search engine optimization or marketing is the focus of competitvely positioning your site to become a qualifed link or "ranking" in natural search results according to target markets, found through key word searches. Web site optimization is focused on the ability of the website to promote interactivity and conversion of website visitors to qualified leads or customers, regardless of how they got there.

Q: When is the best time to optimize, before or after your site goes live?
A: Perhaps the best answer is there is never a bad time to optimize. Websites tend to achieve higher natural Google rankings if when a new site is initially "spidered" as an optimized site. Because the search engines send out "bots" and "spiders" to essentially catalogue website content from to produce keyword search results, any time you optimize your web site your performance will be influenced.

Optimizing a site before and during the planning, design, copywriting and development stages saves time and effort, but optimization is possible on existing websites.

Karner Blue Marketing is able to work with your website design and development company to optimize. We are also able to help you optimize your existing web site, regardless of who built your web site. 

Q: Why do your services focus on Google more than other search engines?
A: Because Google powers the largest number of searches on the Internet as Google.com and as the search engine behind numerous other websites. By implementing our methodology that is grounded in the optimization, positioning and marketing to Google, arguably the most difficult search engine to achieve results, similar results have naturally been produced on other search engines like Yahoo, MSN, Ask.com, etc.

Q: Do you work with companies outside New York?
A: Absolutely! Although our headquarters is located in New York's Capital Albany, NY, we successfully serve companies across the United States...hence the phrase: "Your Virtual Marketing Partner!" Our proven methods and best practices are easily implemented through phone calls, gathering of data and sharing of strategies and outcomes. We are confident that you will find our team knowledgeable, professional, efficient and easy to work with. To learn more about Karner Blue Marketing, click here.

Q: We just spent a great deal of money on the creation of our new web site, so we shouldn't need optimization, should we?
A: Congratulations on completing your new website. As you now know, regardless of how large the site is, the design, development and content development of a new website requires a great deal of time and energy. Unfortunately, it has been our experience that sites created by even the most reputable web design and development firms are not optimized, even though the firm presents it as being so.

The mere presence of things like meta data do not equate to optimization and are not enough to enable your site to fulfill its ability to be found by your target market and convert that website visitor into a qualified lead or customer. If you want to achieve these objectives and see a return on that investment of time, energy and money, you may need to have your site professionally optimized.

Want to know if your site is optimized?
Click here for an objective, professional Search engine optimization analysis.
Click here for an objective, professional Website optimization analysis.

Q: What qualifies Karner Blue Marketing to provide these services?
A: As seasoned long-time marketing and e-business professionals with hands-on experience in the development of the strategy, website design & development, Internet marketing and traditional marketing, we are able to apply methods and best practices that are proven to achieve results. To learn more about Karner Blue Marketing or see what our clients have to say about us, Learn more about Karner Blue Marketing.

Have a question that has not been addressed here? Click here.
Ready to begin the optimization or internet marketing process? Click here.