Denver SEO Speaker | Business Blogging Consultant

I was meeting with a potential client last week. They are a small business here in Denver Colorado with a pretty typical problem. They have a website that gets no traffic, has flash that is not done correctly and they have no web presence when potential customers are doing a Google search…sound familiar? In addition, they want their new website design to address the needs of distributors, contractors and home owners-they sell products for remodeling. But what really struck me about these Denver business owners is when one of the partners asked me : “How will you get contractors to click on our information when they find us in a Google search?”

What a great question and clearly the essence of any small business doing Internet marketing. I told him the cold, hard truth-We could not guarantee that any contractor would click on their information in a search. We can only increase his chances by having meta descriptions on each page of his website and put the appropriate copy and keywords on each and every page. In addition, there are some opportunities for him to address the contractors needs directly through the use of a blog and writing white papers that we will place on his website.

This problem is not confined to Denver Colorado business owners needing search engine marketing but rather is representative of small business owners everywhere. As I told our potential client, it’s not enough to address the concerns of his potential clients, the search engines must also be addressed through the judicious use of headlines and appropriate keyword density. I’ll keep you posted how we fight this battle.

Another thing this client really brought into focus is bad website design-again, not a unique problem to Denver Colorado business owners and search engine optimization firms! It drives me crazy to have to point out to customers that their $5,000 website needs to have a total make over to make the code more search engine friendly. Please, before you have any web design firm in Denver Colorado or your city, design your website-ask them to detail how they are going to make your site search engine friendly. If they have that blank look on their face-give us a call!

Steve Mertz
Denver SEO Tips

Go to Google a put your business name in their search box. Are you happy with the results? That’s just for the first page-now do this on another page of your site-still satisfied with the results?

What you are seeing is the Meta Description of your business. This is something you can and should control. You want to have a Meta Description for every page-so it accurately conveys your message. If you don’t put in this description-then Google will take a shot at it for you. Sometimes you get lucky. Eric Enge over at Stone Temple blog did not have a Meta Description but when you put in a Google search for “seo temple” the Google snippet comes up with “This will soon be the most read web site in the SEO world.” Pretty cool that Google would put this snippet together. However, you may not be as lucky so if you have not done it-take the time to have a great and compelling Meta Description for every page of your website or blog!

Steve Mertz
Write a Compelling Description!

Technorati Tags: Google Search, Meta Description, SEO, Denver Search Engine Optimization

My pricing algorithm for on site SEO services can make Google’s algorithm look simple. In fact, some clients have accused my SEO pricing of being a little capricious. Some SEO clients don’t want their competitors to know they have engaged a Search Optimization firm and they never talk to their competitors. However, there are some clients who do talk to their competitors and they have the audacity to actually talk price-How much did you pay for your on site SEO services? This is when our firm can get in a little public relations tizzy-so allow me to attempt to clarify the complexity of our pricing algorithm. Following are the states and countries where we have worked and have clients. For pricing purposes let’s assume the on site sessions were effective December 1, 2006:

Arizona-$2,5000
California_$2,500
Colorado-$2,500
Delaware-$3,500
Florida-$2,500
Georgia-$2,500
Hawaii-Including Kona & Maui-$2,500
Idaho-$3,500
Illinois-$3,500
Indiana-$3,500
Louisiana-$2,500
Maine-$3,500
Maryland-$2,500
Massachusetts-$3,500
Missouri-$3,500
Montana-$3,500
New Hampshire-$3,500
New Jersey-$3,500
New Mexico-$2,500
New York-$3,500
North Carolina-$2,500
North Dakota-$3,500
Ohio-$3,500
Oregon-$3,500
Rode Island-$3,500
Pennsylvania-$3,500
South Carolina-$2,500
South Dakota-$3,500
Tennessee-$2,500
Texas-$2,500…Texas in August-$4,000
Washington-$3,500
Washington, DC-$3,500
Canada-$3,500
Sweden-$3,500
Australia-$2,500

Just like Google updates its Algorithm, so do we-Around April 1st when the snow is starting to melt (and it quits raining) and the sun comes out again-our algorithm prices adjust accordingly. I hope this serves to clear up any confusion about pricing our SEO services in your area!

Steve Mertz
This Pricing Stuff is Complex

Technorati Tags: SEO, Google, Denver SEO, Denver Internet Marketing, Denver SEO Pricing

I will admit it-I do Google searches for my site to see where I rank in Search Engine Optimization and Search Engine Marketing. After all, a perspective client may ask : If you are so good at SEO why can’t I find you in the first 100 pages of a Google search? Could happen! Well, just for the record, SEO for Startups does show up #5 in a Google search for Denver SEO. However, as I was poking around doing a search for Search Engine Marketing I came upon an interesting site. This site was touting how you business owners in Denver, Colorado could dominate your category with their proven Top search engine placement techniques!! How could I say no-So, I clicked on the site to get more information and see not only are they the best Search Engine Optimization firm in Denver but they also offer residential and commercial construction, home improvement, landscaping and more!! Damn, that really gives me a feeling of confidence
Steve Mertz
We only do SEO!

Another speaker with a very unfriendly search engine site…This time a web site design with frames! And you thought those had gone out of style! Your True Nature has a page rank of 5 on the first page-pretty darn good! Problem is his other pages have not been spider-ed because of the frames. With a little make over this site will probably go to a page rank of six and garner more traffic and most importantly-More Cash Flow!!

You may have been able to slip the frames by me but Knox is on the case and will work magic on this site. So quit testing me with these ugly sites that are hated by search engines Come on Denver, test me with your ugly web sites that search engines hate and Google will never be able to find-We can fix it!

Steve Mertz
Blogs are Much Friendlier!
Technorati Tags: Search Engines, Search Engine Optimization, Denver Search Engine Optimization

Back in October I commented on an article posted over at SEOmoz Blog. The post was about splash pages and Oatmeal made a few specific comments : Search engines will spider the splash page instead of the real content. Search engines won’t be able to spider beyond the splash page. How about that-Fast forward to late October and a new search engine optimization client of mine here in Denver, Colorado.

Yes, he is a professional speaker with a pretty good sized web site. On the first page is that splash page! His first page has somehow managed to get a Google page rank of 4 but none of his other pages have any page rank at all-the spiders aren’t getting past that first page! His other pages have valuable content and are loaded with great keywords-all for naught! If you have a web site that has some similar characteristics-You may have the same issue as my client! Now you know who to call in Denver to correct the problem!

Steve Mertz
Splash Pages Kill Spiders!

Technorati Tags: Splash Pages, Denver Search Engine Optimization

Do you remember when Intel was the #1 chip maker in the world? Most major manufactures wanted to have “Intel Inside” displayed on their computers and electronic devices.

Intel was the King Kong of chip manufacturers. As Intel was strutting down the red carpet of corporate success…another chip maker was lurking in the background. Advance Micro Devices had been plugging away, making chips that were in fact faster and more powerful than the mighty Intel. Most end users of electronic products don’t really care or appreciate the goings on in the background until the envelope really gets pushed and they need every little advantage they can get. A great coder is kind of like the AMD chip…for the most part they get no love, no real appreciation until a web site or blog owner sees the light! This recently happened to me and I’m proud to say that we have added the resources of a great coder to our team.

I see a lot of startups and small business owners spend way too much money on a web site or blog. Some even go so far as to put flash on their site. The search engines can’t get past the first page to see the other 99 pages of great keywords and captivating copy I am not a coder, and never will be but I’m smart enough to know what I don’t know. So, before you go spending any more of your limited budget-consider all your options. What I do understand is search engine optimization and practice what I preach. My site, Sales Presentations Training is currently #! In a Google search for the term “sales presentations training”.

We are unique in the search engine optimization industry in the fact that not only can we help you in your SEO efforts but we can also provide you with the finest sales presentation skills-A very handy tool for startups who are seeking venture capital or angel funding! I had this epiphany when I attended the Colorado Capital conference sponsored by the Rockies Venture Club. I observed eight startups giving presentations to venture capitalists and angel investors…For the most part it was not pretty! I saw a lot of great ideas hidden behind PowerPoint overkill and poor presentation skills. Being a curious sort, I then went to their web sites and blogs. For the most part, nary a keyword or search engine optimization effort could be found!

In my former life I’ve had to present to Venture Capitalists and I’ve had web sites that Google would never find in my lifetime! To that end, I’ve added the additional resources and expertise to help your company not only give a fabulous presentation but also be found by the search engines!

We can also help you with financial arrangements. We have clients that we work with on a reduced fee in exchange for a percentage of future profits or if you are the next Google, stock options could be considered Please feel free to contact us with your ideas. My email address is smertz at msn.com or call me on my cell at 303-619-8972.

Steve Mertz
Are You The Next AMD

Technorati Tags: Intel, Advanced Micro Devices, Google, Sales Presentations Training, Denver Search Engine Optimization