MWI, a web design and SEO firm based in Utah, recently completed a survey asking respondents about their awareness of search engine optimization (SEO), their companies’ practices regarding it, and costs they would expect to pay for certain SEO services. The results from 124 respondents were both positive and negative with some surprising findings.
The survey showed that roughly 66% of respondents’ companies had direct experience with SEO, either by doing it in-house or by hiring an outside search engine mareting firm. 35% of the total respondents were actively engaged in an SEO campaign, and 31% had run an SEO campaign in the past but had stopped it for some reason. More than half of the respondents who said they would pay for SEO services or searc marketing services and chose a specific price range said they would be willing to pay between $500 to $1,000 per month, the lowest price range available for selection on the survey.
When respondents were asked an open-ended question about their experiences and feelings regarding SEO some responded saying that “SEO is not rocket science” while other expressed feelings of confusion and doubt about whether SEO is effective or whether SEO firms can be trusted to work ethically. A common thread was the desire to work with SEO firms that are compensated under a “pay for performance” model. Most respondents perceived SEO as important and capable of delivering results if the right SEO firm was employed. Another challenge facing SEO or search engine marketing firms are clients who wonder about the potential for positive ROI. Although respondents saw SEO as being important and beneficial, they had doubts about whether it was worth the expense.
Overall we see these survey results as positive for legitimate and ethical SEO firms. Increased awareness, understanding, and perceived value surrounding SEO services will cause growth in the industry. Firms that are unethical or do not provide true value in their services will be marginalized as the consumer becomes more savvy.
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