As I read latest news online about what Google has done to many webmasters all over world, I am left discussed towards some of comments people are making against SEO Companies.

Please don't be quick to blame seo companies. We are also loosing search engine ranking just as much as you are in areas that aren't even related to seo.

Let's take a look at SEO companies... Who created need for seo companies? Search engines and webmasters did. The very same people who created a demand for seo companies are sometimes same people who are trying to discredit them.

Here's how I come to that conclusion: I keep reading that seo companies are trying to manipulate web pages, title's, descriptions, key phrases etc in order to get a better ranking. Well why not?

In off-line world of marketing, there are 1000's of marketing teams all over world trying to figure out what people want! Aren't they trying to figure out what seo companies are trying to figure out in end? how to get more sales?

Without going overboard with keywords and key phrases, creating a quality page is what we should all strive to do! Hopefully those who do saturate their pages with key words and key phrases get penalized and hopefully somehow in future, search engines can tell them why they are being penalized. The unfortunate part is that since search engines don't tell you why your site has been penalized, you're left to blame someone, and like what most people do in that circumstance, you forget to blame yourself as well.

For most part, getting a better ranking is typically done from having relevant information. So if we have relevant information, then what are we doing wrong? As SEO companies, we're trying to give you better relevant information than anyone else.

The Problem

No matter how good your product or service is, if you are not receiving targeted visitors to your site or if your web site is not well ranked by Search engines you will not sell much.

A solid, reciprocal linking strategy, properly executed will deliver both targeted visitors and improve your web site rank for your chosen keywords and all for "no money down."

Step #1 - Specific Keyword Search ---------------------------------

It is important that your chosen keyword phrases are as specific as possible.

Scott Buresh of http://www.mediumblue.com/ says this about keywords and using "geographic", "adjective" and "noun" modifiers to make them specific.

"Modifiers are used for two main reasons: to increase percentage of ideal prospects in traffic phrase attracts, and to find terms that are easier to target on search engines. Adding right type of modifiers to your search engine key phrases will increase your chances of success."

This step involves effort and a capacity to brainstorm because you need a minimum of 100 keyword phrases for good results. Good search engine optimisers build lists of 300 specific or more keyword phrases.

The following resources will be of use as you build your keyword phrase list

* Overture Suggestion Tool - http://inventory.overture.com/d/searchinventory/suggestion/

* Good Keywords by Softnik Technologies - http://www.goodkeywords.com

* Use a search engine to research "Keyword Phrases" and learn more practical details on this critical task.

Step #2 - Suitable Link Partners --------------------------------

Your ideal link partners are web sites based on

* High quality content - Ideally material (articles, reviews, reports, e-books etc) should be original, fresh and informative to visitors.

* Tight web site themes - The content addresses a specific business, product or service type.

* Tight directory themes - A link to link directory should be prominently shown on main pages and directory must be tightly themed and not just a "link farm" of general, non-related web sites.

* Complimentary themes - While you may not want direct competitors to feature in your directory, complimentary sites that fulfil above features will provide great value to your visitors.

Step # 3 - Find and Review Link Partners ----------------------------------------

Now, find web sites who may be "good" link partners.

Using a search engine or directory, go through each keyword phrase in your list and visit as many of web sites that are returned as you can.

Evaluate each site on basis of criteria set in step #2.

Decide on categories you want in your directory.

For an Internet marketing business these would typically be "Affiliate Programs", "Business Promotion", "Income Opportunities" an so on.

Qualifying web sites, may of course fall into more than one category depending on their business, product or service offerings.

With this information you can now make another list of :