There is a certain magic in how quickly things can change and lead to breakthroughs in the Internet world. For example, less than a decade ago, outsourcing a search engine marketing agency (SEM) was prohibitive for small businesses because they had to spend at least $ 10,000 – $ 15,000 per month, normally with a 12 month contract.

Other options were to do SEM in-house (who has the time or experience?) Or to hire a freelancer (time spent on manual work rather than strategy; and sometimes only SEO or PPC is offered, not both). Also, there are no reports. Technologies existed that could track numerous engines in one place and in real time. These were the old “not so good” days.

Fast forward. For a few years now, small businesses have been able to outsource teams of SEM experts to attract more visitors to their websites. quickly and affordably. Lastly, we can offer custom solutions, a performance tracking platform and short-term contracts at “you can afford this” prices.

In addition, the way to reach the top positions has changed. The biggest change by far is what search engines deem important. Done: 7 of the top 10 factors that influence engines have to do with links. * But not all links are created equal: quantity and quality count.

Another interesting development that is a must for local businesses is map optimization. It’s a place on a search engine page where your business can display your name and phone number along with a map. These results often appear above SEO results, so it is often crucial that a local business is listed by its competitors.

I must admit that I get very excited when a service matures to be accessible to the masses because our economy runs on small businesses. As a company, we have been dedicated to staying abreast of marketing and technology trends, especially when it comes to small businesses. That’s why I couldn’t be happier that the search engine marketing playing field has been leveled.

* Source: SEOmoz.org