SEO stands for Search Engine Optimisation. In 2007, estimates revealed that approximately 70 billion of searches were conducted on the Internet through search engines. Half of these searches were unique (a unique combination of keywords entered in a search engine search box).
With regards to your website, SEO is the process you need to go through in order to make its content as relevant as possible to the search phrases or keywords that a potential client is most likely to key in a search engine to find your product.
Once your website optimised, or "search engine friendly", your search engine rankings for specific keywords (e.g. Exclusive Hinterland Bed and Breakfast) should improve dramatically and potential clients will be able to find you and buy your product.
In order to do so, your website needs to go through the search engine optimisation process. You cannot pay Google to get you on top of its organic search results (left column) and no one can guarantee you will be in first position. Pay Per Click on the other hand will allow you to place ads in the right column of Google. As its name suggests it involves payment. Learn more about Pay Per Click and Search Engine Marketing.
Nowadays search engines rule the Internet. They are the only way your website will be found by potential clients who do not yet know you exist. Not being listed in search engines under the keywords that best describe your business is like having phone line and not being listed in the phone book.
Unfortunately the short answer is most probably not. In the early days of the Internet there was no such job as search engine optimiser or marketer. All these disciplines sat under the Web developper umbrella. However, the web evolved so much over the past few years and search marketing has become a discipline of its own. To explain the difference between a web developper and a search marketing professional I often use the example of the baker and the pastry chef. During his training a baker would have not only learnt how to make bread but also had a go at baking cakes. However, cakes are not his specialty and technique and recipes must have certainly evolved since his last training days! Would you trust a baker to make your wedding cake or would you ask a pastry chef?
This is very easy: Google analytics is a free tool.
First of all it is important you aim at getting relevant links to relevant pages of your website. Start by asking your local tourism organisation, on the Gold Coast that would be Gold Coast Tourism. Generally this is included in your membership package. Also talk to other renowned industry bodies and chambers of commerce.
Contact us contact@untanglemyweb.com or +61 405 063 580 - we will conduct a free assessment of your site for you and tell you what you need to do to put your website on the Internet map!