E-commerce /website/IT guru's...need your input

[calveless wonder]

Ok, so i'm helping my dad launch an online store for his headphone and accessories company. Pretty much in order to give the end user the ability to buy from the company (manufacturer) directly as opposed to through a distributor or retailer

We're working with a company that seems to do really good work, and based on some of their other sites they've designed, we've been impressed.

Here's the thing
The key is obviously generating traffic. They're offering an SEO package for $500 dollars a month as well. We obviously need some type of SEO but i'm not too polished on it.

what should i know about SEO and is it worth it to pay for it??? what kind of return can we really expect from something like that? and any other good suggestions? Money is not an issue as long as long as it can produce a good return

i've read about SEO awhile back but never fully digested it. trying to do my research now.

i'll basically be managing the site

 

[jestro]

What are they offering for the 500? If all they are doing is meta data, you're getting ripped.

 

[yourmomgoestocollege]

Bro I work for one of the largest digital ad agencies in the world. 500 a month for SEO is not bad if you get results. There are so many little tricks now adays it's not like it used to be. PM me and I can help you out. I have been in interactive marketing for over 12 years now.

Ok, so i'm helping my dad launch an online store for his headphone and accessories company. Pretty much in order to give the end user the ability to buy from the company (manufacturer) directly as opposed to through a distributor or retailer

We're working with a company that seems to do really good work, and based on some of their other sites they've designed, we've been impressed.

Here's the thing
The key is obviously generating traffic. They're offering an SEO package for $500 dollars a month as well. We obviously need some type of SEO but i'm not too polished on it.

what should i know about SEO and is it worth it to pay for it??? what kind of return can we really expect from something like that? and any other good suggestions? Money is not an issue as long as long as it can produce a good return

i've read about SEO awhile back but never fully digested it. trying to do my research now.

i'll basically be managing the site

 

[Razorguns]

Get a thorough list of what u get for $500/month and why you have to pay monthly.

r

 

[Dial_tone]

$500/month is pretty steep, especially for a new business. For my company (I'm webmaster too) I utilize hidden doorway pages. There are 9-10 hidden links (via single pixel gifs) on our main page that link to "index pages" that each have links to pages on our site loaded with the key search phrases people would use to find our site. You'd be hard-pressed to find these pages by navigating our site but they get indexed by Google. We've never paid a dime for SEO and we have pretty darn good results, imo. We are among the top ten search results for many of our keywords in Google, which is the only search engine we even bother with. The ones we don't get a high placing for I'm sure those companies paid big money for.

 

[calveless wonder]

thanks guys. even through the few replies all very good info. i appreciate it.

yourmom, i'll def hit you up later today or tomorrow.

 

[ortiz34]

My business was paying 1600 a month for pay per click/sponsored links and it didn't seem to work as well as I thought it would.
They said my site was to flash heavy, that's why it was lacking. Yet, they still managed to use my advertisement budget in full every month based on pay per click(rolls eyes)

Any ideas or suggestions for google and search help for me too would be appreciated