What surprised me about some replies I got to my offer to help other web masters with their SEO, was how cynical and jaded some people can be.I was accused by one person of just marketing. My offer was said to be more advertising rather than substance. What they thought I was advertising I just don't know. Another respondent said they didn't need my help because to quote them "I am a SEO specialist. I think I can handle my own site as I handle hundreds of other sites." Well good for them. But that being true, I just wondered why they had subscribed to my email list. As you can imagine they are not subscribers any longer. In case you are wondering what upset some people, this is the email I sent to selected subscribers on my list: The I want to help YOU offer - Improve YOUR SE RankingHi,
I sent out an email yesterday to a limited number of my subscribers asking them if they would like me to work with them to improve their Search Engine Ranking ? In case you didn't get the email, ISP filtering being what it is these days, I repeat the offer, but with a few changes. Whilst I wasn't expecting a stampede, being a small number that were invited, I was quite frankly, expecting more responses than I got. I wonder if it's worth the trouble making this kind of offer. It's more difficult to give someone something for nothing than it is to charge for it. If you were thinking yeah what's the catch, well sorry to say there wasn't one, well unless you think me wanting to write about the results we get is a catch. If you are doing so well with your ranking that you don't need any help then that's great. Perhaps you could help me with my optimization ;-) This will be your last chance for this offer as I will not be making it again this year. I have a busy year planned and I'm only feeling this generous early in the year, before I get too busy to spare the time. There are now only 2 openings left and I have decided to end the offer for people in this first group by midnight Wednesday, Jan 26. After that I will make the same offer once more to another limited number of subscribers. I am making this offer only to the first 3 (now only 2) subscribers on my list who give me the most convincing reply as to why they think they would benefit the most from this offer. This will cost you nothing, yes that's right zero. There are no fees. Call it my new year present to get you off to a good start for 2005. If you are chosen I will work with you personally to help you achieve better rankings. This will include a review of agreed pages, optimization of those pages and monitoring of your progress with the search engines. I will also advise you on what further work you need to do on your site. Then in you own words tell me why you would benefit from this offer. Include things like: What you expect to gain.
Why I should choose you to work with.
Why you did not reply sooner (added this question for late comers) What stage you are at right now with your web site.
Briefly, what work you have done.
What success you have had if any with your SEO.
How you think you need help.
Why you think you need help.
What results you are trying to achieve. Include the URL to your site if you have one. best wishes for your success Andy Theekson
http://www.the-search-engine-optimizer.com Why anyone would get all upset about such an offer is beyond me, but there you are, it takes all sorts to make a world, their loss not mine. SEO Help Update Since this item was first featured, what I have found in trying to help people with SEO is that they generally don't want to do much, if any, of the required work.They also don't have the staying power to undertake their own SEO tasks and are often looking for quick easy fixes and instant results. I know a lot of people live in a world of instant gratification but the SEO world isn't one of them. I'm happy if someone wants to pay me and waste my time, that's OK. But, I'm not so happy if someone wastes my time when I'm giving my time and SEO expertise for free. Here's my offer of Help  The only condition is that once I have given you my help and advice you make a donation to help children in need. What you decide to donate is entirely up to you. If you think my help and advice was worth $100 then donate $100. If you think my advice was only worth $10, or that's all you can afford right now then donate $10. If you don't donate, because my advice was worth nothing to you then that's fair enough ;-)  Watch the Movie Children in Need
You need the Macromedia Flash Player
to view this movie
| 
