Search engine optimization is a much talked about and hotly debated subject with varying opinions on what works and what does not work as people relentlessly search for the one magic bullet that will miraculously push their website to the top of the SERP's(search engine results page). Fortunately, a magic bullet does not exist with only hard work and a commitment to a focused back linking strategy being as close as people get to a magic bullet. And this is how it should be for no other reason than to provide what Google prides itself on delivering: the most relevant and up to date information available for their end users.

Google in their own way have set the bar high. Because it requires so much effort to reach the top positions in the more competitive niches, odds are that only the most committed will prevail in the end and reach the Holy Grail: The number one position of page one on Google for that keyword. Sure, there are black hats that will reach these positions but eventually they will be found out and be summarily removed from the index.

Most Internet marketers will admit the websites that are number one in the more competitive markets deserve to be there in the first place. Their content is top notch and they've done the work needed to gain these positions which in some cases have taken them years. This is one reason authority websites are so stingy about sharing their link juice with just anyone. If you are reading this page, you have probably experienced rejection when asking a top site's webmaster for a back link if you in fact ever even received a reply. Most of the time your request will be ignored completely and you have to ask yourself, do you blame them?

I prefaced this article purposely about how difficult search engine optimization can be for people because recently I've seen articles and blog postings about the prices SEO firms charge. I'm not talking about the scammers that charge $300 and promise top listings in a matter of a few days, rather I'm speaking of the SEO firms that charge a legitimate fee equal to the task. SEO is tedious, laborious and the one thing that is required above all else is boring: Acquiring back links.

I believe Google purposely engineered the SEO process this way knowing full well, that the cream would rise to the top. Gone are the days of keyword stuffing or filling your meta tags with every possible keyword combination available in any given niche. Back links are the only way to reach page one. You must outperform the competition in acquiring back links. Not only must you outperform your competition, but you must continue to outperform your competition to hold the number one position. SEO is an ongoing, never ending process.

Search engine optimization is sorely misunderstood by most people that create new websites. It really shouldn't be misunderstood if one were to think about SEO in practical terms. The Internet grows everyday, 24 hours a day, never stopping to take a break....EVER! Considering this fact, what would prompt a person with a newly built website to believe that their site deserves to be in the number one position on Google? If one takes a moment and ponders this, I believe they will understand why search engine optimization is work, HARD WORK!

It can be argued that some have better websites than others and they do. You may be THE authority on picking peas. However, if you don't acquire enough back links, the world will never know you are the authority on picking peas unless you get to work and apply SEO or hire an SEO firm to do optimization for you. There are crappy websites at the top of the search engines, we see them everyday and this is the chink in Google's armor. Some people are better at back linking than others. But, for the most part, people that have passion for a particular subject will eventually replace the crappy sites and provide people with what Google intended in the first place: Relevant and up to date content that provides people the information they seek.

So the next time you feel compelled to gripe about the fees search engine optimization firms charge, you may want to take a breath and think rationally for a moment to consider the work involved and how difficult it can be to reach position one on Google.

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