SEO (Search Engine Optimization) should be an integral part in every single company’s marketing campaign.  However, from my observations this is often not the case.  If any company wants to have a successful online presence, they should invest in SEO efforts.  I bet that about 50% of the companies out there, including Fortune 500 companies, either don’t even know what SEO is or have put SEO on hold, opting for other ways of marketing that they think will bring in more money.

Yes, I must agree that SEO is not a quick and simple task.  It takes research, time, and patience.  However, it is a relatively cost-free way to promote your business as it will bring in revenue down the road.  It can bring in much traffic to your website and be very profitable.  Many companies opt for SEM (Search Engine Marketing) for their online marketing while placing SEO on the back burner.  While SEM can bring in revenue more quickly, it is also costly and can be risky.

My recommendation for all companies is to begin their SEO efforts as soon as possible, especially if they are just starting out with a new website (a new website is the best way to start with SEO since you can build the site architecture based on SEO best practices.)  If you are looking for revenue in the meantime, use SEM, but always be working on SEO at the same time as it will be much more beneficial in the long run.