The past 3 years have brought unprecedented change to every business in America and around the world. Financial meltdowns, no-confidence votes and about every other conceivable variable has been thrown at us. In the face of this sweeping "change or die reality" each of us has been required to step out on the edge of our comfort zones and go places we have never been before.

One industry that has grown rapidly is the wonderful world of SEO (Search Engine Optimization) which is the process of getting your website found on a search engine. This, by the way, happens to be one of those uncomfortable places just mentioned. After all, if you don't have the kind of visibility on Google, Bing or Yahoo that allows new buyers to find you: you're done! Game over, doors closed, and the vultures start circling. You need to get in the game!

 However, SEO in Utah is like any growth industry in that there seems to be an "EXPERT" on every corner. From the recently-laid-off guy who likes the internet and thinks he understands it, to one of your employees who built his own computer so he must be an expert in marketing. Effective SEO is not for amateurs: it is a science that requires experience in order to be done correctly. Even high-end website design companies are not necessarily the best choice for SEO service if it is not their area of expertise. In the SEO world the meaning of the term "BUYER BEWARE" becomes painfully clear if a poor choice is made up front.

No matter what your motivation, it is a given that the Internet is now the preferred vehicle of choice for finding everything from heavy equipment to bobby pins. Every industry is now being impacted by the net. If you're not playing the game well you may end up as a very real casualty. Reality check: your Yellow Page ad is not the draw that it used to be. It hasn't been for a long time, and this holds true for most traditional forms of advertising.

It's time for every business to create a viable and well thought-out internet strategy. Part of that process is finding the right advisor. Ask around, consult with trusted clients or vendors who have had success online, or use search engines and select from the web marketing experts that are found on the first page of results.

Bottom line - DO YOUR HOMEWORK. Your future is at stake!