For the past months, I have received the most enquiries for search engine optimization service (since I entered the industry 1.5 years ago). Most of them enter my company website with the keywords related to SEO.
I also notice the fact that more and more foreign SEO companies are ‘localizing’ their service here - like this one and this. And most of the web design company are offering SEO services in addition with their existing web solution packages.
So that could only mean 2 things: (i) The awareness of SEO is high (ii) It is starting to get saturated (like the current web hosting industry in Malaysia).
Ok. Does that mean I’m cashing in now from the booming industry since I entered it years ago? The answer is NO.
With all the enquiries I received, once I sent them my quotation of my services - almost none response back. Those that response back claimed that my fee is too high ; several ask us to ‘guarantee ranking’. Hmm…
Yes. As hard as I tried (to pitch to the local audiences), my best clients are from anywhere but Malaysia. They don’t cut your fee; they don’t ask for guaranteed ranking ( they probably read the guidelines of choosing SEO from Google); most of all, they don’t come knocking at your door every time Google changes algorithm or update their database.
The SEO industry is unlike web hosting - where the product differentiation is fairly low; it is more like web design industry - most people can do it but only a few people really ‘get it’ ; and customers normally need a certain level of knowledge to choose a better provider, regardless the fee.
That being said, as a proud Malaysian, I’m still very much keen to help our local business to get the most from the search engines, but I choose my clients VERY carefully. And I probably need to put a pricing page up ;)
What do you think about our local SEO scene now?
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Eddie Law 12.08.07 at 3:25 pm
I think the SEO scene in Malaysia is getting more and more attention. I am in web design business our clients seem to be more concerned about their ranking in google now than last time.
Lim, though with the new players coming in, I think you still have the 1st mover advantage.
fred 12.09.07 at 2:20 pm
I think Malaysia companies still very “uneducated” in SEO scene. I used to very active in responding and giving quotations about SEO requests, but not now. Just like what you said, all of them asked for guaranteed ranking and think that fee is too high.
From my other friends in hosting and web design area, a lot of these companies do get SEO service with a fraction of cost, say RM300, etc. I don’t think can get much but just get their site submitted to the search engines.
Anyway, from my experience, most of the companies will ask for this, “I want to rank number 1 or first 3 for this keyword: buy diamond”. After some discussions, I think they only interested to pay less than RM500 (or much lesser than that) as an one time fee.
Good luck to those guys who want to get cheap service, I better optimise my own sites than hurting the market by charging such an unreasonable price.
Brandon Teoh 12.10.07 at 5:12 pm
I have interest in this topic.
I have been experimenting with SEO for a few years… I did well for my own blog.
But it is really hard to have a guarantee, which I don’t think it is really possible. Unless it is competition. Otherwise, just have to get ready for refund to customers.
This is because Google, Yahoo and MSN changes all the time, God bless that they don’t change too fast. But it is out of our control.
And I think Malaysian don’t appreciate SEO. They always think that SEO has some kind of magic button..which is very wrong. If that is so, then there is no need to have SEO, everybody can access that magic button and become no.1 listing. Sometimes I think Malaysian customers are just too naive… Adwords would prove a better solution for them, at least it can guarantee some listing.
SEO should be more like marketing with continuous efforts… And I think it is a very hard money to earn.
Up til today, I never accept client for SEO. Because I know they will give me nonsense expectations.
I think we should provide SEO courses and eBooks rather than the service.
I think mat salleh customers can be more understanding when it comes to technology appreciation.. maybe it is the English.
James 12.12.07 at 8:27 pm
Hi Lim,
Yes, for the past few months the enquiries were increasing, I think more and more people in Malaysia is starting to aware about the SEO.
I think this is because of more and more web hosting companies are introducing SEO. Some of them are outsources the SEO jobs ( I got 20 jobs from January till now from web hosting partners), some of them are doing it in-house.
Also thanks to the Fiona Tan from eonenet who promote the internet marketing course on newspaper, it “indirectly helps” to create awareness. :D
By the way, I have some comment about “money back guarantee” , it is possible, but there is always some terms and conditions attached, this is what we call business.
Cheers,
James
p/s : come to KL lah ! Adrian and me are waiting !
Larry Lim 12.13.07 at 11:48 am
I feel that unscrupulous, self-claimed SEOs/Internet gurus are misleading the locals with cheap fees and promises, thus the misconception.
But I disagree that all of them are cheap or ‘un-knowledgable’ about SEO.
And while the product differentiation maybe low, the reputation among SEOs are highly varied and that is the basis for commanding higher fees.
I’m not sure about the price range for SEO services in Malaysia or Singapore (given up comparing them), but I’ve charged between RM8,000 and all the way up to RM27,000 per project.
That’s certainly not ‘low’ so either you’re attracting the wrong crowd or you need to increase you ‘perceived value’ to ask for more.
Lim CS 12.14.07 at 2:28 am
This has stirred quite some interesting discussions. And I’m glad I have 2 of the top Malaysia SEO - James and Larry here to talk about it.
I think Larry has established himself on a better market - Singapore though it may be more competitive there. But that also mean the demand will be higher, and the customers there can afford to pay for ‘better service’. While James seemed to understand local customer better, and able to turn the demand of ‘Money Back Guarantee’ into his advantage.
Another thing I could not help to ignore is the changing of SEO. How we usually do it could not be as effective as before, especially how Google’s ‘killing’ those who tend to manipulate and emphasize more on viral links.