Did the Search Engines' ranking systems change a lot since the major algorithm alteration that Google made in 2005?

There are always changes, slight changes that occur in the algorithm. Mostly, the changes are to weed out spam, link farms, and black hat techniques. Over the last several years, there have been major changes that coincided with the Webmaster World Conferences. For example, "Update Florida" as it was known was called that due to WMW was held in Orlando, Florida at the time. During the New Orleans show it was called "Update Bourbon". What about "Update Jagger"? The Rolling Stones were in concert in Las Vegas during WMW. Essentially, pay attention to when the next Webmaster World is going to be and within six weeks of the conference, there is usually a major update.

Is the number of indexed links leading to any web site still important for its rank in Google, Yahoo and MSN? Is there any difference if a web site is linked by 5,000 or 20,000 pages?

The number of indexed pages a website has is referred to as "Page Saturation". Indexed links, or "backlinks" is very important, and is a lot different than "Page Saturation". The two often are confused by many. Google assigns value of links much differently than Yahoo! or MSN. Google looks for "authoritative" links, or "quality" links, whereas MSN and Yahoo! basically count every link that they can find. A site with 100 authoritative links generally outperforms a site with 20,000 questionable links. You just aren’t after quantity, you need quality.

What about if there are 50 links to my web site? Could I expect to get a listed on the first few pages on some keywords?

Depends on the keyword phrase. If it is a phrase that does not have a lot of competition, and you are strong in the other areas of the algorithm, then yes, you should expect that. However, links are just one component in a search engine algorithm, and while it is important, it is not the "silver bullet" to get a top listing.

Is it possible a web site to gain top rank on some keywords and phrases only because of the quality of its content?

No. The algorithm has too many components to go by content alone. In our testing, the only time this is true is for keywords with very little competition.

Can you explain what does a SEO consultant do?

An SEO consultant’s main job is to take the stress and worry from the webmaster and/or business owner in terms of search engine marketing. They will help in the areas of targeting the right keywords to not just bring traffic to the site, but to increase the sales/leads of the site. They also ensure that the site is properly optimized, not just for the search engines, but for the browsers that will display the site. For a site that does not display correctly in a browser is one that will not convert well. The SEO will also assist in link building and directory submissions to raise the link popularity and reputation of the site. The SEO also can review web logs and find areas where the site is failing, and make suggestions to the webmaster that can have a positive impact. However, the greatest thing an SEO can do is to ensure that the site is in full compliance of the terms of use for all the major search engines so the site is not at risk of being banned.

Do you think that newbies in web site business would loose a lot of time and money in advertising if they do not use a SEO consultation when they launch a new web site?

I have seen it happen first hand. I have seen newbies in web advertising blow through thousands of dollars targeting keywords that were not going to convert into sales. SEOs can explain and show a newbie the right traffic to bring to their sites. It is one of the best investments a newbie can make – by having a professional working with them side-by-side.

Ho much does it cost a entry level SEO campaign for a brand new web site?

With what we do, you will generally be charged about $5,000 a month for an SEO in the states (United States). However, by outsourcing overseas, you can generally get a solid campaign for as little as $499.00 per month USD.

Do you suggest web site owners to work for high rank in any given Search engine or just to define their web site goals and to follow them?

Goals are far more important than rank. Understanding where they want to go – and then mapping how they are going to get there. Flying without a destination is just burning fuel. I always recommend that the goal is more sales, more revenue, etc. And then work from there. Understanding the customer, taking surveys to define the customer (not their demographic, but what they want and why), and then rewriting the offer around those needs. SEO/SEM isn’t just about driving traffic, it is about the big picture, driving revenue, increasing market share, bolstering brand awareness, etc.

About:
Navneet Kaushal is the CEO of Page Traffic. Page Traffic is known for its extensive industry experience in Search Engine promotion and Pay Per Click management. Page Traffic's team of dedicated SEO specialists comprises of, Offshore SEO consultants, Pay Per Click management specialists, professional copywriter, dedicated web designers and campaign delivery managers to help businesses build site traffic, boost web sales and achieve positive ROI. Stringent adherence to quality and innovation has made Page Traffic a reckoning force in the global SEM arena. For further information, visit Page Traffic.