Think Customers: The 1to1 Blog

There's plenty of research available, but by my estimates at least 90 percent of it comes from companies that sell SEO/SEM technology or consulting. That may make them experts on the field, but it certainly disqualifies them from providing unbiased results. Each study by these vendor companies skewed the results to indicate a need for whatever solution they were providing. That's neither surprising nor against any laws; just not something 1to1 reports to our readers as fact.

As you'll see on Monday there have been some studies done on this issue, but nothing that does more than scratch the surface. Considering that SEO has been around a lot longer than social media, I was surprised that the level of research in both areas is equally developed. As more and more marketing moves online, the ability for customers to find your products, services, and expertise will depend on how search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo define your website. This is especially true for local businesses, which so far have very little online presence but will need to go digital to survive.

Have you come across any interesting research in this area or is your company struggling with how to blend paid and organic search into a coherent marketing effort? Share your comments below, or check out the discussion on 1to1's LinkedIn group.