Let me start with the bottom line (making it the top line!): Your IT guy is not an SEO guy or a web guy. He’s an IT guy. So get him away from your website projects.
Having consulted with a number of companies that rely on their IT guy to lead the way with their Internet presence, I’ve come to realize that in the vast majority of cases, they should be kept far away from a small businesses’ website and Internet marketing.
The Problem
The problem is that the vast majority of IT guys are not web guys or SEO guys. So this is my warning to all of the businesses out there that rely on their IT person to make their web marketing decisions for them (having a website IS web marketing by default) – are you sure you should be putting your company’s reputation on the line for someone who sets up servers, fixes your computer, helps you with your email, and handles related matters?
My Doctor Analogy
An IT guy is not an SEO or a web guy, he’s an IT guy. These are completely different specialties the same way that asking an eye doctor to check your teeth doesn’t really make sense. They are similar professions in that they both work on the human body but they have different focal areas. Your eye doctor can recommend a good dentist and vice versa but that’s about it. You’re IT could recommend and help you choose an SEO company or a web guy but it ends there. IT people are not trained to be web designers or Internet marketers. The ones that try to do it all typically lack the integrity to tell you that they are not qualified to do the job, or they recognize that you’re small company and don’t have the website investment funds to hire someone else (a huge mistake in my opinion).
What is IT?
In the broadest sense of the term, IT refers to information technology which encompasses anything related to computers and websites. In a practical sense, IT guys are the people that companies rely on for server installation, network administration, computer software and hardware issues, backup and storage solutions, and related matters. When companies are looking to hire IT guys they may expect them to be well versed in web promotion but that’s a mistake.
What is a Web Guy?
Generally speaking, a web design company designs, builds, and programs a website.
What is an SEO Guy?
Someone who promotes your website, especially through the search engines, and looks at the short and long-term options to generate target market leads through the site and overall Internet presence.
How to Mix IT, SEO and Web Design
The best case scenario is to have a great web designer who is also an experienced SEO with a track record of success. This is a rare combination. If your company already has an IT guy, you may want to let him find an SEO company for you. Chances are your website needs a re-design so don’t hire an SEO company that doesn’t produce persuasive web design work.
Do not hire a web design company and then try to sprinkle on SEO when you are about to launch the site. SEO does not work that way. The best case scenario is to hire an SEO web designer and let them help you strategize your way to online profit.
Comments
I’m a techie and agreed that I don’t know much but clients often don’t want to pay another company for web work.
Thank you for the comment NumbersGuy. I think businesses that are organized and have a clear budget for IT, marketing, operations, salaries, and so on are missing a lot of opportunities by not separating their IT needs from their online marketing needs.