In July 2006, we started a website for a local tree nursery (Hillwood Maples). Scott, the owner, wanted a website to complement his newspaper advertising and provide information for his clients on installing the trees.

Having attended a meeting, one website developer told him that his website would cost a minimal $2,500 and would include Search Engine Optimization. It was cost prohibitive and he did not follow through.

I met Scott and we were exchanging courtesies when he found out that my company develops websites. He asked me to give him a quote. We provided him a website that was under $1,000 with search engine optimization.

Within the first month, a person found Scott’s site on the internet and purchased some trees. Scott had a ROI on the very first web driven client!

In March of 2007, Scott searched the internet to find someone who could help him move trees for the 2007 Spring season. This is what Scott had to say:

“I Googled for someone who would help me ball up trees so that I could move them. It was difficult to find someone because I kept finding my own site!”

Scott enjoys great visibility and the new clientele that his search engine optimization has brought.

We established a website for Clarkston Insulation (CI), my father’s business. At first, he did not need internet exposure. With a fully established business (over 50 loyal builders), CI simply needed a portal to provide information and data sheets for his builders.

By mid 2006, Clarkston Insulation began to feel the accumulative effects of the Michigan economy. We revisited the website and increased his exposure. Within one month, CI enjoyed first position in all the localities they targeted. They also saw a Return on Investment. Well….since this is my father’s business, a RoI was absolutely guaranteed with the first job!

Nevertheless, from September 2006 to December 2006, CI’s internet exposure continued to increase. With tracking data, we were able to determine that CI picked up 26 jobs that were purely search engine driven.

Now CI has worldwide exposure on broad keywords, eventhough our focus was not to expand beyond the Michigan market. Knowing the power of the internet, CI opened a page for the keywords “insulation machines.” While the terms only bring 5-6 hits daily, CI receives hits and calls weekly. They sold one machine and maybe selling another within the week.

Summary: Do all websites need organic SEO? Our conclusion is “yes.” In this particular situation, CI did not need more work at the time of the website development, now it does.