SEO: A website requirement

Search engine optimisation (SEO) should not be considered a website option but a requirement, an expert has stated.

Jill Whalen, chief executive officer of search engine marketing company High Rankings, made her comments to news resource Search Engine Land, expressing concern that many entrepreneurs are unaware that they should ask for an SEO service for their website.

She questioned whether website developers should always create search-engine friendly websites even if the client does not request it.

"Let's face it, a website that can't be found in Google is nearly useless. Sure, the client can advertise their website offline but then it's little more than an online brochure," Ms Whalen argued.

Earlier this week, search engine marketing agency Leapfrogg claimed that small and medium-sized enterprises can be reluctant to invest in SEO as they believe it will be expensive, time consuming and difficult.

However, it stated that costs are low compared to many other forms of marketing and that SEO can transform a website's performance.