The general concept of search engine optimization that most people have is that of a one time service that one would have to pay for only once and then it should all be over.

Many clients who go in for SEO usually ask why they are being charged a monthly fee for services provided. They feel that because of their preset notion that search engine optimization is basically a one time job they should not be charged on a monthly basis. The net result is that you end up feeling cheated.

Now unless you are actively participating in a reciprocal linking campaign, why you are being charged on a monthly basis may not be obvious.

It's definitely not as simple or as easy as it looks. Believe me that a lot of behind the scenes effort goes into the process that is search engine optimization.

Whenever a site is coded for the purpose of search engine optimization (SEO), there are a number of bits and bytes that have to be reviewed and an equal number of bits and bytes that need to be modified. Most of the changes that are effected are not that easily visible, and many involve making changes to Meta Tags, page titles, file naming structures to name but a few that are effected.

All this work becomes necessary because whenever a site is to be initially coded, it requires a lot of research, and decisions are to be made based on that research. However, as time goes by, and most of the keyword phrases change, the coding put in place earlier too needs to be updated.

In such cases a good SEO service would update the code with no disruption to the current site, yet it would yield the benefits of constant monitoring. If the site is already established, these changes would be apparent in a matter of days. However, if the site is new, it may take some time and patience to obtain anything tangible.

The concept is very similar to that of web hosting. You need to pay a certain fee to the host to ensure that your site is being displayed and you need to make this payment each month to make sure your site is displayed.

But within those costs that you pay are included a number of benefits. In fact when you pay out your monthly charges in addition to basic service you are receiving, you also pay for the latest security, Anti-virus software, and equipment and also for software updates that protect your site. Not to mention the salary and overheads of the company or consultant.

Another reason a monthly fee is charged is because you are also paying for the expertise of the SEO service. Question: would you rather go to a doctor who has just graduated from medical school with no experience or to a doctor who has been practicing for several years?

A bonus of the monthly fee is that whenever you post something new on your site, it is scrutinized by the SEO service that ensures the friendliness of the new page for the search engines. As each page is judged on it's own in the search engines, so every page is critical to the success of your site.

About the author:

Allen Thomason has been an entrepreneur for 4 years, and is an accomplished online marketer. To learn more about SEO and other proven forms of internet marketing and to see how Allen can help you, visit TheProfitCombination.com.