When a website is struggling or funds are tight, the thought of outsourcing any work can be galling. For some SEO is seen as a luxury; something that can be set to one side in times of financial austerity. But in fact the opposite might well be true. Here, let me explain why. Businesses will always struggle when customers dry up. Often it isn't the case that you aren't offering something that the wider public want, it can simply be a case of them not being able to find you. Whilst with a brick and mortar premises you can invest in a new sign, do some media advertising or other focused marketing channels, in an online environment, search engine presence is everything. Succeeding without any kind of search engine ranking is next to impossible. Not entirely impossible, because there are other avenues such as social media to explore; however, in the most part, you'd find it difficult to attract regular visits without some form of visibility on Google. Therefore, it is vital that you do whatever it takes to pick up those rankings. Here we have to enter the realms of SEO. Search Engine Optimisation is simply a process of bringing a website up to code with the requirements and expectations of search engines. In the most part is a series of best practices designed for both automated algorithms and your human visitors, therefore there is a clear double benefit. The trouble with SEO is that it is only effective when it is done right. Therefore if you are new to it, or indeed have never tried any of the techniques yourself, it can be a time-consuming and frustrating process. It is possible, don't get me wrong, but the trial and error involved in doing it yourself can end up draining resources and even damaging your site. This is why outsourcing can be a popular alternative. When you go to an accredited SEO agency with your website they can immediately analyse what's working and what isn't. They can provide advice based on experience and use their knowledge to implement changes that will have a long-term benefit. Whilst there is a cost involved in this service, it can be repaid manifold when you achieve those vital rankings for targeted terms. When you do choose to hire in professional help, you have to be prepared to go along with their suggestions. It is in their best interest to see your site succeed, so by standing in the way of progress you could end up nullifying their work and wasting your money. The agency won't always implement the changes themselves (often they can't due to access restrictions), so when they make recommendations you have to act on them. Only through this cooperative approach can you hope to achieve the maximum benefit. Ultimately though search engines are the prime source for targeted traffic on most sites. If you want yours to compete amongst the top businesses in your field, then you need to be investing in SEO. Whether you do it yourself or choose to outsource you need to be open to the need to make changes.