UK Web Site Design and Search Engine Optimisation
Search Engine Watch
Search Engine Watch should be your first point of call whenever you have a question with regards to search engines. Danny Sullivan has become the foremost commentator on search engines and takes pains to remain objective between the respective realms of the search engines and online marketers.
The site provides an updated news service and some good basic information for free. However, in order to get the most from the site, it is worthwhile taking out a yearly subscription in order to receive access to the members area content. The price for subscription is currently $69 for 6 months or $99 for a year.
The main bonuses for membership for me are the latest news items and analyses which are often put into the members only areas, along with the constantly updated how search engines work section. This area can be an invaluable resource and a good reference point if you don’t have the time to keep up with all of the changes that occur to each and every search engine.
This site is best if you are looking for a place to start learning about search engines, and don’t want through the hassle of hunting down reliable information (which can be somewhat of a problem in this industry!). Admittedly, a lot of the information found here could also be found from other areas of the internet, but for beginners and those who don’t have the time to trawl around attempting to gather all the information together it is a convenient and reputable source.
Beginners in online marketing, might find it worthwhile taking out a short subscription and learning as much as possible from the articles in the membership area first. Once you have that information at your fingertips, you can make your own decision over whether you feel that further membership would prove beneficial.
Search Engine Watch is probably the best known and respected site within our fledgling industry to date.