SEO is not rocket science; it's much more difficultthan rocket science. To become a ninja-level SEO master takes years ofpractice for most people, and like a ninja if you don't practice, onequickly loses one's skills. The reason for this is that the searchalgorithms shift constantly, and as they are well guarded secrets, younever know what the search engineers are up to. No, it's not rocketscience; It's more like reverse engineering a UFO that you can only seeoff in the distance and whose propulsion system constantly shifts gears.

Itis extremely difficult to be a true expert in this field. Thecompetition is fierce, and one mistake can cost you months of work. Ifyou are working for a client, you had better be certain that you do notget their site thrown into the "sandbox," meaning that it will never befound. This is like being exiled to the far reaches of the Internetwhere only the most intrepid explorers will ever find them. It's notgood for business.

For this reason, it is extremely important to choose the right SEO company or employee if you are in business. If you want to become that person (the right SEO company or employee), here is what you need to do:

1. Administer at least five websites for at least a year. Do not link them to each other. Each is its own little petri dish that must not be contaminated.
2. Be scientific about it. Developtheories and test them rigorously. Keep track of results. Note changesin the way the search engines index your site and in the way yourvisitors find it, and connect those changes to actions that you havetaken (link building, keyword weight, social networking, etc.)
3. Learn how to find the right keywords.This is not as simple as finding words that people search for and thatare not insanely competitive. In this, you have to be somewhatintuitive. What keyword combination is a potential customer likely touse as opposed to a bored web surfer?
4. Use different tools until you find one that works.I have my favorite, but I'm not allowed to mention it. Follow the linkin the resource box and surf around my blog. You'll figure out what itis. It may not be for you, but you can try it free.
5. Get at least 20 pages to the top for fairly competitive keywords. This is what turns prospects into clients.
6. Be a ninja.Once you figure out how to do it, take a cue from the people who writethe search algorithms and keep it to yourself. Also train and improvecontinuously so that your skills do not slip.

Thatis how to become an SEO guru who commands top dollar with good reason,the good reason being that you know how to attract the right people,not just the most people. More on that later.