Keeping search engine marketing real for smaller retailers

Unreal Marketing Solutions thinks smaller web retailers have to keep it real when it comes to search engine marketing, which is a prime reason the company expects to launch a new hosted service designed specifically for small catalogers, chains and business-to-consumer e-commerce sites.

The service, which Unreal Marketing, a Philadelphia-based search engine marketing and interactive advertising agency, plans to launch later this year or in early 2005, will include software for reviewing, extracting and indexing products, indexing into search engines, and centralized reporting. Pricing has yet to be determined for the paid inclusion portion, but will be less than the rate for larger retailers, which ranges from 35 cents per word to $3 and in different merchandising categories, says Unreal Marketing CEO Michael Stalbaum. "Research we’ve seen indicates that almost 100% of small businesses see a web marketing presence as critical and 40% see search engine marketing as an important tool to drive traffic and convert sales," Stalbaum says. "There are a lot of small retailers who need these kinds of services now."

Unreal Marketing Solutions is a full-service interactive agency specializing in search engine optimization and online media. The company`s search engine marketing services, which include paid inclusion, natural optimization, paid listings management and keyword buying, are utilized by a number of Internet and multi-channel retailers such as Foot Locker, L`Oreal USA, and Artbeads.com.