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October 11, 2012 at 12:09 am #980175Up::0
With the recent Panda and Penquin changes to Google’s algorithm, it’s becoming obvious that the SEO industry has to make some major changes.
Here is what I think needs to happen:
1. It’s becoming impossible to separate your SEO, your content strategy (more on this below) and social media.
2. If your SEO company does not discuss a content strategy with their clients they are wasting your time. A content strategy is all about what content to create, how to use this content for SEO, and how you incorporate this content into your social strategy.
3. Good SEO is becoming more expensive.
Any comments?
October 11, 2012 at 12:47 am #1120526Up::0MatthewKeath, post: 135804 wrote:3. Good SEO is becoming more expensive.
This depends how you define “SEO”.I’ve been advising my clients for years to focus on good content if they have a limited budget. Well written content, well built site (good markup, title tags …etc) and that will go a long way to creating good SEO results.
Add on social media nowadays, and you’re on a winner.
I actually see it as potentially making it easier for some clients to do without an SEO “specialist”, if they’re the hands on kind who like to write their content anyway. Or else they could engage a good copywriter.
October 11, 2012 at 12:56 am #1120527Up::0If the take out from this, is that, excellent and relevant content is all that really matters, apart from well structured code and document semantics … bring it on.
I don’t mind which channels (social media et al) it’s distributed on, I’m just sick of getting rubbish in generalised searches.
I certainly hope you’re correct and that SEO is all about presenting content and little else.
You always get what you pay for in real terms, if that means paying more for good SEO, so be it.
Better than forking out for dubious dark arts.
October 11, 2012 at 1:01 am #1120528Up::0I agree and I’m loving it at the moment, the new Google update is heaps fair and loads of my clients are reaping the rewards from it. It’s become clear the good content of a niche subject and lots of it will rank you highly in Google so long as your content has added semantic information – which let’s face it, is heaps easy. So now SEO specialists have to be more as you’ve mentioned content strategists. For SEO specialists I think this is good too, because there’s so many dodgy SEO specialists, the good ones will now start to stand out.
October 11, 2012 at 1:51 am #1120530Up::0Re: The changing face if SEO
Absolutely can agree with the need for content content content!
A new start for us after the Panda and Penguin updates has shown the relevance of content and relevant information. It has created results dramatically quickly. An SEO company had gone the backlinking route (that touched the black hat scenario) and we had been punished. Hard to take at the time but it forced us into educating ourselves and taking control.
It is good for the SEO process from our point of view, it creates a relevant online presence and has stopped the ability (well in most cases) of those who go completely “black hat” surging to the lead.
I am sure this changing landscape will change again! But, this time we have the reigns and the knowledge so the door closing on us has certainly opened a new one as well!
October 11, 2012 at 5:36 am #1120531Up::0This thread reminds me about the discussion of Penguin update we had in July:
“To summarise recent Google changes it’s all about Content now, am I correct to say that? So should we expect SEO transformation into GCO – google content optimisation? Videos, photos, graphics, articles, lot’s of sharing…and lot’s of love as a result.”
October 11, 2012 at 5:39 am #1120532Up::0Unfortunately, the SEO industry has to face the fact and reality that the inevitable is occurring. Now, everyone talks about great content, sticking to G’s guidelines so as to avoid being penalised. Wake up guys, the SEO industry is on the down slide, something Google loves to see, and please let’s not be naive about the matter.
The fact of the matter is, and I’ve been keeping a close eye on various high quality sites, including some extraordinary FS member sites, and guess what, Google slapped them.
The fact is, Google is taking complete control of it’s Search Engine! Not surprising! All back-linking, whether good or bad, is manipulation in G’s eyes, and truthfully it is.
October 11, 2012 at 5:47 am #1120533Up::0Google updates are good at removing the less serious players.
Always focus on what doesn’t change rather than what does.
If you have a good site, good content, good user engagement and good external popularity you should be in a pretty solid place to ride out updates.
I Write Words That Make Your Clients Say Shut Up And Take My Money @ Cash Copy - Direct Response CopywriterOctober 11, 2012 at 6:53 am #1120534Up::0“If you have a good site, good content, good user engagement and good external popularity you should be in a pretty solid place to ride out updates.”
I don’t agree at all!
Until end 2008, all our sites topped all relevant searches.
Then SEO’s came along with a few newcomers and it’s been a dogfight ever since.
He who has the best SEO wins!Sad but true.
All the best
October 11, 2012 at 7:09 am #1120536Up::0We are going the same path?
oh god… same threads alll the time.SEO is dead.
Google is evil.
SEO industry is in trouble
Google will destroy SEO.Come on guys… time to move on?
October 11, 2012 at 7:16 am #1120537Up::0Snakeman, post: 135912 wrote:“If you have a good site, good content, good user engagement and good external popularity you should be in a pretty solid place to ride out updates.”What do you base this on?It’s the opposite to what the experts who do this for a living are saying, as well as what Google themselves say.
Have you ever used any link building SEO yourself?
As for the content approach. Give it a shot! Build yourself a new useable website, create a content strategy, and implement it. Do it right and you will find yourself back on top.
October 11, 2012 at 7:21 am #1120538Up::0seocourse, post: 135922 wrote:We are going the same path?
oh god… same threads alll the time.SEO is dead.
Google is evil.
SEO industry is in trouble
Google will destroy SEO.Come on guys… time to move on?Is that all you can contribute?
Sarcasm?
SEO is not dead. Google is not evil. Google will not destroy SEO.
I never suggested SEO was dead. It has changed dramatically in recent times though.
A lot of people still believe SEO is building tones of links, and some SEO companies are still promoting it.
It’s a relevant topic that people are still getting their head around. We had a networking even on Tuesday that 80 people turned up to learn how SEO is changing.
As you work in the space, you may well be sick of it, but many small business owners are not and need to be educated.
October 11, 2012 at 7:42 am #1120539Up::0I wasn’t talking about your comments Matthew.
but yes, I will put my 2 cents.
The reality is that yes, Google has done a lot of changes this year
Fair changes?
Not always.But in reality many changes where due to happen.
I recently asked Barry Schwartz about the future of SEO and the way he sees the industry: he replied
Industry-wise, I think many SEOs are giving up. It is hard. It keeps getting harder – and he is right.Is dam hard. you can’t predict what’s going to happen but you can see clear indications of what Google wants.
The concept of content strategy is not new. The concept of social media is not new. The concept of user first search engine is second is not new.
The problem now is that implementing all these is not easy.
Building an authority site is dam hard and many small businesses can’t really compete.The solution?
give up on organic traffic…. (seriously) and try different traffic venues
or give SEO a go while combining SEO with an overall marketing strategy.Depending only on SEO is crazy – I even tell this to my clients.
Regardless what you think of SEO, some people will still try to play it, is your decision if you want to play it or not.
Funny wise, when people start working in creating awesome stuff, SEO becomes irrelevant and not really necessary: People end up finding you.
October 11, 2012 at 8:19 am #1120540Up::0It would be great if people in general realised, they don’t require a website, don’t require SEO and foremost don’t require Google to have a successful business.
Put your head down and get some well thought-out marketing material together, place it in your suit case, get a list of potential clients, go and present yourself to them, your services and products and see what wonders that produces.
Stop wasting time on the Internet and social marketing and place your valuable time to better use. Way more productive to be out there in the real world seeing real people.
October 11, 2012 at 8:40 am #1120541Up::0Cesar, post: 135949 wrote:It would be great if people in general realised, they don’t require a website, don’t require SEO and foremost don’t require Google to have a successful business.Stop wasting time on the Internet and social marketing and place your valuable time to better use. Way more productive to be out there in the real world seeing real people.
Hi Cesar,
Where have you been? I’ve missed your barbs and contentious point of view.I’m all for offline marketing but most businesses can’t ignore the online communication channel in the 21st century. (Maybe it is time to update your 1915 signature quote? )
Your point I agree with is, “Stop wasting time on the Internet and social marketing”. Most of the time and money spent on the Internet is wasted. I’ve been saying that for 18 years.
The tragedy is that people don’t know how to avoid the “waste” instead of creating an Internet marketing “investment”.
Regs,
JohnW -
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