web counter

November 21, 2005

SEO: If Everyone Is Number One

ME Liz Strauss wrote this at 11:10 am

Practical SEO for Every Blogger

. . . People are giving out advice about ranking in Search engines, when they clearly know nothing whatsoever of the topic.

Worse, in extreme cases . . . they’re giving out information that is patently false, and could actually get bloggers into trouble with some engines. . . .

There are no quick fixes.

–Nick Wilson, Performancing, Misinformation on Search in the Blogosphere

I’ve been in and out of websites and blogs, following links on SEO from every search engine. I know I can spell SEO. I know a few other things too. There are people on the web who know much, much more. There are some who don’t, but say they do. There are a few who will propose that the metaphor in this photograph is real.

SEO in stone

This picture of Search Engine Optimization is a fantasy. I know. I made it. The only thing concrete about SEO is that the rules are always changing. This can be frustrating, but it’s very much worth supporting.

The alternative is that everyone knows the algorithms that search engines use to build their indexes and how each engine values criteria such as link popularity and themes. We really shouldn’t want to know everything. That would be wrong, as wrong as burning books is. Think about it. One of two things would happen.

    1. We would spend more time talking about search engines and even less time talking about readers and quality content. The conversation would become “how to fit the algorithms–how to pass the test.” More time spent discussing the test is less time spent on content. If the rules were available, we’d have no choice but to follow them. Ignore what everyone knows, and we fall off the listings. Suddenly search engines would be controlling everything we said. That’s if the system stood.

    2. The current information access system would completely fall apart. What happens when everyone is number one? No one is. Users would be left with thousands, millions of choices all ranked equally authorative and relevant–a universe of information with no indexing system. It hurts to think about it.

Eric Mutta and I are structuring this series with an eye toward what we really need to know as bloggers and what we can let go of. We’re looking for Optimum SEO that will keep the bulk of our time for attending to our readers and the content they deserve.

We’ll talk through the available resources and how things work. We’ll share plenty of information and places to get more. In other words, this will be Practical SEO for Every Blogger. Don’t be surprised if we all become better search engine users by the end of the series.

And if I meet someone claiming an SEO answer that is set in stone, I will say most graciously, I prefer mine etched in ice.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Tags:

Share This


Filed under Marketing, SEO, Successful Blog |



C'mon. Let's talk!

9 Comments to “SEO: If Everyone Is Number One”

  1. November 21st, 2005 at 1:35 pm
    Shirley George Frazier said

    Each time I’ve attempted to understand SEO, something changes, as you mention. So instead of becoming dizzy from every explanation, I’ve concentrated on Web site basics and marketing my businesses in the traditional ways that seem to consistently work.

    I look forward to reading what’s uncovered in the upcoming series and using the information to optimize the way it’s supposed to be done.

  2. November 21st, 2005 at 2:02 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Shirley,
    I can tell you, you’ll get to know more than you knew before. The key really seems to be to write great content and get out of the way. It seems that more often than we do things to lower our rank.
    Liz

  3. November 21st, 2005 at 4:15 pm
    Become Unforgettable said

    Traffic is not the objective: Its a strategy.

    …SEO is not the objective. Conversion is the objective. On a blog site, you are seeking to convert the first time reader into a loyal subscriber…

  4. November 21st, 2005 at 4:59 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Thanks for the trackback, James,
    Neither Eric nor I disagree. The point of SEO is to bring in visitors that your quality content will convince them to stay and become full-time readers. Thank you for adding that point to the discussion.
    Liz

  5. November 21st, 2005 at 7:14 pm
    Martin (HomeOfficeVoice) said

    Don’t be surprised if we all become better search engine users by the end of the series.

    That’s what I’m counting on Liz :-)

    I went through the “must know everything about seo” phase a while back and really, all you’re doing to yourself is getting one step closer to the crazy house and a habit of pulling out your hair as you gather around your 1001 tips.

    It’s like an addicition trying to get on top of this SEO thing. I basically now just do the content thing and let time do it’s work.

  6. November 21st, 2005 at 7:21 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Martin,
    I already believe that the right answer is do the ocntent and get out of the way are the two best things you can do.

    My main goal here is that I think people are interested in how things work and feel intimidated when others talk about things and they don’t know. So if I can make us all better search engine users. I’m cool with that.
    Liz

  7. November 22nd, 2005 at 4:16 am
    Gerard McGarry said

    The key - as you said - is content. If you’re writing for a specific niche, your content will automatically use keywords that reflect your industry/interest area.

    Further to that, you need to be clear about using Title tags, and h1, h2, h3. Be clever about these. Put in words your audience are likely to search for.

    Check your stats. See how people are currently finding you. You may be surprised at the weird and wonderful queries that folk type into Google to find your site!

    That’s my tuppence worth for the moment! I’ll be checking in later on to keep an eye on this series Liz! Looking good!

  8. November 22nd, 2005 at 11:24 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Gerard,
    Great advice. Mind if I repeat it?
    Title tags, Headers at three levels and use your stats to put keywords your readers will recognize in both.

    Can’t use all of those Google queries, though. :)

    Thanks for your encouragement.
    Liz

  9. July 2nd, 2007 at 12:56 pm
    Car Insurance » Blog Archive » Traffic is not the objective: Its a strategy. said

    […] We?ll talk through the available resources and how things work. We?ll share plenty of information and places to get more. In other words, this will be Practical SEO for Every Blogger. Don?t be surprised if we all become better search engine users by the end of the series. - Liz Strauss […]

Name (required)

Email (required)

Website

C'mon Let's Talk!