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Why is SEO losing ground?

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Thursday, February 3, 2011

Why is SEO losing ground?

Search Engine Optimization has been an ongoing battle for years. Companies vying for who can get you on the first page of Google. Who can shoot me from page 4 of the results, to page 1 by next week? Who can knock my competitors to page 2 so I dominate the 1st page?

I believe the battle is slowly coming to an end. SEO is losing ground because search engine results are becoming secondary to social media influence. I, for example, no longer "trust" the first page results on any search engine because of the way it excludes, provides stale content, and how it was most likely an SEO money battle of who can pay more than the other to get superior search engine positioning.

I am not saying that search engine optimization is obsolete. I am saying that we, and many others to follow, are slowly but surely trading our trust in an algorithm.. for a trust in our "friends" and social network circle. 

Here are some points that I have been talking about in my recent presentations: 

  1. People shy away from ads
  2. I do not want a billboard, or the 1st page results on Google telling me what to do... I rather ask YOU!
  3. As people become hip to the SEO competition, they see it as manipulated, sorta paid results with a seniority based model
  4. We, the people, do not necessarily have a voice in SEO. We do in social media

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3 Comments:

Blogger Singandtwirl said...

Ever since I heard about SEO I was wondering how long it would last! I own a small business in AVL and I'm trying a big online campaign. It has created quite a stir! This is an online grant competition. My dream is real and not just for exposure but now I am slipping behind and could use a boost in votes! Here's my deal: I need a boost to win a grant proposal to Affect the Lives of Teen Parents and their Babies here in Asheville. The grants will be awarded to the top 5 ideas who have received the most votes at the Kindermusik Good Beginnings website. It would be so wonderful for this Asheville idea to be chosen, receive some international attention and to actually put into motion the idea of affecting the parenting skills and future for these children. Won't you consider posting my link, forwarding on your twitter, blog and email lists? I need about 160 new voters daily, to vote daily, 10x per 24 hours.

I am an idealist. I still think I can change the world. Starting right here in Asheville!
:-)

Here's my link: http://www.kindermusik.com/legacy/grants/ (search for Yvette) or:
http://tinyurl.com/vote4yvette

February 3, 2011 at 9:36 PM  
Blogger Sherri L. McLendon, MA said...

Gary, like you, I don't think SEO's obsolete. I think it's moving into its next phase.And because there is a system of exclusion and preference, it becomes possible to make decisions about content key words and medium in order to align those choices with one's values - and increase engagement with prospective clients.

I recently began testing this concept using one significant, organically derived key phrase via selected delivery methods. As a result, I have now moved - quickly - to #1 in search results for that key phrase.

I think what's happening is that it's not going to be possible to manipulate SEO based on the current standard: a simple search to identify key terms, which we embed into copy. Pros who can look at then multi-tiered layers of meaning resulting in search results, and respond accordingly, will quickly silt to the top. Everyone else will end up somewhere behind page 3.

I adore social media and the way it enables connectivity. However, social media influence works only so much as our connections actively forward information about their preferences to others. Because so many users are uneducated about the way this works from a marketing perspective, I think we have to educate users about the benefits engagement lends to the marketplace - an idea that goes beyond clicking the "like" button.

I love that you raised this question! Please keep 'em coming.
My best,
Sherri L. McLendon
Professional Moneta
www.professionalmoneta.com

February 5, 2011 at 12:10 PM  
Blogger Smiles said...

you are thinking like a seo not a real surfer , social media is dying faster than search engines

July 27, 2011 at 12:54 AM  

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