Are You Engaging in Dumb SEO?

[rcritchett]

Smart SEO: The act of doing on-site optimization, creating not only unique, but different than anyone else kind of content, and deliberately creating a buzz around your NAME and BRAND by building solid connections with other people.

Additionally, sure, I'll advocate link wheels using web 2.0 sites pointing to each other and your bottom line page.

However, if you're actually showing your face, as opposed to hiding behind some software and not being social, links come easy when you have great stuff. So.. either be great, or take a hit on your pride because you have to attempt to game Google.

Dumb SEO: Gaming Google. I don't want to seem like some jerk or something here. I'm a nice guy that loves people! But what kind of irritates me a bit is people going "hey.. check out my list of EDU blogs!! Yea!!"

Cmon man. What will you do with that? Go spam the blogs?

Dumb SEO is nothing more than NOT having a long term perspective. Additionally, if you're into doing the grey hat techniques for getting ranked, you'll never give yourself the opportunity to focus on all of the crazy effective white hat techniques.

Ultimately, let's just all think about something. How does it make you feel, deep down inside knowing that you're not being as legit as you could be (if that's the case)?

That's enough to consistently push me in the direction of engaging in smart SEO, which, fantastically enough, proves time and time again to be LONG TERM SEO.

Thanks for reading! I know you'll have some reactions, I respect your opinions more than anything.

[robetmild]

I don't belive in dumb seo....I normally follow the track of google....edu and gov links may be beneficial but google can kick you out form their indexing if you spam there. I don't make so much attention for getting edu and gov backlinks.

[LarryHaywood]

Very well said and I think you made some great points pertaining to both sides of the fence. Smart SEO is how I choose to go myself.

[MikeFriedman]

Just playing devil's advocate here, but how is spamming blogs for backlinks any different than creating Web 2.0 sites for backlinks? You are still just creating clutter on the internet aren't you?

Sorry to burst anyone's bubble here, but if you are actively creating backlinks to your own sites, I do not see how you can call that natural link building, like so many people seem to want to. You are still trying to manipulate the SERPs. I do not see the difference between someone doing it manually or using tools to automate it. The outcome is the same... an artificial ranking achieved through self-created backlinks.

[4morereferrals]

Additionally, sure, I'll advocate link wheels using web 2.0 sites pointing to each other and your bottom line page.

However, if you're actually showing your face, as opposed to hiding behind some software and not being social, links come easy when you have great stuff. So.. either be great, or take a hit on your pride because you have to attempt to game Google.

Does the mad irony of this escape you? lolz

If a software app spams web 2.0's with your Acne Cure Article tripe - you're just a spamming rat bass-tard - however; if you manually do it - and make your profile pretty and put your real face on your spam - you're a legit white long term seo guru!

Ultimately, let's just all think about something. How does it make you feel, deep down inside knowing that you're not being as legit as you could be (if that's the case)?

I will worry about my feelings on this topic when Google comes clean.

How does it feel when they ban peoples accounts and steal their $$$ - with no recourse and no response?

How does it feel when some jack hole in some 3rd world country in a google cube decides your site is crap and they hit the de index button without recourse and no discussions or feedback as to the exact reasons they took actions - or how to fix it?

How does it feel when they buy the best damn lawyers and bring the full brunt of their monopolistic power to small business owners trying to get a piece of the internet too?

When they [ Google ] buy a heart with all their billions they've garnered as over lord of the internet - I'll concern myself with feelings.

[AlphaWarrior]

In a perfect internet (or Google) world, every website would link to other websites, but, truthfully, when was the last time that you saw a website simply link to another website? It really doesn't happen very often now.

Years ago, I could look at a website, click on a link to another website, then click on a link to another website. It was the way the internet worked. But that simply is not the case now. If you want links to your site, you have to go out and get them.

[rcritchett]

Originally Posted by robetmild

I don't belive in dumb seo....I normally follow the track of google....edu and gov links may be beneficial but google can kick you out form their indexing if you spam there. I don't make so much attention for getting edu and gov backlinks.

Interesting perspective! I respect your opinion for sure, thanks for commenting my friend.

[rcritchett]

Originally Posted by 4morereferrals

Does the mad irony of this escape you? lolz

If a software app spams web 2.0's with your Acne Cure Article tripe - you're just a spamming rat bass-tard - however; if you manually do it - and make your profile pretty and put your real face on your spam - you're a legit white long term seo guru!




I will worry about my feelings on this topic when Google comes clean.

How does it feel when they ban peoples accounts and steal their $$$ - with no recourse and no response?

How does it feel when some jack hole in some 3rd world country in a google cube decides your site is crap and they hit the de index button without recourse and no discussions or feedback as to the exact reasons they took actions - or how to fix it?

How does it feel when they buy the best damn lawyers and bring the full brunt of their monopolistic power to small business owners trying to get a piece of the internet too?

When they [ Google ] buy a heart with all their billions they've garnered as over lord of the internet - I'll concern myself with feelings.

Another awesome comment from you my friend! I admire your persistence, and find it kind of flattering.

You're right though, there are many ways to look at it. Interesting perspective, you took it a bit differently than I meant it so I'll let you decide what to think -

I never had that happen to me (some guy in another country torching my site without warning or explanation), so I don't know how that feels. You certainly have a point there!

Thanks again for your attention, it helps.

[rcritchett]

Originally Posted by AlphaWarrior

In a perfect internet (or Google) world, every website would link to other websites, but, truthfully, when was the last time that you saw a website simply link to another website? It really doesn't happen very often now.

Years ago, I could look at a website, click on a link to another website, then click on a link to another website. It was the way the internet worked. But that simply is not the case now. If you want links to your site, you have to go out and get them.

I definitely agree with you on many levels, thanks for replying. Undeniable logic.

[rcritchett]

Originally Posted by LarryHaywood

Very well said and I think you made some great points pertaining to both sides of the fence. Smart SEO is how I choose to go myself.

Thanks Larry! Great reply my friend. Glad you understood "both sides," awesome response.

[rcritchett]

Originally Posted by MikeFriedman

Just playing devil's advocate here, but how is spamming blogs for backlinks any different than creating Web 2.0 sites for backlinks? You are still just creating clutter on the internet aren't you?

Sorry to burst anyone's bubble here, but if you are actively creating backlinks to your own sites, I do not see how you can call that natural link building, like so many people seem to want to. You are still trying to manipulate the SERPs. I do not see the difference between someone doing it manually or using tools to automate it. The outcome is the same... an artificial ranking created through self-created backlinks.

Thanks for replying Mike. Definitely a good point you're making. If you're creating content on Web 2.0 platforms that offer something useful, that's not spamming (in my eyes).

It can be legitimately done for SEO purposes for sure! I think a healthy balance is really where this is going.

I appreciate your one viewed perspective, and obvious inability to shift it, even a bit. Thanks for commenting on my blog as well!

[papagiorgio]

Originally Posted by rcritchett

Ultimately, let's just all think about something. How does it make you feel, deep down inside knowing that you're not being as legit as you could be (if that's the case)?

My question is, how do you define legit? How can anyone define legit? As SEOs we place Google on a pedestal, but the fact is that they are not the only game in town. They may have the lion's share of traffic, but that could change one day.

I consider myself a (mostly) white hat marketer with the majority of my sites. Yet I see those sites bouncing around big G's search results over the last 6 months, yet they sit in the top 3 positions in Yahoo/Bing consistently delivering traffic.

Another thing is, with hundreds of sites, I don't have the time to deal with building buzz and connections with people. Besides, if someone is searching for thongs for hairy midget men, I doubt they are going to want to waste time with twitter streams and facebook fan pages (which is what I am assuming you meant?)

[RossChops]

I just try everything and then continue to do whatever works. That cant be dumb SEO!

[MikeFriedman]

Originally Posted by rcritchett

Thanks for replying Mike. Definitely a good point you're making. If you're creating content on Web 2.0 platforms that offer something useful, that's not spamming (in my eyes).

It can be legitimately done for SEO purposes for sure! I think a healthy balance is really where this is going.

I appreciate your one viewed perspective, and obvious inability to shift it, even a bit. Thanks for commenting on my blog as well!

No offense, but it sounds like you are just trying to justify your backlinking by making it sound like it is better than someone else's method of backlinking. I still think if you are building backlinks to your site yourself, you are swimming in the grey.

So many IM'ers try to say things like "I only leave blog comments that add value to the discussion." I guess it allows them to sleep easier at night. Fact of the matter is that blog commenting is nothing more than a selfish act of self-promotion. If there was no opportunity to get a backlink, 99% of comments from IM'ers would disappear.

[rcritchett]

Originally Posted by papagiorgio

My question is, how do you define legit? How can anyone define legit? As SEOs we place Google on a pedestal, but the fact is that they are not the only game in town. They may have the lion's share of traffic, but that could change one day.

I consider myself a (mostly) white hat marketer with the majority of my sites. Yet I see those sites bouncing around big G's search results over the last 6 months, yet they sit in the top 3 positions in Yahoo/Bing consistently delivering traffic.

Another thing is, with hundreds of sites, I don't have the time to deal with building buzz and connections with people. Besides, if someone is searching for thongs for hairy midget men, I doubt they are going to want to waste time with twitter streams and facebook fan pages (which is what I am assuming you meant?)

Great response, thanks for commenting. I'd say, from an observational standpoint (without investing emotion), legit means playing by G's rules.

Yea, we hold them on a pedestal for sure, I know. I've just seen great results playing by their rules.

In many ways, my post pertains particularly to people with a long term perspective. My way of doing SEO isn't really built for people who have.. hundreds of sites, for whatever reason.

To be specific, I'm using buzz in a way that explains people in the blogosphere and the web start to notice the quality of what you're doing, and they start talking about it on posts (which they link to you in), Twitter (retweets which have a bit of an influence on rank) and just mentioning people.

Ultimately, I like your response and value your opinion. Great perspective.

[rcritchett]

Originally Posted by MikeFriedman

No offense, but it sounds like you are just trying to justify your backlinking by making it sound like it is better than someone else's method of backlinking. I still think if you are building backlinks to your site yourself, you are swimming in the grey.

So many IM'ers try to say things like "I only leave blog comments that add value to the discussion." I guess it allows them to sleep easier at night. Fact of the matter is that blog commenting is nothing more than a selfish act of self-promotion. If there was no opportunity to get a backlink, 99% of comments from IM'ers would disappear.

Look Mike, I think you're taking it that way because you feel as if you're doing the wrong thing. I didn't create this post to argue with people who's integrity is in question, IN THEIR OWN EYES but more for the purposes of starting an intelligent conversation and getting opinions from professionals.

Thanks for your... responses. I admire your persistence and tooth and nail defense.

[rcritchett]

Originally Posted by RossChops

I just try everything and then continue to do whatever works. That cant be dumb SEO!

Regardless of all perspectives in this particular thread, I LIKE YOUR APPROACH!

Nice response my friend.

[Aki Fagno]

Great post you have there. I have learned from it. Thanks for sharing dude.

[rcritchett]

Originally Posted by Aki Fagno

Great post you have there. I have learned from it. Thanks for sharing dude.

Sure man, thanks for commenting.