Does SEO really matter?

[Chr]

I'm curious, do you guys think intentional SEO work is important for a website the offers quality content. I wonder if you guys think its best for someone to produce good content and naturally receive links from people who enjoyed the content and to let Google do its job on its own, or do you think it is really important to actively do things that are intended to bring up your search engine rank?

[DesignontheGrind]

Quality, interactive content that gains links naturally IS SEO bro. Its not linkbuilding per say, but SEO covers a lot more than that.

But to answer the question, why not? More traffic = more money. And if you content IS that good, then you are going to get a lot of bang for your buck.

[jwmann2]

Technically, this could happen but it will take MUCH longer to get things going. But you can the right idea. Quality content will get people coming back again and again.

[BloggingPro]

SEO isn't a black and white thing. In this scenario you are assuming that it is.

There are plenty of sites that have had 100% original and quality content and they STILL received the Google slap. Why? Because they didn't optimize their pages so that Google would like them.

There is more to SEO than just building backlinks, submitting to directories and buying a packet of patience at the grocery store. It's far more than that. It's a dynamic thing, that is effected by many different variables.

I've seen pure spam links greatly benefit a site that simply had domain age. Try that with a brand new site, and whether you have original content or not, you'll find yourself dancing uncontrollably for a very long time.

It's dynamic, and you need to look at each site differently depending on competition levels and the like. This isn't 1999 or even 2005 anymore. You can't rely on Google "to do its thing." You have to tell Google exactly how you want it to treat your site.

[wfhblueprints]

Quality content is king in the eyes of any search engine. But using sound onpage SEO principles can help visitors find that content.

Its a bit of a chicken and egg scenario.

If no one reads your content no one is likely to link to your content.....so it can help to push it along a bit.

If you aim to write quality content and optimize it correctly and build links in the right way you'll be fine traffic wise.

Regards

Chris

[axcbuz]

Yeah I agree, you need some hardcore SEO and linkbuilding at site launch, but afterwards if it's successful as you hope, you won't have to worry about it anymore

[rocketmoto]

SEO is important yes but it's also important to not rely fully on it for traffic. It should be your main focus at first but never rely on it for all of your traffic.

[Kurt]

Originally Posted by wfhblueprints

Quality content is king in the eyes of any search engine. But using sound onpage SEO principles can help visitors find that content.

Its a bit of a chicken and egg scenario.

If no one reads your content no one is likely to link to your content.....so it can help to push it along a bit.

If you aim to write quality content and optimize it correctly and build links in the right way you'll be fine traffic wise.

Regards

Chris

I agree 100%. No one will link to a site just because it has good content. People have to fist see the site to know if it has good content or not.

Some how, some way you have to get people to a site before people can link to it. SEO is one of those ways.

[trishseo]

Originally Posted by Chr

I'm curious, do you guys think intentional SEO work is important for a website the offers quality content. I wonder if you guys think its best for someone to produce good content and naturally receive links from people who enjoyed the content and to let Google do its job on its own, or do you think it is really important to actively do things that are intended to bring up your search engine rank?

It's your job to first bring people to your pages naturally to thus start linking to that content. If you are capable of bringing your own traffic via social media sites, paid clicks, or otherwise, no SEO is not relevant.

However, I believe SEO is the lesson to learn in IM. If you ever want to generate money passively in this business, IMO you need Google (and other search engines) to send you free targeted traffic day after day.

[Kierkegaard]

You've got to help Google out a bit if you want to get the best rankings for your site.

For example, if you don't make it easy to identiify what your pages are about or you use flash or javascript links, etc. then you won't rank as well as you could. If you categorize your pages in an odd manner then the 'link juice' won't flow smoothly.

As long as the SEO basics are in place then simply striving to make sure your sites are as user-friendly and useful as they can be is all the SEO you'll need.

[YasirYar]

Originally Posted by Chr

I'm curious, do you guys think intentional SEO work is important for a website the offers quality content. I wonder if you guys think its best for someone to produce good content and naturally receive links from people who enjoyed the content and to let Google do its job on its own, or do you think it is really important to actively do things that are intended to bring up your search engine rank?

Sorry but unless your website is already popular, you have an extremely radical or different idea, I just do not see your website getting tons of natural links even if the content is engaging.

therefore, it is always best to do your own SEO.

[warrich]

Of course SEO matters bro, imagine that you have a very good website that offers quality stuff but what would be the use if no one visited it or had no idea what you had to offer. It is important to rank high in SE as they will then bring in visitors to your site that can turn into potential customers. More customers= More profit.