2012 - End of SEO?

by 107 replies
126
Just been updated that there's been some Panda killing again. A few of my sites went down the drain.

Official Google Webmaster Central Blog: Another step to reward high-quality sites

Anyone experiencing it?
#search engine optimization #2012 #end #panda update #seo #webspam
  • yeah tons...
  • Banned
    Yes and no. I asked about this in this thread, here.
  • No, it's not the end of SEO.

    It is just a game of ping pong that goes back and forth. People with $$$ and knowledge of the right software tools will still be able to game the search engines.

    However, for the "little" guy (one man operations), it will be much more difficult. Especially if he/she is trying to do it all himself/herself.

    Johnathan
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    • Right said, now SEO is not possible for the single working person
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    • @ SeekSuccess

      I second your opinion but I doubt the search engines are even close to being capable of properly filtering that.The line between natural and unatural is often blurred.Not to mention dwelling on this criterion alone will return lots of poor results, too.
      • [ 1 ] Thanks
  • Pretty bold statement...hope its not true :/
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    • Don't worry. It's not.

      Google is trying to make things harder. But they've been doing this for years and the smart ones keep evolving & implementing new techniques.
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  • Seems like this time Google are targeting bad quality websites. As defined by google's quality guidelines, Webmaster Guidelines - Webmaster Tools Help

    some old mature site which has been massively promoted and involved in buying backlinks has dissapear. Other site which has lesser backlink build to it dropped a few notch, and new sites without just proper backlink build to it is maintaining.

    This is the statement published today from Google

    "In the next few days, we’re launching an important algorithm change targeted at webspam. The change will decrease rankings for sites that we believe are violating Google’s existing quality guidelines. We’ve always targeted webspam in our rankings, and this algorithm represents another improvement in our efforts to reduce webspam and promote high quality content. While we can't divulge specific signals because we don't want to give people a way to game our search results and worsen the experience for users, our advice for webmasters is to focus on creating high quality sites that create a good user experience and employ white hat SEO methods instead of engaging in aggressive webspam tactics."
  • Google Sh**, Many of my sites were affected. SO what's link buillding work right now?
  • Well maybe the big part of why you're hurting is that you don't even understand that this last update wasn't even Panda.
  • SEO Has been changing since the beginning

    We learn to adapt and we conquer
  • I don't think it's the death of SEO - it's the re-birth of innovation.

    Some people will opt to use white-hat methods to continually improve their web content, while others will choose to use black-hat methods or models. Undoubtedly some people will find a new way to subvert Google's target objective of upholding a better web experience through unique and original content.

    Which method will you choose?

    Ebiz Mom
    Marketing with Integrity

    P.S. - One of my favorite quotes:


    “Discovery consists in seeing what everyone else has seen and thinking what no one else has thought.”

    Albert Szent-Gyorgyi
  • The end of automated SEO, garbage link schemes, and spun content, yes. The end of SEO? No.
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    • The tortoise and the hare concept. Slow easy and win. Seo dead, absurd.
      Just new game
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    • you sir have hit it on the head perfect-o-licious!

      Time to create quality links, and content.

      Arouse google and give her what she wants and she will reward you.
      • [ 1 ] Thanks
  • its not true...SEO is still rock the internet marketting
  • Banned
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  • Ive been posting SOLID original high quality content here Start An SEO Business | SEO Blog on my blog and guess what?

    My rankings are no-where to be found.

    This is the problem. You post high quality original conent and you get lousy results. You post a mediocre article and backlink the hell out of it, and you get good search placement rankings.

    Why cant these monkeys get it right?

    Surely they should be investing more time towards identifying GOOD content, as opposed to penalising the BAD stuff.

    ...urgh.
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    • I hear ye, I've been working hard on a site for 2 months, brought it from no where to page 7, then top of page 3... now back on page 6.

      I've been adding videos, original content to article directories and web 2.0's... I mean, what exactly are we supposed to be doing?

      This was a non affiliate site.

      My affiliate sites have taken a hammering... most of which are EMD'S... are they targeting EMD'S? who knows?

      Now I'm hearing that you shouldn't be using google analytics for any of your sites?

      The thing is, I can see a lot of my competition hasn't been effected... so, If they find one of your sites, breaking their rules, what ever they are, does that mean they go after all your sites? that are using the same GA account and hosting account?

      In essence, de-ranked by association?

      I've been trying to keep up with Google's updates, and understand them, and work in their guidlines... their main message is original content, and no link stuffing, or ALN etc...

      I've played their game... at least I thought I was...

      Are we supposed to have different hosting accounts now for each site?
    • That's the real core of what's going on.

      It's not a one-sided thing.

      Yes they're trying to expose good content - but just having good content is not enough.

      And if you do mass link building (yes, profile links are spam to Google too) then your great content will not show up because they'll slap you because of your links.

      People seem to think this stuff is all about penalising bad sites - it's not. It's also about stopping good sites being artificially high because of mass linking.

      The stuff that has worked for years is now the same stuff that will get your site slapped either out of site or out of the index completely.

      So - the only way to be sure that you're safe is - Good content AND good links.

      Andy
      • [ 2 ] Thanks
      • [3] replies
    • Banned
      It seems that Google is not necessary rewarding sites with great content. Also, it seems that Google is simply not allowing skilled people to rank successfully.

      What worked for 4 months, is just not working as well anymore.

      If you want to succeed in SEO you need a hell load of creativity and willingness to adjust to those never ending changes.

      It´s a lot different compared with Forum Marketing, list building, etc.

      You have more control over those marketing approaches than you have over SEO.
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    • Just sent my 7 monkeys at seven typewriters to this post!

      have only used my whip on them 3 times today. :p
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  • SEO is not dead. It's natural for everybody to experience ups and downs. We just have to work hard to make it till the end.
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    • It's the end of spammy crappy spinning blog networking fiverring type of SEO, yes.
  • Definitely not the end of SEO. The Google update has just changed the way things need to be done hereon. I do believe the next few months will be very volatile, but Google will get it right soon enough.

    SEO is always going to be there. People will continue to optimize their websites to rank highly, even though the techniques by which they do this has been evolving since the idea of SEO first evolved.

    I know a lot of people are frustrated right now, but I do believe if your content was good and SEO techniques were legitimate, you will get back your rankings soon.
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    • I am starting to think people don't understand SEO at all. IMO from all my experience, as time moves on, SEO is going to completely die. Google doesn't want you to 'pay' for your rankings in any way, shape, or form. So, as Google converges further to where they want to go, all of the methods people use that are not 'natural' methods are going to stop working, and you will no longer need SEO experts.

      All that you are going to need is to publish super high quality on your site.

      I find this a hard subject that someone could argue with. All of the methods that Google has been eliminating recently (with Panda for example) have made methods of manipulating their system harder. I see that this is going to be the case for a long time moving forward, and that SEO is to become totally obsolete and unnecessary as any unnatural SEO building will be unwarranted and could potentially penalize your site for not being natural.
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  • I think this is a turn-point in Google SEO. Those of you who are doing the "right" stuff will have little to worry about after the storm clears. You'll likely come back with better rankings than before.

    The latest big algorithm update, and the following demonstration, that showed the true power of "negative SEO" has to have Google in a hurricane of putting out fires. I'd expect the next month or two to be extremely volatile in terms of consistency. From everything I've researched, it's like Google has said "Alright we screwed up there, Screw EVERYONE! We're going to fix it no matter who we stomp on to do it!"

    If this is smacking your traffic numbers in the toilet, look at this as a nudge to diversify. If you're doing things right, after you've re-established your traffic through alternate means, you'll be pleasantly surprised when things settle down and Google is showing you the love again.

    Mark this as the biggest "Google Dance" to date, but don't let this lesson fade too quickly.
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    • If your content was built via natural means, you don't have anything to worry about at any update. It is best to anticipate these changes and only provide valuable content. If you are using any grey hat methods, you will most likely be faced with risk moving forward if Google discovers ways you are illegitimately getting rankings now. This being the case, it isn't even worth it to build your site on these grey hat methods. If you build your business off of these methods and then all of the sudden Google penalizes you once they figure it out, it isn't going to be worth it at all.
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  • Google are just trying to kill off spam!

    The main people who need to worry are those warriors who sell back-link packages.

    It is clear spun content that does not make sense, or that carries a link irrelevant to the article are more than worthless, they are damaging.

    At the same time, social media links are worth more and more.

    - Links in tweets
    - Google +1 votes
    - Facebook likes and links in Facebook comments

    More of these and less crap.

    10 solid links are better than 1000 **** links. Always have been.
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    • No, it's not the end of SEO. Google is still going to rank websites based on "SOMETHING" and once we figure out, after the dust settles, what that "SOMETHING" is we'll start optimizing our sites for it. Eventually that form of SEO will also reach critical mass and Google will roll out something like Panda again.

      Then once again we figure out what criteria Google is using for ranking websites and so we'll be modifying our websites to fit that criteria.

      Rinse and repeat.

      SEO will always be here, It's the nature of the Internet and the nature of the G-Beast.
  • I think seo in terms of backlinking is dying and i have used this on many of my sites but now i have been penalised so in the long run it failed. I am focusing my attentions on building things properly from now on and i think everyone on this forum who have relied on backlinks should do the same.
  • Why are people complaining? Most folk here are gaming the system. Look at people like Pat Flynn. His security guard site has spammy links everywhere. That's the sort of site that Google needs to spank and spank hard.
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    • Well, I just mentioned in another thread... for my main niche, and keyword, the number 1 spot, is a spammy looking adsense site.

      It has 5 adsense blocks, the limit is supposed to be 3.

      It's only got 300 words of content, and most of it's not even related to the keyword.
  • I wonder what would happen if we just focused on providing good quality content that easily flowed from our pens or keyboard, if that would be best. I would like to just forget about SEO if I could.
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    • Nothing would happen - no-one would find your site.

      No matter how great your content is - you still need some level of marketing activity to get people to it. If it's amazing and viral then that can build quickly once you get it started, but standing on a desert island alone with a sign for free gold nuggets doesn't get you any customers.
  • Yes year 2012 is not ending year of SEO.SEO is a long term needed tachnique to improve our business in the world...........
  • Majority of SEO companies are definately not going to go out of business any time soon.
  • all seems good to me

    I have seen my rankings steadily rising this year without doing much...
  • What a ridiculous question or statement! "2012-end-search-engine-optimization"

    Search Engine Optimization is just that..........using the best techniques for the current situation. People will always be optimizing their sites for best results. The rules may and do change constantly. Adapt or die.

    The other alternative is to ignore google to a degree. Create good quality content that your readers/viewers will enjoy. If you do this rather than creating shallow spun rubbish build only to rank then google will like you anyway.

    They also have stated that they don't mind people optimizing their sites well for the google bots. They do want you to use proper meta tags, titles and headers. It helps them to identify your sites theme and content more quickly which help them.

    Optimized sites with good content will not really suffer. It's over optimized sites with rubbish content that will.
  • And I was assuming it is just the END OF THE WORLD. OMG End of SEO is worse
  • How long does it take for the dust to settle after the change as some of my sites are jumping like mad?
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    • it depends a lot on where your links come from and how many of those places are getting slapped by Google.
  • Another end-of-SEO thread eh?

    So even though some people's sites are going down, that can't mean anyone's are going up.
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    • I think SEO will never end, because nowadays more internet marketers and business owners are using SEO for their businesses.
  • Yes, experiencing it big time.

    An improvement in rankings that is.

    And yes, 2012 is the end of SEO, 2013 will probably be the end of search engines altogether, and shortly after the end of the internets.
  • Well if you believe all the Mayan calendar controversy, 2012 is the end of everything.
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  • SEOs not dead, but the old spammy tactics are going to be much less effective and more likely to hurt you. Social will come eventually, its impact on rankings will grow. SEO will not go away, it just won't be about being no. 1 on a SERP anymore, it will define itself broader as a way to drive organic traffic to sites.
  • Do you mind? - I am trying to hold the sky up!

    That article does not say it is the end of SEO.

    I daresay it but as long as a search engine exists there will ALWAYS be SEO - it always needs to bring up results right.

    Just looks like they are taking a measure against "spammy" sites - if you have a site that uses keywords as in the example and articles that they show then yes you are in trouble.

    But that isn't SEO anyway...

    Chris
  • It's not the end of SEO probably the end of black hat, its time to work on proper SEO method.
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  • there was my keyword on 4th SERP of google and now it is in 250 so, now i feel that 2012 is the End of SEO.
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    • That's crazy talk.

      Look around - Google are not penalising EVERY site on the internet.

      Only sites with little/poor content or that have dubious linking or poor loading/structure.

      If your site was doing great and is now not doing great it's probably one of 2 things:

      1 - The sites that linked to you got penalised.
      2 - You got penalised because of bad links

      If you get rid of the bad links Google will remove the penalty.
  • it is not the end of seo, its just google updates to improving his results.
  • The average person would shed no tears if SEO died.
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  • Banned
    [DELETED]
  • Come on guys, SEO will end when the world is ending.. SEO is still growing industry, as it is one of the technology area, there are more frequent changes coming to market, but it never ends till internet is there, because if there is no search engines, people can't find sites easily on internet..... (from my view)
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    • You know what's funny? Many of you say Google is penalizing "thin sites". I have plenty of thin sites. And their pages rank well regardless.

      That is because what is ranking in the SERPs is your page and not your entire website. If someone just wants to check the ferry schedule, do you think they'd like to read about the manufacturing process of ferries? No, they'd like to see the damn schedule. And leave immediately after. To catch the goddamn ferry.

      That sort of page doesn't require 500 words, 500 backlinks, nor does it require social signals or visitors to spend 10 minutes on it. Yet it can be of a great value to people browing the web for such information.

      Think about it, there are many web pages out there that are like this.

      Now would you say "F*ck 'em, nuke 'em!" if you were Google?
  • Its the end of crappy SEO. If you apply write good content, apply quality link building, and participate in social interaction you will be in good shape.
  • Let's be honest with ourselves, if you're on this forum then most likely you are looking for ways to boost your rankings that google does not like.
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    • How true, BabyGotBacklinks
    • Haha! People on this forum are looking to do all kinds of wrong in Google's eyes! Haha!
  • Its Just The Thing That Google Want Us To Do SEO As They Want!
  • Rightnow the complete google search result is messed up. Here is the top 3 for "online"
    Free Online Games - Free Games Played Online
    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Online_and_offline
    Free Online Users - Online Users Counter
  • Evidently it is not just the spammy sites getting hit. I have read numerous accounts on other forums of solid sites with all original content just disappearing. I really feel for some of the people that concentrated all their efforts on one site in order to insure quality only to be struck down by Google.
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    • my sites which was hit contains all quality contents, no keyword stuffing, 1 outgoing link to authority site eg wikipedia and all original. And it's a PR 5 site 30 pages (all original) with premium theme, and 2 adsense block. All clean and no crazy pop up. And it's "KAPUT" - non existence - FINISHED!

      The funny thing is that a new comer with 4 blog post - ugly theme - fill with infolinks advert, site registered on Feb - NO 1!!!!

      Nice one Goofu**gle
  • hai
    it's not the end of seo, it's just ping pong game
  • If you are follow Google guidelines then you can do easily seo for your wesites. Thanks...
  • Yes, SEO of any site is not a big problem. But 2012 is really the end of SEO.
  • Its a game, Google game. If dont know how to play it right, so lets play and earn experiences. If fail, we play again and play better. I think.
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  • hi,
    This is not true.SEO will never end it is forever.
  • hi,
    This is Not True.SEO will never end .
  • Banned
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  • Google is changing it's algorithm in that way so no one can understand but SEO will never end.
  • SEO will still exist, Google won't destroy search results, they want more to people move to PPC paid traffic, we see how SEO will stand by end of 2012...
    • [1] reply
    • Using SEO to appeal Google is not reliable any more. I am putting more focus on traffic buying methods for the rest of year 2012.
  • Banned
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  • Google dont like from seo and changing it's search system but finaly people will choose this again.
  • No.

    Its the end of over optimization
  • Too many websites on the internet now competing for their slice of the pie, It's just more competitive which makes it seem like seo is dead.
  • The fact that Google doesn't want to share how it ranks pages is proof enough that SEO is not dead.
  • i think this bold statement just for the black hat seo tricks and the people who are doing just black hat seo to get their site at top should change their strategy.
  • I don't think so 2012 end of SEO but we have to work hard. I the coming year is end of black hat SEO.
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    • As long as there are search engines there will be seo,

      Bing and Yahoo hold pretty stable rankings, maybe people should make websites around Yahoo and Bing keyword search counts, they may have less searches but at least your rankings will be stable.

      Google is pretty hope and pray. :confused:
  • According to my point of views seo can't never die because it is process of making site popular in the internet world.
  • Its the beginning of the challengers.Google is being updated from 2002 and we are updating ourselves.We can bit it like the pasts.
  • SEO will never end but misuse of SEO will, so no keyword stuffing, no manipulative link profiles, no extreme anchor texting, no article spinners etc.

    Type "Does Google consider SEO to be spam" in YouTube and Matt Cutts from Google will answer your exact question.
  • SEO will die after Google dead

    Just keep updated yourself with Google changes then you see "SEO will never die".

    Cheers!
  • I feel that SEO isn't so much how to "SEO" anymore not that makes much sense but more how to market your website in more traditional ways, plus having knowledge of the web, links and social media.

    Just make sure every time you build a link or a page of content, ask yourself would you or your friends/family link to this and rave about it? if not don't build it. And if you're too lazy to build quality then your in for a **** of a ride.

    I just had to change the way I thought about building links, it sucked but I had to do it and I will be better off for it.
  • Of it were the end what would designate one site from the next as far as placement? Traffic, content, age, etc...?
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    2012 - End of SEO?

    Just been updated that there's been some Panda killing again. A few of my sites went down the drain. Official Google Webmaster Central Blog: Another step to reward high-quality sites