How to Break Free from the “SEO Wannabe” Mindset
Posted by: James Lewitzke in General Search Engine Talk, How Awesome am I?It still baffles me how so many keep exchanging links, worrying about their PageRank, checking useless Google Rankings, etc. Since I thought this way too when I first started out (I won’t lie, as I had no idea where to begin with web administration, marketing, etc.), I figured I’d write this guide to help point webmasters in the right direction.
1. Sit down (preferably in a nice comfy chair) and ask yourself the following questions:
- How much time have I spent on these activities?
- Could I be spending my time doing things more productive for my website and / or business?
- How far has my website come since focusing on these tactics?
- Do my site visitors receive any benefit at all?
- Has anything *really* been accomplished, participating in these sorts of programs?
2. Throw everything you “think” about SEO out the door
I never have, and never will, claim to be an “SEO Expert”, but there are some things about Search Engine Optimization that are not true, for example:
Myth #1: PageRank is a determination of my web site’s /page’s worth.
Fact #1: PageRank is determined by just ONE Search Engine, Google, and is affected by links and only links, and it doesn’t make ANY difference whether they are “related” or not. Some pages can have PR without any content on them whatsoever.
Myth #2: Submitting to Directories, Exchanging links, and inserting META keywords into pages is important and will boost my site’s rankings.
Fact #2: Totally False, “good” content doesn’t need link exchanges and directory programs to thrive. And Meta Keyword Tags are of absolutely NO use to SE’s.
Myth #3: It is possible to be guaranteed top 10 positions in the Search Engines.
Fact #3: Again, False. Google uses thousands of datacenters to calculate their SERP’s, rankings change every minute. Plus, Search Engines send FREE traffic, look for other sources.
3. Know that there’s a big difference between “Networking” and “Manipulating”
Social Networking Sites are communities (See an earlier post I made). There is nothing wrong with stumbling or digging pages you like. But try to avoid submitting your own content as much as possible.
Ask yourself this: If you submit your own content, how are you able to objectively calculate its value?
4. So what Can I do?
If I were to give you advice (which I kind of already am, by you reading this page), here’s what I think you should do:
- Create a unique website with great content
- Build an online reputation through discussion forums, networking communities such as Stumbleupon, or promote yourself through blog carnivals (as it states in the post, be careful not to spam them), for example.
- And Finally: Stop worrying about SEO Tactics and focus on providing value to your visitors, no matter how large or small your audience may currently be.
People are weird in this world. This article should already have 3 comments, at least.
Oh weird! Your blog saw my post on SP forum, and now it has a trackback. Those smart programs… ^^
Anywho, thank you for writing this! It summarizes what I’ve been learning over the past couple days at Steve Pavlina’s forum. It really is about providing value and then Networking, Networking, NETWORKING!
You’ve asked yourself some great questions here. You benefited more from writing this article than you thought you would, didn’t you?
Thanks for the Kind Feedback, Kekoa. (And Yes, I did benefit)
Not only have I learned much from Steve’s forums, but also from Webmaster-Talk. I’d highly recommend checking that place out as well
I have to agree with you, however…
Myth #2: Submitting to Directories, Exchanging links, and inserting META keywords into pages is important and will boost my site’s rankings.
An honest SE pro will explain that page rank is a by product for doing such things, however the primary goal of these tactics are and should be for the exposure. Organic linking is good for like minded websites simply because it places you in front of the eyes that are looking for your products or services.
It’s all about the traffic and I’d rather be a PR0 that gets a few hundred uniques a day than a PR6 collecting dust. Although it’s a vicious circle because traffic brings in links which boosts PR which is what started this whole trend in the first place. People have gone page rank crasy and it’s a sad thing. These gizmo’s are losing site of the whole reason for being on the web. I believe Google created this effect purposely. (kind of like quitting your job to pay eBay fee’s)
Cheers
OK, but how does what you wrote relate to myth #2?
Perhaps you meant to quote myth #1?