| LED Digest 2659: SEO Hats at Conferences |
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The LED Digest Moderated Discussion List "Effective Online Advertising, Since 1997" Data > Information > Knowledge > Wisdom http://www.AudetteMedia.com : the LED's Publisher Boutique Internet Marketing: SEO, SEM, Social Media http://www.SEOToolSet.com/training/ : the LED's Premier Sponsor Bruce Clay's Search Engine Optimization Training & Certification ================================================== List Moderator: Published by: Adam Audette LED Digest adam, led-digest.com http://www.led-digest.com .............................................. June 9, 2008 Issue no. 2659 .............................................. .....IN THIS DIGEST..... ==== CONTINUING ================= <Moderator Comment> --== Nofollow Directories Worth It? ==-- ~ Leon Simmons "...spend time and challenge the policy of a [nofollow] directory with a reasoned argument..." --== SEO Standards ==-- ~ Shari Thurow "...I would hardly label what I'm doing as a form of astrology." ~ David Spahr "This idea of measuring is only useful for certain types of sites." ======== CONTINUING =============================== <Moderator Comment> Just returned from SMX Advanced in Seattle (http://searchmarketingexpo.com/advanced/). It was a great show, I especially enjoyed the SEO analytics sessions, but there was lots of good stuff. Our pal Lisa Barone of BruceClay.com had a really interesting post about how "black hat" the content of this years show was: www.bruceclay.com/blog/archives/2008/06/smx_advanced_goes_dark.html There definitely was a bit more fringe and full-on black hat material than I expected. Pretty educational really. Check out the comments to Lisa's post - lots of interesting names (including Danny Sullivan) adding their thoughts there. For myself, I'm a clean white hat SEO - but it's really good to be informed about the techniques that are being used - and that work - from some of the more aggressive SEOs. More information is always a good thing. That's why we do research with our own sites using all kinds of techniques - to get more information. I'd be interested to hear your thoughts. Have a great week, Adam --------------------- From: Leon Simmons Subject: The Nofollow Debate > I was under the impression that Google > devalues backlinks that carry the > 'nofollow' tag. Are there still any > advantages in submitting to these > directories or should they be avoided? - Leon Simmons, LED 2657 - http://www.led-digest.com/content/view/2072/190/ I sent an email to a well-known directory pointing out that I didn't feel that it was worthwhile submitting an article because of their current 'Nofollow' policy. I received the following email from them: ---------------- "We have taken this action against "bad neighborhood sites", but unfortunately it has affected some of our good authors as well. I would like to ask you to reconsider publishing your articles with us. Once you begin publishing your articles, let me know. We will review the articles and remove the "nofollow" from your account upon approval." ---------------- My reply: ---------------- "I understand your concerns but I can assure you that all my websites are white hat and listed with Google. "The article I wished to submit is a descriptive piece (just over 400 words) about purchasing office furniture -- with a link to a fairly simple promotional site. There is absolutely nothing contained in this website that could possibly be described as "bad neighbourhood" "When I submit articles I obviously expect the back links to be devoid of attachments that nullify their impact on search results!" ---------------- They replied to my email with the following message: ---------------- "Thank you for your cooperation and understanding on the matter. We have reviewed your website and it seems fine. We have removed the "nofollow" from your account and it will not appear on any of your future articles." ---------------- I have now submitted my article and it has been accepted. So it seems that if one is prepared to spend time and challenge the policy of a particular directory with a reasoned argument, you can sometimes get a positive result! Leon Simmons ============ Sponsor Message =========== New Blog from Larry Chase Online Marketing Strategies, Inc Introducing "Internet Direct Marketing Tip of the Day" from Larry Chase's Web Digest For Marketers. This blog features: * Short, time-tested tips from traditional direct marketing that also work well online * Tips Larry Chase finds effective from publishing Web Digest For Marketers since 1995 View these tips, submit your own tips, and subscribe to the RSS feed at: http://www.wdfm.com/internetdirectmarketingtips ============ Sponsor Message =========== -------- new post - new topic -------- From: Shari Thurow Subject: SEO Standards Hi all- This is in response to Alex Hughart's post in LED #2566 [ http://www.led-digest.com/content/view/2073/190/ ] in which she stated: > In that regard, SEO is no different than, > let's say, numerology - fortune telling > based on obscure mathematical calculations > - and it's understandable why some people > are so frustrated with the process. This is > also the reason why it's so easy to > categorize everything under "snake oil" > peddling and wish for the "exact math". There is a tremendous amount of research involving log file analysis, usability testing, etc. on search behaviors that even pre-exist the Web search engines. Even the phrase "search behavior" is misunderstood by many. An immediate association with Google and the search button, but there are so many different types of search behaviors that people exhibit without consciously thinking about what they are doing or how they are doing it (or why). Many usability and search professionals study those different behaviors. I am sure the gentleman and ladies who have their doctorate degrees in computer science, information science, human/computer interfaces, artificial intelligence, library science, usability, cognitive psychology, etc. would greatly be offended at being labeled as numerologists. Maybe I didn't get Alex's point. It's possible. But don't kid yourself LEDers and Alex, though: truly expert SEO professionals know about this research, regularly read this information, apply it appropriately to their Web sites, and...well. Lather, rinse, repeat. I won't deny that plenty of SEO professionals are peddling "snake oil" and I take a lot of heat in my own industry because I do not wish to be lumped into that group. I've purposefully scaled back on my travel schedule so I could spend more time on research, development, and my scholarly interests. I've been able to apply (independently) the results from many of my search colleagues' research. It was a wise decision, on my part. I am pretty impressed with how far search behavior research has advanced. But I would hardly label what I'm doing as a form of astrology. Sincerely, Shari Thurow, Founder and SEO Director Omni Marketing Interactive ~ Search Engine Visibility book now available http://www.searchenginesbook.com/ -------- new post - same topic -------- From: David Spahr Subject: Measuring SEO Results > Showing the money is an interesting idea - > it strikes me that if your name is 1st in > Google, then anyone looking for you by name > will find you... So, people who already > know you, and know what you do can find you > in Google. Or dial 411. Where is the money > in that? - John Smart, LED 2654 - http://www.led-digest.com/content/view/2069/190/ Good question. I think the idea of measuring the "money" is OK as far as it goes, but there are many things not taken into account by being a bottom liner. Increased traffic may not translate into increased sales for a variety of reasons not related to the SEO. If the business model of the site has inherent problems like a lower quality product, or a higher priced product, then a too small increase in sales may not accurately reflect what kind of a job the SEO did. If you can be SEOed on to page one or even number one, doesn't that make the site, domain and business worth more money? How much more? Some sites are a two way street. One thing that can't easily be measured is buying. I always need to buy antique merchandise to sell. I used to buy in a conventional way by going to auctions, antique shops, shows, poring over ads, etc. etc. Now that I am number one in Google, my phone rings and my email box fills all the time with people who want to sell. I expand my range beyond the local area, to all over the world. I make a lot of deals. My vehicle sits in the driveway. Any way you might devise to measure this would be speculative and certainly can't be measured by online metrics. Comparing one year to another may not be useful in a fluctuating economy. There are a lot of business models out there. This idea of measuring is only useful for certain types of sites. It leaves a lot out of the actual picture of "success". David Spahr http://www.stereoviews.com (c) Copyright 1995-2008 Orange Wheel, LLC. All Rights Reserved. ----------------------------------------------------------------- "The supreme law of the land is the Great Spirit's law, not man's law." - Hopi |
