SEO Information

Search Engine Optimization, Positioning: Is Chasing Google Algorithms Worth It?


Google is the undisputed heavyweight champion of search engines. Most SEO (search engine optimization) companies pitch their tent around Google. Apart from being the king of search engines, unlike Yahoo and MSN, Google does not serve sponsored results on top of its search results, drawing away considerable attention/traffic away from the search results. Hence ranking high with Google is worth all the trouble it takes to get there. Little wonder then, that most SEO revolves round Google. When Google sneezes, the SEO world catches cold. When Google tweaks its search algorithms, SEO experts scamper back to the trenches to gaze at their crystal ball, to figure out what Google is up to.

What makes Google tick is simply because they serve the most relevant results for most search engine queries. They do this through their secret formula (algorithms), propounded by eggheads from academia and the industry, to rank sites according to its relevance to the search phrase. To continue to do that, they constantly tweak their magic portion, knowing fully well that SEO gurus are at their tail, trying to crack their secret code and beat the system. Before Yahoo and MSN went solo, they sourced for search engine results from Google.

It then makes simple common sense that to come tops in Google, you have to deliver unique valuable content, since that is what they are looking for. It is a simple win-win scenario. Google needs links to excellent content sites, so that they serve it to searchers, pull in traffic and drive up advert revenues. Searchers come to Google, and Google sends them to you. You end up with free highly targeted traffic to your site. Every one smiles to the bank.

This seems too simple for most webmasters to comprehend. There must be a shorter more convoluted way. Crack the secret code, and you are in business. So they try to figure out how Google ranks sites, and then go ahead to tweak their pages to suit. Much effort is put into trying to optimize the few pages they have, instead of adding more unique content. They play around with keyword density at the title, meta and alt tags, body, columns etc. They take their focus completely away from growing their site/business, and become fixated on tweaking the few pages they have to death.

There is nothing wrong with getting your keywords in the right places. The simple fact is, the Google Algorithm is very complex, and takes into account so many factors, that optimizing your pages alone will not do. Google is no fool.

Google's ultimate aim is to judge pages through the human eye. Since that is not feasible, having to contend with close to nine billion odd pages or so, they have to develop their own artificial intelligence to judge sites based on users response. To remain on top, they have to constantly improve on their algorithms. For Google algorithm chasers, that means constantly chasing after the wind. Google can afford to pay for the best brains in the world to develop its algorithms. Most SEO experts are managing to make a living. They are out numbered, out-classed, out-maneuvered and out-brained (if there is term like that). There is close to zero chance of catching up with Google. If you manage to, it is only for a season. At the next algorithm upgrade, you are left behind, yet again. It is a waste of time, energy and resources.

Commonsense makes the most sense, ultimately. Google is looking for unique content. Give it to them. You give them content and they send you traffic. Looks like a fair deal. This means you build your site for human visitors, not search engine spiders. Ultimately, human visitors determine the success of your site. If your content is not of much use to humans, there is nothing much search engine spiders can do for you. If you manage to get high rankings for a season, you will simply end up with window shoppers: they land in your home page, and off they go. To make it worse, by the next database update, your site will simply disappear from the radar. Your fifteen minutes fame is over. You are back to the trenches.

You have to decide upfront who you want to focus on, your customers/visitors or the engines. Decide who pays your bills, visitors or spiders. After you have decided, remain focused and stick with it. The search engines are looking for content. If you have a valuable content site, they are looking for you. Keep providing valuable content. Someday soon, they will recognize your efforts, and put you where you belong, at the very top. It is only a matter of time.

Usiere Uko is the webmaster of the Financial Freedom Inspiration website and editor of the monthly Financial Freedom Inspiration Newsletter, a free ezine to inspire you to exit the rat race and fulfill your God given dreams. To subscribe or visit the site, please visit http://www.financial-freedom-inspiration.com. He is also webmaster of http://www.newdawninspiration.com


MORE RESOURCES:

The day in the life of an in-house SEO at Tribune - After Lunch
Marketing Pilgrim, NC - 10 hours ago
Whether that is a team of thousands or just a handful, your content producers should be focused on SEO continually and engaging with them daily will keep ...
The day in the life of an in-house SEO at Tribune Marketing Pilgrim
all 2 news articles


BLM Quantum launches SEO operation
Brand Republic, UK - 31 minutes ago
QLadder will offer an integrated SEO (search engine optimisation) and paid search service to all BLM Quantum/Arena BLM clients, pushing the agency into ...


Ektron CMS400.NET v7.6 Improves SEO and Multi-Site Support
InformationWeek, NY - Oct 9, 2008
In particular, the importance of SEO (search engine optimization) features can't be understated, and any CMS or blogging tool that doesn't include a strong ...


WiredPRNews.com (press release)

Red Flags To Watch For When Interviewing SEO Consultant
WiredPRNews.com (press release), TX - 10 hours ago
West Palm Beach, FL- Looking for an SEO consultant to boost your marketing plan in the internet arena? Then read the following RED FLAGS to watch out for ...


NYC Marketers Prep for Search Engine Marketing & Optimization (SEM ...
MarketWatch - Oct 9, 2008
NEW YORK, Oct 09, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- As businesses face turbulent economic times, they are under immense pressure to justify advertising dollars. ...
Avanindra, a specialized SEO company in Search engine optimization ... NewDesignWorld (press release)
Toronto SEO & Web Analytics Expert Unveils Fall Speaking Schedule PR Web (press release)
all 12 news articles


Keyword Searches and SEO Optimization
Promotion World (press release), CA - 18 hours ago
Building your site to target these key words is called SEO Optimization and is now used by most sites to attempt to get the most traffic. ...


10 Ways To SEO In A Forum
American Chronicle, CA - 12 hours ago
Forums are communities often updated by member's contributions and are very well seo'ed (search engine optimized) on majority of search engines. ...


Free SEO Service Poised to Do Wonders for the Economy
PR Web (press release), WA - 19 hours ago
However, with many firms charging $5000 or more a month, SEO is out of range for most small businesses. The issue is worsened by the fact that the country ...


'93% of retailers use SEO'
Business Feet, UK - 16 hours ago
Search engine optimisation (SEO) has once again confirmed that it is one of the most widespread marketing strategies. According to the most recent Trends in ...


SEO India Designers offering SEO Copywriting Services
PR-Inside.com (Pressemitteilung), Austria - 18 hours ago
2008-10-10 11:05:48 - Seo.India-designers.net, a well known web solutions company has now expanded its services range by including content writing services ...

SEO - Google News

home | site map
© 2006