With all the talk of bootstrapped startups, advantages of “nimble players,” and Davids taking down Goliaths, you might be excused for exhibiting an excess of optimism as you enter the PPC fray, even if you’ve heard scary stories about rising click prices. I’m a big proponent of the personality, ingenuity, speed, and agility you find […]
Dear SEO Industry: Haters Don’t HAVE to Hate
Last Friday, Bill Hartzer’s SEO agency, Globe Runner, announced that Matt Cutts had joined their already notable team as Director of Search. Those of us that have followed Matt for years in his position as head of Google’s Web Spam team can appreciate how much value that could add to any agency’s offering. Bill and […]
Brand is Not a Ranking Factor
I’m surprised the SEO industry continues to perpetuate the assertion that Google prefers “brands.” The word “brand” is used as if it is a ranking factor, like PageRank. This thing that SEOs call “Brand” is a symptom of a site that has their ranking factors in order. Brand is not the ranking factor itself. If […]
Analyzing the UK Apprentice Winner’s Climb Online Website: Killer SEO or SEO Fail?
As some of you know back in December Mark E Wright won the UK Apprentice. As the winner he was given £250k to create an Online Digital Marketing agency. Part of his unique value proposition was that he would revolutionize the SEO and Online Marketing Industry. Given his only real experience with SEO was selling […]
Separating the SEO Signal from the Noise
With hundreds of voices clamoring to be heard, most professing to be God’s gift to SEO, it can seem impossible to figure out who to listen to. The fact that there is so much disagreement in what they all have to say makes it even tougher. So how do you pick the right voice to […]
Google, Partners, and Loyalty (Or: Thanks for the Espresso Machine, But…)
It’s been just over three years since Andy Rooney died. For a time, there may have been a shortage of curmudgeonly commentary on our planet. Luckily, I’m here to pick up the slack. Or if you like, pretend Andy has come back to life, channeling Eminem: “This looks like a job for me… cuz we […]
Is Lord Sugar Legitimizing Everything Wrong in the SEO Industry?
SEO Whoa. SEO has for most, if not all, of its existence faced a trust and integrity issue. SEO faces this issue not because the genuine practitioners of SEO are untrustworthy. However, with a low bar to entry and the ability for anyone to say they know what they are doing ‘hangeroners’ come with the […]
Is SSL a Blackhole? Or is it the Event Horizon?
Black holes are arguably one of the most inaccurately-named phenomena in the universe (barring government intelligence, at least). A “hole” is a region that is devoid of anything, whether it’s a hole in your shirt, your garden or your logic. Black holes, on the contrary, are so full, that their density creates a gravity so […]
Our Top Ten State of the Industry Editorials of 2014
One of my favorite features – and often talked about one – is our State of the Industry editorials and commentaries. We’ve had many top industry experts talking about the many issues that plague our industry today, regardless of how controversial they may be. Here is our top 10 list of our State of the […]
Looking Into the Crystal Ball: 8 Predictions for SEO in 2015
In certain fields, industries, and technologies, change is an integral characteristic. In these fields, keeping up with current trends and whirlwind changes is the key to success. SEO is one of these areas. As 2014 is nearing its end, savvy marketers are looking ahead to see what SEO changes the New Year will bring. SEO […]