The im”pending” death of SEO…
The day since Google’s content and link relevancy mapping algorithm (Panda) was introduced in late 2012, every year brings in a whole new set of theories about how “SEO is DEAD” or “RIP SEO” or “End of SEO”.
2019 is no different and there a ton of articles, videos and other material that explains that SEO is thing of the past for good.
Here are some questions to ponder about:
•Have you stopped using Google search (or any other search for that matter) to find things online?
•Are you the only business in your domain so there is no need to be searched online at all?
•You don’t use a mobile phone to locate shops or cafe nearby while travelling?
•You don’t use online media at all?
If your answer to all these questions is big YES, the article ends here for you. You are one of the most happiest guys on the planet (angelic really).
Please keep spreading that happiness.
If your answer is a big NO, then SEO not only survives, it thrives!
What does SEO mean?
SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization – a method or concept by which you can optimize your websites technical data and content in such a way that search engines will rank your content high on their search consoles for visitors to reach you.
Old School Perception of SEO
Since all search engines are basically programs or bots (as they are popularly known today), smart techies found out a way to outthink these programs.
These counter programs and methodologies decoded the bot’ logic and manipulated chinks in their design to ensure content (implementing these smart programs) always stayed on top of search listings.
Needless to say, they received the highest traffic and hence best conversions.
Then it became rampant.
Then it led to abuse.
Then it led to visitors shying away from generic search and that’s when nice search based platforms took birth (Youtube for video, Amazon for products, LinkedIn for professional contacts, etc).
This jolted Google’s revenue model big time and thus awoke the sleeping giant …
The Big Change Comes In – the New Avatar of SEO
In 2012, they introduced a series of updates to their search algorithm (Panda, Penguin, Hummingbird and almost all flora and fauna versions over the coming years) to strengthen “QUALITY” of content that showed up when a particular search was punched in.
With Quality, content mapping became subjective (just what Google wanted).
They introduced parameters to “judge” user’s experience on your website to determine its quality when ranking it on their search engine. (Fair as long as they apply this uniformly across all domains and brands)
o How much time was a user spending on your webpage?
o How many pages did he check during one session on your website?
o Did he click on links or fill out forms or clicked phone actions on your website?
o How frequently did he visit your webpage?
o External factors like reviews, ratings and reputation forums
o and a lot more factors that were “difficult” to manipulate using smart-programs (although there are smart cookies doing even that .. it’s a race for domination)
SEO now became Search EXPERIENCE Optimization
The experience of the user’s engagement with your online presence became de-facto ranking and rating signals for search engines to place your website on top of their search results.
This is changing year after year as marketing companies and businesses vie for user attention, interaction and engagement.
As this evolves in 2019 and beyond, a lot of new factors will be incorporated to map relevancy, recency and urgency of the customer’s journey towards your online brand.
Imagine this scenario: You visit an online store to buy a mobile phone but don’t make a purchase. The next time you visit your facebook profile or gmail or other sites – do you see advertisements of the same model you were exploring a few days ago? Yes J. This is how powerful search engines are becoming. They are tracking your journey across the web and mapping your experience with marketing technology to enable you to make that buying decision. Isn’t that powerful ??
SEO is not dead, it has shed its skin and transformed into a resplendent new avatar !!
Use it to grow your business online….
Article coming up – Is The Blatant Misuse Of The Word SEO Across Community Giving It A Bad Name?
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