New Article - Popular Search Marketing Myths Debunked

[thejenn]

Full Text: http://www.searchengineguide.com/laycock/003674.html

Some Snippets:

"There are a few myths that seem to continue to be spread and that often pop up among small business owners that are trying to get enough of a grasp on search marketing to hire a professional to help them with their site."

"Realistically, no one can promise that a site that is No.1 today will remain in the No.1 spot after the next update. Achieving and sustaining top positions is an ongoing battle of trial and error, success and failure."

"Some webmasters may feel that once they have managed to optimize their site and achieve that No. 1 ranking for their most important keyword, the work is over."

[searchmktg]

Sorry Jenn...Never say never.

That is the only truth that consistently holds water.

I get first page placement on any phrase I want including competitive ones. I don't use SEO techniques. I simply have learned to observe what's out there and have found the loopholes. My placements have all stayed rock solid on all of the first pages in *all* major search engines through every Google iteration.

I'm extremely tired of hearing the baseless myth that it is impossible to get first page placement (and keep it (added in later to clarify)). To me this is just an advertisement for inability.

And no, I have no intention of revealing what I am doing or being goaded into explaining it. Suffice it to say that what I do is completely search engine acceptable and happens ever day for those fortunate enough to be using it.

Break away from all the SEO claptrap and all the Google coolaide and start observing what is happening rather than relying on what the so called SEO experts are telling you. I'm here to tell you they are dead wrong about first page positioning.

<end of rant>

[Former Bluebell]

I would in no way try to coerce or goad you into revealing anything.

The bottom line is that I have a web site that is going nowhere and I need help. I know this forum exists for the purpose of like-minded people to help one another. If you are aware of anyone else who would like to share their knowledge, I would be most appreciative.

[searchmktg]

I'm currently working with the search industry to see if they'll adopt my business model and bury the hatchet once and for all between website owners and SE algorithms. If they say yes, then there will be simple to follow rules on how to place high in all the search engines...and the SEO industry will go bye-bye.

Until then you have to do what everyone else is doing (because I can't get into what I'm doing). Take your title tag which reads, "Welcome to Nefers rare offerings - Hand Made Gifts". Place it in Yahoo and see what happens . OK now place variations of it in Yahoo and see what happens (like, "Nefers rare offerings"). Ok now do it in Google. Ok now look at what occupies the first slots when you do it. My you've been a busy beaver. Look for more of these kind of sites to capture their traffic. The web is all about traffic and following its ebb and flow. Look for the traffic *and the link* and your site will rank high.

Work on what you think your target audience is searching for. If the term "Hand Made Gifts" is impossible to get in Yahoo, then change it to "Hand Made Gifts, Las Vegas". Yahoo will give you that one and any variation thereof. The phrase, "Welcome to Nefers rare offerings - Hand Made Gifts" is so generic that you haven't got a snowball's chance in Las Vegas of nailing any customers that aren't already looking for a store called Nefers...and is "Hand Made Gifts" what you really want??? How many more targeted hits would you get with say "Creepy teen gifts" or whatever. You have to do the homework on what matches your buying market, and what's attainable in the search engines.

None of this describes what I am doing. It's just how you do it without hiring an SEO.

Bare with the net a little longer, and hopefully we'll see this all these ridiculous techniques disappearing overnight. The net will be reinvented with hard working sincere people willing to follow rules for top placements.

[Robert]

Originally Posted by searchmktg

Sorry Jenn...Never say never.

That is the only truth that consistently holds water.

I will never travel faster than the speed of light riding a piece of toast. So much for "never say never."

Originally Posted by searchmktg

I'm extremely tired of hearing the baseless myth that it is impossible to get first page placement. To me this is just an advertisement for inability.

Jennifer didn't say that, and come to think of it, I've never heard any professional SEO that I know say that it is impossible to get first page placement - period. The good ones are simply realistic when outlining client expectations and will tell it like it is.

Originally Posted by searchmktg

I get first page placement on any phrase I want including competitive ones.

Give me examples. Until then, you're just blowing smoke.

Originally Posted by searchmktg

And no, I have no intention of revealing what I am doing or being goaded into explaining it.

This nonsense is exactly what creates confusion for small business owners about how SEO/SEM works. Sorry, there is no fountain of youth. There is no mystical voodoo (black hat or white hat) when it comes to SEO.

I have no problem if you believe SEO should be done in a way that is different than someone else (there is more than one way to skin a cat), but don't drop in making grand, unsubstantiated claims and then tell everyone you aren't going to share info.

The point of this forum is to share by asking questions and providing answers. If you aren't here to do that, you are in the wrong forum.

Cool?

[David Wallace]

Originally Posted by searchmktg

I'm currently working with the search industry to see if they'll adopt my business model and bury the hatchet once and for all between website owners and SE algorithms. If they say yes, then there will be simple to follow rules on how to place high in all the search engines...and the SEO industry will go bye-bye.

Let us know when you accomplish this so we can close up our shops and look for another line of work.

On a more serious side, you wouldn't be referring to allowing people to pay to place would you because I know that Google for one would never allow that.

I am always amused when I see people come into a forum, hide behind a mask, say they have a proprietary way but cannot reveal what it is and announce something like they are "working with the search engine" but do no elaborate on what it is.

Like I said, I find it amusing but nothing beyond that.

[thejenn]

"'m extremely tired of hearing the baseless myth that it is impossible to get first page placement. To me this is just an advertisement for inability."

Well...I was going to point out that I never said that, but Robert already handled it quite nicely.

But I will extend on why it would be silly to claim that...

CLEARLY it is not impossible to get first page rankings...ten sites manage to do it for every phrase in existence. I believe what I did say was that it was impossible to guarantee first place listings unless you, yourself actually control the search engines. Now, perhaps you do...perhaps you live behind a green curtain and everyone bows to your big booming voice. If you've somehow managed to gain control of all the engines, then I hope you charge a LOT of money, because wow, could you be rich.

"I get first page placement on any phrase I want including competitive ones."

Ok, I give you one month from today. Show us how amazing you are and go get a first page listing for each of the following phrases...

"cars"
"travel"
"free casino"
"free porn"
"real estate"

"The net will be reinvented with hard working sincere people willing to follow rules for top placements."

LOL...what in the world do you think that this forum and others like it are encouraging people to do?

"I'm currently working with the search industry to see if they'll adopt my business model and bury the hatchet once and for all between website owners and SE algorithms. If they say yes, then there will be simple to follow rules on how to place high in all the search engines...and the SEO industry will go bye-bye."

If there was a "scoffing" smiley, I'd be using it right now. Hello...your suggested plan is impossible. There can be no rules that say "do this and you will get top placement." Because EVERYONE would do those things and not everyone can have top placement. That's why it's called the top ten...because only ten people can be there.

So as David said, until the engines simply let people bid their way to the top of the organic rankings (umm...making them...umm...Ads?) then there will always be a need for SEOs.

Interesting read though, always nice to see a new member joining up and sharing their umm...insightful comments.

[thejenn]

Ok, so it just dawned on me....

Umm...do you set your preferences to display 100 results with each SERP? And THAT's how you can get first page listings for any phrase? Because on that....if you're a good SEO...well, I'd probably believe you.

[searchmktg]

You guys couldn't have responded in any other way.
Sorry about the initial post. It's unfair to be mysterious. It's hard sitting out here watching people say something doesn't exist when it does.

Just know that it does and that's all I can say now.

Good luck Bluebell, I'll get back to you when I get the OK.

P.S. If you place a piece of toast on the floor and go over and stand on it, in some dimension you are traveling faster than the speed of light. You're just not currently aware of it..which really is what this is all about. An inability to consider other possibilities because of preconceived notions. Keep an open mind everyone.

[Robert]

Originally Posted by searchmktg

P.S. If you place a piece of toast on the floor and go over and stand on it, in some dimension you are traveling faster than the speed of light. You're just not currently aware of it..which really is what this is all about. An inability to consider other possibilities because of preconceived notions. Keep an open mind everyone.

Ha, I was willing to consider possibility that we could throw out the laws of physics and I could travel faster than the speed of light. But, not being willing to ride (or stand on) toast is where I had planned to trip you up.

By the way, just as a point of information, I am not an SEO or an SEM so I have no vested interested in any particular methodology. I'm open to new approaches, but I'm not keen on creating confusion.