Ever watch the Saturday or Sunday morning sports shows before a big game? All of the analysts tell us what needs to happen for a team to prevail in its contest - as if those teams didn't know that. They comment on every aspect of the game and have it all decided before the opening whistle ever blows - yet they still play the games.
Ever watch the investment shows or the business shows that analyze and recap the stock market or commodities exchanges? Everyone promotes a great, can't miss stock - and none of them agree. Well we can't try all of their ideas.
I find similarities with website and social media usage. Everyone is an expert. Everyone knows exactly what Google looks for and tells us how to position our site just right for maximum indexing and exposure - only the truth is nobody who is writing these articles really knows.
The same is true with SEO, key words, meta tags, content, graphics. and everything else associated with the internet.
I'm not challenging anyone's credentials or advice - I give plenty of it myself. I just find it a little amusing that there are so many articles and opinions on what to do - and what supposedly works the best.
To a large extent, it's experimentation to find what works best - on an individual basis - within certain basic guidelines and templates.
A successful online presence is as much an art as it is a science.
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Right on Steve! Like your approach on this subject. I can hear the football guys yelling out seo tips and tricks. Now that's funny! And......it changes constantly so it is an ongoing study of what works.
And we love it, right!!!
Anna,
Thanks. Good to hear your perspective on it, too. Glad we agree. :)
Steve
Steve - You make an excellent point. The advice givers provide advice that is only as good as the sponsor (seen or unseen) that pays them. If you listen to CNN you will get the lunatic fringe liberal point of view. If you watch Fox News, you get the lunatic fringe conservative view. The TRUTH likely lies somewhere in the middle, or not in either of those places at all.
As for Anna's remarks, I made a comment with another Rainer at lunch yesterday. . .I think we watch so much football, baseball, basketball, soccer, and golf on weekends in this country, and we feel compelled to become supportive of a team early on. Then we finally try to intellectually reason why we chose a particular team. However, it's only a game, therefore intellect has nothing to do with it.
Steve, Trial and error...that's what I'm finding out. I'm going to be in Jupiter, Fl at the end of the month. How is it there?
Myrl.
I was talking more about the advice and tips we get for using social media and the internet, but you make some good points. Like it or not, sports is part of our collective culture. :)
Steve
Linda,
It does work out that way although a good coach or mentor can make your trials easier. Jupiter is good right now but by the end of the month will likely be a little warmer. This has been one of the mildest springs temperature-wise I can remember. :)
Steve
Hi Steve,
A couple of things: Does Burt Reynolds still live in Jupiter?
I hate football - I love SEO
Speaking of analysts, do you watch hockey? What do you think of Don Cherry?
"To a large extent, it's experimentation to find what works best" - Your words Steve - best not to take that line out of context, lol.
Jenny,
I think Burt does but I don't know where or if it's full-time. Hockey - not much. :)
Steve
Steve,
I used to work in media. You have to fill dead air...it might be garbage you are spouting. Everyone is an expert...you got that.
Steve,
I definitely have seen that on TV talk shows. :)
Steve
Let me give you a piece of advice, Steve...
Just joshing cause I agree with your post! Spent almost an hour editing post Categories & Tags after Brad explained them yesterday. ARRRGGGH! I do figure he knows best, however. Bring on the Google Juice.
Irene,
Missed the post you're referring to, but advice from someone you trust or respect is fine - it's all of the advice from people you don't know that could be an issue. :)
Steve
Steve,
Yes, advice is something there is much of...results tend to fall behind though. ;-)
Ann
Steve,
Social media where everyone is an expert...ha, so true, so very true.
Steve - I just spoke on social media marketing - ActiveRain, Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook - but that doesn't make me an expert. It was unpaid and was more about community service than anything else. I focused on the applications, how I use them, and shared some success (and some failure) stories. First words out of my mouth were "I'm just sell real estate and practice law... and this works for me... but you got to find your own path..."
I have read some posts touting some new tool - only to find that the tool doesn't work or worse actually causes more harm than good. If you are going to tout it, then at least try it first. Don't regurgitate someone else's blog post.
For me, Twitter is a pretty good example. I find it useful - but probably not as useful as the media pundits describe it. Statistics are meaningless - but I love these two stats. Less than 5% people Twitter and 60% of people who open an account quit within 30 days. So, the 1362% growth is pretty amazing - but is it hype or the real deal?
Ann,
That's just because there's so much of it and you couldn't possibly try everything. :)
Steve
Lynda,
I could come up with lots of reasons why I think this is true, but as long as we agree that it is that's enough. :)
Steve
Ryan,
Agreed. There are so many platforms out there, that you just need to find the few that work for you and learn enough to get a good return for the time invested. :)
Steve
Steve, of course with so many people effectively tweeking their SEO, it's making Google a lot less relevant as a search mechanism. You get the guys with tons of Google Juice instead of what you are really looking for!
Patricia,
That definitely is an issue. Don't you love doing a search and getting something totally irrelevant because they tossed in a keyword or two? :)
Steve