Filed under: Social Media Optimization by Stuntdubl SEO at 11:18 pm, 11/29/2006
I’ve been playing with Digg quite a lot lately - it’s an interesting site with a very well defined user base (of alpha geeks). I decided to start taking notes on some of my favorite articles and information on Digg for your reading pleasure (and so you don’t have to search as much as I did). I think there are some great opportunities for reaching an impressive audience with digg. They’ve got some sharp folks behind the scenes - and are improving their algorithm at a rate much faster than we’ve seen search engines do in the past.
I think the area that has made digg so successful is what I would call “human editorial authority”. I doubt people will get away with abusive techniques due to the strong editorial power of holding people accountable for what they post with transparency. While most the search engines DO have human intervention - they haven’t accepted and embraced it. One of the beauties of digg is if there is CRAP in the index - you know exactly who to blame for it. Giving humans editorial authority will create alternate issues to most search engines (problems more similar to dmoz likely) - but overall it seems to have increased the relevance as well as even sometimes the speed of information. I’m personally fascinated with digg both from a personal and a marketing perspective.
Recent US data on Digg.com in regards to their potential acquisition talks:
-Digg.com’s US market share of visits increased 231% comparing the week ending October 21, 2006 versus the week ending October 22, 2005
-Digg.com US market share of visits increased 176% comparing September 2006 versus September 2005
-Digg.com is the third most visited website within the Hitwise US News and Media - IT category for the week ending October 21, 2006
-Digg.com is the ranked at 114 most visited website within the Hitwise US News and Media category for the week ending October 21, 2006
-Digg.com received 55% of its US traffic from Google for the week ending October 21, 2006
From Hitwise via - SEW
Digg Suggestions
Digg upcoming features
Lascivious display of outbound linking:
Stats
Use and Abuse
Story Posting
Community and social aspects
Digg Traffic
FAQ’s and Algo
Don’t Sell Diggers
Tools
More search engine marketing information about digg
Tests and reviews will be in 30 days 
Filed under: Tools by Stuntdubl SEO at 9:56 pm,
SoloSEO is a very nice suite of tools for the DIY SEO’er. The only problem I see it having is scalability due to all the one man shops that will find high value from it. Online SEO Project management for any site.
Try it out for 2 weeks, it’s quite handy.
**Disclaimer: This was not a paid review, I merely liked a very cool product that was worth telling people who would read this site about, because I think it has cool functionality If this WAS a paid post, I would most likely do a much better, in-depth, pros and cons valuable review of the software for the person who developed it.
Filed under: Reputation-Management by Stuntdubl SEO at 1:46 pm, 11/28/2006
Brian thought a contest for Ted Leonsis would be a good idea - and of course Michael’s always up for a bit of SEO experimenting. I think this “contest” offers a good opportunity to demonstrate the importance of rep management in a positive way. I created a Ted Leonsis page as well - so if that page manages to win - I’ll gladly donate Brian’s money to charity (Leukemia research). My plea to those that compete is that you keep it clean - focus on Ted’s accomplishments, and help teach people about the positive things he’s done instead of just being a wanker and tryin’ to get something to rank. I’ll gladly put up a bio or redirect after the first of the year, if Ted bothers to comment on the contest at all.
For the very short time I’ve been aware of Ted at AOL - he seems like a good enough chap. He DOES get SEO - at least he knows OF it. That’s honestly a lot more than most non-search executives I would venture to guess. I really couldn’t run AOL - I’d probably try for a little while and snap in about 6 months of having to wear a suit everyday, but I think Ted is giving the wrong message that ANYONE can do DIY SEO at a high level.
He’s honestly doing a pretty good job of improving the exposure of SEO - which is something I always appreciate. I hope that it will be kept a positive experience for all involved, however. Ted did us a solid by MENTIONING SEO to the kind of folks that know and listen to what he has to say. Despite not COMPLETELY understanding the wonderful world of search optimization and reputation management - Ted is aware of it, and should be somewhat commended, and not chastized for his beginner knowledge. Tagging a subdomain on AOL is a pretty easy way to do SEO - you have to admit - but there’s a LOT of other room in the top 50 or top 100. Please keep it clean folks.
Filed under: SEO Semantics, Search Engine Optimization by Stuntdubl SEO at 3:12 am,
There’s probably a lot of better more cool names I could label myself - but I will forever consider “being an SEO” an honor, despite the beating it often takes from those that sully it’s good name. Below are the principles and qualities I would consider for qualification as a “good SEO”. I’m sure there are plenty that I missed - and hopefully there will be some debate of what can be added or removed, but these are the areas I personally feel are unique to “being an SEO” - and common traits and ideals that I see in those that I would consider top SEO’s. Why do you need a flashy title if you can sum up what you do in a three letter acroynym?
1. SEO is a marketing school of thought…not a process.
There are plenty of people that understand the process, and don’t “get” SEO. Here’s the process - SEObook, SEO glossary, and Ranking factors. There’s still only ten spots that matter.
The process of SEO is fundamental in just the same way that there are formulas for headlines in direct marketing that have MUCH higher likelihood for success - read the playbooks and the process becomes second nature.
2. It’s much easier to plan a website than to retrofit it.
Understanding fundamentals makes it much more valuable when you hire a consultant or agency. 18 questions your CEO forgot to ask.
3. Search increasingly impacts every form of media.
Every media distribution point is doing their best to incorporate search to personalize the conversation rather than just screaming at random people.
4. It’s all about the links (but also about the exposure, rankings, conversation, and conversion) Building link equity is the new brand branding. It’s really all about the conversion - but you gotta love links (and openly admit to it).
5. Any marketing decision impacts search engine rankings - and vice versa
TV, radio, print and other ads can all be used for attracting links. Want to use all flash as the homepage? Pick a different school of thought.
6. Creating a “purple” idea is much easier than begging for links
There is always an extraordinary, remarkable new angle to any industry.
SEO is about understanding the indirect correlation of things to execute on great ideas that no one else has envisioned by having a unique perspective on marketing. Looking for quick fixes and the latest loophole is NOT SEO. Drinkbaiting is SEO - if you can’t figure out why - you’ve never spent a full 40 hour week asking for links.
7. Social media can be optimized
Optimization does not mean manipulation. Optimization is examining the rules of the game and using them to your advantage. Social media increases both exposure - as well as the level of public scrutiny. People appreciate when bias is disclosed, and conversation is HUMAN.
If you are not authentic - you will not last. The higher the value for financial gain of the industry - the more reluctant consumers and agents of distribution become to helping you distribute your message for free.
8. Top rankings won’t fix a shitty product
9. Blackhat is lying to clients, customers, partners, or vendors.
Whitehat is proactively discussing risk tolerance, process, expectations, and contribution to a community instead of just bilking people into teaching you to think.
10. It’s all about the results
Great results can be rankings, sales, or the spread of ideas. There are many great business leaders that don’t realize they are SEO’s. It is more than a process - it is understanding the process and stacking the deck in your favor within the confines of the game - which ultimately changes the game. SEO is the understanding of the dynamic game of business marketing.
Summary, references, and comments
Now I’m starting to understand why many marketing companies hate search - We persist in telling them how wrong they are (their school of thought that is).
This manifesto was inspired by Hugh’s rewrite of the Hughtrain, and his call for manifesto’s as well as, of course, the original cluetrain. (it was tough to play by the rules and get it down to 500 words).
I’m sure there are other founding principles to the SEO school of thought that I am missing - please tell me what I missed, or what sounds way off. Feel free to let me know if you think I’m a wanker or are things or read and agreed with every line.
Filed under: Industry Stuff, SEO Semantics by Stuntdubl SEO at 2:13 am,
It’s a beautiful irony that SEO’s have a marketing problem with the “reputation of SEO” so I thought I’d give a few suggestions on other names SEO’s can now use on their business card or website as a selling point.
14. Conversion analyzers
13. Marketing consultants
12. New Media Moguls
11. Webmasters
10. Internet marketing coaches
9. Meta-webmasters
8. Uber net project managers
7. Web strategy tour guides
6. Net marketing imagineers
5. Master link baiters
4. Mayors of web land
3. 2.0 designer developers
2. Dynamic web engineers
1. Web scientists
Man - I spend way too much time on posts like this. Luckily I’m self-employed and no one yells at me - “Bathrober” is another one of my favorite job titles.
Filed under: conferences by Stuntdubl SEO at 6:06 pm, 11/21/2006
A week in Vegas with many of my favorite people on the planet always makes for a fantastic time. Great friends, great food, amazing new information, and the most creative thinking you’ll probably ever bear witness to. I’m now in recovery mode - trying to keep the cold at bay with lots of vitamin C packets and rest.
Highlights:
- Got to hang out with tedster, a maniac from canadia, Neil, Jeff, Trose, ThomasB, Rae, Champagne Jimmy, Brad, Dan, Greg, Brian, Greg, Michael (whose wife I actually called “Mrs. Graywolf” unintentionally), Rand, Aaron, Giavanna, William, Chris “rebuy” Boggs, Jeremy, Dave, Troy, Lee, Abhilash, Lex, Elisabeth, Vanessa, Michael, John, Rob, Cody, Joe, Dan R., Jill, Bob, Will, Cshel, Roger, Dixon, Marc, Neil, Cameron, T-bo, Andy, Jimbo, JasonD, Donna, Garrett, Chris, Clark, Dustin, Tony, Andrew (who I never did catch up with for a decent conversation - my bad dude). and a ton of other great people that I know I should be calling out as well, but will likely catch hell when I don’t. I know there are lots of others that I had some interesting and fun conversations with - but it would have taken me ALL day to make sure everyone was checked off the list. Thanks to everyone who is listed - and to those who aren’t who know we had a nice chat.
- Met a few mods that I hadn’t met including Todd aka coopster (who had the foresight to stock some wine since the Ren bar closed at 1:00), Dean aka trillianjedi, and Caine aka caine. I also got to hang out with a lot of those that I knew, and always have a good time with.
- The creativity displayed by Chris Hooley - bringing airline bottles to win the “pubcon drinking game”, and the foresight to register “drinkbait.com” - I was baited mid-day - impressive. He also runs a record company
- Met Ben Wills - a very sharp guy who won Andy’s SEO scholarship contest with a submission about the 5 pillars of social media marketing
- Meeting Marshall, Brant, Eric, and several other folks who have been doing this for years, but are much less shameless than I - this is always a highlight for me - there are LOTS of very sharp people in this industry who don’t spend time on forums and posting to blogs.
- Doing some video interviews where I look like a giant tool - as well as a Video on social media on Webpronews courtesy of Mike McDonald (great job on the production!). Thanks to Rand and Lee for helping make me look good.
- Cracking a joke/ story during my presentation that actually got laughs (that I forgot to credit Seth Godin for)
- Hearing Nate say he was really glad I helped to convince him come to pubcon - it’s great to see newer people excited about the industry that we all love.
- Watching “O” and having one of the best dinners of my life with a great group of people who generally prefer to stay off the radar and just make money - Thanks Jay.
- Having a brief chat about O and other shows with Adam Lasnik near the end of pubcon - who seems to be a very well cultured and interesting chap.
- Meeting some of the newest SEOmozzer’s - Jane and Jeff - Seattle must be a magnet for cool people like SF and NYC. Is SEOMoz really a company or just a social club?
- Hearing Guy Kawasaki do a public speaking link request - You got it buddy - very entertaining keynote - and it’s good to see a keynote speaker admit “it’s all about the links”.
- Having a ton of people thank me for writing this site, and letting me know it was useful - it makes the time spent definitely worth while.
Lowpoints:
- My phone crashed and formatted itself on day two - grrr…no contacts or phone numbers
- A friend having a legit site de-indexed during the show (there *is* a reason for tinfoil hats sometimes even as a very light shade of gray hat)
- Forgetting to give Adam credit for my Steven Colbert slide (damn - there’s your link man)
- Missing a chance to catch Graywolf debate with Matt (and talking to Matt for more than 30 seconds in general for that matter) - Hope I get a chance to catch up with you without an entourage for a few minutes in Chicago man.
- Not getting as much time to spend with a lot of people that I would have liked to.
- Not meeting YOU if you’re reading this (especially if you were there - introduce yourself next time!) - If you weren’t there - you definitely won’t regret attending.
There were certainly some good sessions - and I’m always bummed to miss them (thank God for the CD that is out) - but to me it’s all about meeting the great people that I see online constantly. Thanks to everyone who made the show a fantastic time - especially Brett Tabke - for creating such an amazing community of people in a single place. There’s some great coverage of the sessions by Graywolf, SERoundtable, Webpronews, Lee, and several others if you search around.
