Comments on: Are Search Engine Rankings Dead? http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/05/are-search-engine-rankings-are-dead/ Grow your business with TopRank Online Marketing tips, articles, & experts interviews on social media, digital PR & search engine marketing. Sat, 20 Mar 2010 04:20:09 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Steve Neale http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/05/are-search-engine-rankings-are-dead/#comment-333167 Steve Neale Mon, 21 Jan 2008 22:23:19 +0000 http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/05/are-search-engine-rankings-are-dead/#comment-333167 What will be interesting is that if the search engines implement personalized search then will developers implement the same thing for the actual websites.....if so, how on earth will that marry up, and would that trigger spam problems with the search engines because in theory one thing is presented to the engines, another to a user (standard violation) Consider a site that sells partywear. Googlebot is 'depersonalized' and sees a plain generic homepage with nav to all areas from posh frocks to gangsta gear. If Jane Doe arrives who's id'd as female, wealthy, aged 60+ and the site is dynamically built for her profile (posh party wear, posh wording, contemporary graphics) that is different than if John Doe visits whos 16 and profile brings up a 'street' type site... That would be great for the site to make sales but a mare for engines to rank methinks. What will be interesting is that if the search engines implement personalized search then will developers implement the same thing for the actual websites…..if so, how on earth will that marry up, and would that trigger spam problems with the search engines because in theory one thing is presented to the engines, another to a user (standard violation)
Consider a site that sells partywear. Googlebot is ‘depersonalized’ and sees a plain generic homepage with nav to all areas from posh frocks to gangsta gear. If Jane Doe arrives who’s id’d as female, wealthy, aged 60+ and the site is dynamically built for her profile (posh party wear, posh wording, contemporary graphics) that is different than if John Doe visits whos 16 and profile brings up a ’street’ type site… That would be great for the site to make sales but a mare for engines to rank methinks.

]]> By: This Week In SEO - 5/18/07 - TheVanBlog http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/05/are-search-engine-rankings-are-dead/#comment-129458 This Week In SEO - 5/18/07 - TheVanBlog Fri, 18 May 2007 23:18:05 +0000 http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/05/are-search-engine-rankings-are-dead/#comment-129458 [...] Are Search Engine Rankings are Dead? [...] [...] Are Search Engine Rankings are Dead? [...]

]]> By: Lee Odden is #1 for “Lee Odden” (Oh wait: that doesn’t matter anymore.) at Search Matters Search Marketing Blog http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/05/are-search-engine-rankings-are-dead/#comment-128279 Lee Odden is #1 for “Lee Odden” (Oh wait: that doesn’t matter anymore.) at Search Matters Search Marketing Blog Thu, 17 May 2007 20:48:57 +0000 http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/05/are-search-engine-rankings-are-dead/#comment-128279 [...] Lee Odden posted on personalization of search results, and how customized search results spelled the end of conventional ranking reports. He then proceeded to blast an unnamed SEO company for mentioning that they use WebPosition to provide ranking reports for their clients: At a recent conference I attended, a speaker from a very large search engine optimization company reported that one of the primary reporting tools they use for SEO was WebPositionGold. I was really surprised to hear that and even more surprised to hear him say it to a room full of marketers… We don’t use {WebPosition} in our SEO firm, but used to from 1998 - 2003. [...] [...] Lee Odden posted on personalization of search results, and how customized search results spelled the end of conventional ranking reports. He then proceeded to blast an unnamed SEO company for mentioning that they use WebPosition to provide ranking reports for their clients: At a recent conference I attended, a speaker from a very large search engine optimization company reported that one of the primary reporting tools they use for SEO was WebPositionGold. I was really surprised to hear that and even more surprised to hear him say it to a room full of marketers… We don’t use {WebPosition} in our SEO firm, but used to from 1998 – 2003. [...]

]]> By: (EMP) E-Marketing Performance » : » Team Reading List 5.17.07 http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/05/are-search-engine-rankings-are-dead/#comment-128153 (EMP) E-Marketing Performance » : » Team Reading List 5.17.07 Thu, 17 May 2007 17:02:58 +0000 http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/05/are-search-engine-rankings-are-dead/#comment-128153 [...] Google’s New “Universal Results” Universal search: The best answer is still the best answer - Top 10 real estate just got smaller but more opportunitous (I call dibs on that word) Are Search Engine Rankings Dead? Google 2.0: Google Universal Search Google 2.0: Google Universal Search Google Finally Catches Up with SEO [...] [...] Google’s New “Universal Results” Universal search: The best answer is still the best answer – Top 10 real estate just got smaller but more opportunitous (I call dibs on that word) Are Search Engine Rankings Dead? Google 2.0: Google Universal Search Google 2.0: Google Universal Search Google Finally Catches Up with SEO [...]

]]> By: Gray http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/05/are-search-engine-rankings-are-dead/#comment-127071 Gray Wed, 16 May 2007 04:12:05 +0000 http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/05/are-search-engine-rankings-are-dead/#comment-127071 SER is not dead, but new opportunities await. Del.icio.us, Technorati, Wikipedia. SER is not dead, but new opportunities await. Del.icio.us, Technorati, Wikipedia.

]]> By: Terry Reeves http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/05/are-search-engine-rankings-are-dead/#comment-126809 Terry Reeves Tue, 15 May 2007 17:55:41 +0000 http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/05/are-search-engine-rankings-are-dead/#comment-126809 Ranking reports will continue to be around for awhile. Clients want to see where they are and where you put them. It helps to justify the cost. A good seo will explain all of the other marketing possibilities and push for inclusion. This helps both bottom lines and provides an opportunity to educate. Most clients know very little about seo and literally nothing about social media. A little education will go a long way, especially if you are able to deliver some results the client was not anticipating. As to personalization, there will always be the "mega sites" that are trusted and well aged for specific searches. I search for things I know little or nothing about so there is no history there to personalize. There are quite a few elements that will need to be in place before personalized search is as accepted as current search. I see personalized search having the greatest affects on localized searches as opposed to broad searches. Personally, I see personalized search as a means to additional markets not currently being sought. The era of local seo is about to blossom. Ranking reports will continue to be around for awhile. Clients want to see where they are and where you put them. It helps to justify the cost.

A good seo will explain all of the other marketing possibilities and push for inclusion. This helps both bottom lines and provides an opportunity to educate. Most clients know very little about seo and literally nothing about social media. A little education will go a long way, especially if you are able to deliver some results the client was not anticipating.

As to personalization, there will always be the “mega sites” that are trusted and well aged for specific searches. I search for things I know little or nothing about so there is no history there to personalize. There are quite a few elements that will need to be in place before personalized search is as accepted as current search. I see personalized search having the greatest affects on localized searches as opposed to broad searches.

Personally, I see personalized search as a means to additional markets not currently being sought. The era of local seo is about to blossom.

]]> By: Lee Odden http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/05/are-search-engine-rankings-are-dead/#comment-126697 Lee Odden Tue, 15 May 2007 13:14:16 +0000 http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/05/are-search-engine-rankings-are-dead/#comment-126697 Hey Dan, that was interesting wasn't it? I think he was a sales guy, not someone involved with production, but still, how embarrassing. Hey Dan, that was interesting wasn’t it? I think he was a sales guy, not someone involved with production, but still, how embarrassing.

]]> By: Dan http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/05/are-search-engine-rankings-are-dead/#comment-126695 Dan Tue, 15 May 2007 13:08:50 +0000 http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/05/are-search-engine-rankings-are-dead/#comment-126695 I was in the same room when said person dropped the Web Position Gold quote. I actually had to think how long it had been since I heard that term. Wow, it took me back to the days of AltaVista and easy rankings. I was in the same room when said person dropped the Web Position Gold quote. I actually had to think how long it had been since I heard that term. Wow, it took me back to the days of AltaVista and easy rankings.

]]> By: Daniel R http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/05/are-search-engine-rankings-are-dead/#comment-126080 Daniel R Mon, 14 May 2007 07:21:47 +0000 http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/05/are-search-engine-rankings-are-dead/#comment-126080 Rankings will persist for some time, its easy to understand. One thing agencies need to do, is to roll out Marketing Analytics as a standard component, replacing ranking reports. We (agencies) need to be aggressive on this. As for: "Do ranking reports with standard search engines provide any insight? For now, they do offer some value, but marketers would do well to further focus on visitor engagement and corresponding metrics." Yes. They are the only one of few ways, we can do competitive reporting, until we have more affordable Hitwise-like reporting. Its good to do ranking reports for clients and their competitors to get a rough (and I cant stress 'rough' enough) visibility comparison. But remember, search Engine Rankings are not the only thing that is dead. So is typical SEO Dead. Why? 1. Because SEO must now include optimizing for Yelp, Del.icio.us, YouTube, Google Local etc http://www.emergence-media.com/2007/05/seo-is-dead-where-is-your-audience-searching/ 2. Because SEO encompassing too many things that have little to do with search: PR, Usability, Branding, etc http://www.emergence-media.com/2007/02/seo-as-website-positioning-strategy/ Rankings will persist for some time, its easy to understand. One thing agencies need to do, is to roll out Marketing Analytics as a standard component, replacing ranking reports. We (agencies) need to be aggressive on this.

As for: “Do ranking reports with standard search engines provide any insight? For now, they do offer some value, but marketers would do well to further focus on visitor engagement and corresponding metrics.”

Yes. They are the only one of few ways, we can do competitive reporting, until we have more affordable Hitwise-like reporting.

Its good to do ranking reports for clients and their competitors to get a rough (and I cant stress ‘rough’ enough) visibility comparison.

But remember, search Engine Rankings are not the only thing that is dead. So is typical SEO Dead. Why?

1. Because SEO must now include optimizing for Yelp, Del.icio.us, YouTube, Google Local etc
http://www.emergence-media.com/2007/05/seo-is-dead-where-is-your-audience-searching/

2. Because SEO encompassing too many things that have little to do with search: PR, Usability, Branding, etc
http://www.emergence-media.com/2007/02/seo-as-website-positioning-strategy/

]]> By: Search Engine Rankings Not Quite Dead Yet http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/05/are-search-engine-rankings-are-dead/#comment-126018 Search Engine Rankings Not Quite Dead Yet Mon, 14 May 2007 03:29:19 +0000 http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/05/are-search-engine-rankings-are-dead/#comment-126018 [...] Lee Odden wrote a post about how he thought search engine rankings are turning into a myth and that there’s much more involved than just monitoring search engine rankings. He also mentions monitoring visibility in blog, video and audio searches and that his firm stopped using Web Position Gold in 2003. [...] [...] Lee Odden wrote a post about how he thought search engine rankings are turning into a myth and that there’s much more involved than just monitoring search engine rankings. He also mentions monitoring visibility in blog, video and audio searches and that his firm stopped using Web Position Gold in 2003. [...]

]]> By: Halfdeck http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/05/are-search-engine-rankings-are-dead/#comment-125683 Halfdeck Sun, 13 May 2007 09:43:29 +0000 http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/05/are-search-engine-rankings-are-dead/#comment-125683 Keyword research, ranking, targeted traffic, and conversions all go together. But a majority of mediocre SEO companies will move away from ranking because it is one thing they cannot consistently deliver. Many SEOs also focus on online marketing as a whole and see search traffic as just one piece of the puzzle. Keyword research, ranking, targeted traffic, and conversions all go together. But a majority of mediocre SEO companies will move away from ranking because it is one thing they cannot consistently deliver. Many SEOs also focus on online marketing as a whole and see search traffic as just one piece of the puzzle.

]]> By: jack http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/05/are-search-engine-rankings-are-dead/#comment-125639 jack Sun, 13 May 2007 08:38:52 +0000 http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/05/are-search-engine-rankings-are-dead/#comment-125639 I think you're right. Traffic and especially conversion is far more important. If you're ranked number 1 in every search engine, but the number 2 is more relevant, people won't go. And if what you are selling is trash or poorly described/displayed, you won't get conversions. Personally, I am interested in traffic, not rankings for my site... I think you’re right. Traffic and especially conversion is far more important. If you’re ranked number 1 in every search engine, but the number 2 is more relevant, people won’t go. And if what you are selling is trash or poorly described/displayed, you won’t get conversions. Personally, I am interested in traffic, not rankings for my site…

]]> By: Brandon http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/05/are-search-engine-rankings-are-dead/#comment-125552 Brandon Sun, 13 May 2007 05:32:55 +0000 http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/05/are-search-engine-rankings-are-dead/#comment-125552 Good points Lee. I'm looking forward to whats up after all the social bookmarking or actually seeing how far that will go. We are close to being globally connected to one another, just like that justin.tv kid.. Good points Lee. I’m looking forward to whats up after all the social bookmarking or actually seeing how far that will go. We are close to being globally connected to one another, just like that justin.tv kid..

]]> By: Yuri http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/05/are-search-engine-rankings-are-dead/#comment-125429 Yuri Sun, 13 May 2007 01:09:29 +0000 http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/05/are-search-engine-rankings-are-dead/#comment-125429 Sure, social media is high. But it doesn't mean that good ole long-term search-engine traffic should be neglected. They are a good bonus to social marketing, too. Of course, ranking reports are not that needed any more. Sure, social media is high. But it doesn’t mean that good ole long-term search-engine traffic should be neglected. They are a good bonus to social marketing, too.

Of course, ranking reports are not that needed any more.

]]> By: Randy Duermyer http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/05/are-search-engine-rankings-are-dead/#comment-125367 Randy Duermyer Sat, 12 May 2007 22:36:10 +0000 http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/05/are-search-engine-rankings-are-dead/#comment-125367 Good points, Lee, although I must say the whole concept bothers me. Just when I think I found the way to get more traffic out of Google - poof! All gone. In many ways, disheartening to say the least, but we'll all learn and - hopefully - continue to grow and prosper from these developments. Especially disheartening since I recently bit the bullet and agreed to buy WPG as a new client was used to it with their last SEO and more or less insisted it was their way or the highway. Just another SEO challenge for us to face, I guess. Good points, Lee, although I must say the whole concept bothers me. Just when I think I found the way to get more traffic out of Google – poof! All gone. In many ways, disheartening to say the least, but we’ll all learn and – hopefully – continue to grow and prosper from these developments. Especially disheartening since I recently bit the bullet and agreed to buy WPG as a new client was used to it with their last SEO and more or less insisted it was their way or the highway. Just another SEO challenge for us to face, I guess.

]]> By: SEO Reports & Search Engine Rankings. We’re Not Dead Yet. http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/05/are-search-engine-rankings-are-dead/#comment-125315 SEO Reports & Search Engine Rankings. We’re Not Dead Yet. Sat, 12 May 2007 20:00:52 +0000 http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/05/are-search-engine-rankings-are-dead/#comment-125315 [...] Speaking May12th SEO Reports & Search Engine Rankings. We’re Not Dead Yet. · No Comments I just read Lee’s post entitled “Are Search Engine Rankings are Dead?”, with the followup “R.I.P. Search Engine Rankings?” from Jennifer at Search Engine Guide. [...] [...] Speaking May12th SEO Reports & Search Engine Rankings. We’re Not Dead Yet. · No Comments I just read Lee’s post entitled “Are Search Engine Rankings are Dead?”, with the followup “R.I.P. Search Engine Rankings?” from Jennifer at Search Engine Guide. [...]

]]> By: AGORACOM Blog » Blog Archive » Web 2.0 Means Web Visibility Trumps Search Engine Rankings For Small-Cap Companies http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/05/are-search-engine-rankings-are-dead/#comment-125226 AGORACOM Blog » Blog Archive » Web 2.0 Means Web Visibility Trumps Search Engine Rankings For Small-Cap Companies Sat, 12 May 2007 17:07:44 +0000 http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/05/are-search-engine-rankings-are-dead/#comment-125226 [...] I could go on to discuss social networks, online video and online photos but I can best summarize by quoting online marketing specialist Lee Odden who stated in an article about this very subject .. “If you consider all the traffic opportunities from news search, blog search, social media as well as stand alone image, video and audio search, there’s a lot of accountability left on the table when not considering all the possible sources of web site visitors” [...] [...] I could go on to discuss social networks, online video and online photos but I can best summarize by quoting online marketing specialist Lee Odden who stated in an article about this very subject .. “If you consider all the traffic opportunities from news search, blog search, social media as well as stand alone image, video and audio search, there’s a lot of accountability left on the table when not considering all the possible sources of web site visitors” [...]

]]> By: David Wallace http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/05/are-search-engine-rankings-are-dead/#comment-125187 David Wallace Sat, 12 May 2007 15:52:46 +0000 http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/05/are-search-engine-rankings-are-dead/#comment-125187 Very good points, Lee. My company has been in the process for the last few years of trying to steer clients away from the old static rankings reports and into much more robust web analytic reporting. We prefer ClickTracks as a standard solution. However it is amazing to me how many clients are still interested in "rankings." Despite all the personalization, not to mention all the additional traffic sources that are available, many still want to know "where they are ranked in Google." Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of advanced clients who want to measure traffic and growth as opposed to some static position in a search engine. However there are still plenty that have yet to evolve into that thinking. Very good points, Lee. My company has been in the process for the last few years of trying to steer clients away from the old static rankings reports and into much more robust web analytic reporting. We prefer ClickTracks as a standard solution.

However it is amazing to me how many clients are still interested in “rankings.” Despite all the personalization, not to mention all the additional traffic sources that are available, many still want to know “where they are ranked in Google.” Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of advanced clients who want to measure traffic and growth as opposed to some static position in a search engine. However there are still plenty that have yet to evolve into that thinking.

]]> By: Simon Wharton http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/05/are-search-engine-rankings-are-dead/#comment-125125 Simon Wharton Sat, 12 May 2007 13:41:10 +0000 http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/05/are-search-engine-rankings-are-dead/#comment-125125 I'm pretty much in agreement when you're talking to an educated audience. But many audiences youhave to deal just don't get it. They want to see rankings. They want to get that Google ranking despite best efforts to focus them on ROI. If you move beyong Mom and Pop for Ranking reports, what's the industry standard? I’m pretty much in agreement when you’re talking to an educated audience. But many audiences youhave to deal just don’t get it. They want to see rankings. They want to get that Google ranking despite best efforts to focus them on ROI.

If you move beyong Mom and Pop for Ranking reports, what’s the industry standard?

]]> By: ahmed http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/05/are-search-engine-rankings-are-dead/#comment-124961 ahmed Sat, 12 May 2007 08:55:35 +0000 http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/05/are-search-engine-rankings-are-dead/#comment-124961 i think that,s great. i think that,s great.

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