Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Original Content.... At Least For Now

At E:35 Creative  the question we most often get from potential clients is "Why does Google keep messing with my ranking?" It's a simple answer really, because they don't make a dime off of organic search results. At least up until this point they haven't figured out how to monetize them, therefor they'll continue to mix it up. "Well that sucks!" is usually the reaction. I usually follow with some ever-so-sincere response, wink wink, of how I empathize with them, and how they aren't the only business owner in this boat, and they just have to play the game. I tell them, that's why I'm here and I'm sure I can help. The reality is Google's schizophrenia keeps the phones ringing, even though SEO is only part of what we do.

I love the game to be honest. When I dream about Google's algorithm meetings, and I do it's an occupational hazard, I imagine a sinister group of a dark suit wearing executives sitting around a huge meeting table in a dimly lit board room, and they say things like "no it has to be more complicated than that" and "great idea that will really mess with people". It's probably not the way it all goes down but that's the movie that plays in my head.

All that drama aside, the latest Google updates have sent website owners into a tizzy and the best answer I have for them is "original, relevant content". The days of spamming backlinks are over. Although that still has to be part of your strategy. The best way to maintain and increase your ranking is to put out as much original content as possible, and the best way to do that is through social media. Your social activity is as important as breathing when it comes to Google's spiders.

Unfortunately the social world is ever expanding and contracting. What was relevant yesterday is not today. My advice is to start with the obvious platforms; Facebook, Twitter, and now Google+. One of the decisions that has emerged from one of those dimly lit Google meetings is forcing people and businesses to interact with Google+. Don't bother fighting it, just accept it. When you fight Google you lose.



Our best advice for a new client is this method: Update Facebook everyday, and link it to twitter, update Google+ everyday, blog once a week and put it on your website and social pages, write a press release every month, and put a video on Youtube once per month, Youtube is now a Google owned property. This is a tried and true method for moving your ranking. It won't happen overnight but after a few months it will. If you don't have time for all this, most business owners don't, you can always contact us. This is, after all what we do.