Optimization - Are your techniques meaningful or mechanical.

Partially agree. Things like Pagerank, us IM peeps get hung up on it, but in reality don't worry, if you have good content and other people link to it, you will get PR.

There was a post recently about google updates, the advice was don't panic. It's the same thing, we spend too much time panicking. Learn the rules, play the game and relax. Take some risky shortcuts, and then its time to sweat.

Online reputation is 1000 times more important than how many like's or +1's you have, but they can be used as indicators of what does or doesn't work.

He may knock KPI's as mechanical, but you need some kind of yardstick to measure of. It doesn't have to be corporaty pie chart full of waffle, maybe a basic spreadsheet with what you deem to be acceptable goals/outcomes/conversions.

maybe forum post = more exposure
2 FB likes on new blog post = shows content is of interest
negative feedback or reviews = issue or problem that needs addressing

I can see what he means by mechanical SEO, eg must have more crappy low quality links.... must spam more blog/forum comments, and we see plenty of examples of it. But I think this is aimed at more of the bottom end of the IM spectrum, link builders etc, rather than people who take IM seriously, or thats how I read it

Doesn't like's or +1's considered part of getting reputation Online!?

Yep I think so, or at least genuine ones. But there are too many people running round trying to build up likes or +1's by unnatural means, ie buying them etc.

I think your online reputation is far more complex than a few likes, but as you say, it's certainly part of it.

There I would agree as well. I've been reading a good many blogs lately and to be serious, if you know what you're doing doesn't go against the rules, you're cool. No need to worry unless you know something's shady on your site. With everything pointing to doing things manually, slowly, and naturally, its kinda bringing out the worst in some and the best in others.

Some would try harder to write something engaging, whereas others are turning their software up a notch thinking its all going to be ok.
I am noticing more IM's are claiming that SEO is not the be all and end all, and that there are too many other avenues that need to be thought of. When you said reputation, I think you kinda nailed it, and I also think that it is something that a lot of SEO's nowdays are neglecting in lieu of quicker results.

With the new release of Google Penguin update certainly, producing meaningful and engaging content will be the most effective way to get higher on SEO rankings, the actual length of time that users spend on your website page will now be taken into account so sites need to ENGAGE viewers...

In order to secure good rankings for the website it is essential to follow the updates given by Google on a regular basis. The latest update given by Google focuses on the fact that over optimization of the keywords must be avoided. Preferably keyword variations can be used. Moreover it is also important to get good quality backlinks as well that are authoritative and pertaining to your niche.

There has been a lot of changes in the search engine optimization that was traditionally done and the techniques that must be followed now. Now it is essential to project the right picture of the business in front of the users. It is essential to post content that will be valuable for the users and it is also essential to avoid over optimization. Over optimization will not provide with the right benefit, there must be more focus on the quality and not the quantity.

That has kinda been the guideline since time immemorial. Its because some have been avoiding/neglecting/ or just not caring that these latest updates are being brought out to begin with. (IMHO of course)


To be honest, even though Google have changed a lot over the last while, most of the time these changes have been implemented because of abuse. For instance, the keyword meta tag. It has always been important to be honest, and portray a business in the right light. That is what an IM's job is, and if they don't do that from the beginning, then they cannot call themselves an IM. In the end, yes, you are writing for your visitors, so going overboard would be wrong because you're going to be hit by Google, and you will lose visitors because no one can understand what you're saying. Which has been what the focus should have been all along (IMHO).

I've just come across this forum, so forgive me if I'm talking out of turn here or unwittingly breaking any rules.

Broadening things out a little, I found this interesting little video this morning. He is using his own (for sale) software, but nevertheless it is a useful appraisal of the post penguin world.

The video is about a third way down the page, 11.33 long video


As this is my first post I can't put in the url so you'll have to search for Dr Andy Williams SEO, and then checkout newsletter #339.

It's worth a look.