Is SEO Dead?

SEO began its relatively slow descent when major search engines like Google began favoring paid ads (i.e., SEM) over editorial listings. Still, and even with the much more recent A.I. content algorithm additions/changes, the organic/natural optimization of websites is still a viable option for online publishers… depending on a few key factors.

It’s impossible to know the fate of this once-powerful means of promoting your site. Previously, Internet marketing entailed several free methods of advertising in line with a word-of-mouth approach, albeit with the exponential potential that commercialized Internet provided us with.

So, instead of having business cards and/or flyers printed out, and distributing them directly (meaning in-hand or door-to-door, literally) to who we hoped would be potential buyers (further hoping that they’ll share the news with their friends, family, and/or peers)… we’d post to relevant forums, blogs, and so on — where going viral (or at the least, a few more inbound leads) is more commonplace.

Today, dynamic strategies reign supreme. Things have gotten complicated, but it also presents itself with an opportunity to capitalize on newer forms of SEO. So, what are they? Well, since social media is still king in many regards, combined with the fact that a huge database of content (posted to these networks) has been compiled over the years, search is now becoming more relevant… similar to how it originally did (i.e., through dedicated search engines built exclusively to facilitate the finding of content ultimately delivered through third-party websites [i.e., independent publishers]).

Nowadays, you can, of course, own and run a website, but the organic traffic received is likely & primarily via a social network of some sort. Video marketing, in particular, works well… but other forms of content (such as articles, like this one) also help attract targeted users as they did in the past — keeping in mind, that, once again, today’s traffic influx originates typically through large community sites.

But, what about search engines themselves? Do they still present an opportunity for growth… allowing a surge of qualified leads, interested fans & followers, etc — directed to YOUR website WITHOUT the need for high-traffic technology middlemen? Or will all of your visitors and general user base (naturally consisting of clients & customers) depend on outside brands that control & limit the content of what eventually gets them there? Enough questions, here’s the answer. YES!

Sadly (in our opinion) A.I. (or artificial intelligence) adopted by search engines, while referencing its sources (i.e., relevant site pages/content) in search results, does present a mix of ideas and factual knowledge from various sources… sometimes diluting your thoughts, suggestions, and artistic integrity as a publisher, and other times (and equally, in many cases) making it easier to get completely lost in the shuffle (i.e., users searching for and researching content will accidentally skip over the link to your site [or simply click one or more of those listed just above]).

So, now, it’s not just a challenge to supersede a paid ad on Google (and other major search engines), AND you not only have to attempt to be among the first editorial results (i.e., make it to the first page of Google for whatever search queries were entered), you also have to work towards reaching the top of the search result itself (i.e., you need to be the most relevant contributor).

Regardless of how daunting of a task (or how meticulous the collective effort) for modern SEO is, it’s more than doable if the focus & concentration remain on regularly providing quality & value through articles, podcasts (i.e., audio files), videos, etc. Our only recommendation is that you keep the bulk of information on your website — using blurbs, imagery (i.e., graphics and graphical messages), quick insights, topical video introductions, and other brief versions of the subject matter when complementing standalone search engines with socially-posted content.